Little Miss Stark

Chapter Three

"Friday? 9 pm? Got it. Yeah, no. Should be fine. According to you I only make balloon animals anyway, so I'll find the time." Stephen spoke into his Phone.

"Good. That's good." Tony responded on the other side of the line.

Stephen furrowed his brows as he noticed the unusual tone of his friend, making him stop reading the magical book he was reading.

"Is there something else?" Stephen asked, leaning back in his chair, while looking around the Sanctum Sanctoriums library.

"I'm not sure if you heard or read this newspaper but... You know I have a sister, right? Y/n?" Tony mentioned.

"Wait. Really? No, you've never told me that."

"Everyone's talking about it. And in the that newspaper-"

"Wait- Why did you never mention that? And... why the newspapers?"

"We weren't really on speaking terms anymore, but, something changed and... I invited her to the party." Stephen heard Tony sigh. "I just wanted to make sure you're coming 'cause... It's kind of a big deal and..."

"You need emotional support from your awesome facial hair bro?"

Stephen heard Tony scoff at the end of the line.

"Something like that, yeah..."

"Don't worry, buddy. I'll be there. Plus, I really want to meet your mysterious sister."

"Hey. Don't get any funny ideas here. That's still my sister."

"Calm down." Stephen chuckled. "I just can't help but get a little curious. I mean, what happened between the two of you?"

"Long story. I'll tell you some other time." Tony responded quickly, shutting down the conversation.

"Are you alright?" Stephen asked, trying to get some information out of this man.

"Yeah. I just... Wish it would all happen under other circumstances."

"What do you mean?"

"The papers are getting full of it. I don't mind as long it's about me but-"

"You jealous to share the spotlight?" Stephen can't help but tease.

"Oh, fuck off..."

It didn't sound like the type of 'fuck off' Tony usually said when responding to a funny remark from his sorcerer friend. This one sounded more, personal. Hurt even. Maybe it hadn't been the right moment to joke after all... But how was Stephen supposed to know that? All that serious talk was very unlike him and unlike any conversation they ever had. Their friendship was more about teasing each other, taking any chance to make fun of them, and trying to make each other angry or scratch the other's ego. It was like a game. 'Who can get on each other's nerves more?' Drinking was also one of the activities they mostly did together. Honestly, they were an interesting pair, but when it came down to it, they were like brother. Facial hair bros. Like Stephen said.

"What? What is it then?" Stephen asked, regretting his joke instantly. That was a first.

"Nevermind. See you on Friday." But Tony closed the walls around him. It was too late.

"Alright." Stephen knew it was too late as well, so he let it slide. But he wasn't going to forget about it. At any chance he'd get, he would come back to it.

And with that, Tony hung up without really saying goodbye again, and Stephen tried to continue reading.

But it wasn't easy to concentrate on reading when there were all these questions popping into his mind. For example: 'What had happened?', 'Why did Tony never mention he had a sister?' And so on.