There's only one place where the dead is allowed to sneak into, if only for a little while. It's a place where Tony's soul often wanders to, always to say "I forgive you" or even sometimes "I miss you, too".
In that place he learns about Stephen, about the hardships of his past, and the possibilities of his future. About his guilt, his hard-earned wisdom, and his well-hidden compassion. But most importantly, here Tony learns about Stephen's love for him, blossomed through the fourteen million six hundred and five lifetimes he peered into. And here, bit by bit, Tony falls for Stephen, too.
Why Stephen? He sometimes asks. Why is he only allowed to go to Stephen? Why not Pepper? Or Morgan?
Apparently, his clever mind tells him, it's because somehow, Pepper and Morgan let go of him already. They love him still, and miss him still, but they made peace with the fact that Tony is gone now, and they would have to move on, even if only with his memories, or better, his legacy. And Tony is glad they did.
But apparently, Stephen has not. And after a while, Tony is not sure if Stephen ever will.
There's only one place the dead is allowed to sneak into, a place where Tony wishes he could linger in, where he could keep Stephen with him. But that place is a lover's dream, and no matter how much he craves for Stephen's company, he couldn't keep the man asleep forever.
He couldn't deprive the world of its Sorcerer Supreme.
So he will be content to share. He must be. Stephen's waking watchful eyes for Pepper and Morgan, for all his dearly beloved, and the rest of the universe. And then later at the end of the day, when the world is safe and those enchanting mystic iridiscent orbs ready to rest, Tony can claim Stephen for his own.
Together, in their own universe, inside of Stephen's dream
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