The steps leading up to the New York Sanctum were strangely intimidating. Stephen Strange paused, his jacket shifting faintly as if the enchanted fabric sensed his hesitation. Though his world had been one of sorcery and infinite possibilities for centuries, something about returning to the familiar, yet unfamiliar, Sanctum filled him with a cautious weight.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered, rubbing his palms together and glancing at the tall doors. "I've faced Dormammu. Why am I nervous about knocking on a door?"
The jacket gave a faint tug at his shoulders, almost in reassurance. Stephen sighed, pushed his shoulders back, and did what any polite visitor would do—he knocked.
The sound echoed faintly, and for a moment, Stephen thought no one would answer. But then, the doors creaked open, revealing a figure that sent a pang of something bitter and uncomfortable through Stephen's chest: Master Daniel Drumm.
Stephen blinked. He'd almost forgotten what the man looked like in life. Daniel had been one of the Ancient One's most loyal Masters, a formidable sorcerer who had died defending the Sanctum from Kaecilius and his zealots. Seeing him alive and well was both reassuring and heartbreaking.
Daniel tilted his head, his dark eyes scanning Stephen with faint suspicion. His eyes flicked to the enchanted jacket Stephen wore, the fabric rippling faintly as if to draw attention to itself. Daniel's lips parted slightly, and he leaned forward. "The Cloak of Levitation," he murmured, his tone equal parts relief and surprise. "So that's where it ended up. The Ancient One assured me it was safe, but… I couldn't help but worry."
Stephen glanced down at the jacket, and a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It has a habit of sticking with me wherever I go."
"Oh. I'm sorry for being rude. Can I help you?"
Stephen hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding. "My name is Stephen Strange."
Daniel's attention snapped back to him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Strange, you said? Stephen Strange?"
Stephen nodded, his tone slow and measured. "Yes."
For a moment, there was silence. Then recognition dawned on Daniel's face, followed by a flicker of shock. He straightened abruptly, his posture defensive, and a faint shimmer of magic flickered at his fingertips. "The Ancient One told us about you," Daniel said, his tone carefully neutral. "She said you would have succeeded her one day. But you… you died."
Stephen raised a hand quickly, palms open in a gesture of peace. "I didn't die. Not… exactly. I'm not the Stephen Strange from this universe."
Daniel's eyes narrowed further, his hand twitching slightly, as if preparing for a spell. "What do you mean?"
Stephen exhaled slowly, his voice calm but firm. "I'm from an alternate universe. The Ancient One from this world knows about me. She's the one who granted me access to this Sanctum. If you have doubts, you can confirm with her."
Daniel hesitated, his magic flickering uncertainly before fading. His brow furrowed deeply as he took in Stephen's appearance, his suspicious gaze softening ever so slightly. "Alternate universe," he repeated, the words sounding foreign on his tongue. "The Ancient One mentioned something about other dimensions, but this is the first time we've got a visitor."
"I know it's a lot to process," Stephen said, his tone gentler now. "But I'm here on her blessing. I needed to talk to her."
Daniel stared at him for a long moment before stepping aside, the faintest edge of reluctance in his movements. "All right," he said cautiously. "You'd better come in, then. But if you're lying, or if this is some kind of trick—"
"It's not," Stephen interrupted, his voice steady. "I have no intention of causing harm. I just… needed to be here."
The words felt heavier than he'd expected as he stepped inside. The familiar sights of the New York Sanctum unfolded before him, yet it wasn't the same. In his own universe, this place had been his domain, a home he had protected with everything he had. Here, it felt foreign—similar but not quite right, like a memory distorted by time.
Daniel closed the door behind him, his posture still guarded. "If you're not from this universe, why come here at all?"
Stephen glanced at him, his blue eyes faintly tired but carrying the weight of someone who had endured more than a lifetime's worth of burdens. He sighed, running a hand over the smooth lapel of his cloak-turned-jacket before speaking. "I didn't come here of my own volition," he admitted, his tone calm but tinged with weariness. "In my universe, I was the Sorcerer Supreme. It was my responsibility to protect my world, to defend it from mystical threats. But to save my disciple, I died."
Daniel frowned slightly, his curiosity overcoming his initial suspicion. "Died?"
Stephen's gaze drifted to the relics and artifacts that adorned the walls, his expression distant. "Or, well, I was supposed to die. In my universe, I had already chosen my successor—a disciple I trusted, someone ready to take the mantle. I was supposed to finally rest, knowing the role of Sorcerer Supreme was in capable hands. But… that's not what happened."
He turned back to Daniel, his voice steady but laced with frustration. "Somehow, I woke up here, in this universe. A stranger in a world that isn't mine. At first, I thought it was some cruel twist of fate, a punishment, or a test. So, I decided to step back. To watch, to observe, without meddling. I thought I could just… exist quietly, without interfering."
Daniel studied him, the suspicion in his eyes fading as he listened to Stephen's words. "But you couldn't stay an observer, could you?"
Stephen let out a soft, bitter laugh, shaking his head. "No, I couldn't. There are dangers in this world—dangers I've seen before, ones I know all too well. And as much as I wanted to stay away, to let this universe's defenders handle it, I can't. It's not in my nature to stand by and do nothing. Not when I know what's at stake." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "There are threats here—both mystical and mundane—that I would not, and cannot, ignore."
Daniel's posture relaxed slightly, his guarded demeanor giving way to something more contemplative. "So, you've been trying to balance both? Being here without taking over, but stepping in when you have to?"
Stephen nodded slowly, his expression serious. "Yes. I didn't ask for this, but I can't let that be an excuse to do nothing. This world may not be mine, but it deserves to be protected. Just as much as my own did."
Daniel studied him carefully as he led the way to a quiet sitting room, the warm glow of soft lanterns casting a calm, almost meditative light over the space. The room was modest, with a low table surrounded by simple cushions. The air smelled faintly of herbs, and the sound of a teapot gently boiling in the corner added a comforting ambiance.
Stephen followed silently, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, his cloak subtly shifting with the movement. The familiar stillness of the Sanctum brought him a small measure of peace, even if he felt like a visitor rather than someone who belonged.
"Tea?" Daniel offered as he gestured for Stephen to take a seat.
Stephen nodded, lowering himself onto one of the cushions with practiced ease. "That would be nice. Thank you."
"You know," he said as he prepared tea. "the Ancient One told us you were going to be reluctant about your destiny. I guess that's true, no matter which version of you we're talking about."
There was a lingering silence between them, one that didn't feel uncomfortable but was thick with unspoken questions. When Daniel finally set the teapot and two cups on the table, Stephen smirked faintly, though the gesture didn't quite reach his eyes. "Reluctant isn't the word I'd use. Exhausted fits better. But I'm here now, and I'll do what I can. Even if that means stepping into a role I thought I'd left behind."
Daniel looked across at Stephen, his expression thoughtful.
"So," Daniel began, pouring a cup of tea and sliding it toward Stephen, "do you plan to step up as Sorcerer Supreme in this universe?"
Stephen stilled for a moment, his fingers brushing the edge of the teacup. He considered his answer carefully, his gaze flicking briefly to the golden embroidery of his jacket—the Cloak of Levitation, always watching, always waiting.
"Maybe," he said softly. "When I'm ready. If I'm ever ready." His voice was steady, but there was a weight behind it that even he couldn't disguise.
Daniel frowned slightly, leaning forward as he cupped his hands around his own tea. "You don't sound very sure."
Stephen let out a quiet, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "I'm not. And admitting that feels… selfish. But I'm tired, Daniel." He looked up, meeting the other man's gaze with an honesty he rarely allowed himself. "I don't know if I have it in me to carry that weight again."
The other sorcerer studied him, his brow furrowed. "How long were you Sorcerer Supreme, in your universe?"
Stephen hesitated, not because he was unsure of the answer, but because speaking it aloud made it all too real. He exhaled softly, his voice dropping. "A couple of centuries. Give or take."
Daniel's eyes widened slightly, his tea forgotten for a moment. "Centuries? Were you like the Ancient One?"
Stephen shook his head, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup absently. "The Time Stone… It made me its guardian, and in doing so, it halted my aging for a long while. The years passed, and I stayed the same. Watching people I cared about grow old, move on, or…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening briefly before continuing. "Or die."
Daniel sat back, clearly processing the weight of Stephen's words. "That's… a long time to carry the mantle."
"It was," Stephen agreed, his tone neutral, but his eyes betraying a deeper pain. "And I did it willingly. Because it was my responsibility. Because I believed I was the only one who could." He paused, his gaze distant as memories flickered through his mind. "But by the end, it wasn't about duty anymore. It was just… exhaustion. A need for it all to stop."
Daniel tilted his head, his expression softening. "And now? Do you still feel that way?"
Stephen's lips pressed into a thin line, his shoulders rising and falling in a faint shrug. "Some days, yes. Other days, I think… maybe this is why I'm here. Why I woke up in this universe instead of the afterlife I was expecting. Maybe the mantle still has work for me to do, even if I don't want it."
Daniel sipped his tea, his voice calm but firm when he spoke. "You don't have to decide now. And you don't have to carry it alone, Stephen. This Sanctum, this world… we're all here to protect it. You wouldn't be stepping into an empty role."
Stephen looked at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You sound a lot like my Wong."
Daniel raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "Smart guy, your Wong."
"Smart and infuriating," Stephen said with a soft chuckle, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He took a sip of his tea, letting the warmth ground him. "Thank you, Daniel."
"For what?"
"For the tea. And for listening," Stephen said quietly, his blue eyes meeting Daniel's with a flicker of gratitude. "Sometimes it's easier to forget there are people who understand what it means to carry this kind of weight."
Daniel nodded, a quiet understanding passing between them. "Anytime. You're not as alone as you think, Stephen. Not here."
Stephen sighed but still managed a weak, thankful smile. "I need an audience with the Ancient One. There are questions I've been avoiding for too long. It's time I stopped running from them."
Daniel studied him for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "And are you ready for the answers?"
Stephen inclined his head. "It doesn't matter if I'm ready or not. Not anymore."
Daniel gave a small nod and pulled out his sling ring. "Wait here. I'll open a portal to Kamar-Taj and let her know you're coming."
Stephen watched as Daniel created a swirling golden portal, his practiced movements precise and smooth. The portal shimmered, and Daniel stepped through, disappearing into Kamar-Taj.
It wasn't long before the portal reopened, and Daniel reappeared, his expression calm but faintly curious. "She's expecting you. You can go now."
Stephen inclined his head in thanks. "I appreciate it."
Without another word, he stepped through the portal, the familiar warmth of Kamar-Taj greeting him on the other side.
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