Genesis awoke from her nap and began Step 1 of her plan. While she was in the Sanctum, she took some video footage and several pictures of the inside. Leverage. She unlocked her phone and couldn't help but grin at the photos. Quickly, she got up when she noticed it was dark outside. Slipping on her coat and a paie of boots, she hurried out of her apartment and back to the Sanctum.
She caught a city bus and paid her fare. As she took her seat, she noticed an African American man sittimg behind her. He noticed her but looked away to glance out of the window he sat beside.
Genesis sat down and opened her phone, examining the photos again. She deleted a few blurry ones and looked up from her phone once in a while to see if the bus was approaching the Sanctum.
"Impressive photography," the man behind her commented.
She glanced back at him. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a project."
"You should be proud of them."
She smirked. "Yeah, I am."
Her phone buzzed as the GPS alerted her that her destination was close. She leaned over and pressed the long, tellow signal button.
Ding! 'Stop requested!'
The bus came to a stop as Genesis made her way across the pathway. She hopped out of the bus and glanced back to watch the bus leave. The man sitting behind her was gone and she grimaced. Her attention turned to the Sanctum when she recalled her mission. Quickly, she went up the steps and knocked on the door.
Within seconds, a large Asian man opened the door and asked, "Yes?"
"Yeah, hi, I'm looking for Dr. Strange. We spoke earlier."
The man grimaced at that. "Strange? There is no one by that name that lives here."
Genesis raised her eyebrows. "Oh, that's unfortunate. I had something to show him-"
"What are you doing here?"
"Aah!" Genesis yelled as she turned to see Strange standing behind her.
His eyes seemed to glow and his cheekbones popped. His arms were folded as he awaited her reply. Genesis took out her phone and spoke carefully.
"Look, I need to talk to you. I just want you to understand something."
The Asian man stepped out of the building, but kept his grip on the door knob. He gave Strange a questioning look, but he replied with a shake of his head. This seemed to make the Asian man lower his guard and relax his shoulders.
"I think you're failing to understand that you're getting on my last nerve and have long been harbored in the shade of my patience," Strange said as he stepped towards Genesis.
Genesis raised her eyebrows. "Okay, that was a cool comeback but I just-"
"Wong, shut the door and make sure she gets within a hundred feet of the building before I do it myself," Strange said to the Asian behind her.
Genesis shook her head as she unlocked her phone. "I have pictures of this place. If you're supposed to protect it, then you don't want these posted online."
Strange tilted his head in disbelief. "Are you...threatening me?"
"Consider it a matter of leverage," Genesis replied.
Wong spoke up. "Strange.."
Stephen held up his hand and Wong paused. "Leverage usually involves a threat."
Genesis groaned in frustration as she waved her phone in the air. "Look, I need your help. Aren't you supposed to help people? Like the Avengers?"
"Not my area of work. And none of your business. Now, hand over the phone."
He lunged his hand towards her, but she placed the phone down her shirt and into her bra. Strange narrowed his eyes and his cheekbones became more visible.
"Oh, that's not going to stop me," he warned.
Both Wong and Genesis widened their eyes at that. Strange grit his teeth as he took another step towards her. "My job is to protect this Sanctum and I will do whatever it takes to do so."
Genesis looked as if she were about to start crying. She took a deep breath and spoke quickly. "Please, I need your help."
"Strange, I think we should make an effort to listen. She seems desperate," Wong advised.
"I'm done listening," Strange spat as he raised his hands.
Wong immediately saw that he was going to cast a spell, so he hurried to Genesis' side and put his arm around her. "Strange, enough. She needs our help."
The sorcerer kept his eyes narrowed as he glanced at Genesis. She was shaking as she tried not to cry. He kept his chin up as he spoke up. "Five minutes."
Wong gave him a look. "Strange."
Strange gave a groan of frustration as a wave of magic filled the air. Genesis shielded her eyes as they appeared in the sitting room where they had sat with Thor. Wong poured tea for Genesis as she stared at Strange. He stood as she and Wong sat in silence until he spoke. Several candles lit the room as he paced back and forth.
"Start talking."
Genesis put her tea aside and cleared her throat. "I need information to pass my class. No one thinks I can do it and that's why I have the perfect subject for my final paper. If I get a good grade on this, I'll pass the class. If I pass, I get my degree and..."
Strange stopped pacing. "And what?"
Genesis looked down at her lap. "I make my parents proud of me."
"For God's sake-"
"No, listen! My parents are in Mexico and they've worked their asses off to get me my education. If I don't pass, it'll be for nothing."
Strange stared at the Hispanic girl with suspicious eyes. He sensed she was still trembling and could read fear in her eyes. He could somewhat understand her ambition, but this was insanity. Threatening the Sanctum and its secrets for an essay? He shook his head as he approached her. His gloved hand reached out and touched her shoulder as he keeled before her.
His sea green eyes met hers and he spoke softly. "You're crazy."
She managed to crack a smile as he continued. "I can't risk revealing the secrets of this Sancrum. Whether I agree or disagree to help, you'll get the secret out anyways. So there's nothing really in my favor in this deal."
"No, no, I know. That's why I want to do my project on you."
They heard Wong choke on his tea. "What?"
"You're threatening the protection of this Sanctum to do an essay on me?," Stephen asked as he got to his feet.
Genesis shook her head and grabbed his hand. "But it's perfect. I mean, no one else in my class could do it but me. And it would be a good thing for you because you could even hook up with the Avengers. Win win!"
"No, it's not a win win because that makes me vulnerable to the world. People will know more about who we are and what our duties are. Having that made public could-"
"Please, just let me do this. I won't reveal any weaknesses or your favorite figting moves. I just want this paper to be more personal. About you as an individual and to show who you are beyond the whole superhero thing."
Strange looked back at her as she gave him a hopeful side-smile. Wong looked between the both of them, wondering who would give in first. His money was on Strange.
"How can I trust you?"
"I won't post the pictures. I swear. I just did this to make you listen," Genesis insisted.
The sorcerer gave an exhale through his nose and shook his head. Without a word, he turned away and headed out of the room. Genesis lowered her eyes and stared at her phone.
"Ack!"
She looked up as Stephen's cloak appeared to be holding him back. He struggled to move forward but it proved to be useless. Genesis grimaced and looks at Wong.
"Is that.."
"Strange, I suggest you give this woman a chance. She isn't a threat and has shown great stupidity in taking this path just to seek your help," Wong said as he stood from his chair.
Genesis grimaced at that, but couldn't help but shrug in agreement. Strange gave in to the cloak and returned to stand before Genesis, his back to Wong.
He levitated a few feet so he could look down at her. He pointed a gloved finger between her eyes. "If I so much as hear or see that something about this Sanctum gets out, this deal is finished and I will make you regret it. Got it?"
Genesis stared at his shaking finger and then up at his eyes. "Yes. You can...come down now."
Wong smiled as Stephen ignored that last bit. He stepped up to Genesis and asked if she would like more tea.
"Make more," Stephen said, keeping his eyes on Genesis.
Wong nodded as he took the teapot and left the room.
"I don't really like tea, so-"
"Sit."
She quickly sat down in a chair thar suddenly appeared behind her. Stephen's eyes gazed down at her phone in her hand and he sighed. "Delete those pictures. Now."
Genesis just did as she was told and held up her phone. "Gone. Okay?"
"Not okay. Listen to me, now that Wong isn't in the room, you pay attention. I don't care what personal problems you have, but I'm willing to compromise for the safety of this building. That being said, since you got me roped into this mess, you do exactly what I say. That means when I say don't touch anything or don't say anything, you don't do it."
"Okay," she said.
"Everything in this building is at risk for being stolen. If I have to choose between saving the relics or you, I'm going for the relics. You got that?"
She nodded and grimaced. "Do you have that many break-ins?"
"Well, they range from evil sorcerers to random college students, but they're a rarity," he joked.
Genesis chuckled and he did the same. She took her satchel in hand and took out a notepad and pen. "So, shall the questions begin?"
Stephen made a chair slide behind him as he took a seat. "Condition: I don't have to answer if I don't want to."
"Fine. Condition: Every question you don't answer gives me the right to ask a personal question."
Stephen grimaced but shook his head. "Go on."
Genesis took a deep breath. She didn't know where to start, considering she had a million questions for him. Her eyes always found their way to his cheekbones or silver streaks.
"Did you...always want to be a wizard?"
"Sorcerer. And, no, I didn't."
They both were silent as Genesis raised her eyebrows. "Okay, care to elaborate on that..please?"
Stephen stared at his hands as he replied, "I got into a bit of an accident. Found the right people and got myself on a new path."
She wrote that down, frowning. He wasn't going to break easily. She wasn't going to get all this in one night. Slowly but surely, he would have to open up to her.
"Strange...is that your real name or is that your...like, sorcerer name?"
"It's my real name."
She nodded as she continued. "What did..like, what did you do before..all of this? Were you married or did you go to school?"
Stephen tilted his head. "Not answering that."
Sighing through her nose, she replied, "Okay. Personal question, then."
"I'm actually done. We can keep going some other time," he said sending a wave of magic through the room.
Genesis winced at the energy coming towards her and shielded her eyes. She appeared outside and gave a groan. It was past 11, which was her curfew for taking the bus. She stormed up the steps of the Sanctum and raised her fist to knock on the door. Like before, a blow of wind caused her to appear in a different location. A dark alley. She smelled garbage and smoke. A few men stood under a street light talking and laughing.
She walked around, looking for Strange but he didn't show himself. "Strange?"
"Hey, you lost or somethin'?"
Genesis turned as she saw the me under the street light talking to her. "I...no, I'm just looking for..."
One of them approached her. He was tall, bald, and looked drunk. He wobbled as he walked towards her, reaching into his pocket.
Genesis stepped away and tried to run until she ran into another room behind her. "Shit..."
He grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back, pulling her towards his chest. The bald one reached towards her pocket and reached inside.
"Oh my God," she kept whispering as he felt for money.
His hand snaked up to her chest as she shook her head repeatedly. "No, no, no, God, please!"
Suddenly, the bald man was sucked through some portal from underneath. It closed with a small whisp as Genesis and the other goons stared in shock. Suddenly, a man appeared out of nowhere and fought off the goons. There were three fighting this man but he knocked them down within seconds. The goon holding Genesis kept his grip on her until the mystery man froze and spoke with a quiet voice.
The man was African-American. He wore a tunic, similar to Stranger's. With a wave of his hand, he created a whip of fiery sparks and lashed it in their direction. Genesis shut her eyes as she felt it lash near her ear. Suddenly, the goon's grip loosened and his body slumped to the ground. Her mouth hung open as she put her hand to her injured ear. Her knees wobbled before she slowly sunk to the ground.
The mystery man rushed to her side and spoke quietly. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"
His hand removed hers from her ear and he saw it was bleeding. Slowly, he put his arm around her and helped her get to her feet.
"Relax," he said, waving his fingers in front of her face.
Her eyes rolled back and she gently fell back and into his arms.