Chapter Text
At precisely two o’clock in the afternoon, Stephen Strange walked from Bleecker Street in Manhattan to Upstate New York. The best part of becoming a Master of the Mystic Arts, Stephen had to admit was the Sling Ring. Yes, the speedy roadsters he once owned were cool, but a simple circle with his hand sure beat sitting in traffic jams.
He strode across the freshly mowed grass, his Cloak billowing in the slight breeze. As he entered the Avengers compound, his heavy boots clacked against the marble floor. None of the staff paid him any attention when he moved to the elevator and went up to the private common room floor.
Since the defeat of Thanos, the Avengers had dispersed amongst the galaxy and they met at the compound every couple of months to discuss any potential threats. If there was no immediate danger to address, the meetings were more of a party.
Stephen entered the common room, admiring the plush brown microfiber couches and sleek black leather recliners. A state of the art high definition TV was mounted to the far wall with every video game system known to mankind sitting beneath it. The stone blue painted walls were decorated not with artwork, but candid pictures of everyone from Tony and Pepper’s wedding.
“Hello, Stephen,” Pepper’s friendly voice called out from behind him.
He turned to find Pepper walking in with Morgan perched on her hip.
Stephen offered her a warm smile. “Hello. Do we have you to thank for this lovely spread?” he asked, gesturing to the plates of sandwiches, cheeses, and various fruits set on the long marble counter in the kitchen area.
“Yes,” she replied. “If I left this to Tony, you’d be lucky to get Cheez-Whiz and saltines.”
“I’ve always said he somehow managed to marry up.”
She snickered. “You bet he did. The rest of the guys should be here soon. Tony is coming up from Brooklyn with Steve and Rhodey. He wanted to ride in the car he’d had custom made for Steve. I’m pretty sure they’re picking up Peter Parker too. Sam and Bucky are finishing their workout in the downstairs gym that hopefully doesn’t involve them killing each other. And Thor should be arriving with Quill and his gang from Asgard’s new home planet. As for everyone else, I have no idea.”
Stephen chuckled. “So you handle the Avengers’ schedules too?”
“A mantle I would be very happy to pass off to literally any one else,” Pepper deadpanned. “Between running SI, my husband, and this one,” she gently jostled Morgan. “I am exhausted.” Morgan giggled, and Pepper pressed a kiss to his chubby cheek. “Hey, little guy,” she pointed to Stephen. “Do you remember who this is?”
“Eeee-fen!” Morgan crowed.
Both Pepper and Stephen laughed. “There is no doubt about who his favorite Avenger is,” Pepper said.
Stephen couldn’t stop the smug grin on his face. “Does Tony know that?”
“Oh God, yes. I tell him all of the time. Morgan carries around Floppy Rabbit everywhere.” Sure enough gripped in Morgan’s tiny fist was one of the ears of said rabbit.
When Morgan had been born, Stephen had given the Stark couple a stuffed rabbit for their son. But not just any stuffed animal…a small brown rabbit with soft floppy ears complete with its own Cloak of Levitation. He’d found the toy on Etsy and it was just the perfect thing to give to Tony and Pepper’s new scion. Of course it was cute (that’s what he told Christine), but mostly because he knew it would drive Tony crazy.
Just then a harried young man in his twenties, wearing a suit and tie walked quickly into the room. “Mrs. Stark, I am so sorry to interrupt, but there is an emergency at the Denver office and the office director is on a video call, wanting to speak with you right away.”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “Okay, has Tony arrived yet?”
“No, ma’am he hasn’t.”
She scoffed. “Of course. I’m sure they took the scenic route with that damn car. Well…” she hitched Morgan, higher on her hip. “I guess you are coming with me.”
Before Stephen could even process the words, he offered confidently, “I can take him.”
“Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”
“Pepper, it’s really not a problem.”
“I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not putting me out if I’m offering.” He held his hands out. “I can handle him for a little bit while you put out a corporate fire.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. When he nodded, Pepper smiled. “Oh, Stephen, thank you so much.” She handed Morgan over, who had no anxiety about being held by another person who wasn’t his parents. “I just changed him and I already fed him lunch so really the only thing you have to do is just stay with him until Tony gets here.”
He nodded. “Go ahead, I got this.” With that, Pepper followed her assistant out of the room.
Stephen looked at Morgan, who patted his goatee. Stephen had taken on a dark lord from another dimension and a Titan who tried to eliminate half of the universe so watching a fourteen month baby would be a cake walk.
Fifteen minutes later, Stephen felt he’d cemented his position as Morgan’s favorite Avenger. They sat on one of the couches while Stephen entertained Morgan with his magic.
Stephen created golden threads and circles that gently burst in front of Morgan, dissolving into sparkly dust. Morgan cooed and clapped his hands.
Looking at his watch, Stephen grunted. “Its no wonder your mother runs Stark Industries. Your father appears to think time is subjective as do the rest of our merry band of heroes.”
Unfortunately Morgan soon grew bored with Stephen’s magic. When Stephen heard voices in the hallway, he turned for a moment only to find Morgan had made a quick getaway and was trying to climb a stool at the breakfast bar.
“No, no, no,” Stephen admonished, carrying Morgan back. “Your father should be here soon and then you can run away from him all you want.”
He tried to sit Morgan back on the couch, but the child was having none of it. Every moment Stephen let him go, Morgan tried to escape. Stephen tried making funny faces, singing, and even his very accurate Chewbacca impression to no avail. Growing more and more frustrated, Morgan whined and fought against Stephen; he even threw Floppy Rabbit on the floor.
“Hey, what’s up, kiddo?” Stephen asked. “You were fine just a few minutes ago and now this.”
Morgan’s crying increased in pitch and volume, his face starting to turn red. He rubbed his fists into his eyes, with fat tears rolling down his cheeks. Standing up, Stephen picked up Morgan and made quiet shushing sounds. Morgan just continued to cry and cry.
Stephen started to panic a bit when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he discovered the Cloak was the source; he hadn’t even noticed it coming off his shoulders.
“What? What?!” he snapped. “I’m kind of busy.”
The Cloak hung mid-air and lay it self out like a hammock. One end pointed to the body of the material.
Stephen stared in confusion before he caught on. “You want me to put the kid in you?” he asked over Morgan’s sobbing; the Cloak simply nodded.
Stressed, no parents in sight, and completely out of options, Stephen decided to comply. What was the worse that could come from the simple task? He trusted the Cloak with his life so why not a crying infant?
“Okay.” Placing Morgan inside the Cloak, Stephen said gently, “Maybe this will calm you down? I hope.”
Because Morgan was so small, the end of the Cloak pulled itself over him like a blanket. Then the Cloak began to gently swing side to side.
Stephen’s eyes widened in amazement as Morgan’s cries tapered off into pitiful squeaks and whines.
Picking Floppy Rabbit from the floor, Stephen tucked the stuffed animal next to Morgan’s side. Hugging the stuffed bunny, Morgan’s eyes began to droop.
“Was that it?” Stephen asked quietly. “Were you just tired?” Morgan’s answer was a big yawn. Within a few more minutes, Morgan gently fell asleep.
“Yes!” Stephen whispered excitedly. He held his hand up, and the collar of the Cloak managed to give Stephen a high five…of sorts. “Once again, Strange-one. Stark-zero.”
When some of the other Avengers finally arrived, Stephen kicked them out, not wanting to risk disturbing Morgan. He’d just fixed himself a drink and kicked his feet on the coffee table when he heard more voices in the hallway.
“Tony, did you just get here?” Pepper asked irritably.
“Yes. What’s the problem?” Stephen rolled his eyes because Tony didn’t sound the least bit concerned over his tardiness.
“The problem is I had to take an emergency phone call from the company and left Morgan with Stephen. I told him you’d be here nearly thirty minutes ago so you could take our son out of his hands.”
“You left Morgan with Strange?” Tony’s voice grew louder, tinges of fear in his words. “He’ll send him to another dimension!”
When Tony and Pepper pushed the door into the common room, they stopped dead in their tracks. Morgan was still peacefully sleeping in the Cloak, and Stephen sitting serenely across from him, flipping through People magazine.
“The only Stark I would send to another dimension is you,” Stephen deadpanned.
“Why is my kid sleeping in your damn cape?” Tony hissed.
Stephen’s eyes narrowed. “It is not a cape.” Turning to Pepper, he reassured her, “The Cloak of Levitation would never hurt Morgan.”
To emphasize his point, the Cloak shook its collar. Morgan sighed in his sleep, and snuggled further in.
“Stephen, thank you so much for watching him.” She gave Tony a very pointed look. “My husband should have been here on time to put Morgan down for his nap.” Smiling, she took a deep breath. “I can take Morgan to his room so you can have your cloak back.”
Stephen waved his hand as he stood. “Don’t worry about it. If you just show the Cloak the way to Morgan’s room, it’ll just hang out there until he wakes up.”
She seemed completely unfazed by a floating piece of clothing encasing her son. But then again, she had already spent a fair amount time around other humans with extraordinary powers. “Okay,” she replied.
Tony’s eyes widened. “Really? We’re really doing this?”
“Yes we are,” she replied in a tone that left no room for argument. “Um, follow me…I guess.” And sure enough, the Cloak gently floated behind Pepper out of the room, leaving Stephen alone with Tony.
Tony’s eyebrows furrowed and Stephen smirked at his pained expression. “For being a person in the forefront of nanotechnology, you sure have an issue with something as simple as time.”
Stephen turned briefly, only for Tony to lob a pillow at him. Well, tried to lob a pillow; spinning around, Stephen used his circular shield to deflect the pillow…
Right back at Tony’s face.