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Tony watched Stephen Strange leave; curiosity nudged at him, even as he kept half his focus on Peter over the phone
“Dad, Ned’s mom can’t make it,” Peter was saying, rapid fire pace, requesting Tony pick up him and Ned up from school. Tony glanced at his watch, he’d be late, even leaving immediately. He considered calling May—Tony wasn’t made to be a single parent; May and Ben were the only reason Tony hadn’t broken down years ago—but dismissed it. She had the night shift at the hospital tonight and was probably still asleep.
“I’ll be there,” Tony said absently, watching Stephen disappear out the door.
Something about the way Stephen had approached him—cautious, hopeful, anxious. From Stephen who, from what Tony had seen over the last semester, didn’t lack for confidence, it was… noticeable.
Stephen had wanted something more than to thank Tony. A thought nudged at the edge of his mind; Tony pushed it back, refusing to consider it.
Even if that thought—entirely inappropriate for Tony to even consider—had merit, Stephen had made the right choice not to say anything.
Maybe in the future… Tony dismissed the thought—some things Tony couldn’t consider.