-Strangely Beautiful- Intro and Chapter One
It was over. Everything was gone. Everything but the one thing he hated most. Himself.
Even after all he had broken, all the monsters that he had fused to himself, he couldn't shatter that infernal dome. Tentacles, pincers, claws, none of his new monstrous features did anything but reflect back at him from those purple panes. It did not take very long before his broad sorrow and unspecific hate centered on himself, at least his appearance fit the picture, flickering between man and monster like some distorted creature clinging to humanity.
She had screamed, warm brown flicking between a multitude of shapes and colors, none of them human. Strange shuddered softly as her fear flashed into his brain for the hundredth time. But just like the last ninety-nine times, his tear ducts betrayed him.
This was pathetic. And tragic, no, he would not allow it. Besides, if he ever stopped acting like a love-sick fool, the sorcerer might prove a valuable ally.
The Watcher sighed, the love-sickness was a problem. But he'd seen far too many cases of this particular illness to think he could just tell Strange to move on.
Besides, he also knew that humans as a whole were very concerned with appearances when choosing a partner, and Stephen was….. well he certainly couldn't pass for a famous actor anymore. So even if Uatu did give the whimpering abomination another chance, he'd not only have to prove himself, but also convince a very beautiful woman to love him again.
….Perhaps he could kill two birds with one stone.
💙
A deal. Neither was pleased of course, but it's benefits greatly outweighed the negatives.
"I have to whAT-?!" Stephen gapped, trying and failing not to shoot disparaging looks at his various now-permanent appendages. But Christine…..
He would be able to see her again, whether the pupils that did so were slitted or not made no difference.
…...Okay, so he was lying to himself but he deserved her fear, her inevitable hatred and disgust. Even repulsion on her face would be the most lovely thing he'd seen in decades.
"Why? We both know giving me a second chance, especially after…. Well it's supremely illogical." He straightened, looking up at his savior, eyes narrowed and brows arched.
"We both know the''why", I'm surprised you haven't asked for details." Uatu shrugged, awaiting Strange's response with a twinkle in his eye.
Strange snarled, smacking a tentacle over his mouth at the sound. Wonderful, new vocal cords was just what he needed. As if the rest of the ensemble left any doubt about his inhumanity.
"Fine." He submitted, curiosity overtaking his usual calculating manner. "Why am I stuck like this, why are you helping now, and why won't she remember me?" Words flying smoothly despite the thunder that now accompanied each syllable.
Uatu smiled.
"And here I thought you lost your chattiness, Doctor. You are stuck in that form because your previous body was, as people say, "hot" and it's no hard thing to fall in love with an attractive, intelligent man. It is much more difficult to be romanced by a giant monstrosity who destroyed a universe."
"....Touchè."
"As for why I'm helping now… well you looked repentant enough for me to risk letting you out. You're welcome, no need to thank me."
If looks could kill, the only thing Uatu would be watching was the underside of a coffin lid. He ignored this and continued:
"She must only know you as what you are now because if she remembered you her previous affections might easily overcome her rightful disgust."
"...Great, so you're sending me to an entirely different torment, then?" As if he didn't already hate himself enough for two.
Uatu would have grinned, but he hadn't quite mastered all of humanity's facial expressions yet, so he smiled again; while the Doctor tried to pull his tentacles closer to him. (They seemed to have a mind of their own.)
After his inevitable failure, Strange groaned, and looked out at stars no longer dimmed by purple triangles. It had been a very long time since he had viewed beauty without risking a glimpse at horror.
"We both know I would do much worse to see her again." He paused, eyes closing tightly. "Very well. If I can earn her love again, you can call on me like your eldritch hunting dog." He breathed out slowly. The remnants of his pride still defied this promise, but the rest of him only cared about one thing.
Christine.
💙
