Chapter Text
Stringless
'Yoo-hoo, any wizards or magical entities about?' Tony called, spinning on his heel at the bottom of the staircase. He took a few moments to look around the Sanctum, breathing in the serenity, imagining the stillness of the place seeping into his bones. He'd never admit it to Strange, but the place had charm. It was relaxing, secluded, and it felt safe.
He sipped from his Starbucks takeout cup as he waited, slowly sauntering up the stairs. Strange would have known about his presence from the second he stepped foot over the threshold.
If he wanted the wizard's attention…
'Don’t you dare,’ Strange hissed from behind him.
‘If you don’t want people to touch, then don’t put relics on display. Coffee?’ He held up the Starbucks bag.
‘I didn’t ask for-’
‘Coffee? But Wong’s been going on at me to get him one of those pumpkin lattes, you should try one, very moreish, and I got some of those cinnamon buns we all know you like but pretend to hate, into the kitchen?’ Tony turned and led the way. ‘Wong?’ he called. ‘Come get your drink before Strange drinks it.’
He heard the suffering sigh, but the footsteps followed, the Cloak whizzing in to join them.
‘Coffee, black,’ Tony told the stern wizard, placing it on the table. ‘Here you go, Cloak.’ Tony handed the sentient fabric an empty takeout cup with the lid on. The Cloak shivered in delight, picking up the Styrofoam cup with one of its edges and settling down in a seat, pretending to sip from it.
‘Remind me why you keep darkening our doors with your presence?’ Strange sat drinking his coffee, eyebrow raised.
‘Because we’re building a relationship, team building, remember? The Avengers to protect the Earth from physical dangers and you guys to protect it from…’ Tony waved his hand in the air.
‘Magical ones-’
‘Interdimensional ones-’ they answered at the same time.
‘Good afternoon, Tony.’ Wong’s stern demeanour relaxed a little as he saw what waited for him.
‘Ah, Wong! You said you wanted to try it?’
‘I made no such assumption. You badgered me when you were last here…but thank you.’ Wong smiled, sitting down with his drink, eyeing up the cinnamon bun they all knew was Strange’s.
‘Now see, isn’t this nice?’ Tony stretched back in his chair, crossing his ankles under the table.
‘Stark, the answer is still no.’
‘We both want the same thing, to keep Earth safe. Makes no sense to be doing it alone. Told ya the pumpkin lattes were good,’ he winked at Wong who nodded in agreement.
‘We’re not joining the Avengers. We’re not,’ Strange hissed at Wong’s crestfallen face.
Tony wasn’t going to lie, it was what he was hoping for. They had the same argument every time before they’d trail off into other discussions, their topics usually surface ones such as what was happening in the world, any tidbits of information on enemies that needed watching.
Ever since that day they first meet, Stephen Strange had evoked feelings in Tony, a fascination, like the wizard was a puzzle Tony need to unravel. It wasn’t like when he met Bruce and his scientific curiosity to understand the man, nor was it like meeting Thor, awe at meeting an alien. These feelings were akin to what he felt for Pepper, Rhodey, friendship, acceptance.
In the weeks he’d been coming here he still hadn’t asked Strange what he truly wanted to ask, keeping his curiosity under wraps. The creator inside Tony was desperate to find out how Strange’s magic worked, but that trust needed to be earnt. He’d have to edge his way in slowly with this one, Stephen Strange was stubborn.
Unlike what had driven a wedge between him and Pepper, resulting in the end of their relationship, a lack of understanding on both sides, unequal footing, Stephen Strange could stand toe to toe with him, calling him out on his bullshit as Pepper and Rhodey did. He understood Tony, knew what he had to do to save the world. His sense of humour and defensiveness a mirror match for Tony’s.
They could be friends, great friends, and with those in short supply, he wasn’t going to let this one slip away.
As he watched Strange drink from his coffee, locked in silent communication with Wong, he took a moment to marvel at the twist of fate that had become his life. Thanos had been defeated, the universe restored, the Avengers were still in tatters… Tony wrenched his mind from even wandering down that path.
So many losses. Yet, many gains.
Old friends lost, new friends found. Old team members gone, new team members…mulishly unwilling to cooperate.
Today, after weeks of dancing around the subject, Tony felt the time was right to give things a little nudge. He had a favour he needed to ask of Strange, and he needed to set the groundwork now.
‘Alright, a compromise. What if you didn’t join the Avengers? No Accords, no meetings, but a working relationship. You help us, we help you? That kinda thing.’
‘I really don’t see what your brawn is going to achieve defending us from mystic threats,’ Strange was quick to scoff.
‘That’s funny considering I saved half the universe, if anything it should be me that doesn’t need you,’ Tony sipped from his drink, smirking behind it.
Strange took a while to answer back, his index finger tapping the cup in thought, his gaze straying to the Cloak which was still drinking, its collar shrugging.
‘What do you want exactly? A symbol you shine into the night sky, and the wizards come running?’
‘Note that he called you wizards that time, not me,’ Tony leant forward to whisper to Wong.
Strange glared.
‘Oh, lighten up, all I want to know is that we’ve got each other’s backs if we need it. That if either of us needs the other, we’ll be there.’
Tony could see Strange considering it.
‘That is… acceptable.’
He held back on the sigh of relief, trying to figure out how to ask Strange about the next part. He didn’t want to ask with Wong here, and he couldn’t come up with a way to ask him to talk alone. A stray thought hit him.
‘Fabulous, now, can I come see you guys train at the sacred holy place? I’m dying to see what it is you guys do.’
‘Sure… and when is it I’m coming to see the secret laboratory of Stark Industries?’
‘FRIDAY? Grant access to Doctor Strange to my personal lab of the Avengers compound.’
‘Granted, boss.’
Tony spread out his hands in a gesture meaning your turn.
‘Alright Stark, you can see what it is we do, who knows, you might even learn something.’ Strange stood.
‘See, no-can-do Doc, I’ve got to be somewhere in about, five minutes ago, so I’ll take a rain check. Thank you for your offer though.’ Tony wasn’t sure how he kept his laugh contained, but by God it was hard. Strange was incredulous, his mouth opening and closing a few times. There was just something about the man that made Tony want to push his buttons.
‘You are such a pain in the-’
‘If you want to stop by my lab at say eight tomorrow night then I can show you around?’
‘What makes you think I’ll be free then?’
‘Hot date with a lady wizard?’ Tony smirked, feeling his stomach lurch as Strange took a while to answer.
Huh, that was weird.
They’d been flirtatious, teasing and getting on each other’s nerves, but that’s what it meant to be friends with Tony Stark. He’d never stopped to consider he might be taking up Strange’s time away from a significant other.
Did that mean he had a girlfriend?
‘Tomorrow at eight,’ Strange confirmed, getting up from his seat.
‘Wonderful, it’s a date then!’ Tony beamed, getting to his feet. ‘And I have it on good authority I’m rather good at those.’
‘Is that so? Well then, I expect to be impressed,’ Strange gave him a slow smile.
Tony felt his mouth dry, the way Strange stared at him made his breathing hitch. He recognised that look, had been the one to give that look back in the day.
‘Do you need a map or something?’
‘A visual would be helpful,’ Strange nodded, reaching out for the cinnamon bun and licking the side of it, swiping the cream cheese off.
Tony felt wrong-footed for his moment, his gaze zeroed in on the curved tongue, Strange’s little groan of delight.
Time to be going.
‘Show him a visual, Fri.’ Tony watched as Strange took a moment to examine it, his gaze darting over the details. He couldn’t get a clear idea on what colour the man’s eyes were, they shifted from blue to green and sometimes Tony thought they might be aqua in colour.
Not that he cared.
‘Tomorrow then,’ Tony promised. ‘Bye Wong, same next time?’
Wong nodded, humming in content, lifting his Styrofoam cup up in salute.
‘Bye Cloak,’ Tony held out his hand, shaking the edge of the fabric it offered. ‘You can come with the wizard when he drops by, I’m sure you wanna get out of this place for a bit?’ The Cloak’s collar straightened in interest.
‘Look forward to working with you all!’ Tony beamed as he sauntered out, and if he added a little sashay to his hips as he went, well, no one needed to know.
***
Stephen shut the book with a worn sigh, placing it back on his shelf.
‘You’ve been doing that all day, picking books, reading for about twenty seconds and then sighing. What’s going on?’ Wong questioned.
‘Nothing is going on, I just can’t focus today.’
‘Because of our visitor this morning?’
Stephen didn’t need to look over to Wong to know the smile on his face.
‘It has nothing to do with Stark, I’m just distracted. I’ll meditate for the afternoon, rid myself of these distractions.’
‘I’m sure you’ll be right back where you started once he drops by again,’ Wong muttered, waving him off.
Stephen said nothing as he walked down the hall, allowing the Cloak to enter his bedroom first, following just after. Despite what he said, he did not meditate, sitting instead on the edge of his bed and looking down at his trembling hands.
Tony Stark was first becoming the bane of his life.
It was impossible to watch someone die countless million times and not feel anything, understanding, compassion. Without seeing all those brief glimpses of how Tony sacrificed himself, the man proved himself to be remarkably heroic when facing Thanos. If he closed his eyes, he could remember Tony standing against the Titan with only a sword in hand, knowing his death was only a matter of time but still willing to fight.
Stephen rubbed his hands over his legs.
He was honest enough to say he’d prejudged the man based on media outlets. He knew about Stark Industries and their weapons deals from the past, heard about Tony Stark’s capture, read eagerly about how the man kept himself alive with shrapnel in his chest (from a medical perceptive it was fascinating) and had watched him form the Avengers and save the world.
His initial thoughts on meeting Stark was like looking into his past to view himself, arrogance, narcissistic, and self-absorbed.
He’d misjudged him.
They were cut from the same cloth, both arrogant, rich assholes who had found redemption. Yet there was so much more to Stark then that.
Stark had pleaded with him not to exchange the Time Stone for his life, knowing it was inconsequential compared to the millions he could save. That wasn’t the act of an arrogant man. In his visions of the future, he’d watched several times how Stark would mourn the life of a child he viewed as his own, witnessing the heartbreak over and over.
He leant his head back, stretching his neck from side to side. The Cloak fluttered over in concern.
‘I’m alright, just thinking,’ he smiled up at it.
It made sense, the Sorcerers should work with the Avengers to keep the planet safe, his personal feelings had nothing to do with the issue. They were all working towards the same goal, with different strengths and weaknesses. Things were different now, times had changed. They couldn’t hide away and conceal the nature of their existence.
Interdimensional threats had been bleeding into the world, and both Sorcerers and Avengers had a duty to keep it safe.
‘Trouble is those damn Accords,’ Stephen told the Cloak. ‘If we start helping them, then how long will it be until we are subjected to the same rules and restrictions they are.’ He thought of the Ancient one, how she had drawn power from the dark dimension.
‘Bend the rules indeed,’ he muttered.
Stephen lay back on his bed, arms folded over his stomach.
His thoughts drifted to Stark the man, rather than Iron Man, leader of the Avengers. He wore his humour and snarkiness like armour, refusing to let anyone close. Stephen recognised it because he wore it too. Thinking past Thanos and the fight, his thoughts lingered on the times Stark spent in the Sanctum with him.
Back when he had been a surgeon, when he had been in a relationship with Christine, he’d seen people as beneath him, unworthy of his time. He was the brilliant Stephen Strange, none could come close, none had been his equal. He’d push away anyone who came too close, lashing them with his quick-witted tongue, tearing their self-esteem to ribbons.
Tony Stark… could have been his equal. Their quips passed easily from their lips, both recognising instinctively an intellectual identical. Stephen found himself looking forward to their meetings, if only to watch the man relax in increments as they sat across from each other.
Their flirtations continued. At the beginning it had been harmless, he’d seen the way Stark’s eyes had roamed over him after the Cloak had slapped him away from the Cauldron of the Cosmos, he knew Stark’s overdramatic eye roll to his wink was self-preservation.
Until they were back home safe, until Stark had broken off his engagement... then the flirtations became enticing.
‘This could be…a problem,’ he whispered to the ceiling.
***
‘Jesus holy mother of-’ Tony spat out when he entered his lab, humming under his breath. ‘Strange what are you doing here? FRIDAY why didn’t you-’
‘I did inform you of Doctor’s Strange’s arrival, and you told me not to disturb you,’ FRIDAY responded.
Strange unfolded his legs from where he’d been hovering cross-legged not moments before. ‘Punctuality isn’t something you are renown for, Stark, although I have to say, this is bad even for you.’
Tony found himself floundering for a few moments, recovering quickly.
‘Yeah, sorry about that, I got distracted. Do you want a drink or anything? Alcohol? Tea? Coffee?’
‘No, thank you. So, what had you so distracted that you wasted my time?’
‘A lot of political red tape.’ Tony sat on his swivel chair, stretching his arms out along the metal table. ‘Now that the celebratory parties have all died down and gratitude about being saved an all is over, the UN is squabbling over what to do with the other Avengers.’
‘The other Avengers?’ Strange walked over to him, halting to let DUM-E roll past, watching the robot work. ‘You mean team Captain America? The ones you fought at the airport, your friends?’
‘Those would be the ones, yup,’ Tony popped the p.
‘And you wonder why I haven’t joined your merry band yet?’ Strange stood beside him, leaning his hip into the table.
‘Partnership, I said.’ Tony watched as the Cloak flew off to examine DUM-E, both circling each other. ‘How do you do what you do?’ Tony blurted.
‘The Cloak? It’s a relic-’
‘No, no, no, the hocus pocus.’
‘It’s energy, harnessed from other dimensions.’
‘Can FRIDAY scan it?’
‘Stark-’
‘Just think of all the practical applications we can have for it, cleaner energy, better suits, better Earth defence,’ Tony was on a roll, his exhaustion from the past few days making his tongue looser than he would have liked.
‘Stark, listen to me. Others have tried this before, using energy from the Dark Dimension. You start tampering with this, and it’ll consume you.’
‘What if you’re there to watch over it, to act as my moral compass, you’ve got a good one of those as I remember correctly?’
Tony was back on the ship, with only centimetres of space between them as they argued about what to do with Thanos, hardly breathing as Strange stared down at him. The tension between them was palpable and not just because of what they were about to face.
He’d found other men attractive before, but never an attraction to them, and tiny pinpricks of guilt flared as his gaze held Strange’s.
The quickening of his pulse, the ache he felt, he hadn’t felt that in years. He’d shrugged it off, concentrated at the task at hand. When he'd got home, he and Pepper tried to make it work, tried to ignore that things hadn’t been right for years, to rekindle the embers of their relationship.
It hadn’t worked. It was amicable, they still worked together, still cared, Tony would always hold a special place in his heart for her, but it just wasn’t enough.
He wasn’t enough.
‘I’ve fought against people who thought like you.’ Strange’s words jarred him back into the here and now.
‘I’ll just take a little energy from the Dark Dimension. It sounds good, a little extra power, more magic, until Dormammu starts whispering in your ear, offering more in exchange for your life, for you to fight with him. Even the best intentions become corrupt.’
Tony wanted to fight him, argue with him, and make Strange to see his way of thinking. They didn’t understand enough about it, he didn’t understand enough about it. What if it could be used to save the Earth? His gaze met Strange’s. The sorcerer’s plan had helped save the universe, by giving up the Time Stone he’d put events into motion that had helped Tony save everyone.
Tony trusted him.
‘Alright, I believe you. If there’s no practical use for it, I’ll leave it for the wizards.’
‘That’s it?’ Strange asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘Is what it?’
‘You’re not going to fight me on it, try and convince me to change my mind?’
‘Nope, I trust you, if you think it’s dangerous then that’s that.’ Tony felt proud of himself. Delegating, trusting others.
He was making progress.
‘I was under the impression that you didn’t work well with others, that you only trusted your own judgement.’
Tony felt his shoulders hunch, his hands tightening on the edge of the table.
It didn’t matter. He couldn’t shake the perceptions people had of him.
‘Yeah, Doc, that’s me. If you could see yourself out? I’ve got work to do.’ He pushed his seat out and got up, only making it a few steps before Strange caught his wrist.
‘Wait, that was cruel of me. I saw you on Titan, despite my initial judgement of you being an arrogant bastard-’
‘Unlike everyone else I don’t work for you,’ Tony quipped, his tone flat.
‘You are selfless, and you are far from an arrogant bastard. I’m sorry for my earlier words. I know you are trying to foster a working relationship with us. It’s my own doubts that are pushing you away, not you.’
Tony sat back down, waving to his table. ‘Explain.’
‘The Masters of the Mystic Arts have been secluded for centuries, Stark, we keep to ourselves, defending the Earth from mystical threats. Thanos changed all that, dragged us into a fight. I haven’t been Sorcerer Supreme for very long, I am…afraid my actions will have lasting repercussions.’
Strange looked down at the floor, crossing his arms a frown creasing his forehead. As hard as it was for Tony to do, for him to expose any vulnerabilities, he offered the olive branch.
‘I understand where you’re coming from. Cap…Steve he oversaw the team, called the shots before the Accords and all that. After Leipzig happened, I was left to call the shots. I’m trying to figure out the right thing. I still don’t know what I’m doing.’ He mirrored Strange’s position of head down, staring at his hands in his lap.
‘Perhaps working together we’ll be able to figure out how to do our jobs,’ Strange joked.
‘Small steps,’ Tony looked up with a smile.
The wizard stole his breath from him with another one of those infuriatingly sexy winks of his. ‘Slow steps indeed.’
Tony took his time looking over the man so close to him, feeling the same magnetic pull he did when he was stuck in a spaceship with him. Strange’s gaze didn’t waver, didn’t pull away from his own, he knew exactly what Tony was doing. He made no move to stop him, if anything he stretched his legs out further, showing off for him.
‘Your hands,’ Tony began, looking at them clutching the table.
‘What of them?’
‘I looked you up after the dust settled months ago. To even the playing field a bit.’
‘That suggests you must think I knew who you were.’
‘Course you did, everyone knows who I am,’ Tony stated. He held his hand out. ‘May I?’
Strange put his hand in Tony’s, doing nothing as he flipped his hand over, looking at the back of them, flexing the fingers, staring at the palm and then stroking at the skin between his fingers.
‘Do you want me to make you something that could help?’ He asked, genuine in his question.
‘No,’ Strange flexed his hand in Tony’s grip, but made no indication he was going to pull it away. ‘Apart from shaking and occasional pain, I’m alright.’
‘Still, fine motor skills must be a bitch,’ Tony looked down, swiping his thumb over Strange’s palm.
He froze as he heard Strange’s breathing hitch. ‘They can be,’ he whispered, the words husky.
‘Huh, your hands are sensitive?’ Tony increased the pressure, looking up into Strange’s eyes, scooting his chair over closer, closer still when Strange let his legs fall apart, inviting Tony into his space.
‘That’s…one word for it.’
‘I get it, it’s the same where my reactor used to be.’
Tony sat there, suspended in longing, desperate for…well he didn’t know. What the hell was this feeling, what the hell was he doing?
***
Being linked to the Sanctum, he always knew when someone set foot inside, and he rolled his eyes as he felt the familiar tingle. He felt a clench in his stomach, his lips twitching in a smile as he recognised it as excitement. If he didn’t hurry, prying fingers were likely to be torn off.
‘Can you please behave yourself?’ he growled at Stark, glaring as the man snatched his hand back from a relic, shoving it in his pocket.
‘I only broke one thing, once, I’m being more careful, I swear,’ Stark grinned at him, eyes mischievous as his gaze flicked up and down the length of Stephen’s body quick. ‘Besides, I’m wondering if you might like it if I misbehave.’
Stephen took a step forward, arms falling from where they were folded, his gaze caught by Stark’s swallowing throat.
‘I might, try it and see what happens,’ Stephen purred, coming to stand scant inches away from the smaller man. He could see the moment Stark’s mouth dried, the way he moved his tongue inside to try and moisten it.
Stark had been avoiding him since his visit to his lab. It had been a long time since Stephen had felt anticipation at seeing another person again. It was akin to what he used to feel for Christina when they used to date, the anticipation of seeing another person, of spending time with them. This was intoxicating compared to what he had with her.
He could recall with perfect precision the look on Stark’s face as he’d looked up at him, Stephen’s hand in his grasp, such raw desperation. For what? Just to be touched? Those damn alluring brown eyes of his, saturated in desire, in want.
He’d heard of Stark’s playboy reputation, but he wondered.
Stark must have been the giver in the bedroom, always taking the lead, and Stephen was starting to get a sense of the man. He already knew Stark would give everything he had to the people he loved, his perceived family, his friends. It was not a far stretch to see how that would extend to the bedroom, how he’d be expected to do all the work. He was confident, suave and seductive, of course people would expect to be taken care of.
Tony Stark was a delicious temptation.
‘I er, I forgot to ask the other night, but…’ Stark cleared his throat and tried again. ‘I need a favour.’
This aspect of him was new, the smaller man tried to hide it, but he was anxious. Fearful of rejection? Or struggling to ask for help?
‘A favour?’ Stephen folded his arms, schooling his expression.
‘The kid needs to learn how to fight. As much as it pains me to admit it, he can’t spar with any of us he’s in too much awe of the remaining Avengers, and they’re all gonna take it easy on a kid.’
‘Kid? You mean-’
‘Peter Parker, Spider-Man. You’ve got to have some wizards in training, right? Start him off with some of the younger ones, teach him the ropes.’
‘Yes, we have students.’
‘Excellent, start him off with some of them.’
Stephen said nothing, his disapproval evident if Stark’s eyes narrowing gave any indication. Not wanting to pussyfoot around, Stephen voiced his thoughts.
‘Have you even thought about this?’
‘About what?’
Stark knew better than that. Stephen knew the engineer was a genius, that he could predict with precision just how a person was going to react to what he spoke about. It wasn’t manipulation, just a case of superior intellect, a way of perceiving things. His obtuseness only irritated Stephen, and it was that annoyance that made him speak without thinking.
‘Have you considered his safety? Considered not dragging a child into this world?’
‘What are you suggesting, Strange?’ The tone was frigid, dangerous.
A parent protecting it’s young.
‘Is your ego really in desperate need of stoking that you have to bring Parker onboard, a desperate need to bolster the ranks of the Avengers? Guilt because your actions destroyed them, perhaps?’ He reacted as he always did to confrontation, by lashing out.
He regretted it within seconds of saying it, watching as the jovial smile slid from Stark’s face, his jaw tightening. Stephen was being vicious, again, his words deliberate and cutting because he had ammo in which to fuel them. Stark had opened up to Stephen last time they spoke, and he knew that Stark was feeling guilt, shouldering the burden. His stomach clenched as Tony Stark’s public mask came onto his face, his fake media smile now in place.
It hurt.
‘Peter is going to fight whether I agree or not, the kid already proved that, and he was lucky I was able to mentor him.’
‘Your arrogance really does know no bounds, able to mentor him,’ Stephen scoffed. The Cloak slapped the side of his neck for that one. What was wrong with him? He was undoing all the groundwork they’d created, falling into lies and half-truths because of what? He was scared?
Sweet Vishanti.
That was it. He was scared.
Terrified of how the man was beginning to make him feel.
Oblivious to his inner torment, Stark carried on.
‘The point is, we either give him the tools to fight, to survive, or we just leave him to it. You want his death on your hands, again?’
Oh. Pulling out the big guns.
‘Alright, Stark.’
‘Good, he’ll be over after school.’ Stark began walking back down the stairs, his back ramrod straight.
Stephen was tempted to open a portal right in front of him, or lasso him with magic, anything to stop the man walking away.
He, of course, did nothing.
***
Tony flung the paperwork away from him in disgust, loosening the tie around his neck. He hated being in his office, loathed reading through political bullshit. He brought his fingers up to his closed eyes, pressing them against his eyelids, trying to will away the exhaustion, his headache.
‘Still causing you trouble?’
He smiled at Pepper’s voice, craning his head over his shoulder to smile at her.
‘You didn’t have to bring me coffee, Pepper, pretty sure that’s way below CEO.’
‘Course it is, but I can’t get you to come to the company’s meetings if you’re not functioning, can I?’ She held it out with a smile which he took, gratefully. ‘Can I help?’
‘You’d think after all we’d done, they would roll out the red carpet. The UN is split pretty down the middle, those calling for their arrest, those saying their crimes should be abolished.’ Tony took a long sip of his coffee, ignoring the way it scalded his tongue, he needed the boost.
‘Plus they take months for anything to get pushed through,’ Pepper sighed, sitting next to him and crossing her legs.
‘I’m pulling strings where I can, subtly of course.’ Tony scratched a hand through his hair.
‘For which outcome?’
Tony froze, looking over at Pepper poised in her chair, blowing at her coffee.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Tony, what Steve did…regardless of what happened in Siberia, of what Barnes did even when brainwashed, Steve still broke people out of prison, went on the run. I know you wanted to be accepted by them, that you saw them as your family but you’re being narrow-minded here.’
Tony folded his arms.
‘Listen I get it, they understand a part of you that I, that no one else can, but I also remember how upset you were after the meetings, how you felt like an outsider looking in, how distraught you were after you came home with your chest plate dented.’
‘What are you trying to say, Pepper?’
‘Things went wrong on both sides, Tony. I’m saying you don’t have to stick your neck out to help them, that you don’t have to forgive them just because you’re still craving that acceptance. They made their own decisions, and you made yours, right or wrong, you all need to move on.’
‘I can’t.’ Tony felt a part of him crack, pain splintering in his chest.
‘Tony, it wasn’t your fault. One hundred and seventeen countries signed the Accords and for good reason. Putting people at risk even with good intentions is dangerous. They knew the risks when they refused to sign, stop breaking your back over it, you look exhausted.’
‘You got the proposal for the Stark Expo?’ He changed the subject.
Pepper took a deep breath, closing her eyes and drinking her coffee. ‘Yeah Tony, it’s upstairs, I just need you to look over the final details.’
‘Great, thanks, Pepper.’
There was silence as both drank from their respective coffees, lost in thoughts.
‘I’ll…take what you said on board, ok? I promise.’
‘I’m glad, I’m just worried about you.’
He slid his hand across the table, knowing without looking she would do the same. Their fingers interlaced, and she squeezed once.
‘Tony? There’s something I’ve been wanting to discuss with you.’
‘Always, go ahead.’
‘I dunno how to do this…I love you, I always will Tony but I’ve…well…I’ve-’
‘Started seeing someone else? Happy maybe?’ Tony smiled, squeezing her fingers and turning to look at her. ‘I’m not stupid, Pepper.’
‘Are you mad?’ Her eyes filled with tears, red blotches creeping up her neck.
Tony waited for a moment before answering, searching his own feelings candidly. Pepper always deserved his honesty.
‘No, I’m not mad. Pepper,’ he scooted closer, taking both her hands, rubbing his thumb across the knuckles on the back of them. ‘I know what we had, that we couldn’t work it out, and I’m sorry for that, but you’ll always be one of the most important people in my life. I want you to be happy, I really do, not literally, of course, you’re smoking hot, Happy’s well…seriously? Happy?’ He grunted at her punch to his arm.
‘God, I feel like a weight’s been lifted from my chest. I’ve been so afraid how you’d take it, that we couldn’t be friends anymore.’
‘Nah, come ‘ere,’ Tony stretched his arms out, making grabby motions with his hands and Pepper went easily, neck cradled under his neck in old familiarity. ‘He hurts you, and I’ll blow him to bits though, me and FRIDAY, probably Rhodey too.’
Pepper laughed, snuggling closer.
***
Despite only knowing Parker for a handful of hours, Stephen did harbour something that could have only been described as a fondness for the teen. Yes, he was annoying as teenagers often were, his mouth running faster than what Stephen could compute. Still, there was a childlike innocence in his questions, and there was no doubting the kid was gifted.
Probably why Stark had his eye on him.
It left Stephen with an odd feeling, akin to the want of impressing a new partner’s kid, wanting their acceptance. He wasn’t anywhere near the dating stage yet, despite his unsubtle hints. Unsure of what it was he wanted, but acknowledging there were stirrings of emotion there, Stephen filed it away for examination later, focusing on Parker.
He’d set Parker up on some drills, basic movements with the beginners. He’d taken to it with ease, eyes wide with wonder at some of the more advanced students beginning to harness magic with their movements. Stephen was glad the kid was easy to instruct, an adept pupil despite his tendency to chatter like his not-quite-father figure.
It was when they practised fighting with others that they ran into problems. The spiderling’s motions were stiff, hesitant, not unlike Stephen’s when he’d first come to Kamar-Taj. He knew the kid could fight, had fought with him against Thanos, and this was…well, it was pathetic.
After another pin to the floor, Stephen called time, tapping Parker’s shoulder and telling him to sit the rest of the session out. The kid said nothing, his head hung low, hands balled up into fists. Concerned he’d somehow injured himself, Stephen touched his elbow, stumbling as Parker shoved him away and ran off.
The students stared at each other.
‘Did he just…push the Sorcerer Supreme?’ Stephen heard the whispers.
‘Alright, we’re done for today.’ He waved his arm, and the students bowed and left, still whispering among them.
He found Parker hours later, stuck in the corner of the ceiling New York sanctum library, looking out of the window lost in thought.
How did he get back here?
‘You want to come down?’
Parker ignored him, crossing his arms over his chest and frowning.
Stephen sighed, whistling for the Cloak. This is precisely why he didn’t want the kid here, he wasn’t any good with them, couldn’t relate to them. This was when he needed Christine. She was the one who consoled the patient’s families, not Stephen. He shook his head. No. That was his old life. Things had changed since then, he had changed since then.
‘What’s going on?’ he grumped, floating beside the teen stuck against the wall.
‘Nothing, you wouldn’t get it,’ Parker whispered.
‘Try me,’ Stephen countered, crossing his legs and placing his elbows on them.
‘I know being a hero and all, you need to learn how to fight, how to stop the bad guy, saving the world etcetera. I just…I dunno, fighting people, hurting them, I can’t bring myself to do it.’ He exhaled loudly, his breath shaky. The boy had been crying. ‘Mr Stark is gonna be so disappointed in me.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘I don’t think I can do this. I can’t hurt people, it doesn’t feel right.’
Stephen felt stirrings of emotion in his chest. He understood.
‘You know that doctors take an oath, right? To do no harm?’
‘Yeah.’
‘When I fought my first bad guy, first killed, I was disgusted with myself. The people that trained me...they didn’t understand it. My mentor believed I became a doctor because of my ego, my desire to control death itself. My friend said I didn’t have the backbone to do what needed to be done.’
Parker shifted, his gaze burning with intent as he listened.
‘I stated that there must be other ways to defeat our enemies, which I proved right.’ Stephen shuddered at the memory of Dormammu killing him over and over.
‘But, Doctor Strange, you’re really strong, you don’t hesitate to fight.’
Stephen stretched his neck back and forth as he thought about his response.
‘Parker…Peter, there are ways to protect the world without having to kill, fighting doesn’t lead to death, but defending the world comes with some sacrifice, sometimes there isn’t going to be another way.’
‘Sacrifice the few to save the many. huh?’
‘Are you quoting Star Trek at me?’
The kid laughed.
‘Listen, Peter. Stark… Tony feels many things towards you, pride, affection, fear that you might surpass him,’ they shared a laugh at that, ‘disappointment isn’t something I see when he looks at you.’
Stephen knew it. He’d seen Stark die countless times protecting the child in all those glimpses of future timelines. Stark saw the kid as his, and he was fiercely protective.
A longing surged inside him, but he brushed it aside.
‘He wants you to able to defend yourself. I know that many of our skirmishes don’t involve fistfights, you’ve got quick reflexes, and you’re a long-distance fighter like myself. You need to know how to fight close combat, though. Sometimes just looking the part, having the knowledge that you can go toe to toe with a foe is enough to stop a fight in its tracks.’
He reached out, placing a trembling hand on Peter’s shoulder. There was no reluctance from Peter, the kid’s hand reaching up, squeezing in gratitude.
‘I understand, I just…get scared.’ He shifted, and Stephen let go of him, allowing Peter to let himself down to the floor with a thread. ‘I wanted this more than anything, I wanted to stand by Mr Stark’s side I wanted to protect people and then…’ he trailed off, sitting on the floor.
‘And then Titan happened?’ Stephen floated down beside him, sitting beside him.
‘Yeah. Dying…that wasn’t fun. Being stuck…whenever I was. But it was just knowing that I was responsible for all those people, that my failure to stop him, being unable to help you guys resulted in all those deaths.’
Stephen stopped the words that were automatically on his tongue, finally understanding why Stark had sent the boy to him.
You came to be healed, as did we all. Kamar-Taj is a place that collects broken things.
Stark had wanted Peter to confront his fears, to make his own decision without his awe and respect for his mentor and the Avengers clouding him.
He’d placed trust in Stephen.
Shame bubbled in his gut, the feeling making him want to pace, but he held himself still. No wonder Stark had gotten angry, defensive. The man kept trying, and Stephen kept rebuffing him.
‘Maybe this life isn’t for you, Peter.’
He was expecting an adamant refusal, not the silent, sullen stare.
‘How do you do it? How do you keep going? Mr Stark, the Avengers, you. You all put your life on the line, even though you died, you’re still fighting.’
‘Even my mentor, who I thought was the strongest person in the universe, feared death. She suspended time, dragging out the inevitable, not facing her death. It comes for us all, Peter, regardless of what we do to avoid it. What matters is how we chose to meet it, our choices. Your death on Titan, while painful, was because you believed it was for the greater good.’
‘That’s because I have something I need to protect, people I need to protect.’
Unable to help himself, Stephen reached out, patting his head.
‘I understand. Come, let me teach you something else, something that isn’t just fighting.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Meditation. Understanding oneself is the first step to overcoming your fears.’
***
Tony read over the Stark Expo proposal, highlighting a few issues he needed to go through with Pepper before he approved it. Throwing down his pen with a clatter, he leaned back in his chair, exhaling. With that done, he walked over to the window of the office, bracing himself with a forearm against the pane and looking out over New York.
Pepper was right. All he’d wanted was to belong to others that understood him, a group of talented individuals that understood saving the Earth took some pretty big risks and rule-bending on occasion. He was always the outsider, not wanted in the first place. Iron Man was, not Tony.
Captain America. Just hearing that name could make anger flair in Tony’s stomach. Reminders of why Howard couldn’t be bothered, reminder after reminder he wasn’t as important, couldn’t measure up. When Tony had finally met Steve, his self-righteous attitude only pissed Tony off.
Was he fighting so hard for them because he still wanted Steve’s acceptance and by extension, his dad’s? He ran a hand over his chest, fingers drumming on his arc reactor. Tony was still of mixed minds about the Accords, but he did know that Captain America had come through for him when he needed it. Steve had fought against the Black Order, had fought against Thanos, despite calls for his incarceration. Steve had every right to walk away, to tell humanity to screw themselves, but his morals hadn’t let him.
Every time Tony spoke to him about what was happening with the UN, they ended up arguing, falling back into their routine of petty jibes and condescending quips. His anger, his hurt meant that he couldn’t work with Steve, couldn’t help him with the mess he found himself in over the Accords. Instead Tony had been trying to fix things behind the scene, with SHIELD, with Ross with just about everyone.
If trying to help Steve Rogers was a headache, Wanda Maximoff was a migraine.
Just thinking about her made his mind flick to Strange, another magic-user. Unlike the fear that climbed up his spine when he thought of Wanda or Loki, Strange didn’t elicit that reaction.
Tony hadn’t been with a guy before and as much as he found their flirting and innuendos tantalising it was still intimating.
Steve Rogers was someone Tony had considered on even footing with himself. Steve pushed him, harder than anyone, forcing Tony to examine what he was made of. They were equals, not always friends, occasional rivals, but equals.
What was Strange to him? If Steve had forced him to examine his morals, pushing Tony to be better than he was, then what was Strange doing to him? He trusted to man to an extent, but the fear of the unknown tugged him back. Was it just friendship? Understanding? Or did Strange want more?
‘Well, I’ll be damned, Strange. You’re the first guy to intrigue me. Gotta count for something, right?’
***
‘Stark?’ His voice echoed around the lab, the hum of machines and computers the only thing he could hear in response.
‘Hello? Any mad scientists home?’ Stephen walked forward a few paces, the doctor in him marvelling at everything he saw, the advancement of technology at this man’s fingertips. Who knew how it could help the medical profession?
The only words Stephen could think of to describe Stark’s lab was ordered chaos. Paper littered the desks, faintly lit tablets peeking out from underneath. There were countless coffee mugs, probably in various fungal growth stages dotted around.
Stephen wasn’t sure how Stark worked here, but it suited him. He might not have been an inventor, but you could feel the creative energy of the place, the idea that creation was at your very fingertips all you needed was imagination and a will to set you off.
He nearly tripped, and he looked down, tilting his head at the robot at knee height. It beeped at him, claw opening and closing. Stephen hunched down, looking at the robot.
‘Hello…’
‘Don’t talk to him, we’re not on speaking terms right now, are we?’ Stark sauntered over, giving the robot a dark look. The robot sagged, its arm drooping as it wheeled off. ‘Was I expecting you?’ The tone was light, courteous. He held documents in his hand, which Stephen could see had the UN symbol on.
‘No, but I was under the impression I could stop by?’
‘Ah, right, well, poke away. FRIDAY will stop you from accessing any restrictive stuff.’ Stark threw the documents on his desk, sitting down in his chair and pulling over his mug. Brown eyes watched him for a moment, before the billionaire turned to his work, his humming faint.
Stephen took his time, fiddling with items, various part of armour, pieces of paper. He found the schematics for Peter’s spider suit, both holographic and paper.
‘Isn’t this a bit expensive?’ He poked at the designs.
Stark looked over the top of the documents, taking the pencil out of his mouth. ‘Yeah, course.’
‘He’s only a student, Stark, how do you-’
‘Why would Peter be paying for them?
‘Why wouldn’t he be paying for them?’
‘Erm…cause he’s a kid? He’s also an Avenger?’ Stark snorted, putting the pencil back in his mouth.
‘So, who pays for it?’
‘My mother, well, the Maria Stark foundation technically. It’s a non-profit charity, one of the subsidiaries from Stark Industries, it pays for, well this,’ Stark gestured with his hand. ‘Paychecks, the compound, suits, whatever they need.’
Stephen didn’t say anything, coming back to Stark’s side, leaning against the desk beside him.
‘Wha’s matter?’ Tony mumbled around the pencil.
‘Nothing, I’m just surprised, that’s all.’
‘Heroes still need to eat, need a place to eat, and they need their equipment to work.’ Stark pulled the pencil out again, smiling as he scribbled something down, clearly having a eureka moment.
‘That wasn’t what I was surprised about.’
‘Then…what?’ Stark placed the documents down, twiddling the pencil in his hands as he swivelled in his chair to face Stephen.
‘It’s very generous.’
Stark shrugged. ‘We’re all in this together, right? I know Iron Man was a given for the Avengers team, Tony Stark, well I was just meant to be a consultant, figured I’d do my bit, learn how to be a team player and all.’
‘Going a bit above and beyond, aren’t you?’
‘That’s what heroes do, Doc,’ Stark huffed a laugh.
‘I…owe you an apology.’
The pencil fell from Stark’s hand. Stephen bent to pick it up, offering it back. The man held his gaze for a long moment.
‘Just stick it on the desk. What do you mean, an apology?’ As soon as Stephen placed it down, Stark snatched it back up again, finishing his earlier scribbles.
‘You sent Peter to me because you wanted him to decide for himself. You care about him. I apologise for implying you were only doing it for selfish reasons.’
Stark stopped, pencil tapping at his paper, refusing to look at him. ‘Is…he alright?’
‘He will be, his mind is clearer, his will stronger. I’ve offered him some meditation lessons.’
‘What was his decision?’
Stephen would have to be an idiot not to see how Stark was terrified of the answer. He looked down at the documents, his free hand clenched into a fist, teeth biting into this lower lip.
‘Does the answer affect your relationship? Regardless of if he continues as Spider-Man, he’s still Peter Parker, a brilliantly gifted young individual who values your input very much both as a mentor and father figure.’
‘You think?’ Stark’s head whipped around, pencil clattering on the desk.
‘It’s obvious to everyone, Stark.’
‘I’ll be damned.’ A huge smile split his face, luminous and piercing Stephen directly in his chest.
‘So, will I ever see you again at the Sanctum? Or am I just babysitting for you now?’ Stephen teased, leaning back on the desk.
‘I could spare you some time in a couple of days. I’ve got some work-related stuff to take care of here,’ his eyes slid to the documents. Stephen waited for anything, an indication of what was on the man’s mind, but nothing was forthcoming.
‘Alright, some sort of time frame? I don’t want to be waiting hours like last time.’ Stephen said, only half in jest.
‘Ah you know what they say Doc, absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ Stark teased.
Back to this game then, the flirtation, sexual innuendos.
‘It’s also another way of saying you don’t give a shit about someone,’ Stephen volleyed back.
‘Yup, another reason why Pepper wouldn’t put up with me,’ the man sighed.
‘Do you miss her?’ Stephen suddenly blurted, worried he was misreading the signs, that Stark was just playing with him, that Stephen was seeing things that weren’t there, desperately lonely and creating false feelings to project onto Stark.
‘Course I do, I always will do, she’s my best friend, the better part of me, but we couldn’t make it work. You got anyone like that, Doc? Someone you wish you could make yourself happy with, to know it’s good, but still, there’s this little niggling feeling that it’s just not right.’
Stephen thought of Christine. He loved her, she was his best friend, but they couldn’t make it work, he had been cruel, and now he was a different person and couldn’t see himself back in that old life, couldn’t see her in this world.
‘Yeah, yeah I do.’
‘Pepper’s moved on. I thought it would hurt, but I’m alright. I want her to have all the things she couldn’t have with me, not to have to worry, to be upset when I’m late, guess I’ve got you now for that,’ Stark laughed. ‘I’ll try and stop by in a few days.’
***
Tony opened the Sanctum door, narrowly missing being mowed down by Peter in his haste. Rolling his eyes, he shut the door behind him, hearing footfalls flying up the stairs.
‘He might not be ready, yet you know! we are early,’ Tony called, the words echoing around him. ‘Damn kids.’
It’d been a few weeks since Strange had come unannounced to his lab to apologise and hadn’t returned. He’d been to the Sanctum once since then, only to meet with Wong who informed him Strange was busy in a different dimension and would return shortly.
Realising he had no other way of contacting the wizard had led to a few all-nighters, and it was the reason he was escorting Peter to his mediation lesson.
He waited on the stairwell. If he couldn’t see the artefacts, he wasn’t tempted to touch them. Sitting down, he took off his sunglasses and fiddled with the arm of them.
‘FRIDAY? How long till my next meeting?’
‘Thirty minutes, boss.’
‘Right, right,’ he ran a hand through his shaggy hair, scratching at his scalp. The work he’d been doing for the UN seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. Captain America’s pardon looked like it would have a positive outcome but Wanda’s?
Tony slapped the glasses on his knee, tapping away. She wasn’t an American citizen, she was dangerous, and the last time he’d tried to do the right thing, or what he thought was right, he’d only aggravated the situation more.
He recalled Pepper’s words, that he shouldn’t be busting his hump so much for these guys, that he should focus on finding new members. It made sense, Pepper always did, but he couldn’t shift the guilt, the responsibility.
Wanda’s eyes as she looked at him bound and with a collar on, Steve’s desperation as he slammed his shield down on his chest.
His heart stuttered as something came flying down the stairs at him, his armour forming instinctively before he recognised what it was. ‘Hey, cape, your master home?’ The Cloak nodded, well, its collar did, leaning back as if it were looking upstairs.
‘I’m just here to drop Peter off, oh and to give Strange something.’
‘And what would that be?’ A deep voice asked.
‘Ah-ah, don’t be greedy. Aren’t you gonna invite me in?’ Tony got to his feet.
‘Please, come in,’ Strange drawled, motioning with his hand for Tony to join him at the top of the stairs. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’
‘As I was just explaining to the cape here, I’m just dropping Peter off for his mediation lesson-’
‘He’s made you something, Doctor Strange!’ Peter leant around one of the displays, beaming at them as they both looked.
‘And I’ve made you something.’
Making a show of patting his pockets down, he wrapped his fingers around the device and handed it over.
‘A phone?’
‘It’s not just any phone!’ Peter stood beside them, brimming with excitement. ‘Mr Stark has spent ages on-’
‘Ah ah ah,’ Tony interrupted, putting a hand over Peter’s mouth. ‘Run along, Spidey, annoy Wong for a minute, alright?’
‘Oh, sorry. I’ll see you in a minute, Doctor Strange, see you Saturday, Mr Stark.’
‘Right, where was I? Oh, the phone? You mentioned having a way to contact each other, a call to arms, shining a beacon in the night sky you called it? There you go.’ Tony reached over and tapped it.
‘I already have a phone.’ Strange stared down at it.
‘And I bet with your hands the way they are it’s a pain to use right?’
‘Not really, have you considered maybe I didn’t feel the need to contact you?’
Tony recognised the sarcasm for what it was, defence.
‘Maybe, but I’m sure there are other people you want to talk to? Maybe not have to wait for a day where your hands aren’t hurting as much? It’s got vocal recognition, not the crappy stuff that’s on the market, but one that works. Ask it to send a message.’
Strange looked down at the phone, up at Tony and then down again.
‘Or use as it as doorstop then.’ Tony jammed his hands in his pockets.
‘Send a message,’ Strange asked, glancing up at the holographic screen that lit up above the phone. ‘Impressive,’ he admitted.
‘Say a sentence.’
‘Tony Stark is the bane of my life.’ The words printed across the screen, word for word with pinpoint accuracy.
‘Now say, send to Tony Stark.’
Strange did so, watching as the hologram turned into an envelope and a few seconds later, Tony’s phone buzzed. He swiped the screen and showed Strange the message. His thumbs flew over the phone, and he smiled, waiting. The phone chimed, a tiny orange projection of an envelope hovering over the phone.
‘Read message?’ Strange asked, presented with the holographic screen again. ‘Stephen Strange is smoking hot?’ He read aloud, raising his eyebrow at the end.
‘Don’t I know it,’ Tony chuckled. ‘There you are, a way to keep in contact. Keep Pete outta trouble for me, kay? Send him home at a reasonable time.’
‘Wait a moment,’ Strange jogged down the stairs after Tony. ‘Thank you for this. It’s, I er… thank you.’
Tony felt a little flutter under his sternum at that, Strange’s gratitude, while not as exuberant as Peter’s was no less heartfelt. The man looked flustered, his gaze stuck on the floor.
‘No problem.’
He felt content, pleased he’d done something right.
Strange looked up, his gaze trailing over Tony, taking a few steps to close the distance between them.
‘You make it hard to resist, Stark, when you look at me like that.’ Strange’s free hand came up, loosely cupping the side of Tony’s neck.
‘Like what?’ Tony felt himself seize up. Strange must have felt his rapid pulse against his hand. An ache built in his stomach, longing building inside him. The world shrunk to just the two of them. It was an obsession, his focus and attention unwavering.
He wanted him.
‘For all your swagger and bluster, all you want is for someone to take care of you.’
Panic reared its ugly head inside him. ‘I don’t need taking care of,’ Tony growled, slapping Strange’s hand away.
‘It’s not weak, or dependant,’ Strange reassured, his gaze penetrating, making him feel vulnerable.
‘Just pathetic,’ Tony spat.
‘On the contrary, it’s a huge fucking turn on.’
***
Stephen watched Stark leave the Sanctum, wondering once again if he’d taken things too far. It’d been unusual not seeing Stark moving around the relics, his excitement and curiosity barely contained, murmuring under his breath as he questioned how things worked or asking his AI to scan them for any clues.
It was adorable, and it endeared him to Stephen.
Finding the man sat dejectedly on the stairs, his shoulders hunched as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders made Stephen want to draw him into a hug, to ease the tension from his brow with kisses and gentle touches.
He was attracted to Stark. He’d known that from day one, yet these tender feelings bubbling beside his lust was new. Stephen voiced his thoughts after he’d been gifted the phone, Stark watching him again with such longing for affection, for acceptance it’d been impossible not to.
The reaction had been surprising. Stark feared weakness. No, not weakness, he was afraid of appearing weak. Stephen’s words had been the truth, for a powerful man such as Tony Stark to expose such a vulnerable aspect of himself, wanting someone to care about him was a massive turn on. The idea that it could be Stephen to fulfil that part for him…
Why couldn’t he just be honest and confess his feelings for the man? He’d had his confirmation that Stark wasn’t interested in getting back together with his ex, the man had just admitted, albeit playfully, that he found him attractive.
Physical attraction wasn’t enough, though. They were friends, forced together through circumstances, and they enjoyed each other’s company, but that didn’t indicate Stark wanted a romantic relationship from him though. Those looks Stark gave him made him think otherwise, yet what if he was wrong? If he told Stark of his feelings, then there was still a chance he could be rejected, and Stephen found that idea physically hurt him.
He wanted Tony Stark, more than he could even admit to himself. His dreams and waking fantasies were plagued by the billionaire, what he’d look like under Stephen in the throes of pleasure, his name tumbling from Stark’s lips as he begged for more.
His desires weren’t all carnal. He wanted coffee in bed with the man, wanting to watch sleepy brown eyes filled with love as they curled around each other. Images of him and Stark working together in his lab, of Stephen being able to help with his burdens. To bring back that spark of curiosity into his eyes, rather than the exhaustion he was becoming used to seeing.
‘Doctor Strange?’ Peter called softly, perching on an armchair.
‘Sorry, I was distracted.’
‘You guys are friends, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, why? Has Stark said something to suggest otherwise?’ Stephen walked over to sit in the armchair across from the kid.
‘No, of course not, otherwise he wouldn’t have worked so hard making that phone for you,’ Peter smiled.
Stephen felt for it in his pocket, suppressing his smile.
‘I’m just worried about him, that’s all. He’s super busy now, not Tony Stark busy, but crazy he’s not sleeping busy. He’s had to cancel our Saturday pizza night three times in a row!’
‘Is there a new threat? Does he need help?’ Stephen leant forward, berating himself for not noticing something sooner.
‘I don’t think so. Things have been pretty quiet on that front. It’s got to be all those UN meetings. I think he’s been trying to help the old Avengers.’
‘What happened at the Airport? You were there, weren’t you?’
‘I don’t really know why they were fighting. Mr Stark only told me that Captain America was wrong, and I needed to get his shield from him.’
Either Stark was trying to protect the boy from getting in too deep, or he was brainwashing him only to see his side of the argument. Stephen knew it had to be the former, otherwise, he wouldn’t be trying to help.
‘You never questioned why?’ Stephen raised an eyebrow.
‘It was Tony Stark! Tony Stark, Iron Man asking me, me for help. Of course, I didn’t!’
Stephen chuckled despite himself. ‘The Accords…everyone managed to put aside their differences to fight Thanos, yet when the dust settled, the government was right back where they started. Hasn’t Tony asked you to sign them yet? You’re an Avenger, aren’t you?’
‘No, he hasn’t. I’m not sure what’s going on, neither does Happy. I think he’s shouldering it all alone. I want to help, but I dunno what to do.’ Peter looked down at his hands, scowling.
‘Kid, I think just being yourself helps him in more ways than you know. But I’ll have a word with him if it helps, blowing off your Saturday dates isn’t cool,’ Stephen joked.
‘It’s not like that!’ Peter shouted, the blush on his cheeks, adorable. ‘But yeah, I miss him, ya know.’
‘He made the time to drive you here himself today. I’d say he’s trying.’ Stephen laced his fingers together, looking over at Peter.
‘I don’t want to bother him if he’s busy,’ Peter whispered, ‘but yeah, that was pretty cool of him.’
‘I get the impression that no matter how busy Stark gets, if he cares about someone, he’ll make the time for them.’
Stephen knew that Stark had a bit of a perfectionist personality and that could lead to him forgetting other matters, which was why he’d been late that time for their meeting in his lab. He could see why that’d be irritating to others and hurtful to some because it could appear Stark didn’t care, but Stephen was the same if he was studying or practising new spells.
‘Just like he made that phone for you, so you could contact him,’ Peter responded.
Ah, the innocence of youth.
He had a point. Despite whatever was bothering him he’d taken the time to create the phone for him.
‘Let’s work on your mediation, shall we?
***
Tony hadn’t expected Strange to text him, but he had a few hours after he’d left, inviting him to the Sanctum on Thursday to show him around Kamar-Taj.
He’d agreed, wanting to see the place Peter hadn’t shut up about, part of him annoyed the kid had seen it first and a small part of him jealous. He just wasn’t sure which one of them he was jealous of.
‘For all your swagger and bluster, all you want is for someone to take care of you.’
The idea just didn’t mesh in his head. He was the one who seduced his partners, who take of them in the bedroom, that was just the way it was. With Pepper, their exploits in the bedroom had been more give and take, with love guiding their actions, but even then, he’d taken the lead, it was just the way things were.
He couldn’t show weakness.
‘On the country, it’s a huge fucking turn on.’
Strange’s words haunted him. There was an opportunity here. Tony just wasn’t sure if he should take it. There was a little bit of guilt about Pepper despite their breakup being mutual, leaving a sour taste in his mouth, like he was betraying her in some way.
What to do, what to do.
His hand rested on the doorknob of the Sanctum, lingering.
It jerked open, magic tugging him the last few steps inside.
‘Funny looking Thursday, Stark!’ Strange barked at him.
‘Genuinely not my fault, the bureaucrats had me stuck in meetings, today was the only day I could get away.’ Tony held his hands out in front of him in surrender. Strange floated down the stairs, cloak billowing behind him. His face thunderous.
‘Have you not heard of common courtesy? Or considered the idea that I might have been concerned something had happened to you?’
Strange had been…worried about him?
‘Aww, did you worry about me, Doc? I’m touched, I really am. Was he beside himself?’ Tony asked the Cloak which had come to hover next to him, its collar turning to look between them both. It nodded once, and Tony laughed, his arms wrapping around his stomach. ‘Sorry, I’m sorry, I just didn’t know you cared.’
‘Arrogant douchebag,’ Strange muttered under his breath.
‘Being serious, I’m sorry, I get caught up in my work sometimes, people demanding my time, my projects…it’s not that I don’t…it’s not that I forget about you-’
‘I get it,’ Strange interrupted.
Tony felt himself stumbling, his brain trying to scrabble together some words. People usually raged at him if he blew them off, if he forgot. It’d led to many cold nights in his bed alone when he was dating Pepper, a cold shoulder from Rhodey more than once.
‘Come on, before I change my mind and portal you elsewhere.’
‘If it's Malibu I’m all for that,’ Tony laughed, tugging on the Cloak, ‘you coming too?’
Strange rolled his eyes as they followed him, stepping through the portal he created at the top of the stairs. Tony halted, looking at it before walking to the other side. ‘Interdimensional energy? A rift in space? time?’ he mused. ‘FRIDAY?’
‘Already on it, boss.’
The Cloak followed him around, twisting as it observed him, the equivalent of tilting its head.
‘You got any idea?’ He asked it, huffing at the shrug he got in return. The Cloak settled on his shoulders, and as Tony turned to look down and ask it what it was doing, it dragged him through the portal.
‘Alright, alright, sorry, curiosity and all that.’
‘Just as well you’re not a cat, you’d be dead several times over. Welcome to Kamar-Taj.’
Tony was impressed. Tongue-tied, he walked over to the old stone balcony, looking off into the mountains. The air was fresher, cooler. They descended into the courtyard, Tony’s fingers trailing over the crumbling walls, feet scuffing through leaves littering the floor. Incense wafted into the air in smoky plumes, sandalwood, aloeswood, subtle smells with a haunting bitterness, scents he’d subconsciously been associating with Strange.
The place screamed tranquillity and relaxation. It should have sent Tony screaming for the hills. He couldn’t sit still for a moment, meditation, yoga, charkas, a lot of mystic rubbish, new age hippy crap. He was a city boy, born and bred. This place should have made him uncomfortable.
It didn’t.
‘This place…’
‘It’s amazing. I had the same reaction. Peter did too…until he noticed the ancient bell.’
‘Oh wow, it’s huge! Can I-’
‘And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’
‘Where are all the students?’
‘There aren’t any lessons today.’
Tony could see a few people milling in the distance, but the courtyard was eerily silent apart from their footfalls. His gaze kept lifting to the mountains in the distance, never having been this close.
‘And here I thought you’d jet-setted around the world,’ Strange teased, his chin almost hooking over Tony’s shoulder as he followed his gaze.
‘I have, and I’ve just…not somewhere like here, where are we?’ Tony didn’t move, knowing if he leant back just the slightest bit, he’d be pressed up against Strange’s chest.
‘Nepal,’ Strange answered, not moving.
Tony’s tongue felt thick in his mouth, his throat having difficulty swallowing. Testing the waters, a little, he turned his head, tilting it back so his ear pressed against Strange’s shoulder. He held himself stiff, refusing to breathe, waiting.
Strange closed his eyes for a long moment.
‘Are… we alone?’ Tony’s voice broke.
‘I didn’t think you’d want anyone to witness me kicking your ass,’ Strange chuckled, and Tony could feel it through his back.
‘Why are you kicking my ass?’
‘I thought you wanted to see what it is we do? You don’t strike me as the meditating type, nor do you desire to learn how to harness magic. Is it because you can’t fight without your suit on? No high-powered gadgets or lasers to save you.’
Oh, his interest was piqued.
‘Hey! I’ll have you know that I taught myself how to fight when I first became Iron Man. High powered gadgets will only get you so far, hand to hand combat has saved me a few times. What about you, how are you without magic?’
‘I highly doubt a billionaire playboy learnt how to fight, don’t you have bodyguards for that?’
‘I did, yes, but when I became a superhero, I taught myself, Wikipedia and Youtube are a beautiful thing. Then we formed this little team, I dunno if you’ve heard of it? The Avengers, some of them might have taught me a thing or two. So, come at me Doc.’
Tony’s blood was pumping at the thrill, Strange’s boyish smile only adding to the excitement.
Strange rubbed a hand over his clothes, and they melted into loose trousers and a tunic top, a far cry from the layers of robes he wore.
‘Hey, no fair! I’m wearing jeans. If you’d warned me, I would have worn something suitable,’ Tony sulked, folding his arms over his chest, refusing to look at those muscled arms, the broad looking chest.
Holy fuck it’d been a long time since he’d been turned on just by looking at someone semi-dressed.
He stretched out his arms and legs, loosening his muscles, keeping one eye on Strange doing the same.
‘Do you want to get rid of the glowy thing?’
‘I’d feel better with it on, but don’t punch it.’
‘How are we going to spar if I’m only allowed to hit you in certain areas? Although I admit, kicking you in the balls has its merits.’
‘How safe is this place?’ Tony asked, looking around.
‘Completely, I assure you, Stark. You’re under my protection, nothing can harm you here.’
Tony drummed his fingers over it, considering.
‘You can leave it on.’ Strange’s voice was soothing, understanding.
Tony reached up and unclipped the arc reactor, taking off his hoodie and placing them both on the stone steps.
‘If we get into trouble for any reason, magic it onto my chest.’
‘I promise.’
They seized each other up for a few moments, neither moving, poised on the balls of their feet. Tony moved first, trying to capture Strange in a lock which the man easily side-stepped.
They went at it for a while, both getting a few easy jabs in, neither getting any good hits in. Strange was solid muscle, leaner than Tony, but he had power in his punches. He didn’t hold back either, which Tony appreciated. It was when Strange started breathing heavily, sweat a sheen on those pale muscles that Tony’s concentration began to slip.
Heat coiled in his stomach, thick and scorching.
Tony managed a feint, Strange stumbling behind him and with a triumphant cry, he sprung forward, a punch aimed for the chest. Strange was quick to defend, immediately going for the offensive once again, a smirk playing on his lips.
Damn, the wizard was quick.
They were evenly matched, but Tony was battling with raging hormones, wanting Strange to overpower him, to subdue him, to see if he was all talk or if their flirtations were ever going to amount to anything. Strange was relentless in his attacks, poised, powerful and utterly breathtaking. He fell into blocking rather than attacking, his forearms taking the brunt of it, sending jarring pains up his arms into his shoulders.
His left arm was still giving him grief even after all these months, Thanos had done a number on it. Turning to his side to protect it, he was unprepared for hands to snatch his wrist, yanking him forward. Flinching away from the perceived attack, Tony felt his legs kicked out from under him, his face breaking his fall on the stone ground.
‘Easy on the foreplay, wizard,’ Tony grumbled, attempting to push himself up, grunting as his arm was twisted behind his back, his body tugged up onto his knees. His spine arched in an attempt to take the pressure off, his other arm reaching behind to swipe weakly at Strange who caught it and held it.
‘Seems I have the mighty Iron Man at my mercy.
‘We said no magic!’ Tony growled, thrashing in his hold, panting.
‘I didn’t, this is my own strength,’ Strange bent his head to whisper in his ear, a breathy laugh following it.
Tony went limp, the voice pouring over him, rich and sensual.
‘Now what are you going to do with me?’ Tony breathed out, a hint of a challenge lingering in his words.
Hands holding him trembled, the weight shifting as he moved Tony’s wrists, restraining them with one hand. Strange’s mouth didn’t move from beside his ear. He felt the man move his head, the tip of his nose pressing into the tender skin below Tony’s ear.
Tony found himself struck with yearning, his body arching even further, moaning as a hand curled into his hip, gripping hard. That’s when he felt it.
Stephen Strange was hard.
He was flung from the sorcerer’s body, crumpling to the floor with a jarring thud. He lifted his head off the floor just in time to watch Strange storming across the courtyard, anger radiating from his tense body.
Rubbing his knees while swearing, Tony got to his feet slowly, rubbing his wrists as he did so.
Angry at Tony or… mad at himself?
A portal opened before him, showing the streets of New York.
A dismissal.
His mind rapidly whirled with possibilities. From what he knew of the man, Tony was able to put his finger on what he thought was the pulse point of the problem.
‘He’s embarrassed?’ Tony asked the Cloak which had come to hover next to him.
It nodded using the edge of its fabric to indicate a ‘go on,’ hand motion.
‘He’s scared?’
Another nod.
Stephen Strange held his cards very close to his chest and Tony had stumbled on a vulnerability, his desire lay bare. It was all very well flirting with innuendos, winks, banter, sexual suggestions, but now Tony had clear proof.
So.
What to do now?
Tony knew this was a bad idea. His playboy days were over. He was useless at relationships, both romantic and friendship. He should walk away, ignore it, move on. If Strange was uncomfortable, then he should have left it well alone. Tony wasn’t even sure what he wanted. He knew he didn’t want to hurt Strange though, or lead him on just because he was excited about the prospect of something new and enticing.
He sidestepped the portal, grabbing his hoodie and slapping the arc reactor back on his chest. Tony walked, footfalls silent against the floor, following Strange’s furious path. Strange was in a side room of sorts, an office, hands planted on a litter free desk, his breathing ragged. Tony moulded himself to Strange’s back, forehead nestled in-between the wizard’s shoulder blades, arms wrapping around his slim waist.
Tony had always been a seize the day type of guy. After losing half the universe, he’d held to that ideal even more. Life was too short.
So, he seized the day.
Literally.
With Strange’s cock under his hand, Tony gave his offer.
‘You wanna carry on, come to the compound later tonight. You don’t show, I’ll never speak of this again. Just to make my intentions clear though, I want you, I can’t stop thinking about you.’
He leant round to see Strange swallow heavily, his eyes screwed shut. Tony rubbed his thumb firmly over what he knew to be the head of Strange’s cock, faltering when his eyes snapped open. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity before Tony let go, walking back through the courtyard to step through the portal.
TBC
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