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They find it on Stephen’s return from a cross-dimensional visit. Although everything had gone as planned, a magical scan to ensure the traveler didn’t bring any infections, contaminants, or other magical hitchhikers back is routine.
The spell turns up no magical additions, but it does find a technological one.
“It’s a tracking device,” Wong says after a few more investigative spells. He frowns. “And it is broadcasting your location actively. This is not good, Stephen. As bad as it is that someone wishes to follow you so closely, it is worse that a loss of signal would indicate when you are absent from this dimension.”
Stephen casts his mind back over the recent weeks, searching for a moment when the tracker could have been implanted.
A visit to Tony’s lab. A tiny shock of pain that he’d dismissed as a pinched nerve. A satisfied smile.
Tony is tracking him. Every moment of every day, Tony will know where he is.
A smile slowly stretches Stephen’s lips. He reaches up, gently turning the glowing representation of the implant. “There’s no need for concern, Wong,” he says. “It’s only Tony keeping an eye on me.”
Wong pauses. “He asked your permission?”
“No,” Stephen says serenely. He waves a hand and the image of the tracker dissolves. “But then, neither did I.” With another wave, Stephen calls up a globe. A pinpoint of red light glows in New York.
“Stephen,” Wong says. He stops, then goes on carefully, “This spell is blood magic.”
“Of course. I could hardly maintain it actively and indefinitely if it wasn’t.” Stephen shoots Wong a look. “It’s not damaging. I wouldn’t do that to Tony.”
Wong scowls, but Stephen only dismisses the map with a gesture, smiling to himself.
Tony is home. Perhaps a visit is in order.