Everstrange oneshots!
Prompts always welcome ?
Please read, review and enjoy ?
….
The day had almost been a success.
The sorcerer who had played at being the Great and Powerful Oz, was now safely locked up and courage, sanity and heart had been returned to those they had been taken from.
Everett's heart had been returned, but a selfish part of him had wished it hadn't…. then he wouldn't be able to feel the pain of what restoring those things had cost.
Stephen was tucked into his bed. His cheeks were still slightly pale, his chest rose and fell as usual, but there was no waking him. The final act of the enemy sorcerer had been to cast a sleeping curse on the one who had defeated him and now Stephen was lost to them.
Everett had been there with them at first, had been the one to help carry the Sorcerer Supreme back to the Sanctum and laying him down on his bed as Wong removed his boots and pulled the blanket over him. He couldn't bear to stay with them, couldn't stand the thought that he'd never have Stephen suddenly appearing in his flat again (no matter how annoying it was).
He had departed without a word.
He had been walking through the streets for around half an hour now. The skies were moderately clear, with only a few clouds, but the wind carried a bitter chill with it…. There were no two ways about it: he was hiding.
He knew that they would try the whole, True Love's Kiss deal, to try and bring Stephen back, but he was afraid…. What if it didn't work? What if he wasn't Stephen's true love?
Stephen might be his true love, but he might not be his.
And this was the one moment it would make a huge difference… the one time everyone would be hoping for success, sitting around the Sorcerer Supreme and hoping for the best.
"There you are," came Wong's voice suddenly, startling Everett out of his thoughts.
"Any change?"
"Unfortunately, no… "Wong said shortly. It was cleat that he wasn't here to exchange pleasantries. He meant business, "Agent Ross… you need to kiss him."
"I know what you're getting at, but it won't work Wong." Everett straightened out his tie nervously.
"How do you know?"
"…. There are too many factors at play here. We can't just trust in true love, because what if he doesn't- "Everett cut himself off and turned away, straightening up and nervously clearing his throat.
"It will work." Wong eventually stated, politely ignoring Everett's outburst, "You need to come back with me."
"I c-can't do it." His voice broke on the words, before he nervously cleared his throat.
"It's his best chance… please try. Just try."
"If it doesn't work- "
"It will." Wong put a hand on Everett's shoulder, "And even if it does not, nobody will hold it against you. We will find another way."
Everett wasn't convinced. He turned away from Wong, clearing his throat in an attempt to keep his composure, a lump forming in his throat as he stared into the distance.
"I've seen the way he looks at you, Agent Ross. I know that look, "Wong persisted. "You need to come back with me."
"I've fought in Iraq, faced off against some of the most dangerous men in America… and yet, it's now that I'm afraid."
"We all are… but you can do this, you can save him." Wong sighed, "I would not ask if I didn't think it would work."
Everett sighed. There was no deterring Wong at this point. He ran a hand over his face and took a deep breath before he turned around.
"… All right." He sighed.
"All right?"
Everett nodded, causing Wong to sigh in relief. "Thank you," he looked Everett straight in the eyes, meaning the words with everything in him.
Wong opened up a portal with his sling ring, and encouraged Everett to step through, following him into the Sanctum. Once the portal closed, Everett realised that his hands were shaking. If he failed, it wouldn't only break his heart, but the hearts of everyone else Stephen was close to. But he loved Stephen, God did he love him, and he would try.
Wong had more faith in him than he felt he deserved and that was enough for him to go on.
They climbed the stairs that led to Stephen's room, stopping before entering.
"Are you all right?" Wong asked, noticing how Everett's face had gone pale.
"Yes… a bit nervous."
Wong nodded in understanding, patting him on the arm one last time before they went inside.
Stephen looked so still…. So pale.
He stared down at the Sorcerer Supreme for a moment, shaking his head as he realised that this was the quietest the Sorcerer had ever been. The slight colour in Stephen's cheeks was the only thing that kept him from looking like a corpse.
Everett realised that his hands were shaking something fierce now, and he had to clench them together to subdue it. He sat down on the bedside, reaching forward to stroke Stephen's hair, gently reaching beneath his head to cradle it.
'Please Stephen', he begged silently, 'Please come back to me.'
His pressed his lips to Stephen's
Suddenly, something washed over him… something like peace and serenity. His hands stopped shaking, his heart no longer ached. He pulled out of the kiss, and stared down at Stephen, his eyes wide in hope and anticipation. Suddenly, his eyelids fluttered open and he gazed up at him, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Stephen!" he cried out, refusing to let his voice break as he pulled the sorcerer closer, burying his face against Stephen's neck to hide the tears of relief brimming in his eyes.
Stephen was alive…. Stephen loved him.
"My hero…" Stephen muttered, wrapping his right arm around the shorter man, whilst giving a reassuring smile to Wong.
True Love.
He was Stephen's true love, and he was his…. The spell was broken.
