One Shots

Dr. Strange- The Lesson

It had been six months since the accident. Six months since the accident sped up my pre-existing condition that would take my sight. I had been out for one last night time drive as soon I would no longer be able to do it. My sight was already starting to go. I would only be able to drive on sunny days, and soon would have to take a cab everywhere. Life has a funny way of messing up our plans.

When I heard that I would be going to the hospital that the famous Dr. Steven Strange worked at, I thought I had a good chance at having my sight saved. He was the best neurosurgeon they had. That hope was crushed when I heard he was in the car that hit me and his hands for the most part were destroyed. 

After I lost my sight completely I couldn't stay home alone any longer. Thankfully, my great Aunt, the Ancient one sent one of her students for me. At least I thought it was a student. I was now in Kamar Taj. I learned fast, here I felt safe. One day I came to see my Aunt for a cup of tea and I could hear pounding on the outside door. "Who's that?" I asked sitting down to join her.

"Just someone who can't learn," she replied.

"A name please," I said accepting the tea she handed me.

"Steven Strange," she replied and I could hear her stirring her tea.

"Doctor Steven Strange?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied. I sighed and I knew my eyes moved off to the side. I would probably live to regret this.

"I'll teach him," I said.

"He doesn't believe how is he going to take being taught by a blind person?" she asked me.

"If he wants to learn he'll just have to deal. Believe me, I won't go easy on him. I'll push him."

"That's not like you," she said.

"He's the one who hit me, he's lost enough. And once he realizes there was another victim in that accident, the one he caused he just might realize it's not about him," I replied.

Soon I felt someone standing beside me. "My niece will teach you, but for now rest. Show him to his room, Cam." I stood and turned toward him.

"This way Doctor and Mordo!" I called. "Give him the Wi-Fi passcode." I led my new student to his room and pushed open the door. "I'll be back shortly with clean clothes and to show you the washroom. Dinner is in the room we just left at seven, breakfast at 6:30."

I turned to walk away when I heard him call out, "thank you." I turned back and gave a nod.

The training progress with him was slow. I had him meditating every day trying to find peace so that he could do magic. Emotions controlled it. I made him run, we sparred with sticks-which took some time to make him do since I was blind. It had been two months and still, he struggled to produce a shield or a portal.

"You don't believe, let go of what you know. Do you remember when you were six years old and you couldn't wait for Santa to come? When anything was possible? When you believed in magic? Find that again." I snapped at him as I watched him try and try to produce a portal.

"My hands," he said.

"This isn't about your hands, Ka, come here please," I called. He was a student missing one of his hands. Once I sensed his presence I asked him to show Steven his hands and produce a shield.

I opened a portal, "come with me Steven," I said walking through.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"My family's cabin. Feel free to let yourself in, if you can find the key," I said walking back through the portal and closing it. I had left him in the middle of the woods. My aunt had left me on Mount Everest. Eventually, he came back through. "Bravo, Steven, on to the next lesson."

"You left me in the woods," he said.

"I was left on Mount Everest. At least you had a shelter with water and a few cans of beans. You would've been fine for a few days."

Three months later

"Fight Steven," I said circling him. We had moved on to self-defense.

"I won't fight you."

"Your enemy will use any weakness you have against you. Use the fact that I'm blind, an enemy will; fight like your life depends on it, one day it will."

"I can't," he said.

"Then you'll die, conjure your weapon," I said producing a whip and lunging at him. I wrapped the whip around his legs and pulled him down. I then jumped on top of him and held a blade to his throat. "That one-second hesitation is all it takes for someone to kill you, get me off of you." I pinned him about eight more times before he finally started to use his skill. He delivered an elbow to my stomach and nearly took the wind out of me. "That's what I'm talking about."

A few days later

We were taking a break, there was one last block for him to get over to learn this lesson. "Steven, walk with me. Today's lesson will be my story," I said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I think it will drive the point home of it's not about you, at least not everything." So we walked into the woods. I didn't want to be interrupted. "It's been about six months since you got here and I know I've pushed you harder than other students."

"I was a stubborn ass," he said.

"You're still a stubborn ass," I replied. He chuckled at that. We had become good friends over the months. "I arrived here six months before you did. I was born with a condition that would eventually take my sight. I was out for one last nighttime drive, enjoying the stars, the moon, the peace. That's when I was hit from behind." I took a deep breath and tried to gauge his reaction.

"My bodily injuries were minor, but when I hit my head on the steering wheel I lost my sight. When the EMTs came I heard them saying they would take me to the hospital where you worked. I thought there would be a chance that my sight could be saved."

"But I was the one that hit you," Steven finished.

"Yes," I said.

"Why teach me then?"

"You felt that was what gave your life meaning. For many, that is what their job brings them. I wanted to show you that you could find a new purpose."

"I never asked about the person in the other car, I was too wrapped up in myself."

"And that is the lesson Steven," I said. I turned to face him, "I was never mad at you about the accident if that means anything."