Work Text:
"Let me see him."
"Tony, no. You aren't meant to be here. Not after what you did."
"I need to see him."
Stephen came to from Mordo's drugged tea to hear two familiar voices. He opened his eyes, seeing himself in a glass cage. America was next to him, banging on the glass for help. Stephen continued listening to the argument from just outside his line of sight.
"Look. I was put in charge of Stephen because I still work here. You just donated your bots and left. And besides, it's not actually him." Was that Christine? Why was she working in a multiversal science facility? Shouldn't she be a doctor?
Stephen heard more arguing before Other Christine returned. "You're awake, finally," she remarked. Stephen asked Other Christine questions about this universe. Apparently this universe's Stephen had also blew it with Christine, but she remained working at the facility. Stephen had been put in a quarantine to make sure there weren't any weird pathogens. That makes sense.
"Who were you talking to?" Stephen asked.
Other Christine shook her head. "Nobody important. He just wants to see the new multiversal visitors."
Soon, Stephen was summoned to meet the Illuminati. The mystery man could wait- Stephen had to warn this universe of Wanda's impending invasion.
He blew it with the Illuminati. Now they were fighting Wanda and dying. Why couldn't they listen to him?! Stephen found himself running away, trying to find Christine and America to escape. But that was when Stephen saw him.
"Are you..."
The man smirked. "Tony Stark, in the flesh. I'm guessing I'm a big deal where you live?"
Stephen's eyes widened. He blinked as he suppressed some tears. He hadn't seen Tony since the Battle of Earth, where he sacrificed himself to save the universe. Despite Stephen and Tony's differences, they respected each other, and trusted each other with their lives. But with Tony dead, Stephen felt alone. Like a piece of him was gone, which was silly since he only knew Tony for a few days. "Tony... you're alive here. I-in my universe, you gave your life defeating Thanos."
"I could say the same for you," Tony quipped. Then his expression turned dark. "You killed Thanos, but they killed you." Stephen wanted to tried to explain what the Illuminati had told him, but Tony continued, voice laced with venom. "They knew what we had going. We built this facility together, founded the Illuminati together. We spent so much time together, yet they wouldn't let me say goodbye to you before they took you from me."
Stephen dipped his head. "I'm sorry that happened. My Tony and I didn't spend much time together, but we respected each other. We could have done so much more if not for my universe's fate."
"You and your fate," Tony grumbled. "I bet that's what the Illuminati used when they killed you. And look at you. Your cloak and scars... they're different."
"Listen," Stephen said. "I'd live to talk to you more, but Wanda has come. She's going to destroy the universe. I have to go."
Tony's expression darkened. "I don't care if Wanda destroys this place. It's nothing without you."