Chapter 30

May 16th - 2009

.

The glowing television in Tony's lab illuminated the space with a faint blue hue as the voice of a reporter filled the room.

"Tonight's red-hot red carpet is right here at the Disney Concert Hall, where Tony Stark's third annual benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund has become the place to be for L.A.'s high society…"

Stephen sat perched on the edge of a nearby workbench, one leg crossed over the other as he flipped through a mystical tome. His eyes flicked briefly to the screen before returning to the intricate runes on the page. He wasn't particularly interested in high society or red carpets, but the corner of his mouth twitched faintly when the reporter mentioned Tony by name.

Tony, of course, was engrossed in the render of his new suit, the sleek image of the Mark III rotating on one of the holographic displays.

"JARVIS, we get an invite for that?" Tony asked casually, his attention only half on the TV.

"I have no record of an invitation, sir," JARVIS replied smoothly.

The reporter continued, "...hasn't been seen in public since his bizarre and highly controversial press conference. Some claim he's suffering from post-traumatic stress and has been bedridden for weeks. Whatever the case may be, no one expects an appearance from him tonight."

Tony chuckled softly, shaking his head as he leaned back against the workbench. "Oh, ye of little faith," he muttered under his breath.

Stephen glanced up from his book, raising an eyebrow. "Are you actually considering going to that?"

Tony grinned, pointing at the TV. "Why not? The world thinks I've been locked up in here, sulking. What better way to show them I'm alive and kicking than by making an appearance?"

"And by appearance, you mean grand spectacle," Stephen deadpanned.

"Obviously," Tony said, his grin widening.

JARVIS chimed in, "The render is complete, sir."

Tony turned to the holographic display, studying the new design of the golden suit with an appraising eye. "A little ostentatious, don't you think?"

"Indeed," JARVIS replied, his tone laced with dry humor. "What was I thinking? You're usually so discreet."

Tony smirked. "Tell you what. Throw a little hot-rod red in there."

"Yes, that should help you keep a low profile," JARVIS said.

The render adjusted, the suit now gleaming with a vibrant red-and-gold finish.

Tony's eyes lit up. "Hey, I like it. Fabricate it. Paint it."

"Commencing automated assembly," JARVIS replied. "Estimated completion time is five hours."

Tony leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased with himself. He turned his attention back to Stephen, who had returned to his book.

"Alright, Steph," Tony said, leaning forward with a glint in his eye. "How about it? You should come with me tonight."

Stephen didn't even look up. "No."

Tony blinked, clearly taken aback by the immediate rejection. "Wow. Not even a hesitation. Just 'no.'"

Stephen finally glanced up, his expression calm but firm. "You don't need me there and I don't think a cat would be appreciated at such high event. Besides, I'd rather not be gawked at by your high-society friends."

Tony smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Who said anything about being a cat? You won't even have to be a doctor tonight. No one will know it's you."

Stephen arched an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you propose I go unnoticed?"

Tony shrugged, his grin turning mischievous. "Easy. You're not Dr. Strange here. You're just a guy named Stephen. No one's going to care about a random plus-one."

Stephen hesitated, the faintest flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Tony noticed it immediately, his grin softening slightly.

"Come on," Tony said, his tone quieter now. "It's just one night. No cat form, no books, no responsibilities. Just... be a person for a couple of hours."

Stephen stared at him for a long moment, his blue eyes searching Tony's face. The billionaire's usual bravado was still there, but beneath it, there was something else—something genuine.

"You're serious," Stephen said finally.

"Dead serious," Tony replied. "I mean, you've been holed up here with me for weeks. You deserve a night out, Steph."

Stephen sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Fine. But if this turns into a circus, I'm blaming you."

Tony's grin returned full force. "Deal. And hey, don't worry—I'll make sure you look the part."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, already regretting his decision. "What does that mean?"

.

When Stephen stepped into the living room, Tony had to do a double take. Gone was the simple black tunic Stephen usually favored while working around the lab. In its place was a sharp, tailored suit in a deep navy blue, paired with a crisp white shirt and a dark tie.

Tony let out a low whistle, grinning. "Damn, Steph. Didn't know you cleaned up this well."

Stephen rolled his eyes, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket. "You're the one who insisted on picking this out."

"And I don't regret it for a second," Tony said, stepping closer. His grin softened slightly as he took in the sight of Stephen. "You look good."

Stephen met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was," Tony replied, his tone surprisingly sincere.

The moment lingered for a beat too long, the air between them charged with something unspoken. But before either of them could say anything, JARVIS's voice interrupted.

"Sir, the car is ready."

Tony clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Alright, let's do this. You ready, Steph?"

Stephen sighed, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Tony grinned, grabbing his jacket. "That's the spirit."

.

As they arrived at the Disney Concert Hall, the flash of cameras and the buzz of reporters filled the air. Tony stepped out of the car first, his signature smirk firmly in place as he waved to the crowd.

Stephen followed a moment later, keeping a step behind Tony as they made their way up the carpet. True to Tony's word, no one paid him much attention—though a few reporters glanced curiously at the tall, dark-haired man accompanying the billionaire.

Tony leaned over slightly, murmuring out of the corner of his mouth, "See? Told you no one would know it's you."

Stephen rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's just get this over with."

Tony chuckled, placing a hand on Stephen's shoulder as they made their way inside. Despite his usual bravado, there was something almost grounding about having Stephen there—a quiet presence in the chaos of Tony's public life.

And though Stephen would never admit it, he found himself oddly comfortable at Tony's side.

For the first time in a long while, neither of them felt entirely alone.

.

The atmosphere in the Disney Concert Hall was electric. The benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund was in full swing, with L.A.'s elite mingling under the soft glow of chandeliers and the flash of cameras outside. Inside, live jazz played softly in the background, the clinking of glasses and polite laughter filling the air.

Tony strode into the venue with his signature swagger, the suit jacket he'd only just put on already slightly rumpled. He glanced around, scanning the room. Walking a few paces behind him was Stephen, dressed impeccably. The red bandana of his cloak had been swapped for a pocket square, nestled neatly in his breast pocket.

Stephen was clearly out of his element, though he wore his usual composed expression. His eyes flicked over the crowd with mild disinterest, like he was cataloging faces rather than mingling.

"You know, you didn't have to come," Tony said over his shoulder, grinning.

Stephen arched an eyebrow. "You convinced me, remember? Something about being a 'person' for a night. Though I'm starting to think this was just an excuse to show off your latest tailored handiwork."

Tony glanced back at him, his grin widening. "Don't pretend you don't look good. You're killing it, Steph."

Stephen rolled his eyes but didn't respond, his gaze already sweeping the room again.

As they entered the main hall, the pair were immediately approached by Obadiah Stane, who was nursing a drink and seemed all too comfortable in the party atmosphere.

"Look who fell out of the sky," Obadiah said, spreading his arms theatrically. "What a surprise to see you here, Tony."

Tony grinned, gesturing to himself. "Just cabin fever. Thought I'd stretch my legs. I'll see you deeper inside later."

Obadiah's smile faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly, stepping closer to Tony. "Hey, listen. Take it slow, all right? I think I've got the board right where we want them."

"Sure, sure," Tony said casually. "Slow. Got it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm starving."

Stephen's sharp blue eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Obadiah, the subtle tension in the older man's tone not lost on him. But he said nothing, choosing instead to follow Tony further into the hall.

As Tony approached the bar, they immediately spotted Pepper standing near the edge of the crowd. She was hard to miss in her backless dress, which shimmered faintly under the warm lights.

"Hey, you look fantastic," Tony said as he sidled up to her.

Pepper turned, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Tony? What are you doing here?"

Tony smirked, grabbing a drink from a passing waiter. "Just mingling. You know, the usual. Speaking of which…" He gestured toward a man in a suit standing nearby. "I'm pretty sure that's your friend, Agent—uh…"

"Coulson," Pepper supplied, her expression deadpan.

"Right. The guy with the mouthful of an agency name."

Stephen, who had been lingering a few steps behind Tony, let out a faint sigh. "You're surprisingly bad with names for someone who's supposed to be a genius."

Tony grinned, glancing over his shoulder at Stephen. "I remember the ones that matter."

Pepper's gaze flicked to Stephen, her curiosity evident. "Stephen? Are you as…?"

Stephen inclined his head politely. "As Dr. Stephen Strange. Though tonight, I'm apparently just the guy who gets dragged along to crash parties."

Pepper raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but before she could ask anything further, Tony turned his attention back to her.

"Dance with me," Tony said suddenly, holding out his hand.

Pepper blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. "What? No. Absolutely not."

"Come on," Tony coaxed, his grin playful. "Just one dance. You look amazing. Might as well show it off."

Pepper sighed, reluctantly placing her hand in his. "Fine. But if this gets weird, I'm blaming you."

.

As Tony led Pepper onto the dance floor, Stephen took a deliberate step back, his arms crossing over his chest as he observed the crowd. His sharp gaze flicked between the faces in the room, analyzing and cataloging each person with a dispassionate curiosity. It wasn't that he cared about mingling with high society or watching Tony charm the room—he didn't.

Or at least, that's what he told himself.

The faint twinge of annoyance that bubbled beneath his composed exterior had nothing to do with the way Tony kept glancing over his shoulder mid-dance. Absolutely nothing. When the feeling became too persistent to ignore, Stephen turned his attention elsewhere, retreating into the safety of people-watching.

On the dance floor, Pepper couldn't help but notice Tony's wandering gaze. "Do you always multitask this much," she asked dryly, "or is this a special occasion?"

Tony blinked, his grin faltering for a split second. "What do you mean?"

Pepper arched an eyebrow. "You keep looking at Stephen."

Tony glanced over her shoulder, searching the crowd until he spotted Stephen near the edge of the room. The sorcerer stood like a shadow, his expression as neutral and unreadable as ever.

"Just making sure he's not glaring anyone into submission," Tony quipped.

Pepper chuckled softly, though her gaze remained sharp. "You're sure that's all it is?"

Tony smirked, leaning in slightly as they swayed to the music. "Come on, Pepper. You know you're my favorite dance partner."

Pepper laughed, finally relaxing as she realized there wasn't any flirtation or innuendo in his tone. Whatever Tony's interest in Stephen was, it wasn't interfering with their dance.

When the song ended, Tony led Pepper off the dance floor, his grin firmly back in place. As they approached Stephen, Tony couldn't resist teasing him.

"Well?" Tony asked, spreading his arms theatrically. "How'd I do?"

Stephen tilted his head, his expression neutral, but the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "You didn't step on her feet. That's a start."

Pepper smiled faintly, patting Tony's arm. "You'll survive the night, Tony. Just try not to get into trouble before it's over."

Stephen arched an eyebrow. "Considering who we're talking about, I'd say that's unlikely."

Tony laughed, throwing an arm around Stephen's shoulders as they moved toward the bar. "What can I say? I like keeping things interesting."

As Tony ordered drinks at the bar, Stephen's sharp gaze scanned the room again. He wasn't a fan of parties like this—too loud, too crowded, too… everything. He trailed slightly behind Tony and Pepper, blending into the shadows, when his eyes caught on someone in the crowd.

It was like the world around him faded into white noise.

Christine Palmer.

.

.

.

If you want to read more than 15 chapters and support me, my p@treon.com/JorieDS is your solution ;D