-Non native speaker, unbetaed so please kindly point out any mistakes.
-Some minor swear words.
-If you recognize anything here, that means they don't belong to me.
-This story makes some fun to some pop culture references. They were not meant to be insults.
Christine eyed the menu. They all looked great. It'd be hard to decide. "Are you sure you can afford this?"
Stephen gave a lopsided grin. "I'm sure. This place is really quite inexpensive. Besides, I helped the owner once with their goblin problem. I've also put some spells around the perimeter so any supernatural creatures would think twice—well, if they could think but I doubt it-before stepping inside here. Luis, the owner, said I could eat here for free forever but I refused. He then said he'd just charge the minimum whenever I come here."
As usual with Stephen, his answer actually raised more questions. She asked the easiest one. "Goblins? I thought they only exist in fantasy fiction."
He raised his eyebrows. "Where do you think the fantasy writers got their ideas from?"
Christine tried to swallow a sudden big lump in her throat. "Are you saying that most creatures in fantasy are real?"
"Well, some but not all. If you're unsure, just ask me. I hope you won't encounter any of them. 99% of population usually don't." He squeezed her hands. "Don't worry about it. There are sorcerers all over the world who handle them on regular basis."
"Including you?"
He nodded. "That's part of the job description. I didn't exactly sign up for it."
She eyed his gym bag that he put under the table. "Does that bag contain your emergency world-saving kit?"
He smiled. "That's why I love working with you. You don't miss anything. Yes, my cloak and other emergency kits are in there."
"Sophie is here?!" She didn't really want to vie for his attention tonight. Perhaps coming here was a mistake.
It was all Stephen's fault, as usual. As she walked out of the hospital after her shift yesterday, Stephen was there waiting for her. Luckily he managed to be inconspicuous this time as he wore a blue shirt and black pants. No robes and cloak in sight.
"It's good to see you here." He gave his most charming smile.
She rolled her eyes. "Given I work here, sure. What do you want now, Stephen? Any injured friend this time?"
He had the decency to blush. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't barge in here twice asking for your help. That's the reason I come here. I want to ask you out for dinner tomorrow night to thank you properly for saving my life and also for helping me, not only at those times, but in general."
"I'm busy tomorrow night."
"No, you aren't. I've checked your shifts. No, I didn't use any magic to check. I just called Susan to check your schedule."
She needed to have a word with Susan, the head nurse, tomorrow. She shouldn't give her schedule to strangers— except of course Stephen was not a stranger. Some people might still help him. He could be very persuasive if he wanted to— like what he was doing now. She could never say no to his pleading eyes. People would call them puppy dog eyes but Stephen was definitely not a puppy—more like an overgrown sloth.
She sighed dramatically that could give Emma Stone a run for her money. Well, she learned from the best—the guy standing right in front of her. "Fine, I'll go to have dinner with you tomorrow."
"I'll pick you up at seven. It'll be a date to remember."
So here she was at a Thai restaurant in Columbus Circle. She wore her green full length dress. She chose it because it kept her warm—it had nothing to do that Stephen once complimented her when she wore it—nope. Despite that, she still needed to compete with that sentient cloak of his.
"Yes, I need her in case of emergency. I'm 99% sure she won't be needed tonight. I think even creatures from other dimensions need to take a day off on Sunday nights. Terrorizing other dimensions could be so draining." He then squeezed her hands again reassuringly. "Don't worry. You're the only girl in my mind tonight. I'm starving. You should order for both of us."
He seemed to be still uncomfortable to talk about feelings. Well, the old Stephen wouldn't reassure her. He also wouldn't let her pick the menu. So he certainly had changed slightly for the better. She still couldn't stand the chance not to tease him. It was a payback for calling her wrong for the last five years. "Are you sure? Are you not going to criticize my choices? Not authentic Thai enough? Wrong order so it'd destroy our palates?"
He dipped his head slightly and lowered his voice so only she could hear when he spoke. "Yes, I admit I've been an ass. I'm trying to be better now. Now please pick the damn menu."
She nodded. The waiter suddenly materialized in front of her. She ordered coconut water for both of them. A lot of her colleagues were sworn by it. She doubted whether it was a super drink as they made it out to be but at least it was natural. She also ordered Tom Yum Soup and Thai Spinach Bites for starters, Thai Green Chicken Curry for her and Pad Thai for him, for dessert she ordered Mango Pudding. She really didn't want him to spend too much despite his insistence.
They toasted their coconut water while they waited for the starters.
Well, it certainly was refreshing. Even Stephen seemed to approve but again he had always had an eclectic taste.
"No cultish robes for tonight?" She always couldn't stand silence between them for too long.
He smiled. "No, not for tonight. I'm trying to make an effort here."
"I certainly appreciate it." He dressed in a three piece suit tonight. The black suit and his blue shirt underneath certainly meshed well. They also didn't look cheap. "Aren't your clothes expensive?"
"Well, they'd be but the store owner at the Fifth Avenue owed me a favour."
Christine opened her eyes wide in mock surprise. "Another goblin problem?"
He smiled as he caught on. "Nah, just the usual Tsukumogami."
"Suki-origami?"
"No, Tsukumogami. It's Japanese."
"You don't say." She really should stop with her sarcasm but she couldn't.
He then pulled out his StarkPhone. "Friday, could you show Doctor Palmer some information about Tsukumogami?"
"I certainly can, Doctor Strange," replied a female voice from his phone.
He showed the results to her. For her, Friday was like a more advanced Google. Friday only showed only results that matched and also gave very thorough descriptions. Well, she certainly learned something new every day. Not that she needed to know more mythical creatures. She certainly couldn't bring her knowledge about Tsukumogami into a conversation among her friends.
"Interesting is certainly one way to say it. So StarkPhone and Stark's AI? Don't tell me Tony Stark also owes you some favors?"
"As a matter of fact, he does. You'd be surprised how many creatures outside this realm he managed to attract and insult." Christine rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, you would say he is just like me but I actually don't seek them out actively. Back to the StarkPhone, he just gave it away to lure people to join the Avengers. The AI comes with the territory."
She quirked her eyebrows. "Are you an Avenger now?"
"No, I'm already busy as it's. I'm just a consultant for their more magical encounters. Oh, thank the Visanthi that the starters are here."
That was a hint that he didn't want to talk about it anymore. Christine didn't want to pry. Besides, she wanted to know more about how he was coping being a cult member after the accident, not his saving-the-world business.
They were just having a few spoons of the soup when suddenly Stephen's StarkPhone rang. He tried to ignore it but there was suddenly a female voice which she recognized as Friday saying, "Doctor Strange, you're needed in Portland now. There are five dragons wreaking havocs in a forest."
Stephen sighed, "I just need one night, one night of peace. Is that too hard to ask?" He retrieved Sophie from his bag. "I'll be back soon, can't promise you how much time. Just finish the starters for me, please." He opened a portal behind him.
Christine suspected that was the reason he chose the corner seat with a divider, it was not just for privacy but also for an emergency like this. "Please stay safe." He nodded, stepped into the portal, and disappeared.
Christine decided that she needed to order some wine to survive tonight's date.
Notes:
-This story actually started from a prompt by RawringRyu in AO3. I'd mention the prompt at the end of the story because that'd be a spoiler.
-Any feedback and comments are welcome. Thanks to "I'm Here For The Flufff" for some corrections.
