Tony
Tony was in his office when Pepper came in.
And she had her look on.
“Hello Tony.” She slid into one of the chairs in his office and fixed her look on him.
“Umm..did I do something?” He racked his brain trying to remember something he said or did that Pepper wouldn’t of liked, but he was drawing a blank.
“Oh, no. It’s not what you did do, it’s what you didn’t do.” She said, not dropping her gaze.
“Well..” he tried his damn hardest to remember some sort of missed deadline or forgotten meeting or something, and he got nothing. He stared back at her blankly, and she eventually dropped her gaze and rubbed her temples.
“The hospital called.” She said, obviously trying to prompt him in some way.
“Is..is someone dying?” He was not trying to annoy her, but he was so lost.
“You never called Strange.” She (finally) said accusingly. “You said you would.”
“Well...I said I could call him, I never said I would.” He tried.
“Bullshit, you know you meant you’d call him.” He could hear the exasperation in her voice.
“Alright, alright. I’m sorry. Did he leave a message?” He did his best to sound apologetic so Pepper wouldn’t yell at him, because this woman was scary.
“All he said was to tell you he called.” She said. “I don’t know why he didn’t leave some sort of number to call or something, but I guess he also wants to be difficult.” She snapped.
“Well...okay I’m sorry..” He said, and he actually meant it. She cocked her head to the side and stared at him for a bit before speaking again.
“Tony, do you or do you not want this?” She sounded almost wistful, but Tony couldn’t tell.
“What do you mean?” He responded, confused.
“Do you want this?” She repeated. “People search their whole lives to find their soulmates, some never becoming lucky enough to do so. So, are you going to let this chance slip through your fingers?”
Tony thought about what she’d said. He has been with both women and men before, granted, he did think his soulmate was a woman, but it’s not the fact that it was a guy that was holding him back. He didn’t know what was. But something was making him second guess himself at every time he thought of Strange.
“Yes. I do want this.” He responded with a definite tone, that he hoped didn’t reveal his underlined worry.
“Good.” Pepper stood up, smoothed her suit and nodded to him. “I need to get back to work. Call him back. Today.” Pepper left the room and Tony sighed. Her question kept replaying in his head.
Did he want this?
•••
Tony stares at the phone on his desk.
He should’ve called.
But he didn’t.
And now Strange might be gone forever.
Sure, he already had a media shitstorm on his hands since he told the world he was Iron Man, but that wouldn’t be an excuse he could tell Strange.
If he got the chance to tell Strange anything.
God he was such an idiot.
He numbly watched the news, detailing the car crash that world- renowned neurologist, Stephen Strange was in. He was taken into immediate surgery, and no more news was given on his condition.
Tony was in such..shock? Disbelief? That the mounting pain in his arm seemed to not even be there. He should’ve been there for him. What would’ve happened if he had called?
He couldn’t just sit there coming up with what if scenarios. He needed to see him.
Ignoring the pain in his arm, he got up and grabbed his jacket, and drove to the hospital, trying to come up with an apology or an explanation or something to say.
He had nothing.
Probably because there wasn’t anything to say.
He fucked up. Majorly.
And this time, it could cost him something. Something that’s not replaceable.
Guess money can’t buy everything, huh?
He’d have to wait.
“Doctor Strange is currently in surgery, condition unstable. But, you can wait here and I’ll update you on his recovery.” A nurse said, and gave him a small, sympathetic look whilst leading him to a small waiting room.
Because at the moment, waiting is all he could do.