Earth-517
This universe was…different, to say the least.
So much like his own yet so different. Stephen was sure he couldn’t maneuver his way around the city, though there are just so many differences that he finds himself, and America with him, lost.
“I’ve been to this universe before. Well I think. Lots of these universes look alike. Follow me, let’s go to the Sanctum.”
“Please tell me you aren’t leading me to my death.”
“Just trust me. We’re here for a reason, after all, Stephen.”
Stephen just huffs, nodding, before trailing slightly behind America as they walk towards the Sanctum Sanctorum.
The Sanctum looked fully familiar to him, but the inside most definitely did not. Stephen was greeted by the name “Supreme”, something that confused him, another note added of how he “looked different”, which to all he could think was ‘Well no shit, Sherlock. I’m not your universe’s Stephen’.
And then he locks eyes with Tony Stark. He calls him by “Supreme” as well, noting the difference between him, the Stephen Strange in front of him, and his Stephen. Supreme.
Anthony Stark gave Stephen some familiarity. So familiar yet so different. He was still Tony Stark. Iron Man. Yet his suit was chrome. Silver. And his eyes…his once warm brown eyes were now a stark light blue, the same color as the arc reactor in his chest.
“Or would you rather I call you Stephen.”
Stephen looks up at the Tony variant, not saying a word.
“Answer me, Stephen.”
The Tony-variant’s voice sent chills through his spine. It was still Tony, no doubt about it, but it also wasn’t.
“This isn’t your Tony,” America whispers into his ear, both his and her eyes trained on Tony Stark.
“Well no shit, Sherlock,” Stephen whispers back. “This definitely isn’t my Tony.”
“Your Tony? Oh whatever do you mean? I am your Tony.”
No you aren’t. You aren’t my Tony.
The two of them, Stephen and America, watch as Tony flies down from what Stephen could only consider to be his ‘throne’ to stand in front of Stephen.
This Tony was taller than Stephen, only by a few inches. Though it may just be the suit. A gauntleted hand grabbed Stephen’s waist, and Tony Stark kissed him.
Again, familiarity.
He’d kissed Tony Stark, his Tony Stark, hundreds of thousands of times in his own universe and the other 14,000,605 realities and universes he had seen before the blip occured in his universe. And this time, it felt oddly familiar, but something in the back of his head kept yelling to him “This isn’t your Tony! He never was and never will be! He has his own Stephen and it isn’t you!”.
“My Stephen.” Tony says softly, smiling.
It feels off, this Tony.
“I am…n-not your Stephen…”
“Oh, but you are, beautiful.”
You have Supreme. Supreme is your Stephen. I’m not your Stephen. I lost my Tony years ago.
The gauntleted hand doesn’t move from his waist, in fact, Tony’s grip on him only gets tighter. The other hand touches Stephen’s chin, forcing it up so he’s looking Tony in the eyes.
This Tony isn’t his. He knows it. The stark differences between this Tony and his Tony prove it. Half of his brain thinks this Tony is gorgeous and tries to connect this variant to his Tony, and the other half just panics at how vulnerable of a state he’s in, a gauntleted hand tight on his waist and a hand on his chin, practically anchoring him in place as this universe’s Tony Stark eyes him up and down like he’s his prey.
“You really are gorgeous, Stephen.” Tony says, voice low, just so only he could hear it. “Absolutely.”
Stephen gives Tony a skeptical look, unsure of what he was trying to plan or what he was doing, trying to calculate this Tony’s next move so he doesn’t end up as his prey.
“How could your universe give up someone like you?”
“No one gave me up.”
“Then why are you here then?”
“Because…Ah…” Stephen mumbles, trying to think of what to say other than ‘My Tony died years ago and that’s why I’m here’.
“Spit it out, pretty boy.” Tony says, gripping Stephen’s chin.
“His Tony Stark died years ago.” America blurts from a little ways behind the two men.
“I would have liked to hear that from Stephen himself, but that will suffice. What’s your name, miss?
“Chavez. America Chavez.”
“Ah, Miss Chavez. Thank you. But I’d prefer some alone time with your Stephen.”
And with that, Ultron bots grab America, putting handcuffs on her and taking her to who knows where. She screams, giving Stephen a worried look, one he returns before being forced to look back at Tony Stark.
“Where are you taking her?!”
“That’s none of your business, sweetheart. She’s safe, don’t worry.”
“She better-…You lay a hand on her and-!”
“And you what, sweetheart? You’ll kill me? Hurt me? Damage my armor?”
Yes. All of those. Don’t you fucking touch my kid.
And with a hand over his mouth, all Stephen can do is nod and glare at him.
“Sweetheart, you can’t do that.”
Tony’s voice plus the pet name just feels wrong. It’s clear in his mind that this Tony isn’t his and never will be, not like he wants him to be, but all of this…how this Tony speaks and acts…is just…wrong. Demeaning, even.
And why can’t I, hm?
Stephen pushes the hand off his mouth, doing his best to pin it to the Tony-variant’s side.
And the Tony-variant nearly blasts Stephen’s arm clean off. He misses, thank god.
“Don’t send me back to my universe without an arm.” Stephen snaps.
“Oh, I’d never do that, sweets. You’re safe with me.”
“Then let me go.” Stephen replies coldly, glaring into the electric blue eyes of the Tony Stark variant in front of him.
Moments later, both hands are off him and he can finally breathe properly, with a note of “if you wish, my dear” coming from Tony.
“What’s your deal? And who are you?” Stephen questions as the cloak flutters around his shoulders.
“I’m Tony Stark.”
“No you aren’t…you aren’t Tony.“
“Not your Tony, but I am Tony. And my deal? Oh, you poor soul, you’re the one trespassing in my universe.”
Stephen’s mouth forms a line. “Seriously, Tony. What is your deal with me and America?”
“Oh, I couldn’t care less about the girl…but I could ask the same to you, Stephen, as you aren’t my Stephen and I am definitely not your Tony, as you have made oh so clear.”
Stephen remains silent, unsure of what to say. Because he was right. He wasn’t this universe’s Stephen Strange and this Tony wasn’t Stephen’s universe’s Tony Stark.
But he’d be damned if he said he didn’t miss his Tony Stark. 616 Anthony Edward Stark. His Tony, his Iron Man.
“Cat got your tongue, caramella?”
“N-No. Who…Who are you?!”
“As I’ve said, I’m Tony Stark. Or Anthony, if you prefer. I’m also Iron Man. Superior Iron Man.”
That’s why you’re so different. You aren’t my Tony. You aren’t like my Tony at all! You’re the complete opposite of him!
“You…you’re the complete opposite of Tony Stark.”
“Your Tony Stark, hon. I am Tony Stark after all, my love.”
“I’m not your Stephen.”
“As is abundantly clear.”
“So why are you calling me what you would call your Stephen…what you would call Supreme?”
“You’re still Stephen. Maybe not exactly my Stephen. But still Stephen, my dear. And I love my universe’s Stephen as you loved your universe’s Tony.”
“I did…” Stephen starts, a flash of memories from his Tony in his head. “But you are so far from my Tony.”
“And you are so far from my Stephen, but still as gorgeous.”
“What do you want with me?”
“You walked in here of your own accord, honey, I think I should ask that of you, now shouldn’t I?”
Maybe you should.
“Should I have you meet my Stephen? We can talk together about what we should do, hm? That sounds wonderful, huh, my dear?”
Stephen felt trapped, not even realizing that this Tony…that Superior’s hands were on him again.
“Tony-…”
“Hm? What, amore?”
“I…we can decide this without…Supreme…but I want the kid back.”
“After.”
“After what, Superior?”
“Tony. You call me ‘Tony’, is that clear, honey? You call me Tony.”
“T-Tony.”
“Awh, you’re so cute when you stutter. Supreme would like you.”
“Oh, are you sure about that, Superior?”
And with that, Tony grabbed Stephen by the throat. “It. Is. Tony.”
“Tony, then. Fine. But answer me.”
“You are in no position to demand, sweetheart.”
“What else would you rather I do, Tony? Get on my knees and beg?”
He was sure to get himself in trouble for that.
“You could get on your knees for something else if you’re so adamant.”
Stephen’s eyes simply widen, and he says nothing. He focused on the gauntleted hand around his throat as it slowly let go, and he felt himself drop to the floor, unaware he was even lifted off the ground.
“Since you aren’t talking, dearest, I’ll fall for Supreme, maybe he’ll help get something out of you.”
Superior-…Tony…sounded like a menace.
Well, more sadistic, anyways.
Stephen refrained from saying much, considering he didn’t trust this variant of Tony Stark.
And he’s met only one of his variants before, even though said variant was dead…so it’s safe to say he was worried about meeting Supreme.
“F.R.I.D.A.Y., dear? Please tell Supreme to meet me here immediately.”
“Will do, Superior.”
“You see, darling, only those who work for me call me Superior. And you don’t work for me, now do you?”
Tony looked incredibly tall from where Stephen was, sat on his knees on the floor of this universe’s Sanctum Sanctorum. And it was easy for him to feel vulnerable as Tony talked down to him, literally and figuratively.
“Oh, honey, what did you do? Who did you find?”
That voice was his. But it wasn’t.
That…that’s Supreme.
“I found you, dearest. Well, other-you.”
“A variant? Let me see the poor man.”
And Superior steps away to reveal Stephen to, well, Stephen. Supreme.
“Oh, you poor boy,” Supreme says as he crouched down to Stephen’s level. “How’d you get here?”
Supreme was touching his hair, looking over him. Stephen doesn’t say a word, soon realizing he was handcuffed already, unable to use his magic.
“You’re surely different, from myself, dearest.” Supreme says. “So much like me yet so different.”
“How so?”
“It’s obvious. At least physically.”
Stephen looks at his variant, at Supreme, studying him, in a way. He looked very similar to himself, and reminded himself of another variant of his, of who America dubbed “Sinister Strange”. His hair was shorter, looked more like his own, but his beard was pointed. He looked more “evil”, as America would put it. His cloak was purple, with gold trim, pointed at the collar in a way his wasn’t. And his hands weren’t scarred. But he was still Stephen Strange.
And he loved Tony Stark. Even if this Tony Stark was an asshole villain-type character.
Seems this variant of himself was too.
He sees Tony kiss Supreme and he internally thanks Vishanti that at least in one universe he’s happy with Tony Stark. Even if they both were…opposite of good. But they were happy, at least.
“What should we do with him?”
“Well, why is he here?” Supreme asks, still at eye-level with Stephen.
“He should tell you himself. Go on, dearest, he won’t hurt you.”
Stephen doubted that. He knew what he was capable of. This variant of himself who is most likely more powerful than he is could easily kill him.
“Come on, dear, just tell me why you’re here, hm? I promise I won’t hurt you.”
Supreme’s voice was light, different from Tony’s. Both their voices were sweet, yet Tony’s sounded much more demeaning than Supreme’s.
His variant’s hand was in his hair, brushing it out of his eyes, looking at him softly, looking at him with eyes that are urging him to say everything. He wasn’t sure he could trust Supreme, even if Supreme was Stephen himself.
“Why are you here, sweetheart? What happened to where you were so helplessly tossed into our universe?”
“I didn’t expect to land in your universe, Supreme.”
“We’re the same person. Just call me Stephen.”
Stephen took a deep breath before announcing he’d rather call his variant ‘Supreme’, staring at the man for a moment before his eyes darted to the silver armor-clad Tony Stark. He looked almost sympathetic.
But it seemed fake. Oh so fucking fake.
“Tones, you found a beauty, hm?”
“He found me, actually. He just waltzed right in here. Someone thought he was you for a moment.”
“I can see why, I mean, we are the same person, albeit from different universes.”
Stephen nodded at that, agreeing with his variant. Supreme did the same thing Tony had done earlier, lifted his chin so he was forced to look the other in the eyes. He could hear Tony hum in agreement behind him, a note of “he really is a beaut” coming from the variant of the man he loved. Supreme agreed with him, a smile dancing onto the oh-so-familiar features of his own face. Well, his variant’s face.
“Do you have a Tony Stark in your own universe?” his variant asks softly, curious.
“Curiosity killed the cat.” Stephen retorts without even a moment of thought.
“But satisfaction brought it back,” Supreme retorts.
“Answer him, darling,” Tony mutters against Stephen’s ear, voice demeaning and rough.
“I did,” Stephen reluctantly answers. “Not anymore.”
“What happened to him?” This time it was Tony, Superior, who had asked.
“He died saving my universe.” Stephen replies, matter-of-factly, glaring at the variant of the man he loved from where he was sat on the floor of the Sanctum.
“I would never do such a thing.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t, but my Tony would.”
“Explain, other Stephen,” Supreme says, dropping the pet names.
“He died saving my universe from Thanos and his army. Without it everyone would have been lost forever. He died in an attempt to save a kid…an Avenger who was only 17…S-Spider-Man. Spider-Man tried to get the Infinity Stones…that killed Thanos-…”
“We know what the stones are, dear. We used them too.” Supreme says as he reveals the Time Stone from his own Eye of Agamotto. “But please, so continue.”
“Spider-Man thought his enhanced body would be able to withstand the radiation from the stones…so he wanted to snap instead, to save Anthony…my…my Tony, from dying…but my Tony got the stones and used them before Spider-Man could snap. And Tony…he died then and there. Five minutes after he snapped and saved the universe.”
“Oh, no…don’t cry, sweets…it’s okay, we’re here now.”
Stephen barely recognized he was crying, and he felt pathetic and all too vulnerable, on the floor, with a variant of both Tony and himself, handcuffs on his wrists and talking about his universe’s Tony Stark.
Tony pulled Stephen into his chest, in an attempt to comfort him. “We’re here, sweets. You have me here, and Steph too, hm? You’re with us, and you’re safe with us.”
Stephen merely sniffs, not saying a word.
“I think his Tony used to call him ‘Steph’, dear,” Stephen hears Supreme say as Tony rests a hand in Stephen’s hair, playing with it much like his own Tony had.
“Oh…was he right, sweets? Did your Tony used to call you ‘Steph’ too?”
Just a nod from Stephen was the response. Tony kisses his forehead and Stephen hopelessly smiles for a millisecond.
“I’m sorry, sweets…I bet I loved you like hell in your universe.”
“You did. You…you loved Spider-Man too…the kid underneath the mask…you considered him your own kid…o-our own kid.” Stephen mumbles, partially unaware he’s spilling all this to two people who could easily kill him.
Tony looks at Supreme with wide eyes, and Supreme presses a kiss to Stephen’s cheek, in a way of apology. “I am greatly sorry, sweets. That must have been painful.”
“It was…”
Tony kisses his hair, lips formed into a pout.
“Our Stephen’s been through a lot, huh, dearest?” Tony asks, this time directed to Supreme rather than Stephen.
“He truly has, hon,” Supreme says with fingers in Stephen’s hair. “I feel horrible for him. He deserves better. A lot better.”
“Oh, tesoro, mi dispiace tanto. Ti meriti di meglio.”
Stephen picked up on Italian from when he was with Tony, and he sighs contentedly into his arms. This Tony sounds so much like his Tony for a few moments he forgot he wasn’t.
“Ti meriti davvero di meglio, tesoro. Hai perso troppo, non dovresti più perdere.” Supreme says softly. It’s weird hearing phrases and names like ‘tesoro’ coming from his own mouth, even if it was a variant, but it was comforting nonetheless
“Grazie a entrambi” Stephen mumbles.
Tony smiles. “Did my variant…did your-universe-me teach you Italian?”
“I was learning…f-for him,” Stephen admits, realizing how he’s never admitted this to anyone before in his life. “I wanted to marry my universe’s Tony Stark, and I wanted to do my proposal speech in Italian. So I taught myself.”
“The eidetic memory helped, I assume.” Supreme adds.
Stephen nods, agreeing.
“I bet your-universe-me would have loved it, hon.”
“T-Thanks…Tony.”
“Anytime sweets.” Tony says softly as he clears tears from Stephen’s cheeks.
Stephen barely registers Supreme next to him, pressing a kiss to the side of his head. “I’m sorry you lost your Tony,” he says, his own cloak fluttering around his shoulders as Stephen’s wraps tightly around himself. “We wish you never had to.”
I wish that myself. Tony and Peter. I wish I never lost them.
Tony kisses the top of his head again. That action oddly makes him feel at home. Safe.
Supreme holds Stephen’s face in his hands, and Stephen can feel the cold metal of what he can only think to be a wedding band against his jaw. His own eyes were looking at him. Nearly exactly alike. And Supreme kisses Stephen on the forehead with the softest smile.
“Stay for a while, hm, hon?” Supreme asks.
“I…I don’t want to cause an incursion. Plus I want to get the kid back.”
“What kid, Stephen?”
“America Chavez. She came with me. Tony…he had Ultron bots take her somewhere.”
“Tony, what have I said about that? Get her back here now.”
Good to know my evil variant has a heart, Stephen thinks.
“Scusa, amore mio. Lo farò.”
“Thank you, hon. Let me stay with…well, me.”
“Okay. And my apologies for that…”
“It’s fine, Tony.”
And Supreme hugs him right as Tony exits the room, taking to the AI that runs the Sanctum like it runs the Avengers Tower in his own universe.
“You don’t like your universe, do you, Steph?” Supreme asks, practically being able to read Stephen’s mind
“I…I do. I like my universe.”
“But…”
“But I miss Tony and the kid like hell…”
“The kid? You mean America?”
“Different kid…S-Spider-Man. He was a kid. My universe’s…Tony’s unofficial kid.”
“Ah…I bet it’s rough…to…live without them. I couldn’t imagine living without my Tony.”
Stephen sighs. “I couldn’t either.”
“You have a question to ask. I can see it on your face. Looks the same as mine. Ask it.”
“Are you married to your Tony?”
“Yes. I am, and happily so. I wish you could’ve had the same.”
“Thanks, Supreme…Stephen.”
“Anytime. And would you really staying here…cause an incursion?”
“Yeah. It would. I thought you’d know that considering you’re the Sorcerer Supreme, at least I assume.”
“I’m not as experienced with the multiverse as you are, sweets. I wish you luck with your multiversal travels nonetheless, and let’s hope no incursions are caused.” Supreme replies as he uses his magic to remove the cuffs from Stephen’s wrists. “Now don’t go killing us because you can use your magic again.”
“I think that would not be good for either of our universes, Stephen.”
“I’d have to agree.”
“STEPHEN!”
Both Stephens turn to see America practically running towards them, pulling the Stephen she knew, 616 Stephen, into a tight hug. “I missed you. Those bots were scary.”
“My apologies, Miss Chavez.” Supreme replies softly.
“There’s another you?” America asks Stephen, looking up at him.
“It’s the Multiverse, kiddo. Supreme is this universe’s Stephen Strange.”
“Right, heh. N-Nice to meet you, Mr. Supreme, sir.”
“No need to be so formal.” Supreme replies.
“My Stephen is fine though, right? You didn’t hurt him?”
“At most there’s a bruise, but that was Tony…and by accident, I believe. Your Stephen looks so much like me, I don’t think he’d ever want to hurt him. He doesn’t know his own strength sometimes, however.”
“I’m fine, America. As he said, I got a bruise but I’ll live. No one died. But I do want a word with your Tony, Supreme.”
“Just a moment ago I was Stephen, now back to Supreme?”
Stephen nods. “Easier to differentiate. No hard feelings.”
America hugs Stephen tighter, looking between Supreme and Stephen.
“Did you cause that?” she asks Supreme, to which Supreme shakes his head.
“Oh, that must have been me, I’m sorry, tesoro…” Tony says as he approaches the three of them, placing a kiss to the bruise on Stephen’s jaw before kissing Supreme on the lips.
“Married.” Stephen says as America looks at the two of them.
“Ah. They seem happy.”
Stephen nods. “Yep. They are. Very happy.”
Tony puts his arms around Supreme’s shoulder, kissing his temple with the biggest smile he’s seen on any Tony in a long while.
“I’m glad you too are happy,” America says to the two men.
“We are. I hope in your universe, you two are both happy in your own ways. I know Stephen lost his Tony and his…other kid…but I hope back in your universe you both are happy.” Tony says, sending a sympathetic look to Stephen before looking at America, who was in his arms.
“Peter…right…on top of Tony you lost Peter too…how could I forget? I’m sorry Stephen…”
“It’s fine, ‘Mer.”
“Peter?”
“Spider-Man. The Spider-Man in our universe.” America says. “He was the unofficial kid of our universe’s Tony Stark…and Stephen too.”
“And you lost them both,” Supreme finished.
Stephen nods. “You don’t have scars on your hands, so, you didn’t lose your hands like I did. I assume you still crashed however, right?”
Supreme nods. “I did. And I lost Christine Palmer, my Christine Palmer.”
“Oh…fuck…I’m sorry Stephen.” America replies. Stephen replies the same.
“Christine was important to all Stephens…just like Tony.”
The two Stephens give each other a knowing look.
“Of course she was. They both were.” Supreme replies.
“Stephen,” America says, slightly pulling in the Cloak of Levitation to get his attention.
“Hm?”
“We should…uh…go…Wong is gonna kill us if we don’t get back to our universe.”
“And we don’t want to cause incursions…” Stephen adds as America lets go of him, looking up at the sorcerer with a smile.
“That may be best,” Tony says as he looks at the two of them.
“Yeah. Incursions aren’t good for either of our universes if we want them to remain how they are.” Stephen says.
“If you must go, may I?” Tony asks, holding a hand out to Stephen. He half-reluctantly takes it, surprised to be pulled into Tony Stark’s arms and into a kiss.
Stephen doesn’t think twice about kissing Tony back this time. Even if this Tony is nothing like his, he has a sweet spot for him, for Stephen Strange.
“I bet your Tony loved you, Stephen.”
“He did.”
“And the two of us are happily married, Steph,” Supreme adds with a kiss to Stephen’s cheek. “You can stay assured that at least one of your variants…your other-yous…are happy with their Tony Stark. Even if we’re opposites.”
“Morality-wise, at least.”
“Stephennnn…” America says.
Both Stephens look at her.
“My Stephen.”
“We gotta go. Right, yeah.”
Tony kisses Stephen once more. “Safe travels, tesoro.”
“Thanks, Tony.” Stephen says as America opens one of her star-shaped portals to their universe, pulling Stephen through it.
And Stephen hoped he ended up in his own universe.