Counterfeit Boyfriend (IronStrange)

Counterfeit Boyfriend

'Stephen, that isn't how someone usually reacts to the news that one of their friends is in a committed relationship,' Christine sighed down the phone.

Groping behind him for his armchair, Stephen sat down with a heavy thump.

'Christine...'

'Oh no, just because you're upset your smokescreen is taken, you can't go pulling the guilt trip on me. Just come to the event on your own, put your big boy pants on. Nic isn't going to let your history stop him, so why should you?'

Stephen clenched and unclenched his fist, glaring a hole into the Sanctum floor. The very idea of seeing Nic's smug face, his condescending sigh.

Oh, Stephen...you still have commitment issues? Still think love is a myth?

He'd been invited again by the American Neurological Association to give the talk he was meant to give three years ago, and he didn't want to go alone. Didn't want to give Nic the satisfaction that Stephen Strange was still single.

That was where Christine had come in, his gorgeous on again off again girlfriend, who years ago had been happy to soothe his ego and accompany him to these things because they were friends and she knew his lack of success in relationships did, in fact, bother him.

Stephen had let go of most of his past hang-ups, he'd evolved from his arrogance, his egotistical need to be better than everyone else. Why couldn't he just go by himself? Why did he even feel the need to go? At that very moment, Stephen wondered if he'd changed at all.

'Hello? Doctor Wizard?' A deep, booming voice floated up the stairs.

Fantastic.

'Who's that?' Christine asked.

'My boyfriend,' Stephen said without thinking, panicking.

'Boyfriend? Then why are you giving me a hard time-'

'If you'd let me finish my sentence earlier then you would have known I wasn't giving you a hard time, I was merely surprised to hear you were in a relationship, and happy for you of course,' Stephen lied smoothly, lifting his hand to give Tony a small wave.

'Oh, sorry, I'll wait in the library,' Tony whispered, smiling as the Cloak zoomed out to greet him. 'Yeah, yeah, come on, let's give your master a bit of privacy.'

'Oh my God, Stephen... was that?'

'Yes.'

'You're dating Tony Stark, and you didn't think to tell me before now?'

'You're only just telling me of your relationship now,' Stephen spoke through gritted teeth, leaning his head back against the sofa, falling deeper into the tangled web of lies he'd begun weaving.

'You've got to be bringing him to the party!' Christine squealed.

Stephen brought his hand up to his face, rubbing over it. 'Sure,' he hissed out. 'Why wouldn't I.'

Bringing the call to an end with more reassurances that he would bring Iron Man, Stephen flung his phone onto the couch opposite, his head sinking into his trembling hands, pulling at his hair.

What did he do?

Have you sunk so low that you're lying to people and creating fake boyfriends?

He wasn't even part of the medical world anymore. He'd assumed people had learnt of his new calling and had conveniently forgotten about him. Stephen would be lying if he said a small part of him didn't miss that life, not the parties and fame, but conversing with people about medicine and acquiring new knowledge.