Chapter 11
I wake early the next morning to my phone going off, over and over.
I groan as I roll over, reaching to the side table to grab my phone and squinting at the light on the screen as I click it to life.
“What’s wrong?” Stephen asks, his voice thick from sleep as he rolls over to face me.
The screen of my phone floods with pictures of Stephen kissing me outside of the restaurant, the paparazzi tags and headlines filling the news pages as my name trends.
Headlines read “Tony Stark’s Newest Plaything” or “Iron Man is Gay?” or “Avengers Dating Game, Iron Man and Doctor Strange Addition”.
I crack a smile at the screen, tilting it towards Stephen to show him.
He reads over the headlines briefly, looking at the pictures before exhaling loudly.
“I’m sorry, Tony.” He says quietly, averting his gaze.
I lock my phone, silencing it before setting it back on the table.
“I’m not.” I murmur, rolling over and pushing him down by his shoulders, climbing on top of him and hovering above him. “I’m glad it’s out.”
He lifts his eyes back to mine, a soft smile falling on his lips.
“Are you positive?” He asks, his hands coming up to rest against my waist.
I nod, leaning down to press a gentle kiss against his lips.
“Absolutely positive.” I whisper. “Are you?”
He laughs lowly, squeezing my waist gently.
“Obviously.” He answers playfully. “I’m Tony Stark’s newest plaything.”
I roll my eyes, laughing as I kiss him again.
“Newest, favorite, last.” I mutter against his lips.
He kisses me back before leaning away, looking up at me with raised eyebrows.
“Last, huh?” He asks, a smirk playing on his lips.
I roll off of him, laying flat on the bed as I sigh.
“Don’t push it.” I say, winking at him out of the corner of my eye.
He then rolls over to be on top of me, hovering closely above my body so that his bare chest is pressed against mine.
“Oh, but I do love to push your buttons.” He mutters, his lips pressing against my neck.
I laugh breathlessly, my fingers winding into his hair.
He continues his path down my neck, my breathing becoming erratic as his lips and teeth move along my skin.
A sudden knock at the door sends us both groaning as Stephen slowly climbs off of me.
I get out of the bed, running my hand through my hair as I walk to the door.
I swing it open, coming face to face with Wong and Natasha.
“Morning sunshine.” She says, winking at me before looking over my shoulder and giving a wave of her fingers to Stephen. “This one wants you guys.”
She pats Wong’s arm, pushing him forward slightly.
“Sorry Tony.” He says, eyeing Nat in a sideways glance. “I just need to speak with Stephen.”
I nod, swinging the door open the rest of the way and gesturing for him to come in.
Stephen is already standing as we walk in, adjusting his robes as he gives a tight smile to Wong.
“Did you see it?” He asks, all traces of his playful tone gone from his voice.
Wong looks at me briefly before nodding once, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Three days?” He asks, and Wong nods again.
Stephen sighs before crossing his own arms over his chest.
“I’ll meet you at the Sanctum soon.” He says, stepping closer to Wong and setting a hand on his shoulder.
Wong smiles at him tightly before turning to give me the same smile.
He steps to the center of the room bidding us goodbye before opening a portal and stepping through it.
“Three days until they come?” I ask, looking at Stephen.
He nods, his eyes staring into mine.
“Okay.” I mutter, beginning to pace. “Okay, I can finish the suit today, fit it to you and make adjustments, and get the rest of the team on board.”
I pace the length of the bed, running the palms of my hands along the fabric of my pajama pants as I walk.
“We should have time, I think there will be time.” I stammer, turning and pacing back up the length of the bed.
Stephen steps in front of me, interrupting my path with his body as his hands come to rest on my shoulders.
“Tony breathe.” He says quietly. “Everything will be alright.”
I shake my head, running my hand through my hair hard enough to pull strands out with it.
“You don’t know that.” I answer. “We have to get ready.”
He searches my face before nodding.
“Okay.” He says in a soft voice, his hand moving up to cup my face. “I’ll go work with Wong, you go talk to your team and work on the suit, okay?”
I nod, leaning my face against his hand.
“Right.” I answer, exhaling shakily. “I’ll text you when it’s done.”
He nods, leaning down to press a kiss against my forehead.
“I’ll come whenever you want me to.” He says quietly. “I love you.”
I lean forward, resting my forehead in the crook of his neck.
“I love you.” I whisper back.
He holds me close for a moment before stepping away, opening a portal and giving me a small smile over his shoulder before stepping through and disappearing from sight.
I immediately throw a shirt on, grabbing my phone before calling for FRIDAY to call a mandatory meeting.
I slam my hand on the elevator button, tapping my foot impatiently as it goes down to the conference room.
As I walk in, most of the team is already there, looking at me with confused or bored expressions as I walk to the front of the room.
“Hey guys, I don’t really have time to wait so if someone could just update whoever isn’t here.” They look at me with even more confusion as I run my hands through my hair again.
“The Sanctum is going to be under attack soon—like 3 days.” I say plainly, avoiding Steve’s gaze, looking at Nat and Peter as I talk. “I’m here to ask for your help. Entirely optional.”
I take a raspy breath as I look around the room at their faces.
“Tony, you know we’ll help you.” Sam says, standing up and walking across the room, extending a hand out to me.
I shake it, smiling at him tightly as I do.
“Buck?” He asks, looking over at the table.
Bucky nods, looking at me briefly before looking down at the table.
“We’re here for you, and for him.” Nat says, smiling at me softly. “Sam’s right, we’ll help.”
I give her the same tight smile.
“Thank you.” I say to everyone in the room, nodding once. “I have a few things to do, but I’ll let you guys know when I have more information.”
I turn on my heels hurrying out of the room as the room swells with conversation behind me.
I press the button on the elevator, trying to get to my lab when I hear fast footsteps behind me.
“Mr. Stark?” Peter asks, and I turn around to look at him. “Can I help with anything?”
His wide eyes look at me, the perfect picture of innocence as he asks.
I almost say no, but find myself holding the elevator door open for him as I nod.
“Yeah, I could use another set of hands.” I answer, and he smiles widely as he steps in beside me.
The side of his arm rests lightly against mine as we move down to the lab, and we get to my lab after a moment.
“What’re we working on?” He asks as I turn on the screens and call the pieces of Stephen’s suit to the work bench.
I lead him to the table, showing him the various pieces of metal.
“I’m making a suit for Stephen.” I tell him, gesturing to the blueprints on one of the screens.
He nods, reaching out and spinning the design slightly.
“This is cool.” He says after a minute, zooming into the hands. “These are interesting, for the portal thing right?”
I smile slightly, looking at him as he thinks about it.
“Yeah.” I answer, reaching in front of him to turn the plan slightly as I pick up a piece to compare it next to it. “He’s tried these on and they fit, I just have to finish putting everything together and get him to try it on again before—everything happens.”
Peter nods slowly.
“Is it really serious?” He asks quietly, turning to face me.
I swallow hard, looking him in the eyes.
“No.” I answer, unsure how truthful I’m being. “We’ll be fine. All of us.”
He nods slowly before cracking a smile, picking up a piece of the metal from my desk.
“Let’s get started then.” He says, looking down to fit two pieces together.
I smile at him, even though he can’t see it, as I start the music.
We work in a comfortable quiet, each of us humming along to the music as we work.
The job is done faster than I was anticipating, and we find ourselves putting the last pieces together and stepping back to admire the work in only a couple hours.
“What do you think?” He asks, turning his head to look at me.
I purse my lips, nodding as I look over the suit.
“I think it’ll work.” I answer. “Hopefully my calculations were correct.”
Peter puts his hand on my arm gently.
“They will be.” He says in a soft voice. “They always are.”
I give him a tight smile back, covering his hand with my opposite one and squeezing it gently.
“Thanks Peter.” I whisper before pulling out my phone.
I text Stephen, telling him the suit is complete before walking to the bar and pulling out two glasses.
I fill one to the normal level, and the other just a quarter of that.
I hand Peter the less full one, nodding at him as his eyebrows raise in question.
“Listen kid, if you’re old enough to save the world, you’re old enough to have a drink with me.” I tell him, clinking my glass to his.
He laughs before taking a sip, choking down the brandy as I swallow it smoothly.
I clap a hand onto his shoulder before ruffling his hair gently, laughing as he drinks the rest of it and slams the glass onto the counter.
“Thanks Mr. Stark.” He chokes out, looking up at me with pink cheeks.
I nod, tapping his chin with my finger as a bright orange light fills the room.
“Hi Mr. Doctor Strange!” Peter says, turning to smile and wave in Stephen’s direction.
Stephen smiles back, walking over and giving Peter a gentle hug as he greets him.
He then steps around him, wrapping his arm around my waist before pressing a kiss to my hair.
“You guys have been busy.” He says, looking over at the suit displayed on the counter.
I nod, stepping towards it and pulling him with me.
“Time for you to try it on.” I say, anxiety welling inside me again as I place him in front of it.
He agrees, handing me his sling ring as he gets into a relaxed stance before the suit.
I call for FRIDAY to put the suit on him, and she begins to move the pieces from the counter to place the metal parts against his body.
Peter and I watch as they fit into place, both of us holding out breath as we wait to see if it’ll work.
“What do you think?” I ask as the last piece clicks into position. “Can you move? Is it comfortable?”
He takes a few steps, reaches out his arms, and wiggles his fingers.
“I think so.” He answers. “Feels good.”
I exhale, but not quite all the way yet.
“And a portal?” I ask, pressing his ring into the palm of his hand.
He slides it onto his fingers, and it clicks into place.
He then lifts his hands, forming the positions before a large, orange portal appears in the center of the room.
“It’s perfect, Tony.” He says, releasing the portal as he smiles at me.
I finally release my breath, smiling back at him.
“Good.” I answer, walking over to him and resting my hands on his metal hips as I look up at him. “I’m glad it all works.”
He rests his hands on my hips as he looks down at me.
“We’ll be alright.” He says quietly, looking past me to look at Peter. “All of us will be.”
Peter steps closer, and I step away from Stephen just far enough to leave space for Peter to fit between us.
We each rest a hand on his shoulder, and he rests a hand on each of ours.
“As long as I’m around, I swear nothing bad will happen to either of you.” I whisper, looking between each of their eyes.
Peter nods solemnly, understanding the weight of the words.
“I believe you.” Stephen whispers, before kissing my temple gently.