An Entity Within | Stephen Strange

14 - A Little Bit Of Fun

"You have one hell of a back fist." He paused, "Thank you."

She smiled and nodded.

"The Ancient One taught you well."

"Everyone teaches me well."

"Thank you – "

She laughed, "You haven't taught me anything yet. We've merely trained together, and you've only observed me."

"Well...you have a point. I will find something to teach you."

"Good luck." She smirked.

They shared a look. A rather innocent look but one that spoke many words, neither of which would really acknowledge properly. His stormy sea blue eyes looked at her, enchanted, and her emeralds stared back at him, captivated.

The Entity knew her feelings towards the sorcerer had grown over the past month and sensed that Stephen may feel the same way. But if all they were going to do was stare at each other, then nothing would be done about it. Naturally, the Entity considered this a good point to intervene for the sake of hurrying things along. Tessa's eyes closed, the black veins raced to her eyes and opened to reveal those enthralling black orbs.

Tee, what are you doing?

"Entity." Stephen greeted as he took the towel from them, still holding it against his nose and took a step back, "Everything alright?"

"Yes." It paused, "No. Tessa – "

Don't you dare!

"Tessa would like to go out this evening. She wishes for you to join her."

Tee, stop. Just stop.

"Oka-a-ay." Stephen nodded, "Any reason why she couldn't say this herself?"

"You were staring at each other for too long."

"Huh."

Oh my God...

"I had to...'get the ball rolling'. That is something you humans say, is it not?"

"No. You're right but – "

They shut their eyes again and the black veins receded rapidly again. Tessa stared back at them, her cheeks receiving a light dusting of red. She took a breath, gave a very brief smile, raised her hand to rub the back of her neck and dropped her hand again, taking another breath, opening her mouth to speak but shut it again.

"Tessa? You good?"

"Yeah..." She nodded, "You?"

"Bleeding but fine." He nodded, asking her just to be sure, "Did you...want to go out this evening?"

"Are you asking?"

"Well, you asked first."

"Tee asked first."

"Asked a question they said you had."

"Do you want to go out this evening?" Tessa raised the question again.

"Yes. You?"

"...Yes..."

"Shall we say...seven?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Stephen beamed, nodding, "Great, that's - great. Do you want to spar again? Or continue with different training?"

"I'm afraid that I'll give you another bloody nose if we spar again." She teased.

"You're not going to let that one go, are you?"

"Not a chance."

They laughed. Stephen wiped the last of the blood from his nose, lowering the towel in his hand and motioning with his other back to the centre of the training area. They walked over together.

They smiled. They trained. They laughed.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

The two took a slow walk back to their rooms, opting to travel the long way which meant they stuck to the outside paths. They chatted, spoke about his past as an award-winning neurosurgeon and Tessa's time with the Ancient One. They spoke about his fight with Kaecilius and Dormammu and smaller conflicts that Tessa had assisted the Ancient One with. They lingered outside the dormitory section of the temple.

"So, we still on for dinner?"

"Oh, so it's dinner now?" She asked, silently thanking the Entity for its successful intervention.

You are welcome, child.

"I mean, it doesn't have to be. It can be. But it doesn't have to be."

"I think dinner sounds nice." Tessa smiled.

Stephen smiled back, "Right, well, I'll let you get ready then."

"See you in a bit."

Tessa turned to head into the dorms and Stephen began to walk away.

From a rooftop above, a slovenly Marcus watched with a bow and arrow in hand, aiming it directly at the talented sorcerer who paused in the walkway, turning around to look at Tessa again. The sorceress lingered by the door, beaming back at her 'date' for the evening but the Entity sensed something was wrong. Her expression fell as she felt the Entity's unease and looked around, spotting Marcus on the roof top. It took her a moment to realise he had a weapon and another moment to understand who he was aiming it at.

Marcus let the arrow fly.

Tessa shrieked, "Stephen!"

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A/N - The name's Hanger...Cliff Hanger 😂

That was such a cringey joke I apologise 😂