A/N - I may be taking a break from Sherlock fanfics but some people recommend having more than one project on the go 😉

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Stephen and Tessa both knelt opposite each other in the place she used to call the Tea Temple. Memories of her time with the Ancient One echoed all around her as they spoke with each other, his red Cloak of Levitation floating in the background and a currently empty journal sat on his lap. To be able to write, Stephen was attempting a new spell – simple telekinesis to get the pen to note for him.

"Conjure a Mandalas as yourself."

Without hesitation, Tessa did so, and Stephen watched in wonder as he was reminded of his first day at Kamar-Taj. The way she moved was strikingly similar to the late Sorceress Supreme. A fiery line appeared in front of her as she drew her hands apart, one moving down as the other moved up, gradually forming a circle as she slowly drew her hands in opposite directions to form a glowing circle. She formed the amber square, clicked her fingers to summon the intricate patterns and moved her hands sharply to create diamond shape.

"Okay, now, are you able to switch to the Entity?"

"Why?"

"You're able to keep in touch with your Eldritch sorcery when you are you. I want to see if the Entity can use the Eldritch magic too or if it is limited to its darker magic."

Tessa shrugged and shut her eyes, allowing the Entity to take control, yet, when it did, as once before during the training room fiasco, the golden lines gradually changed to shadow.

"The power I once possessed was not Eldritch nor was it this...shadow magic." Spoke the Entity as it looked at the doctor through the smoke, "This magic is a result of my bond with Tessa."

"But 'shadow magic' – is that what we're calling it?"

"Well, it looks like shadow, does it not sorcerer?"

Stephen nodded. Fair point.

"If you want to be pedantic about it, you could call it dark dimension magic."

"But you have no ties with any other evil mystical beings like Dormammu?"

"No ties. We are separate from the darker beings that inhabit that dimension."

"But you're drawing on this power from somewhere – "

"A bond like this has never happened before. Perhaps our bonded sorcery is of a darker origin because we are a universal abomination."

Mm...that hurts.

"I meant no offence, Tessa." The Entity paused, its two black, beady eyes staring at Strange, "I dared to commit to an action that other unspeakable Entities may find impure and consequently the universe may just agree."

Stephen nodded, ensuring he was getting everything down.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

"Astral projection."

"What about it?"

"Are you able to do it?"

Tessa laughed, "You might have been able to learn it in a matter of months, but I first did it when I was ten."

"Ten? I thought you said that the Ancient One repressed the Entity?"

"She did. But the Entity found other ways to make itself comfortable while repressed. Its intellect, strength and skill became my own as it sat in my subconscious merely forced to watch all that happened as I grew up."

Rather you fed off it while I slept.

"But you didn't mind, did you Tee?" Tessa questioned.

It was...amusing to see the reactions of the others of being beaten by one so young.

She smiled and chuckled, "I was top of the class in the apprentice rank when I was fourteen."

"Damn...hang on." Stephen paused, "Wouldn't that make you a master then?"

Tessa nodded, puffing out her chest a bit and holding her head high as she said, "Youngest to achieve the rank of Master at sixteen."

"So wait, how come you don't teach lessons or why did Master Kent still train you?"

Tessa shrugged, "The Ancient One gave me the title but told me to keep practising. So, I did. And she never gave me any classes ever so..."

It was in case something went wrong. She still protected us from the others as she, too, knew not all would be welcoming.

"Tee says she didn't give me any classes to protect me – or rather to protect everyone else."

Stephen nodded, briefly throwing a look over to his journal to make sure that the pen was still writing. He looked back at Tessa with a smile.

"I want to know if the Entity can take over your body while you are in astral form. Similarly, I want to know if the Entity can astral project, but we don't have to do both today."

With a shrug, Tessa lay herself down in the room and shut her eyes. Seconds later, her eyes flickered open again – only to reveal the Entity who sat up and looked at Stephen.

"It is...quiet without her." It spoke somewhat sullenly.

The ghostly apparition of Tessa revealed herself in full and floated up, behind Stephen, "Boo."

Stephen stepped forwards, startled by the voice behind him. He held a hand to his heart and took a breath as Tessa smirked mischievously.

"Oh, didn't scare you, did I?"

"What? No. No, no, you didn't."

Tessa quirked her eyebrow, "Big bad wizard can take on Dormammu but is easily scared by an astral form?"

Stephen shook his head, fighting back a smile and trying to remain serious. Wizard? He preferred sorcerer. Actually, he preferred doctor but if it was between wizard and sorcerer then definitely the latter would be preferred. Tessa floated there before him, arms crossed and just waiting for retaliation of any kind. She would be ready to come back at him being the tease she was.

The Entity smiled as it watched this interaction.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

They stood in one of the more secluded training yards alone, wary of those who may walk past. The Cloak of Levitation hovered near Stephen as Tessa stood off to the side wearing her red combat training tunic and black fingerless sports gloves, tying up her auburn hair as she peered around too.

"Are we good?"

"Seems like it. Everyone else should be at dinner." He paused as he looked at her for a moment, "Uh, start when you're ready. We just want to see what magic the Entity can really do."

Over time and what with the frequent switching, the transitions were becoming less uncomfortable. Two shiny oil-black eyes stared back at the sorcerer and the Entity smirked.

"I thought you got quite a good look at my mystical capabilities when we fought?"

"Ha. Ha." Stephen was genuinely amused that the Entity seemed to be growing more humorous, "Just do the stuff for research's sake."

The Entity looked away, gently, gracefully motioning with its fingers until that wispy black smoke appeared around its hands. A sickly tree stood opposite them in the yard and the Entity threw a black whip towards. It never pulled so as to not cause any destruction but then used its right hand to sever the shadowy line however, a circle around the tree remained.

"Used to pull or bind or..." The Entity looked at Stephen apologetically, "Choke as you already know."

Stephen noted this, gently rubbing at his neck at the not-so-fond memory of having his neck crushed.

The Entity then shaped the shadow into darker forms of the Mandalas and conjured another cage. The smoke stood on its own as the cage and the large shadow Mandalas held its shape. Again, the Entity looked at Strange, preparing its explanation but Stephen spoke first, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

"You can conjure shadow out of nowhere? Because I know it's darker here but, in the library, it was bright and there was barely any shadow."

"I suppose I can. Hence why it is probably a darker form of sorcery...I can manipulate the shadow into whatever form I please, using it for an attack, to entrap or as a defence."

The Entity dismissed the structures.

"I will not do this now as I know it can cause destruction, but I can also send out blows or pulses - again, as you already know - but the pulses can drain our energy significantly."

Stephen nodded for it to continue. The Entity formed space shards in its hands next.

"Space shards are the main giveaway as to safely assuming our joint power comes from the dark dimension." The Entity let the shards fade and then flew off the ground a little bit, "And we can levitate should we wish."

The Cloak of Levitation appeared excited by this as it flew up to meet the Entity, drifting around it somewhat gingerly but lifted the end of its cloak to wave to which Tee obliged in responding. Stephen now watched this exchange in wonder – his Cloak never failed to fascinate and charm him. It was definitely an interesting relic and he was honoured that the cloak had chosen him to be its master.

The Entity lowered itself back onto the ground.

"And that is all to my knowledge. Do you wish to dismiss me?"

"Uh, I – " Stephen was taken aback by this question and yet he didn't know why, "Was there anything else you wanted to say?"

"No. I shall let you speak with Tessa."

"Okay. Thank you."

It gave a nod as it shut its eyes, opening them to reveal Tessa in the driver's seat again. She smiled and the sorcerer smiled back but frowned when he saw her sway.

"Tessa?"

"Yeah, I – "

She collapsed.

"Tess!" He rushed over, down on his knees next to her in an instant, "Tessa?"

But she was out cold. Stephen's expression grew into a troubled frown as he looked at her. This was the second time she had passed out, also after having used excessive power from the Entity's side of things. Using so much raw power was clearly taxing on her mind and body...could they learn to overcome the exhaustion so she wouldn't pass out straight away? But then, what if they couldn't, what long term effects would this have on the sorceress?

"Help me get Tessa up and get her to her room." Stephen addressed the red floating material as he lifted her up enough for the Cloak to take her by the shoulders.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Tessa had been laid in her bed; her thin beige blanket was draped over her carefully. In the corner of her room sat Stephen in a chair, reading one of the many books from the Kamar-Taj library. He hoped that she wouldn't mind him staying just so he could keep an eye on her, being a doctor and all. The sorceress shifted in her bed briefly, drawing his attention away from the Sanskrit but when he saw she was still out, he sighed softly and returned to his reading.

Our joint abilities take a great toll on you, child. You are weak.

Tessa certainly felt weak after having transitioned back to herself, she felt like she could sleep forever. But why? Why couldn't she handle it if they had bonded to the point of it being virtually unbreakable? It didn't make sense to her.

Our physical bodies differ too much perhaps?

And yet it wasn't like two dense bodies had become one. Before, the Entity was a spirit-like conscience with no absolute physical form – it could be as fluid as it wished, like water...ugh, she thought, there was a science to this that she just couldn't quite click with in understanding. Maybe it was their consciences that were the problem? Two in one body...the Entity had said that as a child, she couldn't take the extra mind within her without it being repressed.

We will find a solution, I am sure. Practise may be all you need to get used to your exertion.

Perhaps they did just need to practise more...

I sense the protector waits for you. Try to wake, child.

Another soft groan left Tessa's lips as she slowly cracked open her eyes. Her gaze met the dark cement ceiling, and she rubbed her hands over her face. Stephen stood and silently stepped over to her, craning his head over the bed to see past the blanket, to see if she was okay. When Tessa drew her hands away from her face and found herself staring up into Stephen's eyes, she offered him a soft smile.

"How many times are you gonna pass out on me?" He teased her.

"It's not like I intend for it to happen." Tessa then corrected him, "And that first time you made me pass out."

He moved back slightly as she sat up in the single bed, "For your own safety."

"Which I appreciate but you still chose to do it." She yawned, covering her mouth as she did, "How long have I been out?"

"Around...six hours."

"Six?!"

"It's less than the first time the Entity took over. Last time it took you eight hours to come round."

"So...actually it is getting better?" Tessa smirked, "Maybe I should pass out again in the midst of a doctor...you know, to see if the results are reliable?"

"I'd rather we keep that to a minimum. One wrong fall and you could injure yourself badly."

"Hence why I said in the presence of a doctor?"

Stephen breathed a laugh, shaking his head, and raising his shaky, scarred hands, "I wouldn't be able to do much now. I only have the knowledge, not the means to help anymore."

"You still help though; you found new ways to do so." She smiled kindly at him, "Plus...being a sorcerer is way cooler than being a doctor, but I could be biased."

Stephen nodded, a smirk reaching his lips as he looked at the sorceress fondly, he chuckled quietly, and Tessa caught on to his small chuckle too as they looked at each other.

You are...attracted to him.

Tessa's eyes widened suddenly at the statement and her subtle chuckling turned to spluttering. Absolutely not. No. Don't even for one second suggest it, she thought to herself as she tried to calm down. Stephen stepped back over to her, but she raised her hand and looked away to signal that she would be fine. He hovered there awkwardly awaiting more confirmation that she would be okay.

What is wrong? I merely stated a fact.

Tessa shook her head as she stopped coughing, "Sorry, I'm good, just...choking on...air."

In response to my statement?

"Okay," Stephen gave a nod, the corner of his lip curving upwards slightly, "I guess we all have those moments sometimes."

Choking on air is a response to the matter of attraction? Is this a human thing?

Tessa chuckled suddenly and she looked at Stephen, a light in her eyes that he had not yet seen in this first week at Kamar-Taj with her. Of course, he had missed the joke though and quirked his one eyebrow upwards in response as he watched her giggle.

Have I said something wrong?

The sorceress shook her head, trying to stifle her laughter but to no avail.

"Have I...done something?" He couldn't fight back his own smile.

But she shook her head at him too, tears of amusement streaming from her eyes, "No, no. I'm so sorry, Tee just said something...oh my God..."

"Right," Stephen nodded, moving to the door of her room, "Well, I'll let you get some more rest then."

Tessa nodded, "Th – thank you."

Stephen smiled at her before he went, shutting the door behind him. The joint-being was left to its own devices.

Not that you want rest...

"Tee!"

We share a mind. No thought of yours is exactly secret.

Tessa grabbed her pillow, smushing her reddening face into it to prevent herself from squealing like a young teen had just told their best friend about a crush – although not even she acknowledged she was 'crushing' on her new mentor until the Entity had mentioned it. But as she thought about it more, she did begin to realise that she was starting to fancy the Master of the New York Sanctum. Bringing her face out of her pillow, she rested her chin on it, a soft smile on her face as she thought about Doctor Stephen Strange.

I can still see what you are thinking.

"Tee!"