Complete
So maybe he kept thinking about what Tony had been trying to tell him before his departure, and after seeing that his cell phone didn’t work, did he really have another choice? Yes, Mordo had been quite explicit on the fact that they shouldn’t attract attention, but they had been wandering around that town all day without results, so there really would be no harm in making a quick visit to the compound, greeting the newlyweds and ... well, since he was there, clear things up with Tony. However, what he found was far from the festive setting he imagined.
“Wong is covering me while Mordo gets dinner…” he began to say as soon as he crossed the portal, but then he saw the situation in which he had walked into. “Didn’t know you would go this far for a couple of… lemon drizzle cakes?” Stephen said, his gaze going from Mordo’s illuminated hands to one of the destroyed buffet tables.
“I can explain,” Mordo began.
“Don’t listen to him, Stephen!” Tony interrupted.
“Just go back with Wong. I promise I will explain everything once I get back, but for now let me do my job,” Mordo went on.
“Don’t trust him!” Tony insisted, gaining an irritated glance from Mordo.
“I think Stephen is adult enough to know who he can or cannot trust,” interjected Mordo with all seriousness.
“You are right, I’m adult enough to know who I can or cannot trust,” said Stephen, making a portal. Tony could only stare in horror as Mordo smiled, had they brainwashed him too? However, instead of entering the portal, Stephen pushed it towards Mordo and jumped after him, both disappearing into thin air.
“So much for an advantageous alliance,” murmured Madame Hydra.
“Tony,” he turned towards Natasha, who had somehow managed to take two weapons from the enemy, “we’re waiting for your order.” He smiled.
“Let’s show them what happens when you crash a party uninvited.”
***
It had been a while since the last time he had been to the Mirror Dimension. Nothing much had changed, except that now he was fighting his former teacher and friend, who not only admitted that he had been helping Hydra with its resurgence, since they had promised to help him with the restoration of the natural laws, but also that he was behind all the attacks to their ex-students.
Somehow, he managed to beat him and had him imprisoned at the Kamar-Taj, where he would be judged by the rest of the sorcerers.
“You’re a dishonor for this institution,” murmured Wong, once he was informed of what had happened and teleported quickly to deal with the prisoner.
“Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” Stephen started to say.
“Did you hit your head?” Wong interjected.
“You really should join us on movie nights with Peter,” he said in his defense, but given Wong’s unamused expression, he admitted: “Yes.”
“Want some of our doctors to check you up?”
“No, I got to make sure Tony and the rest are alright, I mean…”
“Just go,” Wong basically threw him out, a small smile painting on his face.
***
Fortunately, when he returned the rest of the Avengers had recovered and succeeded in counterattacking the enemy. So his help was no longer needed, something he was quite thankful for because he was exhausted.
“First aid’s over there,” Tony signaled once Stephen reappeared. “Doctor Strange… can you make them feel better with one of those fancy spells?” only then, he noticed that Stephen was panting out of breath.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have much to offer today,” he said tiredly. Tony put a hand on his shoulder with sympathy. “I am sorry,” Stephen insisted, mistaking the action for an act of insistence.
“You’re kidding, right? You were a rock star out there,” Tony said, a smile forming on his face, “facial hair bro,” Stephen looked at him incredulously and shook his head.
“I still hate you,” he said, but there was a smile on his face.
“That’s not true,” he hummed, “I know deep down you love me.”
“You’re probably right,” Stephen sighed, straightening to look at him, “but for now, let’s just say that I like you.” Yup, that blow to his head would take its toll tomorrow.
“Is that the reason you came back?”
“Well, someone had to say it,” he said without modesty.
“Oh, please, I would have done it first if I wasn’t interrupt-” and then Stephen kissed him. Something he would usually found rude, but he was too tired to care. “Okay, this is the first time I find an interruption kind of enjoyable.”
“Kind of?” Stephen repeated arching an eyebrow.
“Kiss me if I’m wrong,” Tony smirked.
“With pleasure,” he answered, bending over to kiss him one more time.
“I thought this was supposed to be their wedding,” said Shuri signaling towards Bucky and Steve, the latter being healed by Wanda since apparently the reason they had been able to brainwash him so quickly was because of the use of magic.
“Well, this isn’t the weirdest thing that has happened to us,” Peter said raising his shoulders.
“True, they did surgery on a grape,” she answered with straight face, at least until Peter wasn’t able to hold his laughter anymore and she soon followed.
***
The wedding was resumed, because now it was clearer than ever that you could never be sure when the next attack would be. Tony decided to take note of that. Maybe that knowledge would come in handy in the future. As he danced with Stephen, he waved towards the newlyweds happily. Things with Steve had really improved, and he even was beginning to warm up to Bucky. The Avengers were back together and probably on their way of becoming stronger than ever. And finally, he thought as he kissed Stephen once more, he was allowed to do that. Of course, things were far from perfect. There was still evil in the world, and would probably always be, but he also knew that, at least for now, he had all he needed.