Chapter 1
Tony stood in front of the full length mirror, looking at himself in his suit. And all he could imagine was not the happy married life he’d have with Steve from this day on, not the moment where he’d go home with Steve and finally be able to call him his husband for the first time. But instead, all he could see imagine in the mirror right now was blood all over his suit, all over his face. Bruises that ached and cuts that bled. His soon to be husband’s attempt to kill him.
The realization of it all made him go numb, frozen in his spot. His heart shattered and the fragments danced across the floor as he asked himself what the hell he was doing there. He can’t be here. He can’t do this.
He was pulled out of the whirlpool of his thoughts when he heard a soft wshh from nearby. In front of him a ring of light with sparks flying around appeared and a man stepped through.
“Mr. Stark, I’m Doctor Stephen Strange, I need you to come with me” the man said. When Tony had no response but the look of confusion on his face, it made Stephen read the room. “Oh, right. You’re getting married tonight. Dammit”
“…no, not anymore” Tony answered. “Let’s go”
“Oh. You’re wearing the tux so I assumed…” Stephen trailed off. “You know what I probably read the date wrong, follow me” Stephen turned around, but then paused after one step before turning around and facing Tony. “Wait what do you mean not anymore?”
“I’m calling it off, is what I mean”
“So…I’m essentially helping you runaway right now?”
“Yes.”
“…alright then”
Stephen turned back around and Tony followed him through the portal, looking behind him to make sure no one came into the room and saw him or tried to stop him.
The place Stephen led them to was the sanctum sanctorum. But to Tony who had no idea anything like that even existed, he just thought it looked like an old dusty museum and library. The colours around the place were dull and just overall brown. It almost made Tony feel more depressed that he already did, if that’s possible.
“So what do ya need me for, doc?” Tony asked, putting his hands into his pockets.
“I’m sure you’re familiar with Dr. Doom,” Stephen started.
“Unfortunately” Tony nodded.
“He has decided to grace us with his presence and swing by to try and swipe a very important and dangerous artifact, to which, he failed. And he then he decided that if he couldn’t have it, neither can we, so he encapsulated it in some sort of…contraption, which had a timer on it for 6 days” Stephen continued. “We’ve tried destroying the contraption or casting spells to dismantle it, but every attempt only brought us a day closer til the timer goes off and we are currently at 3 days”
“So you need my genius brain to figure it out,” Tony estimated. Stephen nodded. “Why not take it to Wakanda?”
“Fury said to take it to you” Stephen answered.
“Wait, so that means Nick knows you came to get me” Tony stopped in his tracks.
“Yes,” Stephen stopped as well. “Why, are you in trouble and you’re scared he knows where you are?”
This meant that if the team goes to Nick in hopes he can help them find where Tony ran off to, he’ll tell them that he’s with the doctor, and then they’ll find out where this place is that the doctor took them, and they’ll come get him. And that is the last thing Tony needs. He needs to be alone. He needs space to think, to sort out his thoughts and feelings, to process the decision he made and why he made it.
“Never mind, let’s continue” Tony rubbed his neck, already exhausted.
Stephen led the way and after going to the end of the hall and turning a corner, they were met with the contraption in question. It immediately caught Tony’s eye and he stepped closer to it to examine. There were glowing purple streaks running through the exterior, similar to the streaks that were taking over his chest back when the arc reactor was running on Palladium and poisoning him.
“You’re gonna need to open another one of those sparkly rings to my workshop so I can get some tools and equipment” Tony told Stephen.
“I was thinking you could work on it at your place and not at the sanctum…where the many important artifacts can get damaged if something were to happen” Stephen said with a tone as if to say it should be obvious.
“No can do, they’ll find me there” Tony shrugged.
“Right, I forgot you ran away from your own wedding” Stephen gave him a fake smile.
“Yeah, I kinda did” Tony also shot him a fake smile, faux apologetically.
After a moment Stephen sighed and relented.
——
Steve was standing at the stage, posed and hands covering each other, eyes at the doors and waiting for them to open and for Tony to walk through. Along with Rhodey, Pepper, Natasha, Bruce, Thor, Bucky, and Sam waiting at either side, all the guests were waiting as well. The soft music played as they waited, and waited, and waited.
Worry began to settle in Steve. Something was just...off. And then a security guard hired by Stark Industries walked up to him and said something in his ear.
Cut to the team gathered up in the room where Tony was supposed to be getting ready.
"He ran away!? He's gone!?" Steve shouted in the dressing room. "Why! How!"
Everyone looked to the door upon hearing it open but it was just Natasha. She apologized for being late and said she just got off the phone with Nick, and told them that he didn’t know where Tony was either.
Which was a lie. Nick told her that he knew where Tony was, but didn’t tell her where. He said he didn’t want the team knowing anything and that he owed as much to Maria and Howard to protect their son at a moment like this when he can afford to. Natasha got the message loud and clear, and she agreed.
She knew a decision like this didn’t come at all easy to Tony. And she also knew it was inevitable. Because when Tony got back with Steve after Siberia, he was in the bargaining stage of grief, he wasn’t thinking straight. Everyone could see that. Everyone except Steve and Tony. And turns out tonight Tony hit the final stage. Acceptance.
"He's not answering my calls or texts," Pepper said, putting his phone back in his pocket.
"He probably turned his phone off on purpose," Rhodey predicted.
"Or, maybe, something small came up and he couldn't let us know because his phone's battery died" Bruce tried to give Tony the benefit of the doubt. Bucky nodded.
"Right before he's supposed to walk down the aisle? I don't think so" Sam shot it down.
“Pepper, Rhodey, you two know him best where could he have gone?” Steve rubbed his forehead in worry, pacing back and forth.
Pepper and Rhodey looked at each other before answering. “Workshop” they nodded.
They all immediately took off and headed toward the tower. Only to find that Tony was not there, yet all his belongings remained. Steve asked Friday if Tony came by and she told him everyone was denied access to any information entailing Tony.
Steve sat speechlessly on the edge of his and Tony’s bed, devastated. Looking at the two rings in his hand, a tear streamed down his cheek. “He’ll come back, you’ll see,” Bucky tried to comfort him, rubbing his shoulder. Steve just got up and took the elevator down to Tony’s workshop, asking Friday to lock the doors.
“Though I worry for little Stark, I have urgent business back at Asgard I must tend to. But I will be back in a few days to check in. Good luck” Thor told the team who were gathered in the living room. He made his way outside and Bruce excused himself saying he’d be right back and followed Thor.
“I’m gonna get out of this dress and start making some calls. See if I can find anything on his whereabouts,” Pepper stated before taking the elevator to Tony’s room. He always had extra clothes for Pepper in his room in case she ever stayed over while they discussed or sorted stuff out about Stark Industries.
“I’ll keep calling him,” Rhodey also decided.
——
Stephen watched as Tony tinkered with the contraption. He was in full focus but also aware of everything else around him too. It almost impressed Stephen, though he was too proud to ever acknowledge that.
“You know, even with my music blasting into my ears right now, I can still feel your eyes on the back of my head” Tony said as he paused his music and took his headphones off.
“You uh…you can stay here for a couple days til you finish everything, if you’d like” Stephen offered.
That made Tony stop what he was doing and turn around to look at Stephen to see if he was serious. He was. “We just met and I’m 100% sure you don’t like me, so what’s the catch?” Tony asked.
“You’re right, I don’t like you and I find you to be extremely egotistical and self obsessed. But I also know what it’s like to have your life turned upside down and need as much privacy and distance from everyone as possible” Stephen shrugged.
“Huh,” Tony raised a brow. Seems the doctor has a few of his own skeletons in the closet. “So what’s your deal? I’m assuming you were a doctor, hence the name”
“That is none of your business,” Stephen told him.
“…if you don’t tell me I’m gonna start screaming” Tony declared, in full seriousness. Would he really do that though? No. It’s just something he says whenever he wants the answers to something people aren’t telling him, and it usually works for the most part.
And for some reason Stephen wouldn’t put it past him to actually do that, so he figured he’d tell him something small and get it over with. “I used to be a neurosurgeon. That’s all you’ll get” Stephen said as he stood up from where he was sitting and went to the counter to get himself some more tea.
“Hm, ok. Were you ever interested in a different field?” Tony continued asking just to make some conversation.
Stephen figured it was harmless enough for a question and this one would really be the last. “I was into cardio during my internship but that’s all really,” he answered on last time.
“You spent all that time in cardio and suddenly you were chasing neuro? You’re unfocused and confused” Tony said, oddly wanting to see if he could push Stephen’s buttons.
It’s a game he likes to play to determine someone’s character. He likes to see whether they can handle it, or if they’ll immediately get offended and act like a priss. Or whether they’ll just straight up ignore him and move on.
“The man you love tried to kill you and you just called it quits on the night of your wedding? You’re unfocused and confused” Stephen shot right back.
A small smirk formed on Tony’s face. Seeing Stephen return the gesture unapologetically without getting all mad and emotional left him very impressed and intrigued.
“Excuse me while I go get your room ready and get you something comfortable to wear” the sorcerer stepped out of the room.
That’s when Tony noticed he was in fact still in his tux. That’s also when he decided he was ready to communicate with Pepper and Rhodey, so he fished out his phone from the inner pocket of his blazer, and scrolled to the group chat with the three of them.
TONY
Can you guys not say a word that I just texted you and discreetly go somewhere you can talk in private please
Within the next minute, he received a video call from Pepper through the group chat, and he accepted.
“Tony?! Where the hell are you, we’ve been worried sick!” Pepper immediately scolded him while keeping her voice as quiet as she could.
“Yeah, Tones, you could’ve at least sent a quick text man,” Rhodey agreed.
“I ran away from my own wedding, I didn’t exactly have the capacity to talk to anyone about it” Tony rubbed his eyes in frustration and fatigue.
“Exactly, let’s get to the elephant in the room. So you ran away. You’re okay? You weren’t kidnapped or…where even are you right now?” Pepper asked.
“I am at an ancient and magical library, helping a wizard save a magical artifact from its imminent doom” Tony answered.
“Cut it out, Tony. It’s not funny, we’re serious” Rhodey sighed, thinking Tony was playing another one of his games where he comes up with elaborate settings to lie about and say he is at when asked about his whereabouts.
“It actually is kinda funny, and I am also serious. Look,” Tony flipped the camera around and showed them the artifact and the sanctum.
“Oh my god,” Pepper said worried, still frazzled by everything. “Are you okay though? Are you hurt anywhere? Are you being blackmailed into helping the w…wizard?”
“Yes, I am fine. For now at least. The magic artifact is serving as a great distraction. And it was Fury who sent the wizard to ask me for help, so no he’s not blackmailing me into anything” Tony assured her.
“What do you want us to tell the others? Is there anything you want us to do right now?” Rhodey asked.
“I want you guys to tell them nothing. Don’t tell them you spoke with me or heard from me, don’t tell them you know where I am or that I’m fine- nothing” Tony said very specifically. “And Pep get me a secluded place somewhere far away from here. For the first time I will be taking a break from Avenger duties on my own will, effective immediately”
“Alright, I’ll get on it” Pepper nodded.
“Okay, I’ll keep in touch with you two and only you two. Go get some rest, good night” Tony said.
“Take care of yourself Tones. Night” Rhodey said before they all ended the call.
This prompted Tony to get up and look for Strange to ask where the clothes he could change into were. He was going to go back to working on the contraption and he’d like to do it in some comfort and not in the tuxedo for his wedding he ran from.
“Strange?” He called out as he walked down the hall. “You there?” He kept looking around but didn’t catch sight of the sorcerer.
He heard another wshh from behind and suddenly he was pulled back by someone. It was Stephen.
“Your room is ready. Here are your clothes,” Stephen handed a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie to Tony.
They were his own clothes but Stephen didn’t have a choice, it’s not like anyone ever had sleepovers at the sanctum so why would he be prepared with extra clothes for others? Also he was not about to open a portal to Tony’s bedroom and grab clothes from there instead, that’s an invasion of privacy and peoples bedroom’s specifically is a place Stephen is uncomfortable going into.
“Oh, thanks” walked over to the bed and set the clothes down. “I’ll be right down to continue working on the contraption”
“You’re not going to sleep?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’ve had a very…eventful night and you should get at least some rest before continuing to work?”
“No thanks”
Stephen stood there for a moment just staring at Tony, wondering why he has to be so stubborn. In the end he gave up and didn’t intend on trying to convince him he should sleep, as if Tony’s someone he cares about, so he just walked out of the room and made his way downstairs.
Only four hours later it was 3am, and Stephen walked by the hall and saw Tony was still working. Feeling a pang of pity at the emotionless and exhausted expression Tony had, Stephen secretly cast a spell to make him fall asleep.
He got his cloak to fly over and wrap itself around Tony and make him levitate so it can bring Tony to his room. Stephen watched as the cloak carefully laid Tony down on the bed and pulled the blanket over him. Satisfied, the sorcerer turned to leave but the cloak stopped him and pointed at Tony.
“What is it, is something wrong with him?” Stephen asked walking over to Tony’s side.
“Boss currently has a high fever,” Friday piped up from Tony’s phone, startling Stephen. “He has ignored my countless warnings, and said he was busy”
Stephen leaned over and pressed the back of his hand to Tony’s forehead and his cheek. “Good god is he insane?” Stephen winced from the heat.
That’s when a portal appeared and Wong walked in. “Hey, any updates on the contrap-” he cut himself off upon seeing Tony on the bed and unconscious. “Is that…”
“Yes, it is”
“Why? And how?”
“Fury told me to get him, and he’s been helping”
“Oh, okay” Wong nodded. “Is he sick? He seems to have broke out in a sweat”
“Yeah, he has a bad fever” Stephen nodded, glancing down at Tony.
“I’ll go get a bowl of water and a towel for you,” Wong offered.
Stephen thanked him. And when he came back, he told Wong that Tony would be staying there another couple nights and asked him to not tell anyone else. Wong agreed to it, no question.
Once he left the room to go make Tony some enchanted soup to heal him, Stephen directed his attention back to Tony.
He sat down on the edge of the bed by Tony’s side and dipped the towel in the water and wringed it before beginning to gently dab it on Tony’s skin. Which only compelled him to study the geniuses face.
Those photos he always saw of Tony in the news or in pictures were never bad, in fact he always looked unusually perfect, but they really didn’t do him justice. He tilted his head a little to the side, intrigued. Tony had thick lashes, and a small scar on his right cheek. He had virtually no pores and even with his hair as messed up as it was at the moment, he looked pretty. “How unfair” it made Stephen think.