Author’s Note: this is pretty lengthy. Not sure what the exact length is but it’s long. Enjoy!
What if T'Challa and Tony had been married for 10+ years before Civil War? Like imagine Tony seeing T'Challa and comforting him after the death of his father and helping him as he copes with the responsibility he now has to take. But they’re in the middle of a disagreement and T'Challa, in a rush of anger after finding out about Barnes, is unable to comfort Tony.
Tony is used to being pushed aside on multiple occasions but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt any less. This is his husband for God’s sake.
Then the airport battle happens and Tony has to deal with the guilt of dragging Peter Parker –WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18. TONY THOUGHT STEVE WOULDN’T FIGHT A KID. APPARENTLY NOT– and then he has to accept the fact that Steve and Barnes are gone. Tony has another weight to deal with as T'Challa is not there to comfort him and he goes on a sleeping binge for the next three nights. When Ross calls him and tells him where the other Avengers are, Tony immediately heads to the raft. He needs to stop Rogers before he does something stupid.
He knew. He knew. He knew. That’s all he thinks as he is overrun with emotion and attacks Barnes and Steve. When Steve doesn’t hit his shield into his chest one last time, Tony is reminded where it came from. That’s my father’s shield. You don’t deserve it
He waits for two weeks in Siberia as no one comes to save him. He knows Peter is worried but at least he won’t have to bear the weight of Tony’s mistakes any longer. Tony wishes he was dead because that would be better than being in this bunker with an open wound he had closed more than 15 years prior.
When help arrives, Tony is on edge. He eyes all of the equipment around him warily. He doesn’t trust anything they poke him with but he convinces himself that this is to help him.
It takes work –3 long months – before he is able to calm himself in high-stress situations. He calls his husband after he feels strong enough to do so.
He does not expect the way T'Challa sounds so irritate with him and decides that even his husband isn’t too fond of him anymore. He has Peter who absolutely adores him but that’s pretty much it. He sighs when the phone call ends and decides he will call again when things aren’t so hectic.
He spends a considerable amount of time working on amending the accords and trying to get Ross behind bars. It’s no easy feat but within 9 months, Tony has successfully turned the Accords into a document that is far more substantial than it had been when it was first introduced.
This is when he decides to call T'Challa. When he does, he is met with a far more accepting tone than the one he had been on the other side of when he first called. T'Challa sounds genuinely worried about him and Tony reassures his husband he is fine. He has overworked himself though, and decides that he will visit T'Challa in Wakanda.
When he arrives in Wakanda he is, as always, blown away at the welcome he receives. Although typically most foreigners aren’t welcomed or accepted in Wakanda because of the strong connection with tradition, Tony has a special connection with the people of Wakanda. He loves them because of their advancements. He loves them because of their diversity. He loves them because of their unity. He really just loves everything about Wakanda and its people.
Okoye is surprised but is quick to smile and welcome Tony. “Hello Mr. Stark. It is great to have you back here in Wakanda after being away for so long.” “It’s good to be back. Where’s the Kitty?” He asks and Okoye directs him to the tech lab where Shuri and T'Challa are looking over some new schematics. He smiles as he notices how deep into their conversation they are.
He clears his throat and both of their heads shoot up and Shuri’s face breaks into a smile. “Tony!” she yells and runs to give him a hug. He asks her how things are going and she bursts into a long explanation about what's happened with Killmonger and everything else since he last visited and he listens to her every word. He understands what it feels like to be ignored by those he could have considered his friends. He doesn’t want anyone to go through that the way he did so he actively listens to her.
When she finishes, Tony notices T'Challa is no longer in the lab with them. He bids Shuri goodbye and heads to T'Challa’s personal office. When he enters, T'Challa is sitting behind the desk looking through somepapers. Tony decides to sit across from him and wait until the King decides to look up. When all of the papers have been looked through, T'Challa looks up at Tony and a soft smile crosses his face. He greets his husband and for the next few days, they are spending as much time together as possible.
On the third day, Tony is just wandering the halls of the castle when he comes across a room he had never seen before. He decides it must be harmless and takes the risk of opening it.
His breathing automatically speads up and he is suddenly back in Siberia when he sees the Rogue Avengers sitting in the room seemingly enjoying life. Tony is suddenly winded and can’t explain it. His mind is unable to catch up to his body and he doesn’t close the door soon enough and right when he closes it, it is reopened and Steve Rogers is standing in front of him with a growing beard. He says his name and Tony can’t breathe. He is being squished back into his suit wishing Steve had hit the arc reactor with the shield one last time.
Tony stumbles back as his heart pounds in his ear and he runs the map his mind created to get back to his and T'Challa’s room. He is aware of the fact that Rogers continues to call his name long after he is gone but he doesn’t care. He slams the door shut behind him and leans against it. Breathing heavily, Tony closes his eyes and behind to count to ten.
Damn him. Always messing up something when things are going good. Tony immediately thinks why does T'Challa have criminals in his home. He was working for the accords. What side is he on?
In a moment Tony is emptying his stomach in the toilet because his head is racing faster than his heart is. He stands up and cleans his mouth and tries to calm himself (unsuccessfully) and heads out to find T'Challa. He isn’t surprised to find his husband sitting his desk in his office. He opens the door harshly and T'Challa’s head snaps up. “Why are they here?” Tony asks. His voice deadly as his words come out sharp and low. “Tony.” T'Challa tries to soothe and Tony isn’t having it. “T'Challa. I’m going to ask you once more and only once. Why are they here?”
“I agreed to allow them stay here while Barnes was receiving treatment.” T'Challa sighs after making his statement. “Do you even support the Accords?” “Of course I do beloved. Of course.” T'Challa stands and makes his way to Tony. Tony backs up and puts his right hand up. “No.”
Tony looks at the vibranium double-band on left hand’s ring finger. Shaking his head softly. “No,” he repeats and with quivering hands, takes the ring off. “You clearly don’t care that I, your husband, almost died at their hands. Twice.” Tony stops abruptly and drops the ring on the floor.
Within the hour, Tony is gone from Wakanda. In his mind he won’t return.
It takes three years, however, for him to return. When threat is ever-present, he has to bring the ‘ol gang back together for 'the last ride.’ Tony doesn’t care about them. He just wants to protect the world but of course his incessant 'husband’ continues his efforts.
(Tony sent divorce papers to T'Challa but the King sent them back unsigned)
Tony is dead set on ignoring T'Challa because T'Challa clearly didn’t care about him when he was dying.
