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Tony’s not used to wanting someone he can’t have.
It sounds arrogant, but pretty much anyone that caught his interest back in his playboy days had been willing to climb into his bed. Not always because they were interested in him, not even usually because they were interested in him, but at the time that hadn’t mattered. Much.
And while he and Pepper had had a bit of a slow burn, Tony had known how she felt long before he’d been ready to return those feelings, to have that kind of relationship. She’d done the waiting there, not him. Their break up had been mutual, too.
It’s a horrible cliche, but Stephen is different. He’s got a fantastically cutting sense of humor, and he’s brilliant with magic in the same way Tony is with mechanics. The way Stephen talks about magic it’s like a puzzle, or a performance, like solving a jigsaw puzzle made out of live music. It’s captivating. Stephen is captivating, and gorgeous. All of which would only encourage Tony to take his shot, except that Stephen also has this feeling about him, like his heart is already committed, like he’s given so much devotion to someone or something that anyone else can only briefly pass through his orbit. He has warmth to give, but it always seems to come out as compassion.
Tony’s stubborn, so of course he’d even asked Stephen about it.
Have you ever been in love?
I have, Stephen had said. In another lifetime. And then he’d shot Tony a wry glance and added, Literally. This timeline is so different… I don’t know if it could ever be the same. Sometimes I hope, but there are no more resets. I can’t risk ruining everything.
Tony knows exactly how he feels.