Timeline #5 - More Than I Ever Was
This was what he got, he supposed, for marrying a wizard.
“You want to do what?” he half-screeched, staring at Morgan in shock.
“I want to go to Kamar-Taj and learn magic,” she responded calmly, as though she wasn’t saying the most nonsensical thing in the world.
“But…but…science,” Tony protested petulantly, pleading with his daughter with his eyes. She appeared unmoved.
“Science won’t stop existing just because I learn magic,” she reasoned, folding her arms, and Tony knew he’d lost this argument. She was too much like her mother, and the folded arms and stern stare told him she’d made up her mind and his exceedingly rational and well-thought-out protests would be falling on deaf ears.
God, he wished Pepper were still here. Maybe she could’ve talked some sense into her daughter. Actually, scratch that – she would definitely have sided with Morgan just to spite him. He still wished she were here, though.
“I blame Stephen. He’s a bad influence,” Tony grumbled, putting his elbows on the table and setting his chin heavily into his palms. Morgan gave him a half-smile and an eyebrow raise, amused.
“What am I getting blamed for?” Stephen whirled into their kitchen in all his fluttery-caped-glory, and Tony’s heart fluttered at the sight as he leapt up, crossing the kitchen in a few strides to stand on his tiptoes (he was not that short, Stephen was just freakishly tall!) and press a quick kiss to Stephen’s upturned lips.
“Everything, babe,” Tony declared, wrapping his arms around Stephen’s waist and pulling him close.
Stephen looked down at him, amusement emanating from him in insufferably adorably arrogant waves. “That so?” he murmured, smirking, and Tony nodded vigorously. “Guess I’ll just have to make it up to you somehow, in that case. Any ideas on how I could do that?” he asked, and Tony felt an involuntary shiver arc through him at his husband’s tone.
“I’m sure I can think of something,” he reassured him, voice low. “I’m a genius, after all.” Stephen hummed, smirk deepening as he leaned in to kiss Tony more thoroughly.
“Yeah, I’m still here,” Morgan called, sounding both vaguely irritated and reluctantly charmed – Tony would like to claim that he had that effect on everyone. Stephen pulled back, eyes twinkling at him before turning to look at Tony’s daughter, who rolled her eyes at him. “I actually have something to discuss with you,” she said pointedly.
“If there’s something I can help with, I’m happy to,” Stephen responded, sounding cautiously confused. He and Morgan had a solid relationship, but Tony and Stephen hadn’t gotten together until Morgan was in her mid-teens, so Stephen was more like an uncle to her than a father figure; she’d never really asked anything serious of him, so it was unusual for her to take this sort of tone in their conversation.
Morgan took a deep breath, looking like she was preparing herself, and Tony realized his daughter was nervous. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” she began, voice steady and determined; she was Tony and Pepper’s daughter, she knew how to present the face she wanted everyone to see. “I have my PhD’s, and I’ve worked with Dad for a while and learned a lot about the company – but I think I can do more if I…expand my horizons a bit. I was hoping – “ and she hesitated here, nerves breaking through, but Tony watched her steel herself and continue. “ – I was hoping I could accompany you to Kamar-Taj when you return and start learning the mystic arts.”
Tony had seen his husband shocked speechless only a very few times in his life, and most of them were from something Tony himself had said, so he couldn’t decide if he was proud or dismayed that his daughter apparently had the same Stephen-shocking capabilities. Morgan was looking increasingly tense and Stephen didn’t look like he was unfreezing anytime soon, so Tony decided to take pity on them both.
“Told you you’re a bad influence,” he said, folding his arms, and that startled a snort out of Stephen, who glanced at him in amazement before schooling his expression and looking back at Morgan.
“Certainly, you are welcome to accompany me. I’m not there as often since I was put in charge of the New York sanctum, but it would probably be good for me to visit and check in on how our new acolytes are doing,” Stephen responded formally once he’d recovered, and Tony hid a snicker; hiding behind stuffy language was Stephen’s primary defense mechanism when he got caught off-guard, and Tony was always endlessly amused when it came out.
“Thank you.” Morgan’s relieved voice snapped him out of his glee, and Tony glanced over in time to catch the look of pure happiness on his daughter’s face and felt his heart twinge at the sight.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Oh god, this was bad.
“Morgan Virginia Stark, I swear to Thor if you do not remove whatever spell you put on this hairdryer, I’m going to reset every device you own so that it runs on the equivalent of Windows 7!” Tony threatened, hollering down the hall.
Morgan had just returned from her second year at Kamar-Taj, draped in those ridiculous, weird, fashion-disaster robe things, and Tony would never ever tell her this, but he was exceedingly proud of how quickly she’d mastered all the magic stuff. Or whatever. Stephen was impressed. (Except of-fucking-course he’d told her how proud he was like twelve times already while she blushed and shoved him away with a pleased grin. He wasn’t Howard). She’d visited multiple times over her two-year magic immersion, and every time had been increasingly chaotic as she learned more and more. But this? This took the fucking cake.
The footsteps that padded his way were much calmer than he’d have liked, and he heard her before he saw her. “You know I can just change it back – ohmygod what happened to your hair?”
Morgan came to a halt in front of him, staring at him wide-eyed – and, had she been staring at any other person, Tony wouldn’t have blamed her. Hell, he’d have probably been staring right alongside her – because he looked ridiculous, his grey-streaked hair falling in soft, luxurious curls around his face, framing fury-filled eyes.
“Your demonic hairdryer happened to me!” Tony squawked, gesturing at the innocent-looking appliance violently. Morgan took one look at it, recognition lighting her eyes, then burst into peals of laughter. “Morgan! Morgan, it’s not funny!”
“Oh my god, it so is! This is hilarious! Best thing that’s ever happened to me. Hold on, I’m gonna go get my camera!” Morgan exclaimed, eyes flashing brightly as she darted away.
“No! Morgan, no! No cameras! Are you listening to me young lady?” Tony called after her, heart dropping as he realized she definitely was not. “Steeeeeephen!” he called, dashing out of the bathroom to search for his errant husband. Stephen would protect him. He half-ran down the hall until he made it to the living room, where Stephen was doing his meditation stuff. Ugh. Tony didn’t know how anyone could sit still like that.
Tony darted over. “Stephen! Stephen, you have to fix me before Morgan comes back with her camera and uses this to blackmail me!” he cried, but Stephen stubbornly didn’t open his eyes, face serene.
“I’m meditating, darling. I have to deal with your demon daughter at Kamar-Taj, you have to deal with her here,” his husband responded calmly, and Tony let out a long sigh.
“But Stephen, this is soooo at least partially your fault! If you weren’t a cool badass sexy magician, this would never have happened!” Tony argued, and Stephen’s brow furrowed before one eye peeked open, mouth opening to retort – and then promptly splitting into a wide grin.
“Why Tony, dear, I love what you’ve done with your hair!” his husband said brightly, coming out of his meditation-hover to stand in front of Tony, running a finger through the curls. Tony batted his hand away, pouting at him.
“Stephen, you have to fix me!” he whined, and Stephen nodded seriously.
“Of course, sweetheart. Say no more.”
Tony didn’t trust the look in his eye one bit. “Wait, what are you – “
And then Tony was standing in the most ridiculous-looking Little Bo Peep-style dress. He looked down at himself, then up at Stephen, mouth open in outrage – when an ominously loud Click! sounded. Tony turned to see his daughter holding up her camera phone, a shit-eating grin on her face.
“You look lovely, Dad,” she said sweetly, and Stephen patted him comfortingly.
God, why had he thought it would be a good idea to marry a wizard?