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After the Avengers and allies meeting breaks up, Stephen stands and looks Tony’s way as he slips his sling ring onto his fingers. Tony smiles at the unspoken offer, but he doesn’t need a portal. “I’ve got some work to do here,” he says aloud. “See you tonight?”
“Of course,” Stephen says. With a nod goodbye, he opens a portal and steps back into the Sanctum.
“So–” Tony startles and turns to see Ant-Man—Scott—slinging a backpack over one shoulder. Tony hadn’t realized anyone else was lingering. “You and Doctor Strange?”
Tony tilts his head. “What about us?”
“You’re dating?” Scott says, turning it into a question. “I mean, not that it’s any of my business and if you don’t want to talk about it, or aren’t ready to talk about it, then I’ll shut up, but you know, it’s kind of nice that someone else in this group is in a relationship. Half the time I feel like I’m breaking some kind of unofficial Avengers code by seeing Hope.”
“Barton is married,” Tony says, even as his brain rapidly turns over all his recent encounters with Stephen. Maybe it did look like dating from some angles? But not any kind of dating Tony has ever done.
Scott winces. “I feel like I should have known that, but he’s retired, so I’m giving myself a pass. Still, uh, congratulations?”
“We’re not actually dating,” Tony clarifies slowly.
“You don’t sound 100% sure of that,” Scott says. He leans against the wall, like he’s here for the conversation if Tony wants to have it. And. Well. Scott is the only person in the current roster of Avengers who’s held down a long term relationship. Sure, he’s divorced, but Tony knows he’s friendly with his ex and her new husband, and he’s found someone new.
Tony hitches one up hip onto the edge of the conference table. “I’ve dated a lot of people,” Tony says. “I mean. A lot. What I do with Stephen doesn’t look like any of that.”
“Sure, but did you like any of those people?” Scott asks. “I mean. Not to make assumptions or anything, but I’ve seen my share of tabloids in the check out line and those didn’t seem like meaningful relationships.”
Tony has to laugh. “You would be right about that. But there was Pepper, and what I do with Stephen doesn’t look like that, either.” Not a good match, Soul had said.
Scott shrugs. “People are different, so relationships are different. But I’ve gotta say, what you and Stephen do reminds me of me and Maggie when things were good. When just being around each other felt good, so we took every chance we had to do it, you know? Even if that meant doing chores together, or just being in the same room while we worked on different stuff.”
Being around Stephen does feel good. Tony had chalked that up to the pleasant emotions he tended to get off Stephen, thanks to Soul, but Stephen’s not around now and Tony has to admit there’s a bit of a warm glow just thinking about him. “That seems—” Tony doesn’t want to say ‘underwhelming’, but… “Aren’t there supposed to be fireworks?”
“Sometimes there are, but ‘supposed to be?’” Scott actually makes air quotes. “Not really. I don’t know about you, but I think I’d get exhausted if there were fireworks all the time. You’re going to spend a lot more ordinary nights in than in crises.” He leans forward and raps his knuckles on the table. “Knock on wood.”
The table isn’t actually made of wood. Tony keeps that to himself. “I told Pepper I wanted a partner who wasn’t waiting for me to quit being Iron Man.”
Scott just looks at him for a second before understanding dawns. “You’re allowed to want both. Someone who enjoys the quiet nights and goes into battle with you.” He shrugs again. “Doctor Strange does both, right?”
He does.
“You mind keeping this conversation to yourself?” Tony says after a moment. “At least until I talk to Stephen.”
“Of course.” Scott pushes off the wall, smiling, and waves goodbye. “Good luck.”
Tony finds himself glad that he’d set aside this afternoon to work in the lab on Avengers projects. He’s got some thinking to do, and engineering always helps clear his mind.