Author's Note: I have good news and bad news. Let's start with the bad news, but it isn't really that bad.
Not that bad news- I'm terrible with schedules and deadlines. Don't expect consistent chapter length or updates.
Now for the fun part!
Good news part one- You get this thing!
Good news part two- Fully established plot outline!
Good news part three- I have a few ideas for the classic post credits scenes at the end of this!
"Look behind you, Tony. We have a visitor."
Tony whipped around to see a chuckling Stan hovering behind him, sitting at his eye level in a way that Morgan would surely describe as 'criss-cross applesauce'. Tony let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding in, sighing in relief.
"Can you not do that, please? I get too much of being snuck up on from Red over here, and the Scare Tony Stark Club has a waiting list of about five hundred people." Tony said.
Stan smiled. "I can try, Stark. Good to see you two settling in. Great work with the platypus, that's exactly the kind of thing we want to see."
"We?" asked Natasha, not missing a beat.
"The stone and I," Stan explained. "You've got new abilities to be used under a set of very specific rules, and Tony's already giving both of you a great example of using them. Simple, a subtle reminder, and somewhat out of the ordinary- as in discernible from everyday happenings. Not to mention the intention behind it." His eyes were glittering with amusement. "Good work so far, but the question is: What's next?"
Tony and Natasha looked at each other with uncertainty, but then Tony tilted his head at her, sure that she had an idea in mind. She nodded, drew in a breath, and started explaining. "While I was in the gym eavesdropping on Wilson and Barnes, I found out that Clint is back home on the farm. And just like Steve, he's retired. My guess is that he's not going to be in New York anytime soon."
Stan nodded in understanding, waiting for her to continue.
"What I had in mind was working together for another day or two and then splitting up to see our families, with weekly check-ins back here at the compound every Sunday at dusk. That way we can get more done on our own with the people we're closest to," Natasha finished.
"I'm liking it so far, but we have a lot to talk about later, Nat," said Tony. "Stan the man over there? Any comments from the peanut gallery?"
"Now there's a good idea. I wholeheartedly approve of having a good, solid plan like that one, but the potential problems with staying far apart really brings up something I've been meaning to talk to you about. Your new abilities."
Tony stiffened, still wary of magic in general and expecting a scolding. On the other hand, Natasha was leaning forwards, intrigued.
"What about 'em?" Tony asked.
"The stone and I have been further discussing the terms of your agreement. Don't worry, there haven't been any revisions that would put you at a distinct disadvantage, but I do have to elaborate on a few expanded parts. First of all, your energy reserves regenerate at the start of a new day. That doesn't mean your wake up time every day, but by then they'll be ready."
"So you're telling me that Cinderella's ghostly magic clock resets at midnight? Sounds like a fairy tale, but I'll take it." Tony said.
"The situation we're in is practically a fairy tale." Natasha remarked.
Stan smiled. "My thoughts exactly."
Tony snickered. "Do I get to be the damsel in distress? I can't get to my shining armor this time around."
"Fall out of your tower and I'll catch you," said Natasha, smirking. Tony pretended to faint into her arms.
"Alright, you two. Now for a more serious matter. Your new abilities and the deadline," said Stan. Tony opened his eyes and shot out of Natasha's grip. Both of them gave Stan their full attention with guarded looks on their faces. "The stone has agreed to grant you a grace period before the countdown begins to figure things out. Your plan has already given you a head start on that, but I'd still take the time to get back into the swing of things and practice your cool new powers."
"New powers?" asked Natasha.
"The stone and I have agreed on giving both of you teleportation from person to person and a telepathic link with one another in addition to the interaction you can have to the outside world. Both of these don't require nearly as much energy drawn from the stone, as it's much easier for the stone to perform person-to-person actions because they're close enough to the soul-to-soul actions of its domain," Stan explained.
"Tony here has already figured out how to interact with the outside world and ask for favors from the stone. It's just a matter of putting enough determination or push behind your thoughts for the stone to hear your call, and maybe reasoning with it a little bit for certain tasks like summoning a platypus. From there you just have to guide the energy or magic or whatever you want to call it with thoughts and feelings. You'll probably get good enough with it to do things almost automatically, like moving things."
"And the grace period? How will we know when it's over?" asked Tony.
"As for the grace period, you have a few days before the deadline is set. I will be there in person to tell you that it has ended when it's over. Just think of me as the middleman between you and the stone. Any questions?"
Natasha considered it, but then shook her head. Tony followed suit and then gasped. Much to their surprise, Stan had started glowing orange and quickly faded away, then thought better of it, reappearing. Tony jumped and gasped again. Natasha snorted at his antics but gave Stan a quizzical look.
"One more thing that I almost forgot. If somebody manages to figure it out before anybody else and could spill the beans, you can appear to them, explain the deal, and tell them to keep their lips sealed. After that, they can permanently see your ghost form. It only applies to whichever one of you is found out about, but from there it's easy for that person to figure out you're probably not the only one. See ya later, kids. Call if you need me!"
"Bye Stan! Thank you!" said Tony cheerfully, waving at Stan. Natasha gave Stan a respectful nod and a wave goodbye before he disappeared. She turned to Tony and raised an eyebrow.
"You're in a remarkably good mood," Natasha said.
"Uh, hello? A freaking grace period? Cool new powers to test out? C'mon, Nat! Let's go prank someone!"