Ch. 3 - An Estranged Mindset
Nearing the end of the second week, their sessions had grown to get more intense as he was entering a phase for intermediate level. As each day passed, he was sure that he was reaching to her level but then she introduced something new to him. A new submission or a new counter. Her body flowed effortlessly as she spun around him and delivered a shove in his way. She had introduced sparring sessions on the tenth day and each spar session drove him to the point of exhaustion. It frustrated him because he knew she was holding back for him. He was more frustrated that his pitiful hands kept him imbalanced. He was scared mostly because he felt like he would never advance. Hearing the other students speak about her, Master Berg. After the fourteenth day, the start of the third week, she would have to introduce spell work in regards to combat. And he knew it in his heart that she knows he has not emitted anything because of his damned hands. Part of him works hard just to impress her. It felt good whenever he learned a move first try and to see her eyes brighten as he kept going.
"When are you going to stop holding back?" He challenged her.
She placed her hands on her hips and caught her breath, "Whenever you stop hiding." She pointed at the fact that he kept trying to hide his hands as he crossed his arms.
"You keep trying to control the movement in your hands and hiding them from me as if I don't see them."
He sighed exasperatedly and turned away from her. Elise watched him pace as her eyes slanted. She could sense his distress and his blockage. She needed him to overcome it in order for him to progress. Even if it took to push his buttons to get him to open up, "What is it?" She asked him.
"I am trying to control them."
"I think that's your issue." She pondered.
He scoffed at her, "Oh, don't get critical with me." She gave him a puzzled look, "I am trying here!" His voice raised as he showed her his hands, "This is what you want to see?" His eyes never left how they were in front of him. The red scarring and lining along his fingers and the scar tissue in each joint, "I can see it in your eyes, Elise, the disappointment after each failure and I don't want it."
She shook her head at him and walked towards him, "Okay, first of all, that is not what I said and second of all, don't put words into my mouth." Suddenly, she grabbed both of his forearms pushing them to the side so he could see her and she kept her voice even and low, "Your issue is being controlling in general." Stepping back she waved her hands in front of her which sparked the ever knowing golden sigils, "You have to learn to let go."
It was his turn to shake his head, "It makes no sense."
"Yes, it does, Stephen." With a wave of her wrist, the curtains around them shuttered down and the sunlit room became dim, "Remember your first days here and what Master Mordo said, forget what you know and forget about everything you think you know. About life, about friendship, relationships, anything and everything prior to that night."
"That night?" his eyebrows furrowed as she sparked the memory within him, "The car accident." His eyes quickly closed as he pulled away trying to shake it out of his head. It was already too late. The whole environment around them was suddenly dark and raining. They were standing on that exact street. A passing car had to move out of the way and aggressively honked at them for standing in the middle of the road, "Why do you think the universe put you through that? It was to humble you, Dr. Strange."
"Stop it."
"Stephen, look at me," She spoke softly trying to grab his face. He peered slowly just seeing her, "Hitting rock bottom is not a weekend retreat. Coming here to Kamar-Taj is not a vacation. Stop trying to control everything and just let go."
He didn't say anything else as he felt her hands on either side of his face. He could not escape her eyes as they began to glow suddenly. She pulled him back to that damned memory and he shuddered as he was now holding the wheel. Elise was sitting on the passenger side staring at him, ignoring the fact that there are bright lights right in front of them, "No, get out of the car."
"Let go, Stephen!"
"No, Elise, wait!" he let his hands off the steering wheel and tried to reach for her before the impact but nothing came. He opened his eyes again and he was on the ground in the training room as she was a few paces away pulling the curtains so the sun can light the room up.
"What was the point of that?"
"It was the object of your surrender."
"That was on all counts messed up." He was out of breath still shaken from the memory. She stared at him warily, "Is it out of your system though?" She was not perturbed by what had just occurred or the fact he was still upset, "Look." She pointed at his hands. They were slightly shaking but they were out on his sides instead of hiding in his pockets or behind his back.
A smile broke out of her face, and she raised her hands back up, "Now can we train for real?"
He was out of words to say. He wanted to be upset that she drove him to this point. Exposed him but her calming nature and the sudden quickness from her serious cerulean stare to a playful grey gaze tugged his heart strings. A weird way to go about a philosophical lesson but he did challenge her at the beginning. Letting out a deep sigh, his shaky hands raised as well, "What do you want me to do?"
She smiled enthusiastically as she walked closer to him to where they are toe to toe with each other. Slowly she raised her hands to go against his. Her fingers touched the tips of his and then their palms connected. He looked away in embarrassment. His shook while hers stood there stable. It was already awkward as his hands were larger than hers. "Eyes, up." She commented and he was just going to have to deal with it, "Lesson one," She stated as she stepped her right foot forward as his left foot stepped backward whilst their hands moved in sequence.
"Lesson two." She stated again as she moved and he mirrored, his muscle memory was just as great as his own photographic memory. She went down the lesson as a quick check on learning before she picked up the pace. He followed right after, and they moved around the training room as if it was a dance floor. He could feel her magic through his finger tips coming from her hands. His heart began to race and before Elise knew it hers was racing too. Her quick and even steps began to falter as she watched him watched her next move. She quickly realized that it was at that moment she took his metaphorical blindfold off and taught him a cheat code. She felt his gaze which sent a shiver down her spine. She spun around to dodge his move and went to counter him but then his hands stopped hers and it was like she was staring at a mirror. Both of them shared the same stance just opposite from each other. Both eyes locked in on each other. Her breathing was labored as was his.
Both jumped at the sound of clapping and Elise quickly pulled away to greet their guests.
"Oh, Master Berg, I am very pleased to see our new recruit is improving." The ancient one, "He can start training with the others now."
"Yes, he's a fast learner." Elise stated avoiding eye contact with Stephen. She did not know what happened at that moment, but she tried not to overthink it. Because clearly there is nothing going on there.
Curse her overthinking mind. Of course, there is something going on. She hopped on her bed and grabbed the nearest pillow to shriek in it. From her? Or from him? Did it matter anyways? His ultimate goal was to fix his hands and get back to being a neurosurgeon and based on the post traumatic experience she had made him go through, he would soon accomplish that goal. She paused and looked at the reflection of herself in the mirror as if to talk to herself. If that is the ultimate goal then why does the ancient one insists of him furthering his knowledge with the other masters? Why allow him to silently read from her personal collection late at night?
"It is because she is creating an army, a legion against the Zealots." Her reflection spoke back to her, "You need to pick up your slack and quit being distracted."
Her jaw dropped. How dare she… But her reflection was right, and she needed some tea. She hoped there was also some butter croissants where she was heading. Multiple students and some of the same rank as her passed her with greetings as she made her way to the common rooms. She poured herself a cup of tea and walked to the gardens. She adored the quietness and hearing nothing but the wind rustling through the leaves. Well, she thought she was alone…
"What do you mean?" a young woman whispered.
"There is a small gathering. A final one before the Zealots make their next move." A male voice explained in a very low tone, "You should come."
"What if we are caught?" she sounded concerned.
Elise placed her cup down slowly and stilled herself trying to hear more of this couple's conversation. Of course, there had been more of this cult-like talk here. Had the Ancient One been stricter in her ways, then none of this would have happened. She cannot even think to succumb to that level as her teacher or her mother. What is earned at the end of it all? She had to know. She had to know what the Zealots are doing.
"It'll be quick." He reassured the concerned girl, "It's in Hell's Kitchen, we would have to be careful about the New York Sanctum. We cannot let Master Drumm know we are there."
It was a good thing she did not have to be entirely involved with Stephen's training since he had advanced to the point where she can pass him off to the other Masters. Tonight, will be a long night for her. She had contemplated on whether to inform the Ancient One on these hidden Zealots or inform her later on when she had more information. She watched as the couple ran from where they were hiding and played it off as if they were just walking from the opposite corridor. She scoffed at them and called them amateurs under her breath. It was then she decided to go for the latter. She rushed back to her bedroom to dress appropriately for New York. The night had settled in just in time as she walked out of her room silently. Most of the residents here have already gone to bed and the select few had taken their shifts to keep watch of certain sections of Kamar-Taj. They were not actively at war with anything, but they were always on guard. She walked on the balls of her feet as she held her pair of shoes on one hand.
She did not want to draw any attention or make anymore noise than needed. She even went great lengths to cloak her presence and emit very little magic. What she did not know is that she had one pair of eyes on her. Stephen watched her as she silently slipped away into the night. Curiosity got the better of him as he tried to follow her. Despite the schedule he was used to this was out of the ordinary for her. It did not help that after their last session, he could not stop thinking about her. Driving him to that point angered him just a little bit but for the most part she had been gentle with him through the experience. She did not see him as a broken man. She sized him up as if he were her equal. Showed him up front the issues he needed to handle on his own accord.
Stephen walked faster to catch up with her, but he was met with an empty room. His mystery girl nowhere to be found. A green glint hit the corner of his eye and he turned his head to the center of the room. It was bronze colored oval shaped object that stood in the center. His eyes furrowed as he could've sworn there was something green shining to catch his attention. He turned back to where he presumed Elise had run off too. Though, he left it at that. Perhaps, he could talk to her about it tomorrow morning. The underlying suspicion he had with this place just raised more awareness in the back of his mind.
"Follow the white rabbit." Elise mocked as she scouted the streets of New York. Ever since 2012, the whole world had gotten weirder and the acceptance of anything out of the ordinary soared. Colorful figures in tights, capes, and brandishing metal were worshipped like gods. This rose many strange characters from the city. Most of them can be called masked-vigilantes or a menace to society as the daily bugle claimed.
None of them can be compared to the weird underground rave that she had emersed herself in. Unbeknownst to her, the outside sign that pointed to the stairs that led you to the basement, read Club Fear. She did not think to hear Nine Inch Nails echoing out of the speakers as the hot bodies around her moved with the melody. She moved within the crowd and searched for any magical signatures. That is when her eye caught the young couple from earlier. Before she could proceed to follow them, she was stopped and felt rather large hands on her hips. The man behind her pulled her closer to him as he swayed with the music. She could feel his lips near her earlobe, and she groaned when she realized who it was.
"Little minx, what brings you out here?" A voice of nightmares made her shiver. His breath was cold, "My club of all places."
"Yea, I did not realize it before it was too late." She turned around so she could stop feeling him ride up on her, "I also did not think this place would be quite popular." His hands grabbed hers and forcefully pulled her towards him, "Well October is right around the corner, minx."
"What name are you going by this time?" She asked out of annoyance. He looked more human than what she remembered him to be. His dark hair that represented the midnight sky was longer making him appeal to the gothic look that everyone is sporting for in this club. His piercing green eyes almost glowing intimidated her but she wouldn't admit that out loud. She stepped back to pull her hands away from him. He spun her around as if they were still dancing. She tripped over him which made him carry her closer to him, "For you, I will always be the nightmare."
She rolled her eyes, "Stop with the cringe." Her hands sparked in his arms and he had to let her go with a hiss, "What do you know about the Zealots meeting up in here?"
He continuously patted his forearms as she had left him a little first degree burn, "I know nothing of what Dormammu is planning with his little mortals."
"Why do I have a hard time believing you?" she crossed her arms at him, "Did you guys become butt buddies after the Ancient One kicked your ass to the curb that one time?"
Now it was her turn to hiss as he quickly snatched a handful of her hair from the back of her nape. She was back in front of him. Her hands were placed on his chest to prevent her from going further into him. His nose touched hers, "Watch your tone." He then went to the side of her face, "And I would not hesitate to put that old hag into a deep slumber and torment the rest of her days with endless nightmares." She shook under his breath. She did not want to cause a scene but at this rate she may not have a choice. He let her go suddenly and shoved her as he walked past her.
She rubbed the back of her neck as she followed him to a more secluded area upstairs. At least there she could fight him without harming the party goers. He walked over to a lonely chair and sat down whilst lighting a cigarette and tapping his thigh, "Come sit for old time's sake."
"Uh, no, I am not here for that ever again."
"Oh, don't be such a prude."
"It was one time!" She exclaimed.
He inhaled and the silvery smoke blew out of his nostrils, "I was serious about not knowing what his minions are doing." He put out his cigarette after the second puff, "I do not want to meddle in the affairs of the dark dimension but word on the street says that it would soon become our reality."
"That was a full cigarette." She commented as he let it go to waste, "What do you mean become our reality?"
He rolled his eyes at her as he stood and walked over to the ledge where he can oversee the dance floor, "Kaecilius had rented out a private suite there." He pointed at the opposite balcony, "And their plan is to destroy the sanctums. That will weaken the barriers amongst the dimensions."
She squinted her eyes at him, "Just like that?" He just suddenly dumps this information on her.
"Well, I know your magical army are useless without the fortitude of Kaecilius and with the barriers down I may or may not thrive in that bargain." He grinned at her mischievously, "Besides I still relish the fact I popped your supernatural cherry."
"Fucking hell." She rolled her eyes in disgust as she turned to make her leave. Still shuddering at the memory of that night where this being had manipulated her into thinking he was someone else and forced her hand to play dirty. She hated the fact that she had ran into him but regardless he told her what she needed to hear.
"You cannot stop it, Elise, they have already summoned him on this plane."
A/N: If you haven't already figured it out. Every chapter title is a pun.
All credit goes to Marvel Comics.