𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 — ghosts that linger

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 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐌 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌 had once brought Emilia endless comfort; the tall building that stood proud at the very centre of Bleecker Street was her home; it was the only place she had settled within after her training at the Kamar-Taj and the events that followed soon thereafter.

 The Sanctum seemed to radiate a sense of solace once one would step through the grand entrance and into its warmth. The deep scent of bergamot permeated the wooden floors and intricate detailing upon the walls. If one concentrated enough, they could catch a waft of fresh tea lined with lemon and honey drifting from the direction of the kitchen.

 Juniper would stem from one of the many rooms lined with books, and Emilia had always been partial to burning sweet-pea-scented candles within the bedroom she shared with Stephen.

 That very room had once been a collection of old silks, crumpled papers and a multitude of dust. Now, however, if one were to take a peek inside they would catch sight of a delightful bedspread the shades of Castleton green, while a few cushions were tossed here and there with a fluffy slate grey throw was teetering off the edge of the bed.

 One side table housed an old leather-bound book and a teacup with the remnants of earl grey nestled at the bottom, whilst the other had a collection of crystals and candles that made the room smell and feel utterly divine.

 But the most captivating part, in Emilia's opinion, was the smattering of photographs strategically placed around the room. One was propped on the side table, another atop the wardrobe, yet another two or maybe even three atop the set of old drawers, and of course, the ones hanging on the walls like stars smeared over a night sky.

 Each depicted grins that were already missed and envied. Every frame protected the fragile smiles of Emilia Clemente and Stephen Strange.

 It should have been a comfort, but now everything was nothing more than a grim and sick reminder of the ghosts lingering within Emilia's mind.

 "I can't go in there," Emilia muttered beneath her breath as she slumped into the passenger seat of a rather flashy car.

 She just couldn't reach out for the handle knowing that the moment she stepped inside the Sanctum there would be no sight of Wong to greet her as he pottered about, likey cursing Stephen under his breath. There would be no sight of him pausing on his warpath to offer that inviting smile as she entered.

 There would be no lingering scent of freshly prepared tea, no sage or juniper clinging to the air like a lifeline.

 There would be no Stephen.

 Emilia wanted to be stronger and swallow down that lump building in the very back of her throat, to blink away the tears already clinging to her lashes. Her palms already ached from the crescent moons her nails had etched into them.

 Stephen Strange, upon one's first meeting, could be described within perhaps two or three words; arrogant, cold and indifferent. Emilia knew so much better. She was the one person who would come home and find him scuttling forth to take her bags and coat. She was graced with his smile when she'd been away all day; he'd be waiting with tea and Chinese takeout. Her favourite candles would already be lit and wafting through the air, and her cosiest of clothes would be laid out on the bed.

 But she knew now that if she took a single step into the Sanctum; she'd be greeted with nothing but loneliness and a reminder of the pain her heart was housing.

 Her fingers inched their way up to her neck, tangling with the chain that dangled over her collarbone. She pinched the ring that hung from the metal; it was a dour reminder and yet she couldn't bear to part with it, "I just can't."

 Tony Stark had remained silent for the fifteen minutes they'd been staring at the looming building; he'd watched as her brows curled inwards, as her dull eyes filled with tears once more. He felt as though it was all he saw from her; not that he blamed Emilia, of course.

 There was something of a bond between the two who were nestled in silence; perhaps it was due to the two fighting side by side, perhaps due to the losses they shared... But all Tony knew was that he couldn't turn away from her.

 Not that Pepper would have let him; the CEO of Stark Industries had seemingly taken to Emilia like a moth to a flame.

 "Look," Tony sighed as he dropped his hands from the steering wheel. He slapped on a crooked smile that seemed to split and tear at the seams; even the man encased in metal couldn't perfect his facade, "Pep already told you to stay with us, so you're staying —" He brought a finger into the air, shushing Emilia as she opened her wobbling lips to make some sort of humble rebuttal, "Don't make me get into trouble with my fiance, please and thank you..." He trailed off watching as she struggled to smile.

 "Pep wouldn't offer if she didn't mean it, believe me... And neither would I." He sniffed and cast his eyes to the side, "Stay with us, alright? I don't need that puppy-dog look on my conscience. I'll come back with Pepper and she can grab whatever it is you need." Tony then brought his eyes back to Emilia's, watching as she stared at her intertwined hands settled on her lap, "I don't — I don't want you to be alone, kid."

 Emilia really tried to keep her lips from wobbling further but she couldn't quite reign it in as Tony tried to brush away his offer with an air of nonchalance, as though the act hadn't shoved a dagger in her already beaten heart and twisted it.

 Had she been able to grasp her emotions and push them to the very pit of her stomach, she might have pointed out that she was, in fact, not a kid but a grown woman... She just didn't feel like one.

 The gratitude Emilia felt for the man by her side couldn't have been put into words; he had been there every second of every day for over three weeks. They had fought and lost together, both watching as loved ones left them behind. They had struggled adrift in space not knowing if they'd ever return home. Now, even when Tony was home and the love of his life remained by his side whilst her own did not, he still didn't turn his back on her.

 "Thank you." It was a fragile whisper, one that could have been shattered by a light squall of wind filtering through the cracked window. Tony's ears strained to catch it, but he certainly caught the tightness in her tone.

 "S'pose it'll be nice to have you and Bruce in a room together again," Tony pondered, swiftly ignoring the tears that glittered down her red cheeks as he thought of the potential chaos that he, and the two doctors, could cause, "He spoke about you a lot, you know?"

 "I left him behind."

 "With good reason."

 Emilia sighed, and like every time she saw or even thought of Bruce a ball of guilt twisted at her insides, "That doesn't make me feel any better about it."

 "An enormous, strikingly green rage monster and a Cuban smart-ass who could create a black hole in her hands..." His brow sought his hairline as a crooked smile alighted his lips, "I think the two of you splitting for a bit was probably... In your best interests. Though, would've been helpful if you came to us, became an Avenger —"

 "— No, thank you." Emilia cut him off lightly, and the pads of her thumbs swiped beneath her eyes to rid them of any salted tears.

 "Ouch, alright." Tony mumbled with a hand rather theatrically planted atop his beating heart while the other started the car, "I see how it is. Don't worry, I understand, the others are an acquired taste."

 Emilia laughed then, and though it was bleak and pitiful, it was something.

 Over the past few days as Emilia and Tony allowed their bodies to rest and heal — though the healing factor was certainly boosted thanks to the elixir Carol had procured for them — Emilia had spent her time watching the heartbroken Avengers potter around as they planned how they'd continue on.

 There was no feasible way to undo what Thanos had done, all they were left to do was suffer through the consequences.

 She didn't envy them, the Avengers. They were... Emilia wasn't sure what they were. They had once been a team forced to work together due to their capabilities and the threats upon the world, but they were little more now.

 Tony, Emilia found, rarely spoke of the Avengers unless his words pertained to Bruce Banner or Natasha Romanoff, and in some cases, he did speak rather fondly of Thor but it was painfully easy to see the strain between Tony and Steve.

 Emilia could never fathom how they could work together when they all had such conflicting interests. While they all wanted, or needed, to 'save the world', some didn't think further or in the long term, whilst others, namely Tony, did. How they had operated for so long without the team crumbling sooner was a mystery to Emilia.

 "And you aren't?" Emilia asked him, the makings of sarcasm slowly etching into her words as Tony half-heartedly scoffed.

 "Oh, please... I'm the light of their lives, Em."

 "Sure, Tony."

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DATE: 25/12/2022

happy holidays, and to those who either don't celebrate (or hate the holidays like me) have a lovely day, i hope this makes it a little bit brighter <3

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