Right Here // Ironstrange Oneshot

I'm right here

6 months.

That's how long it's been since Tony's seen Peter.

He's spiralled down, down, down. Down into that dark place he was in before he met Peter. He falls back to drinking. Bottle after bottle. His stash vanished and replenished rapidly. The Avengers try everything. They try to talk to him, to persuade him to pull himself together. Nothing works.

It's been 6 months. They shudder to think what will happen next.

They throw themselves into work, trying to function without their leader. They search and search and search, trying to find Thanos. Train, preparing for the final battle. All the while, they can only sit and watch Tony drink himself into oblivion, watch helplessly.

Stephen Strange sees all this. Every time he sees Tony's disheveled, pathetic form, the ache in his chest intensifies. He want to help, but he can't. He's promised Wong he's stay on track, focus on the task at hand. Nothing's more important than finding Thanos, bringing everyone back and putting an end to this shit.

Right?

He can't afford to get involved with Tony. He can't. If he's honest, the billionaire scares him. He's scared of how that man has the ability to pull his thoughts in a certain direction effortlessly, demand his attention without saying a word.

But as he watches Tony disappear up onto the roof one night, several bottles of whiskey in his hand, Stephen knows he has to at least try. 

So he follows the billionaire, lingering on the steps, watching Tony carefully. He watches as Tony sits down, the bottles of liquor clinking together as he puts them down. He pops one open, lifting it to his lips and taking a swig.

Stephen walks up to him, his cloak swishing at his heels. He stops in front of the man, looking down at Tony.

" Tony."

He looks up.

" Hey, Steph."

" You have to stop. Drinking, I mean. It's not good for you." Tony sighs, dropping his gaze. Stephen's heart aches. Tony looks so incredibly vulnerable.

" What does it matter?" Anger flares in Stephen's chest.

" What does it matter?! Tony, half the universe is dead! We have a chance to bring them back and we have to take it. It's what we do. They need you. I need you." Stephen's voice lowers and softens at the last part. Tony is blinking up at him, lips slightly parted. Then he sighs, his head dropping again. 

Stephen drops to his knees, angling his head to see Tony's face.

" But my friends -"

" I don't give a fuck about your friends!" Stephen yells. Startled, Tony looks up, meeting Stephen's gaze. Stephen gestures wildly in the air between the two of them, trying to convey what he wants to say.

" Look around, Tony!" Tony blinks, his gaze never leaving Stephen. There's that deer-caught-in-headlights look that somehow still makes Stephen's heart skip eight beats at once. He leans forward, resting his head against Tony's.

Tony's breath fans against Stephen's cheeks, smelling like alcohol. But Stephen can't bring himself to care at all. His heart is throwing itself against his ribs, threatening to beat out of his chest.

" I'm right here."

Hii! So this is an Ironstrange oneshot. It was really fun writing this and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it. Thank you so much for giving this a try! Stay happy and healthy!

Cheers, K