Lessons In Love: Chapter Seventy-Five: West Coast (Part 5)
It was pretty late at night when Stephen's black car drove up the driveway to the Stark Mansion. They were in Malibu, California, and Tony was officially home.
Stephen drove him all the way there. They listened to music, talked about stupid stuff, and squabbled with one another over the radio for the rest of the trip.
Victor just tried to take it all in. He was happy to be around his brother. If he was in Nebraska, he would have been miserable. Victor imagined himself just staring at the lake of death.
He never wanted to go back there, and the young man almost cried every time the thought crossed his mind. The car was parked, and Victor stared out the window. He got a really good look at Tony's home.
He was friggen rich. Holy cow. Victor didn't know anything about the Stark family. He heard Tony and Stephen by the trunk, and he slowly looked out the back window.
Stephen brought out Tony's suitcase and he gently set it beside Tony's leg. He looked at the home and let out a quiet whistle. Stephen was very impressed with the house.
Tony didn't even look at it. He did notice that one of his father's cars was missing from the garage. His go-to car wasn't there, so Tony knew that his father wasn't home.
It was too late for him to introduce Stephen to his mother. Tony wanted to, but he knew that the Strange boys intended to leave.
Stephen and Tony kept staring. The trunk was closed and they both kept looking around each other for a long while.
"Thank you, Stephen. For taking me home."
Tony's young face was warming up. He barely even realized what he had asked Stephen to do for him. He just asked if he'd drive him all the way from New York to California.
Stephen wanted to do it. He needed to, but more importantly, he wanted to. The would-be-sorcerer couldn't comment on the road trip. He just held a pensive smile, because he really didn't want to leave.
Victor saw them lean into a really weird hug. The younger brother gasped in his seat. He decided to shrink down so he wouldn't be seen. Tony and Stephen didn't slip up again after the restaurant.
They spoke to each other, but they resisted any physical interaction, until that moment. Tony had his forehead pressed against Stephen's chin. They were moving a little as they embraced.
"Maybe, when this is all over, we can meet up?"
Stephen found it easier to say what he felt. He asked Tony if they could meet, and the brunette blinked a dozen times. Meet up? Hook up? Meet up? Hold up.
"Wait, meet where? Are you talking about a date? Or just.."
Just a meet and greet? Tony looked up at that face. He wanted to know if Stephen was asking him out. The would-be-sorcerer held a smile. He was about to laugh, but he gently kissed Tony instead.
They could meet wherever, Stephen didn't care. He wanted to make sure he was clear about it before he left, so he gave Tony a simple response,
"I am talking about a date."
Stephen looked at the home again. It was very late, and he needed to get Victor taken care of. Stephen just left it at that. He gave Tony a kiss on the cheek, and pointed at his suitcase.
"We can talk more about it when I see you at the Kamar taj. I've gotta go."
He wanted to change his focus. Victor needed his full attention, and Stephen intended to move him into his apartment. He decided that he would spend the rest of his week off completely dedicated to his brother.
Tony was really quiet. He thought about a letter that he had concealed, and the two men that seemed to parallel. They really were like night and day, just like his older self said.
Tony felt another kiss from Stephen. He stepped into that one and deepened it. He didn't care if his mother saw, if Jarvis saw, or if BUCKY'S punk ass was watching from the garage.
Tony didn't care about anyone that was possibly looking. He returned Stephen's kiss, and he thought about what he said. That gentle kiss ended, and Tony started walking his suitcase up toward the house.
CRAP. He hella saw Victor in the window. Tony smacked his hand against his forehead for a sec, then he waved a goodbye in Victor's direction.
Victor gave Tony a small wave, and he watched his brother get back into the car.
"Dad's gunna freak out."
Stephen heard his brother. He had the keys to the engine in his hand, and he slowly closed his eyes. He was trying to hold onto everything that he felt. Victor unintentionally pulled him out of his thoughts.
Yes, their father probably wouldn't like the behavior of his oldest child. Well, Stephen didn't care what his father thought.
"That's his problem."
Stephen still has his eyes closed. He brought his hands up toward the roof of the car and a portal formed around them. In an instant, that black car went from Malibu, California all the way to Manhattan, New York.
Stephen's car was parked in his garage, and Victor gasped pretty loudly.
Tony saw the car disappear. Stephen could have whooshed the car somewhere the entire time. Tony realized that he wanted to spend time with him, and it made him feel good.
Tony turned off the alarm in the house. His parents weren't home, so he helped himself to some food that was in the fridge.
He ate like a hog, and rubbed at the side of his neck. After that, Baby Tony headed toward his bedroom. He turned on the light, and thoughts about Steve hit him like a ton of bricks.
They friggen hooked up in that bedroom. Tony's gut sank down to his burning hot feet. He felt some strong sort of love sick as he crashed down on his own bed.
He glanced to his right. Tony looked at the side of the bed where Steve had slept. There was still a space there, where his head was. Jesus friggennn christoooo.. Tony tossed that pillow to the moon.
The brunette scowled at his situation. He felt like he fucked up so he rolled all around on his bed for a long while.
He said that he gave up on Steve. Now, BOTH of them wanted to do some dating after all that, VISHANTI SHIT.
Tony's young heart was beating straight through to his toes. Tony could feel every single heartbeat. He didn't move any longer. Tony just kept staring up at the ceiling in his bedroom.
Chapter: END
Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think!
