Chapter 23: Diminuendo Chapters: All We Have Is Now (Part Two)
Stephen Strange could feel the sadness fill up his chest. Those emotions had to belong to Steve Rogers. He thought of that as he touched his chest. He wondered what upset him so greatly. Strange stood near all the weapons and he studied the emotions.
He breathed in and waited for them to pass. They slowly began to leave his system. It was such an intense sensation. Strange felt like he could put his hand on his chest and feel the other person's emotions move around.
He kept his hand in the same place and an even more intense emotion struck him unexpectedly. Anger rose out of nowhere. Strange gasped and he touched the table for support.
He could feel them both. Right at that moment, Tony and Steve began a heated exchange. The demoted sorcerer could feel Tony's stubborn rage and Steve's angered wrath. The argument on the surface of the Kamar-taj had begun.
Tony had his back against one of the walls of the Kamar-taj. He made it up the stairs and his eyes locked upon Steve right away. Ohhhh shit. Tony barely reached the surface.
He got about two steps into the giant hall and then he took two quick steps back. Against the wall he went because Steve was on a warpath. Tony saw that face and he prepared himself.
"Do you have any idea what you've signed up for?" Steve asked with an expectant look.
"I have a general idea." Tony just relaxed against the wall and his hip remained at an angle. Steve's anger bubbled to a warmer degree when he heard that response. Tony was too damn casual about his decision.
"WRONG. You have no idea what you've signed up for. This decision is going to make me go through something I've already experienced once before. I don't know if I can go through that again."
Steve had some tough words to lay down on Tony. Tony pushed his weight from the wall and he stepped closer to his main man. He looked up at him and thought it through.
"What do you not want to re-experience?" Tony had a few guesses in mind. He looked at Steve's shirt. It wasn't a crisp clean white one. It was from the Kamar-taj fashion department. Luckily, it was blue and it looked very good on him.
Tony waited for Steve to hit him with his truth. He knew the way that he communicated. What he didn't know was the WHUT. He didn't know what he was thinking or how he translated the decision.
"I don't know if I can outlive my son. I've already watched some very important people in my life grow old. I've already experienced that loss. Watching Peggy Carter move on, live, and die really affected me Tony. The Ancient One is asking us to do that. We will outlive Sarah, we will watch Byron grow old, and we will remain the same. Can you seriously do that?"
Steve began to get very emotional. When he vocalized his thoughts it crushed his heart. That was so much for him to take in. That wasn't an easy decision for Steve.
Tony latched his hands to that dojo shirt. He pulled Steve toward him and he thought of his response. He wasn't aware of that little tidbit, but it didn't change his mind. He gave the subject a bit more of his time, but then he looked into those blue eyes and gave him his honest answer.
For Tony, it was simple.
"Yes. I can do that Steve. This is beyond the two of us. This is beyond our loved ones. I know that I was born to go through this shit. Maybe, not specifically, THIS crazy shit, but something... And, I truly believe that you and I were supposed to meet. So, relax."
Tony leaned upward and he kissed Steve on the cheek. He went back to his comfortable position against the wall and continued his thought.
"This decision has lined up for a reason. Maybe, this decision will guarantee that Sarah and Byron actually GET to grow up. They will get to grow old, and they will get to die. That is all we are here to ensure. That is all I care about."
Tony made the decision long ago, his daughter would not be associated with him. He was serious about it. He wasn't just chatting it up.
"Can you imagine us turning this down and then we are powerless to stop the next Thanos? News flash Steve, there will always be some fucker out there just like Thanos. It's a tale as old as time." Tony was solid with his decision.
Steve still stood with a hesitation. Tony had a hold of his shirt. Well, Steve forced his hands to part and he latched a stiff grip to Tony's hips. He pulled them together, Steve pressed his forehead against Tony's and he held an angry expression on his face.
"You make me so angry sometimes.." Steve spoke softly and Tony bit his bottom lip. He gripped those arms and just leaned in where he liked it. The soldier was torn. He was conflicted and he just inhaled deeply.
Fuck, he was so angry. Steve wanted to work that aggression out of him. Their bodies blended up against that wall behind Tony and Steve just sighed out his frustration.
"Steve, if you don't want to do it, I understand. I will support you and love you no matter what. But, I'll have to clone you or something. There really is no one but you, remember? So, I'll settle for some sort of clone, if you decide not to do this."
Tony suddenly felt very sad. He stared at the garment that covered Steve's body. He couldn't imagine not having Steve by his side. He had been by his side for centuries. Steve was right there, almost everyday.
"I need to sleep on it." That was the answer that he gave the Ancient One and that was the same answer that he had for Tony. Tony just accepted what Steve said and his face filled with warmth. He felt those lips meet his and Tony caved in immediately.
Gahhh, Steve just DID shit to him that took Tony to a completely different place. He could feel how tense and angry he was and the brunette just let it go. He embraced the kiss and the touch.
Directly to Tony's right, someone loudly cleared his throat. Stephen Strange pulled himself together and he headed to the surface of the Kamar-taj. He reached the top of the stairs and guess what?
Tony and Steve were right at the top, making out like giddy little school girls. Strange held an indifferent expression and he blew them both off. He almost had a roll to his eyes as he took off from that final step.
He could feel them. That part of the gig is what irritated him the most. Steve stepped back from Tony and he looked at Strange's back. The demoted sorcerer was walking away and Steve stopped him with his voice.
"Hey. There is something I want you to show me. I need more information." Steve completely detached himself from Tony and he gave Strange his entire focus.
He was, "the knowledge" right? Well, Steve needed more questions to be answered. He was not about to sign any deals without knowing all the facts. Strange stopped in his step and he turned around.
He stared at Steve and then his eyes ventured over to Tony. Strange dropped his glance immediately and he looked at the ground instead.
"What is it.."
Strange spoke softly and he seemed a little bothered. He was. He had other things on his mind that he wanted to address. A discussion with the Ancient One was his main focus. He intended to DEMAND a release from them. He didn't want to feel another thing.
"You have a library here, right? You're supposed to be the book? Or, you have the book? I want to see everything about this Agamoto, Oshtur, and Hoggoth ... stuff."
Steve saw a very small smile on Strange's face. He was supposed to be, the book? That almost made Strange laugh. His smile slipped wider and he turned back around. He began to walk. Tony and Steve glanced at each other and they weren't entirely sure if that was a yes or a no?
"The library is this way." Strange gave his response and the two quickly headed behind him. Uhh they followed quietly and they occasionally glanced at one another.
Strange was so icy. Icy dicey. Tony thought of that as he looked at his shoulder blades. They headed into the library and Strange gave Wong a little fist bump.
"Wong, this is Steve Rogers. He has some curiosities that I've been tasked to settle. I'm sure you recall his counterpart. The pain in the ass on two legs?"
He pointed at Tony and said nothing else. Strange disappeared into the library and Tony began to scowl. That friggen prick face wizard. Steve just followed because he needed answers.
His plan was to get more information and then go back to his son. He needed to sleep on it and that meant he wanted to go HOME. Steve Rogers never was a prisoner anywhere. That "Ancient One" had better learn that quick.
If he wasn't taken back home, he planned to leave by force.
He watched Strange shop around and he grabbed several books. He set one down on the table and he read the spine of the second book. Strange set it back and he sighed a little.
Steve and Tony approached the table. The book was opened and Tony looked at Strange's hands. He saw all the scars as he flipped through the pages. His hands came to a stop and Tony saw those fingers trace over some of that ancient writing.
"This is some of the documentation that we have on the mystic trinity. The Vishanti trio. The scrolls that we have that you absolutely can't even breathe upon? Those give us information that dates all the way back to 25,000 BC."
Strange pressed the book a little further in Steve's direction. The soldier looked at the images and then he tried to study the words. It wasn't in English, so, he had to rely on what Stephen Strange translated.
"I started to research the trio when I figured out who Agamotto was. He wrote the book that we study to learn the mystic arts. He wanted to help and educate humanity. But, around 18,000 BC he withdrew into an orb or another world that he created. He became upset with the ignorance of humanity. Basically."
Strange really focused on that when he researched Agamotto. He was aware that his power was used whenever the Eye of Agamotto was around his neck. The Ancient One kept that with her more often and Strange wasn't sure what the exact issue was.
He truly felt demoted. He ignored the thought and flipped to a different page. Steve took that description of Agamotto very seriously. He had a feeling that it had something to do with what the Ancient One said to him.
She said that Strange suffered under the burden in different dimensions. The soldier wondered if he would suffer the same fate. He could imagine Strange becoming withdrawn from humanity. He saw another picture of the trio and his eyes set upon some strange symbol.
"They used to have contests. In order to achieve the rank of Sorcerer Supreme they had a contest every century. Uhh .. it says that the Vishanti separated at one point. They became very distant from their job, basically, and the Ancient One had to retrieve the Eye of Agamotto and the book of the Vishanti. I guess, the Ancient One kinda took over?"
Strange continued to translate and summarize the text. He noticed that Tony was staring at his hands. Strange stopped the movement of his hands briefly and Tony looked up. The two of them stared for only a moment.
Strange forced his focus back to the text and he turned to the page that was specifically about Oshtur. Tony looked at the picture of the pretty lady. She was majestic and friggen mystical. Otherworldly. Tony stared at her picture and then he looked at Steve.
"This is Oshtur. She's all about that balance, order, and reason. She's just your style Rogers. This here is a documented image of her in a human form. She even had blonde hair. Look."
Steve looked at the archaic sketch. He looked back up at Strange for a moment and then he crossed his arms.
"It says that the triumvirate called the Vishanti actually transcend physical genders, but this particular entity normally appears feminine. Once they've bound their spirits to mortal hosts, they take on that image. So, I'm going to assume this is the image of the last mortal that Oshtar was bound to."
Hmm.. Tony moved the book in his direction. He flipped the page and he looked at the tiger. He stared at the image of Hoggoth and it felt like the magic super kitty looked right back at him.
Tony went to touch the page but some JERK swiftly grabbed his hand. GASP CITY. Tony snapped his focus to Strange. They officially made contact in the physical world. Tony looked at his hand and Strange released it.
"No touching. You're not worthy and your hands are probably filthy.." Strange closed the book. It made a sharp sound as it snapped shut and Tony jumped up a little. Grrrrr... his face crinkled up and he wanted to PUNCH HIM ON THE HEAD. Steve chuckled a little bit. He was amused.
As soon as the thrill of all that subsided, Steve went back to his happy little land of doubt. He still had many questions, but he decided that he had his fill. Steve looked at the door to the library and he made his exit.
Tony stuck his tongue out at Strange. Stephen Strange flipped him off. Tony jerked his focus toward Steve and he followed after him. That wizard prick could go read some more. BYE. He caught up to Steve and he walked beside him.
Steve was still in his, 'I need to know everything before I make my epic decision' mode of doom and Tony just waited for him to stop and smell the roses. He figured that he had a long wait. Steve walked all the way to that tree.
He stopped in font of it and he stared at it for a little while. Tony was quiet for a wee bit and then he stepped to a spot where he could see Steve's beautiful face. He smiled at the soldier and he actually received a smile back.
"I told you that I needed to sleep on it. I'm going to go do that Tony. I've heard enough and now I'm going to go home." Steve tapped his chest twice and he thought about his armor. Tony felt a stab to his stomach as the armor folded over his skin.
"You're acting like you have to say goodbye to them. It's not a goodbye sort of thing Steve. You'll still get to be there. I'm.. I'm going to go through with it Steve. So, I'm not going to run on home and worry everyone. We've already done that this week."
Steve was overthinking. YES it was a tough decision. Tony understood that. But, Steve was driving himself insane and just ...gahhh Tony scratched his head. The face plate of the armor disappeared and Steve gave Tony a gentle kiss. The soldier heard him and he decided to just go home, alone.
"I'll let you know, when I know." UGH Tony HATED IT WHEN HE SAID SHIT LIKE THAT. Tony just nodded his head and he gave Steve another kiss.
They never knew if it would be the last one. So, Tony made it a good one. Steve's heart smiled and he stepped into the kiss. He couldn't just make those sort of decisions without really thinking it through. He had so many things to digest and he wanted to be with his son. Tony would always be Tony. Steve didn't intend to see him under any other light.
The kiss subsided and Steve saw Stephen Strange as he walked into view. He wasn't aware that the soldier had that nano-technology attached to his bones. That was an interesting update. Stephen S. stared at Steven R. for a long while. Tony remained right where he was and his breath got caught in his throat. Steve launched upward into the sky.
Tony looked up. His eyes followed him and he thought about activating his own suit. He was told that he would be unable to use his technology to leave. Those rules obviously didn't apply to Steve Rogers.
Tony saw that smile and then the face plate closed over his view. Steve set the coordinates for home and he took off from the Kamar-taj. Tony did not follow. He watched him go until he could no longer see him.
Tony's eyes migrated down to the ground. He truly didn't want to go talk to his family about the whole Vishanti thing. He knew that his father would understand and he didn't want to upset Sarah.
It was just, something that felt right in his mind. Tony knew in his heart that he had to accept what was offered to him. He turned around and he looked right at that wizard prick. It was very silent between the two. Tony didn't hear any noise at all. He didn't hear a bird chirp or the sound of water or, anything.
He just stared at Stephen Strange.
Tony headed in his direction and Strange took a small step. Tony walked AROUND him and he headed to his shiny new work space.
"The crypt that you people call a forge needs some serious TLC. That's where I will be if you need me. Try not to need me tho, thanks." Tony ditched the douche bag and he left Strange in the dust. The demoted sorcerer watched Tony walk away and he almost smiled.
His focus went back to the sky where Steve Rogers took off. The Ancient One obviously allowed him to leave. That was a smart move because the soldier was clearly on the fence about the whole thing.
Strange ignored Tony completely and he headed to the Ancient One. He needed to clear the air about a few things and it was the perfect time to do that. He rubbed the middle of his forehead and paved his way forward.
CHAPTER END:
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