-Unbetaed and a non native speaker so please kindly point out any mistakes
-Warning: incorrect mention and use of engineering and medicine, language, implication of torture

They started to work after lunch.

"What're you working on?"

Tony was tempted to say these were gloves for Stephen but he didn't dare to tell him in case they didn't work as intended. He didn't want disappoint him more. He didn't think he could endure more of those hurt puppy look."It's just a prototype for someone."

"Must be a good friend."

He nearly said barely as he didn't know Stephen that much. Instead, he said, "We respect each other. He doesn't take any of my bullshit and he speaks his mind." He refrained from saying unless when it was related to how to save universe. "Quite a stand-up guy."

"You seem to like this friend a lot then. Lucky guy whoever he is."

"You have no idea," Tony thought bitterly. He cleared his throat. "Enough chit chat. I usually talk to myself when I work so just ignore me."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just listen."

"So you actually talk to yourself with or without me so I'm equal to empty air."

"Hey, don't take it personally. I usually have more brilliant ideas when I have an audience. Even Bruce realizes that and he lets me rant while he just passively listens."

"Can I actively listen instead?"

"If you can keep up with me. Sure."

He started to describe what he had done so far, the difficulties he faced, and what he had done so far to solve them. Stephen listened intently. Sometime he seemed confused but, to his credit, he didn't interrupt Tony's flow of thought.

"What I don't understand is how can I solve the overheating problem. The gloves get too warm and they will burn the hands of the wearer."

Stephen raised his right hand slowly like he was in a classroom. "Sorry to interrupt you but I have a vague idea that could help."

Tony shrugged. There was no harm in listening as he had hit a brick wall for days. "Sure. And you don't need to raise your hand. There are only two of us."

"I might interrupt your thought so I just raised my hand just in case so you could ignore me. I'm just wondering whether my idea is right. I know it's stupid but I just remember something I've read. Can't you use some sort of compressor to throw away the heat to the atmosphere? I think it's called Reverses Carot Cycle. It might be nothing because a compressor can't be that small."

Tony went to squeeze Stephen's shoulder. He refrained himself from mussing the doctor's hair. That bang that always fell on his face just begged to be mussed. "You're a genius. Of course, it's based on the second law of thermodynamics. I was thinking about all those complex algorithms and ignoring the basic. Of course I can make a nano compressor. Have you met me?"

Stephen smiled like he had eaten the best ice cream in the world. Tony liked that smile because Stephen was often grim even without his memory, The smile made him look much younger.

"I'm glad I can help. I feel like I've been a burden for you.I've been useless. You don't really need a doctor here since you have Dr Cho."

Tony frowned. Stephen had no idea what he had sacrificed during that so called Infinity War. Now he was feeling useless. It was so unfair on so many levels. "Stephen, you're never useless. I know you don't remember what you've done before to save the universe but believe me, the universe owes you at least one or two. Even now, you're not useless. It's true that we have Helen but she really needs her time off so it's good that you act as the replacement doctor. You also keep me company here since the rest of the Avengers seem to go vacation elsewhere."

The doctor just stared unblinkingly at him. "Really?"

"Yes. I won't lie to you about something like this, especially at this state. You know what. It's time for a break. Do you want more ice cream?"

"Christine said I shouldn't take too much ice cream. I should listen to her and I should know it myself since I'm a doctor."

"Do you always listen to what people tell you?"

"Yes. If it's for my own good."

The billionaire sighed."I want to complain that you shouldn't listen to everything people tell you to do but again I've a bad feeling that Pepper is going to explode soon as she hasn't done it for three days. So perhaps I should let you listen to Christine. Tiramisu perhaps?"

Stephen brightened. "I know it's not good to eat too much sweet but Christine didn't specifically say no to tiramisu."

This time Tony really mussed the doctor's hair. Stephen looked scandalized but at least he smiled and put the bang back into his face. "You're so cute when you're being rebellious."

"I'm not cute."

This tradition lasted for the whole week. Tony was glad that although Stephen was not interested in engineering, he understood the basic principles of what he read, even thought he might not know the advance applications. He acted as a good sounding board and always could point out what Tony had missed. Who would have guessed that Doctor Stephen Strange knew physics besides medicine and sorcery?

Of course like every good thing that came that happened to Tony or any other Avengers, it didn't last long. Something was always abound to go wrong. Of course Tony didn't know that as he started the day much earlier for his standard which was around 11.03 am. He just finished brunch with Stephen. He was so used in dumping all his thoughts which might not even be related to engineering. Stephen would either listen attentively and remained quiet when he didn't know what to say or he would give some realistic solutions might not work because the doctor didn't have enough experience but the principles were sound. Who knew that for a guy who used to give cryptic answers (Tony still couldn't forget "We're in the endgame now" and "There was no other way") could be one of the most practical and rational people? Well, perhaps because he was a neurosurgeon first before moving to Hogwart.

Tony was soldering a motherboard and telling Stephen about Pepper negotiating with Elon Musk to secure his renewable energy battery but with some modification from Stark Industry.

"Of course he doesn't want my intervention. Doesn't believe that I could improve the efficiency by 35%. How could he not believe me? Tony Stark- genius, billionaire, former playboy, and philanthropist."

"Relax. He doesn't know you as well as I do." He scrunched his eyebrows. "Well, in the past few days anyway. I guess I know you a bit better than Mr Musk. I believe if you approach him personally and convince him with your brilliant ideas and charming personality, he will agree with your modification."

Tony put down his soldering tool, lifted up his faceplate, and beamed. "Did you just call me brilliant and charming? I want that in writing in case you refuse to admit it once you regain your memory. Or even better, Friday, did you record everything?"

Stephen rolled his eyes. Tony realized that the doctor hung out with him too much to even pick up his mannerism.

"I certainly have, Sir. As usual. You don't even need to ask." Friday sounded indignant.

"Come on, Fri. I didn't mean that you were useless. I just want to savor this moment."

"Sir, I think your carpet is on fire."

"Way to change the subject, Friday. Not subtle at all."

Stephen had stepped back a few paces. His eyes were wide with fear."That indeed is on fire."

The ever helpful Dummy chose that time to spray Tony and the carpet with a fire hydrant, in the process, it knocked a glass of water on top of the burning soldering iron. Electricity started to cackle. "No, no, no, no" Stephen wailed..

Hi wail wrenched at his heart but he needed to prioritize to,minimize the danger first. "Friday, please turn off the electricity in this room." Luckily the fire had been put off by Dummy despite the mishap. He pressed the off button of the solder. "Friday, please turn on the electricity again."

He accessed the damage. The carpet and the leg of a table were burned. He shrugged. This room needed new decoration anyway..

He then remembered Stephen. He looked up and the doctor was nowhere in sight. "Where is Stephen?"

"He ran to his room. You might need to be tactful if you decide to go into his room, Sir."

"Tactful? Have you met me?"

"That's what I'm afraid of, Sir. But I think your tactless presence might be better than no presence at all." She sounded wistful.

"That's not ominous at all. You should consider writing horror novels.." Tony joked to cover up his fear.

"I'll keep that in mind, Sir, but babysitting you is a full time job,"

"That's what Pepper is for."

He approached Stephen's room and knocked softly. After a few knocks, there was still no response. "Stephen, it's me, the charming and brilliant Tony, I'm going in."

There still was no response so he opened the door softly. He didn't see the doctor anywhere. He was sure that Friday was not mistaken about his location.

"Under the bed, Sir."

Tony's heart fell into his stomach. This was bad.

He approached the empty and tidy (Stephen seemed to like to keep things tidy) bed and crouched down.

Stephen lied under the bed in fetal position. He also covered up his head with his hands and kept saying, "Please don't electrocute me again. I'll be good."

Tony swallowed thickly. His worst fear came true. He remembered Dr Cho mentioned about "burns which I believe come from electrical equipment". Of course, he was an idiot and kept playing with electrical equipment in front of a torture victim.

Notes:

-RIP Stan Lee. You and your work will be remembered by your fans.
-Happy Birthday Doctor Stephen Strange. November 18th is the comic birthday date for Stephen. I feel slightly guilty to put this chapter up on his birtday. Ah well, I'll write some fluff later on in some other stories when I have the idea. This chapter was supposed to appear in the previous chapter but I got sidetracked.
-The laws of thermodynamic are here in case you're interested: courses dot lumenlearning dot com/boundless-chemistry/chapter/the-laws-of-thermodynamics/
What Stephen said was mentioned here: toppr dot com/guides/chemistry/thermodynamics/applications-of-thermodynamics/
I often see fics that Stephen was clueless in anything physics or engineering. I just thought that for basic knowledge, someone smart like Stephen should be able to understand. It's just the applications and advanced techniques that need an expert like Tony. It's just my headcanon anyway so it could be wrong.
-The symptoms of PTSD can be found here: theoakstreatment dot com/ptsd/signs-and-symptoms/
-Thoughts and comments?