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

what happened here?

this chapters song : skinny love by bon iver
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"You know where." Were the last words to leave Tony's mouth that day, practically haunting Stephen. Had he not pushed him away like he said he did? He remembered their regular date spot.

So that Friday, Stephen walked down the street to find himself at Kat's Delicatessen, finding Tony in their regular booth. He had already gotten the two of them sandwiches, and despite how aloof Tony meant to act, deep down he knew he cared. He cared more than he wished to admit. So when two BLT's sat on the table, signifying he remembered Stephen's order, he did his best to shrug it off. "Well." Tony said, beginning to pick up his sandwich. "Explain."

"You're not going to believe me, of you might." Stephen started, watching as Tony blankly starred at him as he ate. "So when I left, I went to Kamar-Taj. Over in the middle east. With a one way ticket." He explained his sudden disappearance, hesitating as he started into the rest. "At Kamar-Taj, they taught me things beyond our universe. Using magic, I could stop my hands from shaking. So I learned. I stayed. I then became a master of the mystic arts. I then went on to fight with mystical threats, in Hong Kong and New York even. I had to protect our Sanctums and universe from Dormammu and his little annoying minions. Since then I've been left in charge of the New York Sanctum." He quickly explained before biting into his BLT. Since he had explained, Tony's sandwich was on the plate. He really needed to gather his thoughts on everything.

"So..." He began to say, trying to figure out what to even bring up. "Kamar-Taj is like Hogwarts?" Tony joked uneasily, unsure what to even ask now.

"No, well, there aren't any wands. And mystical creatures aren't a thing, and I wasn't in Europe." Stephen recollected.

"I just, if you knew this would all be over eventually, why didn't you just open one of those portals and try to come see me? Let me know that you're at least, I don't know, alive?" He then grumbled.

"Like I said the other day, I was afraid of you being angry with me. I just-." Tony scoffed before interrupting. "Afraid I'd be angry? Of course I'd be upset. But I'd rather know you were okay. Know where you were." He sighed "Knew if you and I could still be, us." He then concluded softly, twiddling his thumbs a bit.

"I missed you Tony." Stephen exhaled. "A lot."

"I missed you too," Tony replied, then wincing. "I just, I don't know if I can get back into this for you to abandon me again. You know I've been hurt. I just," He sighed. "Need time I guess. To process everything."

"I can wait." He replied simply. Patience still wasn't an easy thing for him, but any amount of time for Tony was worth it.

"It won't be easy. Maybe possible, but not easy." Tony confessed, his eyes still downcast.

"I don't care how easy or hard, all I need is possible."

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