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Moonlight illuminated the room through the sheer curtains as they danced in the gentle breeze from the small fan in the corner. Alone in a king size bed Stephen Strange laid unable to sleep and getting more annoyed with every moment that ticked by. He had grown accustomed to his partner sleeping beside him and the absence of his presence made it difficult for him to relax. He missed his warmth, he missed his smell, he even missed his loud stupid breathing. But Tony Stark was currently with some of his team mates and having a small get together. Strange had obviously been invited but turned down the offer as he was exhausted and needed some sleep. Needless to say he was slighty annoyed when the idiot opted to stay instead of coming home with him. And now here he layed alone and miserable.
Rolling over yet again he closed his eyes and tried to relax when his phone started to ring. He let out a loud audible sigh as he sat up and saw the picture of his absent partner flash across the screen. Bitting his lip he decieded to ignore it and laid back down, letting it go to voicemail. The way he saw it, Tony had abandoned him for the night so he would return the favor. Much to his frustration the phone soon rang again but he still refused to pick it up.
After the third time the phone chimed indicating that there was a new voicemail wating for him. He wanted to ignore it, lord did he want to ignore it but with a grunt he sat up and grabbed his phone to listen to what his partner wanted.
Tony's distressed voice broke through the silence of the night, "STEPHEN!! Hey I know you're sleeping and I'm so sorry to wake you up darling but I really need your help. I'm in big trouble right now..." Then the messaged ended abruptly.
Stephen's heart dropped, with no hesitation he jumped out of bed and quickly opened a portal to the compound. The cloak of levitation forever being loyal, barely had time to latch to his shoulders before he stepped through.
***************
Stephen was a bit surprised to find the place was mostly dark and seem undisturbed. From the sound of Tony's voice he fully expected to step into a battlefield. Quietly he made his way around the the compound, using his memory of the layout to avoid bumping into anything. Slowly making his way to the common room he stopped in his tracks when his eye landed on a dark figure laying in the middle of the floor.
"....no.." he whispered to himself. He could feel his heart starting to beat through his chest. His ears started to burn from the blood rushing to his face as panic sat in. Taking a few deep breaths he reached out a shaky hand and turned on the light switch.
The room lite up instantly as light flooded in and there laying in the middled of the floor was the unconscious body of Tony Stark. Stephen stood frozen in place as he took in the scene. Tony was tied up with duct tape, his arms and legs sercurly bond together, tape had been wrapped around his body pinning his arm to his back and leaving him unable to move.
Whoever had done this definitely knew what they were doing. Tony was yet to move or show any indication that he was alive and Stephen was struggling to breath as he took a step closer.
All he could hear was the sound of his own heart beating out of his chest, he wasnt ready for this.
Dropping to his knees he reluctantly reached out to and genlty put his fingers to Tony neck desperate to find a pulse. It was then that Tony gasped and pulled away as his eyes adjusted to the light. He blinked a few times before sheepishly smiling at the other men, " there you are. That was fast."
Stephen felt his world start moving agian, "Tony?" he whispered before grabbing him by the shoulder and helping his sit up. He could see a single strip of tape clinging to the side of Tony's face telling him that the other man had been gagged but had managed to get it off. His blood now boilded that someone had done this to him yet guilt also stabbed him in the heart for ignoring his calls for help. "Are ok? What happend?" he added as he hugged him to his chest.
Tony took a deep breath greatful that all his weight was no longer on his shoulder, "I'm ok" he said licking his lips," ......it was Nat," he said bluntly.
Strange slowly pulled away so he could look Tony in the face, " what?" he snapped wondering what the hell Tony was saying.
Tony huffed as a slight blush crept across his face, "it was Nat...... I'm ok. So.... would you be a lamb and untie me?" He asked.
Stephen raised his eyebrow, "Tony..... why did Nat tie you up?" He growled his anger slowly starting to shift towards the man in his arms.
Tony rolled his eyes, "it was a bet. We all had a few drink. And someone thought it would be a good idea to see who could free themselves the fastest if we were ever captured," he explained embarassed that he had to admit this out loud. "I think Nat was still upset at me over eating her left overs the other day. I swear she used twice the amount of tape on me then she did the others." He explained. "Well needless to say the others got free then thought it would be funny to gag me and leave me here while they went to dinner. Would you untie me now?"
Stephen's jaw tightened, "Tony you almost gave me a heart attack. I thought you were seriously hurt or maybe even dead. Why didn't you tell me this in the voicemail?" He asked as he ripped the piece of tape still hanging from Tony's cheek.
"Ow! Careful," Tony hissed. "Because I was worried if I told you what happened you wouldn't come," he admitted. "I mean you already ignored my calls. I'm just lucky that F.R.I.D.A.Y. is voice activated and made the calls for me. She's always on my side."
Stephen paused for a moment, "...you have a valid point," he admitted, " I wouldn't have come. So what makes you think that I wont just leave you like this anyway? Seems to me like this is your own fault," Stephen asked making a small motion as if he were going to put the piece of tape back over Tony's mouth.
Tony instinctively attempted to pull away making Stephen tighten his grip to prevent the other man from falling over and possibly hurting himself.
"Don't do that Stephen, it's not funny. It took me nearly a freaking hour just to get that off," Tony snapped.
Stephen couldn't help but chuckled at this point. Angry or not he couldn't help but find the whole ridiculous situation funny. And he wasn't one to miss out in a chance to tease Tony, "how did did get it off in the first place?" He asked curiously.
Tony shrugged, "with my tongue and spit," he said quite proud of himself before sticking his tounge out.
Stephen made a disgusted face as he crumpled up the strip of tape and tossed it aside.
"We are dating Stephen, " Tony grumbled as Stephen wiped his hand on Tony's shirt, "you have literally suck my d... "
"Do not finish that statement," Stephen cut in.
Tony bit his lip not wanting to upset his partner further, "sorry.... will you untie me now?"
"You didnt say please," Stephen pointed out. His anger now completely subsided knowing Tony was completely at his mercy and he was going to milk it.
".....pleaseeeeeee," Tony said through clenched teeth just as the door opened and the small group of Nat, Steve, Clint, Bruce and Thor walked in.
"Really? You called your boyfriend?" Nat yelled rolling her eyes.
The others looked away and quietly moved to the other room not really wanting to have anything to do with the situation.
"I did because my shoulder hurts and you cheated," Tony grumbled.
"I did not, I never said I would use the same amount of tape on everyone," she chimed in as she stepped closer.
"That's just cheap Romanoff, I offered to replace what I took but you just cant let it go," Tony shot back as Stephen stood up and instinctively stepped between the two.
"Easy there cowboy," Nat said tilting her head slightly amused how over protective Strange was being. "He ate my left overs the other day without asking and now he's leaning his lesson. I'm going to untie him in the morning," she explained.
"Would you like to join the rest of us for a movie?" she asked trying to offer an olive branch.
"No, thank you. I really need to get some rest tonight," Stephen answered still not letting her get any closer to Tony.
"I was drunk Nat, I dont know how many times I have to apologize?" Tony yelled. "Stephen I will give you anything you want if you just untie me."
"The place only makes that particular dish once a year," Nat interrupted.
Stephen was done, exhasted and watching these two grown adults bickering like childen was just too much, he could see why the others wanted nothing to do with this. Rubbing his eyes to fight the oncoming headache he could only come up with one soluition that would work for all of them. "Miss, Romanoff, you want Tony to stay tied up for the night to learn a lesson right?" He asked.
Nat smiled, " yep," she responded making Tony glare.
"Stephen! Are you serious? You're going to leave me like this on the floor?" He asked feeling slightly betrayed that even his boyfriend was against him.
"Ok," he said flatly before bending over and grabbing Tony by the waist and forcing him to stand up.
"Then I wont untie him til the morning," he added before throwing his boyfriend over his shoulder.
"Stephen!" Tony yelled but didn't dare to struggle much, not wanting the sorcerer to to lose his grip and drop him.
.
"Fair?" Stephen asked Nat.
Crossing her arms she nodded satisfied, "fair," she agreed.
"Good," Stephen answered before openeing up a portal back home. "Good night," he said to everyone before stepping through carrying Tony with him.
********
Moonlight illuminated the room through the sheer curtains as they danced to the gentle breeze from the small fan in the corner. In a king sizes bed laid Stephen Strange now with a small smile spread across his face as he cuddled up to his partners body. Rubbing his nose into the man's chest he sighed enjoying his smell and the warmth of his body. Tony Stark stared up at the ceiling annoyed that true to his word he was still tied up but at least he was in a much more comfortable position. "My arm muscles and I'm sure my back are going to be sore in the morning," he mummbled as Stephen pulled him closer. " I'll give you a massage when I wake up," he whispered happliy that he was finally getting some much needed rest.