Nightmare
Tony was honestly confused with all of this, he didn't know what to think or to make of it all.
He still needed to deal with fury and Shield and the Avengers thing (what did Romanoff think he was doing? he was dieing, of course, he wouldn't be too straight in the head) and the thing with the doc - Stephen, he said his name was.
Stephen had given him his phone number and his name and just disappeared into the shadows, literally.
-
He was high on adrenaline, and he was breathing deeply. He still has Pepper in his arms at least, he was able to save her from the explosion.
He looked towards the explosion that had exploded near slightly more crowded areas. He knew he couldn't save them on time, some people would get caught up in the explosion, unfortunately.
But-
But when he had looked towards those areas he could see the explosion was somewhat contained. The explosion was smaller, unlike the empty ones, from the looks of the explosions it wasn't going to permanently damage anyone - if any at all.
And if he focused on the explosion, there was something of a faint green glow. Everything was so subtle that if you weren't effectively looking for it, you wouldn't even notice anything different.
someone was controlling the explosion to not harm anyone and didn't want to be noticed.
That was fairly obvious, but who...
His thoughts were cut short as he saw a familiar-looking shadowy figure on top of a rather dark rooftop. The rooftop was high enough to oversee the explosion and it was dark enough to hide a human up there, and it would've hidden the other man's figure had it not been for the other man's glowing palm.
The doc's hands were glowing. So Tony did the only thing that came to his mind at such a fast pace. he flew towards the rooftop.
As he got closer to land, he could see the soft green glow from the doctor's palms. But just as he landed, and before he could inspect more of it, the doctor put both of his arms down as the glow disappeared.
He knew he wasn't imagining things so he dropped Pepper off on the rooftop and took his helmet off. He couldn't set his eyes off of the doc, he was filled with so many mixed emotions. Confused? Surprised? Angry? Betrayed? Awed?
He could hear Pepper talk, but then stopped as her eyes spot another man's figure on the roof with them.
He ignored Pepper's confused and surprised expression and walked to the other man. "Doc.." he trailed off, he had so many questions, but for once he didn't know what to say or to voice his questions. He was simply stunned.
He was pretty sure the doctor was the one that stopped the explosion from going too out of control.
If Tony had thought the other man was an enigma before, now he was a complete mystery. And Tony has always been one to crack mysteries, he would be lying if he said that it didn't intrigue him more.
The other man had turned to him. His face was that of a mask of calmness, but Tony could still see the underline of fear to it as well as resignation.
But before the a could speak anything else, his eyes had caught on the spot where he had left Pepper and he seems to have decided his next course of action. Well, at least one of them knew what they were doing, Tony mused himself.
The man had fished something out of his pocket - a paper - and handed it over to Tony. Tony couldn't help but notice the man's hands were shaking again.
Tony took the paper in his hands and gave the other man a confused look.
"My number, so you can contact me easier. We'll talk... later" he said glancing at Pepper, giving the indication that she was the reason he couldn't speak too freely.
"Stephen."
"What?"
"Stephen, that's my name... See you around, Anthony" the other man had turned around to walk to the shadows without another glance back.
Tony was frozen in his place, the man had just disappeared into the shadows. That little part of his brain that still worked whispered to him about drama queen, but another little part of his brain replied he is, but you still liked him. Tony can't help but agree with that little part of his brain.
He looked down at the paper in his hand with the number.
Stephen.. how curious.
he could hear Pepper's questions in the distance...
-
Now Tony was left groaning in the chair of his workspace. The moment he had come back and rested up, he had asked JARVIS to search for a doctor named Stephen in the country.
It seemed like the man was well on his way to becoming a renowned surgeon, but he was caught in a car accident (a rather nasty one from the details he had read). It happened just about 3-4 months ago, but a month to his recovery the man had disappeared without a trace. No one could find him, and he has been missing ever since. There was also more information about how the man had recovered faster than normal.
The more he discovers, the more questions he has.
Tony looked at the piece of paper with the phone number at his table and wondered how will the meeting go. After Tony had gotten back, Tony had called the number as soon as possible. They had decided to meet up later this weekend at the restaurant downtown.
He had also tried tracking the phone, but for some reason, it kept failing (he has his suspicions, and for some reasons, he highly doubts it's because Stephen has advanced technologies that can hide from him).
The more Tony thinks of Stephen the more he remembers those beautiful blue eyes. He remembers it looked like a clear sky during the day and a deep-sea blue at night that looked so old and tired, yet filled with compassion and endless patients.
Tony was snapped out of his daydreaming by the sudden voice of JARVIS.
Tony got out of his car and looked around to see if he could see if Stephen was there yet.
He could see the Doc sitting in one of the more empty corners of the Restaurant. The Doctor-possibly-a-wizard wore clothing that would land him in the formal spot but at the same time still rather casual (he distantly remembers the weird outfit the other man had used back on the rooftop).
Considering He is Tony Stark and nobody has approached him at all like he wasn't even there, he assumed the Doctor-possibly-maybe-a-wizard did something to obscure the fact he was there.
That's rather convenient when you don't wanna be found, the genius idly thought.
He walked to the Doctor-possibly-maybe-a-wizard that was sitting on the corner and took a sit in front of him
"Stark." the younger man greeted. Tony smirked,
"It would be a shame to let someone so handsome alone in a corner now, wouldn't it?" He flirted. Much to his disappointment, the other didn't react, other than raising an eyebrow.
Oh well, he supposed he was rather curious to get to the matter and hand too anyway.
"I searched you, you know." The engineer stated.
"I had assumed you would, the moment I told you my name." The doctor countered.
Ouch, was he that predictable these days?
"Yea, well, if so then think about how curious I got when I learned you were some big shot neurosurgeon-" The former neurosurgeon winced at that, Tony noted. "-that was in a terrible car accident, had some sort of super healing and then disappeared for months."
Tony also noted that through his sentence Stephen had shuffled his hands closer to himself. It didn't seem like a conscious decision.
"Right... I may be here to answer some of your questions, but... I can't answer that one, I can't tell you where I go and why... for now at least." The younger said. Tony narrowed his eyes but let it be, he knew it was a bit of a stretch if he suddenly got all his questions answered.
so he settled with, "what? Did you go to Hogwarts school for wizards or something? And us muggles, can't know or something? Or maybe even the order of phoenix?" for some reason he gained a chuckle from the missing man, a smooth deep baritone voice.
He knows he's funny, but it's not his best joke. So, inside joke?
"Something like that." the other replied with a smirk, and Tony couldn't help but follow those lips. So when the words finally entered his brain, he felt his brain just short-circuited.
Just when The billionaire was about to speak, a waiter came and brought some refreshments for both of them looking nervous and promptly left as soon as she was finished.
The genius didn't know how it happened, but after the nervous waiter had left they had managed to get the conversation going once more, and the next thing he knew hours had passed with just the both of them talking about what Stephen does, (the man is frustratingly good at changing the topics, Tony barely got any information) Tony's inventions, (somehow the man was also able to hold a decent engineering conversation with an engineering prodigy) {Stephen silently thanked his future knowledge, he had got bored because of his long life span and had read any book he could find. It includes future and basic engineering knowledge} politics, and everything else that had come to either of their minds.
Time had seemed to pass like lighting, and before either of them (or at least Tony would like to tell himself it's a mutual thing) the sun had come down. It was only when it was dark that they seemed to be snapped out of their conversation.
The older of the two-man decided that he liked talking and spending time with the younger one.
"Next week? Same place, same time?" He asked the doctor.
"Next week." The doctor agreed with a smirk.
Like most things in life, time passed quickly, and before the engineer knew it, Stephen had become a constant in his life, something that Tony looked forward to each meeting, they had met each other more and more often. They had changed meeting places sometimes at a restaurant or cafe Tony chose some time Stephen, and sometimes they just went to Tony's home.
It took Tony longer than he would admit that he was definitely in love with the younger man - he wasn't even sure he could call him younger, since technically Stephen had lived longer than Tony has (Stephen had ended up sharing more with Tony about his life when he trusted Tony more and in exchange so did Tony, showing to Stephen that he do trust him) - and from the looks, Pepper and Rhodey gave him when he told them that, it seemed he was more obvious than he thought. If he didn't know better he would think that the two of them as well as Happy had known Tony was in love for a long time (they probably did).
The frustrating thing is that for all those lifetimes that Stephen had lived, the younger man (Tony had decided that, yes, he was older in matter of this) was oblivious to his advances. Still, it was funny looking at Stephen who was confused at times by his obvious flirting.
At some point in their meeting, Stephen had admitted to staying in a 'hotel' (Tony believes it was actually the place where the sorcerer had gone missing and was still unable to tell Tony about it) and simply portal to get anywhere on back allies. So, Tony had offered Stephen to stay with him in one of the many rooms in his home. After a very long convincing conversation, Tony finally convinced Stephen to stay and that it wasn't a burden at all.
So they had stayed in Tony's Malibu mansion while Stark Tower was being built in New York.
But what concerned Tony the most is Stephen. The younger man slept in the room just a few doors from Tony's, so Tony could get there quickly in case something happened. Of course, when he set it up to be like that, he didn't think it would be from a nightmare.
JARVIS had woken Tony up at about 4 A.M. on one of the rare occasions that he slept.
-
'Sir, it would seem that Doctor Strange is having a nightmare and a terrible one by the looks of it. His vitals are on concerning levels.'
The moment The Engineer had processed what his A. I had told him, he bolted out of the room and ran straight to the Doctor's room. He was greeted with the sight of the Doctor tossing and turning while moaning lowly as if in pain. Tony didn't hesitate to run straight to the Doctor's side this time and started to wake the man who was plagued by nightmares up.
"Stephen, it's okay. It's just a dream, wake up." He whispered.
The other woke up with a jolt, terror in his eyes as he frantically searched every corner of the room for - something, Tony didn't know.
"Stephen, your alright. You're in your room, I'm here" Tony kept his voice low and soothing so that the other man know that there were no longer any treats.
It seemed to work as recognition sparked in the Younger's eyes.
"Tony..?" Stephen said, voice low and weak. Tony was suddenly overcome by the feeling of fierce protectiveness.
"It's me. It's okay now." The older man tried to keep his voice as soft as possible.
"I'm sorry." The other rasped, face full of guilt.
"Hey, no. Don't be sorry." Stephen Shouldn't be sorry for his nightmares, it's not something he could control.
"I woke you up." Stephen looked down at his shaking hands.
Tony frowned, "Stephen, you should never feel sorry about having a nightmare, nor should you be sorry for waking me up." he said as he cupped Stephen's face to look straight at him, trying to convey his true feelings that he really didn't mind.
"okay.."
-
That happened a few months ago and they never talked about it again. It may have been the first nightmare, but it sure wasn't the last.
Stephen never 'bothered' Tony again after than, JARVIS also didn't say anything. He didn't know whether it was because the younger man was sleeping better or whether he had gotten JARVIS to not tell Tony about it, but he could guess it was the letter.
The few times Stephen was asleep, Tony had detected an influx that usually came from Stephen's astral projecting, the other times Tony would either find Stephen accompanying him in his lab or wandering around the mansion.
The engineer didn't know how to help, he was worried. He even tried searching on google or asking Pepper and Rhodey. They both also expressed their concerns and said to just being there for him anytime he needed him. So, Tony tried his best.
And on a lighter note, it may seem cheating, but Stephen had helped him here and there with technologies. Stephen had told Tony he got bored in the future and read about engineering books and technologies. Stephen had tried to keep his knowledge to the current time, but sometimes he got excited and just said it before he noticed it.
And what kind of a futurist would he be if he just let those knowledge and ideas lying around?
So, Stephen had been a great help in improving his suits.
"There, that would be the last of it," he said through the coms as he dove back up from the water.
'Everything seems to be working sir.' came JARVIS' voice as the Stark tower lit up.
"How's it looking out there Tony?" came the baritone voice he had gotten used to and loved.
"Looks like a Chrismas three.. just, with more me." The engineer replied as he flew back to the tower where Stephen was. Tony could basically feel Stephen's eye roll.
"Maybe a bit too much you." the doctor's voice said through the coms.
Tony smirked, "Just admit it doc, you love me"
He landed inside as JARVIS said that Agent Culson is asking permission to enter. Tony, of course, ignored it.
He walked in to see Stephen already preparing a drink for both of them, he smiled as he looked. They both went to the couch in the middle of the room and sat when JARVIS said that his protocol is being overwritten followed by the voice of the Agent.
Tony groaned, "you have reached a life modal decoy, of Tony Stark. Please leave a message." in front of him Stephen, rolled his eyes in amusement.
"This is urgent." the voice came from the other side.
"Then leave it urgently." He replied after the voice quickly, but even before he finished his sentence the door to the elevator opened. Showing The Agent that had been - and still is - calling him.
Both Stephen and Tony turned around, the former tenser than the latter.
"Security breach." The engineer followed after a beat of silence. The wizard followed it by standing up quickly, leaving no room for a sudden attack (not like Agent would attack, but Tony appreciate the protective gesture and hid a smile).
The SHIELD agent came in without an invite, "Mr. Stark, this is urgent."
Since Stephen had stood up, Tony followed along and followed Stephen who was closing Agent.
"We're celebrating." The genius countered, but the shield agent give no mind to what Tony had said and started handing Tony some sort of laptop.
"I don't like being handed things," Tony replied, but even before he finished the sentence, Stephen had taken the laptop without a word and a glance to check on him tells Tony that the younger man doesn't trust the newcomer at all.
From the looks of things he doubts Stephen is going to say anything, but then again, the Doctor always seems to find a way to surprise him.
So when he did speak, Tony really shouldn't be surprised, "Is it about the Avengers initiative?"
He supposed if it was about that, Tony should at least look at it. So, he took the device from Stephen's hands. The wizard still looks twitchy at handing him something he didn't know, but let it be.
So Tony stalked to his table. Even if he was gonna check, it doesn't mean he will stop his mouth from running, "The Avengers initiative was scrap. I thought-" Why would they come to him when he wasn't even invited to join anyway? "and I didn't even qualify."
He started listing the things that were written in his so-called 'profile' from SHIELD and saw amusement in Stephen's eyes.
Of course, the Wizard would find it funny.
He called Stephen to him as he opened the file inside the device. Stephen walked to him, but still keeping his guard up.
Stephen took a look at the opened file, "This is-..." he muttered under his breath.
"Yeah." The engineer said as he dragged the file to a more holographic show so they could look at it better.
Videos of a huge green guy, someone that looks like Captain America, and more files appeared.
"I-I'll come back later," Stephen said as he left with the agent.
Tony knew Stephen probably already have his own knowledge about this, so left it be, besides the wizard would come back.
He turned his attention back to the holograms, which were now showing pictures of a glowing blue cube.
The Tesseract.