An-Stephen

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"Hey Bruce, Bucky wheeled me here, I still can't get the hang of the wheelchair," Peter said solemnly, awkwardly wheeling into the lab. He looked up while yawning and stopped in his tracks.

"Oh, sorry I didn't know you have someone you were seeing. I got the right time didn't I?" Peter said nervously. Bruce stood up from his seat behind his desk and walked over to Peter. The man in question had a tunic of and a red cloak cropped greying hair and a beard.

"No, you got the right time Peter. I called Stephen here to see if he could help with your hands." Burce said, Peter narrowed his eyes.

"Did I used to know him?" He said, looking up at Bruce, who cringed and nodded. The man made him feel excited and happy, energetic and safe.

"Yeah, you can into him a couple of times as Spider-Man," Bruce said, Peter nodded and looked back at the man.

"Well, I'm Peter, but you probably know that. But It feels weird if I don't introduce myself." Peter said awkwardly. The man smiled lightly and nodded at him.

"That's ok Peter, I'm Doctor Stephen Strange." He said, standing up and walking towards Peter who blinked several times.

"You don't really look like a doctor, no offence. You look like a sorcerer." Peter said suspiciously. Stephen blinked and then burst into laughter. Peter narrowed his eyes and rocked back and forth in his wheelchair. Nervous habit.

"Did I say something funny?" He asked nervously. Stephen composed himself and then look back up at Peter.

"No Peter, you didn't do say anything funny, just something from the past," Stephen said. Peter's face morphed into a frown, everyone said that now.

"So um, Bruce said you can help with my hands?" Peter asked hesitantly, putting his hands in his lap. Stephen nodded, pulling his slightly shaky hand out from behind his back.

"Mine used to shake as much as yours do now, but with time and patience they can get better," Stephen said gently, Peter nodded.

"Ok. That sounds goods." Peter saif tightly. In reality, he didn't really want to be there, he didn't want to think about his hands, and he didn't want to be in the med-bay.

"We don' have to do it today if you don't want to?" Stephen said gently, Peter just shrugged in response.

"I'll leave you two," Bruce said with an encouraging smile. He closed the door with a soft click. Stephen sighed.

"You want to sit on the couch or something?" He asked gently, Peter nodded and little and shakily wheeled himself over to the couch, it was a straight line so he was fine. He somewhat easily manoeuvred himself onto the couch and sighed as he leaned back into it. Stephen sat next to him with a sigh. Peter was staring off into space, Nat said he needed to stop doing that.

"I was scared when I first came out of surgery. My whole life was my hands. And then it wasn't." Stephen said softly, Peter hummed.

"So was mine. Spider-Man can't not use his hands, he can't not use his legs. Peter Parker can't either. Peter Parker was supposed to become valedictorian, Peter Parker was supposed to go to college and be the one person everyone knew would succeed." Peter said softly. He rubbed his forefinger and thumb against each other.

"But now I don't see a future with me in it," Peter said softly, Stephen barely heard him.

"Peter, you have to know that the future will welcome you no matter what. You are an extraordinary boy. You are Peter Parker, strong, confident, witty, smart, kind, caring, courageous. Nothing will take that away." Stephen said, Peter nodded, hastily wiping his tears away.

"I guess I'm just really scared. I just wish everything could go back to the way it was before. When I could remember, when I could walk, when I could be effortlessly me." Peter said, tears slipping out of his eyes faster. Stephen hummed and wrapped his arm around Peter's shoulder.

"Sometimes what we wish for can't come true," Stephen said, Peter nodded. He frowned when he felt something wrapping around his torso. He looked behind him and saw Stephen's cloak wrapped around him.

"This isn't some weird sorcerer thing?" Peter asked nervously, Stephen chuckled beside him.

"No, that's Levi. The mind of his own." He said, Peter nodded, smiling down at the cloak who looked like he was nuzzling into his hip.

"I guess I used to know you too." He said quietly, Levi just responded by nuzzling further into his side.

"Slow down buddy, you gotta buy me dinner before you get handsy," Peter muttered, Levi responded by flinging off Stephen's shoulders and flapping at Peter. Peter's smile faltered and dropped, slowly leaning back into the couch.

"Oh my God! You're doctor Stephen Strange! I wanted to be like you when I grew up! You were like the best neurosurgeon in the world!"

"Mr Stark says you're a wizard but if he looked at the magic style and the runes he'd see that you're a sorcerer, but he did the same thing when he found out about my DNA. He was all like it's just a spider, and I was like no it's a wolf spider, there's a difference......"

"Wow! That's like that game called portal!"

"Woah! You can go from the ceiling?!"

"Uh, Mr Strange? Your cape is kinda handsy."

"Wow, Levi I cannot believe you would say that. *flapping noises* NO way!"

"Cool! I can't believe you have like a force of the universe as a piece of jewellery."

"So is the tunic thing like aesthetic or can you not do magic without it?"

"NO! I do not need my temperature checked! I'm fine!"

"No Levi you cannot come home with me. No Levi, Stephen will be very upset with you. Ok, one last cuddle."

"This is insane! Your libraries massive!"

"Please tell me you've read Harry Potter......"

"You are unbelievable, you snitched?! I trusted you. I just wanted a broken rib fixed up and to be on my merry way but no!"

Peter blinked several times at Levi who was flapping at him frantically. Peter grinned and pet him lightly.

"Nevermind, you can be handsy Levi," Peter mumbled tiredly. Stephen chuckled beside him. Peter turned to him sharply.

"You are such a snitch." He said, his eyes narrowed. Stephen quietened.

"But I forgive you if you hug me," Peter said, tears slipping out of his eyes. Stephen rushed to envelope Peter in a strong hug.

"Missed me huh?" Stephen said quietly. Peter nodded into his shoulder, smiling.

"Yeah. You were always there for me when I felt like no one was." He said softly, Stephen hummed. Levi flapped disapprovingly. Peter grinned and waved him into the hug.

"I missed you too Levi, no one gives hugs like you." He said quietly, sniffling hard.

"You're a fighter Peter. You'll make it." Stephen said softly, Peter nodded.

"With everyone's help." He said softly, Stephen hummed.

"With everyone's help."