Thank you for reading my story! I hope you guys enjoy Chapter 2!
Honking horns and shouting people filled New York City to the brim. Residents were used to it, as noise was typical in their bustling city. In the afternoons, it died down (in a way), but after five, it was hectic. But on the afternoon in question, a calm demeanor rose, despite the chaos that surrounded the boroughs. So calm, that Wong decided to walk home from the store, instead of teleporting to avoid any sort of traffic.
Stephen had insisted, when arguing about who was going to go, that he had to stay home. Of course, someone had to stay in the sanctum, but the doctor had been persistent. Although he wondered about Stephen's behavior, he simply shrugged it off and went to the markets. Yet, as he walked down the road, he regretted not interrogating his friend- and taking the shorter route.
Wong struggled up the stairs, bags in his hands. He tried to open the front door even with his magic. He looked over the bags as he came into the room.
"Thank you for your help, Stephen!" The man said rather loudly," I know the universe can count on you to save it. And I can count on you to take groceries."
Wong felt a sudden force beside him. He jumped when he saw the cloak laying before him. It moved two of its corners, as if it had a thought of its own. Slowly, Wong placed the bags on his friend's cloak. It zipped past and to the kitchen. The keeper looked down the hall and peered.
"There's ice cream in there…" he mumbled, and glanced around the hall," Stephen?"
He called for the man while he climbed the stairs. He didn't know which room the doctor could be in, and while it wasn't a dire situation, he would've liked to know. As he got to the top of the stairs, the cloak flew past him once more. As Wong spun once, he found himself in the training room at the end of the second floor hall. The man looked around and saw Stephen. He stood on his feet, eyes closed and hands in front of him. The time stone's soft glow could be seen on his chest, working for magic. He looked concentrated on his work, and didn't even look at his friend when he was teleported into the room.
"Did you get the ice cream?" Stephen asked without looking up.
"Chocolate, vanilla, butter pecan," Wong glanced the doctor up and down," Practicing a spell?"
"I couldn't sleep last night," he admitted as his eyes opened up," I had another nightmare about the end of our world. And no, not with Stark's demise, but with something colder. It was like a second ice age and I found myself fighting someone. Anyway, I went to the library after that. I wanted to see what kind of spells we've got. There's a whole shelf on elemental spells that I was reading up on. Now, I'm on some kind of fire spell...of sorts."
"Maybe you can show me how it works?" Wong raised an eyebrow, curious as to what tricks Stephen was learning.
The doctor adjusted himself as his hands and arms stretched slightly. The doctor took a deep breath and hoped for the best. He moved his hands in triangular motions. He started off slow, then sped up with all of his might. Then, when his arms were high in the air, he slammed his palms together twice and snapped his fingers. Fire spouted above the tips of his fingers, the light hovered beautifully, and Wong nodded, with a half smirk.
"Impressive," he brought up as Stephen blew the fire out," but I can show you tricks that would burn a city down- not that I've ever done that before."
"I don't plan on using spells for a long time," the doctor mentioned," or spells like that at all. Just something to keep me occupied while I take time off."
His companion gave a solemn nod. As he had been showing off his talents, outside of a second floor room, in between the sanctum in another building, movement buzzed about. A certain bug hero climbed the walls of the sanctum, his 'Night Monkey' suit on for protection. Peter hoped that the wizards had been home so that he could bring them to their new destination. He peered into the window of the second floor, trying to adjust to the dark.
"Karen," he said softly," please turn on Night Vision."
"No problem, Peter," the unit replied, and did as told.
The young man looked deeply onward, getting a clear view of everything in sight. It seemed like an abandoned library to him. As he found that the coast was cleared, Ned climbed up the ladder, landing on the fire escape and watching his best friend creep around the window.
"We're all in the clear," Parker motioned.
"Why couldn't we use the front door?" Ned breathed out," I mean, doesn't that seem more efficient?"
"Yeah, but Mr. Strange never answers the door when I come around," Peter fixed the screws on the window," he and Mr. Wong think I only come around to show them memes. I do show them memes, but it's only when I have to do some official SHIELD business. I would've stayed on the down low, like I'm supposed to, but I had to do something to keep myself occupied. Besides," he clipped the window wide open," it's more fun this way."
Ned nodded, although he was still debating about the situation. They slithered into the rather large room, the Leeds boy adjusting to the darkness. Peter lurked around, with the intent of keeping steady and not bumping into anything the wizards had been sorting. Ned quietly tiptoed along as he clutched the arm of Spiderman. Ned nearly slid forward on the carpet in front of him as Peter tried to turn on a light in his suit.
"Be careful," Parker whispered," we don't want to get caught."
"But we're looking for them!" Ned argued.
"I know," Peter tapped the light again as it blinked," but we have to wait for the right time. As if we're gonna say, surprise!"
As the light came back on, the two heard a low growl. They looked to each other as Karen let out a 'warning' to Peter. Behind them, towering over with sharp teeth, sat a large, green plant.
"Are you still sure about that whole 'taking time off' thing?" Wong asked as the wizards still stood in the training room, this time with cups of tea.
"Why wouldn't I be sure?" Stephen raised an eyebrow, gently blowing the steam away," After that battle we faced with Thanos, I've been drained, to say the least. We all faced a different point of view those days. Actually, I faced billions. Stark's death changed me, I hate to say, but this means I need a new outlook on life and I have to find it. Even if it means just sitting in the sanctum, practicing spells all day."
Wong understood what his friend was talking about. The battle he had been thrown into was a wake up call for whatever was to come. Stephen went on to discuss further plans when they heard a growl and two screams from down the hall. Wong had a look of panic on his face.
"Beyonce!" he exclaimed as they ran to the back.
"Beyonce?" Stephen asked with a confused face.
"It's the name of the Himalayan Trap," Wong went on as they traveled to a shaking door," It's a plant that feeds off of the aura of human souls. I blame you and your new music for its name."
"We're not gonna let it run the world," the doctor seemed proud of his pun with his arms raised," ready?"
The two had their arms raised and eyes on the door. Wong flung it open and faced their danger. Stephen brought out a fire spell, and let the fire guide them. Thrashing around was the plant, standing over twelve feet tall. The shiny purple head, with its teeth jagged and rough, snarled and poked around. The green vines swerved around with its leaves standing on edge. In one of the vines was a heavier young man, that Stephen recognized as Ned, a new member of SHIELD. That only meant-
"Hey Mr. Strange! Hey Mr. Wong!" Peter yelled as he slipped around the vines," Sorry we woke up your plant. But we-"
"We're gonna need some HELP!" Ned yelped as the plant roared.
Wong knew exactly what to do. His hands and arms moved quickly as he recited a spell. With a quick tongue, he finished off the spell and an almost blinding light appeared. Everyone looked away, while the plant dropped Ned, who couldn't believe what went on in the sanctum. The plant growled and thrashed about, as soon as the light faded down and Stephen switched the normal light on.
"Sh, Beyonce," Wong softly said to the plant," It's alright. They're- colleagues."
"Thank you Mr- Beyonce?" Peter questioned.
"It's a long story," Wong brought up," I also have a-"
"Why are you guys here?" Stephen questioned abruptly," And why did you break into the sanctum? If you're trying to show me another meme about me battling, please, Peter, just email it to me."
Peter and Ned were slightly offended, being that they loved the memes they showed the doctor. Nonetheless, they had a mission to worry about.
"We came here on official SHIELD business," Ned piped up as they walked out of the room.
Stephen rolled his eyes after the boy spoke. He knew there could only be one person that would call him to the headquarters, knowing fully well that he was taking time off. Wong sensed a bit of tensity, and decided to just keep quiet.
"Did Fury send you down to get me?" Strange questioned.
"No," Ned brought up.
"It was too," Peter noted,quickly following," Mr Strange-"
"Doctor."
"Mr. Doctor," Peter continued," we really need you. Ever since Mr. Stark died, we've been-"
Stephen clicked his fingers and Peter became silent. The same went for Ned, who tried to speak but miserably failed. The doctor had to put his two cents into the situation.
"This is a different situation," he began," Look, kids, that battle with Thanos was...hard on all of us. I'm sure you know what I mean and feel what I feel- but I can't go out there. I'm taking a while off to protect the sanctum and practice spells. I don't want any trouble or involvement with SHIELD at the moment, thank you."
He snapped his fingers and the two friends tried to protest. Wong transported them outside of the sanctum, and that was that. Stephen thanked his friend and moved to the window in the front.
"Does it sound selfish to want to take time off?" the wizard asked with hesitation.
"It's for the best that you take time for yourself," Wong replied," maybe it's-"
On the window, Peter tapped on the window, shouting that he left his mask in the house. Stephen rubbed the bridge of his nose and turned to the window. With annoyed force, Stephen opened the window and looked to the teenage hero.
"Fine. I'll go."