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It had been hours now, since the events at the library. Illyana and the so-called Green Arrow had made quick work of releasing the hostages taken by the Metahuman Supremacy Front, immediately turning over their captors to a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents that had stormed the building once the towers had gone down. She’d avoided their questions, of course, taking into the night before they ended up throwing her into custardy too. The Government and their rules were something Illyana did not care for. Instead, she spent her evening moving about the city, laying a hand wherever she could.

The bulk of the work may have been done, largely it would seem by a masked speedster from Central City, but there was still plenty to do; Disrupting the riots that had arisen during the chaos; putting out fires that had started throughout the city; reuniting families with their loved ones. 

As the sun began to rise over Star City, Illyana found herself sat atop the marbled roof of the Grell Museum, the site of her first impact on this city, in an attempt to catch her breath. Her work had taken her through the night. Normally she’d be exhausted and liable to collapse, but she needed to keep going. She had to, otherwise, she’d crack.

She attempted to take her mind off of things; moving her eyes down onto the plaza below. Government officials worked tirelessly around the remains of the Obelisk. Groups of workmen moved the large metallic chunks into the backs of vans marked by the Bulldog that was the group’s insignia. All signs of her previous combat with the gunmen had been cleared too. You could almost not even tell that this had been the site of a massive catastrophe. That hundreds of people had died in this city tonight. Magik knew though, and the thoughts made her cold. 

The sound of crackling energy pulled her from her brooding. Turned her head, she watched as an oh-so-familiar flare of orange light revealing the presence of her teacher. 

Stephen looked just as he had done when Illyana had last seen him the day prior, except that now heavy bags hung from beneath his eyes. Creeping her fingers to her own face, she wondered whether she looked as tired as he did at this moment. She certainly felt it.

Strange’s eyes moved around him, taking in his surroundings. He managed a short smiling as he noticed where they were.

“[color=royalblue]I remember once saying that I'd bring you here one day.[/color]” His voice seemed almost solemn as he held his gaze over the museum’s roof for a few seconds. 

Silence fell between the two, as Illyana’s eyes moved to the floor below.

“[color=royalblue]You did good work. You saved lives.[/color]” His voice seemed jovial. Almost proud.

“[color=rosybrown]Not every life though.[/color]” Her words cut back sharply. 

He shook his head quickly, stopping her. 

“[color=royalblue]No, no, no. Those deaths are not your fault.[/color]” He sounded awfully confident for someone that hadn’t even been there. “[color=royalblue]You did everything within your power to stop the Metahuman Liber-[/color]”

Rising to her feet, she interrupted.

“[color=rosybrown]Not them.[/color]” She stated, her eyes still at her feet.

Strange grew quiet, trying to wrap his head around what she was talking about. Before he could ask anything, Illyana continued.

“[color=rosybrown]Yesterday morning. Before all this started, I went and saw your old friend. The Canterbury Cricket.[/color]” The words pained her as they came, but she had to tell him. He deserved to know. “[color=rosybrown]I wanted to meet him. To recruit him. And… And we were attacked.[/color]”

Her voice grew coarse. 

“[color=rosybrown]And he was killed.[/color]” It took her some time, but the words finally came.

Stephen stood still before her. His eyes burrowed into her; his mouth slightly agape as he tried to take in everything she had said. In the silence that hung between them, Illyana swore she could hear the cogs churning slowly in his brain. That she could hear the disappointment in his breathing. 

After what felt like an eternity he spoke.

“[color=royalblue]I thought I sensed something.[/color]” He ran his hand through the hairs of his goatee, unsure of what to say. “[color=royalblue]It’s a shame. He was a good man.[/color]”

He looked like he wanted to say more, but the news seemed to have overwhelmed him. 

Illyana couldn’t handle the silence, so she broke it.

“[color=rosybrown]I’m going to avenge him.[/color]” She spoke with determination. "[color=rosybrown]I’m going to make them pay.[/color]”

Her words seemed to shake Strange to his senses. 

“[color=royalblue]Avenge him?[/color]” He exclaimed, his voice filled with confusion. “[color=royalblue]By the Ageless Vishanti, what are you on about?[/color]”

She couldn’t stop herself. She had to tell him now. Tell him everything.

“[color=rosybrown]I’m going back, Stephen. I’m going back to Limbo and I’m going to put an end to Belasco once and for all.[/color]”

It wasn’t an empty threat. It was a promise. A dark pact she’d just now made with herself in the morning light.

But a single raised finger from Strange stopped her in her tracks. 

“[color=royalblue]Nope. I don’t believe this…[/color]” He shook his head disappointingly, his hand moving from his goatee to push back the curls of his hair in annoyance. “[color=royalblue]Just when I thought you’d started to understand. Understand that revenge isn’t the way.[/color]”

His voice had grown angry. A tone Illyana had rarely heard during her time with him. A tone that scared her.

“[color=royalblue]I was going to give you this.[/color]” He said, moving his hand into the confines of his blue robes. 

From it, he pulled a striking piece of red fabric, which flowed elegantly as it moved as if a kite flowing through the perfect summer breeze. Tall and extravagant, it mirrored the exact same cloak that the Sorcerer Supreme was currently wearing himself. Illyana’s eye’s widened as she took in the fine piece of clothing, her mind full of questions.

“[color=royalblue]I made it myself.[/color]” Stephen began, running his hand along with the fabric. “[color=royalblue]It may not be as spectacular as my own, but there are protective enchantments woven all through the fabric.[/color]” 

“[color=royalblue]However, I can see now that I was wrong about you being ready.[/color]”

With a flick of his wrist, the red of the cloak vanished. Illyana held still, her words stuck at the back of her throat.

Strange couldn’t meet her eye and instead turned his attention to creating a portal home. Creating a circular motion with his index fingers, an amber light cut a hole through the air, revealing what looked like a doorway to a warmly lit entry hall. He took a single step before pausing and turning back towards his ward.

“[color=royalblue]I’m sorry Illyana.[/color]” 

With that he disappeared through the doorway, leaving Illyana alone once more.