Work Text:
“How long was she cursed?” Tony asked, watching as Donna tempted the palace cats with pieces of meat the cooks had given her. The palace staff was entirely charmed by her.
“Twenty-two years, four months, one week, and four days,” Stephen said, pain in his voice Tony suspected would never leave.
“How long were you in the gladiator ring?” he asked. “Trying to free her.”
“Since I turned eighteen,” Stephen said quietly. “Fourteen years.”
Horror twisted in Tony’s chest. “Fourteen years? What comes next?”
“She’s only ten,” Stephen said. “Our parents are dead. I’ll be raising her.” He sighed. “Fourteen years as a gladiator hasn’t given me much preparation for that.” Stephen’s gaze was hard to read.
“I don’t know much about raising a sibling,” Tony said. “But I’m pretty sure they need stability.” Which Stephen didn’t have after 14 years as a gladiator. “You can stay here, Stephen. Until you know where you want to go.”
“And if I want to stay forever?” Stephen asked, voice intent. “I know you… care for me. You know I care for you.”
Love. That was the word Stephen had used when talking about breaking the curse. It was… entirely incriminating. “You don’t know me, Stephen. Not truly.”
“I know you’re a good man,” Stephen said.
Tony disagreed. “Stephen…” Tony took a deep breath. “You needed to fall in love with me. Now you can decide to love anyone you want.”
“And I want—”
Tony shook his head. “Stay here while you and Donna stabilize. As long as you want and need. But I don’t expect anything.”
Stephen’s gaze was searching. “And if I want to get the chance to really know you?”
Tony paused, not sure what to say. “I suppose I want to get the chance to really know you, too.”