Chapter 36: Riposa Ora (Rest Now) Chapters: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part Three)
"When I was younnng, I fell in love. We used to hold hands, man, that was enough. Then we grew uuuup. started to touch, used to kiss underneath the light in the back of the bus. Oh no, your daddy didn't like me much. And he didn't believe me when I said you were the oooone.."
Steve listened to Tony sing. He had his music playing and he sang the song out loud.
The soldier opened his eyes and he focused on the ceiling of the Kamar-taj. He was drunk for the first time since he was ...probably fourteen? Fifteen?
He couldn't remember. Bucky used to steal alcohol and they would drink themselves stupid every now and then. Kid stuff. Apparently, he was still up for some kid stuff. The location changed. The people changed.
Something kept crossing Steve's mind. He heard Tony as he continued to sing that song. The music in the room played through his chest and Steve absolutely loved it. He turned his head slowly and stared at that little fireball.
"She used to meet me on the East siiide. In the city where the sun don't set. And everyday you know that we ride, through the backstreets in a blue corvette."
The song was not the thought that he had on his mind. Something else nagged. Still, Steve thought that the song was absolutely beautiful. The voices were soft and the beat was good. He didn't know who sang it and he didn't care.
At that moment in time, Tony was the one singing it. His voice was just as smooth as the beat and he knew every word. Tony was a fast talker naturally. So he could articulate the words quickly and he sang it perfectly. His body moved perfectly.
Tony was perfect.. and that's all that mattered. The song said something about going to the East side. It was one of the newer sounding songs that only existed in the future.
It was on the ultimate playlist that was given to him from the older Tony. Steve just listened to "Baby" Tony as he sang it. He stared again at the ceiling and then he slowly turned over onto his stomach.
Steve Rogers was laying on top of the card table. Time didn't matter anymore. The soldier exhaled and he brought his focus to the table. The nagging thought returned and he slowly brought his eyes upward.
He saw Tony dancing around in one place. He moved his arms and his hips alllll around. He was in his own world. The brunette was doing his crazy thing. Steve knew that he almost lost him. Nightmare took his life like it meant nothing.
Steve felt his eyes fill up. He couldn't imagine it. He refused to imagine it. He just watched him sing that song. Steve smiled and then he looked at the other person in the room. Tony's death was NOT what nagged on his mind.
It had something to do with .. the "wizard". Stephen Strange was watching Tony as well. He looked amused and Steve watched him toss a few cards at his little red corvette.
Tony dodged them as he danced. They both had a flirtatious look to them. Steve took note of it as he watched them.
"Aww too bad. So close." Tony stopped singing and he said something to Strange. The sorcerer tried to playfully hit him with a card, and he missed. Steve looked at Stephen's smile. It was a rare thing.
The three of them got bored of cards. They shared the rest of that bottle. So...at that point, all three of them were pretty drunk. They all felt like they were flying, they felt warm, and it was very blissful. Steve wanted to do so many things.. Most of all, he wanted to feel the wind.
He looked over at Tony and he realized that none of them were able to drive. A drive would have been nice. Nah. Too drunk.
"Tony." Steve mumbled his name and the soldier closed his eyes. The brunette heard that beautiful voice and he moved toward the table. He saw his main man and Tony smiled. The song slowly came to a close and Tony stepped up to Steve.
"Yes snookums?" Tony laughed and he brought his wrist up to his mouth. Tony took a small bite of his own skin. He was in a moooooooodddddd. The music kept him distracted from his devious thoughts.
Steve wanted a few things to happen. He stared at Tony and then he glanced again over at Strange. He wasn't sure if it was rude, but Steve was drunk and he wanted to clarify a few things.
He wanted to see the two of them ... kiss. He didn't want them to KNOW that he wanted that. Steve brought his hand up to his face. The soldier wanted to see an actual kiss between them. He was picky about it. It absolutely had to be just like one of those "dream kisses" that occurred numerous times. That was exactly what he wanted to see.
Steve began to realize that he was thinking too loudly. He saw Stephen Strange look over in his direction. Shit. Steve changed his thoughts. He shifted his brain to think about one of the million other things he had on his mind.
Steve also wanted to go somewhere. The place he had in mind was very specific. It was a place that he turned his back on.. long ago. He felt so out of place when he was there. Steve didn't realize it for a long time and he really never understood why.
Steve turned over again. He was on his back and he looked up at Tony. Finally, years and years later, Steve decided to figure it out. He stared at Tony as a new song played. It was also upbeat and smooth.
The understanding came to him and he looked over at Stephen Strange. It was his possessive nature that made him turn his back on the specific location that he had in mind.
"I want to go to the Santa Monica house." Steve spoke quietly and Tony just grooved.
"Right now?" Tony responded quickly. He didn't care where he was. Just give him that beat. That's all Tony cared about.
Steve kept thinking. That home was Tony's. It was all Tony's down to the interesting detail work and all the glamour. Steve inwardly rejected it and he wanted to only live in Brooklyn. He knew that it was much better for his mental health to be in New York.
When he realized that, it sparked a depression that Tony's older self brought him out of. That was probably why Steve made the abrupt decision to move and he never looked back.
Steve never returned to that ten million dollar mansion. Not once.
But, Steve was now in a state of mind where he could finally break it all down. He wanted TONY to be with him in Brooklyn. Steve was realizing that as he remained on the table.
Steve felt like he didn't actually accept him. He was hurt, felt betrayed, and the soldier wanted Tony to change for him. He did. Tony definitely did.
It was a sticky thing. Steve thought it all through carefully and he sat up. He moved to the edge of the table. The soldier set both of his feet on the chair and he kept his focus on Tony.
Steve put both of his hands up. Tony saw those hands and he immediately went for them. He gripped them and he stood as close as he could.
"Yes. Right now." Steve continued to speak quietly and Tony smiled. He didn't know what Steve was processing. Tony was drunk and in his zone. He didn't know that Steve's drunk state caused him to have some sort of an epiphany.
Tony just held his hands and he kissed the side of Steve's face. He felt those warm hands touch his shoulders. Tony nuzzled up against that sexy blonde and continued to smile.
"Just us?" Tony asked the question quietly and Steve glanced in his direction.
He had to ask. There was one other person in the room. (Wong didn't count.) The former librarian of the Kamar-taj was long gone and still snoring. That particular person Tony referred to could hear everything that Steve Rogers contemplated.
The sorcerer was putting some things together himself. Strange spun a card around in his hand and just listened to Tony's music choice.
Steve thought about it and he looked over at Strange. He changed his focus back to Tony and he shook his head. No. He didn't want only the two of them to go to Santa Monica.
Tony snapped his focus toward that wizard prick and he almost laughed.
"Hey WIZ.. would you like to go to my little shack by the beach?" Tony held the biggest grin on his face. Strange looked up from the card. His eyes shifted to Steve for a moment.
The soldier and the sorcerer stared at one another. Tony was really oblivious to the amount of time Steven R. and Stephen S. took processing their feelings for Tony.
They spent a great deal of time processing him, and Tony's processing power was very different.
Stephen Strange stood up. He grabbed his laptop and responded.
"Sounds good. Sure." The sorcerer turned around where he stood and he headed to his room. He had to take his laptop back and put it in it's proper place. Ahhwhhuuut. Tony felt those warm hands move over his shoulders. He leaned back against his hubby and he felt like purring. His warm hands made him feel so warm and loved. Tony turned his head and gave Steve a kiss. He could tell that his main man was drunk.
It was friggen hawwwwtttt. Tony began to burn up where he stood.
"I'm gunna grab something. Then we can go mmkay?" The kiss ended and Steve nodded his head. Tony blissfully took off to his room. He grabbed something from the bathroom and then he booked it back to Steve.
They made a bit of a mess of that room but, oh well. Tony walked right back over to Steve and he felt a kiss on his forehead. Strange returned and he checked Wong's vitals.
"He's fine." He just, wasn't worthy. That made the sorcerer smile and he looked over at the adorable couple. Strange walked up to the two of them and then he looked at what was in Tony's hand.
"Ready?" Tony asked out loud. Both of them said yes and the sling ring was used. Tony created a path from Kathmandu, Nepal all the way to Santa Monica, California. They arrive right outside the giant mansion.
They all stood right in front of the giant beachside mansion and Stephen Strange lost his mind.
"WOWZA." That was all that Strange could say. Steve held a similar thought as he stared up at the place. Tony looked so happy. He bounced his way up the steps and he turned toward the two of them.
"You should have seen my father's face when he saw the final bill. Hahaha I'll never forget it." Tony's grin was wide. He walked up to the door and punched in an access code.
Tony's father. Strange thought about Tony's father for a moment.
He glanced back up at Tony as that access code was accepted. That completely activated the home. The outside lights turned on and the door unlocked. Screw keys. Tony always lost his keys and he was waaaaaayyyy to advanced for them.
He was hardly ever there. But, he hired a company to go into the house and they kept it up for him while he was gone. Whitney went there occasionally as well.
Tony could tell she hadn't been there in a long time either. He could just tell. If she had been there something would have been re-arranged or different.
Stephen S. and Steven R. walked into the house. They both looked at each other again. Words between them were almost exchanged. For some reason, they were both mute around one another when Tony was close.
If Tony wasn't there, they were able to speak openly and often. Steve and Strange got along great .. until..
"Are you guys hungry? Or, hey we can go down to the beach? I have my own .. beach. I thought about naming it. Not sure what to call it tho."
Tony spoke loudly and they both looked at him. He still had the stuff he grabbed from his room in his hand. Tony began to twist it around in his hands and he stepped about. Uhhh ..he waited for one of them to speak.
There before him stood two drunk hotties, and not one word was spoken between them. Tony stared back at them.
"I could eat." Steve could always eat. He did live in the house for a short while. He knew his way around. Steve headed toward the kitchen and he gave Tony a kiss on the cheek.
Steve ditched them. He needed to think for a moment. He knew that Tony probably had some frozen pizzas. Yumm. Steve hunted around for food.
That left Tony Stark with Dr. Strange. Tony stopped twisting the stuff in his hand for about five seconds.
Strange was thinking about Steve's thoughts. He told him that he would answer whatever questions that he had, but ...Steve was stubborn.
The sorcerer looked around the house. It was very sophisticated and almost digital. Strange took a few steps toward Tony. His drunken state began to fade a short while ago. He was still extremely buzzed, but always in control.
THEY WERE TOO QUIET. Tony didn't like it. He tapped his chest a few times. Tony frowned and changed the song. He found a good one and he almost started to dance again. Those two could just... continue being mutes. Whatever.
Strange listened to Steve's thoughts. He heard him as he almost walked back into the room. Strange wanted to time it just right.
He wanted to answer Steve's questions. Every single one. Steve was on his way back from the kitchen and Strange touched Tony's arm. He smiled at him and he gently pulled Tony into a kiss.
The song thumped through the room. Steve walked up right when their lips connected. Steve stopped and he stared. Tony looked a little frozen. He processed Strange's advance. Steve watched Tony inhale. He breathed inward and then, he stepped into that kiss.
It deepened immediately and Tony dropped what he had in his hands. He grabbed Strange's face. That wizard prick pulled Tony closer toward him and Tony felt like he melted. Steve saw the whole thing. He heard both of their heart rates rise up and he saw them both sink in.
It didn't hurt Steve's heart to watch. He glanced down at the pizza instructions just as Tony realized what he was doing.
The brunette stepped back. Tony relocated his hands and he pushed Strange a little. He needed him to BACK UP.
"Whoa there turbo.. that.." THAT was.. Tony swallowed and Strange almost pulled Tony toward him again. He really wanted to continue that kiss. Strange looked over at Steve instead and he released Tony's arm.
Tony brought the grip of his hands to the sides of Strange's waist. He wanted to pull the lower halves of their bodies together and feel him up. Tony noticed the wizard prick's change in focus and Tony slowly looked in that direction.
He looked right at Steve. Tony's heart slipped to the Earth's core and he had a mild panic attack of doom. Steve just gave Tony a warm smile.
He just...smiled?! Tony stared at his friggen main man. Confusion swept over him. Guilt rushed to him. Steve just looked at him like he was only about to comment on the damn box of pizza.
TONY FREAKED OUT. In his head, he burst into flames. Tony picked that shit up off the floor and he began to twist it again.
Strange wanted to know if the pizza was combination. He stepped closer to Steve. Tony swallowed his nerves as best as he could and he STARED AT THE FRATERNAL MUTE TWINS. They both stood at equal height. They both had diamond eyes. They both ate apples. They even had the same friggen name.
Tony stepped back back backkkk. He turned around and his body began to heat up. Tony really had to ditch them. He needed to take his drunk ass to the beach. The apple twins could just.. stand there.
Tony, and his very flustered face, took off through the living room. He hugged the stuff he took from his room and he quickly walked to his balcony. Tony turned to his right. He opened the latch and pushed open the side door that led down to the beach.
He removed his shoes and he stripped down to his underwear. The training clothes that he wore made his body TOO HOT. He burned up and tossed those garments away. Tony put on what he had in his hands.
His red shorts, and the ripped Pink Floyd shirt. He wore it like one of those sweaters that were open in the front.
Tony's chest and stomach were exposed. He actually liked that new feature. He wasn't going to get rid of that shirt. It was torn right down the middle, but Tony thought it was perfect.
He headed straight for the ocean. Tony left those two in his dust. He needed to cool off and think anyways. Steve just watched him suck face with that douchebag wizard, and not one word was said. It baffled Tony and he didn't want to be near any of them.
Back inside the house, Steve set the pizza box on the counter.
"Why am I here Steve? Why did you want me to come with you?" Strange asked as he walked ahead and circled around. He turned his focus to the soldier.
Tony got flustered and he took off. Strange knew why and he was glad for it. The same applied to Steve. It gave them the opportunity to chat.
"I'm coming to terms with something." Steve answered the question and Strange brought up something that he had on his mind.
"Since we're alone, I need to come to terms with something as well." Strange began to draw an imaginary line in the space in front of him. The line that he drew in his head was located right across Steve's chest.
Steve watched his hand. It made him a little dizzy. The soldier closed his eyes and then he reopened them.
"You told me that you would fuck me up if I hurt Tony again. Were you looking in the mirror when you said that? I didn't mean to hurt him, and I didn't leave him scarred for life."
Strange referred to the gigantic scar on Tony's body. He was very familiar with it. Strange was familiar in ways that Tony and Steve weren't aware of.
"I was. But, I was also talking to the both of us. I know we both don't want to hurt him." Steve gave his response.
"Us not getting along might hurt him, but we get along great... right?" Strange became curious. Steve's lips pulled into a somewhat playful smile. Sureeee they got along just fine. That wasn't really the subject he wanted to get out of his system.
"I'm accepting Tony for the way he is, finally." Steve thought that he always did. A person could go their entire life thinking that they were living correctly.
All of that, was bogus. Steve thought that and he stared at Strange.
"What way is he supposed to be? Or, what does that actually mean?" Strange could hear the subtext behind what Steve said out loud. The sorcerer understood but, he wasn't sure if Steve truly understood.
"He's free. It's something that I have always wanted to understand and achieve. The breakdown of it is messy and complicated... but, I understand it and I accept it." Steve did not intend to explain it any further.
For Steve, it meant that Tony was not going to be called his "little red corvette" any longer. Tony was not a possession and he did not belong to Steve.
There was no one out there like Tony. Stephen Strange got it right. The sorcerer pointed that out to him right before Tony died.
The confession that he heard when he was trapped in the mirror dimension really woke the soldier up to that fact.
"Are you two breaking up or something?" Strange wanted things to be clear and out in the open. He wanted Steve to explain it for his own self.
"No. We're always together. Even when we're not." Till death do us part. Steve thought of that and he looked over in the direction where Tony went.
He knew that Stephen Strange developed more than feelings for Tony. Feelings were just the tip of the iceberg. Steve understood that connection and he smiled.
He was fine with it and he actually enjoyed them when they were together.
"I feel like he's changed himself to make me happy and he's always been trying to repent for previous mistakes. I'm realizing this and I just want him to be happy." Steve knew exactly what Tony wanted.
The Tony Stark that existed in their dimension had always wanted complete freedom. His older self achieved his freedom. But, the cost and the upkeep of that freedom was too great, and he ultimately wanted to rest.
"You know.. we do have an eternity or two together to get all of this right. So, relax Steve. You don't need to figure it all out." Strange glanced over at the pizza box again. He actually was pretty hungry.
He knew that Steve Rogers cared about Tony more than anything. They had a deep, intense history and Strange actually had something to confess.
He decided to wait on it some more...
"We do have an eternity or two, which is insane to say.. But, do you actually want to spend that eternity with us Strange? Don't we drive you nuts?" Steve had to laugh. Strange smiled and he thought it over.
"Well yeah, you two are ridiculous .. but, I enjoy you both. I don't want to do this alone. My older self deals with everything on his own. He has Wong, that's true. But, he doesn't have a team. He doesn't.."
Strange let his thoughts drift away. The soldier and the sorcerer just stared for a moment. Something in the kitchen buzzed. That meant the oven was at the proper temperature for the pizza. Steve looked over toward oven and Strange stepped in that direction.
"Can I help?" He figured that he could make a side dish or something? They were all drunk and hungry. Steve smiled and they both walked into the kitchen. Steve opened up the cupboard with all the plates.
Strange could set the table. Steve hunted the refrigerator for something else. He was really really friggen hungry. Tony's fridge was empty and he sighed. His freezer was full, but he wasn't home enough to have perishable food.
Steve decided.. that wasn't ok anymore. The pizza was put in the oven and the two men set the table. They discussed Tony for a bit longer . Steve communicated to Strange that he wanted to see that kiss between them.
"I know you did. I can hear your thoughts, remember?" He heard them loud and clear. Steve smirked and he crossed his arms.
"It's kinda like how I'm able to hear your heart just race and race whenever Tony is around. I've been listening to it for months."
Steve finally admitted his little secret. Strange's mouth opened slightly and he became pretty silent. He had noooooooo idea that Steve was able to monitor that sort of thing. Strange just found it funny. He gave a short and very quiet laugh. The two moved onto other topics as the pizza just baked away.
Back on the beach, Tony sat on one of the chairs that he had set out there. It was his thinking chair but.. he never used it. He stared out at that water for what felt like a century.
He had waaaayyy too much on his mind. Tony thought about a few things and then he stumbled his way back to his beach shack. Tony was ready to tell them both a thing or two.
Tony was pretty fired up.
Steve and Strange both heard that door to the balcony open. It closed quickly and they heard Tony stomp his way back to them. Stephen looked at Steve. They both held a grin as Tony came marching in.
"OK YOU TWO.. fraternal twins. LOOK. I'm not going to ignore what just happened. You guys with your apples and your stupid selves ... you can ignore it all you want. NOT ME." Nope. Tony crossed his arms over his tummy and he waited for at least one of them to speak.
Speak damn it. Speaaaakkkkk. Apple twins from hell.
"Tony, the pizza is ready. Also, your fridge is empty. That's a problem." Steve spoke first and Strange just laughed at Tony and all of his NOISE.
Apple twins? Strange laughed loudly again. The sorcerer knew how badly Tony wanted to have a discussion. His torment amused the sorcerer. Strange looked at his gift. It draped over Tony's shoulders and it exposed all the rest. It made him want to revisit that kiss and take it further.
Strange stared at that line across his chest. He came to a realization of his own when he first saw that scar. The Ancient One must have intervened in some way. Strange stared at it and Tony had the loudest thought that Strange had ever heard.
Tony thought to himself that they were too similar, yet completely different. Identical opposites. His heart began to really pump and a deep guilt set in. Tony felt like he loved them both and that meant Steve Rogers would leave him.
That thought made the sorcerer look over at Steve. He was a happy little blonde pizza making kitten. The soldier was equipped with mittens and everything.
Tony's thoughts continued and Steve had no idea. Strange heard him think..
Tony said in his mind that he actually gave a fuck about them both. Tony liked the way they both laughed. He told himself that he could listen to them both speak all damn day. He wanted..
He fuckin wanted them both. Tony began to twist up that Pink Floyd shirt and his guilt took off to the moon.
He continued to stare at Steve. Was he was just gunna chill and eat pizza? Tony jumped ship and he looked at that wizard. Annnnnndddddd what was he gunna do? Just stand around? UGH. TONY FELT TORTURED. Those two did it on purpose. Tony could feel it deep in his bones.
His music still played. It was all bright and upbeat, that was Tony's OLD MOOD. Tony scowled and changed it up. The music was switched to represent the emotions that he currently felt. Almost Blue by Chet Baker started to play at a loud volume and Dr. Strange burst out another short laugh.
Sad jazz. Hilarious. Steve heard the change in Tony's mood as well and he almost fell against one of the cupboards that he rummaged through. Tony made him friggen laugh so hard he wanted to smother him with love.
Tony heard that wizard and the soldier boy laugh at him again. Tony almost threw a fork at Stephen's face and another fork at the back of Steve's head.
He decided not to tho.. and he just sulked instead.
Steve turned the oven off. The timer went off a while ago and the pizza was already cut. He shut that oven down and Tony just stared. The soldier had heard enough of that heart beat.
He wiped his hands off on a rag and he turned around. His focus on Tony was officially established.
Tony looked stressed out. He was not supposed to be stressed out. Steve set the rag on the counter top and he took a few steps toward Tony.
Was he gunna say something ? Tony wanted him to. He wanted Steve to give him some sort of clue about what he saw.
"Steve, I have something to tell you." Tony quickly said that and he backed up. Tony crossed his arms and Steve's eyebrow arched.
"You do?"
"I do. Yes.. but I don't, know how." Tony began to gnaw on his bottom lip. He could NOT look at that wizardddddd. Dear GAWD he wanted to just spit it out and be done with the entire thing.
"Tony.. I know what it is." So, he needed to relax. Tony needed to take a chill pill. Steve laughed at the thought and he looked at Stephen Strange. Steve wanted something else to happen. The two of them discussed it briefly before Tony returned.
Steve walked up to Tony and he kissed him on the cheek. The brunette felt those very warm hands on his skin. Steve kissed the side of his face again and he pulled Tony closer to him.
"I don't want you to tell me. I want you to show me." Steve admitted his thought and he was purposely vague. Tony looked up at that face. His body heat immediately picked up again. SHIT STICKS. Tony wanted to run outside again to cool down but Steve had a grip on his sides.
His hands were locked tight beneath that ripped Pink Floyd shirt. Tony looked over at Stephen Strange and he gulped. Show him whatttt. Tony closed his eyes immediately. Steve started to kiss him and Tony's reaction was immediate.
He felt the wall of the kitchen behind him. Was he still in the kitchen? Tony couldn't friggen tell. Steve was all over him and Tony loved it when he did that. The two of them just started to friggen make out, or whatever. Tony was up against that wall and he had himself all twisted and wound up around Steve.
His arms were around his warm shoulders. Tony had one of his hands gripped in that blonde hair. They just lip locked for an eternity. Their passionate kiss really made it hard for Tony to breathe. He was on fire and the color of his face displayed that fact.
Steve pinned Tony against that kitchen wall, and one of his hands roamed it's way up those red shorts. HEY. Tony pried away from those lips and he almost said something.
His words didn't form. Steve had him so turned on what tha efffffffff. The soldier smiled. He stepped back and that fucking WIZARD stepped in. Tony felt his lips. He hesitated for as long as he could. The brunette sank into the kiss, like before. He brought his arms around Stephen's shoulders and he pulled him in as close as they could get.
Shit was getting heated up. Tony blamed it on the pizza at first. He could smell it when he walked back in from the beach.
Steve just let those two enjoy themselves for the moment. He knew that they needed to relocate. Tony was already burning up and he needed to go to a cooler location.
Steve grabbed a piece of pizza. He took one giant bite and rejoiced. The soldier truly, madly, and deeply loved food. He put all the slices on a plate and got ready to relocate the group.
Chapter End:
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