#human cloak

[space-mermaid-writing]

The Path I Strayed From [Human!Cloak, IronStrange]

Summary: The Cloak of Levitation gets hurt in a fight and remains motionless. Desperate for a cure, Stephen tries every healing spell he can find. But nothing works. Until one morning he wakes up and looks straight into the face of a strange human in familiar red robes.

Tags: Human!Cloak, the cloak has no concept of personal space, IronStrange as a side dish with mutual pining, platonic Stephen/Cloak, it starts with angst, then it’s all fun and fluff

Ko-fi | Masterlist | Read it on AO3 | Word count: 7.3k

Chapter’s Note: I just really wanted to write a human cloak that loves Stephen. They are a great duo. 10/10 want more content with them as besties

The Path I Strayed From

Stephen stumbled through a portal into the Sanctum Sanctorum. Blood dripped from his forehead and from several wounds under his slashed clothes. But that was not the reason for the despair that was written on his face. It was the red fabric he clutched in his arms.

It was enough to make Wong, who was nearby, instantly concerned. "What happened?" he asked, but Strange merely shook his head, hugging the cloak tighter. Wong noticed it didn't move, which was weird enough. With a hand on his shoulder, he guided Strange to a couch and sat him down.

Stephen had been in another dimension. It should have been just an easy enough mission. Just a check in. But the way Stephen looked, something definitely went totally wrong.

When Wong tried to take the cloak, stubbornly holding onto it. "I'll find a way, my friend," he murmured into the fabric.

~~

The cloak remained motionless. Stephen tried every spell he knew but nothing worked. He was currently searching in the library. Wong went to Kamar-Taj to look for a solution there. The problem was that there wasn‘t a lot of information about the cloak‘s origin, nor its magic. Stephen tried in the past to figure it out, but it was tedious work, because the Cloak of Levitation never held still long enough – and so he had finally given up on it. Now when he scanned the fabric, there were no traces of magic at all. And that was what worried him most.

Stephen felt a shift in the Sanctum as someone entered through the front door. A quick check told him it was a welcomed guest – usually. Usually he would send the cloak to bring Stark to the library.

Stephen sighed silently.

Tony knocked his knuckles on the door frame before he walked into the room. "I brought food," he announced, a bag with take out food in his hand. He looked at the sorcerer, who avoided his gaze, noting the deep circles under his eyes.

Stephen mumbled just a small greeting, not in the mood for company. „Do you want anything?“ he asked curtly. It was the grief talking. Normally he was happy to see Stark. Way more happy than he should be.

Today he didn‘t even try to banter, the gleam in his eyes missing.

Tony wasn’t put off by this. He had his own bad days and knew where they came from. And he was willing to be at least as stubborn as Strange, if he had to. He put the bag on the table next to Strange‘s books.

„I heard of your cloak.“

„Just a temporary inconvenience. I‘m currently working on a solution.“

„Of course,“ Tony offered way too casual. He sat down at the table and grabbed a book from the pile. „What are we looking for?“

Finally, Stephen looked at him, regarding Stark, who seemed serious about helping him. „Can you read Tamil?“ Tony opened his mouth, but before he could answer, Stephen scoffed with something that could be amusement. „Let me guess: Friday can?“

Tony smirked. „Correct. Ten points to Ravenclaw.“

Stephen rolled his eyes, then looked at the bag on the table. „That‘s from the Indian place on the eighth street?“

„Number five for you, number sixteen for Wong and extra naan bread.“

There was a shadow of a smile on Stephen‘s lips, as his heart took a leap. Food first, he decided, because he was starving – even though he wouldn‘t admit it – and then they would continue the research. Stark knew nothing about magic, but he was wicked smart and four eyes read faster than two.

„How did it happen anyway?“

„Witches,“ Stephen said with a frown.

He had been surprised by them. They must have settled recently and were not pleased about his visit. They attacked him with a lot of raw power. Normally they would just stand a minor problem for the Sorcerer Supreme, but he was also greatly outnumbered. So it turned out to be rather challenging.

There had been one specific nasty spell whirled at him. The cloak of levitation had caught the magic - as it often did. After that he had stopped moving. Stephen had used his anger to push down the shock and didn’t waste any more time with the witches.

"Nothing good ever came from witches," Tony agreed lowly, for he had had his own bad experiences with them.

~~

Stephen tried every healing and magic storing spell he could find.

Nothing.

Angrily he threw the last book against the wall – just to catch it midair with magic. Wong would have his head, if he damaged a book from the library. With a flick of his hand it floated onto a nearby table.

He needed to sleep. No astral projecting but actual sleep.

Stephen took the cloak with him. He tried to wear it anyway, but it felt too much like a dead body hanging on his shoulder; creepy and wrong.

He put the red fabric neatly folded on a chair in his room, hit the shower and then his bed. He was out almost instantly.

~~

Stephen was stirring awake, feeling surprisingly well rested. And there were hands on him. First he thought he was dreaming, maybe of Stark. They moved, brushing his hair out of his face. Stephen blinked sleepily and noticed a flash of red fabric. It looked awfully similar to… Stephen wrenched his eyes open and tried to sit up, but a weight on his chest prevented that second action. He was eye to eye with a foreign face.

„Stephen!~“

Instantly alarmed, the sorcerer tried to access the situation: dark eyes and longish hair fell into a round face. It was hard to guess a gender, they looked kinda androgynous. The red robes were in the typical style of Kamar-Taj. Stephen had never seen them before but something about them felt familiar.

The cloak stared at him with a wide grin. It was trying to hold back, and was successful for about eight seconds, before it didn't want to wait any longer. „Stephen, look! I‘ve got hands.“ It shoved them right into his face. „And I can talk. My voice sounds kinda weird, but isn‘t it great? Listen to it. Actual words coming from my mouth.“ It was chatting happily, while Stephen just stared at it.

His brain tried to understand what was going on here. The pattern of the robe, the hue of red, the gestures.…

“Cloak?“

The cloak beamed at him. “Hi.“

“Why are you… human?“ Stephen pushed it off his chest and finally sat up.

“I don‘t know. The last thing I remember is the fight with the witches. They were mean. You‘re fine, though? You look fine.“ It examined his face, poked and probed his cheeks and then down the shoulders of his naked upper body. Stephen pushed its hands away. “And then I woke up like this.“

“Must be one of the spells I tried on you,“ Stephen thought out loud. At the look of the cloak, he added, “You didn’t move. I thought I lost you…”

And because the cloak had always been great in reading Stephen’s feelings and what he needed, it hugged him tightly. Stephen took a deep breath and all the stress of the last week fell off him. The not-cloak was warm and still even smelled the same, despite its different appearance. It moved. Stephen had been successful.

“I’m always coming back to you,” the cloak said softly. It felt like a promise. “You’re my friend.”

Stephen just nodded, not being able to form actual words. Until the cloak shifted and climbed behind Stephen, putting its arms around his neck.

“What are you doing?” the sorcerer asked, irritated.

“It’s morning. Time for breakfast, silly. Let’s get you out of bed.” With these words, it suddenly lifted Stephen out of bed and set him to his feet. Apparently it still had the ability to levitate and also still had the same strength to move him with it. Even though he was used to it from the cloak of levitation, it felt strange with the human version.

Although Stephen was glad to see the return of the cloak, he refused to give it a piggyback ride to the kitchen.

The human cloak pouted - it had always been good at it, but its human face took it to a whole new level. It followed him anyway, floating beside him.

On their way to the kitchen, they saw Wong, who first glanced at Stephen and then at the not-cloak. It waved at him. "Hey Wong."

"Good to have you back, Cloak." The hint of a smile played around Wong's lips.

"Well, technically I'm not a cloak right now. More like a human of levitation." Thinking about this, it put a hand to its chin, swaying slightly left and right as it hovered. It was iconic how much its movements resembled that of its cloak form. Even if one did not know who it was, it would be recognizable by its behavioral quirks. “Oh, I know!” The not-cloak beamed. “You can call me Levi for now. Like Tony always does.”

“Sure, Levi.”

~~

It was weird to see Levi in this form, but it was no longer still. So it was not an actual problem. Stephen nevertheless rummaged through all the books of spells he had used, to find out what caused this.

Levi was happy and didn't complain about its new body, so Stephen was in no hurry to reverse it – and perhaps risk turning it back into a lifeless and very much not moving piece of cloth.

Even as a cloak, Levi had always had a curious nature. Now it was fascinated by being able to touch things with hands, to see things with eyes. And it seems to have made it a challenge to try every single food existing. It quickly found out that it didn't actually need to eat. A quick magic scan by Stephen had shown that it was run by magic.

That didn’t stop it from stealing food off Stephen’s plate. Once it even tried to take a slice of Wong’s pizza, while Stephen was visiting one of the other Sanctum. When he came back, he found Levi trapped in a prison mirror and Wong lectured Stephen about teaching it some manners.

The not-cloak disappeared somewhere in the Sanctum after Stephen got him out, sulking and not talking a word to anyone.

Of course it was back a few hours later, cuddling with Stephen.

Due to its former form of a piece of clothing, it had no concept of personal space. It was also very handsy and liked to drape itself around Stephen no matter where he was. It also still followed him around, even if it was no longer allowed to hang on his shoulder while he walked. Stephen made it clear that he wasn’t part of a conga line. Levi only pouted only for five minutes after that.

~~

Stephen sat in the library, watched by the pile of red fabric and dark hair next to him. “You should go to sleep. It’s late,” it stated.

The sorcerer didn’t even look up. “I need to find something to prevent those riffs that appear all over New Jersey. Remember them? They started even before we met the witches.”

“I remember the beasts that jumped through the first riff.” Levi tilted its head. “It would have eaten your face, if it wasn’t for me.”

“And my face is really thankful for that.”

“It’s a good face,” Levi nodded. “A face that needs sleep.”

Stephen huffed amused. He conjured a pen and paper and used magic to write something down. “How about this: you find me these books and I’ll take them with me to read them in my astral form, while my face sleeps.”

Levi nodded again and grabbed the paper out of the air. It looked at it and then at Stephen, not moving an inch.

Stephen raised an eyebrow. “What? Can’t read anymore?”

“I can, but not whatever this is.” It held up the paper with the illegible text. Some clichés about doctors were actually true.

Stephen rolled his eyes and told him the titles, whereupon Levi went to the shelves. It still preferred to float instead of walking, finding it unnecessarily and boring to use legs.

Stephen flipped through the book in front of him, when he noticed a shift in the air and a second later Wong appeared in the library. “Strange! We have hellhounds downtown.” As he spoke he already created a portal.

Stephen jumped to his feet. It looked like sleep would have to wait a little longer. Levi came rushing back, looking grim and ready to fight.

“You stay here,” Stephen told it sternly.

“What? No! Why? I always come with you.”

“Yes, as a cloak. We don’t know how vulnerable you’re in this form. And you can’t stay on my shoulders like this during a fight.”

Levi looked like it wanted to protest some more, but was interrupted by Wong, who had already jumped through the portal. "Strange!" he shouted impatiently.

“Just do as I say. I can’t lose you again.” Stephen was adamant about it. Before Levi could even think about following him anyway, the sorcerer had stepped through the portal and closed it from the other side.

A sting went through its heart as it stood in the empty library. Stephen had never left it behind. They were a duo from the first day the sorcerer fell through its glass case.

Levi slumped its shoulders and lowered itself onto the armchair where Stephen had just been sitting minutes ago. Hearing nothing but silence, it felt awful. Sure, Stephen was a capable sorcerer, but he always relied on the cloak. And the cloak always had his back. The thought that he was now fighting alone…

A restlessness came over Levi. So many emotions swirled inside it that it was difficult to separate them all. Levi was hurt, offended, worried. Humans felt much more strongly than cloaks, and experiencing it overwhelmed Levi a little.

It seemed like an eternity to Levi - though not much more than an hour could have passed - when noises came from the entrance hall. Stephen and Wong were back. They were seemingly unharmed, only their robes were slightly burned in some spots.

Levi approached slowly, not fully over its sulking, but the urge to make sure Stephen was okay was stronger.

Wong disappeared toward the kitchen, presumably making himself some well-deserved tea. Before Stephen could decide to follow him, Levi's fingers were in his face, prodding, turning it to the left and right in inspection.

“I’m fine, Levi.” Stephen pushed its fingers away. He was so, so tired. The adrenaline of the fight was already out of his system, leaving a deep exhaustion. “I’m going to bed.” He passed Levi, who stayed where it was.

“Alone?”

It was spoken so softly that Stephen almost missed it. "That's never stopped you from tagging along before." And it should be weird, because Levi was a human being, but it was also still his cloak. Someone familiar. A strange friend – pun fully intended.

“You never faced a fight alone before so I don’t know.”

That made Stephen turn around, facing Levi fully, and he looked at it. Like really looked.

The cloak, who had never been afraid to slap him with the corner of its hem if it didn’t agree with Stephen’s action, now looked like a cat in the rain. Insecure, rejected. Shoulder slumped. It was that moment that it hit Stephen: the situation of this cloak-turned-human might be feeling weird for him, suddenly having this person as a companion instead of a piece of fabric. But under this whole sunshine and babbling demeanor it had to be much more difficult for Levi. All its… life? consciousness?… awareness, it had always been a cloak. Yes, sure, it was able to change into whatever piece of clothes its wearer needed it to be, but there had been limits.

It was hard enough to be a human by birth. Being suddenly turned into one was beyond Stephen’s comprehension.

Its whole life, existence, destiny had changed together with its form. It tried to find a place in this world, at Stephen's side. And he had just rejected it. His friend.

Stephen's voice softened, “I’m just trying to keep you safe for now. Just like you did before. It doesn’t change anything else between us.” He nodded to the door. “C’mon.”

Levi followed him with a forced smile.

~~

Levi didn’t need to sleep. Usually it spent the nights either hanging over the back of a chair – rather uncomfortable in its current form - or as an additional blanket on top of Stephen. It didn’t restrain from the second option just because it was human.

These days Stephen woke up with Levi sprawled all over him, sometimes even entangled in the blanket. He was fine with that and didn’t complain.

In the past the cloak had often enough done its own thing in the Sanctum, only appearing at Stephen’s side when he needed it. But ever since it shape changed, it followed him almost like a lost puppy. Stephen didn’t mind most of the time. Even if Levi didn’t know where to draw the line.

Stephen brushed his teeth in the bathroom, rinsed out and turned around, just to find himself face to face with Levi.

“Do you need to shave?” it asked. It had often helped him with that in the past when his own hands were shaking too badly.

“No. I’m just going to shower.” It nodded but didn’t leave. Stephen sighted. “Levi, we talked about this. Personal space.”

It was still a strange concept for Levi, but it backed off without complaining. Not without making funny faces, though, just because it could. Some things it would never understand. But it didn’t dwell on it, because someone was entering the Sanctum.

Stephen was the master of the Sanctum Sanctorum and some of that specific magic also applied to Levi. He instantly knew who was visiting, and was excited to greet another friend.

For Tony, it was not unusual to find the entrance hall empty. If no one was home, the doors would not open for him. The magic of the sanctum was a bit like Friday, just without a voice output and less predictable. He would just walk to the library, where either Stephen or Wong usually hung out. He was by now used to the peculiarities of the sorcerers.

What he was not used to, was to be pounced on by someone on his way upstairs.

“Tony!” Levi chirped happily, greeting the Avenger by wrapping its arms around him.

Tony was startled and pushed it away from him. "Jesus fucking Christ! Way to give me a heart attack." He drew his brows together. "Do I know you?" Usually Tony was good with faces, but he couldn't remember ever seeing this one.

Levi hovered in front of him. "It's me, your buddy."

Tony adjusted his sunglasses – Levi knew Friday was connected to them – but then took them off and tucked them into his breast pocket. “Yeah, I don’t think so. Also, for the protocol, I don’t like being jumped on. Is Strange available?”

Levi pouted and crossed its arms. “You’re no fun. Stephen is taking a shower. He threw me out, but I don’t like getting wet anyway. Makes the fabric smell funny.”

Tony stared at Levi, trying to figure out who the hell this person was and why they were so close to Strange. They seemed familiar but Friday didn’t find a match in the data bank. No facial recognition whatsoever. “You know what, I’ll come back later.” He was about to turn away when a voice from down the hall called his name.

“Stark.”

It was Stephen, who had realized they had a guest and came to greet him. He was back in his blue robes and nothing indicated that he was in the shower like 45 seconds ago. Levi knew that he had used magic for a spotless appearance; he would never face Tony with anything less.

Tony's eyes brightened. “Strange.”

Levi flew to Stephen's side. It would have preferred to be behind him, its hands on his shoulders, looking over them. Old habits died hard.

"What are you doing here? We didn't have an appointment, did we?" Stephen asked. He was oblivious to Tony's mixed feelings as he regarded the two sorcerers thoughtfully.

After what happened to the Cloak of Levitation Strange had been in a mood. Understandably. Tony never fully understood the bond between the sorcerer and his loyal companion, but he knew what it was like losing a close friend. Someone as close as family. Strange hadn’t looked good the last time Tony saw him. And he hadn’t heard from him for a while.

Tony didn’t know if he was just busy doing wizard stuff or if he wasn’t coping well. But looking at him now, he seemed more than fine with that other sorcerer nudging his side. Strange wasn’t known for being an open and affectionate person. So seeing someone occupying his personal space without getting so much as a scowl in return was at least unusual.

Tony buried his hands in his pants pockets as he suppressed some feelings he didn't want to think about. He opted for a tactical retreat instead.

“No, I was just checking in to see how you are doing, after… you know, never mind. Seems like you’re doing just fine and you are obviously busy.” He turned around before he embarrassed himself even more with his rambling.

Levi whispered something in Stephen's ear and the sorcerer nodded. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

Tony turned around, opening his mouth to decline, but Levi was faster.

“We can order from that french bakery you love.”

Tony’s mouth became a thin line. He stepped towards Levi, raising his finger to point at it. “Okay, for real, who the fuck are you?”

Stephen looked from Tony to the smirking Levi, who waited for the shoe to drop. “Wait, you haven’t told him?”, Stephen asked.

“Told me what?” Tony asked exasperated.

“That’s the Cloak of Levitation.”

There was a sequence of various emotions on Tony’s face: Disbelief, surprise and... relief? It was gone as fast. “Really? I thought you kinda died?” Was the first thing that came out of his mouth. Then, “You don’t look like a cloak. But that levitation part you got down.”

“Magic,” Stephen simply stated and of course that was the explanation. It was Tony’s fault for not counting that factor in before.

“That’s definitely a story I want to hear. So, breakfast?” Tony no longer had the urge to run away.

“Sure.”

They walked to the kitchen and Levi floated next to Tony, leaning in as if he was about to share a secret. “You know, Stephen always says he doesn’t like that French place because their stuff is too sweet, but he secretly loves their chocolate croissants.”

Stephen scoffed, but the facts were already spilled. And if his ear tips became the faintest of red, that was nobody’s but his business. Especially when Tony chuckled.

“You know all the good stuff, don’t you?” The Avenger grinned. “This just became great. You have to tell me more like this.”

“Only if I can visit DUM-E and U later.”

“You drive a hard bargain, but sure. If Dumbledore doesn’t need you here, you can leave with me for your playdate.” He turned his head to Strange, who rolled his eyes affectionately. His voice was fond when he answered, “Can’t separate the kids, can I?” And shit, he shouldn’t say things like that, because now he had this image in his head. If the robots and the cloak were kids, who else could be their parents but Tony and Stephen. Warmth rose in his heart that had no business being there. It was dangerous.

~~

Like promised Levi left with Tony. Stephen opened a portal for the both of them right into Tony’s lab. Levi rushes to its friends, showing off his new form. Tony lingered briefly next to the orange sparks. “I’m glad Levi’s back.”

Stephen's smile reflected in his eyes. “Yeah, me too.

“Will you turn it back into a piece of fabric?”

“Eventually. It seems to enjoy its body for now. Especially its mouth and ability to speak.”

“I noticed,” Tony chuckled. Levi was some serious competition for his own chattiness. “I’ll text you later to collect it. See you, don’t be a stranger.” He winked at the sorcerer, before finally walking through the portal.

Stephen was glad Tony had turned his back on him, because there was a slight blush in his face. He quickly closed the portal.

Back in his lab, Tony heard the beeping of DUM-E and U. Levi hovered in front of them, using its hands in flourishing gestures. He smiled, its antics were really unmistakable. He got himself a cup of coffee and then sat down at his latest project.

It wasn't long before Levi approached him. Tony looked up and their eyes met. "What? Done playing already?"

“You like Stephen.“

Tony looked at it sharply. “Do I now?“, he deflected but didn‘t deny it. He was way past this point.

Levi nodded. “It is kinda obvious.“

“So, you‘re an expert in human relationships now?

Levi crossed its arms, his face serious. “I have been with humans for centuries, sharing their lives. Don’t assume I’m simple minded just because of my former appearance.”

Tony raised his hands in defense. “Alright, sorry. You’re right.”

“I usually am.” Levi smirked. “And just so you know: Stephen likes you too.”

Tony glared at it, but Levi had already turned around and floated back to his friends as if it hadn't just dropped the most important piece of information of the decade.

~~

A talking cloak had many advantages. Above all, it made communication easier. At least on Stephen's end.

"Why did you choose to stay with me?" His voice was quiet, even in the silence in which they had sat before. He hadn't dared ask the question for a long time, not knowing if he wanted to hear the answer. It could change things.

Stephen wasn't afraid of change. But the question was very personal and Stephen handled personal matters with uttermost care.

Levi, sitting next to him as so often, tugged thoughtfully at Stephen's robe. It had its hands often on Stephen these days. As cloak of levitation, it was used to resting on the sorcerer’s shoulders, and even now it seldom kept his fingers to himself, especially when they were alone. When others were around - others besides Wong and Tony - it tried to keep it to a minimum.

“You piqued my interest,” it finally said. “I saw what you could be. And let’s be honest, you really needed my help with Dormammu’s zealots that first time around.” It grinned grimly at the memory. Stephen had not even been a Master of the Mystic Arts back then. But he had fought viciously, determined and headstrong, not fully understanding what he did. He had come a long way to become Sorcerer Supreme and the cloak had always had his back since then – quite literally.

Levi smiled at Stephen. “I still see it.”

They were such simple words, the plain truth. Stephen looked at it in awe, his heart clenching, tearing up. Because he remembered it too. The cloak hadn’t left him when they faced Dormammu, dying again and again. It had saved his life several times since Stephen became Master of the Sanctum Sanctorum and later Sorcerer Supreme. He wouldn’t be here without Levi.

He pulled it on his lap and hugged it tightly. Levi was his emotional support cloak, whether in a fight or just on a bad day of his hands – Levi was there.

I was said that the cloak of levitation was a fickle thing, but loyal as hell once… Stephen didn’t know what once. He didn’t know what he did to deserve its affection. What Levi saw in him.

Freedom of will was something fascinating.

Levi hugged him back, draping its limbs around Stephen’s body as if it was still a cloak. Hugging in this form felt different, but still familiar. They had formed a bond – dying side by side over and over again for the sake of the world does that – and this whole shape changing matter would only strengthen it.

“Thank you,” Stephen muttered in the crook of its shoulder. If there were tears in his eyes, they were dried by red fabric. He didn’t need to hide them, because Levi had seen it all, his highs and lows.

Levi understood why he hid them anyway.

“You too. For keeping me.”

And aren’t there always two sides of a coin? After being alone for so long, on full display, Levi had finally found someone again he could companion. With all its antics, ticks and otherness – being so different from any other relic; not a thing but also not fully a being. With Stephen it had found a place where it could just be the cloak of levitation. And be loved for it.

~~

Levi really tried to give Stephen and Tony a nudge in the right direction. And Tony really tried to hint his intentions at Stephen. After his conversation with Levi in the lab the other day, he had obviously taken its words to heart. Levi increasingly caught Tony looking at Stephen, really just watching him, and he made innuendos that weren't actually that hard to understand.

But Stephen's IQ lowered as soon as Tony entered the room, It was maddening. Levi was a good wing-cloak: it mentioned places where the two men could go on a date, activities it knew Stephen liked. Tony jumped on it every time, sort of served it up to the sorcerer on a silver platter. But it bounced off Stephen like water off a raincoat.

One time it went so far that Levi slapped Stephen right across the face after Tony left – unsuccessful in wooing Stephen once again.

Stephen looked at it, puzzled. "What was that for?"

"You are so stupid it's exhausting!" Annoyed, it floated out of the room.

"I have a PhD," he called after it, before looking longingly to where Tony left.

~~

“Can we invite Peter?” Levi asked. “He hasn’t seen me yet.”

“Sure,” Stephen replied.

A few days later, he regretted it after Levi stole his phone and flooded it with selfies of it and Peter. They were ridiculous.

~~

Stephen, Tony and Levi were walking the streets of New York. Tony offered to buy coffee for all and Levi tagged along for funsies.

Stephen had been tempted to open a portal to the coffee shop just because he could and maybe to show off, but after a hint from Levi he dropped that thought. He liked spending time with Tony anyway and now he was walking beside him, engrossed in his usual banter with the inventor.

Levi was on his other side and for once it was mostly silence, as if it wanted to give the two men some space. It was busy using Stephen’s phone – how in the fifth dimension did it get its hands on that? - for what seemed to be Candy Crush.

The coffee shop was two blocks east, but before they reached it, they all suddenly heard a loud crash nearby. Then the shrill alarm of a building sounded. Tony and Stephen exchanged a look. The sorcerer changed his shirt and jeans into his robes and the inventor tapped the house unit on his chest. Nanobots bled all over his body.

They followed the sound, Levi hot on their heels.

The alarm came from a skyscraper in the financial district. People on the street were stopping and watching, while even more people spilled from the front entrance of the building, following the emergency protocol.

“Doom Bots!”

They were hovering in the air near a broken window somewhere around the tenth floor.

Ever since the cloak's transformation Stephen had played with fly spells. They weren’t as good but did the job. Now he used such a spell to go straight after the bots – because under his stoic and sarcastic behavior the sorcerer had no drive for self-preservation and often went head first into a fight. But it was fine, because Tony and Levi were at his side – even if he told Levi to stay at the sidelines.

More bots came out of the window and one of them had a whole safe in his hands that looked like it had been ripped right out of a wall. Whatever Victor’s plan was, it couldn’t be anything good.

His bots combined technology and magic, and Tony and Stephen were clearly outnumbered. Nevertheless, they did well in battle. Stephen was a bit wobbly on his feet. It was far more difficult to concentrate on the fly spell while fighting. But Tony was home in the air. He blasted and kicked one bot after another.

Stephen used his Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to get a hold on the safe and pulled it out of the bot's hands. Suddenly, something hit his unprotected back with full force. He couldn't even let out a noise of pain before his body went limp and he fell from the sky.

Tony was busy fighting and only noticed it when he heard a cry from Levi. He watched in horror as Levi dove for the crashing sorcerer.

Levi went as fast as it could, but ten stories was not high for a chase and Stephen had quite a head start. Physics was against them. Levi used all the magic it could possibly muster. Just seconds before impact, it managed to grab the sorcerer by the waist, wrapping itself around him and breaking the fall. Levi couldn't quite prevent them both from hitting the asphalt and rolling over the ground. Their robes tore and skin scraped.

It hurt.

As a cloak, Levi was immune to pain and now it hit all the harder. It took a moment to remember how to breathe. Human bodies were so complex and fragile. But its main concern was not for himself, but for Stephen.

Levi sat up and examined the sorcerer. He breathed, thank the Vishanti. But he didn’t move. There was no reaction from him altogether, even when Levi called his name, crying it over and over again.

Stephen's eyes stayed closed.

A Doom Bot had followed them to the ground, either because its protocol tried to ensure that the threat was neutralized, or maybe because Victor was connected to them and still insisted on his personal feud with the Sorcerer Supreme. Either way, it stepped close, right into their personal space, and Levi saw red. It jumped to its feet and then right onto the foe, who dared to harm his sorcerer.

Levi was strong – strong enough to carry Stephen, a full grown man, without breaking a sweat. The bot was no challenge for it. It brought it down and knelt on its back

Levi grabbed his head and hit it on the ground, again and again. Until it no longer looked like a head and more like a mash of circuits, wires and crumple metal. It didn’t even notice when the bot stopped resisting and went offline. Levi stopped no sooner as it was sure the bot could no longer hurt Stephen.

It rushed back to the sorcerer, cradling him in its arms, his head and shoulders pulled onto its lap.

Stephen needed a hospital.

Christine!

She could help. Stephen trusted her. Even if she lectured him every time he stumbled injured into her ER.

It would be much easier if Levi was still a cloak. It could wrap itself around him, stabilize him. Stephen always told, not to move an injured person for it could do more harm than good. Especially when they had hit their heads. But Stephen can’t keep lying here.

Suddenly it noticed a movement nearby and tensed, ready to attack.

“It’s just me, buddy.” Tony held hands up in a non-threatening way, approaching slowly. He was still in his suit, but his face was revealed and his eyes flickered worried between Levi and Stephen.

Levi relaxed. It trusted Tony. Tony was safe. So it made no objections as the inventor approached. It also noticed that the fight seemed to be over. There were no more Doom Bots in the air. Only the alarm was still ringing in its ears.

Levi whimpered as Tony knelt and gently touched Strange’s cheek, not sure how badly the sorcerer’s injuries really were - he had never seen Levi this feral – and he was glad to see that he was still alive.

“Everything’s gonna be alright. Help is on the way,” he tried to calm Levi down, just when the first paramedics arrived on the scene.

It was that moment when Stephen stirred. Levi was instantly all over him. “Stephen!”

The sorcerer groaned. “…’s loud.”

Levi didn’t seem to care. “Stephen, you have to turn me back. You can’t go into fights without me. Do you hear me?” Its eyes were wet with tears.

Tony put his hand on its shoulder. “Easy there, buddy. He hit his head pretty hard.”

More and more people appeared around them and in Levi's field of vision. It was on guard, trying to shield Stephen from everyone. Tony had to talk it down after it actually growled at one of the paramedics.

“They are here to help him.”

Only reluctantly Levi let them get to the sorcerer and refused to move away from Stephen. It watched over him, and closely observed every movement of the humans.

~~

Stephen was lucky he didn’t have to be brought into the hospital.

He wasn’t sure how he got back home, but when he woke up he was in his bed at the Sanctum. Groaning, he closed his eyes again immediately. The light was way too bright. His back and his head ached and the past hours seemed to be a blur. He remembered being in and out of consciousness.

Something on top of his blanket moved away. Instinctively, Stephen reached out and grabbed Levi’s wrist. He tried to open his eyes again.

“How long have I been out?”

“A day. They gave you something to sleep.” Levi kept its voice low.

Stephen hummed in acknowledgement and let it go. He didn't notice Levi leave the room without another word, too busy examining his head and making his own diagnosis about his well-being.

Shortly after, Wong entered and brought him a glass of water. He also gave Stephen a rundown of what had happened. Stephen had been more than lucky that he didn’t break his neck. Levi had saved his life; without it, the impact would have been much more devastating.

The paramedics had ordered him on bed rest for at least a few days. Stephen took the professional liberty of extending that bed rest to the couch of the library.

He was sitting there reading, when Levi came floating in. The sorcerer had not seen it all day. It said nothing, just sprawled its body over him to be near him.

It wasn't long before Stephen put his book aside and noticed Levi's gaze was on him. He raised his eyebrow in question.

Levi nervously kneaded its fingers, which would have been a nervous tic in a normal human. But Levi did not possess such tics. Levi did not get nervous.

“I need you to change me back.”

It had been fun being a human, but it was time to resume his responsibilities. Too long Levi had neglected them. The reason for its existence as a cloak was to accompany a sorcerer. It had strayed from this path and caused pain to its owner, the one he swore to protect. It was his duty.

The incident with the Doom Bots had woken Levi up, like a bubble that burst.

Stephen nodded slowly. With a flick of his hand, a book came flying to them. He had found a promising spell in his research before. He would triple check it anyway, just to be safe.

Stephen let the book float in the air next to him, hesitating to open it.

“You know I love you no matter which form you chose.”

Levi tilted its head and grinned sheepishly. “Of course. There’s nothing not to love about me.”

“The jury is still out on that thing you do when you don’t want to get washed.” Offended, Levi pulled a pout, but it couldn't hide a smirk from Stephen. “Also, whenever you use your collar to wipe my face? I don’t like that.”

“Yeah, because keeping dried blood on your face is so much better.”

“I definitely liked you better without your mouth.” Stephen smiled affectionately.

“Thank the Vishanti, you don’t have to suffer much longer.”

“You sure you want to do this?” Stephen asked again, because while it would turn Levi back to its original shape, it was nevertheless a big change to its current life.

“Yes.” There wasn’t the shadow of a doubt left in its voice. “I’m glad I had this opportunity, but it is time.” Levi cupped Stephen's face and pressed a kiss on his forehead with all the love and devotion it felt for the sorcerer. This was the only time left he could do it.

Stephen closed his eyes for a moment. He knew it wasn’t a goodbye. He wouldn’t lose a friend. The cloak would stay at his side for as long as it deemed him worthy and the bond between them felt stronger than ever.

He took a deep breath in and out before opening his eyes again. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

~~

With a stack of pizza boxes in his hands, Tony was on his way to the Sanctum, to see how Strange was doing. The sorcerer actually texted him and invited him over, so he seemed to be back on his feet. Still, Tony was happy to stop by and see for himself.

After a short knock on the door, it opened. Behind it, a portal brizzled, taking him directly into the library. Tony had to admit that this was kinda handy.

Stephen had his legs crossed, hovering several feet in the air over a couch. Several books were around him and a very familiar cloak on his shoulders.

“Hey Levi. Looking good.” Tony grinned broadly, when a corner of its hem waved at him, but the cloak didn’t leave the sorcerer’s side.

Stephen descended and ended sitting on the couch – you know, like a normal human being. The books flew on a nearby shelf, sorting themselves alphabetically.

“Thanks for stopping by, Stark.”

“Of course! Gotta feed my favorite wizard.” He placed the boxes on the table. “I guess that means we split Levi’s pizza between us?”

“We can leave it for the fridge.

“For Wong?”

“For the fridge.”

Tony tilted his head but knew better than to question Strange’s phrasing. “Scoop over,” he said instead, sliding next to him.

He was just about to sit down when the cloak reached out and pulled his arm. Tony yelped, losing his balance and fell right into Stephen’s lap.

“Ugh, sorry. Are you alright?” Stephen helped Tony to sit up.

“Yeah, yeah… no harm done.” Tony waved it off. “Good to see that Levi is still a menace.” He sat next right next to the sorcerer, their legs brushing. Glancing up they shared a look and noticed that both of them were slightly blushing.

Tony felt the fabric of the cloak in his back and suspected it would not let him go so quickly. He cleared his throat. “So… pizza?”

“Yeah, pizza.”

If the cloak of levitation still had a mouth, it would smirk. It really was the best wing-cloak ever.

[tizeline]

Well. Every tmnt artist has to turn them into humans eventually, I suppose.

Sorry for not posting a ton lately, I have been................. playing fire emblem three houses.............. busy............ Also I've been feeling a little burned out on art, admitedly. Don't worry, it's very much temporary! Last month was just pretty high tempo for me, expecially with the Cell Talk comic, so I just needed to take a short break from drawing to also play fire emblem but I'm getting back into an art-mood now! I decided to draw humanified turtles as a bit of a warm up basically, I've been wanting to do it for quite some time so it was just a fun little thing for me :]

Anyway, some thoughts about the designs-

A lot of people draw Leo as blonde, and I was fully intending to draw him blonde as well, but then I just wanted to see what he'd look like with brown hair instead and I just.... liked that a bit more, so he's a brunette now. Also he has dimples because of course he has dimples. And Mikey has freckles because OF COURSE he has freckles! And Donnie ALSO has freckles because he's my blorbo and I give all my blorbos freckles cuz they're neat. All of them have pretty small eyebrows except for Donnie because he fills them in with makeup. I thought for a while of how I would translate Leo's facial markings into his human design, and I ended up settling for birthmarks (also some red eyeliner cuz his face needs a bit of red on it)

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 258

Halfas are like selkies. Or more like they’re similar to many animal spouses of myths and legends, trapped in (mostly) human forms should they lose their cloak. 

That at least, Vlad warned Danny about within the first time of realizing what the other was. It’s a line neither will cross- not even the timeline where Dan came into being. An unspoken acknowledgement of not crossing such a boundary no matter what happened. 

Even after his parents’ deaths. After Jazz’s near-death and coma. 

It’s not exactly something Danny thinks of, really, especially not that he’s now survived highschool and practically moved across the country. Not to mention the fact he has Ellie and Jordan to care for. But it definitely comes to mind the moment Dan- only five at the moment- screams for him. And he’s not going to let anything happen to his kids

[glitter-alienz]

human donnie design :)

bonus him and mikey

[TMNTOV Masterpost]

[dailyloopdeloop]

DAY 97: CONGRATULATIONS, YOU WON!

[useragarfield]

ENDLESS LIST OF CHARACTERS I LOVE [ 5 / ∞ ] : TANDY BOWEN

It’s possible I’m not over my dad the way that I wish I was over my dad. Then I want to hurt someone. And since he’s not around, I’m trying to find other people who can stand to take on a little hurt.

[indieyuugure]

Hey! Just for curiosity, we've already seen the 2012 boys in their human versions (thanks to your comic) but I would like to see the boys in Rise human if you're not busy of course!

I’ve thought about what the Rise boys would look like as humans a lot, so here’s kind of what I imagine:

I tried to incorporate some of the clothes they wear in canon along with some of their gear and stuff.

I figured the Rise boys could turn into humans from using cloaking broaches(the turtle shell pins on their clothes).

I know a lot of people make their versions of the turtles as humans black or some kind of European—which is totally fine! Art can be whatever you want and this is literally fiction of fiction—but I’ve always sort of thought they’d be Japanese since their human DNA is from Splinter who’s 100% Japanese :]

[stil-lindigo]

Source

While reading this interview with a West Bank settler, it's important to remember her views do not represent those of all Israelis just like Israel does not represent all Jews. There has been sizeable protest in Tel Aviv against the genocide (quickly squashed under Netanyahu’s police force just like all other pro-palestinian sentiment) but it’s worth reading to get insight into the minds of average people who cheer on Palestinian deaths, and draw up a chair to watch hellfire rain down on innocents. This is the impact of years of settler-colonial propaganda - a complete dehumanisation of a scapegoat population.

It also has to be said that ALL colonialist countries are complicit in encouraging this kind of extremism, by facilitating and stoking the fires of islamophobia post-9/11. Israel is not an outlier - this kind of sentiment is festering EVERYWHERE and attempting to detach yourself and your country's identity from it is like burying your head in the sand.

If you stand on the side of Palestinians in this crisis, you have to be prepared to recognise the signs of islamophobia and fascism everywhere, and stand against them.

[n4rval]

a gentle push and a little bit of patience.

[tangledinink]

question for ur gemini au: do they ever get cloaking broaches/do they have cloaking broaches and if yes why do they use them?

me: im not gonna draw anything for any of these asks, just simple easy answers, that's all--

idiot-mushroom, my beloved mutual, asking this and giving me the opportunity to make yet another set of TMNT human designs:

ANYWAY! they don't OWN cloaking brooches of their own, but every now and again they'll get a pair for the evening for some topside dinner or charity event or what-have-you that Mama wants them present for. And they look a little like this!

this is a rare occasion and has only really been something they've been asked to participate in a handful of times over the past several years. they both find it horribly stressful for a variety of different reasons.

[oracleofdelphiii]

Here's my little "human" Bill Cipher design plus some nice whiteboard doodles :3

[beanieable]

TMNT Screenshot redraws but make them human. Well, anytime I draw human turtles I imagine them to be using cloaking brooches. Even if they don’t exist in their version *2012, 2003 and MM*

I'm not entirely sold on the MM and 2003 designs just yet.

Edit: I forgot to add some lighting on the MM boys. I fixed it. :3

[kaiserouo]

i just wanna see drifter and stalker daddy it shouldn't have to be this hard to do

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 269

Another Legend of Zelda Crossover with Ghosts are Dragons. Because it’s fun :>

Danny has decided to go on a vacation with his platonic-romantic-they-aren’t-sure-yet partners. To a different world! Where they can spend more time than just the summer before heading back to their world or the Realms for work. Self employed or no. 

Look, they spent their entire teenagehood protecting the city and world, they deserve a break! So they chose a random direction and a random world that didn’t feel too liminal and ecto-contaminated, and off they went!

And it’s great! The monster issue is easily enough taken care of too, even if it’s to Sam’s complaint. Interesting taste though… Oh well, they can complain and debate that later, because they don’t have to really worry about much. Well, much besides the weird corruption sort of rotting smell that seems to be getting stronger… 

Maybe that’s normal around here…?

@fairy-lights-and-blobs @radiance1 You both enjoy dragons so here <3

[nauti-ca]

reference sheet for my john design !! i think he can shift forms just a little to appear more normal but it costs him 4 inches and a little beefiness 😔