Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1 The Hospital.

Tony’s eye’s snapped open fear clearly written in his eyes, breath quickening as he groaned in pain when he jolted his injuries, he could vaguely hear beeping, the running feet as his breathing escalated, the voices were just background noises, he jerked back hard when he felt someone touch him then promptly blacked out.

The second time he woke up he could hear small whispers talking, he tried to focus on them, but he couldn’t do all he felt was pain, he must have groaned because the whispers stopped, a second later he felt a hand touch him, causing him to jerk away again but this time the hands wouldn’t let him pull away.

His panic was starting to kick in, he didn’t want to be touched, the next thing he knew was he was getting sleepy and his heart rate slowed down, his panic lessened, and his breathing evened out as he was put to sleep.

The nurse attending to him sighed and turned to the Doctor next to him. “Maybe we should put him in a Medical induced Coma until further notice.”

“While that might be a good idea but there’s so much at stake to do it, for now keep giving him pain meds and get him well enough so we can take out the tube’s so we can transfer him back to New York without having to risk him dying along the way.” The Doctor said as he nodded at the nurse and started walking to the door. “Oh! Keep an eye on his Brian and heart and his head injure” The Doctor added.

The nurse nodded his head and made notes on his progress on his heart, head and pulse readings then looked at his physical wounds and nodded to himself in satisfaction when he saw there was some progress in them. “Who did this to you and why?”                   

The nurse mumbled underneath his breath, the nurse sighed and gave him another dose of pain medication before leaving and closing the door softly behind him.

The third time Tony woke up he was more aware but still in intense pain, he groaned when he tried to sit up and realized it wasn’t a good idea with his injuries and lay back down on the bed slowly and tried to take in his surroundings. He noticed he was in a hospital room but for the life of him he couldn’t remember how he got there all he remembered was cold freezing cold and pain… lots of pain he groaned again when the pain got more elevated and looked around for the button to call the nurse.

The nurse came in a few minutes later with clear shock on her face. “Mr. Stark! It’s good to see you awake finally, you been out for a long time, now I know you got questions, but I need mine answered first, okay?” The nurse said then asked.

Tony nodded his head.

The nurse gave him a smile. “First can you speak?”

Tony frowned and tried to say something but only choked noise came out and he almost panicked till the nurse said. “It’s okay if you can’t, it happens more than you think, there is nothing wrong with your vocal cords you’ve been unconscious for a while.”

Tony frowned again but nodded his head, the nurse took a hand in his. “Please don’t be alarmed, this could mean nothing, can you feel my hand when I squeeze yours?”

Tony bit his cheek and shook his head now, tears pooling in his eyes.

The nurse gave him a soft smile. “Like I said could mean nothing, you still feel cold to the touch and your probably cold on the inside still but with you up we can get you some hot tea to warm you up. I’ll check your temperature before I head out, okay?” {The nurse waited till Tony nodded his head to continue and did the same thing with Tony’s toes and legs unfortunately having the same result. “Okay now I need to check your actual physical wounds and I’m sorry to say it’s going to hurt.”

The nurse wasn’t wrong and by the time she was done Tony was silently crying in pain, his chest hurt, his ribs hurt, his head hurt he was hurting all over, the nurse feeling bad gave him a dose of pain meds.

“I know you’re in pain, and having trouble speaking but I need to know your pain level so I can put it on record that I checked it.” The nurse said. {She waited till Tony nodded his head in agreement.

The nurse held up a help up a piece of paper that had big black circles on them five to ten. “I know what you’re going to say but I need to ask anyway can you point to your pain level?”

Tony took a small deep breath and raised a shaky finger and pointed to number ten. The nurse nodded her head and made a note, she set down her clip board on the foot of his bed softly and took out her telescope. “Almost done, just need to check your blood pressure, pulse, listen to your lungs and heart than you can go back to sleep and the next time you wake up the Doctor will be in and tell you about your chart alright?” The nurse said and continued to talk to him with a soft voice of hers.

Tony nodded his head and watched as the nurse listened to his lungs and didn’t miss the frown on her face when she didn’t. He also didn’t miss the look on her face when she saw his pulse and her frown deepened at the thermometer and made a note and Tony had a bad feeling in his gut. The nurse let out a sigh and put everything she used to redress his wounds with and tossed them in the garbage and put the rest of the stuff away and gave one last small smile while she gathered her stuff. “Rest now, I’ll go get more blankets for you.” The nurse said as she walked out.

Tony watched her leave in misery in pain, he had a lot of questions he needed to answer and no way to speak to them. {Where was he? Where is Rhodey? How is he doing? Where’s the kid? Did he make him make it home? Where’s Rogers and his team? Where’s his team? What was done for him? Why can’t I remember? So many questions.

Tony closed his eyes and tried to shut his Brian up as he waited for the nurse to arrive with the blankets, and didn’t notice when she did but he did notice the warmth from the blankets luring him to sleep.

Opening his eyes was a struggle, the pain was unbearable and whimpered in pain, not even a second later he heard shushing noise and someone telling him it was going to be alright. A minute later he started to feel like he was floating, and the pain disappeared.

“Mr. Stark can you hear me?” A voice asked, cutting through his floating.

Tony hummed in answer He then heard a sigh.

“Are you aware enough to answer some questions?” The voice asked.

Tony hummed again. “Sort of.”

A snort was heard. “Okay well I’m Doctor Elliot I’m the Doctor who is in charge of your health while you been here, and while your heart, lungs, ribs, liver, head and Brian has been healing…” [The Doctor paused for a minute.] “But unfortunately, your wounds are healing to slowly for my liking, especially your heart since you had a heart transplant and a few missing ribs?” The Doctor said the last part with a question.

Tony shook head to try and clear part of the high haze from the pain meds they gave him and sighed slightly as he caught the last of the Doctors sentence, Tony licked his dry lips before he said anything.

A little bit more aware and speaking for the first time, his voice was rough when he spoke, barely heard. “When I was in Afghanistan, they had to make room for the…metal circle…they had to…they took out a few ribs and took half my sternum. The heart transplant was when I had the Arc Reactor removed from my chest, my real one was starting to fail slightly due to the Arc Reactor.” Tony exclaimed roughly.

The Doctor stayed silent for a minute or two trying to digest what he heard; he cleared this throat. “Have you…” {Cleared throat again.} “Have you had any health problems with the Arc Reactor? And after at all?” The Doctor asked casually.

Tony thought for a moment. “Well…I was dying of Palladium poison…but was cured and before I was having slight heart problems but otherwise no.”

The Doctor nodded his head and made a note on Tony’s chart. “Any pain?”

“I would feel soreness around the Arc Reactor and extreme pain every six months when I had it removed.” Tony answered.

The Doctor added that that to his note’s as well. “Did lack of ribs ever give you any trouble?”

“Surprisingly no.” Tony answered the raspiness fading each word he said.

The Doctor added that to his notes too, and then looked over his notes and Tony’s chart deeming it good for now the Doctor looked down at Tony. “Alright I think I’m done with questions for now.” {The Doctor paused.} “Are you ready for the results?”

Tony gulped and bit his lip. “No, not really but…lay it on me.”

The Doctor took a deep breath. “I got in contact with Doctor Cho, and she’s going to come here and see you, I don’t want to alarm you but there’s a couple of issue’s that needs to be addressed and only she can address, now I don’t’ know how you got your injuries but it’s obvious you had something heavy slammed into your chest vertically, that something put pressure on your heart, lungs, liver and ribs and sternum. And it’s obvious you were wearing the Iron Man suit because you wouldn’t be here alive right now. Both your lungs got punctured and had heavy internal bleeding, a couple of your ribs got broken and fractured, also unfortunately the vertical injure will leave heavy scaring and…you with me still?” The Doctor said than asked.

Tears started to pour into Tony’s eyes, but he nodded his head. The Doctor frowned but continued. “Now for the heavy stuff we had to take out our spleen because it was to be damaged, the rest of your sternum got heavily bruised, we had to take a kidney out and put a new one in, thankfully we had one to spare. And the worse, the pressure on your heart caused you to flatline three time’s on the table, it took to much damage and can’t handle any more stress, and unfortunately if you want to continue being Iron Man or be active in general you’ll need to put the Arc Reactor back in, there are some scrap metal from your suit…and it’s too close to your artificial heart to take it out.” The Doctor said with regret. “I’ll let you think this over.” He said sadly, gave him a small smile and left the room closing the door behind him.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2. The Visitor.

A week went since the Doctor spoke about Tony’s heath and Tony just watched him leave with a detached face, and still to this day Tony didn’t know how to digest that information. Doctor Cho called a couple of days afterward and said she wouldn’t be able to make it out right away and would be there within the following week to discuss what his options were, what he wanted to try, and what he should try.

Doctor Eliot came yesterday and told Tony that Doctor Cho would be here Thursday evening, and that’s three days from now. Tony sighed as he lay in his bed, he was getting restless, losing his mind, he had too much to think about and nothing to distract him and he wasn’t sure how long he could keep it together.

Tony turned his attention to the gifts and get-well cards that is friends brought and couldn’t help but smile when he saw the tiny Iron Man plushie Peter had given it to him when he came and saw him when he got transferred back to New York.

Tony frowned the longer he stared at the gifts, there weren’t many, there weren’t many people he trusted anymore much less able to trust the ones he does have even, not his trust was thinning these days, and you can thank Howard, Stane, Potts, and the Rouge Avengers for that. (Peter said that’s what the public are calling them these days. No the only one he really lets in his room besides his Doctors and nurses is Peter, the kid was hard to stay away from his energy, his always go happy attitude always made him a smile a little bit, Peter was innocent, a heart of gold, good and it always made feel good that he Tony is able to witness it.

(The Rouge avengers…) Tony thought than snorted. (Seems fitting.) Tony thought to himself when he remembered that conversation. He was trying his hardest not to think about the Rouge Avengers, but it was hard to when the ones haunting his dreams.

After Peter said that Tony tried to get more information out of him, but it was a no go he wouldn’t say anything else about the subject and changed it to something else. Tony tried asking a nurse, but she wouldn’t give anything away either and told him. “Information and news will put stress on your heart…and right now you can’t afford that Mr. Stark just know that your friends are handling it.” {The nurse paused, then sighed.} “I know you want news answers even and want to help out but…you can’t right now…for what it’s worth I’m sorry.” The nurse gave him a soft smile before leaving.

Tony sighed in disappointment, and deep down he knows it’s for his own good but that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

The following Thursday came by quickly, and Tony didn’t know whether to either be glad or afraid of that fact and in no time, Tony was staring at Doctor Cho-standing at the end of his bed with a thoughtful expression and a concerned face.

“Hey, Helen.” Tony said and tried to smile at her, but it must not work because she started to frown.

Helen let out a sigh and went and sat down on a chair by his bedside. “I know you don’t want to have this conversation…and I don’t blame you! But you and I and some of your closest friends know exactly how you got that scare.” Helen said sneering slightly.

Tony frowned and looked away from her. “I know, I have nightmares because of it...just adding it to the others one’s I have constantly”

Helen sighed again and gently took Tony’s hand in hers. “we’re going to talk about this later, right now let’s focus on getting you better, there are a few things we need to talk about, there’s other Doctors, I want you to see. But first I want to put you in the cradle first before we do anything, after that we need to discuss putting the Arc Reactor back in.

Tony groaned in dismay about it all. “Agreed, let’s start with the cradle, am I well enough to go to the compound?” Tony said than asked.

“Almost…” {Helen looked at Tony top to bottom.} “I’m glad you were able to keep all your limbs.”

Tony sighed. “It was a close call; they weren’t sure at first…look days to get me warmed up to satisfy them. Doctor Eliot says I was unconscious for three months and when I woke up I still cold to the touch.”

Helen grimaced. “You took one Hell of a beating Tony, and that head wound was nasty and being in ice cold weather didn’t help at all.”

Tony squinted at Helen. “How long was I stuck in Siberia for? And matter of fact who found me? No one will tell me anything.” Tony said.

Helen sighed again and ran a hand through her hair. “No one will tell you anything because it’ll be stressful right, you’ll found out stuff after your fixed and I know you won’t drop dead by a heart attack, and no one really knows how you got back.” Helen said.

Tony clenched his fist, anger starting to sink through, Tony took a deep breath and exhaled than unclenched his fist, and let Helen’s last words set in and frowned. “What do you mean no one knows how I got rescued?” Tony demanded.

“It’s a mystery, you were found in front of the hospital entrance by one of the nurse’s…nothing showed on the camera’s either when security had a look, they covered themselves well and covered their tracks well. Whoever rescued you, they know how to stay in the shadow’s without being seen.” Helen admitted.

Tony narrowed his eyes as he digested the newfound information, his heartbeat escalated, then calmed down, he needed to stay calm and not get worked up, Tony took a deep breath while Helen watched concerned and a hand on the nurse button just in case. But Tony just shook his head now and gestured with a hand that he was fine. “I’m good, just need a minute.” It took a minute or two, but Tony did get his heartbeat slow down and asked the question that was burning in his head the fiasco. “Was it male? Or female?”

“The security guard on duty said it looked male.” Helen answered.

Tony thought for a moment or two then groaned. “Why do I get the feeling this is never going to be solved?”

Helen frowned and sat back down seeing Tony alright. “Because it probably won’t until said person confesses.” “Anyway! We’re getting way off track! I want your inside’s healed more, and head wound, and your pain settled before we get you transferred, that good?”

“Yes.” Tony sighed as he answered without looking at Helen.

Helen waited for a month till she deemed Tony well enough to transfer him to the compound, and of course before he left Tony thanked the nurse’s and Doctors for taking care of him, they all shook his hand and told him to “get better soon and then said we can’t wait to have you out there protecting us again!” Some even thanked him for saving New York or even in general Tony just flushed with disbelief and mumbled out a thanks as they wheeled him out of the hospital and onto the ambulance.

Now he’s laying down on a cold table so Helen can set him up to the cradle. “Do you think this is going to work?” Tony asked a little hesitantly.

Without looking up at what she was doing she replied. “On some things yes, it only prints tissue as you know? it’ll help the worse of the scars but even than you’ll still have it run’s deep Tony! I’m amazed you survived but anyway you should know this already because you were there when I healed Barton.”

Tony huffed then frowned when he realized she was right. “I don’t know, yes, I should...my head is a mess right now, there’s a lot of things I don’t remember and a lot of things I do, it’s all jumbled and the headaches are horrible.”

Helen stood next to Tony with her hands on her hips and huffed. “Headache’s? you didn’t think to tell anyone of that fact?”

“They just started to be honest, I think it’s because of all the thoughts and memories going through my head…or the lack of memories I have… I’m just guessing though; I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. Helen, is there something wrong with me?” Tony said.

Helen paused for a moment. (God, I hope not! he has enough issue’s right now.) Helen thought to herself then started speaking.

“After we get the cradle up and running and over with, we’ll discuss other Doctors, I want you to see and check your Brain waves.” Helen said starting the cradle. “But for now stay still, you’ll feel some tingling sensation, it’ll probably take an hour, because of all your other scar and damn Tony these are deep as well doubt it’ll fix all of it damn.”

Tony grunted in answer and closed his eyes hoping an hour would pass quickly but knowing his luck it’ll go by slowly. A few minutes passed and I ended up falling asleep only waking when a loud beeping noise went off and startled him awake causing Helen to laugh.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3. What Friendships Are About.

Tony stared at his scars in the bathroom mirror and traced the scar that the shield had made with shaking fingers with tears sliding down his face at steady pace, and suddenly the memories of Siberia came forward tenfold Tony screamed as he hit the floor. Not even hearing the pounding on the door, or the shouts, nor did he feel the hands grabbing him and pulling him close in an embrace, he collapsed against the body and just cried, cried and cried till he passed out.

Tony woke up the next day exhausted, the nightmare was rough, he blearily looked around the room and noticed he was in his own bed at the compound, Tony sighed, and slowly sat up in bed.

“F.R.Y, are you here?” Tony asked hopefully.

“Yes, boss I’m here, it’s good to hear your voice, I have missed you!” The AI responded.

Tony cried in relief. “It’s good to hear you to baby girl.”

Tony thought the worst in Siberia when he lost her, it felt like losing JARVIS all over again and he wasn’t sure he could handle another loss right now, he was still worried when he woke up at the hospital because it wasn’t healthy for him to use any screens. He remembered crying when he got told that Rhodey had to pull himself on Tony’s bed and comfort him. That was a hard day for him in general, the pain was unbearable, and the meds were barley having effect on him, he was cold so…so cold, he couldn’t get warm. The shakes were worrying, the Doctors thought he was having seizures and took him down to get scans done and came at a loss when all the results came back normal.

He came out of his thoughts when he heard a knock at his door. “Who is it F.R.Y?”

“Doctor Cho boss.” F.R.I.D.A.Y replied.

“Let her in.” Tony told F.R.I.D.A.Y

“Certainly boss.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said. And opened the door for Helen.

Who came in slowly and sat gently at the end of the bed. “Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y told me you were awake, how are you feeling this morning?” Helen asked concerned.

“It’s morning?” Tony asked surprised. “It was only two in the afternoon.”

Helen frowned. “You were…in the bathroom a long time F.R.I.D.A.Y said.”

“What happened?” Tony asked.

“You had a panic attack! Tony, I worry about you, we all do! I mean you…you must be more careful, you’re lucky you didn’t need the hospital, but the next one you might, your heart…can’t take much more! Why are you so careless of your life! There are people here who cares about you Tony!” Helen half said and half yelled out.

Tony looked down and started at a piece of thread on his bed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you or anyone else.”

Helen reached over and took a hand in hers with regret heavy in her heart. “Don’t apologize, I shouldn’t have said that I just…I don’t want to lose you…we don’t want to lose you Tony, you’re a good person and you deserve to live and get a happy ending for once in your life, you deserve trust, love and so many other things.” Helen said tears filling her eyes.

Tony squeezed Helen’s hand. “I’m not going to say you won’t lose me at all, because someday you might, but it’s not going to be anytime soon!” {Tony said in a rush when Helen went to open her eyes, but he couldn’t do anything when the tears came out. “And I’ll find happiness at some point, and love, trust and guess what? it hasn’t been all bad! I have good friends, people to trust but right now I just can’t, I want to…want to so bad but I can’t, and it hurts me that I’m hurting you guys like this.” Tony said than admitted.

Helen opened her mouth then closed it again, she had no idea what to say, then just decided to just stay silent.

Tony sighed and looked away when Helen stayed silent, to be fair he didn’t know what to say either, all he knew you was that he was having issues with trust lately he know It’s warranted. Even though deep down in his heart he knows Rhodey, Happy, the kid and Helen would never betray him but he’s having a hard time trying to convince his Brain that.

Helen looked down at their clasped hands, it didn’t take a genius to know what was going on in Tony’s head. “They understand you know.” Helen said out of the blue after moments of silence finally finding her voice.

Tony’s head whipped around so fast it almost gave him whiplash. “What?”

“Rhodey, Happy, the kid…me, we understand what you’re going through and that you need time to trust us again, we may not know what betrayal like you do but we do get it and want to help.” Helen said.

Tony could feel tears blur his vision, was touched but he also felt guilt, he knew he was hurting them without meaning to and it was hurting him that he was hurting them. “I know.” Tony Whispered but Helen heard it but didn’t say anything and Tony was thankful for that.

After a couple of minutes of silence Tony broke it. “Did you just come in here to check on me? Or is there something else you would like to discuss?”

Helen hummed. “Yes, I wanted to see how you were in person but yes there is something I wanted to talk about.”

“Like what?” Tony asked slowly.

“I will get to that eventually, but I need to get this out and it going to hurt you more than me.” Helen started to say.

(That doesn’t sound good.) Tony thought to himself, and he decided to voice that thought. “That doesn’t sound good.”

Helen’s lips twitched and huffed out a laugh. “Depends on how you take this or even want to see them… {She paused for moment.} him.”

Tony raised an eyebrow at that. “Them and him? You do know I don’t’ understand what you’re saying right?”

Helen grunted. “I mean I want you to see other Doctors and I want to get your head checked out, any memory gain at all?”

Tony sat on his bed and thought for a moment but regretted it when it brought pain to his head, he groaned and put his head in his hands. He felt a hand in his hair, and he had a thankful sigh.

“I’m going to take that as a no, and that is why I called Doctor Strange.” Helen said massaging Tony’s head but dropped her hand when Tony jerked out of her touch in surprise.

“Strange? As in Stephen Strange?” Tony asked in surprise.

Helen nodded her head. “The very same one, wait…how do you know him? I thought you didn’t pay much attention to anything Medical.”

Tony sighed and rubbed his face. “I don’t, I know Stephen or well I used to know Stephen.”

Helen blinked in surprise. “Well, that explains a few things.” Helen said out loud.

Tony tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean?” Tony asked curiously.

“Well, um, well when I called to set up an appointment with him here at the compound, at first, he wasn’t going to but his whole demeanor changed once I mentioned you and started asking all these questions of you that I wasn’t sure I should answer to. He seemed concerned and changed his mind quickly.” Helen admitted.

Tony smiled a little. “I didn’t think he would still care.” Tony was all he said.

Helen blinked again, then again, having trouble comprehending Tony’s words. “What?” That was all she could say.

Tony was beginning to look at her strangely. “I didn’t think he would still care after all this time.” Tony repeated.

Helen repeated Tony’s words in her head a few times digesting his words. (Doctor Strange seemed concerned about Tony, Tony admitted knowing him, Tony smiled when he said Stephen’s name. They know each other but how? They went to different schools, and Tony never showed any interest in the medical field, they both are rich but as far as she knew they never in the same events.) Helen thought to herself.

“But how did you know him? You both may be rich, but you guys don’t go to the same events nor the same circle.” Helen blurted out.

Tony laughed genuinely, his laugh had taken years of nightmares, torment, betrayals and fear away leaving him looking years younger, happy and it didn’t go unnoticed by Helen, and she wasn’t going to say something.

“I know a lot of things about him, hmm.” That was all Tony said.

Helen just stared at him, confused as Hell. “Again how?”

Tony smiled at Helen. “We met while in college, we may have gone to different schools in the same State, but we met at a house Party, I was fifteen at the time he was in his early twenty’s I think. It was funny, neither of us wanted to be there, we got dragged there by friends, he was hiding in one of the rooms downstairs. I happened to find him; he was reading on the bed that was in there and I joined him. He wasn’t sure of me at first because of my age but we talked, drank more than one bottle of whiskey and by the night was over big surprise we ended up having sex by the end of the night, the morning was less awkward than we thought it would be though so there’s that I suppose.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4. 1985.

Tony cringed at the noise that was booming from the subwoofers, it was loud, he cursed Rhodey’s name as he made his way through the house he was at, he was slightly tipsy. (How the fuck did Rhodey convince him that this was a good idea?) Tony thought as he watched a collage kid punch another kid in the face and decided. (Yup, getting out of dodge.) Tony was searching for Rhodey, but he hadn’t seen him since they got there, Tony let out another groan and grabbed the closest drink he could find and drank it in one go.

(I swear I’m going to kill him when I find him.) Tony thought as he continued his search. “Let’s check upstairs…after I find another drink.” He mumbled to himself and found a full bottle of whiskey on the counter in the kitchen and took it and made his way upstairs.

He checked every room and still nothing, he drank a few sips of the bottle, {Thankfully the bottle was still full, more focused on searching than drinking. Now irritated Tony went back downstairs and searched the living room again, nothing but got more crowded. (Did he leave?) Tony thought as he was standing in the kitchen clenching the almost full bottle still. (Haven’t checked the basement, some people have their basements decked out.) Nodding to himself, Tony went and searched for the door, he found it almost half an hour later due to the crowd of people and sighed in relief as it got quieter as he shut the door.

The stairs were carpeted but the walls were bare as he walked down them, he came to a stop at the bottom and looked around unlike others houses it didn’t look like a basement, there was an open space that was filled with a flat screen mounted on the wall and brown leather coaches in a circle. He turned his head towards the left and it looked like a hall and as we walked down it there were only two doors, this way one led to what looked like a bedroom and the garage. {All were empty} Turning around walked back down the hall and continued to the other side the way there were three doors and another hallway going across. (Damn.) Tony thought he checked the rooms all empty. {Tony growled in frustration.

Tony walked over to the crossway hall and noticed there was only three doors all on the same wall, the first two were empty but the third…the third had someone in it, Tony peaked his head inside and sighed in annoyance when he seen it wasn’t Rhodey. But a young man that looked to be in his early twenties. (A few years younger than Rhodey.) Tony thought that scoffed at and startled when he heard the person speak.

“If you’re going to come in, then come in and close the door behind you, would you? The noise is killing me.” When he spoke, it made Tony jump a little causing the man inside to laugh and causing Tony to scowl as he opened the door wider and slipped inside, he closed the door gently behind him than sat down next to the man on the bed as it was the only furniture in the room.

Tony noticed the man was reading a book but from this angle he couldn’t read the title, he also didn’t know how to start a conversation that and not everyone wants to have a conversation with a teenager let alone the famous Stark child and decided to just stare at the man from the corner of his eye.

Tony took in the details of the man; he had dark brown hair almost black. (I wonder if his hair is as soft as it looks.) Tony thought. (Okay no, bad thoughts Tony doesn’t go there, pretty sure he doesn’t want a teenager to eye him up.) (Although I wonder if he would if I beg on my knees? Oh god stop!) Tony flushed at his thoughts then took a long swig of the whiskey bottle he snatched up.

The man looked up from his book and looked at Tony with a raised eyebrow when he saw the movement out of the corner of his eye, Tony could only shrug his shoulders as he looked away. Then looked back at the man and noticed his gaze never left him, and the longer he stared the man realized who exactly who was sitting next to him at a random house party for frat boys and spoke up. “Aren’t you a little young to be here drinking a bottle of whiskey Anthony Stark?”

Tony almost choked on his swig; he wasn’t expecting the man to recognize him right away. (Damn he must be sober.) Tony thought. “One no one calls me that except my parents and this!” {Tony waved his arms around} “Wasn’t my idea, I got dragged here by my best friend, you? What’s your name? Because you seem to have me at a disadvantage”

The man sighed and tossed the book aside like it meant nothing. “My name is Stephen, and I also got dragged here by a friend…she said I been studying too hard! You need to get out and have fun…” {Stephen snorted.} “And look where I ended up? Sitting in a room reading a book that’s so boring it was putting me to sleep so I guess, thanks is in order.” The man Stephen said. “Mind sharing?” Stephen asked as an afterthought pointing at the bottle.

Tony shook his head no, than handing him the bottle. “Where did you snatch this from?” Stephen asked after he had a drink.

Tony snorted. “Believe or not it was sitting on the kitchen counter.”

Passing the bottle back. “Shit really?”

Tony nodded his head. “Thankfully it was full.”

Stephen nodded in agreement.

They talked quietly to each other as they passed the almost full bottle of whiskey around back and forth about little things and turned into heavy stuff when it got empty, they weren’t drunk just tipsy.

“Where do you go to school?” Tony asked to set the bottle down on the floor.

“Columbia, you go to MIT, correct?” Stephen replied, head leaning on the wall behind them.

“Yeah, what are you studying?” Tony asked curiously.

Stephen hummed. “I’m working on getting my M.D and my PH.D.”

“At the same time?” Tony asked, impressed.

Stephen nodded his head. “You? I heard but I want to hear it from you?”

Tony tilted his head. “Well right now I’m doing Physics, but I want to get into Electronics and Engineering as well.”

Stephen’s lip twitched; he’d seen the articles about his first Engine at four. “Well, if that article was true when you were four, I got faith in you.”

Tony sat up straighter. “Really? You think so?” Tony asked surprised.

Stephen looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. (Why does he sound so surprised for? He’s at MIT at fifteen? He didn’t ask those questions; he was pretty sure it’d bring up bad memories by the sounds of it.) Stephen smiled at Tony. “You’re going to MIT at fifteen years old I’d say you’re doing pretty damn well impressive really.”

Tony blushed slightly. “Really?” Tony repeated.

“Okay something is not right with that, but I’ll ignore that for now, right now he kinda wants to stare at a blushing Anthony Stark, he makes a pretty sight. {Stephen shook his head} Come on Strange he’s fifteen for fucks sack! Spells bad ideas on all accounts!) Stephen thought. “Yes, really and if you don’t believe me, I don’t know how to convince you.”

Tony smiled a little at Stephen in thanks. “So…where are you from?” Tony asked changing the subject.

Stephen didn’t like the way Tony sounded just then but let it go only because he was a stranger to Tony. “From Nebraska.”

“What’s Nebraska like?” Tony asked.

Stephen snorted “Boring as Hell, its farmland basically, my parents own a ranch out there.”

For some reason Tony decided to shift closer to Stephen and lean onto his side. “I’m cold.” Tony said when Stephen asked what he was doing, Stephen just sighed and shrugged his shoulders without saying anything and wrapped an arm around Tony’s shoulder. (What the Hell am I doing?) Stephen asked himself and, unknown to him, Tony was asking himself the same question.

They stayed for a while asking each other questions, all the while Tony stayed glued to Stephens side, that is until Stephen’s cell phone went off, grumbling Stephen took it out and answered it.

Tony couldn’t hear either side of the conversation, but he could hear Stephen talk into it.

“Hello? no I didn’t leave, how would I you were my ride? Okay, do you want to leave now?” {Stephen sighed.) “Who was that? no what never mind if your sober enough which I doubt it call me when you want to leave.” Stephen hung up.

“Your friend?” Tony asked.

“Yup.” Stephen left it at that, and Tony didn’t ask anymore instead Tony lifted himself off Stephen and got up. “I’ll be right back!” Tony announced and before Stephen could open his mouth Tony had already left the room. He came back a few minutes later with what looked like another bottle of whiskey.

Stephen lifted an eyebrow at the full bottle. (This is a bad idea! He’s been feeling a little aroused between the alcohol we already had, and Tony is a beautiful creature.) Stephen thought. He was going to mention how bad it was but instead. “Find that in the kitchen to?” Came out.

Tony snorted as he got back on the bed and sat right in the same spot by Stephen’s side, who auto manically put an arm around him, Tony offered the bottle to Stephen. “No, I snooped around the parents’ bedroom and found it sitting in their clothes closet and look what else I found!” {Tony held up a bottle of lube, which made Stephen choke on the bottle that he opened}

Tony patted Stephen’s back as he coughed once Stephen recovered, he asked. “Are you planning on using that?” With a rough voice from the coughing.

Tony felt his heart hardened at the voice and the thought of what they could do with the lube and then he blamed his horny brain for what he did next, he grabbed the bottle took a long gulp of it and winked at Stephen than said. “Sure, if you can handle me! I’ve been told I’m a lot to handle.”

Tony blushed at his words; he took another long drink. (Fuck, I’m fucking drunk!) Was Tony’s thought right then.

All Stephen could do was stare, he was not expecting a response like that at all, he regained his composer quickly and grabbed the bottle from Tony and drank almost half of it. “You are aware I’m a few years older than you right?”

Tony giggled. “Yeah, I know! And I don’t care, I’ve had older fuck me, but I do get to say you’re the hottest to fuck me yet.” Tony said leaning into Stephen to place a kiss on the side of his neck and placing a hand on Stephen’s crotch. “Hmm biggest to.” Tony hummed into Stephen’s neck.

Stephen was a little bit in shock about what was happening now. (Did he say he had older fuck him? Did I hear that correctly? Ahh…let’s stay away from that subject!) Stephen thought. Then added. (I’m going to Hell!) as Stephen pushed hips up so he was rubbing on Tony’s hand.

Tony had a smirk on his face that was still buried in Stephen’s neck. “It’s a good thing I stole the lube than eh?”

Without a word Stephen pulled Tony away from his neck, then pulled him into a rough kiss, he had one hand in Tony’s hair to keep him in place, the other hand was opening Tony’s pants to put his hand inside Tony’s boxers so he could stroke him as Stephen continued to kiss him to swallow Tony’s moans.

After several minutes of kissing Tony roughly and stroking Tony’s cock Stephen pulled away and spoke. “Strip.” Stephen commanded as he gently pushed Tony away from him. Stephen began to lick his lips as his eyes never left Tony as he listened to Stephen and got out of bed and slowly stripped, he started with his shoes and socks, Tony could feel Stephen’s gaze as he stripped so he bit his bottom lip as he opened his pants and slid both his pants and boxers down his legs at the same time. He left his shirt for last and was about Tho lift it up when Stephen shot forward, grabbing Tony by his shirt and pulled Tony flush against Stephen’s body than found himself in a kiss that left him breathless before being shoved backwards on the bed.

Before Tony could get his breath back Stephen climbed on the bed, shoved Tony’s legs apart than sliding in between them, Stephen leaned down to kiss him deeply and swallowed Tony’s moans as Stephen grinded his hips into Tony’s.

Moving his head away from Stephen’s to break out of the kiss he said panting. “You strip to”

Stephen stopped grinding into Tony, then he smirked as Tony whined in protest as Stephen pulled away from Tony altogether. Stephen kicked off his shoe’s than sat on his heels so he could take off his shirt, than he kneeled on his knees and went to undo his pants but his hands were shoved away he looked at Tony who at some point sat up and with a smirk on his face, eye’s never leaving Stephen’s as Tony reached down with both hands opened Stephen’s pants and took out his cock and Tony felt his mouth water as his cock was revealed, he went to take a taste but he found himself being pushed backwards on the bed. Then he was being handed the lube Tony stole from the parents’ bedroom. {He never noticed Stephen got up to grab it} “Finger yourself open for me, would ya? You might want to use three fingers I’m not exactly small.” Stephen said as he sat on his heels an inch or two away, he had the perfect view of Tony’s splayed legs.

Tony felt himself blush, then gulped but he did as he was told, he nervously opened the lube bottle and took out enough lube to cover two fingers as he decided to just shove two in at a time.

If Stephen was shocked when Tony shoved two in, he didn’t show it instead he gripped the base of his cock to hold back his orgasm as he watched Tony moan and move his hips wildly as he fingered himself open for him as Tony made a pretty site.

Once Tony got to three fingers and was well adjusted Stephen wasted no time in batting Tony’s hand away and climbing on top of him, Stephen rested his hands on either side of Tony’s head as he snapped his hips forward sliding Into Tony in one go, drawing out a loud moan from Tony in the process, than set a fast and hard pace and all you could hear was skin meeting skin, heavy breaths and Tony’s loud moans that just got louder as Tony got closer to Cumming from Stephen hitting Tony’s prostate with every hard thrust.

Tony wrapped his arms around Stephen’s shoulders and his legs around Stephen’s waist pulling him closer, and deeper as they moved in harmony.

Stephen was sucking and biting on Tony’s neck that was swallowing his moans, then pulled away from Tony’s neck, he started thrusting harder as he kissed Tony deeply. Stephen could tell Tony was getting close because Tony was moving his hips desperately, so Stephen reached between them and started stroking him, matching it with his thrusts and moved a little harder as he was getting close as well.

It only took a couple hard fast thrust’s and a few strokes for Tony to cum with the loudest moan yet that would have made a porn star proud, Stephen’s thrust’s faltered as Tony’s wall tightened around his cock and buried his face into Tony’s neck and with a couple more thrust’s Stephen was done for and cam with a groan in Tony’s ear inside of him, out of breath he slumped against Tony who didn’t seem to mind the added weight, just continued to hold Stephen to him.

It took a while but they both eventually got their breath back, Stephen gave Tony a light kiss as he sat up than gently pulled of him and a wave of satisfaction as he watched his cum drip out of Tony’s hole who was giving Stephen a raised eyebrow at the look on his face, Stephen could only shrug his shoulders as he laid down next to Tony. Tony shrugged as well and didn’t comment instead he snuggled into Stephen’s side and laid his head on Stephen’s chest.

“Is there any whiskey left?” Tony mumbled into Stephen’s chest, and he could feel the rumble in Stephen’s chest as he laughed.

“Yes, but you don’t need anymore, we’re a little drunk.” Stephen patted Tony on his head and closed his eyes as he laughed.

“...Yeah okay, just means more for tomorrow.” Tony said as he closed his eyes as well.

But it took a while for them to fall asleep due to being at a place they didn’t know, and the noise that was going on, it looks like the party had moved down to the basement by the sounds of it while they were fucking because the noises of kids laughing and shouting had gotten a lot louder.

When morning came Tony woke up with a groan and his mouth tasting like ash, his head pounding with a headache, Tony blinked as he rubbed a hand over his forehead than lifted his head up from his pillow. It was then he realized his pillow was moving and that he was laying on a person and using them as a pillow and went to sit up but was stopped by the arms that were thrown across his body. Tony looked up at the person he slept on. (Stephen, he remembered.) Looked even younger while asleep and at his angle he could see Stephen’s features more clearly, he had high cheekbones and a straight jaw, his skin was blemish free, he was a little bit pale but that suited him. He had long eyelashes that were fluttering against his cheeks as he slept, he also was clean shaven, in other words he was beautiful, Tony felt like a creep watching him sleep but he couldn’t look away from this beautiful person. But his attention turned to something else when the door to the room banged open. {Tony hid his face in Stephen’s chest so the person coming wouldn’t see who he was}

The door banging open caused Stephen to jerk awake with a groan.

“Hey wake up! And please leave! My mom’s going to be here soon! And everybody needs to be gone, I’m not supposed to be here! I’ll be so, so dead if she finds out!” The kid who lived shouted out before leaving again and repeated his sentence as he entered each room.

Now that Stephen was awake Tony was able to get out of his hold and sat up slowly. {Tony’s stomach groaned in protest at the movement. “Oh god!” Tony slurred slightly out; he realized he might be still a little drunk.

Stephen on the other hand was massaging his head, it looks like he too had a headache with how much whiskey they both drank it’s not surprising, realizing massaging his head wasn’t working he looked over at Tony who looked a little yellow. {Stephen sighed as he slowly made a move to the nightstand that had a water bottle on it, he picked it up then opened it he drank half of it before getting Tony’s attention to take it.

“Thanks.” Tony mumbled out as he took the bottle and drank the rest of it.

Stephen nodded his head at Tony.

The water didn’t cure their headache, but it did dim it for them, at least enough to realize they should gather their stuff and leave, it was also then they realized they were still naked.

Without saying anything they both got out of bed and gathered their clothes all the while, both red in the face.

As they got dressed Stephen looked over at Tony. “Do you need a ride somewhere?”

Pausing while getting his pants on it was then Tony noticed he never found Rhodey last night. “I don’t know let me make a call really quick.” Tony said as he finished buttoning and zipping his pants.

Stephen nodded his head again and finished getting dressed as Tony dug around for his cell phone only to realize it wasn’t there.

“Shit! I don’t have it.” Tony said in a panic.

Now dressed Stephen walked over to his hoodie and grabbed him, then walked over to Tony and offered it to him.

Tony smiled at Stephen then leaned in and gave Stephen a quick kiss in thanks, he opened it up and dialed a number he knew by heart only for it to go to voicemail, groaning Tony hung up and gave it back to Stephen.

Stephen watched Tony the whole time with a concerned face. “Doesn’t take a genius to know, no answer?”

With a sigh Tony nodded his head.

“Want me to give you a ride?” Stephen asked, turning away and putting his sock and shoes on.

Tony really wanted to take the offer, but it was a four-hour drive. (Damn it Rhodey!) Tony thought irritated. “I would love one, but it’ll be a long drive.” Tony said with a frown.

Putting his hoodie over his head. “I know, I would've offered if I wasn’t willing.” Stephen said.

Tony looked at Stephen in wonder and suddenly became a lot happier. “If you’re sure, I don’t want to be a burden on you.”

Stephen walked over to Tony kissed his forehead. “you’re not.” “Finish getting dressed than we’ll head out.” Stephen added as he went and sat down on the bed to watch. Tony did so with a smirk on his face.

Once Tony was finished, they both left the room, as they went through the house, they cringed as it smelled awful, and the place was a mess, and by the time they reached the living room the smell and the mess was worse. “God!” Tony moaned out; the smell was causing Tony’s stomach to turn violently.

Stephen’s eyes widened when he saw Tony starting to turn yellow, he quickly took Tony’s hand and pulled him along until they reached outside, never letting go of Tony’s hand he stopped on the porch so Tony could take a breather.

Tony bent over so hands were resting on his knees. {Well one of his hands as one was still being held} And took deep breath of fresh air hoping that would settle his stomach for the moment.

Stephen stood by Tony holding his hand, waiting patiently and squeezed his hand to reassure Tony that he wasn’t going anywhere.

Tony looked up at Stephen and gave him a smile and stood up a couple minutes later. “Thanks, think I’m good now, I hope.”

Still holding hands Stephen led them to Stephen’s car, he sighed. “It’s a bit of a walk I’m afraid, it’s down the street, it was the closest spot I could find…or you can wait here, and I can come pick you up.” Stephen said than suggested.

Tony thought for a moment. “How far away is it?” Tony asked.

“Just down the street.” That was the answer.

“I…I don’t want to be alone right now…please.” Tony stuttered out.

Stephen smiled kindly at Tony and continued to walk, and by the time they reached the car Tony felt somewhat better. {He was hoping it’d stay that way while in the car}

Stephen pulled out his keys and unlocked the door, then he helped Tony to the passenger side and helped him in the car hurrying to the driver’s side as he let go of Tony’s hand, then once again took it once he was situated and spoke. “I’ll stop by a gas station and get us some water, food, and something for our headaches before leaving, I also got to give my friend a call even though I know she won’t answer, and I’m sure you want to give your friend another call as well?” Stephen said then asked.

“Sounds good and nah I’ll just give him the silent treatment anyway, he deserves it.” Tony said bitterly.

Stephen raised an eyebrow. “I feel there’s a story to tell and how are you feeling?”

Tony groaned. “Oh, there is.” {Tony sat back in his seat then buckled himself in as Stephen turned the car on} “He left the party! he left without saying anything but most importantly he left me there! I spent hours looking through the fucking house for him.” Tony said angrily but his tone was sad.

Stephen understood that because that happened often in April and frowned as he put the car in drive then drove off. “I get it, April pulls that off all the time, last night was no different, she tells me she left but its hours later.” Stephen said as he looked for the closet gas station. “There’s a gas station around the corner, we’ll go to that one.” He added.

Tony snorted at that but didn’t comment on it, he left that conversation die because Tony could very clearly see it was something he didn’t want to get into, so he just asked. “Your friends name is April? like for real?”

Stephen laughed and snorted. “If you think hers is bad mine is worse.”

Tony raised an eyebrow as Stephen pulled into the gas station. “Can’t be that bad, your name is normal.”

Stephen parked the car, then looked at his gas gauge. (Should get gas while I’m here.) He thought as he unbuckled his seat belt. “My first name is normal yeah, but my last name is highly unusual and gave me so many issues over the years, I had to work extra hard to get where I am today because of it.” Stephen said as he opened his car door. “Hold that thought! I’ll be right back.” He added and hurried out of the car before Tony could open his mouth.

Tony frowned as Stephen got out of the car, sighing he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. (Highly unusual? His last name was never brought up last night, was it?) Tony thought as he looked through his memories last night, he didn’t get very far though because his headache came back, Tony let out a groan of pain as it did, he kept his eyes closed.

Even though his body never relaxed he still jerked when he heard the car door close, he sat up and looked over at Stephen with wide eyes. (Holy shit! I didn’t even hear him opening the door and getting in.) Tony thought.

Seeing the look on Tony’s face. “Sorry.” He said it was his fault, then he handed me a bottle of water, a sandwich, chips and a candy bar.

Taking the items from Stephen. “It’s not your fault, accident and thank you, you didn’t need to do that I could have bought my own stuff.”

Stephen waved a hand, then opened the Aleve bottle he bought and took four out and turned to Tony. “Open your mouth.” Stephen said.

Tony didn’t even think about it as he opened his mouth for Stephen, then he felt two pills on his tongue, then he opened his water bottle and swallowed the pills and looked over at Stephen and watched as he two swallowed some pills. He also watched Stephen buckled up his seat belt than restarted his car, then drove out of the station and as they drove it was silent, it wasn’t uneasy silence it was peaceful, there was music playing quietly in the background as they left New York, they weren’t pondering anything just enjoying the peaceful ride, at some point Tony had reached over and grabbed Stephen’s hand. Smiling at himself as Stephen never pulled away. And it wasn’t until they reached Connecticut that Tony said something. “So, what is your last name?”

Without looking at Tony he answered. “Strange, my name is Stephen Strange.”

Chapter Text

Helen was still staring at Tony blinking slowly, speechless, while Tony was looking down at his bed like it was something interesting, after a while it was still silent and Tony couldn’t take it anymore. “HELEN.” Tony shouted out.

Helen blinked but came out of her trance. “Sorry! I’m just surprised is all, anyway…what were talking about?”

Tony tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. “When is Stephen going to arrive? and what are the other Doctors you want me to see?, and what are we going to do with the Arc Reactor?” Tony asked.

Helen flushed when she realized what she asked. “Doctor Strange will be arriving tomorrow, and besides him I want you to see a Heart Doctor, and a Organ Doctor and as for the Arc Reactor I decided to wait till you see the other Doctors to get opinion's before we do that. I set a appointment for each of them unfortunately it’ll be online for the other Doctors because they don’t live anywhere near here and can’t leave as they have a busy schedule, Doctor Mathews the Heart Doctor will video chat on Friday evening next week and Doctor Lynch will be available for next week as well on Tuesday.”

Tony frowned but nodded his head, he hated this but he had no choice. (At least I’ll see Stephen tomorrow, that’s something to look forward to.” Tony thought.

“For now stay in your bed and rest as much as possible, your still very weak, it’ll be a long road ahead but you’ll be okay again.” Helen said squeezing Tony’s hand again before standing up.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y send me his vitals every hour.” Helen said leaving but stopped at the door and turned back. “Let F.R.I.D.A.Y know if you need anything yeah?”

Tony mentally sighed. “I will, and thanks…for everything your doing, you didn’t have to.” Tony said.

“No thanks needed and I know I didn’t have to, I wanted to.” Helen said than left Tony alone in his room.

Tony sat on his bed and thought for a moment. “F.R.I.D.A.Y did we ask a time for when Stephen was going to arrive?”

“No, boss.” Was her reply.

“Ugh.” Was Tony’s response. “Am I well enough to go get some food?” Tony asked out loud. “Where did Helen go?” Tony added.

“Yes boss, MS. Cho went back to the lab.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said.

Tony sighed than got out of bed and patted softly across the floor to his door and walked slowly to the kitchen and made a simple sandwich than went back to his room to eat it and watch a movie. “F.R.I.D.A.Y turn on Hush on Netflix please.”

Without saying anything F.R.I.D.A.Y did as she was told.

Tony ate his sandwich as he watched his movie. {While Tony wasn’t into horror movie’s there are some out there he would make a exception for.} By the time the movie was over and his stomach was full he was tired again so he ordered F.R.I.D.A.Y to turn the cable on anything that wasn’t the news and laid back down and fell into a restless sleep.
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By the time Tony woke up again it was to intense pain. Groaning Tony ordered to get Helen here.

In which F.R.I.D.A.Y replied. “Doctor Cho is not here boss, but a Doctor Strange his, do you want me to send him up?”

Trying to keep his tears at bay from the pain, he thought he stopped breathing when Stephen was mentioned, struggling to speak he said. “I thought…he wasn’t arriving till…tomorrow?”

“That was the plan yes, but Doctor Cho had to leave last minute, and Doctor’s Strange last patient canceled on him so he was able to come here earlier than planed.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said. “Do you want me to send him up?” she added.

Grunting as he tried to sit up some so he could hold his side, he said through clinched teeth. “Yes!”

Even though Tony knew this was going to be awkward as Hell seeing him again after all this time apart but a bigger part of him was excited to see him again as well. He could still recall their last conversation together it was heartfelt just as it was painful, it was the last day they saw each other or heard from each other. It was a month after Tony’s parents died and Tony wasn’t in the right place nor mind. (I remember Stephen coming in, remember his lips on his cheek, a hand in his hair and on his back, he doesn’t remember the words they exchanged, nor did he understand the look Stephen gave him as he walked out.) Tony thought. (I do have a feeling that it wasn’t that night that caused us to stop talking, hundred percent positive that it was we simply just drifted. Between Stephen’s studies and my daily activities…we just got distracted by life.) He also thought.

There was a slight cough causing Tony to break out of his thoughts and than all he could do was stare at the man standing at the end of his bed, and let his eye’s wonder down Stephens body from head to toe.

(Well he hasn’t changed much, although the gray on the sides of his hair is a nice touch.) Tony thought. Than Tony looked back up at Stephen’s face who was giving a raised eyebrow at him, Tony blushed. (Hope I can blame it on the pain, although he probably wouldn’t, Stephen is anything but dumb and probably already figured out.) Tony thought.

So when Stephen asked what was wrong he didn’t even think to lie to him. “The-pain!” Was all Tony could get out.

Stephen nodded his head and with a “I’ll be right back.” he left the room and came back a few minutes later with a glass of water and a pill bottle in both hands, he stopped besides the bed, he set the water down so he could open the pill bottle and took two out, than turned towards Tony. “Open please.”

Tony couldn’t help but think of the irony of Stephen's words as he laughed than groaned. (Okay note to self no laughing while injured!) Tony thought as he opened his mouth for Stephen.

Stephen put two pills in Tony’s mouth, than picked up the glass of water and pressed it up to Tony's lips and Tony let Stephen tip it, after everything was swallowed, Stephen helped Tony lay back down, than sat on the side of the bed next to Tony’s hip. “Are you alright?”

Tony choked back a laugh. “No, I’m no where near okay.”

Stephen went to reach for his hand but he pulled back not sure it would be welcomed or not, instead he asked the burning question he wanted answers to most. “What happened? Doctor Cho wouldn’t answer much.” {Stephen sighed.} “You don’t have to tell if you don’t want to, but you do have to tell me what's going on in that head of yours though.” Stephen said than gently asked.

Tony thought about it for a moment as the drugs kicked in. While he didn’t trust Rhodey his best friend, or Happy his long time driver and body guard he may have known them the longest. And while Stephen...they, they didn’t know each other well but it always felt right and Tony never second guessed anything when it came to Stephen so despite not being in contact since nineteen ninety he didn’t second guess now.

The pain meds were making him a little loopy and no way to control what came out of his mouth so it was no surprise to him what came out next but shocking the Hell out of Stephen. “Of course I’ll tell you! There’s not anything I wouldn’t tell you, I still trust you, and love you! and I'm going to let you in on a little secret…besides you and a kid I been letting come visit me are the only one’s I trust at the moment.” Tony said than whispered at the end.

All Stephen could do was stare at Tony in disbelief, and for a brief moment of awkward silence was set, than Stephen let out a sigh and reached for Tony’s hand. “Sleep, we’ll talk more once your awake.” Was all he said as he saw Tony's eyes start dropping.

Tony slightly nodded his head. “Stay.” He said griping Stephen’s hand tighter as he closed his eye’s and fell asleep, dreamless for once because he had Stephen by his side again.
************************************************************************************************************
The pain was dull, (Thank God!) Tony thought as Tony opened his eye’s he noticed Stephen was gone. (Did I dream him up?) Was Tony’s first thought as he struggled to sit up grinding his teeth through the pain that came through as he did. Tony turned his his head towards his nightstand and noticed his pain meds and a glass of water stood on the table, he went to reach for the water but ended up a bad idea, as the pain got worse and he cried out. “F.R.I call Helen!”

A moment later F.R.I.D.A.Y responded. “Boss Doctor Cho isn’t here remember? She had to leave last minute, and Doctor Strange's patient canceled and was able to show up early.”

Tony paused for a second. (Oh…so I wasn’t dreaming than.) Tony groaned in dismay and embarrassment. “well-than…is he here now?”

“Yes boss, he’s in the living room.” F.R.I.D.A.Y answered.

Tony slightly sighed. “Call him, tell him my throat is dry and I can’t reach the glass of water without hurting myself.”

“Of course.” It was silent for a moment than. “He’s on his way boss.”

Tony breathed out. (Alright, alright it’s going to be okay.) {He kept repeating that in his head.

Stephen came into the bedroom quietly, holding a new fresh glass of water, he smiled gently as he walked up to the bed, Tony watched him as Stephen put the new glass of water next to the pill bottle than moved the old glass out of the way.

"We need to discus how your head is doing, and how we can help you recover your memories, also need to get some brain scans done, as well as head ones for your skull. I also need to see the scans that the hospital made when you were there, now that your up. Than after everything is planned out we're going to discus what you said while high regardless you remember or not ” Stephen said as he stood on the side of the bed.

Tony let out a blush than a deep sigh knowing Stephen was right afraid because he did remember. “Ugh fine…what do you want to know and sit down will you? I don't want to have this conversation while your standing by the bed it's beyond creepy.” Tony said than asked as he struggled to move over a bit.

“I don’t like this anymore than you do.” Stephen said as he sat on the bed by Tony's hip and mentally going through all the question he wanted to ask in his head before he asked any.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6. Their Talk and a Desperate Call

They sat in silence for a while before Tony said anything. “What do you want to talk about first? My love confession or what happened in Siberia?”

Stephen thought about it. “Siberia first, we…can discuss the…confession later, we need to think about your health first.”

Tony nodded his head in agreement. “Yeah, that’s fine…well I…I don’t know where to start.”

Stephen took a deep breath. “Start from the beginning, start with…I don’t know from where you think you need to start from.”

Tony hummed in thought then sighed. “…. After Sokovia or well it started way before then, but they came out after Sokovia-”

Stephen kindly interrupted. “What came out?”

“What? Oh right, The Council for the Avengers created what they call the Accords, it was established by the United Nations and hundred seventeen Countries voted for.” Tony explained.

“What were they for?” Stephen asked.

Tony breathed deeply. “They serve as a legal response to international concerns over unsanctioned actions and their consequences by enhanced individuals and members of said Avengers.” Tony said and looked over at Stephen to see if he was following, he nodded his head and gestured for Tony to continue.

“At first I thought the fight was about the Accords because I signed them and…and I was confused by it all I mean-I never thought Rogers could be so…I don’t know.” Tony began but paused long enough for Stephen to ask.

“So, the fight wasn’t about the Accords?” Stephen asked confused.

Tony sighed. “No…or at least I don’t think it was for Rogers, the others on the other hand I know it was their like children, toddlers, toddlers that didn’t get what they want so they took matters into their own hands. The bunker…the bunker I started, Barnes remembered that Hydra created other Winter soldiers-” {Tony got up and started pacing around.} “I only found out because after Leipzig after they were caught and Romanoff let Rogers and Barnes go. Ross put the others in the Raft, and I went there, and Wilson told me that Hydra created other Soldiers, and that Rogers and Barnes were on their way to Siberia to take them out.” Tony paused and sat back down. {Tony rubbed his hands over his face in frustration}

Stephen wrapped his arms around Tony’s waist once Tony was sitting. “Do you need to stop?” Stephen asked concerned.

But Tony just shook his head no. “No, I…No I need to get this out now because…I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it later.”

Stephen nodded his head and squeezed Tony’s waist tighter.

“I went there as a friend, was able to convince them I was there as a friend and then we moved on, we came to a room…a large room with a table that had a laptop on it and about five Cyro Pod’s…they were already dead by the time we got there.” “Then Zemo’s face showed up on the laptop said he killed them all with a laugh than said “You honestly think I wanted anymore more Soldiers you’re kidding yourselves.” than he showed a video-” Tony stopped there.

“You, okay?” Stephen asked when Tony stopped talking.

Tony breathed in a shaky breath and cleared his throat. “Yeah, fine…I just it’s hard.” Tony’s sentence stopped there again.

Stephen pulled away from Tony and laid down in the bed then pulled Tony down with him gently so that Tony was laying down on Stephen’s chest. “We don’t have to keep going Tony we can stop, pick this up some other time.” Stephen suggested.

But Tony still shook his head, then nuzzled his head against Stephen’s chest. “No, I really do just want to get this out and be done with it.” He said quietly.

Stephen sighed but let it go. “Alright, if, you’re sure.”

“He showed a video of…of The Winter Soldier killed my parents…and I had to see it on video, and he knew Rogers new about it and never bothered to tell me!…all in that moment all I felt was rage but the funny thing is that it was directed at Rogers so I attacked…the rest is a blur. All I felt was pain, sorrow, anger and desperation than I blacked out.”

Stephen couldn’t say a thing, he had no idea what he could say to make Tony feel better at this moment.

“I can’t really blame Barnes for what happened, I read about the Winter Soldier and what I read made me gag, they brainwashed him Stephen, for over seventy years so no I can’t blame Barnes for killing my parents.” Tony added when Stephen kept quiet. “That’s mostly the Siberia fight, probably missed a lot of things.” Tony added. “Please say something.” Tony pleaded as an afterthought.

Stephen blew out a heavy breath. “I…Tony I honestly have no idea what to say…I’m so…sorry about your parents T and its and awful way to find out they were…yeah, and I wouldn’t call what you did attacking.”

Tony lifted his head off Stephen’s chest. “What would you call it then?”

“Tony, you reacted like any person would find out that their parents were actually murdered by a friend of a friend that knew what actually happened, instead fighting you, they should have tried to talk you down and see reason not leave you half fucking dead in a bunker.” Stephen said angrily.

Tony laid his head back down. “I know but…what is done is done, can’t be changed and anyway can we change the subject to I don’t know something happier?” Tony said and asked.

Stephen hummed. “Of course, lets…talk about your little love confession while high on pain meds.”

Tony groaned inwardly. (I done this myself really.) Tony thought to himself.

“Did you mean it? Is it still true?” Stephen asked.

Tony let out a big sigh. “Yes, all of it, honestly I never stopped, your one of those rare beings that leave you breathless when you think of them.”

Stephen snorted slightly. “And do you?” Stephen asked. “Think about me.” Stephen clarified when Tony gave him a questionable look.

“Every day, for years, you?” Tony said and asked.

“All the time.” Stephen answered softly.

They stayed silent for some time. “You know when I heard you were coming, I thought it was going to be awkward.” Tony said.

Stephen let out a snorting laugh. “I did to, but doesn’t feel like that does it?”

Tony hummed. “No, not really, feels normal, like how it used to be back then you know?”

“I do, I feel the same as well.” Stephen said.

“We make quite the pair, don’t we?” Tony asked with a small laugh, then groaned in pain.

“You okay there?” Stephen asked concerned when he heard the groan.

“Yeah, just the laugh made me aware how much injuries I have.” Tony answered.

They stayed silent again after that confession, getting lost in their own thoughts, it was silent so for long Stephen thought Tony fell asleep on his chest and jumped slightly when Tony softly spoke and asked.

“I know it’s not the best time for this, but what did I say back than…back when we saw each other last? I don’t remember much but I remember a look.”

Stephen stayed silent, trying to piece together what Tony was saying before he spoke. “You were…drunk, or high or possibly both, we fought…I went there to see how you were doing I was worried about you, always had and after your parents? But you were so out of it and you were fighting Rhodey at the time cause he was there, I don’t remember what the fight was about but when you saw me, you accused me of going behind your back and that I was at fault to for what happened, I was deeply confused, Rhodey wasn’t helping just standing there but you kept going saying things that made no sense and I…just starting yelling back it went back and forth for a while and then you told me to leave, well the both of us to leave. I didn’t want to argue with you anymore, so I left…I don’t know what Rhodey did.”

Tony lifted himself off of Stephens’ chest and slowly sat up being careful not to jostle his injuries with a confused face. “Rhodey was there?”

Stephen nodded his head.

“I don’t…I don’t remember that, and we were fighting when you got there?” Tony asked.

Again, Stephen nodded his head still quiet.

“He never told me that, actually come to think of it he never said much besides you and me fighting and me telling you to leave.” Tony said angrily. “I remember being upset, confused, hurt, I remember it had nothing to do with my parents that night, I was angry about something else.” Tony said as an afterthought.

“Are you positive Rhodey was there?” Tony asked again.

“Yes, I could hear you shouting through the door when I arrived at your place, for a second I thought you were fighting on the phone or arguing with yourself but when I opened the door you were shouting at Rhodey angrily.” Stephen replied.

Tony let out frustrated sigh. “Of course, he wouldn’t tell me the whole fucking truth-” Tony started but was interrupted by F.R.I.D.A.Y.

“Boss, Peter’s aunt just called 911.”

“WHAT? FRY call Peter!” Tony commanded.”

Tony waited impatiently but the phone kept ringing and ringing and went to Peter’s voicemail. “Shit, call May!” The phone kept ringing and ringing but then the call went through. [“He-llo?”] But it wasn’t Mays voice or even Peters on the other line.

[“Who the fuck is this? And where is May?”] Tony demanded in a panic.

[“Um well…who is this?”] The voice asked sounding confused.

[“I know you can read! Answer the fucking question!”] Tony shouted.

[“well…how do I know this is actually you?”] The voice asked.

Growling Tony told F.R.I.D.A.Y to hang up and call the police station.

It rang once or twice before a female voice came through. [“NYPD my name is Sophie how can I help you?”]

[“Yeah, hi my name is Tony Stark and yes, it’s me! May Parker called you why?”]

It was silent for a moment. [“Um well I can’t really tell you that sir.] Sophie said.

Growling in frustration, Tony let out a sigh. [“Look I get it, I do! But I know her nephew Peter! I’m close to them, please tell me! I’m desperate here! I want to help if there’s something wrong.”] Tony said desperately.

It was silent then there was a sigh. [“We got a call from May Parker cell phone about half an hour ago but there was no one on the line and we sent someone, he reported there was a teen unconscious, lots of blood, and the apartment was ran-sacked so far we can’t tell if there’s anything missing, no signs of the teens guardian.”] Sophie said.

Chapter Text

             Chapter 7. Discovery And Panic

[“What? Shit.”] Tony said. [“Do you guys have any idea where she is?]

[“Not at this moment no, we’re trying to contact her work at the moment and work from there.”] Sophie said.

[“I’ll make is easy for you than, May works at the hospital as an Emergency Nurse.”] Tony said.

[“Oh, alright I’ll make a note of that you said you know her nephew?”] Sophie said then asked.

[“Yes, his name is Peter, Peter Parker, he’s fourteen, He goes to Midtown High, he’s a freshman there.”]

Tony and Stephen heard some typing. [“Okay, do you know any of his friends?”] Sophie asked a moment later.

Tony thought for a moment, going through his memories of the last few months. [“I only know first names; he never told me their last names.”] Tony replied with a small sob and Stephen reached over and grabbed one of Tony’s hands and gave it a squeeze, causing Tony to give a tiny smile back.

[“It’s okay any information would help, and we now have the name of the school he goes to.] Sophie reassured.

Tony let out a shaky breath. [“Peter said his best friend’s name was Ned and a MJ although he did say MJ wasn’t quite a friend but hung around with them.] Tony said.

The line went quiet for a while before Sophie asked something else. [“Has Peter or May mention anyone watching them or they felt threatened in the last weeks or months?]

[“No.”] Tony answered out.

The line went silent again, Sophie said. [“We were able to get a hold of Maybelle Parker at work, she said that she grabbed the wrong cell on her way to work and that’s why the call came up as May, and she’s also asking for you to meet her at the hospital.”]

Some of the tension Tony was feeling sagged in relief slightly. [“Okay, alright, I’ll make my way to the hospital and have the people working on the apartment to send any photos of the crime scene to me and I’ll take a look at them.”]

[“Mr. Stark” I’m sorry but we can’t do that! We ha-”] Sophie started but Tony interrupted.

[“Look I know it goes against regulations, but I have the best tech and May and I would have the best idea if something went missing, please help me out here! I gotta do something I Can’t just sit back and do nothing when I know there’s something I can do.”] Tony said.

Sophie let out a sigh. [“Alright, look I’ll do what I can.”]

[“Great, thank you, keep me posted.”] “FRY hang up, Stephen help, me get ready go to the hospital and please don’t argue with me on this...” Tony said.

Stephen opened and closed his mouth while F.R.I.D.A.Y hung up on Sophie but nodded his head. “Let’s get you dressed first.”

Tony looked down at his body and groaned, he was only in his blue boxers, his cheeks turned a rosy red. “Yes, well good idea gets me cloths.” Tony said.

Stephen sent a glare in Tony’s direction.

“What? I don’t move very fast and can’t stand for very longs.” Tony said.

Stephen rolled his eyes and went to Tony’s closet and picked out a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, along with a pair of socks and his shoe’s. “Sit down, I’ll help you.”

Tony sent a grateful smile Stephens way and generally sat down at the end of his bed. They were silent as Stephen helped Tony dress, both lost in their own thoughts about what just happened, on their way to the hospital the only thoughts running through Tony’s mind were. (Who the fuck attacked Peter? And why?)

They reached the hospital in record time, they rushed in through a side entrance that Stephen uses, Tony saw May near the front desk near the scrubs she was still dressed in her scrubs and had her hair up in a high ponytail and tried to power walk over to her but failed due to his injuries and just shouted out to her. “MAY!”

May whipped around and turned her gaze in Tony’s and Stephen direction and half ran half walked to them and then throw herself in Tony’s arms tears streaming down her face and buried her face in Tony’s neck with a loud sob. Making Tony tear up and hugged her tightly to him asking desperately. “Any news? How’s Peter?”

Face still pressed into Tony’s neck May calmed down enough to respond “I didn’t know something was wrong till Trent told he saw Peter go in Emergency! Doctor Style’s found me and said Peter was going to be okay he was hit in the head with a heavy object and will have a major concussion over the next twenty-four hours.”

Tony exhaled in relief and whatever tension he had in his body disappeared from the news. “That’s good to hear! I’m so glad he’s going to be happy; does he have to stay overnight?”

“No, the doctor said he should be fine once he wakes up.” May said causing Stephen to snort.

May took her face from Tony’s neck and turned towards the sound and stared in disbelief. “Dr. Strange.” May whispered softly.

Stephen smiled down at May gently. “Ms. S Parker.”

Tony made a small sound, and both turned to look at him and now that May was calm and mind clear she realized Tony was in front of her and frowned. “Tony, are you supposed to be out of bed?”

Tony coughed. “No but Peter’s more important.”

May nodded her head and didn’t say anything else about the matter but instead said. “They put him in the recovery room, he should be up in a, hour or two.”

“We can wait in my office.” Stephen offered.

May let out a sigh. “I have to go back to work unfortunately, I half another half hour left can’t miss it, meet you after?” May said and asked not sure if it was intended for her as well.

“Of course, ask for Doctor Palmer down in Emergency, she’ll escort you and I’ll let her know to expect you.” Stephen said.

May gave Stephen a soft gentle smile and gave Tony another hug and left them standing in the hallway.

Clearing his throat Tony smiled at Stephen. “I’ll take that offer, but you’ll have to lead the way of course.”

“Of course.” Stephen said and grabbed Tony’s closest hand and started to lead him through the hospital.

“Have you met May before?” Tony asked after a while once they reached his side of work.

“I met her a few times while visiting patients, but I don’t know her.” Stephen said unlocking his office door and letting them in and closing the door behind them.

Stephen was the first one in and sat down in his office chair and Tony sat across from him.

“I been wondering this since you first mentioned a kid and this Peter. Seems dear to you who is he your kid?” Stephen asked.

“No, he’s not mine but mind as well as be mine, I met him at his apartment actually I was…I was looking for someone suitable for work and I know Peter’s very young but he’s so smart, he’s…he’s the future Stephan.” Tony paused. He didn’t know how to respond he didn’t want to give Peter alter ego up.

Stephen raised a perfect eyebrow up. “Work?”

“Yeah, I been working on something called The September Foundation and I offered to do a summer Internship.” Tony replied.

“A Summer Internship? How did you find someone so young? Weren’t you looking for college students?” Stephen asked with curiosity.

“I was but I accidentally came across Peter and his grades showed a lot of potential, so I decided to give him a shot, I just started it up, printed stuff out to give to his school for credit because I made it, so it was part of schooling.” Tony said.

Stephen tilted his head in thought. “Hmm I feel like you’re not telling something, but I’ll let it go for now. Right now, we should see if you could see if Sophie sent you those photos.” Said than suggested.

Tony sat up straighter because he slouched into his seat and pulled out his phone. “F.R.I.D.A.Y?”

“Yes boss?”

“See if that Sophie woman sent any photos of the crime scene and if so holograph them so we can see.”

“Of course, boss.”

They waited for a bit then. “Indeed, she sent photos.” She said that it pulled, so it was holographic in 3d.

“Thanks Baby girl, can you pull up the footage you recorded when we first stepped into the apartment?”

“Yes boss.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said she pulled the holographic picture she made months ago so that they were side by side.

“Great, let’s start with the living room, great! {Tony said as F.R.I.D.A.Y did as he said}

But Tony soon stopped paying attention as he saw the crime scene photos of the living room. Peter’s unconscious body was laying, near the hallway by his bedroom, in that moment all he could focus on was all the blood spatter on the floor and walls.

Tony swayed a little and then he felt strong arms hold him and lower him onto a chair whispering quietly in his ear trying to calm him than promptly blacked out, the last thing heard was his name being called.

***************************************

The next time Tony became aware May was in the room and her and Stephen were talking quietly to each other, he was too out of it to figure it out and he groaned as he sat up. Causing May’s and Stephen conversation to end and both made their way towards him.

“Tony? Can you hear me?” Stephen asked softly.

Tony didn’t say anything, just groaned again and asked. “What happened?” Instead.

“Um well…you kind of passed out Dr. Strange said.” May said kneeling by his side.

“Oh.” It was all Tony could say and looked up and noticed the holographic images were gone and Stephen must have noticed a face he was making because he said. “I looked at the photos and nothing was missing so whatever the person was looking for didn’t find it, then I had F.R.I.D.A.Y take them down.”

Tony nodded his head then sat up and it was then he noticed he was laying on the floor. “Help me to a chair please?”

Stephen nodded his head and spoke. “Of course.” and moved to help Tony as May moved out of the way.

Once sat in a actual chair Tony asked. “Is Peter up yet?”

Both shook their heads no, but it was May that answered. “No, sorry they let get off early because they heard what happened to Peter.” {Then May turned towards Stephen} “What photos are you talking about?”

Stephen sat still for a moment not sure how to proceed and asked Tony with a look who nodded his head.

Stephen licked his bottom lip, before he answered. {A habit he does when he’s nervous. “Before we came to the hospital Tony was talking to-ah police officer at the station, and he convinced this Sophie person to give details, and he had her transfer photos of the…crime scene. And we were looking at them not long ago to see if there was anything missing and he…had a reaction to it so I looked through them when he was passed out and took it down when you arrived. I’m so sorry!” Stephen answered.

May looked down as if the floor was interesting. “It’s alright, not your fault, any signs on who the attacker is?”

“Sadly, that I do not know.” Stephen said.

“Call the police station and ask for Sophie.” Tony said from his spot in the chair.

May lifted her head up and turned towards Stephen with a hopeful look.

Stephen sighed and sat down in his chair, he reached over to his office phone and dialed 911 then put it on speaker as he heard ringing.

[“NYCPD, my name is Kyle how may I help you?”]

May leaned forward. [“Hi, my name is Maybelle Parker is a Sophie there?”]

There was a pause. [“Ah no, I’m sorry her shift just ended, is there anything I can do?”] Kyle said then asked.

Disappointed that Sophie had left but discarded it. [“You might, my name is Tony Stark and May Parker, and my husband, we were wondering if you guys have any leads on the Peter Parker's case.”]

There was another pause and some typing. [“The crime scene Investigators finished collecting any evidence and have sent what they did find to the crime lab, a couple of police officers talked to the faculty and students at the school, no information on that, an officer noted down that a Ned Leeds said that Peter wasn’t acting strange. That’s it for now, we’ll call when have any updates from the crime lab, sorry I can’t help anymore, good day Bye.”] Kyle informed them that they hung up.

“I’m not sure if that was helpful or not.” May said to break the silence.

Stephen grunted. “I was more focused on that he was an ass.”

“Your both right, but we did find out that there done with the apartment, and they found some evidence if they brought things to the lab, Peter was acting normal which means no body was watching him.” Tony started saying than added. “we’ll know more once Peter is awake.”

May went to say something but there was a knock at the office door, giving each other a looks Stephen called out. “Come in!”

A female blonde poked her head in, she looked around briefly than said. “Dr Strange! I was told to tell you when a Peter Parker was awake, {The woman paused.} he just woke up.”

“Thank you! is that all?” Stephen said then asked.

“Yes sir!” The woman said than closed the door once she took her head out.

Stephen went to say something else but stopped when May asked. “Are you sure you’re okay Tony? You look pale.” Stephen turned his head towards Tony and sure enough Tony was pale, he stood up fast and kneeled in front of Tony.

“Tony?” Stephen asked softly.

Tony just shook his head slightly.

“Dr. Strange what’s wrong with Tony?” May asked worriedly.

Stephen was silent, trying to think of a reason why Tony was suddenly acting weird…and then he figured it out. “Fuck! it’s what’s going on is causing this, it’s putting pressure on his fragile heart, that and he’s still supposed to be on bed rest still.”

“What are we going to do?” May asked.

“I need to get him back home fast.” Stephen said.

“No, I want to see Peter! I need to see him.” Tony quietly said.

Stephen sighed and as did May. “Tony, I know you do but…we need to get you back to bed! Your stressed! an-”

“I know I’m stressed! A kid I think of as a son was attacked! Of course I’m stressed.” Tony loudly said then pressed his hand to his chest. “Stephen, I don’t feel so well.” Then he immediately passed out again, almost falling off his chair if Stephen wasn’t kneeling beside him.

“Shit!” Stephen said as: he catched Tony. “Ms.’s Parker go get help!” Stephen shouted.

Without saying anything May ran out of the room.

After May went to go to get help Stephen gently laid Tony back down on the floor, then put his hand on Tony’s pulse in his wrist to feel it.

May and a nurse ran into the room a minute later, she kneeled next to Stephen.

“What happened?” The nurse asked urgently.

“He passed out! He has heart issues and tons of other injuries; he’s not supposed to be out of bed yet.” Stephen said.

The nurse looked up at Stephen with a sober look. “We need to get him down to the ER! I’ll be right back with a gurney!” And with that the nurse left.

And all Stephen could think at that moment was. (Fuck.)

Chapter Text

Chapter 8. Feeling Helpless.

Stephen started pacing back and forth after the nurse left with Tony on the gurney to the ER, he was thinking. (Okay this is bad! I knew it was a bad idea to bring Tony but…I did anyway and look at what happened.

{Stephen groaned.} Even though you knew he was going to find a way on his own. {He asked himself in his head} And now I’m talking to myself in my head great! Ugh focus, focus…and then there’s Peter! Fuck even I know Peter means a lot to him and I just came back into Tony’s life! {Stephen sighed again. Okay…what happened to Peter needs to get solved but someone needs to stay with Tony. Why don’t you have Ms. Parker sitting with Peter and asking the questions while we wait for Tony? {His inner voice suggested} Right…right good idea.) Stephen stopped his pacing and turned to May who was looking at him with wide eyes.

“Ms. Parker go to your nephew, ask the usual questions you’d ask when someone got attacked, call the police if he’s able to say something, I’ll stay at ER and wait on news on Tony.” Stephen said.

May breathed deeply through her nose, she let out a sigh then nodded her head, and as she made it to the office door she stopped and turned to Stephen and quietly said. “Let me know how Tony’s doing please.”

Stephen nodded his head as he said. “Of course, and Ms. Parker! Keep me posted on your nephew, and come get me if there’s a problem, if you can’t find the ER find Christine or a Dr. West.”

May gave Stephen a small smile as she nodded her head then left the office leaving Stephen standing there.

With a heavy sigh Stephen left the office and went to the ER, as he waited he noticed the nurse May got was there, he approached them. “Hey, excuse me!”

The nurse turned around at Stephen’s voice. “Yes?” She said as a question.

“I just wanted to say thank you for your help, and I wanted to ask where exactly they took Tony.” Stephen said then asked.

The nurse looked at Stephen for a moment then spoke. “Your welcome Dr. Strange they took him through doors C, I can go tell them you’re out here waiting for Mr. Stark.”

“That’ll be great, thanks.” Stephen said.

The nurse nodded her head and left hurriedly down the hall, Stephen watched her as she disappeared through doors C, with a deep sigh Stephen walked down and sat down at the closet chair near doors C.

          *******************************

 The nurse came back a few minutes later and stood in front of Stephen. “It’ll be a couple of hours but so far, it’s going well back there but as a surgeon you know things can go wrong at any moment {A long pause than.} I’m sorry! You didn’t’ need that now um…anyway! I told them you were waiting here in the waiting room, and they’ll let you know they’re done.”

Stephen bit his lip and had a blank look on his face as he answered. “Thanks, appreciate it.”

The nurse gave an awkward smile and left very quickly leaving Stephen sitting in his seat feeling like the world was at its wits end.

Stephen leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes trying to hold back the tears he was holding back. (What the Hell is happening?) was the thought that kept returning since Dr. Cho called him a couple of days ago.

“Stephen? What are you doing here?” A voice asked out of the blue.

Stephen jumped slightly at the voice and sat up straighter as he opened his eyes and turned his head to looked at the voice and recognized her right away, he’d recognized that face and hair anywhere.

“Hey Christine.” Stephen said quietly.

“What are you doing over here?” Christine asked again. “Thought you’d be with that woman I escorted to your office earlier…and why is that by the way?” She added.

“Hmm? oh she apparently works here as a nurse, but her nephew got admitted here a couple of hours ago…they’re close to Tony. And Tony came with despite needing to stay in bed he tagged a long, and he got stressed which put him right back here in the hospital he’s currently behind those doors.” Stephen answered.

Christine put her hands up to her face and sat down next to Stephen. “My God! That’s terrible. How’s the kid?”

“I don’t know a nurse stopped by and told us the kid was awake but then Tony turned pale and collapsed again.” Stephen said.

“Again?” Christine asked casually.

“Yeah, he passed out a few minutes earlier.” Stephen answered.

Christine opened her mouth to ask how he was doing but a voice called her out over the intercom. “Dr. Palmer your needed in Emergency, Dr. Palmer your needed in Emergency.”

“Shit!” Christine mumbled than put a hand on Stephen’s shoulder “Hang in there Steph.” She said as she stood up and hurried down the hall.

Stephen groaned, he looked around him, Doctors, nurses, Patients, family members, friends walked all around him. Doctors and nurses rushed in a hurry to get to their destination, friends and families walking slowly, not in any hurry to see their sick or injured loved ones. Stephen turned his eyes to the waiting area, friends and family sitting all around him in silence, small kids playing by the small play area, teenagers on their phones, parents/sister/aunts/uncles/grandparents either had their heads in their hands or wiping tears from their eyes.

Stephen turned his head forward again, watching as the nurses at the desk in front of him do their jobs. With a groan and a heavy sigh Stephen leaned back into his seat so his head was resting on the back then once again closed his eyes hoping to shut out everything around him for a few minutes of peace.

                 ************************

He must of fell asleep because he flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulders, he almost went into a panic mode before he realized it Was Peters aunt standing in front of him.

“Sorry.” She said when she saw the flinch.

Stephen just shook his head. “It’s alright, I guess I fell asleep without realizing, sit down, how is everything with your nephew?” Stephen said then asked.

May sat down next to him without a sound and for a moment she was silent. “He was awake and aware so that’s good, no sign of a concussion, I asked him about his attacker he said it was male, and he never seen the guy’s face. He was dressed in black and had a lot of weapons on him is how Peter described it, any word on Tony yet?”

“I’m glad he’s okay and didn’t get any major injuries, {Stephen let out a sigh.} but I’m concerned about the attacker, especially if the he had a lot of weapons on his person and a little the nurse that helped us went and checked she said he was doing fine for the moment and it’ll be a couple of hours but I don’t exactly know how long ago that was.” Stephen said. (Better not mention what else she said.) Stephen thought to himself.

May frowned at the information but didn’t say anything else about it just sat back in her seat and rested her head back, then sat in silence for a long time till May filled it.

“Have we met before?” May asked curiously without moving her head.

Stephen tilted his head to the side, going through his memories. “No, we don’t believe we ever did. My names Stephen Strange.”

“Maybelle Parker, but my friends call me May, nice to meet you.”

“Like wise.” Stephen said. “Did you call the police station again?” He added.

May let out a sigh. (God! I feel like that’s all I have been doing lately.) May thought to herself. “Yes, but they didn’t give me much, the labs weren’t done yet.”

“Did they say how long it would take?” Stephen asked.

“I asked but they gave me a vague answer.” May said.

“Ugh.” Stephen said unintelligibly.

“Right, I feel the same way, Peter’s been worried about him.” May said. “I don’t him well or around him as often as Peter, but I do consider him a friend I been worried as well.”

“We all have.” Stephen said quietly.

“So, I’ve been wondering, you seem to know Tony quite well, how long have you known him?” May asked.

Stephen hummed. “We met years ago, were more than friends years ago but…we lost touch I’m afraid I don’t know him that well anymore it’s been years since I last saw him.”

“It must have been weird seeing him again than” May stated than asked.

Stephen laughed lightly. “I thought so to, Tony even said he thought it would be awkward, but you know what? {May shook her head} it wasn’t, felt normal to be talking to him and cuddling each other. We were talking and it got a little bit emotional.” Stephen added when May gave him a questionable look.

May nodded his head in understanding. “It must have been Hell of a talk.”

Stephen laughed. “You have no idea” {Stephen paused.} “How come your not going back up to Peters room?”

“Peter fell asleep, and I told him I’ll wait here for Tony.” May said.

Stephen went to say something but the double doors to C opened, and a surgeon came out and took his mask off revealing Dr. West and Stephen inwardly groaned at the sight of him.

Dr. West looked around as he asked. “Anyone here for Mr. Sta-” He stopped talking once he spotted Stephen. “Dr. Strange what are you doing here?”

Stephen stood up. “Here for Mr. Stark, and her.” {Stephen added pointing to May.

Dr. West open and closed mouth clearly in shock. “Well…I…um…I…can’t say that information you’re not his emergency contact.” Dr. West stammered out.

Stephen gave a smirk to Dr. West. “You’ll come to find out that as his Doctor I have that right sense I have access to his records and all.” “Besides I’m pretty sure he never took me off his emergency list when I dated him back in the nineties.” He added.

Dr. West laughed a nervous laugh then cleared this throat. “Well, um…right well who’s the woman than?”

“Maybelle Parker, his nurse.” Stephen said without hesitation. “I mean she’s a nurse here in Emergency after all.” He added another smile gracing his face.

Dr. West let out another nervous laugh. “Right, well whatever…The procedure went well and is recovering well, we’re going to him in ICU his heart is in danger.”

Stephen’s face lost his smirk and a frown replaced it. “A procedure? Why?”

“Yes, we had to investigate his heart, his record showed his previous surgeries and procedure’s his last one proves a sharp object that’s moving closer to his heart, so we had to go in and check it, and it is moving closer. Unfortunately, it’s moving closer, and something had to be done about it.” Dr. West said with a somber tone.

“But he’s, okay right? He’s going to be, okay?” May asked deeply concerned.

“Yes, as of now.” Dr. West replied.

Stephen and May both exhaled in relief.

Stephen turned to look at May “I have to make a call, go sit with Peter.” {Then he turned to Dr. West} “He wakes up in what a half hour in recovery? {Stephen waited for Dr. West to nod before continuing} “Okay who’s the nurse stationed to him?” Stephen asked Dr. West.

“An Isabella Grey.” Dr. West replied.

“Rhodey’s girlfriend?” May mumbled underneath her breath.

“Alright, tell her to expect for two Doctors tomorrow morning, that and tell her to tell Tony that Peter is okay and has gone home, even if that isn’t true tell him that.” Stephen said.

Dr. West nodded his head and went to leave but stopped as he heard Stephen’s voice. “Thank you, Nick.” {Nicked gave Stephen a look of disbelief but gave him a small smile and went back through the doors.

Stephen and May looked at each other.

“Will you let me know what Dr. Cho says? “May asked hopefully.

Stephen nodded his head. “Of course.”

“Thanks.” May nodded her head and made her leave, making her way towards Peter.

Now standing alone in the hallway Stephen sighed as he watched May leave, her shoulders were tight, back slouched as she walked. (Not that I blame her, she’s going through a lot right now.) Stephen thought to himself, then made his own exit by the same door he came through. And somehow making it home without crashing where he promptly collapsing on the first surface, he found which happened to be one of his kitchen chairs and taking out his phone and dialed a number. “Hey, your needed back here, it’s urgent.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 9. Phone Calls.

Three days later Tony was still in the ICU Stephen and Helen went back and forth discussing the Arc Reactor and how to install it without him dying on the table.

Stephen was currently sitting at his kitchen table in his penthouse in Manhattan talking to Helen on the phone.

“We…could use Extremis.” Helen said hesitantly.

Stephen raised an eyebrow even though Helen couldn’t see it. “Why are you saying that so hesitantly? And what is Extremis?”

Helen let out a sigh. “Extremis is an Experimental Regenerative Treatment.” {Before Stephen could ask what that meant Helen spoke again} “It allows cripples to fully recover.”

Stephen sat up straighter in his chair. “What? So, will it heal him? Fully?”

Helen hesitated again and said very slowly and carefully. “Yes, it’ll heal him but…it’s unstable and there’s a…well a flaw.”

Stephen put a free hand in his hair and groaned. “How unstable and what kind of flaw?”

Helen was silent for a minute or two. “There’s a chance that Tony’s body could reject the treatment.” Helen stopped there.

Stephen rolled his eyes impatiently. “Care to elaborate? What’s the flaw?”

Helen took a deep breath. “The flaw is that if his body rejects, he’ll explode.”

Stephen’s eyes widened in shock and shook his head repeatedly. [“Nope, definitely a hardcore no.”] [“It’s a risk we shouldn’t try.”] Stephen said somberly as he took his phone off his ear and put it on the table than put it on speaker, then got up from his seat and walked to his liquor cabinet and took out a bottle of red wine and a glass than went back to his seat.

Helen cleared her throat. [“Do we have any other choice…I mean.”] {Helen sighed.} [“Do we even know if the Arc Reactor will save his life?”]

[“The chips that broke off of his Iron-Man suit, which reached his heart just like the shards did all those years ago the Arc Reactor saved him than and it will now.”] Stephen said pouring himself a drink.

[“I know that’s true logically, but I can’t help but think the worst you know? We all do.”] Helen said.

[“He still won’t let them see him?”] Stephen asked as took a drink.

[“No.”] Helen said.

[“At the moment it might be a good thing.”] Stephen said finishing his drink.

[“Anyway…enough about that for the moment, what are we going to do?”] Helen asked urgently.

Stephen poured himself another drink and drank it in one go before he answered. [“we’re going to have to cut him open and hurry the procedure, do you have the instructions on how to install the damn thing?”]

[“Yes, I’ve been looking at it and studying it, you?”] Helen answered then asked.

[“Yes, I’ve been looking at it over and over again memorizing it, it should go off without a hitch.”] Stephen said pushing the wine bottle away from him.

[“Good, good…look I got to go talk to you later, bye.”] Helen said before she hung up.

Stephen continued to sit at the table staring straight ahead for a while before getting up and went into his bathroom his phone in hand, after running water for a bath he lit a couple of vanilla candles as he waited for the tub to fill.

He had just gotten undressed when his phone rang, {He answered on the third ring without looking at it.}

[“Hello?”] Stephen said, getting into the water.

[“Hi, are you busy?”] The voice on the other line asked.

[“Just got in the tub.”] Stephen said.

[“Okay cool, um well…this is awkward-”] The voice trailed off.

[“Right well, what do you want? Dr. Burner.”] Stephen asked impatiently.

[“Did you speak with Dr. Cho at all?”] Dr. Burner. Asked.

[“I did yes, just got off the phone with her, why?”] Stephen responded.

[“Well, she called the surgeon section of the hospital with me and Dr. Patel, Dr. Cho thinks we should bring in a couple of surgeons from Emergency, what do you think?”] Dr. Burner said then asked for Stephen’s opinion.

Stephen leaned back in the tub. [“It’s probably a good idea, bring in Dr. Palmer and Dr. West, and discus it with them, did Helen say when she wanted to do said procedure.”]

[“Alright, I’ll do that, and she wants to wait till Tony’s out of the ICU, did Dr. Cho say anything about him getting out.”] Dr. Burner said.

[“Soon.”] was all Stephen said.

Dr. Burner cleared his throat. [“Well, that’s all I wanted to say.”]

[“Thanks for calling.”] Stephen said then he let his head hit the tub.

                    **********************

Stephen stayed in the tub till the water got too cold before he getting out, he sighed as he unplugged it and got out, grabbing a folded towel on the towel rack, he wrapped it around his waist making sure he grabbed his phone he left the bathroom.

His phone rang in his hand as he was walking to his room, groaning, he looked down at the thing, giving it a small glare. (I swear calls after calls, is all I’ve been getting all day.) Turning the phone over in his hand he noticed it was the hospital again.

He grunted out a hello, when he answered.

[“Hey.”] a small voice said.

Stephen softened up once he realized who called him.

[“Hey, what are you doing up? Is everything okay?”] Stephen asked concerned.

[“Yeah, I just…wanted to…just wanted to hear your voice.”] The voice said.

Stephen smiled as he unwrapped the towel and put on clean clothes.

[“It’s good to hear yours as well Tony.”] Stephen said. [“Are you sure you’re okay?”] He added as and after thought.

Tony sighed. [“I just want to get out of here, I mean the pain is manageable, I’m no longer pale why am I being kept here?”]

[“The pieces of your Iron-Man suit got closer to your heart, much closer, they’re probably keeping you in there till we get the Arc Reactor in.”] Stephen said.

It went silent on the other line for a minute or two. [“Well when am I getting the Arc Reactor? I don’t want to be here anymore.”] Tony whined out.

Stephen sighed. [“Soon I promise, shouldn’t be too long now, Dr. Cho and a co-worker of mine has been discussing with other doctors for the procedure, we just need to schedule it and we’re waiting for the go ahead from your doctor.”]

Tony took a deep breath then sighed. [“I hate waiting, anyway! Can we move on to a different topic?”]

Stephen lays down on his queen-sized bed. [“Of course, is there something specific?]

[“Not really, tell me about your day.”] Tony said.

[“Ah let’s see, I’ve been on my phone all day basically, talked to Dr. Cho, we went over some stuff, Dr. Burner called me a few minutes ago, Christine called me wanting to know how I’m doing. I think May and even Rhodey called me at some point, I also just got out of the bathtub, busy I guess.”]

Tony took in Stephen words and didn’t know what to address first. (No medical stuff, no stress this is your last chance! Don’t blow it because there is no third chance.) [“Was Mays call stress free?”]

[“Kind of, Peter’s back in school he’s worried about you, and there is good news…depending on how you take it, a detective called earlier today the results finally came through. Good news is that they found some skin cells underneath Peter’s nails, the bad news is they can’t find the assaulter’s DNA in the system.”] Stephen said.

Tony was silently processing Stephen’s words. [“Okay what does that mean? What are they going to do now? Did they find any other evidence at the apartment?”]

[“They found his footprints; they know his shoe size and what exactly the guy was wearing. Peter was also able to remember more details about the guy, said he was tall and muscled, Peter said he wasn’t quite sure of the man’s eyes, but he thought they were green. They’re also analyzing all the evidence.”] Stephen said.

Tony sighed. [“So, the only bad news is he’s not in the system?”]

Even though Tony couldn’t see him Stephen nodded his head. [“So far yes.”]

[“That’s good I think.”] Tony said hesitantly.

[“It’s one step closer.”] Stephen said.

Tony sighed again. [“Yeah, I guess.”]

In a gentler tone Stephen said. [“Hey everything will turn out okay, they’ll catch him, and I also know your worried about the Arc Reactor and your health, all at the same time but it’ll all be fine in time I promise.”] Stephen reassured.

[“I know, I know but I can’t help but worry! -anyway can we move on to something else? I don’t want to have a panic attack anymore.”] Tony whispered out.

[“Yeah of course we can, anything you want.”] Stephen said softly.

[“So, I was thinking, after I get better that we…that we could go on a date, we don’t have to I just thought, hoping actually that maybe you still felt the same.”].” Tony said rambling a nervous habit he picked up when he was young.

Stephen chuckled lightly at Tony’s ramblings, Tony couldn’t see it, but Stephen was smiling fondly. [“That sounds lovely, I’ll hold you to that yeah?”] Stephen said interrupting Tony's ramblings that he always found adorable.

The line was silent for a few minutes. [“Great! I can’t wait, you pick, and I’ll pay.”]

Stephen smirked into his phone. [“How about I pick, and we split?”]

[“I…well.”] {Tony sighed.} [“Is there any point arguing about this?”]

Stephen laughed. [“No, Tones there is not.”]

[“Ugh! fine! You pick we pay together, hold on a second.”] Tony said.

The line went silent, but Stephen could faintly hear other voices talking.

When Tony came back, he sounded annoyed. [“I have to go: the nurse is here, and she wants to check me out and is also here with dinner, but before we hang up can you do me a favor?”]

Stephen could understand Tony being annoyed, this is the second phone call he’d been allowed to make, which hasn’t lasted very long, but at the same time as a doctor himself he gets it, which annoys him to no end because he wants to hear Tony’s voice. [“Alright, what do you need help with?]

Tony grunted. [“Can you grab my mail and go through it for me?”]

[“Yeah of course, your mail is at the Compound, right?”] Stephen said then asked.

[“Yes, thank you!”] Tony said in appreciation and affection.

[“Okay I’ll get to the Compound at some point tomorrow before work.”] Stephen said. [“And you don’t need me to thank me, I’m happy to help.”] He added.

[“I know but I want to thank you anyway, you’ve… you been doing a lot for me even in the past you did a lot…I just I don’t know but come see me? Can you see if you can bring Pete? I know everyone thinks It’ll be a bad idea, but I need to see him myself you know?”] Tony stated then asked hopefully.

Stephen sighed. [“Yes, I’ll come see you tomorrow and I’ll see what I can do with Peter.”]

Tony thanked Stephen one last time before hanging up.

Stephen dropped his cell on his bed with a groan, then rubbed his face with a hand, then groaned again when his stomach let out a groan, he picked his phone back up and sighed at the time. (Is it really that late?) He asked himself. (No wonder I’m hungry.) as, it was after eight at night.

(Late night dinner then.) Stephen said to himself as he got up from his bed and went to his kitchen to look at the takeout order menus.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10. The Unbelievable Letter.

Just like he said he would Stephen drove to the Compound to get Tony’s mail.

He was going through the mail at the box and came across an envelope with Tony’s name on it and no return address, Stephen furrowed his brow. (God, I hope this isn’t from who I think it is!) Stephen panicked slightly. Grabbing the rest of the mail he hurried back to his car, he just buckled his seat belt and started the car when his cell rang, putting the mail out of his mind he connected the cell to car via Bluetooth as he answered.

[“Hello?”]

No one answered.

[“Hello?”] Stephen asked again but still not getting an answer, grumbling, Stephen hung up. (I don’t have the time for this!) He thought to himself as he put his car in drive and drove away.

                *******************

Fifteen minutes later Stephen pulled into the hospital and with a sigh he pulled into a parking spot, grabbed the mail and whatever he needed he went straight to his office, once there he went through the doors, he then set the things he had in his hands on his desk and changed quickly, he just tied the strings on his scrub pants when a knock sounded.

“Yes!” He called out as he put his work shoes on.

“Oh, good your here, I have your schedule for this week if you want it.” The voice on the other side of the door said.

Stephen leaned up right once his shoes were on and walked up to the door and opened it and gave the person a fake smile in thanks.

“Thanks Amber I’ll take that off your hands.” Stephen said as he held a handout.

Amber beamed up at Stephen then eagerly handed him the sheet of paper, then took off to who knew where.

Stephen stood there just blinking until a voice broke him out of his trance.

“Dr. Strange you alright?”

Stephen looked at the person and realized it was his boss, shaking his head to clear it. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure? You look like you’re out of it, are you sure your up to going back to work?”

Stephen stood up straighter. “Yeah, I’m good promise.”

His boss didn’t say anything for a second but nodded his head. “Good your first surgery starts in five minutes it’ll be a seven hour one.” He said then walked away.

Stephen watched his boss walk away then looked down at his schedule for today and groaned. (a late night again great! Well, at least I get a thirty-minute break after this surgery good means I’ll be done at least by noon if everything goes according to plan. Then a three hour surgery with a ten minute break and ending my day with a five hour surgery, {Stephen groaned.} sorry Tony I may not able to bring Peter in to see you.) Stephen thought in misery.

Stephen hurried back to his office and put his schedule down on his desk then hurried off to the operation room. On his way he spotted Isabella bringing a patient down the other end of the hall, he nodded to her when she noticed him, she gave him a smile then both continued their way.

                   *****************

 Reaching where he was supposed to be, he searched around the room, making sure everything was in place then as he let the others in the room get him ready for their first patience, with one last thought. (This is going to be a long day!) then got to work as the patient got wheeled in.

                    *******************

Tony’s POV.

Tony exhaled loudly in his room; he was bored as Hell. (It’s been four days!) he was going stir crazy, he slowly sat up in the bed and pushed a button to raise it a little higher so that the bed was supporting his back. Then grabbed the book they gave him and the Iron-Man plushie Stephen brought over for him for comfort, he squeezed Tiny Iron before putting him in his lap and tried to distract himself with the book.

The book the nurses gave him was a long one, it was a hardcover and had over four hundred pages in it. The book was called The Safe, it was a bout a twelve-year-old boy getting kidnapped in school and being lost at sea in the ocean with his kidnapper, no hope, no help, no escape just fear, doing what he was told so he wouldn’t get hurt.

Tony wasn’t that far into it just a couple of pages in and Tony was feeling like he somehow can relate (Well maybe not being lost at sea with a kidnapper.) Tony thought to himself. Why they gave him a book about kidnapping a kid? He didn’t know but so far, he was liking it.

He was about three chapters in when his door opened, he looked up from his book, it was nurse Ana with a trey of food.

“Good afternoon Mr. Stark, got your lunch.” Ana said putting the trey down on his table and bringing it closer for Tony to reach.

Tony put the book away, took Tiny Iron and put them both on the nightstand. “It’s lunch time already?” Tony asked a little confused.

Ana gave a chuckle. “Yes, Mr. Stark it’s lunch time, let’s see what you picked for today yes?” Ana said as she lifted the lid.

Tony wrinkled his nose in distaste, not looking forward to eating more hospital food but sighed as he picked up the spoon as the meal was revealed to him.

“Looks like potato soup! And a dinner roll with a strawberry cheesecake for dessert.” Ana said fixing it, so it was in front of Tony and easily reachable.

Poking at his meal slightly he looked up at Ana and said thanks, instead of saying anything she nodded her head as she left his room.

                     **********************

Tony had just finished his dessert when his door opened once again, thinking it was just the nurse he said. “Just in time I just finished.”

When he didn’t get an answer back, he looked up from his tray and jumped slightly when he realized it wasn’t the nurse but Stephen. He looked down at Stephen’s body. (He must of came on his lunch break.) Tony thought looking at Stephen’s bloody scrubs, he also noticed his eye’s when he got to them. He looked exhausted, his eyes were a little puffy and looked like he had two black eyes.

“Stephen hey, are you alright? You look like you need some sleep.” Tony said than asked in concern.

Stephen walked; More liked dragging his feet.} to the chair beside Tony’s bed than grunted as he answered. “I should be asking you that, but I don’t have the energy, but I’m tired as Hell.”

Tony frowned at him. “Have you not been sleeping well?”

Stephen snorted. “Try not sleeping at all, too much on my mi-” {Stephen stopped mid-sentence.} “It’s just work and worrying plus I had two glasses of red wine last night plus I just got done with a seven-hour surgery…actually almost eight for few minutes I thought we were going to lose said patient.” Stephen said.

“You didn’t though.” Tony pointed it out.

Stephen rubbed his face with a hand. “No, we didn’t but the thought of- when you lose someone you question rather you have what it takes to be a doctor. When you study and know that sometimes you will lose a patient but- losing someone on the table in person is completely different.” Stephen said somberly.

Tony moved over in his bed and reached over and grabbed Stephen’s closest hand without speaking because his gut feelings told him to drop the conversation.

Stephen gave Tony a small, tired smile and Tony’s hand tightly but loose enough so it wouldn’t hurt him.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, just holding hands without speaking, the only sounds in the room were the machines and their light breathing.

The moment was broken a few moments later by the door opening and the nurse coming in, she stopped in her tracks once she noticed Stephen and his attire. (Oh, he works here.) Ana cleared her throat. “Hi! Sorry to interrupt but I just need to grab this.” Ana said as she grabbed Tony’s lunch tray then left the door behind her.

Stephen tilted his head to the side in thought than asked. “Is she new? I haven’t seen her before; I mean I know this is a big hospital and all, but I have seen everyone once.

“Hmm I don’t know, her names Ana she brings the food and takes it back in the mornings and afternoons.” Tony replied.

“Huh.” That was all Stephen said.

Tony turned his head to look at Stephen. “How long is your break?”

Stephen lifted his arm up and pushed his sleeve back and looked down at his watch. “I gotta leave here in twenty.” Stephen groaning.

“When do you get off?” Tony asked curiously.

“In eight more hours if everything goes right.” Stephen replied, still holding Tony’s hand in his.

Tony sighed. {More like pouted not like he would admit that though} “So I won’t be seeing you anymore today?”

Stephen’s shoulders slumped in his seat when he heard Tony’s words. “I’m sorry Tone’s I will try and get Peter here, hopefully this weekend? Since I don’t work weekends should work. I must call May and see if he can.”

Tony went to open his mouth to speak but Stephen kept on talking.

“Or maybe not? It is Tuesday and there is a chance Helen will deem you fit enough to have this procedure done so maybe? Sometime after school?” Stephen rambled on.

Tony smiled at Stephen fondly. (Did Stephen somehow get my nervous habit?) Tony asked himself to watch Stephen talk.

Squeezing Stephen’s hand tighter he said. “Don’t worry about it! I would love to see Peter, but he’s been through so much lately, let’s leave Peter and May alone till Helen deems me well enough yeah?”

Stephen stared at Tony. “Are you sure?” Stephen asked once he realized Tony spoke.

Tony gave Stephen a tight smile. “No, not really but I stand by what I said, probably for the best.”

Stephen frowned and went to say something, but Stephen’s pager went off. [Stephen, we need you! Operation room Two Hurry! It’s a kid!]

Cursing Stephen got up and leaned over Tony and gave him a quick kiss and ran out of the room like a tiger on the prowl.

(Stupid pager!) Tony thought.

With a heavy sigh Tony picked up Tiny Iron and the book again then began reading where he left off hoping it’d distract him from getting lost in his thoughts.

He kept reading for a while, with nothing else to do and on one else to talk to, it was easy getting lost in a book, which was why when Tony felt a hand on his shoulder a while later, he shrieked back in fear.

“Sorry Mr. Stark! I didn’t mean to startle you! I just came to drop off dinner.” A male voice called out through Tony’s fear.

Tony straightened up in his bed as best as he could in a hospital bed then put his companion and book back on the nightstand.

The nurse lifted the lid off his meal and the smell of chicken with mashed potatoes with gravy filled his nose and made his mouth water. (Huh didn’t notice I was that hungry.) Tony thought as he picked up his fork.

“There you go! Nice hot meal, smells food at least, I’ll come by later and pick the trey back up.” The nurse said, giving Tony a small nod and leaving this time leaving the door open.

Tony quickly ate his food and dessert then pushed the table away from him then turned to the nightstand to grab his Tiny Iron and booked again only for him to notice that the mail Tony told Stephen to get were on it as well and reached for them instead.

As he was flipping through the mail, he saw an envelope with a post it notes on it written in Stephen’s neat handwriting.

Just wanted to warn you that, I mean I know you’ll notice but I just wanted to tell you there’s no return address to this letter and I have a feeling it’s from one of the Rogues.

Tony frowned down at the note. (Ugh of course it would be.) Tony grumbled thinking to himself as he flipped it over and opened and groaned once he recognized the handwriting. (Well Stephen, you aren’t wrong.) {Then} (Of fucking course It’ll be him who else?) Tony thought after he opened the letter up.

Tony took a deep breath trying to brace himself on what he was about to read and ask himself. (Why am I doing this?) as he looked down at Rogers’ messy handwriting.

Taking another deep breath he began reading.

Tony-

I don’t know why I’m writing this letter to you! To be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the events that went on, basically it was your fault anyway. Bucky won’t look at me! Then he decided to go back into Cyro, Clint can’t go home, Wanda is always crying, Sam and Scott are barely talking! Natasha seems scared. Putting Clint, Wanda, Sam and Scott in the raft! You need to bring us home and apologize for what you did, maybe then they’ll forgive you for what you did but I don’t think we’ll be able to trust you for a while, but we will eventually. I mean we are family and family forgives each other although your betrayal cuts all deeply we will get through this together but you need to take the first step because you’re at fault here, you did the wrong and now you have to fix it, of course it’ll take time but I have faith that we’ll be happy together as a family again. But enough of that, I need to speak this too, so I guess it was a good thing I decided to write this. I know I lied to you about your parents but Bucky means more to me than you ever will but still I am sorry I suppose, you had a right to know but I know you and i knew you would be difficult about this and seeing your reaction in Siberia I knew then that I was right about not telling you.

You may think this is a betrayal, but you Tony have done a lot worse over the years. You made a lot of mistakes in your life, and you continue to do so, I also want you to know that your behavior lately is concerning and I’m hoping you will listen to me this time when I tell you to do something for once in your miserable life. Am I being rude about this? Yes, do you deserve this? Yes, do we hate you? Sometimes, sometimes we feel sad and blue since you came into our lives but that’s not your fault your broken and we don’t know how to fix you that makes us even more sad, we know you feel worthless, useless and maybe in a way you are but that’s okay we know your not- I have been doing some thinking lately, things change and over time we have as well I sometimes feel that you take us for granted, especially what you pulled with Ultron! And the accords, making those were selfish Tony! … but I guess that’s what you are and will always be and with all the stuff you pulled, we still love you in a way, just bring us home and apologize to us we at least deserve that.

Steve-

Chapter Text

        Chapter 11. The Late-Night Call.

Tony couldn’t help but snort once he finished reading the letter, his mind was stuck on one thought. (Delusional) with that thought Tony looked at the clock on the wall. (Wow that took a long time to read.) Then. (I wonder if Stephen is still up.)

Tony reached over his nightstand and picked up the earpiece and brought it to his ear and dialed Stephen’s number since they wouldn’t let him have his cell phone.

It kept ringing, ringing and ringing before. [“Hello?”]

[“Hey.] Tony said softly, playing with the cord at the end of the phone.

[“Tony?]

[“Yeah, it’s me.] Tony said still soft.

[“…Are you alright?”] Stephen asked concerned.

[“Oh, ah yeah, fine…listen you were right about the letter.”] Tony stopped there couldn’t get anything else out now, the words got stuck in his throat.

[“I’m guessing it’s a no brainer when I say it’s from Rogers.”] Stephen said concerned.

[“You are correct, and you should see this letter, Stephen! He’s either dumb or delusional or perhaps both, and oh you can defiantly tell his true colors in here.”] Tony said casually like it was a normal thing to discover. [“Actually, hold on, I’ll send you a picture of it.”] Tony added, then rearranged the letter in his lap and took a picture of it then sent it to Stephen.

The line went silent for a few moments than- [“Got it, give me a few to read it.”] Stephen said as he came back.

[“Of course.”] That was all Tony said as he sat back more into his bed to get comfier as he waited.

********************

It took ten minutes for Stephen to read the letter because of the small screen but the line was silent the whole time, and after twenty minutes of no response at all Tony was getting a little worried.

Tony looked at his phone to see if they were on the line still. {Which they were} Putting the phone back to his ear he called out with a little bit of hesitance. [“Stephen you still there?”]

[“…Yeah, I’m still here…sorry I’m just…is he for real? I mean I don’t even know how to address this! Let alone what to say!”] Stephen said warily.

Tony sighed. [“I know I felt like that as well, I do know one thing for sure though it’s that he’s delusional.”]

Stephen snorted. [“Clearly, not only does this letter not make sense, but it also shows how he feels inside and whatever he’s feels…well isn’t good.”]

[“I know did you read the part where he said we’re family and family forgives each other?”] {Tony huffed.} [“Yeah right! They never trusted me, and I never trusted them, we weren’t family, we weren’t even friends. Let alone a team, I wasn’t even supposed to be on the team, Romanoff made a profile biased on what I let her see, because I knew she wasn’t who she said she was. And a part of me knew Rogers would try to blame everything on me by what he said to me on the Helicarrier.”] Tony said, frustrated.

[“What did he say?’] Stephen asked.

[“He basically told me to stop pretending to be a hero. Like he has room to talk! He’s only a hero because of the serum and wanted to fight in a war that he had no business being in wanting to fight like he always did. I wanted to be a hero because I got kidnapped and learned what my god father did and wanted to make it right!”] Tony ranted in one breath. Stephen was silent for a few minutes. [“I don’t know what to say here, besides that you have a lot of anger pent up and need and to vent”.]

Tony frowned into, the phone than let out a sigh. [“Yeah, you’re probably right, I do have a lot of things I need to get off my chest and unfortunately it isn’t all Rogers.”]

Tony let out an emotionless laugh. [“What isn’t? My company is in ruins because I’m not there, Pepper is still somehow pestering me, my kid was attacked in his own home. My hopeful boyfriend is stressed, and I can’t get any bad information without going into a panic attack, and now I must deal with Rogers?”] Tony’s shoulders slummed further into his bed.

Tony could tell that Stephen’s voice took a sad tone when he spoke next. [“I wish I could take all your problems away”.]

Tony smiled fondly. [“I know you do but I wouldn’t want you to, I wouldn’t want my issues to ruin you, you’re perfect the way you are”.]

Tony couldn’t see it, but Stephen was blushing slightly. [“What my massive ego and my ability to be a prick?”]

Tony laughed. [“If you haven’t noticed, I have a massive ego and I also have the ability to be a prick as well.”]

Stephen laughed as well. [“What a pair we make huh”?]

[“Yeah, what a pair.”] Tony said fondly. [“But anyway, what am I supposed to do with this stupid letter? I don’t know what bugs me more the letter he sent me or that they blame me for everything.”] Tony added in frustration.

The line was silent for a while before Stephen let out a big sigh. [“What you want to do with the letter, that’s your choice to make Tones, and by the sounds of it…and this is my Doctor side showing its sounds like the letter bothers you most because by your tone you used when you said they blamed everything on you that it wasn’t the first time it was said.”] Stephen said then said with steel in his voice.

Ignoring Stephen’s first words Tony gulped in his throat because he couldn’t deny what Stephen had said because it was a true statement, he could count with both hands how often they blamed him for stuff that he couldn’t avoid or wasn’t involved with. Tony sighed inwardly and looked at the only clock in the hospital room, it was getting late, changing the subject completely Tony asked Stephen. [“What time do you have to be at the Hospital tomorrow morning?”]

Tony’s question stumped Stephen into silence once more and when he did speak, he was a little bit unsure where this was going and even though Tony couldn’t see it Stephen narrowed his eyes as he asked. [“What?”]

[“What time do you have to be at the Hospital tomorrow”?] Tony asked again.

Tony couldn’t see it, but Stephen opened it then closed his mouth a couple of times before answering. [“Early, think my first patient is at six in the morning…why?”]

[“Damn, I wanted to know because I would like you to stop by, and before you ask the answer is a plain no.”] Tony said, that added. [“That and it’s getting pretty late.”]

Stephen let out a frustrated sigh. [“Tony, I met you a long time ago, and we have known each other for a very long time, I know we lost touch a long time ago, but I have known you long enough to know you haven’t changed. So that said I know what exactly you’re trying to do here.”]

Tony laughed an emotionless laugh [What exactly am I trying to do here Doctor?”]

[“You’re trying to change the subject, and I’m not going to let you, you can up if you want to, but this is something that’s going to need to be discussed. And talking about it will release the tension that I know your feeling right now...”] Stephen pleaded.

[“Stephen, I know in the back of my head that your right…but I just can’t deal with this right now…I have too much to worry about right now.”] Tony said softly…almost to softly for Stephen to hear but he did.

[“…Yeah, your right, I’m sorry.”] Stephen said just as softly.

Tony’s gut clinched at Stephen’s tone; he didn’t mean to make him feel bad. [“You don’t need to apologize, we all have a lot on our minds, I’ll be okay, one step at a time, okay?”]

It was silent then. [“One step at a time, let’s get your Reactor procedure first than worry about the other stuff later”.] Stephen said.

[...” Right, my procedure.”] Tony said somber, gut clinching he wasn’t ready to have in again.

[“Tony, I know we lost touch, and I may have not known you since that one night…but what’s really bothering you about this procedure?”] Stephen asked concerned.

Tony sighed for what felt like the hundredth time this week. [“As you know that I got captured in Afghanistan, and I know you seen my medical history, so you know this isn’t my first time getting a reactor put in.”]

[“…Yeah, I know I’ve been reading your file’s than rereading wanting to make sure we’re well prepared, but I know that’s not what you’re trying to say.”] Stephen said not even pausing.

Tony sighed. [“Right, forgot how observant you can be.”] Tony said with a grimace.

Even though Tony couldn’t see it over the phone Stephen smirked then frowned a moment later. [“Tones just tell me what’s wrong.”] Stephen pleaded.

[“I…I’m just scared okay! I was awake when they did it in the cave, even though it’s a group of medical doctors doing it and that I’m going to be asleep and not inside that cave… I’m just not ready to have the Arc Reactor in again.”] Tony confessed sadly and moved so that he was on his side in the bed.

[“Oh, Tony it’ll all be okay I promise and if for whatever reason it’s not I’ll wear ah…a light blue shirt with rubber ducks on them.” Stephen said half seriously and secretly hoping nothing would go wrong because a shirt like that would be a tragedy.

Tony laughed a real laugh for the first time in a long time. [“I know what you’re thinking right now, but I’d pay money to see that actually”.]

Tony could hear Stephen mumble, unfortunately it was too low to hear, then he frowned. [“can we move on from this topic”?] Please say something I don’t know light. So, I can sort of sleep tonight.” Tony asked.

[“…Sure, what about?”] Stephen agreed not wanting to push even more than he already did.

Tony thought about it for a second. [“Hmm, how was your day?”]

[“Do you really want to hear about my day?’] Stephen asked a little baffled

[“Yeah, I always did like to hear about it back then, and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t changed over the years.”] Tony replied.

[“Okay well, it was really exhausting. I only had two surgeries, but they were both long, I also got called down to the ER because Dr. West is an idiot! I had to take over his patient because he screwed up! And it wasn’t even the first time someone else has to be pulled in every other day, its baffling to me that he even got his medical degree!”] Stephen said basically in one breath.

Tony furrowed an eyebrow a little confused. [“If he keeps screwing up, how is he still a doctor?”]

[“I don’t know, I don’t stay long enough for conversation.] Stephen replied.

Tony snorted. [“He sounds like he’s a handful”.]

Stephen groaned. [“You have no idea.”] He said slowly, Stephen went to say something else, but he heard his phone ding, groaning again then grumbled out. [“Speak of the Devil the ER is calling me, {He sighed.} I need to go in.”]

Tony frowned he could hear the exhaustion but didn’t comment on it as they said their goodbye’s and with a promise to talk soon.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12. Recovery and The Request.

Stephen read the readings on the computer screen. They were getting ready for Tony’s procedure, and he wanted to make sure everything was ready for said procedure. He was also watching as Dr. West, Dr. Patel, and Dr. Palmer stranding around Tony, hooking him up to machines but he looked behind him when he heard the door open and watched silently as Dr. Cho came into the room, closing the door behind her.

“How’s it going?” she asked, standing next him at the monitors.

“Everything looks right, as soon as the others finish hooking Tony up, we’ll get his vitals before we put him down for the procedure.” Stephen replied looking back at the screens.

“Did someone check his blood pressure and all that?” Dr. Cho asked as she looked at the screens.

“Yes, a little bit above normal but he’s pretty nervous.” Stephen said.

“Yeah, I bet.” Dr. Cho said as she pressed some keys onto the keyboard.

“Finally got his pulse hooked up, that seems to be a little fast as well should we wait?” Dr. Cho added eyes still on the screens.

Stephen tilted his head to the side. “No…it’s his nerve’s it’ll be fine, we’ll just check them once he’s out, see if they come down if not…I have a feeling it won’t get any better if he has to wait again.”

Dr. Cho hummed before she said anything. “I don’t blame him, this is a lot to take in especially since this isn’t his first time, and his first time wasn’t exactly…willing.”

Stephen let out a deep sigh. “I know, we discussed that a couple of days ago.”

“Right.” It was the only word Dr. Cho could say right now.

Then they remained silent as they watched the Doctors finishing hooking tony up.

****************

Stephen must have been lost in thought because he jumped when he felt a hand on his right shoulder and turned around so fast, he almost passed out, and then he just saw it was Dr. Petal. Dr. Petal put his arms up in the air. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

Stephen nodded his head but didn’t say anything as he tried to get his heart rate back to normal, but Dr. Petal didn’t give him a chance to speak to begin with as he started talking right away.

“He’s ready now Dr. Strange, when you come down, we’ll get started.” Dr. Petal said.

“Of course I’ll be right down.” Stephens said as he nodded his head to Dr. Petal.

Dr. Petal nodded his head back then left the room and went downstairs. Stephen on the other hand felt like he was going to be sick, his gut was turning, than a second later he ran to the nearest sink.”

Dr. Strange are you alright?” Dr. Cho asked since she was still in the room.

After coughing a few times, he rinsed his mouth out with water then cleared his throat a few times. “Yeah, I’ll be fine, go down with the others, I’ll be there in a minute.”

Dr. Cho hesitated but turned to leave anyway but stopped in the doorway. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I just need a minute go on.” Stephen said waving at to go on.

Dr. Cho sighed then left to join the others.

Stephen then took a couple of breaths as he rinsed his hands real good than headed downstairs, without saying anything he held his hands out for the assailant to glove his hands and a mask on his face.

“Alright guys, this might not be a simple procedure, keep your hands steady, eye’s open on his vitals, his blood, Dr. Cho do you have the Arc Reactor?” Stephen asked looking over at Dr. Cho.

“Yes, I do.” Dr. Cho said holding up Tony’s new lifeline.

“Alright let’s do this.” Stephen said, hoping he said that with more confidence than he felt.

*******************

A few hours later Tony was still out and in recovery and Stephen was sitting by his side with his head in his hands thinking. He looked up as the door opened.

A nurse stopped in the doorway. “Dr. Strange? Your boss is looking for you.”

Stephen raised an eyebrow at that then with a sigh he stood up. “Alright thank you, you may go.”

The nurse nodded her head and left the room but not before giving Tony a glance and leaving the door open as she left.

Stephen rolled his eyes and frowned he wanted to be there when Tony woke up, with a sigh he went out into the hallway and stopped at the nurse station in the Compound as he spotted Christine. “Hey Christine, can you tell Tony my boss called me in when he wakes up?”

Christine nodded her head. “Yeah of course.”

“Thanks.” That was all Stephen said as he made his way towards the other end of the hospital.

Along the way he saw May down the hallway heading towards the cafeteria. “Hey May, how’s Peter doing?”

May stopped and turned around. “Hey Dr., Strange-”

“Call me Stephen.” Stephen interrupted.

“Stephen, he’s doing fine a little irritated that he hasn’t seen Tony yet, worried about the attack.” May said.

Stephen grimaced. “Yeah, Tony’s been asking for Peter as well, just need to work on timing. How is the investigation going? Anything yet? And sorry I would help but been busy.” Stephen said and asked.

May grunted in frustration. “Nothing yet again so far, hadn’t heard from them, and it’s fine Stephen you’re a surgeon you’re going to be busy and also being busy with Tony I understand.” May said.

Stephen sighed again. “Yeah, but I still wish I could help more even though I have no idea what to do.”

May gave Stephen a smile, then changed the subject. “How did Tony’s procedure go?”

“It went fine, we lost him twice, but we were able to bring him back both times, and the Arc Reactor is already doing wonders so that’s good, he’s not awake yet though he was still out when I left.” Stephen replied.

“I’m glad everything worked out, I’ll tell Peter everything went fine, are you on break? If so, want to eat together?” May said then asked.

“Unfortunately, no, my boss wants me.” Stephen said.

“Oh, that’s too bad, keep me updated on Tony?” May asked with a smile.

“Only if you keep me updated on Peter.” Stephen said back.

May laughed and waved Stephen bye as she continued down to the cafeteria, with another sigh Stephen continued his way.

******************

Stephen arrived at his section fifteen minutes late because it took him longer to get there due to people stopping him along the way.

Stepping into his boss’s office he could tell right away he was irritated. “A nurse said you wanted to see me?” Stephen asked as he walked into his boss’s office.

His boss sat back in his chair and looked up from his desk. “Finally! I need you to do a favor.”

Stephen opened and closed his mouth, not sure what to say. “What kind of favor?” He asked eventually.

His boss clapped his hands and smiled widely at Stephen and Stephen suddenly got uncomfortable. (Why do I have a bad feeling about this?) He asked himself and regretted stepping foot in the office.

“Stephen, I know about Mr. Stark’s situation, but I need this done…we need this done.” Stephen’s boss said.

Still feeling a little uneasy, Stephen swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. “Okay, it…sounds like an important one…what’s the favor?”

The man sighed as he leaned forward on his desk so that his elbows were resting on his desk. “Not going to lie…this favor is, well let’s just say out there. - {The man leaned back into his seat.} -As you know there’s the gala’s, charity event’s we go to, I need you to make a trip to Canada, Calgary Alberta, at Rockyview General Hospital, it’s a top-rated hospital and they asked for some of the best Doctors over the world to have a ceremony and you were the one chosen from here.”

Stephen kept his face expressionless as his boss talked but, on the inside, he felt half proud, half upset. “Can’t another doctor, do it? I mean I’m sure there’s more than one up standing doc-”

Stephen started but his boss interrupted, shaking his head. “Nope, they asked for you in particularly and you’re going.”

Stephen’s boss leaned forward in his seat and rested his forearms on his desk. “This is non-negotiable Strange.” Then he sat back in his seat.

Stephen opened his mouth to say something but decided to keep quiet and turned his head away. Stephen cleared his throat. “So that’s the favor thing this award ceremony in Canada?” Stephen asked once he was able to speak again.

His boss’s smile came back and let out a less than good laugh. “Oh, no Strange that’s not the favor.”

And just like Stephen’s whole world crumbled, those words felt like he was stuck in a rumble with no way out or someone to save him. “So…what do you want me to do then?” Stephen asked, weary and irritated.

Stephen’s boss smirked. “Well since it’s a ceremony it’s required to have a partner, well you know where this going.”

(So, this favor is taking someone to the gala?) Stephen asked himself a little confused. “So that’s the favor than? Taking someone to the gala?”

“No, the father wants you to sleep with his daughter and spy on her.” Stephen’s boss responded.

Stephen’s eye widened in shock then stuttered. “Excuse…. me?”

The smirk turned into odd uneasy smile Stephen couldn’t place. “You heard me, your partner… she’s the daughter of one of the head doctors there and he thinks she’s up to something or in something she shouldn’t. He wants you to sleep with her and observe her.”

Stephen waited for a few moments, but his boss still didn’t continue. “And he wants me to…sleep with her? Spy? How long am I going to be there? I…” Stephen started asking but stopped he had no idea what to say or even think of making a complete sentence in his head let alone out loud.

“Yes, a month the latest.” The boss said very vaguely, only answering Stephen’s last question.

(What the fuck does that mean?) Stephen asked himself. Before asking out loud. “He what wants me to date her…?”

Stephen’s boss shook his head. “I don’t know, I guess.”

Stephen was speechless, he couldn’t speak. “I…What?”

Stephen’s boss let out a laugh and leaned forward. “Stephen Strange speechless, well that’s new, but yes you heard right, like I said he thinks his daughter is up to something and asked you to help, your smart Stephen.”

“Ar…are you seriously going to make me do that? That’s…why?” Stephen whispered still in shock.

“Because he asked for our top doctor, he said she like’s smart doctors and sense you got two masters and a neurosurgeon at that, he’s also going to pay you a large sum of money for doing this.” Stephen’s boss said.

“You…I…I’m not…what?” Stephen asked even more confusion than he ever was.

Stephen’s boss let out annoyed breath. “The favor your doing is to make his daughter fall for you, sleep with her if necessary and spy on her to get a large sum of money for the hospital, this isn’t negotiable Stephen…look I know how it sounds really I do.” {His expression changed to somber.}“I tried talking her father out of this but…he said it was important to know what she’s up to, life or death he said, I don’t know if that’s true or not but that’s the favor I need you to do. To be honest I don’t want you to go especially so long as our best doctor and due the surgery's other surgeons are afraid to do but he’s asking for the best and that’s you.”

Stephen went to say something, his confused anger finally wanted to be known but the office phone went off, Stephen’s boss looked at Stephen in the eye. “You’re going and you’re going to do what is requested of you, we need the money I’m sorry, you leave next weekend I suggest you get everything you need for the month and hopefully it’s just a month, your dismissed.”

Knowing he wasn’t going to get anywhere by arguing he grunted and stormed out of the office, closing the door just barley-controlled anger and hurried to his office where he paced around. Then he backed himself into a wall and slid down to the floor and put his head in his hands with just one thought in his head. (What the actual fuck.)

Stephen stayed like that till his office door opened but even than he barely reacted.

“Stephen?” The Voice asked and Stephen knew right away who it was.

With a sigh. “What?”

“Tony’s awake and asking for you… {She paused.} do you want me to tell him something came up?” Christine asked.

Stephen didn’t even hesitate; he shook his head now. “No, I want to be with him…be there.”

Christine nodded her head. “I got to do my actual job now.” Christine said as she left Stephen’s office.

With a huge sigh Stephen got up and made his way back to recovery, all the while feeling like he died on the inside. (How am I going to tell Tony?)

Chapter Text

Chapter 13. Taking It Easy and I Love You.

Three days later Tony was home at the Compound with a stern. “Stay in bed, two weeks Tony! Two weeks of bed rest and…depending on how your checkups go and on how well you’re healing you may go back to your day-to-day stuff.” Dr. Cho had said.

Tony only agreed because if he didn’t do it, he would take longer to heal so he was laying in his bed with Stephen sitting at the end of it, Tony sighed, Stephen had told Tony what his boss had requested of him, he was still in shock and confused. Tony painfully pulled himself up, holding back his pain by biting his lower lip to put a hand in the middle of Stephen’s back.

“Steph? Are you okay?” Tony asked concerned.

Stephen didn’t answer, just hummed and leaned back into Tony’s hand seeking his warmth.

“Stephen, your ah…you never told me when you had to leave, I’m sorry maybe I-” Tony started.

Stephen interrupted shoulders still hunched. “It’s fine, I leave next weekend…”

Tony moved his hand up to Stephen’s head and ran his hand through it soothingly “It’ll be over before you know it and you’ll be back here in no time.”

Stephen sat up straighter and turned around causing Tony’s hand to slide from his head. “You mean you’ll want me back? After…after what I…after I’m going to do?”

Stephen always looked put together, always strong, confidant but looking at him now Tony didn’t see any of that, he sounded small, sad, and broken and Tony’s heart felt heavy and he frowned. (He Didn’t think I wouldn’t want him around after this right?) Tony asked himself concerned.

“Why wouldn’t I? it’s not…a big deal, I mean okay it kinda is a deal but…not for the reason’s you’re thinking. What your being asked to do…isn’t normal?” Tony said then asked still frowned.

Stephen let out a sigh. “My boss sent me her information…and a picture, then I looked her up, her name is Emma sent me what she likes and other stuff like that, but I have to observe her more.”

Tony frowned even more. “Why can’t the father hire a Private Investigator?”

“I called the father myself a yesterday, he said he tried to hire a couple investigator, but she saw right through them, he said I might be his only chance, he needs a doctor a smart one, observant one and he saw my file and read all about me and decided on me.”

Stephen said his expression matching how his voice sounded. {Somber}.

Tony reached for Stephen’s hands and held them both in his, a little bit lost in thought questions and dread running though his head. (Gone for a month? spying? Has to sleep with her if necessary? Will he come back for me if he does sleep with her? Will it be safe? WILL HE BE SAFE?, is she involved in something bad?, Illegal?, Murder?)

“Are you going to sleep with her? If so, I hope you enjoy it.” Tony’s third question came out with bitterness that Stephen could hear but he couldn’t help it, couldn’t contain the energy to know.

Stephen gave Tony a deadpanned look. “If I have to…yes I don’t know if I’ll enjoy it…I might, might get lost in the feeling…in her.” Stephen said as he confessed.

Tony squeezed Stephen’s hands tighter as he swallowed the lump that formed in his throat and the question (Will you come back?) burned to come out but Tony was scared to know, scared because he’d be gone for a month and his answer might change over time.

“Will you come back to me?” But the question came out anyway, his mouth was working faster than his brain.

Stephen stared at Tony for a moment then smiled at Tony. “Of course I’ll come back, it’s you that I still love.”

Tony gave a watery smile back. (Hope that doesn’t change while you’re gone.) Tony thought.

Stephen went to add something else but F.R.I.D.A.Y spoke first. “It’s time for your meds boss and I would suggest both of you to eat something.”

Stephen took his hands back and stood up. “Wait here no need to strain yourself I’ll go get water and your meds and she’s right we haven’t eaten this morning.” Then he walked out of the bedroom.

Tony sighed. (I sigh a lot.) Tony thought to himself. “Yeah, ah maybe left over our pasta dish from last night?”

Stephen gave Tony a small smile. “Sounds good I’ll heat that up for you, why don’t you pick something to watch, and we can watch something while we eat.” Stephen said as he left* the room to do as suggested.

Tony painfully scooted farther up his bed so that his back was leaning against his headboard supported by his pillows and once he was comfortable Tony told F.R.I.D.A.Y to turn on The Walking Dead Tony made her pause while he waited for Stephen to come back.

********************

Stephen came back fifteen minutes later with water, food and his meds, he set the food down on the nightstand and handed Tony his meds and waited to hand the water over when he had the pills in his mouth than picked up the food and handed the dish to Tony. “Where’s yours” Tony asked once he had his bowl in his lap.

“I have to go back to get it, ran out of hands.” Stephen said as he made sure Tony was settled before he left the room again and returned three minutes later and settled down next to him on the bed.

“What are we watching?” Stephen asked once he got comfortable.

“The Waling Dead.” Tony answered as he told F.R.I.D.A.Y to play it.

Stephen didn’t say anything as he watched the Tv screen, he also didn’t say anything when Tony slowly leaned against him and rested his head on his shoulder.

**********************

They stayed like that all afternoon…until F.R.I.D.A.Y interrupted “Boss it’s time for another dose of meds, plus it’s dinner time.”

Tony groaned but picked himself up from Stephen’s shoulder and sat on the bed, Stephen carefully got off the bed so he wouldn’t jostle Tony’s injuries at all than walked around the bed and held out a hand. “Come on, I’ll find something for us to eat and get your meds sorted, you can sit on the couch.”

“Why can’t I, we stay in here?” Tony whined out but he put his hand in Stephen’s anyway and let him help him up and lead him to the living room.

“Because you need to get and walk around even if it’s just to the living room.” Stephen said as he led Tony to the living room, than got started on making dinner.

*******************

FOUR DAYS LATER.

A week had gone by Tony was still recovering but it was going well, he was sitting on Stephen’s bed in his room watching him pack the suitcase he packed for his stay here silently.

“You’re going to come back to me, right? And go on that date?” Tony asked eventually.

Stephen stopped what he was doing and went over to Tony and sat down next to him taking a hand in his. “Of course I’ll come back for the date, my plan is to be friends with her not sleep with her.”

Tony looked down at the bed. “I…shouldn’t even worry about this we’re not together anymore.”

“No but you want us to be, am I wrong?” Stephen said then asked casually.

Tony sighed. “No, I want us to be.” Tony said finally looking at Stephen in the eyes.

Stephen gave his hands a squeeze. “I want us to be together to, which is why I’m not going to sleep with her and just befriend her.”

Tony snorted. “Like what a gay best friend.”

Stephen playfully glared at Tony and nudged his shoulder gently. “I’m bi thank you! But yes”

“Are you? Really.” Tony asked.

Stephen frowned “Why do you seem surprised?”

Tony stared at Stephen for a long moment before he spoke. “It’s just…you never mentioned anyone else when we were together.”

“I never mentioned anyone else because they didn’t matter, you did.” Stephen said then paused. “Well, there was plenty of woman and men I went through over the years. But there were only two people that I loved or well…thought was love.” Stephen started. “In high school I was dating a girl, her name was Larisa Chase we dated all through high school we did everything together. Hell, even lost our virginity together, never second guessed myself when I was with her, it was easy, we thought it was love but it wasn’t I knew it when I met you and we got together.”

Tony had tilted his head to the side during Stephen’s story “She sounded like she was someone special to you, why wouldn’t it be love and ahh that was corny cute but corny.”

Stephen laughed slightly. “Maybe she was but we wanted different things, different dreams in mind, she wanted to stay in Nebraska I didn’t, she wanted to be a farmer’s wife, I wanted to be a doctor.” {Stephen sighed.} “I could spend all day going back in forth between our dreams, but I don’t want to.”

They both fell silent for a minute. “You said you thought it was love till you met me, what did you mean?”

“When I was with her I felt happy, giggly even, soft smiles in class’s, dates, it was…romantic like I said thought it was forever but with you I felt happy of course but it was different the love we had…have I can’t describe it…I felt…I never thought I’d say this to your face but after a couple of years together I thought about asking you to marry me, I never had that thought with her.”

Tony’s breath hitched. “Really marriage, me?”

Stephen smiled down at Tony fondly. “Yes, I was thinking about it, I love you, Tony.”

Tony reached over and gave Stephen a kiss on the lips. “I love you to Stephen.” Tony said.

They smiled at each other.

“Doctor your flight leaves early I would finish packing.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said.

“Right.” Stephen said and got up from his seat and finished packing.

“Do you want me to drive you to the airport tomorrow morning?” Tony asked resuming watching him pack.

Stephen stopped. “You’re not cleared to drive.”

Tony groaned in irritation. “Okay I’ll have Happy drive us to the airport.”

“Is that wise?” Stephen asked as he resumed his packing.

“You’re going to be gone for a month or more I want to be with you till you’re out of my sight.” Tony admitted.

Stephen sighed. “I feel the same.”

“What is exactly is your plan once you reach there?” Tony asked while watching Stephen pack

“Well, get a room, go this event, become friends with the daughter find out what she’s up to tell the father than come home.” Stephen said, leaving his packed stuff in his room and heading to the bathroom.

Tony raised both his eyebrows at Stephen’s back. “Do you think it’s going to be that simple?”

“Probably not but I can hope right?” Stephen’s muffled voice asked.

“Let’s hope.” Tony said under his breath but out loud he said. “What time do we need to get up?”

“Well, my plane leaves at five and with traffic I’d say around four.” Stephen said coming back into the room.

“Okay, I will call Happy and have him come get us to drop you off than to SI I got a meeting tomorrow morning later.” Tony said.

“Sounds good, but before we do anything how are you feeling?” Stephen asked to pack his bathroom stuff.

 “A little bit sore but otherwise fine, doesn’t hurt that much anymore, usually the pain forms once a day when I pick up.” Tony said he didn’t bother with lying to Stephen because he always knew when he told a lie.

“That’s good but it’s only been a week, still take it easy Tone, still no work, don’t have to be bed rested but still.” Stephen said as he walked closer towards Tony who was still sitting on the bed.

Tony smiled at Stephen, who held out his hand, Tony took it with no hesitation.

“Let’s go watch a movie before dinner, you pick.” Stephen said as he led Tony throw the compound.

Stephen helped Tony sit down than left the living room and into the kitchen. Tony sighed as he watched Stephen leave and took out his cell phone.

It rang a few times before there was answer and Happy’s name could be heard from the other end.

[“HI, boss what can I do for you?] Happy asked in usual manner.

[“Hey Hap, is it possible to get here around 4 in the morning? Stephen flight leaves at six and with traffic and all it’s better to leave early.”] Tony asked.

It was silent for a moment. [“Of course, I’ll bring coffee than I’ll be there anything else?”]

[“Get one for yourself as well Hap and yes I have a SI meeting tomorrow morning as well so if you could.”] Tony said than asked.

[“Will do boss see you and Dr. Strange in the morning.”] Happy said that he hung up.

Tony just put his cell down when Stephen came back into the room with water and some pills had Tony groan. “I don’t need those.” Tony whined.

Stephen let out a tiny smirk and just said. “Humor me.”

************************

THE NEXT MORNING AT THE AIRPORT.

Tony scuffed the top of one of his feet with his shoe as he stood in front of Stephen looking down at the floor with Stephen standing in front of him and Happy waiting for him in the car.

“Be safe, make it fast than come home, we have a date after all.” Tony said, finally looking up to look at Stephen in the eyes.

Stephen gave Tony a soft smile and took a hand in his. “I’ll be back home as soon for that date, a kiss goodbye maybe?” Stephen said then asked in a hopeful tone.

Tony answered a small and. “Of course.” Then gave Stephen a soft kiss on the lips. “Something to remember me by.” Tony added after the kiss.

Stephen let out a chuckle.

A female voice came over the speakers. “The flight leaving for Canada is leaving in five, I repeat the flight leaving for Canada leave’s in five.”

Tony and Stephen both sighed sadly. “Call me when you get to your hotel and keep updated.”

Stephen nodded his head. “Of course I will, I always will.” Stephen said then made his way through the crowd and into the terminal.

With a sigh and one more look where Stephen disappeared, he made his way back towards his car.

“Everything go okay boss?” Happy asked once he was inside the car.

“Yes, I suppose, hey go to Starbucks and get two coffees for us before we go to SI.” Tony said.

Happy didn’t say anything, he just nodded his head and took off, Tony sat back in his seat and drew in a deep breath and put his sunglasses on his face despite it being dark out still.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14. Welcome, Home And, A Second Letter.

It’s been over a month since Stephen left for Canada and two weeks since he was fully healed.

Tony was in a meeting with SI at the tower when someone came rushing in and went straight to Tony and whispered in his ear.

“Mr. Stark! I didn’t want to bother you with this but there's an issue with someone on the line, they keep calling and won’t stop it’s been going on for an hour now we need your help to get rid of them.” The person pleaded desperately.

Tony huffed out a sigh. “Did this person say who they were?” Tony asked as he whispered back.

“No, they just keeping calling, it’s setting everybody on edge because they can’t work like this.” The person whispered back.

With one more sigh Tony nodded his head. “Alright I’ll be in my office in five to check it out.”

The person nodded their heads and quickly left the room, Tony turned to face the room. “Sorry looks like I got something I need to take care of but continue, my personal assistant can fill me in later.” was all Tony said before he left and hurried to his office.

************************

Once reaching the main hallway where his office was, he could hear phones ringing off the hook with a big sigh he half ran down the hallway to his office. “FRI Baby girl, can you trace the number.” Tony asked into his Bluetooth piece in his ear as he sat in his office chair.

“It’s on untraceable.” Was her response.

Tony huffed but he didn’t have much time to think about it because the phone’s started ringing again.

He picked up the phone wondering who the Hell it could be harassing his employees. 

“This is Tony speaking, who is this and why are you harassing my employees.” Tony said into the phone.

[“Mr. Stark, this is princesses Shuri from Wakanda, I’m sorry to be calling like this but I thought it would be better to call your company than your personal phone.”]

Tony raised both his eyebrows and sat back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk. [“What can I do for you princess?”]

[“My brother is too dumb to call you himself but there seems to be an issue”.] She stopped there.

Tony huffed at Shuri’s short answer, Tony wasn’t exactly thrilled to hear from Wakanda again after the last time so the princess must be desperate for whatever the issue is. [“What is the issue?”]

The princess hesitated in answering.

[“Today princess, I got a long day ahead of me.”] Tony said in irritation.

[“The Witch got into Barnes’s head and caused the winter Solider to come out and now all the Witch, Barton, Romanoff, Lang and Wilson is in the med bay trying intervene.”] The princess said.

Tony looked more interested after that. [“Where’s Rogers? And what happened to Barnes and why did the Witch think it was a good idea to poke around Barnes’s head?”] Tony asked firing questions after questions.

[“Well, we aren’t sure what happened because the majority of the group is unconscious in the med bay, Rogers disappeared, and Mr. Barnes is in his room refusing to let anyone in”.] The princess said.

Tony closed his eyes. [“And what do you want me to do about it”?] Tony asked, not sure he really wanted to know the answer.

The princess sighed [“I…hold on something’s going on.”]

(Ugh great!) Tony thought to himself, eyes still closed trying to gather his thoughts, he was interrupted by F.R.I.D.A.Y.

“Boss, Doctor Strange is calling you on your cell.”

Tony’s eyes flew open, then pulled his cell out from his pocket. [“Hello?”]

[“Hey, glad you answered I just wanted to let you know I just bored the plane”] Stephen said as soon as Tony said hello.

Tony perked up once he heard that. [“That’s the best news I heard so far, so you figured it out that?”]

[“Yeah, turns out she’s dating her father’s intern and didn’t want him to find out, it was…yeah, anyway yes I’m about to leave Canada I’ll be in New York in three hours and forty minutes.”] Stephen said.

Tony felt a smile grow on his face then asked quickly because he noticed the Wakanda princess came back on the line. [“Hold on Steph, I need to do something.”]

Stephen didn’t say anything as Tony turned back to his office phone and [“You there?”]

[“Yes, sorry about that, the people in the med bay woke up and there were a lot of arguing go on and we had to separate them.”] The princess replied.

Tony wanted to ask but yet he didn’t want to know. (I’m positive she wants me to help them.) Tony thought.

[“Do you want my help is that why you called?”) Tony asked.

Silence for a long moment. [“Yes, we are way over our heads with this, and I know we don’t have a right to-”]

[“Your right you don’t have a right to ask me anything, especially if it has to do with the damn Rogue’s.] Tony interrupted.

[“Tony! I need to go, and you know I can’t use my cell on the plane.”] Tony heard from his cell, ignoring Shuri’s voice, he brought his cell to his ear. [“Right sorry babe, get a cab to the compound and I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”] Tony said.

[“Okay sounds like a plan love you.”] Stephen said.

[“Love you to.”] Tony replied then hung up, then put the office receiver back to his ear where he could hear Shuri talking still, with a silent groan he interrupted her again.

[“Princess no offence but there is no one I would be willing to help there.”] Tony said before hanging. “Fri baby is the meeting still going on?”

“Yes, boss but you’re getting a call from the Council.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said.

(Ugh are you fucking kidding me right now.) Tony thought to himself as he pinched the bridge of his nose and to her to answer the call.

[“Head councilor what can I do for you?”] Tony asked, taking his feet off his desk and sitting forward.

[“We need all the evidence you have on Ross, and we wanted to know if the Rogue Avengers made any contact with you at all”?]

Tony spun around in his chair. [“Not yet, but I did learn Rogers is in the wind so…I’m sure he’ll find a way to get a hold of me somehow.”]

The council member sighed. [“Great, what about the others and where did you learn this from?”]

[“It was an anonymous call unfortunately, it was untraceable, not even my AI was able to track it. And as far as I know they got into an argument and fought each other so there in the med bay.”] He didn’t know why but he couldn’t rat out the Princess.

Tony could hear the council member grind his teeth together. [“so there in a place that has a med bay, and Rogers is in the wind great we’ll investigate that. Any other updates we need to know about Stark?”]

Tony stopped spinning his chair. [The Defenders you mean? No why would I hear from them? I’m solo remember well sort of solo I help Spider-Man occasionally.”]

The council member hummed. [“Alright well that’s all I needed to know I suppose I will be in contact again Stark.”] Said then hung up the phone.

Tony rubbed his face with both hands. “Baby girl let everyone know I’ll be leaving early and then see if you find any trace of Rogers and let me know if or when you find him.”

“Right away boss.”

A few moments later Tony dragged his hands away from his face then looked at his watch sighing at the time, he picked up his cell and called Happy.

[“Hi boss what can I do for you?”] Happy asked once he picked up.

[“Yeah, can you pick up Peter from school and bring him to The Compound, I forgot May left for a vacation and work and I told her I would take care of him.”] Tony said into the phone. [“Then come pick me up we’re going to get coffee than pick up a doctor from the airport.”] He added.

[“Already on my way to the school, and alright I’ll be there less than thirty since you’re at the tower.”] Happy said.

[“Sounds good, I’ll make a quick round to see what the departments are up to”.] Tony said getting up from his chair but then sat down again. [“Oh, and one more thing, order dinner for us tonight, would you? And are you going to eat with us?”] Tony asked.

[“I will do that too, what would you like? And no got an important dinner I got to go to.”]

Tony wanted to ask but didn’t and just said. [“Surprise us.”] than hung up.

Tony sighed and rubbed his face with his hands again, then laid his head on his desk then closed his eyes to rest and try to clear his mind for a little bit but it’s near in impossible with his mind going a mile a minute.

“Boss Rhodey is calling would like to answer” F.R.I.D.A.Y asked.

Tony sighed and lifted his head up from his desk debating on answering or not, his therapist said to go about things on his own pace and no one else but he was still feeling guilty about shutting the others out. His therapist said it was normal, and he trusted Peter, Stephen, and Happy because they haven’t known him for as long as Rhodey has but even than it doesn’t make sense because he known Happy and Stephen long before he knew Pepper. Tony groaned thinking about all this was giving him a headache, but he told himself he must try so he told F.R.I.D.A.Y to leave it for voicemail he wasn’t in any mood to take any more phone calls.

Tony sat in his chair a few minutes then got up and did a quick run through the departments, he just got down with RND when F.R.I.D.A.Y told him that Happy was outside.

“Okay, great.” Tony said to himself as he stepped into his office and grabbed whatever was on his desk and made his way to the first-floor lobby then and into the backseat of Happy’s car, he sighed as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

************************     

The drive to the Compound was silent until Tony’s cell phone went off, with an irritated groan Tony answered it without looking at it.

[What?]

[Hey, it’s me, everything alright?]

Tony sighed in relief. (It’s just Stephen.) [Hi, sorry I had a lot of calls that left me really irritated.] Tony said.

Stephen made a hmm sound. [Okay, well I’m here, want me to get the mail for you? Looks piled.]

Tony rubbed his face. [That’s good we’ll be there soon, and yea go for it, and I know.]

[Alright see you soon.] Stephen said that he hung up.

(God, I want this day over with) Tony thought to himself.

Tony looked down at his shoulder when he felt movement. (Right forgot Peter curled up to his side when he got settled, he moved his hand from his lap and ran it through Peter’s hair.

Peter sighed in his sleep and Tony kissed the top of his head and leaned back in his seat.

“We’ll be there in a minute if you want to wake him up.” Happy said.

Tony nodded his head. “Alright.” he said than he gently whispered in Peter’s ear as he continued to run his hand through his hair. “Pete, you need to wake up honey.”

Peter’s eyes blinked open right away as his enhanced hearing took in Tony’s voice and sat up, he rubbed at his eyes as he asked Tony if they were there yet.

“Just about.” Tony said as Peter sat up in his seat.

“Boss we’re here!” Happy called out a moment later.

“Is Stephen back yet?” Peter asked as they got out of the car.

“On his way he’ll be meeting us here.” Tony replied.

“I’ll be glad he’s back; I missed him, does he know you’re keeping an eye on me while May is out of town?”

Tony and Happy smiled fondly at Peter. “Yeah, he knows.” Tony said and at the same time Happy said. “I don’t know why she left.”

Due to Peter’s powers, he was able to hear both and let out a nervous sigh, Tony clearly heard it too because he became tense.

The police called a couple days ago and said there haven’t been any sightings on the guy and to keep a look out. May, Tony, Stephen and even Happy were getting frustrated because if the guy was still out their Peter was never going to be safe.

Tony pinched his nose then rubbed his forehead as a headache was forming, he let out a sigh, suddenly looking way older than he was. “I know the timing isn’t great and that guy hasn’t been spotted but her leaving couldn’t be helped and you know it, since it has something to do with her job and couldn’t get out of it. And I know it’s not safe, that’s why Peter is staying with Stephen and I and not at the apartment.”

Happy knew that but he couldn’t help but frown, this guy was able to be hidden in the shadows despite Tony’s technology and F.R.I.D.A.Y, it was worrying, he also knew logically that Peter was safe here, but he couldn’t help but fear that Peter’s safety was near the end. “Maybe we should pull him out of school while May is out of town, did she even say how long she’s going to be gone?” Happy said than asked.

It was Tony’s turn to frown. “You don’t think he’ll be safe at school?”

“Tony the guy was able to get the jump on Peter! And with his powers? He should have been able to overpower him in a heartbeat!! not to mention how he was able to get unseen in their apartment, the live on the 6^th floor! People are always in the halls, and no one sees anything. And who says he’s not watching Peter? At school this guy’s only chance because Peter’s always here.” Happy half shouted out.

Tony and Peter just stood there speechless, Tony knew Peters attack and the guy still out there was getting so Happy but this? He wasn’t expecting this.

Peter was not wanting to linger on this subject as he was hiding something from them, he decided to check the mail, searching for something to distract them with and he found his answer a moment later when he came across a letter that had unfamiliar handwriting and no return address.

Just as Tony was going to say something he was interrupted by Peter. “Mr. Stark! This has your name on it and there’s address.” Tony huffed as he frowned. (Again? Wasn’t’ one enough Rogers, you got your point across.) Tony thought as he grabbed the letter from Peter…only to frown a second later. (This isn’t Rogers handwriting…or anyone he knew.) was Tony’s second thought.

 Tony stared down at the letter in his hand debating on what to do with it, just as he thought that a car had pulled up in the parking lot causing him to look up and a smile formed on his face once who stepped out of the cap.

“Stephen! Your back.” Peter said in excitement as he walked up to him and gave him a quick hug, who returned it.

“Hey Peter, Happy, Tony.” Stephen said as he let go of Peter.

Happy nodded his head in his direction and Tony did what Peter did but gave him a hug and a kiss. And as they separated Stephen noticed the envelope and scowled at it. “Is that another letter from Rogers?” Stephen asked.

Tony looked down at it again. “No, don’t recognize the handwriting.”

“Who’s is it by than Mr. Stark?” Peter asked curiously.

“Don’t know, lets worry about this later and do inside and think about something for dinner, Stephen do want to join us, or do you just want to crash for the rest of the day?” Tony suggested then asked as he put the letter inside his suit pocket. (Jet leg can be a bitch.) Tony thought.

“As much as I want to, think I’m going to crash…sorry Peter.” Stephen said then added when he noticed Peter’s sad face, who just shrugged his shoulders then gave Stephen another hug and headed inside.

Tony and Stephen followed him behind and Happy following behind them. “Okay I’ll see you later than.” Tony said as he kissed Stephen’s cheek stopping at the elevator and pressing the up button.

The elevator arrived a second later and Stephen smiled at Tony as they stepped inside it, but Tony paused once he realized Happy wasn’t following them. “Happy are not coming up?”

Happy shook his head. “No, I’ll stay down here and keep an eye out before I go home.”

Tony frowned but nodded his head and finished going inside and pressing the 10^th floor button.

It was silent in the elevator for a few minutes before Stephen broke it. “How’s Peter doing? He looks a little down.”

“Not well I don’t think, he’s been…quiet, I’m not sure if it’s because of what happened, or what happened with me or because May had to leave town or all three, I’m worried.” Tony replied.

Stephen took Tony in his arms and kissed the tip of his head. “he’ll be alright, might take a while but he’ll be alright.” Stephen reassured us, they stayed like that locked in each other’s embrace for the rest of the ride, only breaking apart when it stopped, and the doors opened.

With a small sigh Tony let go of Stephen and stepped out with him following behind, then stopped in the hallway and turned around and gave Stephen another kiss.” Get some rest.”

Stephen kissed back then smiled, grabbed his luggage and headed towards his room. Tony’s eyes following him till he was out of sight, another sigh leaving him Tony asked F.R.I.D.A.Y where Peter was.

“Kitchen boss.”

Tony thanked her before heading for the kitchen. Upon reaching the kitchen he saw Peter looking through menus.

“What do you have on your mind tonight?” Tony asked as he entered the room.

Peter, without looking up, answered. “Noodles and Company? Door-Dash will deliver.”

Tony tilted his head to the side in thought, then shrugged. “Sure, why not, what are you getting?”

“I want the Cavatappi Lemon Parmesan with shrimp, you?” Peter asked, finally putting the menu down and looking up, and it was then that he noticed Stephen nor Happy was there.

“Hmm, I’m going to pick Orange Chicken Lo Mein.” Tony answered.

“Where did Stephen and Happy go?” Peter asked after Tony answered.

“Stephen went to bed, long day, and Happy is patrolling in the lobby before he goes home.” Tony said than added. “Fri baby girl.”

“Already ordered boss, would you like me to add something for the Doctor?”

Tony thought for a second then shook his head. “Nah he’ll most likely be out the rest of the day.”

“Alright, food will arrive in an hour boss.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said.

“Oh.” That was all Peter said.

Tony, sensing something was wrong, he walked over and sat down across from him. “You alright?” Tony asked concerned. “You know you can talk to me about anything right?” He added.

“I will be…I am, and I know I’m…I’m just not ready to talk yet.” Peter said putting his head down on the table.

Tony let out a soft sigh, nodding his head. “Why don’t work on your homework in your room? I’ll have F.R.I.D.A.Y let you know when the food is here.” Tony suggested.

Peter stared at Tony for a minute. “Yeah okay.” Peter said and got up from the table. “You’ll tell me who’s the letter is from, right?” Peter asked just before leaving.

“Of course I will.” Tony said.

Peter gave Tony a small smile as he left the kitchen.

Tony waited for a few minutes before he took out the letter. “Alright, let’s see who you’re from, Baby girl, do you recognize the handwriting?” Tony asked when he opened it.

F.R.I.D.A.Y took a few minutes before she said something. “No, I do not boss.”

“Ugh!” was the intelligent response as he ripped the letter open, and from the first line he had a clue on who this letter was from, Tony grinded his teeth and read it.

It’s been over a month since Stephen left for Canada and two weeks since he was fully healed.

Tony was in a meeting with SI at the tower when someone came rushing in and went straight to Tony and whispered in his ear.

“Mr. Stark! I didn’t want to bother you with this but there's an issue with someone on the line, they keep calling and won’t stop it’s been going on for an hour now we need your help to get rid of them.” The person pleaded desperately.

Tony huffed out a sigh. “Did this person say who they were?” Tony asked as he whispered back.

“No, they just keeping calling, it’s setting everybody on edge because they can’t work like this.” The person whispered back.

With one more sigh Tony nodded his head. “Alright I’ll be in my office in five to check it out.”

The person nodded their heads and quickly left the room, Tony turned to face the room. “Sorry looks like I got something I need to take care of but continue my personal assistant can fill me in later.” was all Tony said before he left and hurried to his office.

************************

Once reaching the main hallway where his office was, he could hear phones ringing off the hook with a big sigh. He half ran down the hallway to his office. “FRI Baby girl, can you trace the number.” Tony asked into his Bluetooth piece in his ear as he sat in his office chair.

“It’s on untraceable.” Was her response.

Tony huffed but he didn’t have much time to think on it because the phone’s started ringing again.

He picked up the phone wondering who the Hell it could be harassing his employees. 

“This is Tony speaking, who is this and why are you harassing my employees.” Tony said into the phone.

[“Mr. Stark, this is princesses Shuri from Wakanda, I’m sorry to be calling like this but I thought it would be better to call your company than your personal phone.”]

Tony raised both his eyebrows and sat back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk. [“What can I do for you princess?”]

[“My brother is too dumb to call you himself but there seems to be an issue”.] She stopped there.

Tony huffed at Shuri’s short answer, Tony wasn’t exactly thrilled to hear from Wakanda again after the last time so the princess must be desperate for whatever the issue is. [“What is the issue?”]

The princess hesitated in answering.

[“Today princess, I got a long day ahead of me.”] Tony said in irritation.

[“The Witch got into Barnes’s head and caused the winter Solider to come out and now all the Witch, Barton, Romanoff, Lang and Wilson is in the med bay trying intervene.”] The princess said.

Tony looked more interested after that. [“Where’s Rogers? And what happened to Barnes and why did the Witch think it was a good idea to poke around Barnes’s head?”] Tony asked firing questions after questions.

[“Well we aren’t sure what happened because the majority of the group is unconscious in the med bay, Rogers disappeared and Mr. Barnes is in his room refusing to let anyone in.”] The princess said.

Tony closed his eyes. [“And what do you want me to do about it?”] Tony asked, not sure he really wanted to know the answer.

The princess sighed [“I…hold on something’s going on.”]

(Ugh great!) Tony thought to himself, eyes still closed trying to gather his thoughts he was interrupted by F.R.I.D.A.Y.

“Boss, Doctor Strange is calling.”

Tony’s eyes flew open then he hurriedly answered. [“Hello?”]

[“Hey, glad you answered I just wanted to let you know I just bored the plane”] Stephen said as soon as Tony said hello.

Tony perked up once he heard that. [“That’s the best news I heard so far, so you figured it out that?”]

[“Yeah turns out, she’s dating her father’s intern and didn’t want him to find out, it was…yeah, anyway yes I’m about to leave Canada I’ll be in New York in three hours and forty minutes.”] Stephen said.

Tony felt a smile grow on his face then asked quickly because he noticed the Wakanda princess came back on the line. [“Hold on Steph, I need to do something.”]

Stephen didn’t say anything as Tony turned back to his office phone and [“You there?”]

[“Yes, sorry about that, the people in the med bay woke up and there were a lot of arguing go on and we had to separate them.”] The princess replied.

Tony wanted to ask but he didn’t want to know. (I’m positive she wants me to help them.) Tony thought.

[“Do you want my help is that why you called?”) Tony asked.

Silence for a long moment. [“Yes, we are way over our heads with this, and I know we don’t have a right to-”]

[“Your right you don’t have a right to ask me anything, especially if it has to do with the damn Rogue’s.”] Tony interrupted then switched back to Stephen, and as he did, he heard.

[“Tony! I need to go, and you know I can’t use my cell on the plane.”] Tony ignored Shuri’s voice as he brought his cell to his ear. [“Right sorry babe, get a cab to the compound, so don’t go to New York and I’ll meet you there as soon as possible.”] Tony said.

[“Okay sounds like a plan, I love you.”] Stephen said.

[“Love you to.”] Tony replied then hung up, then put the office receiver back to his ear where he could hear Shuri talking still, with a silent groan he interrupted her again.

[“Princess no offence but there is no one I would be willing to help there.”] Tony said that he before hanging up. “Fri baby is the meeting still going on?”

“Yes boss, but you’re getting a call from the Council.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said.

(Ugh are you fucking kidding me right now.) Tony thought to himself as he pinched the bridge of his nose and to her to answer the call.

[“Head councilor what can I do for you?”] Tony asked taking his feet off his desk and sitting forward.

[“We need all the evidence you have on Ross; we wanted to know if the Rogue Avengers made any contact with you at all?”]

Tony spun around in his chair. [“Not yet, but I did learn Rogers is in the wind so…I’m sure he’ll find a way to get a hold of me.”]

The council member sighed. [“Great, what about the others and where did you learn this from?”]

[“It was an anonymous call unfortunately, it was untraceable, not even my AI was able to track it. And as far as I know they got into an argument and fought each other.”] He didn’t know why but he felt that he couldn’t rat out the Princess.

Tony could hear the council member grind his teeth together. [“Rogers is in the wind, great, right we’ll investigate that. Any other updates we need to know about Stark?”]

Tony stopped spinning his chair. [The Defenders you mean? No why would I hear from them? I’m solo remember, well sort of solo I help form Spider-Man occasionally.”]

The council member hummed. [“Alright well that’s all I needed to know I suppose I will be in contact again Stark.”] Said then hung up the phone.

Tony rubbed his face with both hands. “Baby girl let everyone know I’ll be leaving early and then see if you can find any trace of Rogers and let me know if or when you find him.”

“Right away boss.”

A few moments later Tony dragged his hands away from his face then looked at his watch sighing at the time, he picked up his cell and called Happy.

[“Hi boss what can I do for you?”] Happy asked once he picked up.

[“Yeah hi can you pick up Peter from school and bring him to The Compound, I forgot May left for a vacation and I told her I would take care of him.”] Tony said into the phone. [“Then come pick me up we’re going to get coffee.”] He added.

[“Already on my way to the school, and alright I’ll be there less than thirty at the tower.”] Happy said.

[“Sounds good, I’ll make a quick round to see what the departments are up to.”] Tony said getting up from his chair but then sat down again. [“Oh, and one more thing, order dinner for us tonight would you? And are you going to eat with us? Also, Stephen is going to be back so make sure you get him something.”] Tony asked then added.

[“I will do that too, what would you like? And no got an important dinner I must go to.”]

Tony wanted to ask but didn’t and just said. [“Surprise us.”] than hung up.

Tony sighed and rubbed his face with his hands again then laid his head on his desk then closed his eyes to rest and tried to clear his mind for a little bit but it’s nearly impossible with his mind going a mile a minute.

“Boss Rhodey is calling would like to answer” F.R.I.D.A.Y asked.

Tony sighed and lifted his head up from his desk debating on answering or not, his therapist said to go about things at his own pace and no one else but he still felt guilty about shutting the others out. His therapist said it was normal, and he trusted Peter, Stephen, and Happy because they haven’t known him long as Rhodey has but even then it doesn’t make sense because he known Happy and Stephen long before he knew Pepper. Tony groaned thinking about all this was giving him a headache, but he told himself he had to try so he told F.R.I.D.A.Y to leave it for voicemail he wasn’t in any mood to take any more phone calls.

Tony sat in his chair a few minutes then got up and did a quick run through the departments, he just got down with RND when F.R.I.D.A.Y told him that Happy was outside.

“Okay, great.” Tony said to himself as he stepped into his office and grabbed whatever was on his desk and made his way to the first-floor lobby then and into the backseat of Happy’s car, he sighed as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

************************     

The drive to the Compound was silent until Tony’s cell phone went off, with an irritated groan Tony answered it without looking at it.

[What?]

[Hey, it’s me, everything alright?]

Tony sighed in relief. (It’s just Stephen.) [Hi, sorry I had a lot of calls today that left me really irritated.] Tony said.

Stephen made a hmm sound. [Okay, well I’m here, want me to get the mail for you? Looks piled.]

Tony rubbed his face. [That’s good we’ll be there soon, and yea go for it and I know.]

[Alright see you soon.] Stephen said before hanging up.

(God I want this day over with) Tony thought to himself.

Tony looked down at his shoulder when he felt movement. (Right, he forgot that Peter had curled up to his side when he got in the car, he moved his hand from his lap and ran it through Peter’s hair instead.

Peter sighed in his sleep and Tony kissed the top of his head and leaned back in his seat.

“We’ll be there in a minute if you want to wake him up.” Happy said.

Tony nodded his head. “Alright.” he said than he gently whispered in Peter’s ear as he continued to run his hand through his hair. “Pete, you need to wake up honey.”

Peter’s eyes blinked open right away due to his enhanced hearing and the sound of Tony’s voice then slowly sat up, he rubbed at his eyes as he asked Tony if they were there yet.

“Just about.” Tony said as Peter sat up in his seat.

“Boss we’re here!” Happy called out a moment later.

“Is Stephen back yet?” Peter asked as they got out of the car.

“Yes, he’s waiting for us actually.” Tony replied.

“I’ll be glad he’s back, I’ve missed him, does he know you’re keeping an eye on me while May is out of town?”

Tony and Happy smiled fondly at Peter. “Yeah he knows.” Tony said and at the same time Happy said. “I don’t know why she left.”

Due to Peter’s powers, he was able to hear both of them and let out a nervous sigh, Tony clearly heard it too because he became tense.

The police called a couple days ago and said there haven’t been any sightings on the guy and to keep a look out. May, Tony, Stephen and even Happy were frustrated because as long as the guy was out their Peter was never going to be safe.

Tony pinched his nose then rubbed his forehead as a headache was forming, he let out a sigh, suddenly looking way older than he was. “I know the timing isn’t great and that guy hasn’t been spotted but her leaving couldn’t be helped and you know it, since it has something to do with her job and you know that she couldn’t get out of it. And I know it’s not safe, that’s why Peter is staying with Stephen and I and not at the apartment.”

Happy knew that but he couldn’t help but frown, this guy was able to hide in the shadows despite Tony’s technology and F.R.I.D.A.Y, it was worrying, he also knew logically that Peter was safe here, but he couldn’t help but fear that Peter’s safety was near the end. “Maybe we should pull him out of school while May is out of town, did she even say how long she’s going to be gone?” Happy said than asked.

It was Tony’s turn to frown. “You don’t think he’ll be safe at school?”

“Tony the guy was able to get the jump on Peter! And with his powers? He should have been able to overpower him in a heartbeat!! not to mention how he was able to get unseen in their apartment, they live on the 6^th floor! People are always in the halls, and no one sees anything. And who is to say that he’s not watching Peter? Peter being at school is the only chance this guy has at getting him because if he’s not at school he’s here!” Happy half shouted at Tony.

Tony and Peter just stood there speechless, Tony knew Peter’s attack and the guy still out there was getting so Happy but this? He wasn’t expecting this.

Peter was not wanting to linger on this subject as he was keeping something from them he decided to look around him instead, searching for something to distract them both with and he found his answer a moment later when he spotted Stephen come out of the compound and shouting excitedly.

“Stephen! Your back.” Peter said in excitement as he walked up to him and gave him a quick hug, who returned it.

“Hey Peter, Happy, Tony.” Stephen said as he let go of Peter.

Happy nodded his head in his direction and Tony did what Peter did but also gave him a kiss. And as they separated Tony noticed the envelope Stephen was holding and scowled at it. “Is that another letter from Rogers?” Tony asked.

Stephen looked down at it and said as he gave the letter to Tony. “No, don’t recognize the handwriting.”

“Who’s is it by then?” Peter asked curiously.

“Don’t know, lets worry about this later and do inside and think about something for dinner, Stephen do want to join us, or do you just want to crash for the rest of the day?” Tony suggested then asked as he put the letter inside his suit pocket. (Jet leg can be a bitch.) Tony thought.

“As much as I want to, think I’m going to crash…sorry Peter.” Stephen began then added when he noticed Peter’s face who just shrugged his shoulders then gave Stephen another hug and headed inside.

Tony and Stephen followed him behind and Happy followed them. “Okay I’ll see you later than.” Tony said as he kissed Stephen’s cheek stopping at the elevator and pressing the up button.

The elevator arrived a second later and Stephen smiled at Tony as they stepped inside it, but Tony paused once he realized Happy wasn’t following them. “Happy are not coming up?”

Happy shook his head. “No, I’ll stay down here and do a primate walk around, make sure everything is fine.”

Tony frowned but nodded his head and finished going inside and pressing the 10^th floor button.

It was silent in the elevator for a few minutes before Stephen broke it. “How’s Peter doing? He looks a little down.”

“Not well, I don’t think, he’s been…quiet, I’m not sure if it’s because of what happened, or what happened with me or because May had to leave town or all three, but I know I’m worried.” Tony replied.

Stephen took Tony in his arms and kissed the tip of his head. “he’ll be alright, might take a while but he’ll be alright.” Stephen reassured Tony, they stayed like that locked in each other’s embrace for the rest of the ride only breaking apart when it stopped, and the doors opened.

With a small sigh Tony let go of Stephen and stepped out with him following behind, then stopped in the hallway and turned around and gave Stephen another kiss.” Get some rest.”

Stephen kissed back then smiled, grabbed his luggage and headed towards his room. Tony’s eyes following him till he was out of sight, another sigh leaving him Tony asked F.R.I.D.A.Y where Peter was.

“Kitchen boss.”

Tony thanked her and headed to the kitchen. Upon reaching the kitchen he saw Peter looking through menus.

“What do you have on your mind tonight?” Tony asked as he entered the room.

Peter, without looking up, answered. “Noodles and Company? Door-Dash will deliver.”

Tony tilted his head to the side in thought, then shrugged. “Sure, why not, what are you getting?”

“I want the Cavatappi Lemon Parmesan with shrimp, you?” Peter asked putting the menu down and looking up, and it was then that he noticed Happy wasn’t there.

“Hmm, I’m going Orange Chicken Lo Mein.” Tony answered.

“Where did Happy go?” Peter asked after Tony answered.

“Happy is patrolling in the area before he goes home.” Tony said then added. “Fri baby girl.”

“Already ordered boss, would you like me to add something for the Doctor?”

Tony thought for a second then shook his head. “Nah he’ll most likely be out the rest of the day.”

“Alright, food will arrive in an hour boss.” F.R.I.D.A.Y said.

“Oh.” That was all Peter could say in the moment.

Tony sensing something was wrong he walked over and sat down across from him. “You alright?” Tony asked concerned. “You know you can talk to me about anything right?” He added.

“I will be…I am, and I’m…I’m just not ready to talk yet.” Peter said putting his head down on the table.

Tony let out a soft sigh, nodding his head. “Why don’t work on your homework in your room? I’ll have F.R.I.D.A.Y let you know when the food is here.” Tony suggested.

Peter stared at Tony for a minute. “Yeah okay.” Peter said and got up from the table. “You’ll tell me who’s the letter is from right?” Peter asked just before leaving.

“Of course I will.” Tony said.

Peter gave Tony a small smile as he left the kitchen.

Tony waited for a few minutes before he took out the letter. “Alright, let’s see who you’re from, Baby girl you recognize the handwriting?” Tony said then he asked opening it.

1. I.D.A.Y took a few minutes before she said something. “No, I do not boss.”

“Ugh!” It was Tony’s intelligent response as he ripped the letter open, and from the first line he had a clue on who this letter was from, Tony grinded his teeth but started reading it.

Mr. Stark.

You don’t have to read this, you can just throw it out and forget about it, I wouldn’t blame you if you did but if you do decide to read this,

I know I’m the last person you want to hear from, I know nothing I do can make it right, nothing I can say will make it better, I could say I wish, or I should have but that won’t mean much. I could say I’m sorry but that isn’t enough, even though I AM SORRY I could say if I could undo it all I would in a heartbeat WHICH I WOULD, I could say I wasn’t lying to you when I remembered everything I did I’M NOT. I could ask if there was a way I could make it better BUT THERE ISN’T. but I can say that I’m glad you made it out of Siberia THE FIGHT should not have HAPPENED and that you’re doing well, I can also say that I’m glad your friend survived the fall I HOPE HE’S DOING OKAY, I really am SORRY.

Sincerely James Barnes.

Tony breathed in deeply and let it out slowly, his fingers tips tapping the piece of paper, as he noticed several things as he read the letter first was that it seemed genuine, second it seemed genuine. He was having a hard time admitting that the letter sent from Rogers tasted of blame but Barnes. He seemed genuinely sorry and not expecting anything.

(Seriously? Rogers sends a piece of shit letter and Barnes his supposed Best Friend sends him a genuine apology letter? What the fuck is his life? Also going to have to call the princess back.) He said thought.

Groaning he stood up and put the letter back into his suit pocket and headed to his room, pausing when he noticed Stephen sleeping in Tony’s bed and silently changed into jeans and a t-shirt and went to Peters room as he wanted to keep peter in eye site as long as possible.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 15. Stephen’s New Friend and A Lead.

After being in Peter’s room for an hour F.R.I.D.A.Y said that the food was here, and Tony went and grabbed it and put it the fridge to eat later since both weren’t hungry anymore and went back to Peter’s room. Tony was about to suggest something, but he saw the time and decided to suggest they headed to bed.

Peter rubbed his eyes tiredly and put away his schoolbooks than watched as Tony stood up and stretched his back. Feeling eyes on him Tony turned to Peter and flashed a tired smile on him then reached down and kissed Peter on top of his head, causing Peter to flush but smiled up at Tony.

“Good night kiddo, we’ll see you in the morning yeah?” Tony said straighten back up and stood there till Peter gave a response.

“Night Mr. Stark.” Peter said getting under his covers

With one last quick good night Tony left Peter’s bedroom and slowly made his way to his and just stood in the doorway with his head leaning on the frame staring at Stephen. Smiling Tony took sight of Stephen laying in his bed he looked peaceful and at ease in his bed, he looked like he belonged there, still smiling he moved fully into the room and closed the door lightly behind him. Quiet as possible Tony got undressed and carefully slipped into the bed trying not to jostle Stephen and wake him up and slide behind Stephen, carefully he kissed Stephen’s shoulder then wrapped his arm around him then froze when he felt Stephen move.

“Ony I’s at u?” Stephen asked sleepily.

Tony couldn’t help the big smile that came across his face. (He’s so adorable, although I wouldn't want to tell that to his face.) Tony thought. Tony shushed Stephen. “Shh, yes, go back to sleep.”

It was silent for a while so Tony thought Stephen would go back to sleep, so he finished putting his arm around Stephen then rested his head next Stephen and just closed his eyes then as he was about to fall asleep he heard. “K, wuv you.” Tony couldn’t help the snort and chuckle that came out for his life, Tony tightened his arm around Stephen, kissed his head and was asleep by the time his head hit the pillow.

***********************                   

The next morning Tony was standing in front of the stove cooking, Peter was sitting at the island, Stephen was standing near the coffee pot waiting, they were silent till Tony asked something.

“So, what happened with the daughter again?” Tony asked without looking.

Stephen looked at Tony then turned to the pot and leaning forward on the counter. “I told you she was sleeping with her father’s intern and didn’t want him to know.”

Tony groaned flipping bacon. “I know but I want details, how’d you find out and you two friends now? And how did the event go and what was her name again?”

Stephen sighed. “You’re not going to let this go are you?”

Tony shook his no. “Nope, so spill.”

“The event itself was boring but since it was for a good cause I stayed and donated a few thousand. {Stephen shrugged his shoulders.} her name is Amelia her mother’s side is Italian, anyway yes we’re friends not close one’s but friendly and I’m not GBFF so don’t go there. {Stephen laughed slightly.} it’s funny the only reason I found out was because I walked in on them while they were having sex.” {Tony and Peter burst out laughing.} Stephen said getting two coffee mugs out and taking the creamer out of the fridge.

“Bet that was awkward.” Peter said.

Stephen laughed lightly again. “Oh, it was, it was pure silent, neither of us knew what to say and to make it more awkward I said. “Okay I’ll see you later.” and walked out.”

{They all laughed again.}

“You said you were friends; did you tell her about her father’s request?” Tony asked putting the bacon on a plate then started making the omelets.

“I did yeah, think I told her after a week, she was surprised but I think it was because he hired an actual Doctor and not another detective.” Stephen said pouring creamer and coffee in both mugs.

“How pissed was she?” Tony asked mixing seasoning and the eggs together. “Pete can you set the table?” He added.

“Yes.” Peter replied as he got up from the island.

Stephen brought the coffee mugs to the island. “Actually, she wasn’t pissed irritated but otherwise didn’t react.”

“Must happen a lot than.” Peter commented as he grabbed plates. “Is anyone else joining or is it just us three?” he added pausing.

Without looking up Tony said. “Yeah just the three of us, and most of gotten close enough to know where her mother’s family is from. What did you tell the father?”

Stephen sat down Tony’s mug at his spot before sitting down at his. “Nothing told him it’s nothing bad just…something she’d need to tell herself, told him she’ll tell him when she’s ready and to leave it alone, it’ll be better that way for both party’s”

“That was good advice, what did he say to that? I can’t picture it went well.” Tony asked adding the egg mixer to the frying pan. “Pete can you take the potato’s out of the oven? And be careful! Healing powers or not.”

“He looked like he was going to throw a fit, but he didn't instead he sighed and “Fine.” …and that was the end of that I spent the rest of the time site seeing and getting to know Amelia…oh I didn’t take the money he offered I would have felt like a major Asshole taking that money.” Stephen said after taking a sip of his coffee.

“Hmm, well I’m glad everything worked out, I’m glad your home.” Tony said, mixing another omelet while the first one was cooking.

“Are we going to meet this Amelia?” Peter asked getting the silverware out.

“Ask Tony?” Stephen said where he sat, his cup halfway towards his mouth.

“Maybe I’ll see.” Tony said, then added. “Peter the potatoes!”

Peter gasped. “Oh right!” Then hurried to the oven and grabbed the oven mitt from Tony’s hand when he noticed he was going to us his bare hands, Peter just smiled sheepishly up at Tony who snorted at him and went back to the oven, with Stephen chuckling from the island.

Peter ignored both of them and took out the baking sheet with three tin foiled potatoes on it and set it on the towel that was placed on the counter for this purpose.

Tony and Stephen laughed at Peters antics, Peter who was still ignoring them asked instead. “Who’s is who’s?”

Still chuckling Tony motioned for Stephen to bring the plate’s over to him, who did without any protest. “The bigger one is yours and the smallest one is Stephen’s.” Tony said putting the first omelets on the first plate then added the other mixer to the frying pan, and as he started the last mixer for his omelet. “Can you put the oven on warm and put the bacon in it?”

“Of course!” Stephen said doing what he was asked.

“Why do I have the bigger one? I would have been happy with the smaller one.” Peter asked as he opened the tin foil on the potatoes.

“Because you need more food than the rest of us, and besides Stephen doesn’t eat much starch if he can help it.” Tony said with a tease at the end while adding the seasoning he wanted in his omelet.

“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with eating healthy you should try it sometime!” Stephen said walking over to peter.

“There’s a time to eat healthy and a time to eat junk food! Besides some carbs are actually good for you!” Tony said as he flipped the omelet. “And you have no room to tell talk, you have a sweet-tooth sweeter than mine!” Tony added.

“You can’t judge with your obsession with coffee!!” Stephen grumbled as he made his way back towards the island and picked up his coffee and took a sip.

“Touche!.” Tony said glancing at his own mug sitting at his spot at the island longingly.

Peter snickered at them, covering a hand over his mouth to stop him from laughing out loud.

*****************               

Twenty minutes later the food was all cooked and their belly’s fed they moved to the living room and turned on a Tv show on Netflix when Peter remembered something. “Did you read the letter yet Mr. Stark?”

Tony sighed inwardly he hoped it would have been forgotten. “Yes last night.”

Stephen turned towards Tony when Peter asked the question, wanting to know as well.

“Well?” Stephen asked when Tony didn’t answer.

Tony sighed outward this time. “It was an apology letter sent by Barnes not Rogers.”

Peter scowled at the Tv; Stephen scoffed. “Was it worse than Rogers?” Stephen asked.

“Actually, it was an apology letter, and by the sounds of it’s genuine” Tony admitted.

Stephen scoffed again and Peter looked at Tony. “Really?” Peter asked.

“I want to read it.” Stephen declared.

“You want to ready it?” Tony asked.

“I do to.” Peter also declared.

Tony looked at both of them, asking himself if this was a good idea or not but he got up from the couch and went and got the letter anyway and handed it to Stephen first.

Stephen didn’t make any sound as he read and neither did Peter when Stephen it to Peter after he was done reading it. “I suppose it seems legit.” Stephen said as Peter set the letter down on the coffee table.

“I don’t want to read much into it, but I believe it, I mean compared with Rogers’s letter, he was blaming me but Barnes? Sounds like he’s blaming himself.” Tony said standing near the table looking down at the letter.

“What did Rogers say?” Peter asked looking up at Tony.

“I never mentioned it?” Tony asked confused.

“You did but you never told me what he wrote.” Peter replied.

“Basically, he just told Tony that it was all his fault what happened and what’s happening with them, accusing him of tearing the team apart and so on.” Stephen said before Tony could say anything.

Peter scoffed. “He’s full of shit!”

“Language!” Tony and Stephen both said at the same time.

Peter huffed and crossed his arms and leaning back onto the couch with a pout on his face.

Tony sighed. “Let’s just keep watching movies till we need to get up and do something.” And sitting back on the couch and leaned on Stephen.

Without saying anything Stephen and Peter nodded their heads and got comfy and told F.R.I.D.A.Y to play a random movie and they stayed like that most of the morning and the afternoon till Stephen got a call to go in into work despite the fact that he was supposed to have the day off.

 Later in the evening Tony was in the lab by himself when F.R.I.D.A.Y interrupted.

“Boss.”

Tony didn’t speak nor did he look up just hummed in response to let her know that she had his attention despite working.

“A camera picked up a sighting of the guy who almost killed Peter.” F.R.I.D.A.Y announced.

Tony’s head snapped up. “Where?” Tony demanded.

“Atlanta.” was her response.

Tony blinked slowly trying to wrap his head around that. (That’s a hike.) Tony thought, shaking his head Tony said. “F.R.I.D.A.Y call the local police Station and suggest to them to call the Manhattan police.”

“Of course, boss.”

Tony sighed as much as Tony wanted to be there to help but he couldn’t, he had to let the police do their job, he turned off the flashlight he was using and set it down, he took off the gloves and threw them on top of the table and left the lab.

As he was making his way towards the elevator he couldn’t help but hope the asshole won’t escape this time, but he wasn’t going to keep his hope up because the guy was a snake, and snakes don’t get caught with their pants down.

Tony huffed as his phone started ringing but answered. {Tony Stark speaking.}

{Mr. Stark this is… [there was a very long pause and Tony wondered if they hung up but spoke almost too quiet to hear.] Barnes. [Tony tensed and froze for a second but before he could do anything Barnes spoke again.]

{Before you hang up! There’s a problem, I know Shuri called you before and I know you don’t want to be involved but…I don’t know anyone else to call.} Barnes said in one breath.

Tony stood in the hallway, elevator open tense for a long moment before sighing and pinched his nose in frustration, he could feel a headache coming. As much as Tony didn’t want to get involved, in this moment he felt like he had no choice but to because if Barnes called and not the princess it must be bad. And as much as he wasn’t ready to interact with Barnes, yet he felt no need to hang up in anger or sadness. {If your calling must be bad and Rogers must be involved somehow.}

Tony hear Barnes huff in annoyance and dread filled in Tony’s stomach.

{They need to be stopped and Wakanda is in trouble, they are getting out of hand! I can’t do anything! Most of the guards are in the hospital.}

Tony’s jaw dropped. {WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OVER THERE?} Tony shouted into the phone.}

{The princess called you. Right and told you what Steve told the Witch to do?} Barnes asked.

(How could I forget?) Tony thought his next one was (Where is this going?) followed by (Fuck I’m going to have to go there don’t I?) {Yes.}

{Steve came back for the others.} That was all Barnes said and that was all he needed to say. {Where is the king and the princess right now?} Tony asked.

{Both out of commission it’s why I called you.} Barnes admitted.

Tony breathed deeply. (Dear fucking god!) {Are they dead?} Tony asked actually afraid to know the answer.

{No, both are alive but the princess nearly didn’t make it, but she’s going to be okay, the king is healing and currently pissed.}

(Don’t blame him.) Tony thought. Tony cleared his throat {I don’t suppose you know where the rogues are do you?}

Barnes sighed on the other end of the phone. {No, they left as soon as most of the guards and the royals got put in the hospital, I also don’t know Steve anymore so I don’t know where he would go, and I don’t know any of the others so…I’m sorry I can’t help you with that.} Barnes said somber.

(When is it ever easy?) Tony asked himself. Tony didn’t want to ask this question, but he had no choice. {What do you need my help with?}

{I may have only one arm, but I can still shoot and track you point me in the right direction and give me any personal information because Hydra didn’t have much on any of them beside the Witch but whatever the Witch held dear no longer exists.}

Tony stayed quiet thinking. {I can have F.R.I.D.A.Y keep a look out, and I’m not sure I know them anymore than Hydra did because I apparently didn’t know them at all. And you’re not doing it alone Winter Soldier or not there to much to handle, Spider-Man and I can help but it might be a while because there’s something going on over here.}

Barnes was silent than. {Okay your right, I’ll…what do you want me to do?}

Tony took a deep breath. {Get back here, come to the Compound, I’ll get you here unnoticed.}

{Are you sure?} Barnes asked hesitantly.

{Yes, got your letter.} [A pause.] {it’s fine come here; you’ll be safe I promise.} Tony said not sure why he said that…but he meant it.}

{If you’re sure Mr. Stark I’ll come, after I make sure everyone here is safe, with most of the guards and the king and princess in the hospital I should stay here until at least the guards are better and take over.}

{That’s a good idea, keep me posted and…keep your eyes out for them a sharp eye.} Tony said.

{Alright.} was Barnes’ last words as he hung up, and leaving Tony still standing in the hallway in front of the now closed elevator.

Chapter Text

In the months that followed both calls were tense, and explaining to Peter that the guy that almost killed him had finally made a fatal mistake was hard, and that also explaining that the rogues were more dangerous than ever. Tony thought and that Barnes called asking for help was a lot easier than expected.

Barnes called weekly on how Wakanda was doing, the king had healed nicely but since the guards and the princess were human it was taking a lot longer.

The rogues were still in the wind, no one had seen them, and Tony was getting concerned as a large group and a careless one at that, someone should have spotted them by now.

Currently Tony was sitting at the island watching Stephen cook lunch, Peter was still in his room. He could tell Stephen was tense, he has been since Tony told him about the guy who finally made a mistake and about Barnes’s call, sighing Tony got up and wrapped himself around Stephen’s waist and held tight. They stood like that for a bit longer before Tony broke the silence.

“It’ll be okay, the officer that came by and said that he was going straight to prison without bail and without a possible parole, as they found someone else’s kids blood on him.” Tony said softly in Stephen’s ear.

Tony felt more than he heard Stephen sigh. “I’m glad he’s going away but that’s not why I’m worried.”

Tony let Stephen go and stepped away to give him room. “Then what?”

Stephen sighed again turning the stove off. “Tony the rogues are in the wind, and we have no idea where they are or what their plan is.” “Can you grab three plates please?” Stephen added.

Without saying anything Tony did what he was asked. “I mean how can F.R.I.D.A.Y of all things not able to find them?” Stephen kept going. “FRI can you tell Peter that lunch is ready?”

“Of course, Doctor.” was her reply.

Setting the plates down on the counter, Tony looked at Stephen. “I’m worried about that to and it’s fucking weird, they must have stolen something before leaving Wakanda.”

Stephen took a deep breath. “Has Barnes called this week?” Stephen asked changing direction.

Tony clicked his tongue before he answered. “No, not yet but the last time I talked to him he said T’Challa was on bored taking the rouges down.”

Stephen snorted. “They took out his guards, nearly killed his sister and destroyed his home.” Stephen said as Peter came into the room, he didn’t say a word when he came in just sat down at the island, Stephen and Tony shared a look than sighed.

Stephen dished lunch on the plates and handed two to Tony before grabbing his own and the forks.

“Are you okay bud? You didn’t come out for breakfast this morning?” Tony asked as he set his plate down in front of him.

“Yeah, I’m fine just stayed up studying last night with Ned is all.” Peter said.

Tony didn’t believe him, but he didn’t call him out on it, he just sat down across from him and as Stephen came to the island Tony could tell he didn’t buy it either, wanting to change the subject to something light he asked. “May called me last night.”

“Yeah?.” Peter asked taking a bite of food.

“Yeah, we were talking, and we were thinking that it was a good idea you live here permanently, what do you think?” Tony asked casually.

Peter blinked shocked looking between Tony and Stephen, who shrugged in response and sat up. “Really?”

Tony smiled. “Yes, you’re here most of the time and with May is always working with the promotion she got has longer hours, we think it’ll be a good idea.”

Peter smiled. “I would love that! I gotta speak to Ned.” Peter said in excitement and got up from the table and running out of the kitchen.

“Hey! Eat first.” Tony shouted but it fell on deaf ears, Tony slumped in his seat, Stephen laughing next to him.

“I think that’s a yes Tone.” Stephen said.

Tony laughed slightly and turned to Stephen. “I guess so.”

“Is May’s longer hours the only reason you want him here?” Stephen asked as he continued eating.

Ignoring his food. “Part, it’s just with the rouges out now, it’ll be safer here than at their apartment alone and with…you and me.” Tony said.

Stephen smiled fondly at Tony. “Yeah, he will.” {A pause.} “Eat, you need food.”

Tony rolled his eyes as he picked up his fork. “Yes mother.”

Stephen smiled smugly at Tony as he watched him eat than turned towards his own plate.

Tony just shook his head at him as he took another bite of food and nearly chocked when F.R.I.D.A.Y announced that Barnes was calling.

Tony stared at Stephen for a second than said “I’ll take this in our room stay here and if Peter asks don’t lie.” Stephen nodded his head and silently watching as Tony left food completely forgotten.

****************
Tony sighed as he reached his room, closing the door he told F.R.I.D.A.Y he’d answer on his cell.

{How’s it looking?} Tony asked as he answered.

Barnes didn’t answer right way. {It’s messy.} Was all Barnes could come up with.

Tony’s eyebrows arched. {Messy what do you mean messy?}

Barnes sighed. {Let’s just say a lot of people are pissed at the king at the moment, people are scared…} [Barnes paused.] {everyone one is really.}

{Yeah I bet, hey has T’Challa been able to find any leads? Because I got nothing and it’s scaring me.} Tony asked than admitted.

{No, nothing they’re laying low and since they are laying low my gut tells me It’s that Red Room girl.} Barnes said irritably.

(Red Room Girl?) Tony thought to himself. (Oh, wait does he mean Romanoff?) Tony remembered reading about the Red Room when he was going through Romanoff’s actual file, Tony wasn’t sure, so he asked anyway. {Red Room Girl?}

Barnes was quiet for a minute. {Yeah the Black Widows?} Barnes half asked and half stated.

Tony rolled his eyes. {I know that I mean what do you know about them?}

After minutes of silence Tony thought Barnes hung up but then. {I trained them.}

Tony opened his mouth. {Oh.} was the only thing he could get out.
Tony wanted to ask more but he knew now wasn’t the time for that, so he said instead. {Than there’s no finding them than?}

Barnes sighed. {No, The Red Room and The Winter Solider trained her well, she was one of the best students.}

{Great, waiting.} Tony groaned. {How is everyone healing?} Tony asked changing the subject and by the sound of a relief sigh so was Barnes.

{Doing better, there is still some minor healing to go but otherwise it’s going well.} Tony could tell there was some relief there as well.

{Well enough to come back to the US?} Tony asked.

{Packing as we speak. [Barnes paused.] I can’t stay here any longer…but at the same time I can’t help but think they’re out there waiting for me to leave, and my gut is telling they are.} Barnes finished with much hesitation.

Tony sat down on the bed and hung his head and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. (So, he’s been thinking of that to?) {Do you have any idea what they want with you? Or do they want back inside Wakanda?}

Barnes gave out a humorless chuckle. {Honestly I don’t have a clue, this isn’t the Stevie I grew up with so I can’t really say what he wants other than him being obsessed with me. [Barnes paused.] the others probably want back in…I don’t know.}

Tony’s heart went out to him it really did, he took a deep breath. {After your done packing what’s your plan?}

{T’Challa is going to use Shuri’s Remote Access Kimoyo Beads to drive one of the jets.} Barnes said, Tony could hear a zipping noise.

Tony sat up straight. (Of course, the jets!) Tony thought. {Have T’Challa bring the jet straight to the Compound.}

{I will, I gotta go Shuri is waving at me with a too much if a excited grin, see you in five hours, [Barnes paused again.] I hope.} he added as an afterthought.

Tony laughed. {see you soon.} and hung up hoping his gut was wrong.
***************************
Tony sat in his room for several minutes before getting up and going back to the kitchen, he could hear Peter and Stephen talking, they both looked up at him when he walked in and sat down.

“How did it go?” Peter asked.

Tony leaned back into his seat. “No leads, the kingdom is angry at the King, guards are still healing but it’s minor and if everything goes right Barnes will be here in five hours or so.”

Stephen took a sip from his drink. “That’s a good thing, why do you look like death.”

Tony gave a pointed look towards Stephen who just shrugged his shoulders.

“Learned a few things and Barnes feels like their all just waiting for him to leave he’s not sure if they’re waiting to snatch at first chance or try breaking in Wakanda and if I’m being honest I feel like that too.” Tony said leaning forward on the table.

“What-…. the conversation got cut off by a cell going off and F.R.I.D.A.Y saying, “Peter May is calling.”

Peter looked back and forth between Tony and Stephen. “Go ahead, answer it in your room.” Tony said.

Peter gave them both a look before he got up and left the kitchen in a hurry and could hear in a very enthusiastic down the hall. “Hi May!”

“What do you mean?” Stephen asked turning his full attention to Tony bring the conversation back on track.

“While we were talking on the phone as he was packing he said he felt like if he left they were waiting, waiting for him to leave and make their move to either grab him or get back into Wakanda, and I feel it to, I don’t know why but Stephen I feel fear.” Tony said getting up from the table and gathering everyone’s plates Tony needed something to keep himself busy.

Stephen got up and started gathering containers to put the food away.

“How is he getting here?” Stephen asked as he put food in the containers than into the fridge, than went to the sink where Tony was and started to help out there.

“Shuri is letting T’Challa use her Remote Access Kimoyo Beads to drive one of their jets, I told Barnes to tell him to bring it straight here.” Tony answered as he filled the dishwasher with the dishes Stephen was handing him.

“Alright, and you guys have a bad feeling about this?” Stephen asked as he loaded the rest of the dishwasher and added the pod than turned towards Tony and grabbed him and pulled him into his arms and grabbed his hands after he started the dishwasher.

Tony groaned and held onto Stephens’ hands tightly. “Logically I know nothing can happen to Barnes, but there’s this deep fear in me that something is going to go wrong, and Rogers and the rest of the rogues are going to be the cause of it. I mean look at what they caused already!” Tony said as he pointed out.

“Tony baby your being overly paranoid and so is Barnes.” Stephen said as he pulled Tony into his chest.

Tony groaned into Stephen’s chest and sighed but didn’t reply and for a while they stood just like that till Peter came back into the kitchen and then they separated.

Peter stopped in the doorway with a look Tony nor Stephen was able to decipher. Than awkwardly asked like any kid would do when they catched their parents doing something. “Where you having sex?”

Tony couldn’t think of anything to say so Stephen had to stutter out an answer.

“Umm, no-we-were just ah-he’s been worried so I… no?” Stephen finished lamely with a question.

Peter raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything about it and just said. “May sends her regards and hopes everything goes well.”

“Did she say when she was coming back?” “Stephen asked because Tony was still mortified which caused Stephen to smirk down at him and teased. “I didn’t know you could be so silent.”

Tony shook his head to clear it and shoved Stephen slightly in response.

Which Stephen just laughed at, than in which Tony ignored instead he focused on Peter. “Is May coming back yet?” Tony asked again since it wasn’t answered the first time.

Peter just shook his head. “Not yet, [Peter frowned as he paused] she really didn’t say just said soon baby.”

“Hmm, well sounds like her bosses like her so that’s good.” Tony said walking away from Stephen and towards Peter and pulled him into a hug than kissed the top of his head.

Stephen gave them soft smile than sighed as he looked down at his watch it wasn’t that late, but the jet leg was still kicking his ass, then walked over to them and joined in the hug before saying he was taking a nap.

Tony and Peter watched him leave. “He’s going to be like that for a couple of day’s isn’t he?” Peter asked as they broke the hug.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing he still has a week off work to shake it off, well as long as he doesn’t get called in like yesterday.” Tony said as he gently moved Peter to the living room than stopped mid step which caused Peter to stop shortly.

“What?” Peter asked confused.

Tony frowned than asked. “What day is it?, shouldn’t you be in school?”

Peter looked at Tony confused for a minute or two than realized Tony didn’t remember. “Since you guys pulled out of school because it wasn’t safe, but since the guy was caught I have the rest of the week off remember?.”

Tony stared at Peter than recalled the conversation he had with Pepper and Happy. “Right, well what are you going to do?”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “Can you and Happy bring me to the school and get my missing work?”

Tony thought for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, want to go now?”

Peter nodded his head right away. “Yeah, the sooner the better.” He said before running out of the room.

Tony watched him go and sighed as he took his cell out of his pocket and sent a text to Happy. Peter wants to go to the school together and get his missing work, meet us downstairs in 10.}

After putting his phone away he went into his room, laid a kiss on Stephen’s forehead and left a note where they had gone before going to the elevator to wait for Peter.