Tony's POV
“Tony, are you coming or what?” Steve calls from the other side of the door.
I groan internally at the thought of sitting in a car with Wonder Boy for 20 minutes as we drive to investigate the source of the unnaturally high-power readings in lower Manhattan.
“Yeah, chill okay?” I call back, sliding on my glasses as I open the door.
He shoots me a scrutinizing glance as we walk down the hall together.
“Ready?” He asks Nat, taking her hand as we walk towards the garage.
She smiles up at him, and my stomach turns.
Do they have to be so… cute?
It’s gross.
We pile into my car and I put the key in the ignition.
“177A Bleeker Street.” I mutter to myself as FRIDAY pulls up the map in the lenses of my glasses.
I follow her directions, turning up my music every time I realize I can hear Steve and Nat talking until I’m parking the car in front of an old looking brick building with a massive, circular stained-glass window on the ceiling.
“Well,” I say, turning the car off, “looks like this is the place.”
“Tony, look at this.” Nat says, reaching her hand into the front seat.
I turn to look at the device in her palm, now registering the power deep into the red zone on the meter.
“Well now we know this is definitely the place.” I remark, opening the door. “Let’s get this show on the road love birds.”
They follow behind me as I walk to the front door.
Just as I reach my arm out to knock, a disorienting sensation clouds my mind, and I find myself in a living room, looking around in confusion.
Nat and Steve are in the room too, looking at me and the room with the same confused expressions.
“What the hell—” I start, just as a tall man in a red cape walks into the room.
“What’re you doing here?” He asks, looking at the three of us.
I look out the window behind him, seeing my car parked on the street.
Somehow we’re inside the house, and I have a bad feeling this guy has something to do with it.
“Who’re you?” I ask, looking at the guy in the cape.
He turns to face me, and piercing blue eyes stare directly into mine.
Eyes that I’ve seen before.
But where?
“I uh—” he starts, blinking once before turning to face Steve again, “I’m Doctor Stephen Strange. And I’ll ask again, why are you here?”
Steve steps in, talking in his best diplomatic voice as he explains who we are and why we’re checking in at his house, but my eyes remain trained on the tall man before us, trying to place where I’ve seen him before.
“Ah.” He says as Steve finishes his speech. “Well okay then. I suppose I can explain myself a bit. I am the Sorcerer Supreme for this realm, and you are currently standing in the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, which is essentially the place where I’m able to store mystical items and use magic to protect the world you know.”
I raise one eyebrow in his direction.
Drama queen.
His eyes meet mine again for a second before he turns back to Steve, and something clicks.
A memory from a year or so ago flashes in my mind.
A dark club, strong hands on my waist, blue eyes looking down at me, hot breath against my neck—
“Okay!” I interrupt, clapping my hands together.
Everyone turns to look at me with a confused expression.
“He’s a wizard, power readings are from wizard magic, sounds like he’s on our side, we’re good to go right?” I continue, trying my best to sound casual.
I walk past them to the door, avoiding meeting anyone’s gaze as I swing the front door open.
Steve and Nat make rushed goodbyes before following me out, shutting the door behind them.
We walk in silence to the car, and I get in and start it without looking at either of them.
“So are you gonna tell us what the hell that was all about or are you going to make me figure it out myself?” Nat finally asks as we pull away from the house.
I laugh darkly, turning up the music again as I step on the gas.