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Tony doesn’t think anyone would be surprised to hear that his first impression of Doctor Stephen Strange is that he’s another one of those heroes who are utterly convinced they know best about everything. Tony has had it up to here with heroes like that. He resolves that he’ll work with Strange only when absolutely necessary.
He’s confident of his decision right up until he drops by the Sanctum to deliver a magical artifact that the Avengers took off a bad guy and walks in on Strange arguing with a dog. A translucent blue-green basset hound, of all things.
“I do not need to go out,” Strange tells the dog, aggrieved. “I have work to do.”
“You haven’t been outside in three days,” the dog says. Of course there’s a talking ghost dog in the Sanctum. “That’s not any better for humans than it is for dogs.” The dog moves as if to nudge Strange’s legs. He’s a ghost, so of course he passes straight through, but Strange moves toward the doorway anyway, as if the nudge had landed. Tony has to swallow a smile.
“Look, I’ll make you a deal—” Strange begins, but then he catches sight of Tony and cuts off. “Mr. Stark,” he says. He straightens his shoulders and lifts his chin, but his ears are going pink. “What can I do for you?”
“Got an artifact for you,” Tony says, holding up the weird metal fractal thing he’d come with.
Strange reaches for it with visible relief. Whether it’s for the professional nature of the visit or the excuse not to go outside, Tony isn’t sure.
“You’re enabling him,” the dog tells Tony.
Tony grins. “How about I take him for a walk after?” he murmurs, too quiet for Strange to hear.
“Deal,” the dog chortles.