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"Right on time, what a surprise." Tony teased as Stephen stepped out of his car. The doctor rolled his eyes.
"Nice to see you too, Tony." He said, coming around the front and opening the passenger side door. Tony gave him a shit-eating grin and got inside. Stephen sent a glance toward the man's tower and took a small breath. Everything was going to go fine.
The whole award thing wasn't the problem, he had a speech planned and everything. The problem was what was going to come after it, Stephen thought as he sat down in the driver's seat. He was going to finally say something about the 'unspoken thing' that had been going on between Tony and him for the past few years they'd been friends. As he pulled out from his spot and onto the street, he sent a couple of glances the billionaire's way. Tony had been adamant about going to the party, saying something about wanting to be there to support one of his closest friends. Stephen had to pretend it didn't hurt when Tony said it and only nodded with a small smile, agreeing that he should be there.
"So, you have a speech planned?" Tony suddenly asked, turning and giving the doctor a curious smile. Stephen huffed out a small chuckle and nodded.
"Who do you take me for?" He quirked an eyebrow, glancing away from the road to smirk at Tony. The billionaire rolled his eyes and laughed.
"But is it interesting?" He pressed. "It's gonna be painful sitting there for twenty minutes while you drone on about your award. Tell me you're planning to put some pizzaz in it."
"And by pizzaz do you mean I should go on stage piss-drunk like you usually do?" Stephen shot back playfully, and Tony hissed.
"Ouch." He placed a hand over his heart in a form of mock-hurt. Stephen chuckled.
"Besides, you'd probably sit through anything I have to say." He said, and it was Tony's turn to laugh.
"You make it sound like I'm head-over-heels for you." His nose scrunched. Stephen glanced at him, quirking an eyebrow again.
"I'm sorry, aren't you? Those are kind of the signals you give off." He shot back, and Tony hissed again.
"I'm see-through, aren't I?" It was just playful banter, most likely with no deeper meaning. Stephen knew that. But he wanted so badly for it to be true. He wanted so badly to be able to be with Tony in public as something more than just friends. A small frown pulled his lips downward, and they both went quiet.
Stephen could feel Tony's eyes on him.
"See something you like?" He asked in a teasing way, but Tony only gave him a considering look.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked suddenly, quietly. Stephen gripped the steering wheel like a lifeline. They were stuck behind a truck, and it was starting to get on his nerves.
"You." He answered honestly. Tony went silent, still staring at him. They were stuck in silence for so long that Stephen began doubting his decision of honesty. He glanced in the rearview mirror, frowning at the sight of the headlights swerving behind them. Tony opened his mouth to speak, taking a small breath.
"Stephen, I-"
They were both jerked forward with so much force that Stephen hit his head on the steering wheel. He blinked away black dots assaulting his vision just in time to feel the car crash through the guardrails of the road. They went airborne, and Stephen could barely process anything before they hit the ground again with a loud crash. The car turned over a couple of times, getting over the momentum of the original crash. It finally stopped, landing front-first in a bank of the water they had been driving beside.
Stephen gasped out a couple of breaths, turning to Tony.
"Tony-"
The billionaire's eyes were closed, his body slumping forward against his seatbelt.
"Tony?" Stephen called again, reaching out despite the pain it caused. His hand rested on the man's shoulder. When he didn't react, Stephen's eyes widened. "Tony, wake up."
"No no no, Tony, don't do this." He begged, lightly shaking the man. "Tony! Please!"
Tony didn't wake up.
He didn't wake up when Stephen dragged him his corpse, he's dead oh god oh god no he's dead out of the wreckage.
He didn't react in the whole half an hour Stephen spent doing CPR his body moved with each compression, but no matter how much Stephen hoped, those beautiful eyes wouldn't open
Only when the paramedics finally came and pried Stephen away from Tony did his mind finally stop and process why he wouldn't get up.
Tony Stark was dead. HisFaultHisFaultHisFault
And Stephen Strange was alive. UnfairUnfairUnfairUnfair
"It's not your fault." Pepper said beside him. Stephen didn't dare take his eyes off of Tony's open grave. He didn't respond, continuing to force himself to look at the consequence of an innocent night. He could feel Pepper's eyes on him, and he clenched his fists. The red-head cleared her throat. "Happy could take you back to your place if you're not up to driving. He would understand."
"Pepper." Stephen finally tore his eyes away from Tony's resting place and turned to the woman with a pained expression. She stared back confusedly. "Please stop."
"Stop what?" She asked, and it infuriated him.
"Stop acting like everything is fine." He hissed out, angrier at himself than her. "Tony is dead because of me. I was at the wheel, I saw the driver behind us."
"And what would you have done? Warped off of the road? Stephen, you had no control over the situation." James argued, walking up beside Pepper to back her up. Stephen huffed in frustration, turning back to Tony's grave. A hand rested on his shoulder.
"Tony wouldn't want you to do this to yourself." James reasoned, and Stephen's nails nearly broke skin.
"Tony would want to be alive." He bitterly argued. Pepper and James went quiet, and the hand retreated from his shoulder. Stephen didn't care if the words hurt them. It was true. Tony had a zest for life that matched no one else the doctor had ever met. It was how he got through his shit childhood and Afghanistan. And Stephen took it away.
If he had just taken a different road, if they had just stayed in for the night rather than going out, if Stephen had been driving a little slower, maybe then Tony would still be alive.
It was his fault that Tony Stark was dead.
"You want me to call Christine?" Pepper quietly asked behind him. Stephen grit his teeth. There was no way in hell he was driving, ever. But he had to get home somehow. So he swallowed his pride and nodded. He heard the woman's footsteps recede, and he let out a small breath. Pepper was an amazing woman, but he couldn't stand her at the moment. It was too much being around Tony's friends.
"Stephen." James' voice made him turn. So he hadn't left.
"What." The doctor snapped, glaring a little. James just gave him a pitying look and dug around in his coat pocket. He held out a small white box with a tag stuck to it, Stephen's name just barely legible on it. The sight of Tony's chicken scrawl nearly brought tears to his eyes.
"This was in Tony's workshop. I figured he would want you to have it." The soldier said, nudging for Stephen to take it. The doctor hesitantly reached out and picked the sleek box up from James' hand. He glanced at the man before carefully opening it up.
A watch sat inside, resting on a satin cushion. It was silver, with hints of gold on the face of the clock. Stephen picked it up with a shaking hand. He flipped it over and held back a small laugh or...sob, he couldn't tell.
'So you'll never be late ;)'
Leave it to Tony to engrave an emoticon on the back of an expensive watch. Tears blurred his vision, and he took a shaking breath. It was just so...Tony to do something like that. So much that it hurt. He held the watch close and turned back to Tony's grave. James seemed to watch him for a couple of seconds before walking away with a shake of his head. Stephen didn't care what the man thought, it didn't matter.
He stood there for a couple more minutes, staring down blankly at the gravestone with Tony's name carved into it and fumbling with the watch in his hand before a light hand rested on his shoulder again.
"Stephen..." Christine's voice was a relief to hear. He turned and met eyes with her. Hers were so warm, loving. She opened her arms, welcoming him in for a hug, and he fell in without complaint. He wanted nothing more than for her arms to be Tony's, but he let himself get comforted. Christine rubbed his back as he silently cried, tears dripping down his cheeks. His heart was pounding against his chest, aching more than he'd ever felt. The watch was like a weight in his hand, and he hated it.
"It'll be okay," Christine whispered in his ear.
'Your fault,' A small voice whispered in the other.
The guilt of Tony's death loomed over Stephen like an ever-lasting shadow, and he did everything in his power to get rid of the depression that was threatening to push him over the edge. Buying anything and everything he thought might help him, they didn't. Alcohol had been an answer for a while, but then Christine pushed him into therapy, and it didn't help. Deep down, all he could feel was guilt and grief. The words that he had wished so badly to say were weighing down on him constantly, and some nights all he could think about was what Tony was going to say before the crash. So eventually, he turned from logical to mystic arts after hearing about magic that could cure any illness or handicap. Maybe then, Stephen thought, he could finally have some peace of mind.
That's how he ended up in Tibet looking for a place called the Kamar-Taj.
Looking for the place almost seemed like a wild goose chase. Everyone he asked either ignored him or gave him weird looks.
'Ignore them, they're just jealous,' A memory of Tony popped up in his head. Stephen's brow furrowed in frustration and pain at the man's voice.
Stephen turned down an alley and was surprised at how empty it was. He ran a hand through his long hair- he really needed to cut it, Tony would've hated it- and looked at his watch. He hadn't changed it to match with Tibet's time zone, so it was a good couple of hours off.
His head shot up when he realized he wasn't alone. He looked toward the opening of the alley and silently cursed. Four men were blocking his exit. He glanced behind himself and cursed again because low and behold, two more men were standing on his other side.
"Look, guys, I don't have any money on me." He said to them. It was only a half-lie. He didn't have any money that they could use in Tibet. He had American cash.
"Your watch." One of the men said, motioning toward Stephen's wrist. The doctor's heart dropped.
"You- it's all I have left of him." He stuttered out. "Please."
"Your watch." The man repeated, and the group stepped closer. Stephen held the watch closer to his body. He looked back and forth between the men on both sides. He would die before he would let Tony's gift be stolen.
"Please. I can't lose this too..." He begged, as much as it hurt his pride to do so. The men ignored his pleas and moved in on him. The first punch hurt the most. The ones that followed were at least expected. At some point in the beating, he ended up on the dirt ground, the men moving to kick him. Once they deemed it enough, two guys held him down while the other stripped Stephen of his watch.
"Please! I need it!" The doctor cried as it was ripped off of his wrist. His plea only earned him a punch to the jaw. His head jerked to the side with the force of it and he yelped. The men released him, and he tried to get up. He needed the watch back. He charged at one of the men, the one who had taken Tony's watch, and tackled him. Punching the man felt good, and his watch was released from his hold. He quickly snatched it up and moved to run. A hand grabbed his shirt collar and he was yanked back to the ground. Feet were kicking at him, and his whole body hurt. He kept the watch close to his chest, making sure it was out of their reach no matter how much they beat him.
Without explanation, they stopped. He opened his eyes and looked around. They were all staring at the entrance of the alleyway. A figure in a hood stood menacingly against the light of the main street. Without warning, the figure charged.
Stephen's attackers were all either unconscious or had fled by the time the figure was done.
Stephen shakily sat up, looking down at the watch. It had a crack in the glass over the face, and it pained him to see. The hooded figure stepped in front of him, holding out a hand.
"Alright?" He asked, and Stephen looked up at him warily. He gave a curt nod and took his hand. He was hoisted up to his feet so fast that the world almost spun. The man held him steady, looking down at Tony's watch.
"Must be important." He noted. Stephen, once he got himself together, snatched it from view and placed it back on his wrist, covering it with his sleeve.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"You're looking for Kamar-Taj." The man ignored the question. Stephen quirked an eyebrow.
"How did you know?" He asked, cautious. The man chuckled.
"You've been on the streets all day asking about it. Word gets around." He explained.
The man lead Stephen to a small building. It honestly wasn't much. Stephen was unsure if it was the right place. It definitely hadn't been what he was expecting. Before they stepped inside, the man stopped him.
"Might I offer you some advice?" He asked and continued before the doctor could answer, "Forget everything you think you know." Stephen nodded, giving him an odd look.
"Okay..." He watched the man open up the door to the supposed 'Kamar-Taj'.
The inside wasn't all that impressive either. It looked scholarly, with an exotic touch. It wasn't exactly homey, but it was welcoming. It almost reminded him of that time Tony had taken him to his childhood home (mansion, really) to clean it out. Pepper, Happy, and James had all been there as well. They had spent the day teasing Tony about old baby photos and other various things, doing their best to dance around the topic that was Tony's father.
The man lead Stephen to a nice study-looking area and stopped, "The sanctuary of our teacher." He said, motioning to the room. "The Ancient One."
"The Ancient One? That's his real name?" The man gave him a look and Stephen nodded, "Right, forget everything I think I know." He looked to the old man sitting at the only desk in the room. The Ancient One, he presumed.
He was about to thank the man for seeing him when a woman walked in, yellow robes draped over her body. She handed him a cup of tea, which he gratefully took.
"Thank you." He said, before taking a long gulp of it. It felt nice to get a liquid down his dry throat.
'You really need to take better care of yourself, Stephen,' Another memory of Tony assaulted his mind.
'Like you do much better,' Stephen had responded at the time.
The woman nodded to both the hooded man and the man at the desk, "Thank you, Master Mordo. Thank you, Master Hamir."
Stephen was surprised to see the man behind the desk stand and walk out of the room. He turned to the woman with confusion.
"You're the Ancient One?" He asked, and the woman chuckled.
"I am." She confirmed. "Mr. Strange." She said as a greeting and took a sip of her own drink.
"Uh- Doctor, actually." He corrected impolitely.
'Manners, Stephen,' Tony scolded in his head. Stephen cleared his throat and shook away the voice. The Ancient One gave him an odd look at that, and then one of understanding.
"You still hear him?" She asked, taking Stephen by surprise.
"Excuse me?" She couldn't know, could she? The woman stared at him for a moment before sighing. She walked toward him and held out a hand, motioning for the hand with Tony's watch. He hesitantly lifted a hand and met her hand. It was warm, almost grounding. She pushed his sleeve back and studied the watch.
"What you want, Mr. Strange, I cannot give you." She said after a while. Stephen panicked.
"W-Wait, you have to help me. I can't- sleeping is almost impossible, I'm not eating, I haven't been able to work-"
"All of this you can remedy. By yourself." She interrupted him, releasing his hand.
"No- Please." he nearly fell to his knees. "I'll do anything just- I need to know. Please teach me your ways." The Ancient One stared at him for a moment, face infuriatingly soft. She glanced over toward the hooded man.
And then Stephen was being thrown out of the building.
"No! No no no no please! Open the door! Please!" He shouted, banging on the door. He continued banging for at least twenty minutes before sinking onto the steps of the building. He looked down at Tony's watch and clenched his jaw. He needed this. This could be the one thing that could help him get over what happened. He closed his eyes and held the watch close to his heart.
His mind wandered further away.
"How are you feeling?" Stephen asked as he walked into Tony's room. He paused, holding back a snort at the sight in front of him. The mechanic was struggling with a shirt, attempting to get it over his head with his cast.
"Hey Doctor, mind helping me with this?" Tony asked, still struggling against the fabric of his t-shirt. Stephen chuckled and set down the bag of fast food he had brought with him. He walked over and stood in front of Tony with a cheeky grin.
"And you thought it was a good idea to do this because...?" He teased, earning a small grumble from the older.
"Just wanted a different shirt on." He muttered under the fabric. Stephen rolled his eyes and moved to help his friend the love of his life but paused. The scar spreading over Tony's chest was taunting, ugly. It made him sick to the stomach to look at. He pushed the thoughts down and helped Tony get his arm through the sleeve. The brunette's head popped through the collar with a small smile, but Stephen's eyes were still trained on the scar. Tony hadn't been that telling about what happened in Afghanistan, but he knew the basics. Open heart surgery. Tony didn't explicitly state it, but Stephen knew it was without anesthetic. The chances of the group that kidnapped Tony having those resources in a cave were low. It was a wonder that Tony was even alive.
A hand on his cheek made him look back at the billionaire. Tony's face was soft, showing a vulnerability that rarely came out.
"Don't think about it." He whispered, brow furrowing. Stephen frowned.
"It's kind of the only thing I can think about." He admitted, leaning into Tony's touch. Tony's lips pulled down into a frown.
"It doesn't hurt as much anymore if that means anything." He said, and Stephen shook his head. He kneeled in front of the mechanic, hand coming up and resting over his.
"That's not what I meant." He couldn't find the words, and it hurt not to say them. Tony just gave him a puzzled look, the idiot, and rubbed Stephen's cheek with his thumb. The doctor closed his eyes and leaned forward, head resting on Tony's shoulder. He actively avoided the man's chest and wrapped his arms around his waist. One of the billionaire's hands moved to the back of his head, the cast-bound arm resting against his body. Tony raked his fingers through Stephen's hair, and Stephen closed his eyes.
"I thought you died." He mumbled into the man's shoulder. Tony's hand paused its movement.
"I'm not going anywhere." The mechanic quietly promised, hand moving again. Stephen sighed contentedly, wishing they could stay like this forever.
"If you ever do that again, I'm going to kill you." He threatened lightly, joking. Tony huffed out a small laugh, his chest convulsing with the sound.
"Noted." He said breathily. Stephen pulled back so they were face to face, having to crane his neck a little to look up. They were about an inch and a half apart, and the doctor wanted to just lean forward and kiss him. For three months, he had thought he would never get the chance. Now here they were, together, alone. It was the perfect moment. He stared into those beautiful, deep brown eyes, wanting to get lost forever in their warmth.
"I..." love you "...I'm glad you're back."
Coward.
Tony frowned slightly.
"Stephen-"
"Very sorry to interrupt sir, but Mr. Stane is coming into the building." Jarvis interrupted Tony before he could finish his thought. They both looked up at the ceiling, and the mechanic sighed.
"Right back to business, huh?" He joked, and Stephen cracked a small smile.
"You are the CEO of a multi-million dollar weapons business that just shut down the weapons part of manufacturing, Tony. " He reminded, and Tony huffed.
"So that means I can't have some alone time to recover? Ugh, maybe I shouldn't have shut it down." It was a joke, and Stephen understood that completely. There was no way that Tony was going to continue manufacturing the very things he'd witnessed being used in every wrong way.
"We can eat after whatever Obadiah talks about whatever topic he wants today." He promised, and Tony smiled.
"It's a date." He agreed, taking his hand away from Stephen's hair. The doctor nearly felt cold with the loss.
They eventually let him back in.
Stephen didn't know if that was a good thing or not.
Thus began his journey to becoming a sorcerer.
He developed his powers, struggling a little with each step. But with every stumble, one glance at Tony's watch would push him further to find answers that he didn't already have. Eventually, he was studying from books that even Wong didn't want him to take. One thing that caught his attention was The Book of Cagliostro. A study of time. But Wong had quickly steered him away.
He was taught about the sling rings and forced to use one in a dire situation after being left alone on the top of a mountain, Everest to be exact.
He was taught about the mirror dimension and the infinite dangers the multiverse could hold.
"If I told you everything else that you don't already know... you'd run from here in terror." The Ancient One had said.
"So just how ancient is she?" Stephen asked when he was about to spar with Mordo.
"No one knows the age of the Sorcerer Supreme." He said, and Stephen gave him a look, "Only that she's Celtic and never talks about her past." Mordo added on. Stephen huffed.
"You follow her, even though you don't know?" He questioned, a little surprised. Mordo only shrugged.
"I know she's steadfast... but unpredictable. Merciless, yet kind. She made me what I am. Trust your teacher...and don't lose your way." He said, almost riddle-like. It nearly made Stephen laugh.
"Like Kaecilius?" He had heard the name in passing at some point.
"That's right." Mordo didn't deny it.
"You knew him?" Stephen asked as they began circling each other.
"When he first came to us...he'd lost everyone he ever loved. He was a grieving, broken man searching for answers in the mystic arts." Stephen almost flinched at the words, "A brilliant student, but he was proud, headstrong. He questioned the Ancient One, rejected her teaching. He left Kamar-Taj. His disciples followed him like sheep. Seduced by false doctrine."
"And he stole the forbidden ritual, right?" He pressed.
"Yes." Mordo seemed to be getting slightly uncomfortable.
"What did it do?" Stephen paid him no mind.
"No more questions." Mordo waved him off, and the conversation moved to relics. But Stephen kept the conversation in mind. Internalizing it, in a way.
Then he came across a book he shouldn't have been reading. It said many things, most noticeably about the 'Eye of Agamotto' and 'Dormammu'. He found himself studying late into the night about it and tinkering with the 'Eye of Agamotto' itself. Tony would be proud.
'Messing with something you're not supposed to touch is bad, Stephen. Which is why you should do everything in your power to never be found out,' He could remember the billionaire saying at some point. He smiled briefly at the memory. He thought of Tony as he messed with an apple, bringing it to the brink of rotten death and back to before it had even been bitten. He briefly indulged his darker thoughts of using the eye to save Tony, but they were quickly swept away by Wong and Mordo coming in to scold him.
He filed the thoughts away for later.
He then learned about the other sanctums, what exactly the sorcerers did.
And then Kaecilius happened, quickly followed by the death of the Ancient One, which was immediately blown away by the summoning of Dormammu. And he had to live through countless loops of being killed by the said dark dimensional demon. In all of the chaos, Stephen found it hard to think about Tony, which he couldn't tell was a blessing or a curse. Either way, in the end, he became the head of the New York Sanctum.
Which lead him to his current situation.
He was seated in front of the window, staring out into the night sky. But his eyes kept being drawn to the Eye of Agamotto sitting so tauntingly on the table next to his seat. He sipped at his whiskey, staring down at it with contempt.
"Are you wearing my shirt?" Stephen asked, looking at Tony in surprise.
"Hmm, nope. Pretty sure this one's mine." The mechanic innocently smiled, and Stephen rolled his eyes.
"Whatever you say." He let it go. He liked seeing Tony wear his clothes. At least then he could pretend they were something more.
The ice clinked in his glass.
"Oh! I see we switched to the cheap stuff." Wong said, coming up behind him. Stephen didn't answer, still staring down at the eye. "How long has it been?" He asked, voice softening a little.
"Two years tonight," Stephen mumbled, taking another swig of his drink, enjoying the way it burned the back of his throat. "What are you doing up?"
"Ah, needed the little sorcerer's room," Wong answered easily. "What are you doing?" Stephen didn't answer. Because, in all honesty, he didn't know. What was he doing?
After a moment of silence, Wong hummed, a hint of worry in the sound. "Well, I'm going to start the kettle." He said, turning and walking away, "I suggest you join me before you do something reckless." He called behind him.
Stephen wanted to follow him, he really did.
"How do you always manage to be late to everything but your surgeries?"
He could feel Tony's hand carding through his hair after a bad day.
"I'm not going anywhere"
Smell the way Tony's cologne would wrap around him whenever they got close.
"Congratulations, Doctor Strange. You can now be considered a legend like me."
Hear the way he snorted whenever he laughed too hard.
"I'm see-through, aren't I?"
See the way his eyes creased when he smiled that beautiful grin of his.
"Stephen, I-"
He took in a sharp breath, snatching up the Eye of Agamotto. He put it on and opened it up.
"I'm coming Tony." He whispered under his breath.
"Right on time, what a surprise." Tony teased as Stephen stepped out of his car. The sorcerer took a moment to actually look at him. His goatee was perfectly trimmed, his hair slicked back neatly. His suit was tailored to fit his body almost beautifully. The coat was a silky navy blue, his tie a misty grey. His shirt was a simple white button-up, but it made Stephen's heart flutter. Tony gave him a weird look.
"Something wrong?" He asked, only a bit of worry peeking through his tone. Stephen shook his head.
"I, uh, I think I might have just had a mild cardiac event." He said with a small smile. Tony quirked his eyebrow, smirking.
"I'm meant to be the one with heart problems here, Doc." He joked lightheartedly, "Besides, you promised me donuts."
"Just say the word, Tony, and I will give you the world." Tony laughed at that, smiling wide. Stephen opened up the passenger side door, and the billionaire hopped inside. The doctor closed him in and let out a small breath. This would work. It had to.
"Okay, let me hear it," Tony said as they drove. Stephen quirked an eyebrow, making the older huff, "Come on, don't play dumb. I know you prepared something for the acceptance speech. You're too organized to have not."
"I think I'm just gonna wing it. Makes it more interesting. Might even have a couple of drinks before I go on." The doctor shrugged, and Tony scoffed playfully.
"Are you making fun of me, doctor?" He asked, hand coming up over his chest in a sign of mock-hurt. "You've said it, now you have to do it." Stephen chuckled a little.
"Only if you're by my side." He said, a little quieter. Tony paused, going silent. He stared at Stephen for a bit, until the sorcerer had to glance at him with a questioning look.
"What?" He asked confusedly. Tony shook his head, smiling a little.
"Nothing, you're just...you're being delightful. Which is not a word I generally use, so savor it." He answered, and Stephen smiled sadly.
"Well, maybe you just make me happy." He said, and he could see Tony blush out of the corner of his eye.
"Well, this is shaping up to be a night to remember." The billionaire said softly.
Without warning, they were both jerked forward and the car was sent flying through the guardrails of the road. Stephen could feel them go airborne for a couple of seconds before they hit the ground again, hard, with a crash. The car rolled a couple of times before it stopped exactly where it did the first time. Stephen's head shot up and he looked to Tony.
"Tony!" He called, reaching out for him. The man was limp against his seatbelt. "No no no not again! Tony!"
It took some maneuvering, no different from last time, before he managed to drag them both from the wreckage. Tony's body laid unmoving on the ground beside him. He pulled the mechanic close.
"Please, sweetheart, get up!" He cried, cradling Tony's head carefully. The man's eyes stayed closed. He inhaled sharply, resting Tony's head on his lap. He opened up the Eye of Agamotto again and the world collapsed around him.
"Right on time, what a surprise." Tony teased as Stephen stepped out of his car. The sorcerer wasted no time before opening up the passenger side door.
"Your chariot awaits." He smiled at the mechanic as he stepped inside. He quickly closed the door and looked around. If he looked a little suspicious, he didn't care. He rushed to his side and hopped in, driving back onto the road.
As Tony babbled on about some random thing for Stark Industries, he made a quick decision to change which route he was going on.
"...and Pepper hated the idea of working with this guy, and I'm inclined to agree. He was a total creep! But he could bring a lot to the company, so we're both at a loss. I keep trying to get her to drop it and just let the guy go, I don't want my CEO getting harassed, but she keeps saying shit like 'oh he's important for the better of the company' or 'It's not the worst I've been through, I can handle it'." Tony ranted.
"Just because it's not the worst she's been through, doesn't make it excusable," Stephen said a little absently as he passed the turn.
"I know! But she won't- hey wait, wasn't that our turn?" Tony looked back at the missed turn.
"Taking a different route." Stephen vaguely explained. Tony seemed to accept that as an answer and launched back into whatever was happening in his life.
Eventually, he paused.
"But enough about me. What about you?" He asked suddenly. Stephen hummed.
"What do you mean?" He questioned. Tony laughed a little.
"You're about to get an award, Stephen. Don't you have any feelings about that?"He pressed, and Stephen rolled his eyes.
"Of course I do, but I'm happier just...listening to you talk." He admitted, and Tony's mouth clamped shut, a blush spreading over his cheeks.
"Oh." He squeaked out, and Stephen grinned.
"Imagine that, the great Tony Stark finally rendered speechless." He teased.
"Maybe I just don't know how I want to word what I want to say..." Tony said, all humor gone from his tone. Stephen frowned.
"Tony, I'm sorry, did I strike a nerve or something?" He really didn't want Tony to be upset with him.
"No no! I just..." Tony was quick to put the doubts down. He fumbled with his fingers. "Stephen, I-"
They were both suddenly jerked forward as the car was shoved through the guardrails of the road. Stephen let out a yell of frustration as they made contact with the ground. The car rolled over a couple of times before landing, again, in the exact same position as before. He didn't even force himself to look at Tony's dead body before opening up the Eye.
The world collapsed around him.
"Stephen, this party's all about you. Parties about yourself are always wild. We're not missing it." Tony waved off, not noticing Stephen's look of desperation.
"Let's stay in. We'll order burgers and donuts." He was damn near begging. Tony frowned. at him.
"Oh no, this suit was way too expensive to be eating burgers in it." He argued. His hand came up to cup Stephen's cheek. "We'll go, we'll dance. I promise you, it's gonna be fine."
Low and behold, the car ended up in the same. Damn. Spot.
The world cracked like a broken mirror around him.
"Ugh, how do they make these so good?" Tony groaned, taking another bite of his burger. Stephen smiled sadly, watching every movement. How Tony managed to be so beautiful even just eating was a mystery to him.
A man walked into the shop, hooded in a way that reminded Stephen of Mordo. A gun cocked, and neither Stephen nor Tony had time to react before a gunshot rang out, and Tony's limp body fell from his seat.
He opened up the eye, and the world collapsed around him.
Leaving Tony waiting outside his tower was probably one of the most painful things Stephen had to do. The man was sending him texts, calling him, and even got Christine calling him as well. But he didn't pick up. This was for the greater good. He'd rather have Tony upset with him than Tony dead.
He turned on the TV that night to find reports of Tony Stark having been shot down on the street.
Stephen clenched his fist so hard that his nails broke the skin of his palm.
He opened up the Eye.
"Right on time, what a- what's wrong?" Tony frowned as Stephen got out of his car. The sorcerer rushed to Tony and wrapped his hands around his waist. Tony barely had time to react before Stephen was pressing their lips together. It was a far cry from the first kiss Stephen had wanted with the man, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. After a moment of shock, Tony finally kissed back, hands wrapping around Stephen's neck. Stephen turned them around so he could press Tony into the side of his car, and Tony yelped against his lips at the sudden movement. Finally, Stephen pulled away for some air.
"What about-"
"Fuck the award ceremony, I want you more," Stephen growled, pulling him into another kiss. Tony seemed to take that as a valid answer and pressed their bodies closer, hand gripping the collar of Stephen's shirt like a lifeline. Stephen's hands came up to fumble with the buttons of Tony's shirt. Opening some of them up, he moved to loosen the tie.
"Wait wait wait—" Tony pulled away. Stephen gave him a puzzled look. "Bedroom." The sorcerer gave a nod and let Tony take his hand, leading him back inside the tower.
The ride up the elevator felt like an eternity, but when it finally dinged at the last floor, Stephen was on Tony again, pulling him into breathless kisses and feeling the bare skin under his shirt. Tony whimpered a little, a beautiful sound that Stephen wanted to hear every day.
The walk to the bedroom was difficult, but the night that followed was more than worth it.
Only-
Stephen woke up very suddenly, the room pitch black. Tony wasn't pressed against him anymore. Instead, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, slumped over his lap. Stephen sat up.
"Tony?" He called. The man's breath was erratic, and Stephen's eyes widened. He rushed to turn on a light and get to Tony's side. The man looked at him with panicked eyes.
"Stephen-" he hissed out in a strained breath.
"It's okay, I'm here Tony. Just stay calm-"
"My- heart-" Tony struggled to say between gasps, hand gripping the thin fabric covering his chest. Stephen's hands came up to his cheeks.
"You're okay, you're gonna be just fine." He promised. Tony's brow furrowed slightly, before his eyes rolled back and he fell forward. Stephen easily caught him and pulled him close. Tony wasn't breathing. "No! Don't do this Tony!"
"Good evening, Doctor Strange." The Ancient One's voice behind him made him turn. He glared at the woman, still holding Tony's body close.
"Why are you here." He grit out, tears blurring his vision.
"To help you." She answered, and Stephen hated her even more. "This is where it starts for you. With the death of Tony Stark. So overwhelmed by loss, you will seek answers in the mystic arts. In me."
"Help me bring him back," Stephen begged, and the Ancient One gave him a pitying look.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. No one can. His death is an Absolute Point in time." She cryptically explained.
"Absolute?" The sorcerer repeated, unable to comprehend what she was telling him.
"Unchangeable. Unmovable." Her voice was cold despite the warm look of her features, "Without his death, you would never have defeated Dormammu and become the Sorcerer Supreme, and the guardian of the Eye of Agamotto. If you erase his death, you never start your journey."
"I'm creating a paradox." Stephen summed up. All he wanted was Tony. Was that too much to ask?
"You're risking the universe. You cannot reverse an Absolute Point." The Ancient One said.
"Nothing is impossible. You taught me that. I only require more power." He laid Tony's body down carefully, respectfully, and stood. He put on the Eye of Agamotto.
"The greatest sorcerers of the past could not reverse an Absolute Point." The Ancient One warned, features hardening.
"You don't know that. Books have been lost. Libraries destroyed!" Stephen argued, refusing to look back at Tony's body. He could do this. He just needed more power.
"Stop torturing yourself, Stephen. There is no hope here." Her features softened once more, "Tony Stark is gone. You cannot save him."
"No." Stephen glared at her, fists clenching. He waved his hand, his old robes materializing on him.
"Stephen, this path only leads to darkness and the end of this reality." The Ancient One warned again, returning his glare with a cold stare. "Please do not do this, or I will be forced to stop you."
"You'd have to find me first." The Doctor smirked. Before he could get away, the woman sent a bright ray of light towards him. It hit him dead in the chest as he struggled to escape. Eventually, the Eye transported him away, leaving both Tony's dead body and the Ancient one behind.
He would figure this out. For Tony.
Birds chirped around him. Stephen opened his eyes and sat up. He was seated in the middle of a forest. He frowned, standing up. He had been trying to get to the Library of Cagliostro. A man stepped through the brush, staring at Stephen blankly. He frowned.
"Uh, excuse me. Hello?" He greeted. "I'm looking for the Lost Library of Cagliostro." The man didn't answer. "Hello? You know, books? Reading? Knowledge?" The man only gave him a knowing look and turned away. "Hey! I'm talking here. Where are you going?" Stephen followed after him.
The man lead him through the trees and eventually, they walked through an opening to reveal a beautiful stone-carved building on the side of a mountain. Stephen hummed, a little taken aback by its beauty.
"No door. Clever." He smirked.
Stephen used his sling ring to portal to an opening near the top of the building. He looked around the empty hall. He frowned.
"Hello? Anyone home?" His voice echoed against the walls. No answer. Suddenly, the floors and walls lit up with runes, dangerous ones, clearly meant to steer him away. "Hmm, quite the welcome." He stepped back, looking around when the floor opened up beneath him. He fell through with a yelp of surprise. He fell in the open air for a good couple of seconds before hitting the ground with a heavy thump. He grunted, sitting up. He was just outside of a door, a very large one at that. He stood and moved to open it.
"Who are you?" A voice behind him made Stephen jump. He turned to see the man from the forest.
"It's uh...Strange. Dr. Strange." He introduced. "I've come here for Sorcerer Cagliostro. According to legend, he knew how to break an Absolute Point in time. Where can I find Cagliostro?" The man hummed.
"Well, maybe here, maybe there. Maybe nowhere." He answered cryptically. Stephen frowned.
"You're cryptic. Lovely. Please tell me you're not Cagliostro." His brow furrowed in worry. The man chuckled and shook his head.
"The name's O'Bengh, librarian for the books of Calgliostro." He introduced, smiling. "Come, this way, Sorcerer Strange." He pushed the large door open, and Stephen gasped. The library was huge, with shelves that reached to the ceiling of the tall room. A cherry blossom was planted in the middle of the room, surrounded by a small koi pond. The fish within were glittering gold, orange, and white.
"The lost books." He said breathlessly. O'Bengh turned back to Stephen with a curious expression.
"How long will you be staying here?" He asked. Stephen's face hardened.
"As long as it takes." He grit out, Tony's pained face flashing over his eyes. Even if it took him an eternity, every day would be worth it if he had the hope of seeing Tony smile at him again.
"I was planning on asking you out after the award ceremony." Tony laughed, wrapped up in Stephen's arms. Stephen hummed, thinking about all the times Tony had been interrupted by the crash.
"I was too." He said, arm tightening around Tony's shoulders ever so slightly. Tony frowned, noticing the movement.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, sitting up on his elbows. Stephen looked up at him, taking him in. He loved the way his cheeks were still flushed, and his pupils were still slightly blown. His hair was a beautiful mess, falling over his features and mapping out his face perfectly. Tony's brow furrowed. "Stephen?" His head quirked to the side, confusion clouding his beautiful brown eyes. Stephen reached out and cupped his cheek, rubbing it with his thump.
"I just wish this could last forever." He whispered. Tony gave him an odd look, leaning into his hand.
"Unless you're up to something tomorrow, you're welcome to stay over." He offered, and Stephen smiled sadly.
"I'd spend every day with you if I could." He said softly. Tony chuckled.
"Don't forget about your job, idiot." He laid back down on Stephen’s shoulder with a small content sigh. Stephen nodded.
“I won’t.” He said solemnly.
Stephen sat on the floor of the library, surrounded by books. He opened one up and began reading, "Okay. Transmutation, telekinesis, teleportation...Interesting. Time manipulation. Bingo."
'The power required to break an Absolute Point in time is immense, and nigh impossible to obtain.' Stephen scoffed.
"Yeah, no shit." He muttered under his breath. He skimmed the page a little more with his finger before finding exactly what he needed with a triumphant laugh. "Gain the power through the absorption of other beings." He read aloud, brow furrowing. "Absorption?"
His first attempt went...less than ideal. Meaning he ended up getting curb-stomped into the ground by a giant tentacle.
"Mystic beings do not bargain. Their powers are not meant for man." O'Bengh said when Stephen woke up from a three-day-long coma. Stephen growled in frustration.
"The Library isn't enough." He glowered at the open air, "Those beings have what I need." O'Bengh gave him a pitying look, Stephen was getting tired of how many times someone had given him the exact same expression, and placed down the wet towel he had been holding.
"Is she worth the pain?" He asked, brow furrowing. Stephen gave him a questioning look. "A man does not suffer like this for his own glory."
"Yes. He's worth every moment of it." The Doctor answered, putting emphasis on the 'he'. O'Bengh hummed, eyeing him warily.
"There is a fine line between devotion and delusion." He said cryptically, "Love can break more than your heart. It can shatter your mind." Stephen scoffed.
"Uh-huh, and what book did you read that from?" He asked, snarky. O'Bengh laughed.
"No book, Strange, life taught me."
Later, when Stephen was back in the library, he paced. The open book levitated in front of him, following wherever he walked.
"Maybe O'Bengh is right." He stopped, looking back down into the book. His brow furrowed determinedly. "If they won't surrender their power, I'll take it."
He started small, summoning a gnome-like creature that immediately tried to attack. Stephen only chuckled and set out to take its power. The creature was quickly absorbed into his person. The feeling of foreign power flooded his veins, and he gasped. It felt...nice. He quickly moved on. The next creature to come up was a literal bug, and Stephen found himself a little grossed out.
"Nice cape." He complimented, immediately taking it from the thing. "But I draw the line at bugs." He sent it away with a flick of his wrist. And so he went on, beast after beast, absorbing them all and gaining more power with each one. He was on the wrong path. That much was clear. It was in the way his universe outside was beginning to collapse in on itself. Steering him off of his current path would nearly be impossible now.
Years, decades, centuries passed. And Stephen spent every waking moment gathering as much power as possible.
"Time to meet an old friend." He grinned, summoning up the same tentacled creature that had attacked him years before. "Hello again, and goodbye." He said before absorbing the creature. The tentacles wrapped around his body, inching their way up his leg. His veins pumped with more power than he ever had. He felt like a god.
Cracking his neck, he sighed. Maybe it was finally enough to save Tony.
For whatever reason, he found himself walking into the O'Bengh's sanctuary.
The man was older, much older. He looked to be on the brink of death. Stephen let out a small breath of surprise.
"O'Bengh, what happened to you?" He asked, rushing to the man's side. The librarian smiled weakly at him.
"Time, Sorcerer Strange." He said between coughs. Stephen's brow furrowed. He opened up the Eye of Agamotto. O'Bengh huffed.
"Put that away." He waved off, "You used magic to remain frozen for centuries. I chose to live."
"But I can reverse this. You will live longer, forever!" Stephen argued, frowning.
"Hush!" The librarian made his mouth clamp shut. "Even in our world-" Cough, "Death is part of the plan." Stephen shook his head.
"I can't accept that."
"I know, I know..." O'Bengh coughed again, laying his head back, "But maybe the other Strange will." The doctor's brow furrowed further.
"What do you mean?" He asked. O'Bengh turned his head and grinned, chuckling a little.
"Can't you see?" He coughed out, "You are only a half-man living a half-life."
"Well, I'm going to start the kettle," Wong said, turning and walking away. "I suggest you join me before you do something reckless." Stephen chuckled a little under his breath. He continued. to stare down at the Eye of Agamotto for a couple of minutes before he sighed and ran a hand over his face.
"Enough living in the past for one evening." He stood, forcing the memories of Tony to the farthest reaches of his mind. He paused halfway to the kitchen, sensing something off. He frowned.
Stepping outside was a bad decision or a good one? He couldn't really tell. The world outside was quite literally disintegrating into black wisps. He looked around, mouth falling agape. That...definitely wasn't normal.
"What was in that whiskey?" He muttered to himself.
"Hello, Stephen." The Ancient One's voice made him turn in surprise. He looked at her in disbelief.
"You...you're meant to be..."
"Dead, I know." She finished for him.
"So this must be..."
"A psychic impression sent through a splinter in reality?" She finished again, and Stephen hummed.
"Well, I was going to say the end of the world." He said, and the Ancient One chuckled.
"Yes, that too. You always were a perceptive one. " She complimented, "But I fear we don't have much time." Stephen looked around once more, brow furrowing.
"Who's causing this?" He asked worriedly. The Ancient One gave him an odd look and sighed.
"Well, you are." She informed him, and he paused.
"Sorry?"
"When Dr. Strange, you, used The Eye and vanished into the past, I couldn't follow. I drew upon the power of the Dark Dimension to split the timeline, to split you." She explained, "Allowing for two of your possible timelines to occur in one universe."
"Two timelines? That...doesn't seem like the smartest or simplest thing you could've done."
"Exceedingly dangerous, actually." The Ancient One corrected with a small smile.
"And now I have an evil twin?" Stephen quirked an eyebrow.
"More like misguided." She corrected again with a small grimace, "If the other Strange succeeds in reversing an Absolute Point in our universe..."
"You mean saving Tony." Stephen interrupted.
"You cannot save him, Stephen." She said softly, face sympathetic, "The resulting temporal paradox will destroy this universe. Our time is running out. I fear the only sorcerer strong enough to stop Dr. Strange is...you, Dr. Strange."
"Okay. Wait. So...the fabric of reality is breaking, and only you can stop it because you are causing it." Wong asked between chuckles, and Stephen rolled his eyes. The two had begun summoning protection runes the second the Ancient One disappeared.
"Let's both be honest here, this isn't the weirdest thing that we've been through." He waved off. Wong hummed, summoning up one of the more powerful protection runes.
"But do you want to stop him? Weren't you in love with this Tony as well?" He asked, giving Stephen a look. Stephen's brow furrowed. A darker part of his mind agreed with what the other Strange was doing. For a moment, he paused, pondering if he really wanted to stop him.
"I..." was, am, could be again, "I think I have to. At the very least to save you." Wong hummed again, sending the powerful protection rune towards him. It landed dead-center on Stephen's forehead. He grunted as it burned into his skin.
"The Guardian Vishanti heavy-duty protection spell," Wong explained.
"Knowing me, I'll need it." Stephen sighed, running a hand through his hair. What would Tony think of all this? The universe being destroyed on one man's account, Stephen honestly couldn't tell if that was the ultimate act of love or completely insane. It could be both, he decided.
"How will you find him?" Wong asked, quirking an eyebrow. Sparks began circling Stephen's feet.
"I think he's found me." He said tiredly.
"Oh, that's not great." His friend frowned.
"Nope, it's not." Stephen agreed. A portal opened up beneath him, and he fell through into darkness.
"Good luck!" Wong called in after him. The portal closed, and Stephen was left falling in the pitch black. He landed on the ground with a heavy thump, grunting when his body bounced against the force of the fall. He sat up, looking around himself. It was just...dark. Nothing there to be seen. He stood up and frowned.
"Hello?" He called out only to get no answer but his own echo. He gulped. "Hello?" He called out again. A figure stepped through the shadows and Stephen's eyes widened. The man that came into view was him but...not. His skin was paler, almost grey. His eyes were sunken, purple bags accentuating how tired he looked. "Where am I?" he asked his mirror self. The other Strange chuckled.
"The question is, when are you?" Other Stephen said, “Do not be frightened, old friend, for we are one and the same.”
“What happened to you?” Stephen asked, brow furrowing.
“I needed you alone.” Other Stephen ignored the question, beginning to circle him, “No need for Wong or The Ancient One. They wouldn’t understand. They never knew him. We did. We loved him.” Stephen scoffed, in disbelief.
“You can’t bring him back. The world out there is breaking!” He glared at other Stephen.
“Don’t you dare lie to me! I am you!” The sorcerer roared, his power seeming to get the best of him for a moment. Animalistic features mutated on his body, before shrinking back into his human form. The man panted, “How many nights did we sit in the Sanctum Sanctorum, Time Stone in the palm of our hand, knowing we could go back, gathering the courage? Well, I had the courage. I spent centuries, sacrificed everything for Tony!” Stephen stared at him blankly.
“And now can you save him?” He asked quietly, making other Stephen grin. He leaned in close.
“No, Stephen. We can.” He said with a small growl, “Our powers are diluted, split between us. But when we become whole again, we can save him.”
“We can’t.” Stephen tried to ignore the way his voice cracked.
“You don’t believe it’s possible. But you will see.” Other Stephen said, shaking his head.
“The Ancient One warned us. If we save Tony we destroy the world, the universe!” Stephen argued, making the other sigh in frustration.
“I told you, she doesn’t understand. We love Tony.” He hissed.
“This isn’t love!” Stephen exclaimed, “This is arrogance! This is our need to fix everything! It’s what drove us to study the mystic arts in the first place. And look where we are. Deranged. Tony wouldn’t want this.” He seemed to strike a nerve, and other Stephen froze. He looked at Stephen with a cold glare.
“I will be whole again.” He growled lowly, and Stephen laughed.
“No. Your marbles are long gone.” He said, ignoring the groan the other let out, “The world, however, still stands a chance.” His face softened, and his brow furrowed. “You can’t save him.” Other Stephen roared and tackled Stephen. A portal opened up on the ground and they both fell through, taking them to a scene that was burned into Stephen’s memory. The two landed on the ground with a heavy thump. Other Stephen pinned him down and forced his cheek into the dirt. Stephen’s eyes were squeezed shut, knowing the sight that would greet him if he opened them.
“Look at him, Stephen!” Other Stephen yelled. A hand pressed into the side of Stephen’s head, making his cheek dig into the mud. Finally, he opened his eyes. The sight that assaulted his vision brought tears to his eyes. Tony’s body was sprawled out beside him, facing him. A small sob broke out from the back of his throat. “We can save him. We can bring him back.” Stephen’s breath stuttered again as he continued to stare at Tony’s dead body. Other Stephen’s hand moved, caressing Tony’s bloodied cheek. “And we can appreciate his beauty for an eternity more.”
“You need to let him go,” Stephen whispered, closing his eyes again. The Cloak of Levitation shoved other Stephen off of him, and he flew away from Tony. The doctor tried his best to keep his eyes off of his corpse, refusing to do that to himself. He would not be dragged down to his counterpart’s level.
“I’ve gone too far to turn back now.” Other Stephen hissed, hands growing into tentacles. They shot out towards Stephen, attempting to grab at him. The runes embedded into his skin lit up, and the tentacle shied away from the heat they gave off. Stephen landed on the ground, the other doing the same. Both circled each other, Tony being the centerpiece of their twisted clock. Stephen shook his head.
“You can still come back from this. Just let go.” He pleaded. “Tony wouldn’t want us to do this to ourselves. He would want us to move on.”
“There’s a clear difference between us, Stephen.” Other Stephen said, spitting out the name like it was acid on his tongue. “You’ve given up on Tony. I never will.” He slammed his hands on the ground, and the dirt began upturning. Serpents dove out of the earth, surging toward Stephen faster than any car could go. Stephen quickly flew up into the air, cursing when the serpents followed. A sharp pain shot up his leg, and he looked down to find that one of the creatures had managed to clamp onto his shin. He looked back up into the sky and began summoning a portal. He flew straight through, ending up behind other Stephen. He tackled him, blazing magic ropes forming around his body, restraining him.
“Last chance.” He warned lowly. Other Stephen scoffed. In a flash of bright light, he was gone, leaving Stephen rubbing his eyes to gain his vision back. He stood, stumbling back a little and looking around. Other Stephen was nowhere to be found. He frowned. Out of seemingly nowhere, a small light began drifting down from the sky. He watched it confusedly, brow furrowing.
Suddenly, he was pulled back by the hair into darkness.
He blinked, and he was standing in Tony’s workshop. The mechanic himself was drawing something up at one of his tables, brow furrowed in concentration. He looked beautiful. Stephen let out a small puff of air, heart beating against his chest. It was just like seeing him for the first time again.
“Tony…” He called out against his better judgment. The billionaire looked up and smiled.
“Hey, Doc.” He greeted, standing and walking over. He was a couple inches short of meeting Stephen’s height, so he had to look up a little to meet his eyes. Stephen had always found it adorable. Tony’s hand came up to rest against his cheek. “You still owe me that donut.” He said softly. Stephen’s brow furrowed sadly.
“I know.” He whispered, leaning into Tony’s calloused hand. He closed his eyes, taking a breath full of the man’s cologne.
“We can be together again, Stephen. I love you.” The words were spoken in his voice, but it sounded nothing like Tony. Stephen’s eyes opened again, filling with tears. “I love you,” Tony repeated leaning close. The doctor’s face scrunched miserably, and he turned away.
“I wish that were true…but you’re not him.” He said, even though it felt like his heart was being ripped out at the words. Tony’s soft smile fell, morphing into a look of fury. He lunged forward, the visage cracking like a mirror, revealing other Stephen. A hand wrapped around Stephen’s throat, and he was pressed back into the dirt. The Cloak of Levitation flew off of Stephen’s shoulders and wrapped around other Stephen’s rage-filled face. He fell back, and Stephen shot out from under him, gasping for breath. The runes were failing. Other Stephen was stronger than he seemed.
A rip of fabric made him turn back, and his eyes widened when seeing the Cloak of Levitation being ripped in two. His breath left him for a moment before he was forcefully brought back to reality by being slammed into the ground by a bunch of tentacles. He grunted, struggling against them as other Stephen closed in.
“You can’t do this!” He yelled at the man.
“But we must.” Other Stephen’s voice was low, as the animalistic and monster-like features began mutating off of him. It was a horrifying sight. Stephen’s eyes widened as he felt himself being drained.
“No.” He shouted. “No!”
Stephen opened his eyes, feeling more power than any dark being could've given him. He was whole again. He looked toward Tony's body. Almost whole. He reached a hand out, and the spell worked its magic. Tony's body was lifted from the mud, a glowing light surrounding him. He was set on his feet, the light slowly bleeding into his skin. His eyes opened with a gasp, and he looked around with wide and terrified eyes. When they set on Stephen, he screamed in terror, stumbling back and falling to the ground.
"Tony!" Stephen tried to call to him, but it came out garbled, too ugly to understand. Tony dragged himself further back, hand coming up to grip over his heart.
"What the fuck what the fuck?!" He exclaimed. Stephen tried to step closer, but Tony only panicked more. His body was slowly disintegrating into black wisps, but he didn't seem to notice. Tony's wide eyes were stuck on Stephen.
"Tony, Tony! It's me!" He dialed back his magic output, shrinking back down to his normal size. Tony stared at him in horror.
"Stephen?!" He sputtered out, shaking like a leaf. "What just- this is a dream. This is a fucking nightmare."
"I brought you back! I saved you!" Stephen tried to reason with the man. He stepped toward him.
"Stay away from me!" Tony cried, holding a shaking hand out to protect himself. Stephen's eyes widened. He almost said something but was distracted by the world slowly collapsing. In a different way from when he used the Eye. Then, it had just broken up like a cracked mirror or a shattered vase. But now it was shrinking, withering away like a dying plant. The ground beneath Tony and him began upturning, separating like ice. Stephen jumped to be on the same island as Tony. He looked around, panicking when seeing how the walls of the universe were slowly closing in.
"No no no, I can fix this!" He yelled. Summoning all of his energy, he raised his hands and released rays of dark energy to keep the whole universe from collapsing in on itself. Tony watched on, alarm creasing over his gorgeous features. Stephen could hear him muttering 'what the fuck' under his breath repeatedly, still holding his heart. His body was slowly being blown away, and Stephen stared at him in pain. "This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Stephen, what the hell is happening?!" Tony cried out again, hand tightening around his button-up shirt. The world continued to close in on them, and Stephen couldn't tear his eyes away from Tony's fearful expression. He just wanted to be with Tony again. Why did the universe have to keep them apart? They didn't deserve it! They deserved to be together! Stephen deserved to live a life with Tony Stark in it! Without thinking, he lunged forward, wrapping Tony in his arms. The walls of the universes rapidly closed in on them, shrinking down until it was barely more than a small bubble.
Stephen pulled away from Tony, tears in his eyes. The mechanic was becoming weaker by the second, his body barely holding together.
"Tony...I'm sorry..." He whispered, a couple of stray tears dripping down his cheek. Tony stared up at him, eyes still wide.
"Stephen..." He said breathlessly, "What did you do...?" His head fell back and his body fully disappeared. Stephen stared down at the empty space that used to hold the love of his life. His eyes fell upon the watch still wrapped around his wrist.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Tony..." He croaked, curling up over his lap. "I'm sorry...please forgive me...I'm so sorry..." The pleas fell upon a deaf void of nothingness.
Why couldn't the universe just let them be happy? Let Stephen be happy? Why did it have to be Tony's death that pushed him to become a sorcerer?
He suddenly sat up with a furrowed brow.
Mordo's words echoed in his head.
"Mastery of the sling ring is essential to the mystic arts. They allow us to travel throughout the Multiverse."
Multiverse...meaning there were multiple universes. An infinite amount.
An infinite amount of universes meant that there was a universe (or multiple) where Stephen became a sorcerer without Tony having to die.
And his sling ring could take him to any one of them.
Stephen stood up on shaking legs. He held up his hands and began summoning a portal, hoping to Vishanti that it would work.
"I'm coming Tony."
Tony sat at his workshop, fiddling with the newest StarkPad tech. There were a couple of bugs that he needed to figure out, but looking at his to-do list made him rethink his priorities. The StarkPad was on the list. But it was in 10th place of all the shit he needed to get done. Which was unfortunate. He looked back at the other tables in the room, frowning at all the various projects laid out on each one. He rubbed the back of his neck. He definitely needed to get his priorities in order...
"Tony." A voice at the entrance to the workshop made him turn. A small smile spread over his lips.
"Hey, Doc."