𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 - STONY

28

"Hey. Welcome back" Stephen greeted Tony who just came back out of the mirror.

"I need a cheeseburger, stat" Tony said immediately. Stephen laughed. He opened a portal to the best burger joint in town and stood in line with Tony. Thankfully there weren't much people there. "Are you ready for tonight's gala?" Tony raised a brow, knowing Stephen hated attending events.

But tonight's event was being hosted by the hospital Stephen used to work at. They invited him since he was such an amazing, talented, renowned surgeon. They told him to bring a plus one and Stephen chose Tony. Mainly because he wanted to spend the last bit of time he could with the genius, and because Tony had invested in medical technology before; therefore making it appropriate for him to be there as well.

"No" Stephen answered, irritated just at the thought of the social gathering. Tony chuckled.

They got their burgers and then Stephen opened a portal back to the Avengers Tower. Tony invited him to stay so they can eat together, and Stephen would never say no to that, so they ended up in Tony's workshop.

They made conversation which essentially led Tony to tell Stephen the story about the times during Uni where he'd show up at Rhodey's place with a drink in hand and knocking over his dead display plant every time. Stephen just listened and smiled whenever Tony would smile too because of how excited he was when telling the story.

"Tell you what, why don't you stay here until you have to go and get ready? You already don't have anything else to do til then, and you can keep me company while I finish the last bit of my new gadget" Tony said.

"Sure, why not" Stephen nodded.

He sat down on the couch behind Tony and opened a small portal to the Sanctum to stick his arm through it and grab the book that he'd been reading recently. His cloak unwrapped itself from his shoulders and flew off to wrap around Tony instead.

Tony chuckled in response before pulling up his video call log and dialling Steve. It didn't take more than two seconds before the call connected and Steve's face popped up.

"Tony! Oh, thank god!"

"Pff what's wrong? You thought I died in the 1800's?" Tony laughed.

"I was so worried...I couldn't contact you at all to make sure you were alright..." Steve frowned, his kicked puppy look crossing his face without him realizing.

Tony melted. "Aww c'mon now, you know you can't make that face when I'm not there to kiss it away. That's not fair" Tony sighed.

"Is that Strange back there?"

"Oh, yeah. We're going to the gala together today, remember?"

"Captain," Stephen greeted from where he was sitting at the couch.

It made Steve's blood boil the way he was sitting so casually, as if he was there all the time, as if he was Tony's boyfriend and not Steve. Because that's what anyone would think if they didn't know Steve was Tony's boyfriend. He needed to finish this mission and get back home to his boyfriend ASAP.

"Doctor," Steve greeted as well, gritting his teeth.

"So, how's it going there? How's Winter Wonderland doing? Did you give him the plums I bought before you guys left?" Tony asked.

"We're just about done. He's doing fine, and yes I gave him the plums. He had a dorky smile on for the rest of the day"

"Good, good" Tony nodded.

"By the way, did, uh...did the other me make any fuss about the marks I left on you before you left?"

Tony's eyes grew wide. "Steve!" He whispered scoldingly. "You're on speaker!"