They continued to see each other like this alternating between Tony's apartment and Stephen's suite. In his office, Stephen had added a desk so the engineer could work from there. Tony had cleared out a drawer and part of his closet for Stephen's things. In each bathroom, there were two toothbrushes and two pairs of towels. In Stephen's fridge there was always a bottle of chilled Ginger Ale and in Tony's kitchen there was now a shelf where various kinds of tea were stacked.
It was a bit strange, the way they were living together and not at the same time. But this arrangement suited them for now.
For Tony it was almost magical, after all nothing in his life went so easily. He felt good, his mind was free for the first time since...in fact he couldn't even remember the last time he had felt this kind of fulfillment.
One night while they were at Tony's house talking over a drink, Stephen asked him, "Tony, you said that you had a bad experience with magic and that I showed you a good side of magic, I was wondering, do you have something against magic artifacts?"
"Hm?"
"Yeah, kind of like my cape, something that would be yours alone."
"Uh...yeah, maybe, I don't know actually."
"I would understand if you didn't want, don't be afraid to say no, I won't be offended, I promise.."
"No, but it's another one of my sad stories, and you'll end up thinking that's all I have..."
"Hey Tony, I know where you come from and you know where I come from so it doesn't scare me. As always you only talk about it if you want to."
"I want to tell you all. Do you know Wanda Maximoff or Scarlet Witch?"
"Yes, even though I only saw her once on the battlefield of the last fight against Thanos. I remember the power of her magic was awesome but totally uncontrolled."
"Well, let's just say she doesn't hold me close to her heart, my weapons killed her family, actually weapons with my name on them, so for her, I'm responsible for all her misfortunes, and that's why she and her brother first allied themselves with Ultron in Sokovia. She confronted all the Avengers with their worst fears. Mine was to see all my team dead around me and Rogers saying to me before he died, 'You could have saved us, you haven't done enough' and it's this vision that has haunted me ever since, pushing me to make some bad decisions, The Accords among other things, but also to do everything to protect the earth. This vision laid the first stone of the wall of dissension between the Avengers and nothing has been the same since."
"I understand it all better. And no one could blame you for not liking magic after that."
"Well, between Wanda and Loki, we got served, you know."
"Yes, but what I'm offering you here is something that you and you alone can control."
"I'm listening."
Stephen reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet pouch from which he took out a pendant. The pattern reminded Tony of something. It was the emblem of the Sanctum and the same emblem that adorned the medallion containing the stone of time.
Stephen turned it over and showed Tony a small mechanism, like a switch.
"If you press this little button, it opens a portal to my suite, in the living room to be precise. That way you don't have to call me first, you can come at any time."
"Wow, it's like giving me the keys to your place?"
"Hm yes" replied Stephen a little embarrassed. "That's it. What do you think, could you accept something like that?"
"I don't know what to say, or rather wait! Wait here!"
Tony jumped off the couch and Stephen heard him rummaging around. Then Tony came back and sat down next to him.
"You beat me to it, because I intended to give you this, but as usual, you know me, I think a lot so I was waiting for the right moment, the alignment of the stars, blah blah blah blah..."
He put something around Stephen's wrist. At first glance it looked like a simple bracelet.
"If you wear this bracelet here each time you come, you will have full power over F.R.I.D.A.Y. You can ask her anything you want, you can have access to any room in this place. Use the lab, the workshop, go for a swim, use the gym, go to the movie room, wait naked in my bed..." Tony listed, raising his eyebrows suggestively at the end.
"Tony..." Stephen looked stunned.
"There's no point in me giving you the keys, since technically you can come through the portal as you please. So it's the only way I can make you feel at home. You're the only one who has something like that."
Stephen barely let him finish and kissed him passionately like never before. Tony had feared that Stephen would be frightened by this gesture, but it seemed that once again they were completely on the same wavelength. Tony couldn't believe that they had only been together for 3 weeks. He felt like it had been longer. They didn't go any further than handjobs or blowjobs, not that they didn't want to, but since they had the time, they had tacitly decided not to rush things.
"Take me...Tony."
Tony backed away surprised. "Huh? But I thought...you would...you would...be the one to..."
Stephen looked at him with a sad little smile, "I would love that more than anything Tony, but I couldn't take care of you the way I would like to, and I don't want to do things by halves for our first time this way," he said, showing him his shaky hands.
"Oh...but Stephen we can wait, I can, and excuse me for saying things so bluntly, I can prepare myself for you if that's what you prefer."
"No, Tony, I really want you to take me, I need to feel that connection."
"All right, sweetheart, all right. What I need to know first it's if you've ever done it like this before."
"No. Like this never."
"My sorcerer, I'll show you the magic I can do," Tony whispered as he pushed him into the bedroom. "Leave it to me."
He quickly undressed them both, and asked him: "For the first time it's less painful if I take you from behind..."
"No, Tony, I want to see you, I need to see you."
Tony looked at him fondly, "Okay, so just lay back, we're going to take our time, make yourself as comfortable as you can." Stephen settled down and spread his legs, Tony groaned at the sight, more and more aroused about what was going to happen. Stephen looked a little nervous. But he said nothing and had an inviting smile as if he knew Tony couldn't hurt him. Tony took a tube of lubricant from the bedside table, sat between Stephen's thighs, coated his fingers and threw the tube next to him. He intended to make this moment as pleasurable as possible for his sorcerer, so he might as well have what he needed at hand. Slowly, Tony placed his index finger over Stephen's hole. He felt him hold his breath.
"Don't be afraid. If you're in pain we'll stop, and we'll continue or not. It's up to you."
"Continue." the sorcerer whispered.
Little by little, he pushed his finger in and saw the light eyes darken. Then he continued, seeing the different emotions pass over the sorcerer's face, fear, anticipation of pain, surprise and finally pleasure.
After a few minutes, Tony added a finger and waited for Stephen's reaction. He saw the muscles of the awesome face tighten slightly before the sorcerer made a slight movement of the pelvis and begged, "Move".
"At your command," breathed Tony, starting to move back and forth. "If you could see yourself Stephen, knowing that I am the one who give you this expression of pleasure, it's just..." Then he looked for Stephen's prostate and kept his eyes on Stephen's face until he brushed it for the first time.
"Wow..." The expression of pleasure that passed over Stephen's face at that moment made Tony harder, something he didn't think was possible.
"Do you like it?"
"Don't stop," Stephen whispered heatedly.
"And deprive me of this view? Oh no, I'm not going to stop." And he continued mercilessly hitting the ball of nerves every time his fingers went into Stephen, then added a third finger that Stephen barely seemed to notice as he surrendered himself entirely to the sensations that ran through him, to the pleasure that Tony gave him. Then Tony, not being able to hold on any longer, took out his fingers and applied lubricant to his throbbing cock.
"Tony...no...don't go"
"Shhh...here I am sweetheart."
He now placed himself in front of Stephen's entrance. "Talk to me Stephen," said Tony. "We can stop at any time, you say the word and we'll stop."
"No, Tony I trust you, I want you...in me." Stephen pleaded. Tony smiled at Stephen. Stephen caressed Tony's face with a soft, trembling hand and smiled back. Tony appreciated the warmth of Stephen's hand on his face. He pushed inside. My God, Stephen was tight.
"Are you in pain?"
Stephen whispered in a tense breath, "A little but it's bearable, please continue, Tony."
Tony hoped that Stephen's trust was not misplaced. He slowly pushed his entire length inside. It wasn't easy to go slowly. Stephen's warmth excited him so much. Tony continued to thrust carefully, watching every reaction on Stephen's tense face. He was so stunning like that. His mouth was making sounds, and despite the obvious intensity of the sensations he was experiencing, he continued to keep his eyes open and looked at Tony. Tony wanted to do everything in his power to be gentle. After a while, he started moving slowly back and forth and adjusted his hip to touch Stephen's prostate. Getting the moaning he was hoping for from Stephen's mouth, he gradually accelerated the movement, adapting to the rhythm Stephen was giving him. Stephen looked almost desperate. Tony felt his orgasm approaching as he continued his relentless movements, not wanting to come before his lover.
Stephen moaned louder: "Tony...I...I..."
"Come my sorcerer...let go."
Stephen let go and Tony thought again that he had never seen anything as beautiful as Stephen when he came. Then the heat took over his body. Stephen's spasms around him finished taking him to his release. And he came and it felt like it was endless, it was so intense.
Now they were both breathing heavily.
Stephen pulled him towards him for a deep kiss. My God, Tony thought that his second favorite thing after seeing Stephen's face in full orgasm was his kisses after sex.
Tony put his forehead on Stephen's and looked him in the eyes.
"How are you?"
"Indescribable Tony, I have no words. Thank you," Stephen replied, kissing the top of his head.
"No thank you Stephen," replied Tony. He snuggled against the sorcerer and fell asleep, letting himself be rocked by the rhythm of Stephen's heart under his ear.
Two days later, Tony was on a terrace sipping coffee with Pepper. They hadn't seen each other for 2 months as she was very busy with her activities as CEO of Stark Industry and her relationship with Rhodey. They needed to catch up a bit.
"You look great Tony. It's been a long time since I've seen you like this.
Pepper was his best friend, he wanted to tell her everything.
"I'm seeing someone."
Pepper had looked at him with an air of total surprise. "Really?"
"Yes."
"I'm happy for you, Tony, especially if she gives you that expression when you talk about her. Do I know her? How did you meet her? "
Tony had taken a deep breath and was about to tell Pepper the one thing she didn't know about him. Maybe he was going to make a mistake by saying something, but no that was Pepper, she had accepted everything from him a long time ago. He went for it and simply said, "You know him."
He looked at Pepper's reaction, saw her open her mouth as if she was going to say something and then close it again. Tony smiled at her. She smiled back.
"If he gives you that expression when you talk about him then I have nothing to say. Are you happy, Tony?"
"Yes, Pepper, yes." And as he said it, he realized it was true.
They went back to Tony's apartment, continued to catch up, they deliberately avoided subjects like The Avengers, not wanting to spoil the moment.
Later on, she stood up. "Well, I'm going Tony. I want to be there when Rhodey comes home, we're having trouble coordinating our schedules. I envy you sometimes."
"You're the boss, take a vacation when you need one, you've got enough assistants."
"I will Tony. Have a nice evening" She kissed him on the cheek and just then a portal opened and Stephen walked out.
Seeing Stephen's face, Tony froze. Pepper, understanding the situation in a flash, had a big smile for Tony. She walked past Stephen who didn't move an inch and said, "Doctor, we'll have to talk, but thank you already." She shook his arm before leaving.
"Stephen, I swear it's not what you think." Tony felt fear tightening its claws around his heart. "Pepper is my friend, my best friend, she's been in a relationship for four years with Rhodey, my other best friend who you also know. I swear there is no r-"
Stephen interrupted his rambling.
"Tony, please...stop, calm down, I know and I believe you. I just froze because there was someone there and I didn't know how to react. When I told you that I trusted you, it wasn't just words," whispered Stephen, who had approached and put his hands on Tony's cheeks.
Tony sighed out of relief. "Tony, look at me." Tony opened his eyes and saw Stephen's open gaze and everything went back to normal.
But Tony wanted to explain, "I didn't have time to tell her it was you I was seeing, but I told her I was seeing a man and that he made me happy. Although now I think she understood that it is you and you're good for a shovel talk very soon," Tony concluded compassionately.
"Do I make you happy?" Stephen had paused on that part of Tony's sentence.
"Yes Stephen you do."
"That's perfect because you have no idea how happy you make me."
Tony hugged him tightly, thinking that once again they had overcome a small hurdle and remembered a quote from a video game he loved: "Greatness comes from small beginnings."