Chapter 18: Diminuendo Chapters: Coming Of Age
Tony had his face against something that was warm and very familiar. He was asleep beside his main man and his face was pressed against Steve's shoulder.
Steve was always in the middle and he was clung to on both sides. Even after all that time, Steve never got over being frozen. He preferred to be as warm as possible when he slept. If it ever got cold then he was unable to sleep.
So, it all worked out for him because Whitney and Tony were very warm. They both burned like furnaces and they kept Steve nice and warm. He started to notice that one side of him was a bit too warm.
Steve rubbed his face and he slowly opened his eyes. Tony was really on fire that night. Steve looked to his left and he could actually see the sweat that covered Tony's forehead and face. Steve reached over toward him and he gently touched his arm. Tony was in a deep sleep. He was in the middle of a dream and it caused him to heat up. He was being pulled from the dream when he heard the soldier's voice.
Steve asked him if he was all right. He asked him quietly and Tony began to wake up. Tony was noisy as he responded. He kicked around and moved about in the bed. Steve tried not to laugh and he held Tony in place. He glanced at Whitney and he started to wipe that sweat off of Tony's forehead.
He saw those eyes open up and Tony blinked several times. His dream was crazy. For the past... four nights, he had experienced the oddest dreams. Each one had Dr. Damn Strange IN IT. He sighed and looked at Steve.
Tony stared at that beautiful person. Steve looked worried and Tony just smiled.
"It was a freaky dream." Tony explained as he moved closer to the soldier.
"I figured." Steve smiled back and he pressed his lips against Tony's forehead. He just remained there for a moment or two. Tony gripped that shirt. It was a very vivid dream and it always ended the same way. For some reason, the dream felt ..real?
Tony wondered how that was possible. He thought it over and he started to paw at that crisp clean shirt. Steve backed up from his forehead and he looked down at Tony's hands.
He could tell immediately that he was nervous. Tony had something to tell him. Steve just waited and he he started to mess with his hair. Tony's hair stuck out in odd places. Steve fixed it up and he waited for those nerves to settle.
They didn't settle at all. Tony inhaled and he turned over onto his back instead. He breathed all that tension out and he began to toy around with his lip. Steve watched him tug on it and bite on it a little.
"Something is going on with Strange. He's connected our emotions and, well ..he's been showing up in my sleep. I'm dreaming about him. I don't know if he's causing it or, if I'm causing it? I'm so confused ..ever since he showed up and started his shit."
That wassss wordy. Tony quietly spit it all out. He spoke against his hand because he still tugged on his lip. All of it really irritated him. He wanted to understand what was going on in his head. Tony hadn't seen Dr. Strange since he randomly showed up uninvited and he barked a bunch of bullshit. Strange took off and now Tony only saw him when he was asleep.
Was it actually Strange? Tony didn't understand. What he felt seemed real so.. Steve relaxed against the pillow for a moment and he thought it over. He thought that the sorcerer's behavior was very odd when he showed up. He seemed very angry with Tony. Strange was frustrated and Steve thought that Tony's emotions were the cause of it.
Tony was very emotional, and veryyyy intense. Steve wasn't lying long ago when he thought that Tony was secretly a mutant or something. He could honestly feel Tony's emotions. Strange didn't seem emotional at all. He obviously wasn't happy with his direct link to Tony's emotional rollercoaster.
Steve smiled and just asked a question. The curiosity emerged within him.
"What happened in the dream?" He could tell that the dream flustered Tony. It made him heat up so, Steve wanted to know. They both had achieved that unique ability to be committed to one another but still free. It was a balance that not too many people were able to understand.
He wasn't asking because he was jealous. Steve's possessive streak slowly left him over time. His confidence and inner strength increased so, he no longer felt that way. He loved Tony unconditionally and he was actually more concerned about him getting some sleep.
"I touch his hand. And then, I kiss him. I'm not sure why it happens but, it does. We have some silly conversation and it always ends the same. This last time tho.." It got kindaaaaa heated up. Tony glanced over to his right and he took in another deep breath. His breath intake was a little on the shaky side.
Tony thought about the dream and he brought his hand back to that lip.
"He's been kissing me back. It's really weird because it feels real. I've never had a dream feel that real before." Shitt. Tony released his lip and he started to just chew on it instead. Tony looked over at Steve for guidance. He didn't like to tell him that info but, he had to.
They didn't keep stupid secrets from each other. They were adults and weird shit was happening. Tony needed his help to process it all.
"I say, we ask him about it. He hasn't gotten anywhere with the Mandarin and we need to know what's going on. You two can't be connected like that forever. Remember how badly it affected our older selves?" Steve was told that his depression almost crippled his older self emotionally. He brought his older self back into a dark place. They didn't KNOW Stephen Strange at all. He just did as he pleased with Tony. Steve felt like it was time for him to step in. Tony just started to nod his head in agreement.
That douchebag wizard was messing with his fucking head! Tony rubbed his eye socket and he continued to nod. He felt Steve's very warm arm coil around him and Tony started to smile. Steve pulled Tony toward him and they got all snuggled up.
"Want me to help you get some sleep?" Steve spoke with a grin. He slowly kissed the side of Tony's face until their lips connected. Uhmmaah, yes please. Tony gave a quiet laugh and he just returned the kiss. He decided to be a mute and Steve took over the show.
Tony watched Steve do two things. He reached over and checked the volume on Byron's monitor, then he ventured around in the small drawer beside the bed. They both glanced over at Whitney and Tony covered his mouth with his hand.
Her beauty sleep was probably gunna get disturbed. It was always so amusing to try and mess around while one of them slept. Tony had a mission at that point. They were just gunna fool around, it was just gunna be some adorable...harmless stuff.
Urhmmmaa.. yeah right. It was very clear that Steve was in a mood. The bulge inside those grey slacks was proof enough.
Tony moved his hips upward. Steve ran his hand to the band of Tony's pants and he slipped the clothing down his skin. He pushed the pants all the way to his knees and then Tony maneuvered them away. At the same time, Tony untied those grey slacks. He told them goodbye and like magic, they slowly disappeared.
A few days before, Tony spent some time giving the older Steve a good ride. He friggen had to, he wanted to, and absolutely none of it was out of his system. It was "Baby Steve's" turn and he burned badly for that blonde. His body ached for him and Steve fuckin knew it.
The soldier moved. He set one leg on each side of Tony and he actually straddled the brunette. Steve had all of his weight centered toward his own thighs as he sat up. He opened up the small bottle that he fished out of the drawer.
Tony looked up at Steve and he started to stroke those powerful legs. Damnnn. Steve had a small smile because he knew that he was being examined. Tony looked him over and he continued to run his hands over those legs. Bring that shit in closer please. Tony mentally begged and he pulled Steve toward him. He wanted him up further so Tony could do some filthy things to him.
Steve complied and he lost his focus on the bottle. Steve was maneuvered upward and he now straddled Tony's chest. He still kept the bulk of his weight on his legs. Tony's mouth did what that lube was supposed to do and Steve gripped his hair instead.
They both were put in a mood, and Tony wanted Steve to fuckhisfriggenface. He started to. Slowly, the blonde's hips moved toward the top of the bed. His dick slid in and out of Tony's mouth with almost too much ease. Steve had one hand on the wall above the bed, the other one had a hard grip on Tony's crazy hair.
It wasn't quiet, they knew that. They did their best and that just added to the thrill. Whitney was in a deep sleep so they kept it going. Tony's motions encouraged Steve to move faster. He stopped for breath and stroked his husband. Tony almost said something to him. He wanted to comment on how hard he was.
He wondered what had Steve so turned o n. Tony wondered if it was the fact that he was getting kissed by some jerk in a dream? It was hard to tell with Steve. Tony knew that it would be communicated to him at some point.
He took that length back into his mouth. He took it all the way in and he gently massaged him with both of his hands. Steve released his hair and he brought his hand to his own mouth. Tony just kept going and Steve was about to lose it. His hips took on a mind of their own and he grabbed that hair again.
Tony was comfortable, he was adjusted, and at a good angle. So, Steve began to speed it up. He moved his hand from his hair to his neck and he pumped into that mouth countless times. He stopped to let Tony breathe, compose himself, and re- focus. He let Tony do whatever he had to do.
Steve was very pleasured. He was in a bit of a daze so, he stared at the wall for a moment and then he looked at the side of the bed. The brunette beneath him was right back at it and Steve started it up again. It was very loud and they both expected Whitney to wake up and slap them. It had happened a few times and it was always hilarious.
One time, Tony was in the mood for Whitney. Steve woke up in the middle of it all and she slapped them both. How do you figure that one? The woman had a slap habit when something alarmed her. That's what it was.
Anywho, they felt like they were being too loud on the bed. Steve stopped his body and he held it in one position. He closed his eyes and just felt that mouth as it moved along his skin in so many calculated ways. Steve breathed out into the room and he slipped back more toward Tony's legs.
He slid quietly off the bed and his hand roamed around for Tony. Steve needed to get a grip of some part of him so they could continue.
He managed to find him and he started to pull him off the bed. Tony swallowed and stared up at the ceiling. He thought about a number of things as he was being drug off the bed. His face flushed with a heavy warmth and the ceiling shifted. He was pulled off the bed and brought to the bedroom floor with ease. Tony smiled at that handsome fellow.
They started to kiss and adapt to the change of their location. Tony hit his head on the damn wooden bottom of the bed frame. He bonked his head and he tried not to laugh about it. Steve bit his tongue when he heard the impact and he almost laughed himself.
Tony always made him laugh. Steve bit his lip and he looked at that beautiful person beneath him.
He truly loved his stupid face. The soldier hovered for a moment and then he brought Tony up into another kiss. Steve was really in a mood. He had many plans for Tony so the change of location was very necessary.
At that exact same time and over seven thousand miles away, Dr. Strange was in the middle of a discussion with the Ancient One.
It was the middle of the afternoon for them and they were discussing Karl Mordo. The Ancient One had picked up on some animosity within him and she started to think that it was directed toward Strange. She sent him off with an objective so they would be able to speak openly about the issue. Their conversation was cut short and the Ancient One observed a change in Stephen's behavior.
His face began to fluster up. He turned away from the conversation in the middle of a thought and the sorcerer almost brought his hands up to his face.
CHRIST. He knew that Tony was at it again and he knew exactly who he decided to be intimate with for the hundred millionth time. It was obviously with the Steve Rogers that existed in their version of the present. The passion level when he was with THAT individual was pretty hard for him to bear.
Strange glanced over at the Ancient One and he summoned up his damn cloak. The sorcerer took off before she could utter a single word. GONE. He had to leave the entire continent of ASIA.
After he flew off into the changing skies he used his sling ring and relocated to his hiding place. Strange ended up on his bed in his old home. He hid on that bed and he tried to overpower what he felt. He tried to meditate it away.
For him, it started to feel like that passionate side of humanity started calling him. It was a powerful force that tried to pull him back to his old ways. Or, at least show him ways that could have been old for him. But, he never gave two shits about any of it before.
His objective before his training was always on the prize. The goals you're supposed to achieve and all those shiny accomplishments. He wanted titles, stature, and money. Dr. Strange never gave into passion and emotions. Those were for people like Tony Stark and Christine Palmer. They could fiddle around with emotions and all that bullshit..
What he constantly felt from Tony caused him so much stress. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to fight with it or just let it be. Strange didn't know if he wanted to feel those things or not. He knew that the Ancient One was most likely aware of what was going on. Strange still held onto his pride because he was the one that took on the responsibility.
He voiced his disagreement with the Ancient One very loudly and he spared Tony's life. So if he now struggled with his decision and failed then, what good was he? He thought about all of that and then he tried to move his body. He wanted to cast all that arousal and passion out of him and be done with the whole mess.
And yet, Strange toughed it out and he just covered his face with his hands. He had gone in circles for months when it came down to solving the Mandarin mystery. He felt like a failure, Tony constantly turned him on, and he was beyonddddd frustrateddd with everything.
The sorcerer wanted to fucking kill everyone around him so, he decided to ask the Ancient One for... something ... called ... help.
His cloak could see that Dr. Strange was upset. The artifact actually acted like a blanket. It gave him a warm hug and the sorcerer laughed. It was a dark day for Strange indeed. He wasn't looking forward to any of it.
When the sun rose for Tony and Steve, the sun began to set for Dr. Strange. They really lived on opposite sides of the planet. Tony wasn't thinking that they lived that way only geographically. Oh no, they lived that way IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.
Tony and Steve were all cute and dressed. They were all blushed up from their evening on the bedroom floor and they made an attempt to establish a connection with Dr. Strange. They tried Thor but he wasn't currently in that galaxy, they tried to contact the Sanctum Sanctorum. Tony thought that they might have an office? Or, something of that nature?
AHH! Tony almost jumped because he remembered something.
"He let me call you! Remember? You've had his damn phone number this whole time." Tony felt like such an air head. He held out his hand because he wanted Steve's dinosaur cell phone. Uhh Steve tried to think of where he had it last. He never actually used it and he often forgot it all over the place.
"I can't even remember where I put it." Steve scratched his head and thought it over. Who called him on it last? Steve thought it might have been Whitney? or.. he thought he might have given it to Byron to play with.
Steve wasn't sure, and Tony grew impatient. UGHHH he sighed and he started to check Steve's damn pockets. The soldier still tried to think of the last phone call he received on the thing.
"Howard called the house phone, so.." Steve STILL PONDERED THAT SHIT. Tony scowled and he hunted around his lab. He threw a bunch of shit around because MAYBE Captain Alzheimer's left it somewhere in his lab.
"I'm going to put a locater on that damn thing." Tony left Steve to himself and he took off to their apartment. He started to hunt around the damn living room and the damn kitchen. Then he headed to the damn bedroom and he picked up one of the house phones.
HE DIALED STEVE'S DAMN NUMBER. The brunette stuck his tongue out at Whitney and he hunted around for the dinosaur phone. He heard something on the line and Tony stopped kicking things around in the apartment.
"Hello?" He heard Steve's voice and his face cracked.
"STEVE!?" Flames and hot steam burst out of his nostrils when he exhaled. Tony almost screeched and his teeth were clenched.
"Tony I found it. It was in my motorcycle bag." Steve sounded so sweet when he replied. Tony just stood there and he held the phone against his ear. He wanted to vomit some hot lava into the phone because he had to roam around like an idiot. Steve sounded too adorable so, Tony swallowed the sharp words.
"Groovy. I'll meet you in the garage then."
"Ok, I'll call him right now." They both nodded their heads and hung up their phones. Steve pushed on the cellphone buttons and he started to hunt through his call history. Tony seriously made it to the garage and he did not see any call being place. His eyebrow was raised on one side of his head.
He approached his hubby and he watched him navigate his cellphone. Steve tried to recall the date when Tony was actually "training" over in Nepal with Sarah and Strange. It was months and months ago. OH he found the phone number and he pressed the call button. Steve smiled at Tony and gave him a thumbs up.
TONY DIED. He laughed so hard and dropped his chin down to his chest. Ohhhhh lordy, he loved Steve so much. Tony seriously did not have the patience for that shit. He waited beside the blonde bombshell and he inhaled some beautiful oxygen. Steve began to speak and Tony was all ears.
"Hello? Dr. Strange this is Steve Rogers. I'm leaving you a message because Tony and I would like to talk to you. Can you please call me back when you get this message? Thank you -"
"WHAT THE FUCK?! YOU'RE NOT LEAVING HIM A VOICEMAIL. PICK UP THE PHONE YOU WIZARD PRICK FUCK." Tony grabbed that phone and he decided to ruin that beautiful, innocent, cordial message that Steve began.
Tony went from zero to ten thousand miles per hour in less than a millisecond. Oh helllllllll no. Tony crossed his arms and he scowled out in to the garage. Steve just stared and he hit the button that ended the phone call. Tony needed to chillll.
Steve thought that as he put his phone in his pocket.
Dr. Strange made his way back to Kathmandu. He was at the Kamar-Taj and he was no where near his cellphone. He finally asked the Ancient One for help. She was happy to provide it and the supreme being held a smile.
Strange was a bit nervous about that smile. He studied it and watched as the Ancient One began to "help" with the entire ordeal. She maneuvered her hands and summoned Tony and Steve to Kathmandu.
She plucked them from the garage and placed them both directly in front of her. They ended up right in the middle of the Kamar-Taj. Uhh Tony and Steve looked around. Steve had no idea where they ended up, but Tony knew. OH, he recognized those fucking floors.
Tony scanned the room for Dr. Stephen Strange. He skipped over the bald baba yaga and he glared right at that wizard. Yeah YOU. Tony looked right at him but Strange looked the other way. He was focused on the Ancient One. It was time for the entire mess to be fixed.
Strange wanted Tony OUT of his life. Out of his mind, out of his ... everything. The sorcerer just kept his arms crossed and he deliberately ignored him. The Ancient One was focused on Steve. She had never seen the soldier in person before. She had only encountered him in different ways that he was completely unaware of.
Steve looked right at the Ancient One and he smiled a little. Sure, he was confused but once he saw Strange in the room and the location, he kinda put it all together.
"Hello Steven." The Ancient One knew that out of the three men in the room, the one she looked upon had the strongest soul. His heart was pure, and his journey was a very good one. She knew many individuals that were changed because of Steven Grant Rogers. That was the only way she encountered him.
The Ancient One was very pleased to meet him. Steve's smile held some confusion behind it. He was a little thrown off and he glanced at Tony.
"Hello." He returned the greeting and then he looked over at Dr. Strange. The sorcerer was very quiet. He didn't know how the Ancient One planned to fix the mess. He wanted it done and over with. He acknowledged Steve and that was that. Strange kept his mouth shut.
"Dr. Strange informed me that he has been unable to solve something he calls the "Mandarin Mystery". He has decided to throw in the towel and he has asked me to intervene. This is my intervention. Are you all ready for it?" She addressed the room and she held a smile.
Tony and Steve looked at each other. UH.. Tony wasn't ready for shit. The Ancient One wanted him DEAD. That was her original solution. Tony didn't know what the hell to think so he just brought his shoulders upward. He didn't friggen KNOW. Steve remained quiet and he just looked back at the person that brought them into the room.
"The Mandarin has been soul hopping. He's formed a very deep route back and forth between all of you. My solution is to cut off his energy source entirely and contain him when he exits his chosen hosts. I'll be putting the genie in a bottle. That visual might help you understand." The supreme entity explained her plan and Steve was the first to ask a question. His reaction was immediate.
"What does "cut off" his energy source mean exactly?" He really didn't like the wording there. It was left up for interpretation and Steve just wanted the facts.
"It means I will stop all of your hearts. I will kill you, and then the Mandarin will leave. In your current states, there is a definite risk of you all giving into the Mandarin. I have weighed the situation and that is my decision. I can do it right now if you want. Or, I can give you all some time to say goodbye to the home that you have here."
There was not going to be a debate on the issue any longer. Dr. Strange heard the solution and his heart started to feel affected. He thought about Tony and Steve's family. He stared down at the floor of the Kamar-Taj and he thought about Sarah Rogers. Something really started to pull on his chest.
Tony freaked the fuck out. He stepped toward MRS. CLEAN and he protested immediately.
"You can't just KILL US. What the fuck?! Steve just had a chunky little baby boy. My daughter is about to start some serious school." Tony thought that he was knocked out somehow and everything that was going on around him was another crazy ass dream. Seriously? He glared at Strange and then the stupid "Ancient One" spoke again.
"I truly do not want to do this to you Anthony Stark. I absolutely have to do it. Be thankful that I am giving you a chance to say goodbye to your daughter before she goes to that school. You actually get to say goodbye to that chunky little baby boy. Not everyone gets that opportunity. I will give you all twenty four hours and then I will bring you back."
"NO. You can't just murder us. That's what it is, or are you blind? Steve is my best fucking friend and I'm not going to let you kill him." HOLY SHIT. Tony started to cry immediately. He thought about Steve, DEAD. It was so hard for him to imagine it.
Steve was very confused. He understood because of previous information that he received about Tony. But, the new set of information really threw the soldier almost off his feet. Steve wiped a tear that slipped down his face. He thought about his son. Tony turned his focus to that WIZARD PRICK and he let him have it.
"You spared me once and now you're checking out?! Some fucking wizard you're turning out to be. You act all high and mighty but you really don't know SHIT. You say you're here to protect the earth? Or the "realm" or whatever... But, you don't even care about who you're protecting. I've been linked with you for months WIZARD and I haven't felt a friggen thing. You've got nothing. No love, no warmth, NOTHING. Do you even know what to protect? You're the one that should fucking DIE. Not Steve."
Tony was very upset. He was about to lose his damn mind. He spit fire and brimstone at the sorcerer and Strange tried to ignore every word. The Ancient One straightened her neck and she addressed what was said to Dr. Strange.
"This solution applies to him as well. I was speaking to all three of you. All three of you have twenty four hours to say goodbye to whomever you choose." The Ancient One looked at her apprentice. He was doing very well with his training. He had exceeded many levels and the sorcerer had accomplished so much at that point in his life.
But, a lesson needed to be learned. Dr. Strange's jaw dropped. It could have hit the floor because it dropped open so quickly.
"What are you talking about? I haven't been invaded by the Mandarin. He's not attached to me so why am I on their ship?" The sorcerer was confused. Hooo hooooo Tony's eyes burst open and he gawked at the change of scene. Steve continued to just listen. He told himself to breathe in, and breathe out because all he could think about was Byron and his mind was on overload.
"You've certainly exposed yourself to the Mandarin. In your astral form and in your physical form. That contact between you and Anthony has exposed you and you are now a risk."
"I don't agree with that. That contact should not have affected my physical form. It was in a dream." How could something that occurred in a dream affect the physical self? Strange looked over at Tony and he ran the entire scenario over in his head. He forced his focus back to the Ancient One and the sorcerer glared.
All that contact occurred in a damn DREAM. Ok, a few dreams.. Strange tried to process it and Tony kinda figured out what those 'Magic the Gathering' nerds were discussing.
Tony brought his hand up to his mouth. He stared at Strange and whoa.. holy hell. Tony felt a bunch of shit swim around in his chest. He remembered his dreams and he remembered the two of them kissing. The last dream he had was a doozy. They really really started to kiss in that one. WAIT? Did that actually happen? Tony was soooooooooooo shocked and confused and he began to twist on his lip. He tried to follow along with all the crazy shit being said around him.
"Who ever said that the Mandarin was physical? Stephen, I don't care if you disagree with me. I'm telling you that you are a risk and you have been given my solution. Tomorrow at exactly this time, all three of you will return."
And just like that, The Ancient One sent them all away. She stripped Strange of his cloak and his sling ring. He was put back in his apartment. Tony and Steve were put back in their garage.
All three of them stared blankly. They all had heavy hearts and confused looks on their faces.
CHAPTER END:
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