𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖨.𝖨𝖨𝖨: 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖶𝗂𝗍𝖼𝗁 𝖣𝗈𝖼𝗍𝗈𝗋

✈︎

Haelia stood by the nurses station, a large brown bag in hand. She watched as the busy physicians and nurses hurried to their next patient. She let out a sigh as a familiar clicking of heels makes it way down the hallway.

"Christine, good afternoon."

The red head smiled at her friend, but her bright blue eyes showed a different expression.

"Afternoon Haelia. I see you have brought Hazel more than enough food."

Haelia chuckles lightly

"You know I love seeing her face light up when I bring in the different foods."

Christine laughs quietly, before her expression softens.

"I take it by the face you're making that Hazel's foster parents are no where to be found."

Christine simply nods as she leans against the counter next to Haelia.

Haelia lets' out a sigh, turning her head towards the giant windows of the room.

"I don't know how to tell her this time. I don't think I could bring myself to give her anymore bad news, especially from me." Christine admits

Haelia turns to her with a soft smile. The slightly taller brunette places a hand lightly on her shoulder before squeezing it reassuringly.

"It's not your fault Christine. You did everything in your power to save her parents. She doesn't blame you."

Christine simply shakes her head, not believing her new found friend. But before Haelia could comfort her further, the familiar pacing of flat shoes interrupts her. She could practically hear all of the nurses gawking at Dr. Stephen Strange as he entered the room.

Haelia didn't blame them of course, the young Stark girl found herself joining them on their school girl crush. But she never admit it, especially to Stephen himself.

But, unfortunately for her, Christine seemed to pick up on all of Haelia Stark's signs. While Stephen Strange may be her ex-lover, Christine no longer thought of him as such. He was more of a friend to the mid aged woman.

Stephen flashes a smile at the two girls as he walks over to them. Christine gives him her famous smirk, while Haelia smiles softly at him.

"Good afternoon ladies."

"Hi Stephen." Christine says to him with a smile

Stephen turns his attention to Haelia, who smiles brightly at him. He walks over to stand next to her, his arm only an inch away from her waist.

Haelia looked down at the ground slightly, wishing that his arm was placed firmly around her and not resting on his waist. Stephen beings a conversation between the three, braging about the surgery he had just completed.

Christine nods and listens to him talk, but turns her attention to Haelia: who seemed to not be there (figuratively). Christine smirks at Haelia's growing red face. As Haelia looked up at Christine, her eyes taunted the young woman.

Stephen stops talking when he realizes that neither of the two girls were listening to him.

"Is something wrong?" He asked

Haelia's face turns a bright red, but she calms herself as she looks up at him.

"Nothing, nothings wrong."

Stephen raises an eyebrow at her as he leans against the counter. Christine shook her head slowly at him. But Stephen didn't pay attention, he simply leaned back and taunted Haelia as his hand 'accidentally' grazed hers.

Haelia gulps quietly her face blood shot red.

"I, uh- better bring this to Hazel." She says as she brings attention to the large brown sack in her hand.

Before either could respond, she was already walking into the patient wing. Stephen chuckled and shook his head laughing. Christine looks at him confused.

"Why are you laughing?"

Stephen turns his attention to Christine, a grin on his face.

"I think she likes me."

Christine face palms in her mind.

'This man's ego, I swear' she thought

"Stephen..." She warned

"What?"

Christine gave him a pointed look, to which he put up his hands in surrender.

"I'd be lying if I said that Haelia didn't have me the least bit of...intrigued."

"Anyways, have a surgery scheduled in...five minutes. I'll see you later Christine."

Christine couldn't help but roll her eyes at Stephen Strange as he exited the lobby.

✈︎

As Haelia made her way towards Hazels' room, her flustered red face had begun to tone down some. Smiling, she knocked on Hazels' door and a soft voice responded.

"Come in!"

Haelia pushes open the door and reveals herself to Hazel, who smiles brightly at her.

"Haelia! You brought food!"

Haelia laughs at the young girl before beginning to prepare the food for her.

"What did you bring today?!"

Haelia smiles at her before revealing the Chicken Alfredo from the bag and setting it on her stand.

Hazel smiles brightly at it before turning back to her.

"Thank you so much! Your the best friend ever!"

Haelia continues to smile and watch her as she digs into her food. Haelia could feel the growing knot in stomach clinch around her hips and she was fighting the feeling to throw up. After a while, Hazel noticed the growing look on Haelia's face as she stares off into the skyline above them.

"What's wong?" The five year old asked innocently, completely forgetting the 'r'

Haelia smiles at her cuteness before smiling sadly at her. She took a deep breath before sighing.

"Well..."

Haelia took another deep breath as she tries to gather her next words carefully. She knew that Hazel was only five and telling her that her foster parents were still missing might throw the young girl into a spiral of despair.

"You didn't find them. That's okay."

Haelia noded in a blis before snapping back into reality. She turned to the young girl with a shocked gaze.

"How did you know that?"

Hazel shrugged before turning her attention back to her plate of food. Haelia looks to the young girl, her eyes roaming her with worry.

"You know...you could bring me home with you."

Haelia is taking back by the her comment. She would be lying to herself if she said she hadn't already considered that option. She loved Hazel, even though she has only known her for a week. She felt a strong connection to the young child, a urge to been near her and to keep her safe at all cost. Maybe it was because Haelia knew the girl had no one to protect her, but Haelia couldn't be for sure.

She wanted smile at the girl and tell her that she would love nothing more. But she knew that her work and life was far to dangerous for a child. She was a target of some of the deadliest people on the plant (and galaxy: Loki proved), and Haelia could live with herself if something happened to child in front of her.

"Haz...you know that can't happen..."

The five year old looked to her with a look of hurt and betrayal.

"Wh- what..do you mean?" Her five year old pronunciations were thick and her face solemn.

"Oh honey." Haelia rested a hand on her cheek, running her fingers through Hazels' hair.

"I would do it in a heartbeat if I lived a different life. I know it's a lot for you to understand...and I'm so sorry"

Hazel eyes turned for a looks of deep sadness to heated rage. Haelia watched as a bright emerald green consumed Hazel's eyes as she screamed out.

Haelia is quick to her feet as Hazel's head shot back and her body began jerking violently.

✈︎

As Stephen Strange walked down the Paediatric Wards hall, he was radiating confidence. After yet another successful surgery, Stephen decided to test his luck with Haelia. The young Stark girl had sparked his interest in a way that hasn't excited him since he first met Christina.

As he walked down the hall and began to approach Hazels' door, he could hear her angered screams. He began to quickly run towards the room, he noticed for the first time that no doctors were in the hall. But he didn't have time to contempt it when he saw the flashing green and blue light from Hazels' room.

He quickly pushed open the door and stopped short of the sight in front of him.

Haelia stood over Hazel's bed, a blue mist laced around Hazel and the floating objects in the room. A similar green mist is wrapped around the opposite side of the room, but it begins to fade as Haelia touches Hazel's forehead and whispers something in a foreign language to her.

Haelia smiles sadly down at the young girl before turning and looking up. She smiles at Stephen, and then her face goes pale.

Stephen goes to speak, but Haelia places her index finger over her lips and motions for him to follow her outside.

As they step out into the hall, it is still vacant.

"What in the hell just happened in there?!" Stephen shout whispers to her.

Haelia takes a deep breath before smiling at the older man.

"It's... complicated. But Hazel needs help, and I know just the person."

Haelia goes to walk away, but Stephen grabs her shoulders gently pulling her back towards him.

"Your going to explain to me what just happened. You don't get to preform some type of voodoo magic on my patient and then just expect me to roll with it."

Haelia nods at him before turning away and moving her hands in a circular motion. In front of her, a blue mist laced opening appeared.

Stephen stares in shock at it as Haelia turns towards him and holds out her hand.

"Follow me if you wish to understand."