Chapter Text
The silence of Tony Stark's Malibu mansion hung heavily throughout the night, even quieter than most with the lab not being full of loud tinkering. Tonight, Tony and his husband Stephen Strange laid in their bed together. Somehow Stephen had convinced Tony to go to bed that evening, the genius being able to say no to his nagging for a few days, but eventually caving to Stephen’s stubborn expression in his exhausted state.
The sorcerer had come to his lab earlier that day and the two had a small quarrel about Tony needing to get some sleep. Tony had then decided his husband needed an explanation and told of the nightmares he experienced every time he closed his eyes at night. How he couldn't look at things the same anymore after the fight in New York.
“Threat is imminent and I need to protect the one thing I can't live without… that's you.” he'd sighed, his hand gesturing towards where Stephen had been standing.
Stephen understood, of course. He always seemed to. He'd held Tony soothingly for a little while, his head pulled into the sorcerer’s chest and Stephen's chin resting on top of it.
“It's my responsibility to protect you as well, my love,” Stephen pointed out, “We're partners in life. What kind of husband would I be if I forced you to do all of the protecting, all the stressing for me?” Before Tony could say anything else, Stephen clutched his hands and guided him to the lab exit. “And tonight, Anthony, your husband is cutting your 72 hours without sleep off immediately.”
How could Tony say no to that face?
It was a tranquil moment in time with the lights turned off in the lab and no enemy to fight. At least, any onlooker would say it was.
Deep in Tony Stark's REM sleep the man was living the most distressing time he'd ever experienced once more.
Bright flashes of explosions blinded his foggy vision, and his ears were ringing from the screams and blaster shots surrounding him.
Tony turned and the Iron Man let out a silent yell as a Chitauri Leviathan swallowed him into darkness. Then, he found himself floating. Once again deep in space.
The void swallowed his mind and senses and all Tony could think about was the imminent death that was just outside of his powered down, oxygen limited suit. The suit felt like a weight hanging down on his body instead of the protective shield that was supposed to save him.
Tony could feel his heart racing. The cold feeling of fear and the horrible acceptance of his was gripping his neck and making it hard to breathe.
His body in the waking world was tensed up tightly and his throat let out whimpers of fear and despair. He subconsciously clutched the sheet covers for any form of reassurance that he was still there, still alive.
The man's jerking and cries woke Stephen next to him, and the now worried sorcerer had gently, but firmly, grabbed Tony's shoulder, calling his name.
“Tony, baby, please wake up一” Stephen called desperately before being cut off by a gasp.
Something cold and harsh had grabbed onto his arm and he was swung violently on his back. Stephen was surprised to see himself staring directly at one of his husband's suits, glowering over him threateningly.
Tony felt Stephen’s hand get ripped away from him suddenly and was immediately jerked from his nightmare. Seeing as the suit was hovering over Strange and about to attack, Tony scrambled out of bed and barked the order “Power down!” to his Mark 42, before disassembling it.
Stephen turned on the lamp by his side of the bed and the two breathed heavily as the panic and adrenaline began dying down in their bodies. Tony felt guilt rising in his chest, “I must've.. called it in my sleep一” he glanced at Stephen who was looking at him with a concerned expression, “That's not supposed to happen… I'll r-recalabrate the sensors.”
Stephen stood up from the bed and a panic filled Tony's face at the idea of possibly scaring him away.
“Just.. just let me catch my breath, Stephen一” Tony was about to cry out a “Please don't go,” but didn't have time before his body was being pulled into a tight, warm embrace.
“Don't worry, I'm staying right here…” Strange comforted softly, rubbing the back of Tony's back with his right hand and holding his head reassuringly with his left.
Tony let out a relieved breath, and the usually stoic hero felt his chest suddenly heave with choked sobs, “I-I’m sorry," he coughed out, his throat dry, “I made those suits to protect you, a-and I can't even manage that.”
“Tony, it's alright… It's not your fault,” Stephen insisted, “I love you… you don’t need to earn that love. I'm never leaving your side.”
“What did I do to deserve you,” Tony whispered weakly, “I love you so so much.”
The two stayed like that for a while, Stephen murmuring words of comfort while Tony slowly began calming down.
Eventually, they made their way back to bed and the sorcerer held Tony protectively against his chest, his warm embrace bringing a sense of safety for the distressed Avenger. Stephen delivered soft kisses on different parts of his face to anchor him to reality, which brought upon a miniscule smile on the corners of Tony’s mouth.
He looked into his husband's cool blue gaze, and even in the dark of night they shone so brightly.
“Thank you for protecting me,” Tony murmured, his eyes getting heavier by the second.
“Of course, my love. Thank you for doing the same” he smiled, “How about I make you breakfast tomorrow?”
Tony couldn't help but let out a snort, “You can certainly try, though I don't exactly trust you since everything you make should be the main course on Worst Cooks in America.” he teased.
Stephen huffed, “Well, Anthony Stark, tomorrow I'll surprise you. How's waffles sound?”
Tony grinned softly, “Sounds perfect.”
With that, the two snuggled deeper into each other’s embraces and Tony drifted off into a nightmare free slumber for the rest of the night.