No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 2

Chapter 31: Sunset (Part 1)

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Saved by the great wizard friggen supreme…

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Tony Stark thought of that when he reached the bottom floor of the Kamar taj. The weapons forge was deep below the surface, and Tony oddly felt at home there. He was first introduced to the mystical forge back when he was a young punk. He was also introduced to a Vishanti entity called "Hoggoth," but, Tony decided not to think about the tiger kitty in that moment.

He had a ton of equipment to dust off and organize. It seemed like no one had ventured in after they all left Kathmandu. That was years ago, so…

Tony coughed a little. Shit was dusty. He started thinking about the behavior he recently witnessed from Donna Strange. It was time to get baby Victor's lovesick ass in gear? Tony was happy to help, and the feisty inventor honestly welcomed the distraction. He had spent too much time in Bucky's company, so now it was time for Steve to figure his shit out.

The smaller brunette was a little bothered by the two of them, like always, so that meant it was time to get his hands moving. Tony needed to tinker around with something that was broken, revamp, and most likely build something new. He directed those thoughts toward Victor Strange, I mean..

Was anyone within the Strange family actually thinking things though? Stephen stepping out of the fold meant what for his baby brother? Tony started mapping the situation out in his mind as he made space to work on the giant work table. Tony calculated that Stephen Strange leaving meant that an interesting soul fusion was in their future, or more of a Vishanti Trio meets Baby Strange cocktail of sorts was in the works.

Victor's soul would have to be ready for it, along with his body, heart and mind. Training him was mandatory, so Tony started understanding why Bucky and Steve were along for the ride. He assumed they were there to train him physically. That notion made the most sense. Tony glanced down at some of the tools that had been discarded and tossed about throughout the years.

Donna was obviously going to be working on Victor's baby soul. His emotions were all over the place…

Tony glanced toward the left side of the room. He felt the presence of some sunshine as it migrated around the surface level of the Kamar taj. Steve Rogers was listening to Donna as she tried to reason with her brother. Tony could tell exactly where Steve was standing. He could also sense that Ezekiel Stane was invited to the party and that was, interesting.

Obadiah's charming little offspring was obviously dying for an opportunity to observe anything related to the Mystic Arts. Victor's world was something that Ezekiel definitely wanted to explore, whether they were in a relationship or not. Tony knew that, so he glanced upward. Victor loudly asked his sister if she was serious, an ARE YOU SERIOUSSS? exchange between two siblings was taking place, but Tony held out on witnessing it in person.

"Yes, Victor. I am dead serious. We can't watch you parade around through this world any longer. I'm sorry to be blunt, but Stephen asked for your support a while ago."

"I will parade anywhere I please, Donna. Stephen asked for my support, but that doesn't mean I have to sell my soul."

Victor was only seeing the negatives in that moment. His arms were crossed, and he thought about yanking his sister down to his level. The baby sorcerer COULD HAVE floated on up to her level and said it all to her face, but he didn't. He thought only about what he would lose if he truly committed himself to becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.

Having that role meant making sacrifices. It meant going without, and Victor wanted to …live..

The baby Strange couldn't help himself. He glanced in Ezekiel's direction for just a sec, then he pointed over at Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers. He asked his sister to explain why they were there. Victor figured they had better things to do.

"Becoming the Sorcerer Supreme isn't selling your soul, and they are here because I need their support. I haven't properly asked them yet, but I would like the two of them to work with you and Ezekiel. I want them to work with you here, until you're ready to truly take Stephen's place."

Donna was doing her best to be patient with her sibling. She understood where Victor was coming from when he spoke of selling his soul. She felt that way when she took on the role of the Ancient One, but now, the role exists within her in a way that felt almost invisible. The young woman couldn't properly describe it, so she simply waited for Victor to respond.

Victor just huffed about, with his arms crossed. He didn't want to even look at his sister, or hear anything more about "replacing" their brother Stephen. The thought of that already did some damage to Victor's baby heart. The thought of that began to upset him. He held onto the thought that his older brother was irreplaceable, and his sister was BEYOND STUPID FOR SAYING THAT.

"You want them to work with us, in what way?"

Ezekiel's gentle voice carried over the space. Victor's baby ears perked up immediately, and Donna took a moment to hide a small smile. She glanced down at Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes before she answered. Thank the heavens, because Ezekiel Stane might have been the one in that moment to truly save the day.

"Captain Rogers happens to be an expert at not only channeling something called Oshtur, but he's also surpassed what can be learned through the Mystic Arts. I'd like him to refresh Victor's memory of what's possible here, and I'd also like him to teach you."

Bucky looked over at Steve. The not-so-winter soldier was an expert at hand-to-hand combat, like Steve, but he skipped the training when it came down to the Mystic Arts. He wasn't sure how he could support the cause, but there he was. Ezekiel looked very contemplative after Donna provided her explanation. He listened to Victor's sister, with interest.

Everyone watched Ezekiel as he turned his focus more in Victor's direction. Obadiah's son processed the situation and what he heard, then he directed his response toward the person he tried to build a life with, back in the day. In the "White Jackal's" logical mind, he determined Victor was over-complicating the situation. Victor wasn't recognizing the gift that was just dropped in their lap.

"Realistically speaking Victor, you'll be in more danger out there as the Sorcerer Supreme, so if Steve Rogers agrees, I could protect you. We all should learn more effective ways to protect each other."

And, surprisingly, that's all it took. Donna listened to Ezekiel's voice of reason, and she watched her brother stand up a bit taller. Victor Strange was hearing EVERYTHING, and Donna knew her baby brat brother was just confused and probably afraid. Hearing Ezekiel changed his tune. It changed Victor's entire demeanor. He looked very wide-eyed, and wrapped up in love for the person who said he wanted to protect him…

Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers agreed to "refresh" Victor's connection to the Mystic Arts, and they also agreed to train Ezekiel. Donna Strange spoke of arranging for her baby brother to undergo several tests as the group somewhat huddled together. She also explained something to all four of them that had become a "Golden Rule" at the Kamar taj.

"Outside your training, none of you will be able to touch one another. Don't even try it gentlemen. We're enforcing that rule in order to eliminate any, distractions.."

"Does that little rule also apply to you as well? Donna, or, are you above all of that now?"

Bucky Barnes had to ask. Donna seemed very above everything, so Bucky became amused with the little rule. He was basically amused with everything all together. Donna Strange took a moment to process what she heard from someone that she used to share space with. Donna dated "Bucky Barnes" back when her soul was returned to the land of the living. She even lived with him in that quaint little apartment that he had down the hallway from Steve.

"Yes, James. It also applies to me."

She let her response sink in. The sister pondered the dynamics of the group for a moment, then she left them all behind and she migrated back to one of the temples.

Chapter: END

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