February 2nd the sixth
He sighed as he turned in his bed. One quick glance to the side was enough to realize that he was back where he started days ago. Stephen shrugged it off quickly and got into the bathroom. He showered, brushed his teeth and then walked back to the bedroom, picking out a black dress shirt and some nice trousers. He got to the car and left. This time he didn’t go straight to the hospital but took a turn. As he parked in front of the mansion, he saw a teen rolling out a red carpet. He had to smile and got out.
“Hey, kid.” The boy looked up and smiled at him.
“Wow! You’re doctor Strange!”
He giggled and nodded.
“Yes. Yeah, hey.”
He shook the boy’s hand.
“Are you preparing for the party?”
“Yeah, Mister Stark is inside. Do you- Did you want to him?”
The doctor nodded with a smile.
“If he’s available.”
“Of course! I’m gonna get him.”
Peter rushed inside. The doctor smiled after him and shook his head slightly. A minute later, Tony walked out of the door, looking confused.
“Doctor! Pleasure seeing you.”
He quickly shook his hand.
“Anyway I can help?”
“Depends on if you will call me crazy or not.”
Tony chuckled.
“I won’t call you crazy. Just a bit strange.”
“You deserve some punishment for that later. Listen- Okay. I am re-living the same day again and again. Without stopping. I wake up every single day and I live the same scenarios all the time.”
“Okay, yeah, forget what I said, you’re crazy.”
“Oh yeah? Well- maybe we can talk about it. Want to grab a cheeseburger?”
“A cheeseburger? Yeah. I should work on the preparations with my assistant but you just mentioned cheeseburger. So- Give me five minutes.”
Stark had to grin as he quickly jogged inside again. Cheeseburger, check.
“Alright”, he said as he came back, “All sorted. Let’s go.”
Stephen got into his car while Tony sat down on the passenger seat.
“That technology so last year, you know that, right?”
“Well, I like it oldschool.”
“I’m oldschool”, Stark smirked.
“Yeah.”
Stephen drove off until they reached a fast food restaurant and got out. A few people on the parking lot were looking at them with huge eyes and their mouths hanging open.
“Fans”, the billionaire said quietly.
“You don’t want to talk to them?”
“Do you talk to every fan of yours?”
“Since- A few days, yeah.”
“You mean since a few February 2nds?”
“That would be correct, yes.”
Stephen pulled at Tony’s hand a bit and the other man instantly blushed.
“Don’t yet look at me like that. Come on, make their day.”
Tony sighed and approached the group of five teenagers with Stephen by his side. They were immediately excited even more and already got their phones out, putting their fries and burgers away. Just as Tony wanted to say something really sassy, his mouth started to hang open in utter distaste as the youngest girl said
“Oh my god, you’re doctor Strange, right? Jesus!”
Stephen almost snorted. That one was unexpected but definitely funny.
“Yeah, hey.”
“Can we take a picture with you?”
“Yes, sure. Wait here for me, Tony Stark, Mister Stark Industries, Ironman.”
“Shit! You are- You’re Tony Stark! You look much shorter in real life.”
The man let out a breath, clearly controlling himself.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Come on.”
Stephen encouraged him calmly with a broad smile that Tony just somehow couldn’t resist at all right now. So they really got this horrible selfie with the five teenagers in the parking lot of a McDonalds. The typical jetset life.
“Alright, take care guys, yeah?”
Stark said and they nodded.
“And never forget, You are Ironman”, a boy added dramatically.
“I am Ironman, yeah.”
“He said it!”
“Okay, bye guys.”
Stephen pulled Tony away from them with a chuckle.
“That was nice.”
“No. No, it wasn’t”, Stark said playfully.
They got their cheeseburgers from a very, very, VERY friendly worker who wasn’t fangirling at all and decided to eat it in Stephen’s car.
“This is good. Not gonna lie.”
“Yeah. They’re better with the pickles though.”
“You absolute monster.”
“They put them on there for a reason.”
“No. No, I’m sure the guy who put pickles onto a cheeseburger is the same demon who also added pineapple to his pizza. I will never get over that.”
“Yeah, that dude who puts cream into his Carbonara.”
“Don’t even get me started”, Tony dramatically whispered.
“You’re right. It upsets me too.”
“Can I marry you?”, Stark joked and was met with a quick answer.
“Yes.”
There was a short pause before Tony lovingly said
“Explain? Like- this whole re-living this day thing.”
“Okay, so- I am stuck in a circle. Because I am the Sorcerer Supreme. That’s the master of the mystic arts. Don’t look at me like a lost puppy. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that- I was at your party before. And I ended up in the same place.”
Tony took a big bite of his cheeseburger.
“Which was?”
“Your bedroom.”
The billionaire almost choked on his food.
“Jesus.”, He said, still coughing slightly. “What?”
“We met, you looked at me funny, took my whiskey away, we talked a few minutes and then we had sex.”
“Talking about being subtle. Was it good?”
“You came. Does that answer your question?”
“No. I mean- look at you. Of course I came. Was it good for you?”
“Oh”, Stephen quietly let out.
That question surprised him again.
“Are you doubting your abilities?”
“Well, you picked me up to get cheeseburgers. I’m assuming you are either about to tell me that it was so bad that I should please not under no circumstances ever do this again or it was so fucking life changing that you’re begging me to start sooner. One of the two.”
Stephen sighed.
“Unbe-fucking-lievable.”
“I was good then.”
“Point is that I really like you.”
“So I was brilliant.”
“Yes. You were astounding. I have the feeling that you are the key for me to break out of this.”
“Okay, sarcasm aside-“
“No. I mean it. I think you are the solution to this problem.”
“O-kay. What do I do?”
“I don’t know. Would you like to spend the day with me? Like- I don’t know, I feel so drawn to you. It’s stupid.”
“A date?”
“Call it whatever you want.”
“I want to call it a date. Where are we going?”
“Hospital.”
“Hospital? Why?”
“Because there are some kids there who love good stories.”
“You- YOU work with kids? You of all doctors? Didn’t you call a condom a gift from heaven before?”
“Didn’t you call weapons the greatest invention on earth before?”
“Okay. Point taken.”
Stephen held in front of the hospital shortly after. He smiled at the other man and got out with him.
“We’ll surprise them.”
Basically as soon as they entered, all eyes were on them. But they were used to it. Both of them.
“See?”
He pointed to a hallway full of playing children. Christine just finished a story as she looked at the two men with wide eyes and an open jaw. The kids turned and freaked out to say the least.
“Ironman!”
Tony walked towards them with a friendly nod.
“Yes, that’s me.”
Chris absentmindedly shook the billionaire’s hand.
“I’m-“
“Doctor Christine Palmer. Yeah, I’ve seen your gorgeous face before. Doctor Strange and I met up and I thought why not join him for the day. I work with you guys all the time basically. I bring patients in here that I think are destined to die but you and the good doc over there somehow fix them. It’s a pleasure getting a look at this.”
While they were talking, Stephen kneeled down in front of Molly.
“Don’t you want to play with the others?”
“I think they don’t like me. I always cough when I get out of breath.”
“I know. But they all have a little something about themselves. Would you join me? I’d love to play with you.”
She smiled widely and nodded. The young girl eagerly took Stephen’s hand and followed him.
“Hey, Mister Ironman. Would you like to play too?”, he asked with Molly holding tightly onto his hand.
“Yeah, sure.”
They turned to the group of still overwhelmed young patients.
“Alright”, Stephen said, “who wants to be saved by Ironman?”
They all quickly jumped forward.
“Wanna hear a story?”
The excitement brought tears into Christine’s eyes. This whole thing was a fucking hallucination. It had to be. Stephen and Tony meeting up. Stephen with kids. Stephen and Tony with kids. What?!
“Alright. So- Tony Stark always was a very, very talented engineer. He always worked on the most difficult of things. And his favorite colors were?”
Molly giggled.
“Red and gold!”
“That is right, Molly. Red and gold. Now- in psychology we would assign red as a very aggressive color and gold as the color of success but I think he just looked at all the red carpets and his countless golden coins and thought Why not?”
Tony gave him a playful bump with his elbow.
“I’m not Scrooge McDuck.”
The kids laughed hysterically.
“No, that’s right, Scrooge McDuck is more humble.”
Another bump. And the young patients just had a blast.
“So, you’d assume as Mister Stark has so much money, he’d buy the most expensive food in America, right?”
They nodded.
“Well, I had his favorite food with him today. Cheeseburgers.”
“Don’t expose me!”
Even Christine found the two unbelievably adorable and funny.
“But he isn’t just that, right? He’s also a hero. Ironman. And he even took a young man under his wings. You might have seen Spiderman before, right?”
The clapped.
“Yes! Spidey!”
“Yeah. Mister Stark prefers Spiderboy or crime fighting spider over Spiderman because he just finds his onsie not so very manly.”
Tony shook his head in amazement. Really no one could know. This crazy story Strange had told him somehow seemed to be true. Somehow.
“Yeah, they are both great. And they are very nice people. Sometimes you read something in the newspapers that just is very much not nice. Ironman has often been said really nasty things about. But they aren’t true. He isn’t that stupid billionaire without any real talent. That’s horrible to hear for everyone who is accused of these things. But you, the wonderful children, must know better, right? He’s so much fun. For instance, Ironman really likes to dance to Back in Black. Do you kids know that song?”
The children immediately played invisible guitars and drums and jumped around a bit.
“Yes! Exactly like that. Isn’t that cool? You can have such a good time with him.”
Tony just smiled. At how lively Stephen told that story and how very much into it the kids were. He had no idea of who this man truly was but somehow the other read him like an open book. And he didn’t mind at all. Who would mind that?
“Who of you likes to read books and stories?”, the doctor lifted his hand up with everyone else. Christine and Tony played along as well.
“Cool. I know that he likes it”, Strange pointed at Tony.
“Because he doesn’t just like physics, he also likes history and literature. Have you ever heard of John Keats? I haven’t honestly before I met Mister Stark. And I understand why he likes that guy. But yeah, the real awesome thing is that the dude can fly around and is basically a next level Optimus Prime cosplay.”
All the children were so joyful and happy and just in a good place right now. Meeting their hero. Realizing how normal he was behind the suit.
“Let them fly, Sir.”
Stephen picked Molly up and gave her to Tony who turned with her.
“Oh, yes. Please hold on, Miss. This will be a quick flight.”
She laughed so hard as Tony jogged with her through the hallway, holding her protectively in his arms. The others of course demanded the same. After everyone had their private flight with the mighty Ironman, Tony returned to stand by Stephen’s side.
“You do this a lot?”
“No. But I thought I’d force you.”
“Basta-“
“Language”, Christine interfered.
“I’m sorry, did you just say language? You? Tony, she knows words that we both would be shocked to hear in any given situation.”
The young woman turned her eyes.
“Pi- I mean- Go away.”
Both Stephen and Tony raised an eyebrow at that.
“Oh, get a room, you two.”
Chris turned around to the kids and hushed the visitors away. The children laughed and waved as they left.
“That was- awesome. For real. I like kids. Contrary to popular beliefs.”
“I could see that. I’m just gonna quickly check on something, yeah?”
Stark nodded and gestured for him to continue. Strange knocked on Maria’s door and got in, he sent a little prayer with her and told her she would be alright. Tony watched with loving eyes as Stephen took the time to say hi to each of his patients before coming back.
“I thought you were a bit different. I don’t know. More of an asshole.”
“Language.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t do this to me.”
“I want to show you something. Please.”
Tony nodded and followed Stephen back into the car. He looked out of the window as Strange followed the road he’d taken once before. To the little place somewhere in nowhere.
“I asked you one night if you preferred the countryside or the city. You told me that you’d go anywhere I am.”
“I stand by that.”
“You also said you preferred a nice walk over a fancy dinner on the first date.”
“Did I also say anything about screaming kids?”
“I just added that in. To make it special.”
“Okay. Stephen- what are you doing? Because I’m not getting the sex vibes, I’m getting the feeling vibes and I want you to be aware of that.”
“Yeah. Come on.”
They got out and walked next to the river, following where it led them. After a while of not saying a word and feeling how they connected on a level way above words, Tony sheepishly took Stephen’s hand. The doctor intervened their fingers and smiled, not turning his head though. The other pulled the doctor closer carefully and put his arm around his waist. It felt so damn natural already.
“How is this possible? I literally feel like I know you, all of you. But I've hardly have ever spoken to you.”
“I know. I’m- not a specialist in feelings.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
Strange smiled at the other man and sighed.
“I don’t want to go to the party.”
“Your award-“
“Doesn’t matter to me. At all.”
“Why?”, Tony asked with a clear frown.
“Because the award doesn’t matter. The lives my technique will save matters. The changes in medicine. But not some stupid award given out by rich people.”
“That’s probably one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard. And I’m serious.”
A few raindrops started falling down as they stopped.
“We should leave. That’s the sign.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
They turned around and almost jogged to the car, never letting go. As they finally reached it again, the two men were dripping.
“Oh god. That was not planned.”
“You look damn sexy though with your hair hanging over your eyes like an emo boy form 2004.”
“Shut up”, Stephen chuckled.
He drove Tony to the mansion where some guests were already waiting.
“Can you drive a few more meters? There’s a back entrance. But don’t tell anyone.”
“Did you just tell me that secret entrance existed after knowing me for a few hours?”
“Fingerprint scan.”
“I’m a doctor, Tony. I’m gonna find your fingerprint somewhere.”
“Point taken”, the billionaire chuckled and got out once they reached their destination.
“Okay. Please come later. Please.”
“I will. I can’t put in all of this effort to then not be there.”
Stephen drove off with a wide smile. He bothered less and less about his perfect bloody suit each time he attended this party. The doctor quickly called Christine's number.
“Stephen?”
“Yeah, hi. Are you dressed already?”
“Uhm- semi. Why?”
“Don’t bother to bury your face in makeup and keep your hair the way you like it. Because I want them to see how gorgeous you are. Not some plastic doll.”
“What’s going on? What was that today? With the kids? I’m confused, Stephen.”
“Me too. But please, just be yourself.”
He ended the call and picked Christine up just in time for their song. She was even more reckless this time. Hitting all the wrong notes. And Stephen loved every second of it. Red carpet, wine, seeing Tony again, having an actual fun conversation, award, music, dancing people. So far so good.
“Do you want to dance?”, He asked Chris.
“Yeah, sure!”
Tony joined them as all three of them rocked the dance floor. After a while, more and more guests left and they all got more and more tired. When Christine yawned ten times in one minute, Stephen told her that he’d drive her home.
“I’ll- be back? In a few?”, he whispered towards Stark who nodded.
“Please.”
Stephen drove his colleague and friend to her flat and even walked her to the door. She gave him a small kiss onto the cheek and promised not to come to work tomorrow. He chuckled and drove back to the mansion. As he arrived, all guests were gone and Tony was waiting for him in the middle of the room.
“Wanna dance?”, the billionaire asked.
He pressed a button to which a slow song started playing. Tony moved forward and lovingly pulled Stephen towards him, resting his hands on the doctor’s hips.
“You’re something else, you know that?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, I’ve been informed by you that I’m a bit strange.”
“That is very true.”
Tony slowly pulled Stephen closer until they were basically sharing one body. He breathed in the other’s scent and smiled. Stephen felt so right in his arms. All about the doctor did. As the last notes of the song You are the Reason died down, they stayed in their position a bit longer until Tony pulled away slowly.
“You need some rest. And me too.”
The man took Stephen’s hand and led him to the bedroom, carefully unbuttoning the other’s shirt. He took off his own as well and put them both neatly onto two hangers.
“Give me your trousers?”
Stephen got out of them and handed them to the billionaire who did the same with those as well. Then he pulled the duvet back and got into the bed, patting the side next to him.
“Come here?”
Strange smiled and got in, being pulled into Tony’s arms immediately.
“I’m here, Stephen.”
“What are you doing?”
“Holding you.”
“You don’t- Like- You know.”
“You’re something more to me than sex. I just- I just have the longing to hold you.”
“Why?”
Tony shrugged and just lay down with Stephen, turning off the bedside lamp. As the doctor drifted off, he could hear Tony whisper into his ear.
“Because I love you.”