Supremely-sorcerous - Stephen Deserves The World.

Stephen does NOT like guns. And yes, he will continue to be obviously petty about it.

- Magic Bullets #1-2 (2017)

Oh my vishanti, Stephen’s hiding his feelings again. RUn that back please..

Oh and let’s not forget...

Oh and then there’s-

Stephen, you love Clea. Always have, always will. Dont come in here with no “oUtDatEd inFoRmAtiOn.” After all this mess she told him to get his job back and clean himself up and he did just that. She cares about him and he knows that. I don’t think he’s ever lost his feelings for her. She is literally the healthiest relationship with another human that he HAS.

I feel personally called out-

Completely random thought that has no relevance to my page.

What happens if Black Bolt forgets the toilet paper...?

No, seriously. I dare say that Triumph and Torment is the most important story in all Victor’s chronology and I’m so glad Stephen is an essential part of it. Hear me out.

Cynthia von Doom is the last connection to Victor’s humanity. She’s the only person capable of lifting Victor’s ability to love. She’s the only person Victor loved in a non-twisted way. And Stephen saw it all. He knows Victor is able to love. And I cannot stress enough how important this story is to their relationship, in both POVs.

It’s important to Stephen because he learned that Doom is not that ruthless, merciless tyrant that the whole world believes him to be. And Stephen, as a doctor and the Sorcerer Supreme, will always fight to bring the best in people and heal them in all possible ways. Imagine his surprise to learn that Victor also has the ability to love and cry, to feel and be vulnerable. He witnessed a miracle. Stephen knows Victor can be healed.

On the other hand, it’s important to Victor because he doesn’t really care about people and his love is usually very unhealthy. Yes, he loves Reed, he loves Namor, he loves Valeria (her ex, not Reed’s daughter. But that too). Yet, he always finds a way to corrupt this love by betraying them out of rage and pain and jealousy. But Stephen? Stephen wasn’t important to him until the moment they went to Hell and fought Mephisto side by side. Certainly, Victor would despise Stephen for seeing his vulnerability. But he doesn’t feel that way. And that’s because Stephen found a way to guide Cynthia’s soul to Heaven. Stephen freed Cynthia from Mephisto, which was Victor’s most precious dream. Do you see it? His last connection to love is forever linked to Stephen. Victor could not hate Stephen. Their quest is deeply rooted in love. True love.

To think that the only reason Victor fights Stephen sometimes is because they have conflicting agendas. But most of the time, they respect each other so much and it’s all thanks to T&T… Yes, maybe Doomstrange is not as popular as other ships and they rarely interact, but just take a look at their relationship throughout the years.

Stephen saved Victor after Thanos shattered Victor’s body and soul. He could have left Victor to die and the world would be finally free from his tyranny. But he didn’t. In return, Victor saluted him and said he was at his disposal. How many times did the Doctor Doom say that to anyone? I’ll tell you. One. And that one is Stephen.

I write this all the time but Stephen and Victor literaly build a world together. Yes, I’m aware that Victor murdered Stephen, but from that moment on, he never stopped falling. It was the turning point because Stephen was his last connection to his humanity, just like Cynthia was. When Victor lost Stephen, he became all alone and adrift again.

And when Secret Wars was over and Victor decided to change, Stephen was there to support him. No one believed Victor but Stephen. He was able to see through Victor’s ego and pride, he knows what makes Victor pleased. He knows he likes green. That’s how much Stephen cares for Victor.

In return, Victor gave Stephen what no one on Earth has. He gave Stephen his trust, to the point of never questioning Stephen’s actions. He knows Stephen well enough to believe he’ll always be up to good deeds.

And let me tell you something. Victor cannot afford losing Stephen again. That’s why he won’t let Stephen die. That’s how much Victor cares for Stephen.

Again, I know they rarely interact in canon. Many characters are way more important to Victor’s chronology. The Fantastic Four, Namor, T’Challa, Tony. But their background? Unique. And very, very, very special.

Stephen is the only one who is truly capable of bringing Victor’s best side into light. And more importantly, Victor allows it the best he can. It really feels like Stephen is slowly taking Victor’s armor off, piece by piece, patiently and carefully. It sounds impossible but the Sorcerer Supreme is all about miracles, after all.

“I fight till I fall!”

Stephen at his truest. This statement is pretty much true throughout all his comic years. His determination and resiliency knows no bounds.

Marvel Premier #3 (1972)