Work Text:
Tony works at a local library for his summer break. It is just a temporary job to fill up his wallet. He is planning to buy a car, doesn’t care old or new but he wants to own a car.
He has been working at the library for a week now. It has been great for him. He just needs to sort out the books, check the due date for some borrowed books and sometimes take care of the counter. It is all just easy stuff.
Sometimes he would call some of his friends to hang out at the back of the library chatting. Rhodey and Pepper always come and hang out there talking about their days and accompanying Tony while he worked. Sometimes they talk too loud and people are mad but we just don’t care. To be quite honest, Tony hates this job but it is what it is. He wants to collect money so he has no choice. His parents aren’t even wealthy so no point for him to ask them for extra money.
“You know there is a new place at the side of the town, we should go there sometimes. It is a new restaurant of some sort.” Rhodey said looking at Tony who is sitting behind the counter and Pepper who is behind Tony.
“Yeah, but Pepper you pay for us huh?” Tony smirks. Pepper huffed, “You know you are the one who is earning money right now right?” Pepper joked.
“You know what this money is for- “
“Yeah, yeah. Your new car whatever.” Pepper cuts in.
“Fine, I will pay for you both. Pepper paid for our last hangout anyway.” Rhodey said calmly.
“Aw! Thank you Rhodeybear!” Tony makes a kissy face to Rhodey. Rhodey rolled his eyes. “Tony-”
“Yeah?”
“Someone is wanting to borrow a book behind you.” Rhodey points.
“Oh-”, Tony turned to face a tall kid, with blue eyes, a nice physique, sharp jawline, he wore a dark blue sweatshirt and black track pants. He did not realize a stared at the boy for far too long.
“This is all,” the boy broke the silence. His voice is deep and soothing which makes Tony shiver a little bit.
“Ah alright.” Tony startled a little. “I have never seen you around here before,” Tony said, sounding calm. He smiled at the boy while Tony checked the boy’s book to be stamped.
“Yeah, I just moved here a few days ago.” The boy’s phone started to ring. He took it and answered it.
Tony feels weird and impolite to be listening to the boy’s conversation.
So, he turned to his friends which they are silently chuckling at Tony. He raised his eyebrow and mouthed, “What is wrong with y-”
“Hey is this done?” Tony looks back at the boy. The boy closed the stamped book and was ready to carry it.
“Uh yeah.”
Without hesitation, the boy left rushing. Tony stared at the figure for quite a long time until he goes out of the library. He then realized he didn’t take note of his name for the library book overdue report.
Tony sighs. He put his name on the report book, so if the boy did not return after 7 days. Tony, unfortunately, has to pay for him. This library policy is strict.
After a few moments. “Something is in the air, Tony,” Pepper said happily.
“What do you mean?” Tony asked.
“You fall for that tall gorgeous boy. The way you stared at him, the way you started to get nervous even though your conversation with him got cut short with the call.” Pepper explained, Rhodey nodding to every single statement.
“You guys are ridiculous. Well unfortunately we don’t know his name. He might be moving to another place again. Who knows?” He felt a little disappointed with what he just said.
“And also, I am not falling for him,” Tony adds.
“He’ll come around. He just borrowed a book. He will come eventually to return the book.” Rhodey confirmed.
Tony hopes that he will meet the boy again. Don’t know when he’ll come around but he is hopeful.
~~~
A week and three days passed.
The boy’s book is overdue.
Tony had to pay $25 for the fines which for him is a lot because he is trying to save money.
The hangout plan with Pepper and Rhodey is not planned yet since they both are busy with their things.
Today it seems like fewer people will come to the library because it is raining heavily outside.
Tony is wearing a bright blue hoodie which is very comfortable for him. He arranged library books as usual. He occasionally wants to open up the pages and read but Tony isn’t the reading type of boy. He then put the books back on their designated shelves.
He goes back to stand behind the counter.
As he was looking at the entrance glass door to see the rain, a figure came into the library. He recognized it. The figure approached Tony at the counter.
“Oh look! Who decided to show up not bringing the overdue book too.” Tony said sarcastically.
“Hi, Tony. Oh yeah, I forgot to bring it.” The boy said happily.
“You come to the library but forget to bring the book you borrowed a week ago? And How do you know my name?” Tony curious.
“The name tags.” The boy points.
Tony looked down. Oh yeah, he thought to himself. Another stupid librarian rule to follow. All librarians need to wear a name tag so people can recognize them easily. Bla Bla Bla.
“Oh yeah, what brings you here?”
“I dunno. Some type of feelings that I should be here.” The boy explained.
“So metaphorical.” Tony joked.
“By the way. I didn’t catch your name when you came to check out a book, so I put it under my name, but now your book is way overdue and I’m paying your fines so please, for the love of all that’s holy, bring that book back” Tony spilled.
“What a rude way to talk to someone, Stephen.” He sighs. “Sorry, my name is Stephen Strange. You can call me Stephen,” he smiled at Tony brightly and stretched his hand to shake Tony’s hand
On the other hand, Tony is slightly blushing. “I’m Tony Stark, anyone here calls me Tony,” he shakes Stephen’s hand.
“I’m sorry for not bringing the book and for you to pay the fines. I should pay it back.”
“Yeah, you should. but it’s alright, you can pay back anytime. I am not going anywhere.”
“Maybe I should take you out to lunch or something,” Stephen said casually.
This startled Tony. They had just met a week ago and now he is asking for a lunch date together??
“Uhh…you asking me out? Seriously?” Tony joked.
Stephen laughed. “Well, you paid for the book overdue, I should return it too and I can give it back to you on our lunch date or something,” Stephen explained.
Tony considers this as a good plan to get to know Stephen more. It warms his heart for Stephen to do little things like this and they are technically a stranger to each other.
“Sounds like a good idea to me. I know a place where we can go.” He smiled.
“Oh yeah, that’s great!’ Stephen exclaimed. He handed out his phone.
“Uh, what?” Tony asked.
“Put your phone number in dummy. How am I going to contact you, huh?”
Now they are exchanging phone numbers?? This is going so quick while Tony is looking so dumb right now. He didn’t make any move to show that he has a crush on Stephen. Butterflies in his stomach and he is blushing.
“Oh yeah, here.” Tony typed in his phone number in Stephen’s phone and Stephen put his number in Tony’s phone.
“When can we go?” Stephen asked.
“Maybe this Friday, since my work here is only half-day on Friday.”
Stephen smiled. His damn smile, Tony is infatuated at this point by looking at Stephen’s smile. Is this what love at first sight feels like?
“Fantastic!” Stephen exclaimed. “I have to go now. See you on Friday, Tony.”
“See you, Stephen,” Tony blushed.
He watched Stephen exits the library. Wondering how their little lunch date is going to be. Stephen will be there, helping to pull Tony’s chair out just like a gentleman he is. Wait- they aren’t even friends. They just met last week for god’s sake. Tony sighs. It is just a wishful dream at this point. He wouldn’t know if Stephen is into guys.
Tony sat down on the chair imagining it over.
Stephen is kind, he is also very gentle, and funny too. He makes Tony happy. Even though they had just met a week ago, it feels like they had known for millions of lifetimes. Their wavelength is on the same level. It gives Tony a stomach butterflies by just thinking about Stephen. He looks so dumb right now, blushing and all.
~~~
The next day. It is Thursday.
Pepper and Rhodey are over at the library with Tony.
“He invited you to go on a lunch date? That is something.” Pepper smirks.
“It is just a normal lunch meet-up.” Tony rolled his eyes. “Nothing special.”
“Yeah, whatever Tones, you are way happier seeing that boy.” Said Rhodey.
“It’s Strange.”
“Yeah, it is. But I am happy for you Tones. You are so lonely all the time. You should find someone.”
“No, I mean his name is Stephen Strange.”
Rhodey laughs. “Alright, Loverboy. Next time you have to introduce us to him, okay?”
“Yes, sorry we couldn’t come tomorrow because it is for the both of you and Stephen. Me and Rhodey are busy too.” Pepper said.
“I’m fine. There’s always next time. Yeah sure, I will introduce you guys to Stephen.”
They talked about their days. Tony though, is physically there but mentally thinking about Stephen. He can’t get him out of his mind but he is not complaining. He can’t wait for the lunch date tomorrow.
~~~
When Tony arrives at the café. Stephen is already there. He is wearing a grey shirt with a jacket on top. Tony can see Stephen’s chest outlining the grey shirt. Everything looks good on him.
Tony approached the table. Stephen looks up to Tony and greets him.
“Hey, Tony. You made it. I thought you wouldn’t come to meet a stranger you just met a week ago.” Stephen joked.
“Hii, Stephen. Yes of course. Who wouldn’t want to get to know a gorgeous boy like you- I mean-” He is so screwed. He is embarrassed for the slip of internal thoughts. Tony covers his face. “Who wouldn’t want to meet you, Stephen.” Tony corrects.
Stephen laughs at Tony’s compliment. Blushing a little.
“You are gorgeous too Tony.”
Tony’s heart skipped a beat uncovering his face to meet Stephen's blue eyes. Hearing Stephen’s compliment really made his day. His smile really is can light up this whole café. Yes. He is in love with him.
Tony picks up the menu. Looking through it.
“Have you ordered anything?” Tony asked.
“No, I came like 10 minutes before you came just now.”
“Alright.” Tony raises up his hand to alert the waiter.
They ordered their food.
When the food came. They started to eat.
Tony tried his best to not look over to Stephen but failed miserably. For once in a while, he would look down to his food and then gaze on Stephen. Stephen did it too. When they gaze at each other, there’s something there.
They talk once in a while, while they are eating. It was all genuine and very sweet for Tony. No one ever treats him as kind as Stephen, except Rhodey and Pepper of course. Both Pepper and Rhodey have been beside Tony for so long.
However, with Stephen, he just knew him last week and everything is already clicking. He loves him but does not want to point it out of course.
Fear of rejection.
~~~
“Thank you, Tony. For coming I mean.” Stephen said as he got up from his seat. Their lunch date was so wholesome. I love Tony, Stephen thought to himself.
“It was a very pleasant lunch. Thank you for inviting me,” Tony smiled. He is getting up from his seat as well. “Although I am sorry for not paying for the food.”
“What do you mean? I invited you, remember, that means I am paying.” Stephen chuckled.
“Yes, I know. I am just messing with you,” Tony smiled again. Stephen blushed. Oh god- his adorable smile. Stephen is in love.
“We should do this again some other time,” Stephen suggested.
“Yeah, we should.” Tony looks away from Stephen to hide his gleaming face.
“Well, that’s great! See you around Tony.”
“Alright, goodbye Stephen. See you again next time.”
This is the beginning of a great relationship. Stephen never met anyone like Tony. He is genuine, awesome, has a great smile, is kind, and everything he wanted, Tony has it.