okay, i’ve never rewatched Infinity War before and I’m down the hole so I’m rewatching for the Doctor Strange bits
and I totally forgot about how absolutely domestic Stephen & Wong were at the beginning of this movie. Stephen going to go down to the deli to get them sandwiches.
and then Wong calling the “Hunk of Hulk of Burning Love” as “our” favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavor
so the problem with wong/stephen is that they’re both fucking dumb. DUMB!
firstly, the hurdle of them actually even realizing their attraction/feelings. like, they’re both repressed idiots. and the walls they’ve both put in place to keep from falling for each other, like wowzers. The propriety of it, for Wong, is huge. like, he’s there to protect the Sorcerer Supreme, not to be a distraction by fucking his brains out. Stephen is so good at just denying himself at this point that it’d barely register beyond a pang in his chest every time he thought of Wong.
secondly, once/if they understood their attraction/feelings. Who the fuck is going to actually act on it!??! because i don’t know!!! Again, Wong is like “I really shouldn’t. Its not right.” Then he’s got a few self esteem issues in this arena. And then you have Stephen, who is actually the most oblivious, passive and submissive of bottoms like pls help this boy. He doesn’t actually understand when there’s genuine interest aimed at him. And you think if he realizes... that he’s acting on it?!?! hahahahaha NO. Who takes initiative in any of Stephen’s romantic relationships?? Not Stephen. That’s for sure.
thirdly, how do you write for this clusterfuck without a 50k word introduction to Wong/Stephen?
Wong's hand catches Stephen's outstretched arm and he's hauled forward through an open portal. He collides with Stephen, who stumbles backward then falls to the floor of the Sanctum under Wong's weight and momentum. The portal winks out of existence as soon as Wong is entirely on the other side.
“We did it!” Stephen laughs a little wildly, out of breath. His hair is out of place and there is sweat on his brow.
Wong scrambles to his knees and finds himself chuckling along with Stephen. “It seems we did. Somehow.”
He's blindsided by Stephen grabbing at his shoulders and pulling Wong to Stephen's chest. The sorcerer's arms wrap around Wong and hold him there in a tight desperate hug. Making sure this was real.
“We did it,” he repeats, sounding unbelieving and relieved all at once. Stephen gives slack to the hug and lets his eyes roam over Wong's face. “I was worried you-- Are you hurt? I couldn't protect you and get the spell off at the same ti--”
“I am fine, Stephen,” Wong assures him as he grabs one of Stephen's hands and squeezes it to comfort his worry.
Stephen doesn't seem placated in that regard and his free hand moves from around Wong's shoulder to his face. His fingers brush briefly over Wong's jaw before they settle at Wong's neck. His voice is quiet and earnest when he says “I-- I couldn't do more, Wong.”
“I know,” Wong says softly, eyes intent on Stephen's. He did know. He was aware of Stephen's limitations when casting, especially spells that take all of his concentration. He also knew Stephen was aware Wong was capable of taking care of himself during those times.
Then he realizes. Stephen must be truly surprised they made it out in tact. He must know more so than Wong how close it had been.
Stephen watches him with a hard crease across his brow and a tight frown. He licks his lips before pulling his hand free of Wong's loose hold. He mirrors his other hand on the opposite side of Wong's neck then leans in.
Their lips meet in what is an insistent press from Stephen until he quickly lessens the pressure as if immediately becoming unsure of what he was doing. His fingers tighten against Wong's skin, trying to pull him closer and its a request Wong cannot deny. He leans closer and tries to respond to Stephen's hesitant mouth with a more direct approach but Stephen leans away with a small gasp.
“Stephen,” Wong breathes. He's unsure of what he wants to say or do in the wake of Stephen's kiss but he curls his fingers into the fabric of Stephen's tunic.
“I-- I -- I'm sorry?” Stephen looks down, then at Wong's mouth before looking away again.
“Don't,” Wong shakes his head. “Do not say that.”
Stephen looks back at him when he speaks and the corner of his mouth quirks. “I'd apologize for that if you hadn't just forbidden it.”
Wong huffs and rolls his eyes. He leans closer, inching nearer and nearer until Stephen finally tracks the movement and catches on. His eyes light in realization and he lets out a soft breath of surprise before meeting Wong for another kiss.
Stephen blinks rapidly as heavy rain drops fall across his face and soak his hair down atop his skull. He pulls his cloak around him then raises a hand to wipe across his brow, as if that would help alleviate the downpour across his face.
He watches silently as Wong continues to stand motionless at the bottom of the stoop. As the storm had thundered its way nearer, Wong had become quieter than usual. Stephen had found him at different windows throughout the day, staring out at the dark clouds rolling across the sky like they were the key to something he needed. His face had been severe, his mouth turned in a hard frown and his eyes distant.
Stephen hadn’t asked what was bothering Wong this time. He had asked in the past. He had been concerned by the sudden changes in Wong’s mood and demeanor. Wong usually carried himself with such confidence. With such calm assuredness that the turn toward melancholy had sent Stephen into a state of worry.
Yet today, in this moment, Stephen only watches with a sad twist to his mouth and a strong itch to wrap his arms around the other man, but he knows the sentiment will be unwanted. He knows Wong will shrug him off and find fault in his own internal struggles.
But the rain has turned cold and Wong has only turned his face to it, no sign that he’s bothered by it at all. His eyes are closed and he seems content to stand there remembering but his lips are pale and clothes are clinging heavy to his body.
He could easily shield them both from the deluge but that’d set Wong off more than pointing out his behavior. Stephen’s fingers twitch and he rubs his hands together before taking a deep breath and one step at a time descending the stoop to stand beside Wong on the sidewalk.
Wong doesn’t seem to notice him at first until he suddenly lets out a soft puff of a laugh. Stephen turns his eyes to Wong’s face and sees him still facing up into the rain with his eyes closed.
“You will freeze out here,” Wong says, ever worried about Stephen’s physical well being. Stephen frowns and turns his eyes away, staring down the deserted street. Everybody else has realized the idiocy of being out in a storm like this.
“If I am not mistaken, you as well are susceptible to the forces of nature.”
Wong makes a dismissive noise then looks down at his feet. Stephen notices Wong’s shoulders rise and fall heavily with a deep sigh.
“Storms like these,” Wong says quietly then pauses. He runs a hand over his scalp and sighs. “I think of my home before... when it is like this.”
Stephen feels the urge to wrap him up and take him into the warmth of their home again. He instead glances at the side of Wong’s face and quietly says, “I know.”
“I don’t often think of then. Before all of this. Before this path. It seems I get overwhelmed when I do.”
Its hard to hear him over the rain smacking into growing puddles and Stephen feels a shiver run down his spine at the cold. He remains there on planted feet and hums in thought. “Is that how you see your life? As a “before” and an “after”? A life you only recognize because a sudden event will remind you it was real?”
Wong blinks up at him and nods. “Yes,” he says simply. Then he wraps his arms around himself, as if suddenly realizing how cold and wet he is. “Is that an odd way of living with it, you think?” He wonders briefly if Wong usually looks at himself as a fully formed adult who was ready for the path that had been chosen for him before birth. And if the idea of ever being a child laughing and running in the rain was a life that never happened.
Stephen does put a hand on Wong’s shoulder then. “No, not at all.” He smiles and lightly runs his thumb across Wong’s cheek. “Can we go inside now? I can’t feel my toes.”
Wong laughs as he turns back toward the Sanctum, “Yes, I am done wallowing like some sorcerers I know.”
Stephen, in the middle of conjuring a shield to block the rain as they walk up the steps, gasps in offense. “I do not wallow.”
“Defensive. Who said I was speaking of you?”
Stephen rolls his eyes as Wong chuckles. He feels Wong bump his shoulder against him and smiles fondly, following him into their home.