Chapter Text
Iron Man
''Go out and take a break. Have some fun. You're still young and it won't do you any good to stay cooped up in the Sanctum. Go do whatever you want. Just be back tomorrow morning and make sure I never hear about what exactly you did.''
Stephen had been surprised at Wong's words, but he'd taken the advice and stepped out, dressing casual for the first time in months. So far, it had been good. He'd dropped in on Christine, visited the hospital to see how things were going, and just strolled around, his hands shoved in his pockets all the time. The only thing that could have made this better would have been company. Someone his own age, somebody to talk to or spend the night with. But friends were few and far in between, and partners usually preferred steady hands.
"Are you planning on reporting on the lives we saved with the intellicrop division?" His attention reached a small posse of bodyguards, surrounding two women, one dressed in a professional skirt and blouse, with blonde hair and cherry lipstick. The other was... Stephen felt a sense of awe. The other was Toni Stark.
A year ago, he would have ignored the presence or acted superior to hide his admiration. But a lot could change in a year and his arrogance had been knocked down several pegs. He walked up to the pair, knowing the bodyguards would stop him.
"All those breakthroughs? Military funding, honey."
"Dr Stark," he called, and she stopped talking, focusing on him. Her eyes were sharp with annoyance, flicking over him. Apparently deciding he was a better option, she turned to him properly, wearing a wide smile.
"Hi," she said, clearly dismissing the reporter. The bodyguard who'd had his hand on Stephen's chest let go at her greeting.
"I just wanted to congratulate you on that last award you received," Stephen said. "And the diamond-refracted laser you released some time ago. It's truly a brilliant idea."
Dr Stark's entire demeanor changed: her eyes brightened and her lips quirked in a more genuine, yet surprised, way. "Thank you," she said warmly. "It's not often someone is aware of SI's accomplishments apart from weapons, Mr...?"
"Dr Stephen Strange," he supplied. "I was a neurosurgeon and I know about it because I spoke at a medical conference recently about it."
"Dr Strange, yeah, I think I remember attending one of your talks a couple years ago," she mused.
Stephen wondered if she knew anything else about him. The question was answered when she glanced down at his hands.
"So what do you now?" She asked and Stephen was grateful she hadn't pointed out his inability to perform surgery any more.
"I still write and give speeches, and paid very handsomely for it, Dr Stark, so I'm fine."
Dr Stark laughed. "Call me Toni. And aren't we all?" She joked and something about the way she was looking at him gave him pause. The lights from the casino behind her hit her face just right, making it easy to spot the flirtation in her eyes. She had her head tilted as she looked up at him, her grin sharp and coy, and Stephen... Couldn't understand why.
Toni Stark was famous as a player, the girl who never called a guy back. She could have anyone she wanted and right now, that was him. A year ago, he wouldn't have had trouble believing it. But, now? He wasn't sure if he could...?
Stark giggled. "For a supposed genius, you take too long to think," she informed him.
"For a supposed genius, you don't seem to think very often at all," he shot back without thinking. Again, she surprised him by outright laughing.
"Touché," she agreed. "It's never bothered me before."
"I never lost any sleep over it, either," Stephen agreed. 'Fuck it,' he thought. It was what he wanted and if she wanted it too and didn't have any issues with trembling hands, then, well, he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Though I am prepared to lose a few hours tonight."
Toni grinned again and before he knew it, Stephen was being gently tugged into a car.
The rest of the night passed with small but strong hands gripping his own scarred ones, full lips pressed against his own, his mouth nipping at her collarbone, and teasing remarks whispered in giddiness. It was one of the best nights Stephen had had, for more reasons than just the obvious one.
He woke up alone, of course, and was politely kicked out by another beautiful red-headed woman, Pepper Potts. But he couldn't lose his satisfied smirk and Wong's words of greeting were, "Judging purely by that expression, you had a good night and I don't want to hear about it."
"As of right now, eight soldiers are dead, three of whom had been the armed escorts for billionaire Antonia Stark. The genius herself has been declared missing, as no body was found, and a search has already been put into effect by the military. Stark's close friend, Colonel James Rhodes, who is also the military liaison for Stark International, is heading the mission."
"You mean," Wong was saying. "To tell me, that you spent that night with Toni Stark, of all people?"
Stephen nodded. He felt an odd tightening in his chest at the thought of Toni being hurt. She'd been one of the few people who'd accepted his scars, even if just for a night. Not to mention, Toni had a brilliant mind. Her death would be a great blow not just to the US, but the entire world.
"Didn't expect to see you here." The voice startled him, even though he'd wanted to hear it.
"Favour for a friend," Stephen answered. It was technically true; Christine usually attended these things, but she had a date, so she'd asked Stephen to see to it. But he'd only agreed because he'd been holding out on the hope that Stark would be there.
"Hmm," was the only response he got and he took her in.
She was dressed in a long, bottle-green dress, with a light jacket pulled over it, her lips painted pink, hair braided over a shoulder and amber eyes made brighter by the subtle make-up. She looked gorgeous... And nothing like someone who'd been in captivity for three months until a week ago.
Stephen knew that look all too well. It was the same one he wore when he didn't want to talk. Or was hiding a secret.
"Aren't you supposed to be laying low?" He wondered and Stark shrugged.
"Supposed to, sure. Fancy a dance?"
"Lead the way." She tugged him onto the dance floors and, ignoring the curious glares from the men and women, he pulled her in with a hand on her hip. "That was quite the press conference, by the way," he pointed out. "Very entertaining."
She raised an eyebrow. "Entertaining?"
"Oh yeah." He grinned. "You were probably too stressed to notice, but everyone's faces were priceless."
She grinned back and Stephen took the chance to ask something else. "Why'd you do it?"
"Why'd I do what?"
"Why did you shut down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International?"
Stark had closed off completely. Her face was a cold blank mask and her mouth was a straight line. "Why don't we go out for some air and then talk?" She asked, polite, though it was clear he didn't have much choice in the matter. He followed her out to the terrace, feeling that redhead's gaze burn into him.
"Well...?"
"You ever feel like you've been flying on top of the world with rose-tinted glasses and then one day you come crashing down and you realize everything that was ever wrong in your life and most of what's wrong in the world was your fault?"
Stephen hesitated with his answer. "Not in the way that you did," he finally said.
Stark smiled, thin and tight. "Well, that's what happened to me, in a nutshell. So now I'm fixing it."
Stephen eyed her in concern. He wasn't a therapist, but he was intuitive enough to know that she hadn't been simply kept in a cell in Afghanistan. "What happened there?" He demanded in a quiet voice, bending down slightly so he could be at her eye-level.
"I had my eyes opened," she replied simply and Stephen was abruptly aware of how close they were. He wondered if she had noticed, but before he could do or say anything, Potts appeared.
"Miss Stark," she started, looking worried. "Christine Everhart is downstairs. She says she has some photographs to show you."
"I am Iron Woman."
That was all every news channel was showing and Stephen couldn't quite explain the worry and panic in his chest.
Wong meanwhile, was trying to convince him to reveal himself to Stark. "She is a powerful person, as well as a smart one, and that's a dangerous combination," he was saying. "She'll find out about us sooner or later and I'd rather it be in a controlled situation. Besides, she could be a powerful ally, if the need ever arises."
Stephen was tempted to point out that it was doubtful they would every be in any kind of trouble that a mechanic could help them with, but he knew better than that. Machines could be tampered with by magic and spells could be hampered by technology.
Sighing, he dialled a number from the net. "Stark International."
"Yes, um," Stephen hated sounding unsure. "I'd like to arrange an appointment with Dr Stark, in personal."
"I'm sorry, sir," the cool voice apologized. "But Dr Stark isn't taking any personal meetings right now. If you like, I could arrange something with Miss Potts..."
"Tell Dr Stark it's Stephen Strange calling," he blurted. "Dr Stephen Strange."
There was a short silence, then, "Dr Stark will see you today afternoon."
So, now, two hours later, he was sitting in Toni's office, as she typed on a tablet, taking notes with her other hand. She looked up at him in a few minutes, putting away both the notepad and tablet. Gone was the friendly banter of their first encounter and the brief honesty of the second. Now there was nothing but a hard seriousness and caution etched in every line of her face. He'd dressed normal, wanting to start out as easily as possible.
"Can we go somewhere more private?" He requested. "This is going to be a rather sensitive discussion."
"JARVIS, isolate the room, would you?" She said, instead. Before Stephen could wonder who JARVIS was, the windows and glass panes of the room darkened, until he couldn't see outside any longer.
At the same time, there was a voice, "Ma'am, I have also informed Miss Potts and Mr Hogan of the doctor's visit, in case their presence is required."
Oh right, Stark's AI. He'd heard the rumors, but no one knew the actual extent of its intelligence.
Dr Stark was looking at him expectantly. So he began to talk. He told her about his downward spiral after the accident, Pangborn's miraculous recovery, Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One, Mordo, Kaecilius, Dormammu, the Cloak, Wong. He didn't attempt to hide his emotions, his despair and helplessness. He was pouring his heart out, despite his built-in instincts, because somehow he felt this was the only way Dr Stark would actually trust him. She didn't believe him at first, obviously, but once he opened a quick portal to call Levi, who twirled around with her usual flair, she was convinced. Quite easily, in fact.
"So, we're actually pretty similar," she mused, staring at Levi's occasional fluttering movements. "Coasting around on top of the world and then it all came crashing down."
"Sounds about right," Stephen agreed.
Stark gave a small smirk. "Alright, Strange," she drawled. "Looks like you and I are gonna be friends."
"I hope so, Doctor."
"It's Toni," she reminded him, still smiling, and Stephen returned it.