Portrait

Conclusion

Stephen ruffled around the giant armoire that housed his wardrobe, growing more frustrated by the minute.

'Honestly, how many sets of clothes are in here?' he complained, tossing a third possible choice onto the bed.

Cloak hovered, almost impatiently, and Stephen could swear it was concerned about what he chose.

He paused, hands on hips, then rubbed his chin, commented, deviously,

'Maybe I won't wear any clothes. Are there other nudes in the gallery?'

Cloak threw its' hem edges up to its collar, shaking all over, clearly expressing horror.

Stephen laughed, assured,

'C'mon. I'm kidding,' and leaned back in the armoire, one more time.

His hands fell on a midnight blue suit, the fabric lush to his partially numb fingers. He pulled it out, surveyed it.

It was bold, detailed, regal. Bespoke a sense of power.

He smiled, checked the styling, which was spot-on what he liked.

Then he sighed, decided it might be a little ostentatious, and went to hang it back up.

Cloak jerked between him and the armoire, swaying back and forth, denial.

Stephen looked at it, asked,

'You think this one?'

Cloak gently pushed the garment tightly against its Chosen.

Bemused, Stephen nodded, conceded,

'Alright.'

When Stephen entered the study, Wong had already set everything up in preparation for Master Jade, and stood close by to assist her.

Hearing him, she turned, with a smile.

Feeling awkward, Stephen automatically returned it, still uneasy about her eyeless face. Nervously, he awaited directions, Cloak fidgeting on his shoulders.

'Thank you, Wong,' Master Jade said, finding a seat in the chair close by her easel and the table holding her paints.

Wong gave a slight nod, then left.

Master Jade laid the staff across her lap, clenched it tightly, preparing to loose her astral body, and Stephen had a sudden revelation.

'It's the staff, isn't it?' he observed, halting her.

'I've been wondering how you would move anything in the physical realm, with your astral body. It's just not possible.'

She sighed, then smiled.

'I was wondering how long it would take you to figure that out.'

After a few moments, she explained,

'The staff came to me, after I lost my sight. It gifts me with the ability to touch the physical realm, from the astral.'

'So you can paint.'

'Or fight, or do whatever is necessary. The Staff of Bisected Realities.'

Stephen shook his head, observed, sarcastically, a twist of dismay on his brow,

'Wow. They really need to come up with better names for some of these relics.'

She laughed, merrily, then freed her astral body.

She took a moment, surveyed his choice of attire, and gave a nod of approval.

Suggested,

'Shall we begin?' and gestured for him to have a seat.

He sat, awkwardly, attempting to adjust Cloak as it attempted to adjust itself. Stephen could almost feel its threads tingling with excitement.

'Just relax, the both of you,' she chided, stepping close.

Cloak fluttered, then settled calmly around it's Chosen's shoulders.

She observed for a moment, then reached out, took Stephens hands in hers.

He noticed how cool they felt.

'You need to hold your hands, thusly,' she advised, gently positioning them so they lay against the edges of Cloak, just at his chest.

'No,' Stephen snapped, blunt refusal, jerking is hands away.

'Why would I want anyone to see these?'

'These scars do not define you, any more than the loss of my eyes defines me. But, they helped lead you here, to become Master of the New York Sanctum.'

He stared at her, wanting to argue, but her calm determination diffused his anger.

After a moment, he asked,

'Would this do?' draping Cloak over his right forearm, where it rested on the chair arm, then laying his left hand over it, a familiar caress.

She raised her brows, approvingly, and nodded.

'Quite good, Doctor,' she agreed, asked,

'Cloak?'

To which Cloak gave a delighted wriggle.

'Well, then. Some music, and we can begin.'

The hours passed quickly, and Stephen found, once he relaxed, he didn't resent sitting for her, at all.

He could see her face, fascinated by watching her expressions, the music was a pleasant diversion, as was their casual conversation, and, suddenly, the day was gone.

Then two, then three, four.

Days, sitting in the golden sun.

Evenings she retired to rest, having explained how weary interacting with the physical realm in her astral form was for her.

Oddly, no threats arose, Wong never summoned him. It seemed the world outside had gone calm.

Finally, on the fifth afternoon, she was finished, and Stephen was surprised by how anxious he was to view the completed work.

'Patience, Doctor,' Master Jade advised, 'I wish to have it hanging in the gallery, so you may see it where it belongs. Shall we say, tomorrow morning?'

'Alright, Master,' Stephen nodded, as he stood, and Cloak left his shoulders, gave a rousing shake.

Master Jade laughed,

'I thank you both for your patience.'

Cloak rustled up close to the back of the large canvas, acted as if it were about to peek around the corner, and Master Jade shooed it away, with a chuckle.

'Tomorrow,' she repeated, and draped the picture with a cover.

Master Jade waited in the study for Stephen and Cloak, tip of her staff resting lightly on the floor.

A quick glance around the room showed that, at some point during the night, Master Jade had managed to have the portrait moved.

The realization was moderately disturbing to Stephen, that someone could pull that off right outside his bedroom without him, or Cloak, realizing they were there.

Stephen's brow crinkled, and he thought he'd have to have a word with Wong about opening a portal in his private rooms. Who else could it have been?

She smiled broadly, and Stephen realized that now, when he looked at her, he saw who she was, not her lack of eyes.

'Are you ready?' she asked, pulling on her sling ring.

Another surprise.

She sensed his reaction, offered,

'I don't need eyes to envision where we're going.'

'That's good,' Stephen chuckled, stepping up alongside her, ' Since I have no idea where the Hall of Memories is at.'

'Kamar-Taj,' she informed him, but the portal opened at the far end of a hallway to somewhere he had never been.

He offered his arm, she took it, and they stepped thru.

The hallway was long, but well lit. Ahead of them, all along the walls, Stephen saw the edges of frames, apparently pictures of past Masters. The one closest them had a drape over it.

With a deep breath of anticipation, Stephen laid his hand, over hers, where it rested in the loop of his elbow, and started off.

He was unprepared for the tightening of her grip, her request,

'Please, wait.'

He paused, looking to her, questioningly.

'May I ask, one favor?'

Stephen nodded,

'Certainly.'

Her grip shifted from his arm, to Cloak, gently.

'Would you allow Cloak..to hold this form, so I may be there, to see...what you think?'

Cloak rippled, along his back and shoulders, a clear assent.

Stephen smiled, admitted,

'It pretty much does what it feels like, anyways. It's my partner, not my possession.'

Cloak offered its' Chosen a quick flick of thanks along his cheek with its' collar, then spun free.

Master Jade clutched the staff against her chest, and Cloak wrapped tightly around her.

Master Jade's astral form pulled away, and kept step alongside Stephen as he headed toward the portrait closest him.

Cloak came immediately behind, Master Jade cradled carefully in its' grasp.

Her astral form stepped up, and, after a moments hesitation, pulled away the cloth.

He was unprepared for what he saw.

'Master Jade,' he breathed, 'I...really, I'm not sure what to say. Except, thank you.'

She hadn't painted him glaring, angrily, at a dark universe; instead, she'd captured him looking down at Cloak, a fond smile shaping his face, scarred fingers softly caressing the velvety folds, luminous in the golden bath of sunlight.

He looked over to her, thought he saw the sparkle of a tear, quickly blinked away.

She gestured, a nod, toward Cloak, and Stephen looked back, at his companion.

Cloak still held tightly to Master Jade, but the edges of its collar had curled inward, as if covering an invisible mouth, and he could see its edges trembling slightly.

He looked back at the picture, quite certain he could stand here for some time, discovering new details.

Quite certain he would.

'Thank you for allowing me to paint your portrait, Doctor,' she said, quietly, 'The luxury of painting, or such pleasant company, is not a pastime I often allow myself to indulge in.'

Stephen looked back to her, confused at the sorrow underlying her words.

Impulsively, he asked,

'Why me, then?'

She smiled, explained simply,

'Cloak.'

Sensing his confusion, she clarified,

'It has not chosen a Master for over a century. I felt that an event of such significance should be celebrated.'

Next to him, Cloak gave an all over shudder, which Stephen translated as happiness, and pulled a smile to his face.

All at once, she took a step back, her features faded into harsher lines.

'I'm afraid I must go, now. I rather left some important things unattended, and I have certainly kept you away from your responsibilities long enough.'

Stephen blinked, surprised, disappointed, admitted,

'Absolutely, I understand. Though, it is unfortunate...I would like to get to know you better. I hope we will meet again, soon.'

Master Jade smiled, briefly, assured,

'On that score, Stephen, you may rely,' and returned to her body.

Cloak carefully unwrapped, allowing her to find her feet, staff to the floor.

Her fingers lingered in the scarlet folds, and Cloak seemed to return the tiny squeeze of her hand.

'Take care of him,' she whispered, so low that Stephen almost missed it.

Stephen moved to offer his arm, and she waved him away, pulling on her sling ring.

'Take care, Doctor,' she advised, moving confidently down the hallway toward the sparkling gateway which opened before her.

Stephen was attempting to get a look at where she was headed when Wong's sharp

'Strange! What are you doing here?' drew his attention to the opposite end of the hall.

He thought he heard some horrific, unexplainable sound, from her gateway, but by time he glanced back, she, and it, were gone.

Disturbed, he scowled, then turned his attention back to Wong who was striding angrily toward him.

'What's the problem, Wong? I'm just admiring my portrait.'

Wong stormed up, right in his face, clearly perturbed. He shot a glare at the picture, did a double take, and demanded,

'Where did this come from?'

'Oh, yeah, ha, ha,' Stephen snorted, rolling his eyes, 'as if you didn't know.'

Wong stared at him, as if he'd gone mad.

'I haven't been able to find you, or your cloak, for nearly a week. You went searching for the Eye of Agamotto after it disappeared from the Portal room.'

Stephen blinked, beyond confused, shook his head, asserted,

'No. No, you were the one who insisted I sit for Master Jade...'

'Who?'

'Master Jade.'

Wong shook his head, told him,

'Master Jade went into battle, in an unknown alternate dimension of the multiverse, nearly a century ago. She never returned.'

Stephen stared at Wong, utter disbelief, and was glad that Cloak had settled back on his shoulders, because he was afraid he might not keep his feet. Eyes closed, chin to chest, he asked,

'Was she blind?'

'How would you know that?' Wong insisted.

'Was she blind?' Stephen barked, really about ready to lose it.

'Yes. She lost her eyes to a would-be assassin, not long before that battle,' Wong confirmed, his own expression now showing disbelief.

'She had a staff. The Staff of Bisected Realities,' Stephen added, hand covering his heart, as if to keep it in his chest, breathing as if he'd just run a mile, or fought a battle.

Wong had no idea what to do, except nod, affirm, quietly,

'Yes.'

Stephen looked at him, fiercely, head whirling in absolute confusion.

After a moment, Wong said,

'Her picture is here,' heading back down the hall the way he'd come, 'She was Master of New York when she disappeared.'

Stephen followed, feeling like he was a player on a stage, but had forgotten all his lines. When he stepped in front of her picture, he groaned,

'Oh, my,' and Cloak tightened around him.

Master Jade, her blue eyes sparkling with humor, looked back at him, a sad, soft smile on her lips.

She was sitting in the same chair she'd chosen for him.

'How...how could this...be possible?' Stephen whispered, touching the canvas, carefully.

'Time passes differently, in different dimensions,' Wong offered, clearly as freaked out as Stephen.

'I cannot offer any other explanation.'

After a few moments, Stephen straightened, asked,

'Is the Eye returned?'

'Strange,' Wong replied, quietly, drawing Stephens attention,

'You are wearing it.'

Stephen sat in his rooms, numbly, staring at his portrait, propped up on the chair at his desk. Cloak floated close, swished gently against his arm, whether in a comforting gesture, or to get his attention, Stephen wasn't certain. He was still trying to understand how, and why, whatever had happened...happened.

'Was she actually here?' he finally asked Cloak.

Cloak went to the desk, folded something into its grasp, returned to lay it in his shaking hand.

A paintbrush, some of the same indigo blue that colored the picture still clinging to the handle.

Cloak touched Stephen's head, then his chest, with it's hem, clearly implying, 'What do you think?' and then tapping the brush in his hand.

Stephen looked at the brush, long moments, brow folded in thought.

Remembering Cloak's initial reaction to seeing her, he asked

'Did you know her?'

Cloak bobbed, a nod.

He mulled over several seemingly random thoughts, chaining them together to form a terrifying picture.

A blind Master, going unaided into a battle, on an unknown dimension. Her comments about neglecting certain responsibilities, the frightening snippet of sound, just as her gateway closed.

Could she be trapped, in a never-ending fight, alone, in some unperceived realm?

With a shudder, he remembered, how he'd felt, in the time loop, contesting Dormammu. Fear, determination, resignation, hope.

'Forget everything you think you know,' he whispered, with a long look toward Cloak.

Clenching the brush, tightly, he decided,

'I think I may need to visit Hank Pym.'

I confess. This story was supposed to be a lot shorter. It started out to be a simple bit of fun, but Master Jade and Cloak had other ideas about where to take it.

Cloak has been around perhaps centuries. It only makes sense it knows things, has seen things, that no one else has. It only makes sense that some of those things will impact life with his Chosen.

So, let me know. Like it? Hate it? As always, I live for those reviews!