IronStrange Haven, formerly IronStrangeHQ

For Day 3 of IronStrange Week

Prompt: Mythology @ironstrangehaven

You can also find this on AO3

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The Keeper of All Myths   Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. ~Unknown

  Love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~Unknown

  I keep in my heart the love of the past, for there it was planted forever to last. ~Unknown

  When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. ~Unknown

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i deeply enjoyed doing it, and am kinda pleased with how it turned out :)

Sequel to this!

            It took six days for Stephen’s phone to come back online, indicating that he’d returned to this dimension. Each of those days Tony had spent a few hours waiting in front of the Sanctum, trying to figure out what to say in the event that Stephen finally opened the door. When FRIDAY told him that Stephen’s phone was back online, he’d sent a single text, afraid of making things worse by rambling or spamming him.

            I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Can we talk?

            Now, Tony spent the majority of his free time staring at his phone, at the little ‘read’ indicator that told him Stephen had seen his message. It was radio silence from the sorcerer, though, so Tony kept up his newly-established habit of lurking on the Sanctum’s steps, trying not to lose himself to anxiety and despair again.

            It was another four days before the door finally opened, and Stephen sat beside him on the steps. He looked tired- more so than usual- and Tony’s worry spiked even as Stephen looked straight ahead, avoiding looking at him at all. Tony opened his mouth to speak, but found himself hesitating. What if he just made everything worse, again?

            Eventually, Stephen took the burden of speaking first.

            “Wong said that you came here every day that I was gone, spent hours sitting on the steps.”

            Tony swallowed hard, then nodded, though Stephen still didn’t look. “I did.”

            “He told me that I should put you out of your misery and hear you out.”

            “Is… that what you want?” Now, finally, Stephen turned to look at him. His eyes were stormy and bloodshot, and there was a long thin cut across his cheek that had previously been hidden from view. Instinctively, Tony reached for him, but managed to stop the movement before Stephen could move away. “You’re hurt,” he said lamely instead.

            “I wasn’t aware that what I want had any bearing on the situation,” Stephen sniped, holding his gaze just long enough to glare before looking away again. “Nor my health.”

            “Are you okay? I thought you were on a diplomatic mission. You’re not supposed to be hurt on that kind of job.”

            “I’m fine. Negotiations… fell through. It’s nothing you should concern yourself with.”

            “Stephen, if you’re hurt-”

            “Since when do you care about whether or not I’m hurt?” Stephen demanded, voice suddenly full of fire. “Or does it only matter when the damage is visible?”

            The knot in Tony’s chest twisted, and his vision blurred with unshed tears. The last thing he’d ever wanted was to make Stephen feel like he didn’t care. But he’d ruined everything, just as he always did.

            “I’m a coward,” he admitted, his voice rougher than he wanted. “I- I was so scared that things were changing between us, that you were giving me the power to hurt you, that I pushed you away. I was so scared of ruining what we had, of ruining our friendship because of it, that I just… panicked. I’m poison, Stephen. I’ve hurt everyone I’ve ever loved. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I had to go and drag you into my issues and mess things up so bad between us. If you never want to see me again, I understand.”

            For a long moment, the silence stretched between them as Stephen stared ahead at the passing cars and Tony stared at Stephen, tears finally spilling over. Then, Stephen spoke.

            “I can’t do this anymore, Tony.”

            Dread ignited in Tony’s stomach, burning so strong that for a moment he was sure he was going to throw up. Fuck. He’d ruined everything. He’d gone too far this time. Stephen wanted nothing to do with him and he’d just managed to ruin the best thing that had ever happened to him in one fell swoop. Distantly, he was aware that he was shaking, but he couldn’t focus on that. He couldn’t focus on anything but the ever-growing pit in his stomach that was sure to swallow him entirely.

            “Tony, can you hear me?” There was a note of concern in Stephen’s voice as it broke through the fog clouding his senses, and a gentle hand rested on his knee, shocking him out of his panic spiral. Had Stephen been talking this entire time? What if it was important, what if he’d just made things worse by not listening? “Tony. Breathe.”

            He tried to do what Stephen said, but his breaths just came in short, stuttering gasps. He tried to curl in on himself, but Stephen’s hands landed on his shoulders, forcing him to stay upright.

            “It’s going to be okay, I promise.” Stephen’s voice was suddenly soft and gentle, like he hadn’t spent the last ten days hating Tony for what he’d done. “We can talk it out. But right now, I need you to breathe with me, okay? You’re having a panic attack.”

            “I’m s-sorry,” Tony gasped between harsh breaths. He couldn’t quite see Stephen’s face, though he knew the sorcerer was right in front of him. Nevertheless, Stephen’s presence was grounding, his hands warm against the thin material of Tony’s shirt, and he tried to focus on that.

            “All you need to do right now is breathe. Everything else can come later.”

            “But-!”

            “No ‘but’s, Tony. I’ve got you. We’re going to be okay.”

Summary: IronStrange Week 2026 hosted by @ironstrangehaven​, prompt 2 (SFW) - Body Swap

Stephen: “Efficient?”

Tony: “el-ficient.”

Tony: “eh-fish-int.”

Stephen: “Fish.”

Tony: “eh-fish-in.”

Stephen: “Fish in where?”

Of course! Sequel to one, two, and three.

Outside the terminal, Stephen texted. 4B.

The message went immediately to read. Be there soon.

Stephen waited, shifting his bag more comfortably on his shoulder. Cars came and went, and Stephen examined each of them, wondering which one would end up being Tony. It was less than five minutes before an Audi pulled up in front of him and his phone got another text. In the silver-blue Audi.

Stephen had to admit he wouldn’t have pegged that one for Tony.

The trunk opened as he approached and Stephen set his bags in, before moving to the passenger door. He slid into the car, not sure what he expected. But he knew immediately that he didn’t expect what he saw. His breath caught in his chest. Tony Stark.

Tony looked calm and composed in a way that his hands tight around the steering wheel betrayed.

“Hello, Tony,” Stephen said, not letting his surprise enter his voice. “Where are we going first?”

Surprise flickered across Tony’s face. “You’re…” He swallowed. “You’re not leaving?”