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“Stephen, I didn’t hear you come in.” Wong said, blinking at Stephen who seemed to materialize from nowhere as the younger sorcerer stepped out from behind a bookshelf.
“You could say that…” Stephen replied cryptically before sitting down at the table across from Wong. The Librarian stared down Stephen who tried not to flinch at his friend’s gaze.
“You’re being weird.” Was all that was said and yet Stephen finally flinched. At this, Wong set down his research and stared at Stephen while sitting back in his chair. “You clearly want to talk about something despite not wanting to. What did you break or destroy?”
“Why do you assume I did?!” Stephen exclaimed only to be met with a smirk, “Besides, I didn’t. I just wanted to ask some questions since it isn’t exactly documented and I thought you would have some insight but clearly you’re just going to mock me-“
“What do you want to know, Strange?” Wong interrupted as Stephen moved to get up. The younger sorcerer paused and looked over at Wong with a more critical eye.
“What is the policy of Kamar Taj and sorcerers on mutants?” He asked bluntly and the only tell that Wong was taken off guard was an extra blink.
“They are welcome of course, we accept all different kinds of beings whether they be human, mutant, or otherwise. We should, in fact, be receiving a Minotaur as a student soon.”
Stephen continued to stare as the information settled in.
“What is your personal stance on them?” He asked.
“Just because someone has extra abilities doesn’t mean they’re ‘evil’ or trying to erase humanity from existing. They are merely living their lives and shouldn’t be treated differently. Though I’m assuming you’re not asking just due to current events in the news.”
Stephen flinched at the reminder of the large anti-mutant rally held in the US the previous week. Sure, there were a large amount of counter-protestors but that didn’t make up for the fact that a large population was calling for the extinction of a large group of people.
“I…I can manipulate and travel through shadows.” Stephen finally admitted, refusing to look Wong in the eyes, “Growing up, I could just hide in them or travel to other places, usually while trying to run from the other asshole kids, but ever since I picked up the mystic arts, it has been…different.”
“Different?” Wong asked gently only to widen his eyes as tendrils of shadows picked up the book in front of him and handed it to Stephen who still wouldn’t look his friend in the eyes. “I see.”
After a few moments of silence, Stephen finally looked up with a vulnerable look on his face.
“Well? That’s it? ‘I see’ is all you have?”
“Well, we can work it into training if you are having difficulties. I can see why you struggled to make portals but could still show up anywhere you wanted even if the place was supposed to be forbidden.” Wong replied wryly only for Stephen to get riled up.
“It’s not my fault that portals are so loud and big! And I had no idea those parts of the Library were off limits.”
Wong only laughed in response. Stephen’s hackles finally dropped down as the man relaxed, finally confident that Wong wouldn’t turn on him. For a lifelong fear, he was glad he had found someone who could actually understand.
“If you would like, we can keep your ability under wraps. We can do training sessions in the New York Sanctum if it would make you more comfortable.” Wong offered and Stephen hesitantly nodded in response.
“Yeah, that sounds…good.” He trailed off, loosing down at his hands before looking back up at Wong who was watching him intently, “Y’know, you’re the first person I’ve told…mutants weren’t exactly welcomed in a small farm town in Nebraska.”
“I can imagine.” Wong replied. After a moment, he got up and walked around the table, placing a hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “Come. I’ll buy lunch today.”
As Wong left the Library, Stephen finally smiled as a small part of his finally relaxed. He had told someone and it wasn’t the end of the world. The smile stayed with him even as he scrambled to follow his friend. Wong never paid for lunch, he was going to make the best of it.