No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 2

Chapter 36: Sunset (Part 6)

Tony had his work space all clean, cleared and organized to his liking. He spent most of the day clearing out a ton of old relics, and he figured the training grounds could use some new toys. He brought some of them up, but after that, Tony spent the rest of his time avoiding everyone.

The inventor had music playing from his suit, and he was in a zone. Tony designed an amulet for Victor based off of the Eye of Agamotto that Stephen Strange always wore upon his chest. Rumor has it, Agamotto himself created the "eye," and Tony was pretty inspired by the interesting details. He decided to revamp the design for the baby Strange, and his amulet was equipped to house three elements.

Tony was calculating a thing or two when he glanced over at the steep set of stairs. It sounded like someone was welcoming himself into his lab, so Tony tried to hide a smile… Steve couldn't believe how steep the steps had become. He didn't remember them being that steep, so it took him a while to make his way down to Tony.

Steve even stumbled a little toward the end. The soldier felt huge as he navigated downward, or suddenly claustrophobic. He reached Tony's domain and the soldier took note about how warm it was. Tony was always super warm. Steve pondered that as he approached the work table. He expected a snarky comment as soon as he arrived. A sharp comment from Tony didn't happen, for once, so Steve took another look around his space.

Visiting hours were yet to be determined. Tony wanted to say that as soon as he saw Steve's face, but he didn't. He just watched the blonde as he entered his work space. Steve naturally owned the room, so Tony forced his focus back toward Victor's amulet.

"Hello, Tony."

"Hey Steve. What's up?"

…

Tony couldn't help himself. His grin began to show up strong when he tossed out the what's up line. Steve studied Tony's vibe and of course his expression. A grin started forming over the soldier's face as well. He wasn't going to respond to any sort of "what's up" sort of talk..

"How are you?"

Steve preferred to cut into the meat of the situation. He wanted to know what Tony was thinking, how he was feeling, and how they could reconfigure what was happening. The blonde saw himself in a very committed relationship with the person that was preoccupying himself with some, mystic amulet. Steve noticed that Tony was almost finished with it. Good grief..

"I'm doing good. I can't say the same about you and you're bestie. You two are a hot mess."

Tony no longer wanted any part of it. The smaller brunette felt he had been entertaining Bucky's bullshit for long enough. Steve was absolutely crazy if he thought that there was going to be any further development than what Steve had witnessed. The soldier had to nod. He agreed that his behavior, and Bucky's behavior was getting out of control..

Steve planned to have a discussion with Bucky in the future, and it was very clear to him that Tony didn't want to be involved. Steve picked up an interesting little trinket. He did his best to change the subject. Tony was right, and Steve didn't want to continue involving him in the situation. He began to see and really feel that Tony didn't deserve it. Steve understood he should have said something to Bucky a long time ago..

"Tony, do you happen to know Ezekiel's birthday? I overheard Victor asking about it today."

The subject was expertly changed, and Tony held a puzzled look on his face. Did HE happen to know the day Obadiah Stane's precious bundle of joy was brought into the world? Tony kinda laughed. His laugh was playful, and Steve was happy to hear it. The golden boy was standing beside Tony at that point, but he still kept himself at a gentlemen's distance.

Steve Rogers was a smooth talker when he wanted to be, and Tony could already tell that he was on a bit of a mission. Tony had a shrug to his shoulders when he responded to Steve, then the two of them kind of migrated in. Just a bit.

"Why would I have that information?"

Steve had to smile. He had a nice way of answering Tony's response, but he decided to go with an answer that was just on the side of being sarcastic. Tony loved it when Steve Rogers wore his sassy pants. It amused the feisty inventor like it was nobody's business.

"Well, Tony, you're nosy. That's how I know you have that information. You're by far the nosiest and the most informed person I've ever met."

Steve dropped his honest response, and Tony loudly laughed out into the room around them. HAH. How funny. Tony lived for being sassed at by Steve and complimented by that golden thing at the same time. Steve was very aware that Tony responded well to being complimented, so, he watched Tony toy around with his bottom lip.

"Knowing that information is very important to Victor. I could tell when he asked Bucky about it today, so.."

Sooooo… hand it over rover. Steve was convinced that Tony Stark made it his business to know everything there is to know about Ezekiel Stane. He touched the work table again, and Tony noticed that Steve was right there by his side. That smooth talker sure moved his way around the workspace. Tony's temp flared up a bit after he noticed how easy he had become, for Steve.

Tony looked down at Steve's hands. That "innocent" sunshine boy was behaving as if he hadn't just crossed the room. Tony pondered it all as he gave Steve's distraction attempt some additional thought. He planned to have a conversation with Victor once the amulet was finished. Tony inwardly decided that he would answer that question, for Victor, when the two of them had their discussion.

"I'll tell Victor in a couple days. Deal?"

"Deal. Thank you."

The two of them went to shake hands on it, but they both stopped before their hands touched. Oh yeah, Donna Strange had her little rule set up for everyone at the Kamar taj. Outside their training, no one could touch, apparently? Tony studied Steve's hand for a sec. He briefly thought about Vishanti jurisdiction, and about how much power the Ancient One actually had when it came down to the Vishanti trio.

Steve pondered jurisdictional lines in that moment as well. His body constantly channeled a Vishanti entity named Oshtur, while Tony channeled a mystical being called Hoggoth. Jurisdictional lines were kind of a big deal within the Mystic Arts, so Steve smiled again when he gently touched Tony's hand. Tony wasn't surprised at all when that yummy hand touched his.

The two shook on Tony's plan to give Victor the birthday news, then that smooth talker brought Tony closer to him. He kissed Tony, and the advance was allowed. Steve kept ahold of Tony's hand as well, and he started saying something about memory lane. The soldier boy said he was reminded of a couple things about their relationship, and naturally, Tony asked him about it when he got a chance.

That smooth talker always got what he wanted, so it took Tony a while to hear an explanation.

Chapter: END

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