The Never-Ending Why: Chapter 32: In The Dark (Part 2)
Tony was dead asleep. He was very warm beside Steve, and he had himself all bundled up around his yummy legs and arms.
They were always weaved and closely knit together when they slept. It went unnoticed most of the time, because they were busy dreaming.
Tony's suit gave off a sound. An alert went off and it woke the two of them up. Steve was startled. His eyes flew open, and he immediately grabbed his forehead.
He was speaking to Stephen in his dream. That conversation was a challenging one, and the would-be-soldier woke up with a bit of anxiety.
Tony scowled at the alarm. He was still half asleep, and dreaming about food. Tony turned over onto his stomach, and he started pulling one of Steve's legs up toward his chest.
What the... Steve looked down at his leg. He couldn't stretch it that far up, and he tried to wiggle free.
WAKE UP. Steve gave Tony a soft nudge because his leg was in a weird place, and the alarm was still going. Tony didn't wanna doooooooo anything, ever. He ignored Steve's nudging, and he quietly mumbled that he didn't care about the alarm.
The alarm was on display. A screen was floating up above their bed, and Steve was forced to look at it. He blinked several times, then he grabbed the tech.
Steve put that screen in Tony's face, and he tried to get his leg free. The brunette started whining and sulking out into the room. He was so comfortable and warm. Tony didn't want to wake the eff up for anything.
He squirmed around Steve for a minute or so more, until he remembered what the alarm was set for. Tony's sense of recall kicked in, and he quickly opened his eyes.
"He's out. He left.."
Tony was sleepy, but he sat up and he started skimming around the screen. Steve brought his leg back where it belonged, and he glanced at the screen beside him.
...Stephen.
The alarm indicated that Stephen Strange had left the realm of light. Steve watched Tony's hands at work, and then he pressed his face more against his pillow. Steve closed his eyes, and he took in a few slow breaths.
"We gotta tell Donna and Victor. Ok?"
Tony slowly looked at Steve. That damn blonde was still in an odd mood. Steve started behaving differently after Tony told him what happened with Stephen. The brunette told him everything, and now Steve went super silent on the subject.
Tony tried to talk to him about it a million times. It felt like THEY were feuding over it now, and Tony didn't like that at all. He wasn't sure what to do, so he kept looking at Steve.
They were supposed to be a trio of some sort. The three of them were going to spend an eternity together, or whatever... so, Tony didn't get Steve's behavior.
He didn't want to say that he was jealous. Tony wanted to understand, and work it out. Steve wasn't saying SHIT, so...
Tony roughly turned over. He stared at the edge of their bed, and he started getting up. Steve got up as well, and Tony watched him put a shirt on. OK, BLONDIE.
Tony put some clothes on too, and he kept scratching at his neck. Steve's behavior had him all bothered, so he kept his hands busy.
They both went for the door, and they stopped somewhere in the middle. Tony looked up at Steve, and he immediately started heating up. Steve stared down at Tony, and he tried not to think about what Stephen did to him.
He was very bothered, and it wasn't Tony's fault. His issue was with Stephen, but Steve couldn't really express that. His mood was currently unfixable, so he just looked at their bedroom door.
Tony scoffed pretty loudly when Steve looked away. OK AGAIN, BLONDIE. He just let Steve go do whatever. Tony crossed his arms up tight, and he waited for Steve to lead the way.
"Tony what are we doing? Calling them, or going?"
"We're going. I'll make the portal."
Tony took over that confusion, and he formed a portal. It led to the front door of Stephen's apartment. Steve followed, and he stood beside Tony. The brunette rang the door bell, and he knocked a few times.
Donna opened the door for them. She was fully dressed, and it seemed like she was ready to go. Tony didn't need to update her at all. She said that Victor was grabbing the amulet, and they were ready.
~~~~—-~~~~
Nightmare had an irritating laugh. He seemed excited to see Stephen and Clea. The almost-sorcerer-supreme studied him carefully.
He dropped the dream that he was manipulating, and he gave Stephen a giant smile.
"My my my my my mighty Stephen. Enjoying the married life?"
Nightmare's skin was getting darker as he spoke. At first it was green, then it seemed to mix with something dark. Stephen wondered if it was his energy moving around.
He didn't care about the marriage comment. Stephen had nothing to say about that subject. Nightmare mentioned that word travelled fast. He also said that a little birdie told him that Dormammu's niece had been "very wed".
Stephen was starting to get annoyed with him. His fixation with Clea got on his last nerve, and even Agamotto wanted to take over. He said that Nightmare was only a pest, and nothing more.
Stephen found him to be a bit fascinating, until he opened his mouth.
"Your woman sent you here to teach me a lesson? Yes?"
Nightmare was floating upward. It didn't seem like he was planning on attacking them, but he kept his beady eyes locked onto Clea.
"Well, as you prepare for the we.. WE prepare for the you. There is no other lesson here, Stephen Strange."
Nightmare was slowly turning upside down as he spoke. His body turned like a clock. He continued to stare at Clea. She refused to look at him. She thought that Nightmare was vile, and disturbing.
He laughed loudly at Clea's behavior. Nightmare wanted her to look in his direction, but the young ruler wouldn't budge. He started taunting Clea, and he even made several gestures to get her attention.
"Don't give him all your magic tricks, save some for the res..."
Stephen shut that shit down quick. He quickly brought his hand up, and locked that loud mouth shut. He secured a tight grip, and Clea was glad that the noise had subsided.
She didn't send Stephen there for Nightmare. Clea glanced around the area, and she wondered what was taking so long. She thought his siblings would arrive immediately.
Nightmare kept making annoying sounds, and Clea gave off an irritated sigh. She finally looked over at him. Stephen was studying his skin, just as Nightmare gleefully reached for her.
"Sleep it off, vile beast."
She sent that thing as far away from her as she could. Clea couldn't be near it anymore, and Stephen was amused. He kept looking around Nightmare's lair, then he slowly focused on Clea.
She seemed distracted, and preoccupied with something else. Stephen started glancing around, and he walked up to her.
When he reached Clea, a large portal appeared to their left. Stephen's attention immediately turned to the portal, and he blinked several times.
He saw his younger brother and sister. They were staring at him, and Stephen started feeling uneasy. Victor and Donna travelled through the portal with Tony and Steve.
Stephen kept staring at those two, then he forced his focus onto Clea. Agamotto immediately saw it as an ambush. That Vishanti entity felt another presence that no one else was aware of.
He felt the other presence in Donna Strange, so his immediate reaction was to take back his control of Stephen.
Chapter: END
Thanks for reading.