something has changed (I Need A Doctor sequel!) (IRONSTRANGE)

prologue

this chapters song : hurts like hell by fleurie
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Tony had a bad habit of checking his facebook all too often during the day. Seeing comments, stupid posts from friends he swore he'd unfollow weeks ago, and the generated facebook memories.

But of course, that didn't stop him from checking it. It was practically the most routine he implemented into his day. So he kept it. Something familiar was always nice.

As he scrolled through, passing posts of family photos from Clint, seeing pictures from Steve's adventures, and stories from Thor on how his day went, he got a notification from facebook "see your memories!"

Without thinking twice he of course clicked it, better than the cheesy junk on his timeline. A year ago, he was at Peter's high school graduation, two years ago, a post about sending prayers even though god probably didn't exist and how prayers were just comforting, and three years ago a date with Stephen.

He immediately powered off his phone.

Of all things to remind him of that horrid day two years ago, of course it was facebook. One of the most consistent things in his life.

Tony sighed, sliding his phone into his pocket as he watched the colors of the city from the subway window. He started taking the subway too sometimes, the feeling of the train car rocking back and forth seemed to put him at ease. Especially on a day like today.

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"Forever yours, Stephen Strange." What a load of bullshit, Tony thought angrily as he shut his lap top. That afternoon was full of so many emotions Tony tried his best to hide, but he couldn't hide the heart ache. He couldn't hide the tears that brimmed and shone in his dark brown eyes that Stephen loved so much.

His heart practically burned in his chest, and not the type of burn where you ate something weird. Tony barely had an appetite. His body was numb from head to toe, besides the ache that was in his chest. And it hurt like hell.

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Looking back on that day hurt so bad. It had been two years, he should be over Stephen by now. But unrequited love seemed to be something Tony was all too familiar with. The subway continued shaking on the rails back and forth, the sounds of the metal screeching awakening Tony from his thoughts, thankfully in time for him to get off the train.

Tony stepped off the subway, slipping on his sunglasses in hopes to not be noticed. He had things to do, and wasn't in the best mood either. This day always seemed to be sour for Tony, and he had hoped helping Peter that evening would lift his spirits.

He climbed up the steps connecting the subway station to Queens, taking in the many different towers as he looked around, and then went on his way to Peter's.

Tony started walking more too. He had learned to hate cars, since everyone he ever loved seemed to get hurt in them. And then he'd lose them. He couldn't let himself be subjected to that sort of thing. Wasn't good for his mental health.

Continuing down the street, in the puddles below he saw the reflective sign for Bernardo's restaurant, the ache in his chest from two years ago returning. He could only take so much.

Walking block after block, he finally made it to Peter's street. Things seemed to be calm, that is, until someone grabbed his shoulder causing him to tense.

"Mr. Stark!!" Peter exclaimed, his tone a mix between frightened and excitement. "Dude, you will not BELIEVE what's happening thank god you're here." He began to say, releasing his shoulders to look at Tony. "You may want to put on that suit." Peter said, his eyes widening at Tony's expression. It was a mix of grief, and hurt, but also joy in seeing Peter.

"Dude so like there was this crazy guy running across the street and usually that's fine whatever right?" Peter began to say as Tony tapped his arc reactor, summoning his suit. "But there was literal ashes around his eyes! What! And it wasn't just makeup like it was legit. And he had these guys following him and they're all wearing robes and they looked so cool!" He buzzed happily.

Tony's suit slowly wrapped itself around him, taking of his sunglasses as his mask formed. It was his new nanotechnology he had been developing the past year or so, and he was quite proud of it too.

"And I know this is sensative but there were these other couple dudes following them and I swear one of them looked like Mr. Dr. Strange but with a goatee." He then explained, whipping his head around to look for them again.

"He never listened to me about that damn goatee," Tony muttered, finding a place to hide his sunglasses before trying to find the people Peter described.

"Okay which way did they go." Tony asked, looking around at their surroundings. "You didn't let me finish! I think they're wizards." Peter said, astonishment in his voice.

"Like Hogwarts? Wizards?" Tony asked in complete seriousness. "Kinda! I dunno they were making these things with orange sparks and it was not fire or made up I swear they were practically coming out of their hands." Peter said, looking around, a sudden orange spark catching his eye.

It was circling in front of the two, beginning to open. "Peter get behind me." Tony said urgently, lifting his hand incase he needed to fire it. The portal opened wider until someone stepped out.

"Well i'll be damned." Tony muttered, taking in the man in front of him. He wore brown boots, and a navy blue robe almost, multiple brown braided belts adorned his waist, a red cloak hanging around his neck. He had the face of Stephen, but a new scar by his eye, a goatee, and the piercing green eyes Tony remembers so well. His gray hairs were slicked back nicely, defining his face beautifully.

Tony then glanced down at his hands, long scars running from his fingers to the ends of his hands, but they no longer shook like they used to. It was like a different man was in front of him.

"Stephen?"