(MCU) Arcs Collide: Chapter 31 – Strange Wedding

Chapter 31 – Strange Wedding

Summary: Stephen Strange's wedding and Tony deals with a party crusher.

Tony stood behind Stephen as the man kept rechecking his suit in the mirror of their suite. Stephen had burned all his money on treatment before joining his cult (yes, Tony still considered it a cult, no matter how much Strange denied it). So, Tony pitched in for the wedding.

Stephen was one of his oldest friends, and Christine had become a good friend and an interesting person to talk to since they met, so it was Tony’s pleasure to help out. Especially with the condition that he wouldn’t have to deal with any of the wedding planning that had gone on for the last few months.

Tony still remembered the day Stephen asked him to be his best man…

Flashback

Tony was working in his lab when Friday’s voice called him. “Boss, Stranger Danger wants to talk to you. He’s outside the door.”

Tony raised an eyebrow but replied with a distracted, “Let him in.”

He kept typing on the keyboard, his eyes locked on the holographic screen in front of him as equations scrolled by. Stephen entered the lab and, noticing Tony was busy, simply looked around without interfering.

Tony loved this about his new team. The old one would’ve barged in without permission, demanded to know what he was working on, and then expected him to drop everything and handle their demands immediately.

Tony finished typing, and the screen changed to say, Simulation running…

He turned to the sorcerer with a smile. “How can I help our resident cult member today?” The red cloak left Strange’s shoulder, floated in front of Tony, and waved with its corner. Tony shook his head in amusement before saying, “Hello to you too, magic carpet. Still no call from Genie?”

The flying fabric seemed to shake and double over in laughter from Tony’s joke before it floated back to Stephen’s shoulder.

Stephen looked tiredly at the cloak, then returned his gaze to Tony and said, “I have a question I need to ask you.”

Tony raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Well, don’t keep me on the edge of my seat. Go ahead, Stranger Danger.”

Stephen gave a short nod before blurting out, “Will you be my best man?”

The smirk faded from Tony’s face, replaced with two raised eyebrows. He blinked twice and asked, “Sorry, run that by me again—I misheard.”

The man in the robes snorted. “I asked if you would be my best man.”

Tony shook his head, still in disbelief. “Why the hell are you asking me and not Wong?”

Stephen looked like a shiver had run down his spine, and he answered in a terrified voice, “Christine vetoed it outright. If Wong were my best man, he’d insist the theme be Beyoncé.”

Tony snickered. He’d met Wong a few times, and from what he knew of the man, Stephen was absolutely right.

Tony shook his head before smiling. “I’d love to—under one condition.”

Stephen raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Tony nodded and said with a serious face, “I don’t want any part in the planning.”

Stephen snorted and said in a deadpan manner, “If you think Christine or Helen would let you anywhere near the planning, you’re crazy.”

Tony shrugged. “I’ve been accused of that before.” Then he grinned and extended his hand. “Then I happily agree.”

Stephen smiled back and shook his hand before turning to leave the lab. A moment before he passed through the door, the sorcerer turned around with a smirk. “And anyway, soon enough you’ll be knee-deep in wedding plans yourself.”

Tony jumped in place. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Stephen’s smirk grew, and all he said was, “You’ll figure it out any day now.” Then he was gone.

Tony kept staring blankly at the spot where his friend had been, trying to process the words. Was that a threat?

End Flashback

Tony shook his head to clear the memory and noticed the watch on the groom’s wrist. With a raised eyebrow, he asked, “Isn’t that the watch you wore during the accident?”

Stephen brushed his gloved fingers over the broken surface of the watch and said fondly, “It was the first gift Christine ever gave me. Even when I sold everything to afford treatment, I couldn’t bring myself to sell it. Felt right to wear it today.”

Tony smiled. “Can’t argue with that logic.” He checked his own watch before clapping his hands. “We’d better head down to the altar, or Helen will think you bailed. Unless...”

Stephen sighed. “I promised Christine—no magic today, including portals.”

“Shame,” was Tony’s only comment as they left the room and headed toward the elevator.

AC AC AC AC AC

“Well, here we go. Remember to actually smile, Stranger Danger. And no fact-spouting in your vows either,” Tony advised, standing next to Stephen at the altar.

Stephen shot him a short glare, saying dryly, “I’m aware of what I should and shouldn’t do.”

Tony smirked in return, then looked at the audience. Most of the guests were already seated, waiting for the wedding to start.

In the front row, next to an empty seat, was Carol, smiling in a deep red dress. Next to her sat Rhodey and Laura. Behind them were Maggie and Jim, with Mercy Kenner sitting beside them. Behind them were the rest of the New Avengers. Most were in formal clothes—even Luke wore a tailored suit (Tony had paid for it, of course). There was no force in the universe that could make Jessica Jones wear a dress, but at least she was wearing the high-end jeans and T-shirt Tony had gotten her for Christmas.

Tony looked back at the groom, noticing that Stephen, too, was smiling as he scanned the people on his side of the room.

Tony understood. Not even two years ago, if Stephen had gotten married, he would have had no one sitting there. Like Tony, Stephen had always preferred work or research over socializing, and his cold attitude at formal events kept most people away.

It was a testament to how much the man had grown—not only did he manage to get the girl he’d been crushing on for years, but he also made many friends. Yes, they may have started as teammates, but each of the people present today had come as a friend of Stephen, not just as a polite guest of Doctor Strange.

With another glance at Carol, Tony hoped that when his day came, his side would be just as full of people who considered him a friend.

Suddenly, the wedding march began to play, and Tony’s eyes moved to the entrance of the hall. A moment later, the doors opened, and Lila and Cassie stepped out, each holding a basket.

The girls pretty much skipped down the carpet, tossing red and white flower petals as they went. Just as they reached halfway, Christine entered.

Her face stretched in a wide, bright smile, her hair pulled back in a beautiful way that Tony was sure had a name, though he had no guess what it was. She wore a long white dress with flower patterns all over it.

The back of the dress was so long that Helen walked behind her, holding it up as the bride made her way to Stephen.

Tony listened as the standard greetings and introductions were made, and then it was time for the vows and rings.

Out of the corner of the room, Holly Kenner stepped in front of the couple, holding a velvet pillow with two golden bands, a large smile on her face, with two teeth missing.

Christine went first. “Stephen, for the longest time, you were a jerk...” Tony had to hold back a snort; some weren’t that polite, but Christine pushed on. “But I could see behind all your defensive layers. I saw the man who pushed himself to be better—not to brag to a group of colleagues who already admitted his superiority, but to save people even when others said they were beyond saving. I watched Stephen Strange perform miracles before he even knew magic. That’s the man I fell in love with. The man who refused to accept the limits of what he was told was possible, and who proved it with his actions. I promise to always believe in you and support you as much as I can.”

With that, she removed the white glove from Stephen’s left hand. She held his shaking hand steady as she slid on the ring.

The groom smiled the whole time before he began speaking. His speech was rather short but sweet. “Christine, of all the miracles I’ve ever done, with or without magic, the greatest will always be making you fall in love with me and actually agreeing to marry me. I promise to never take that for granted and to protect it with everything that I am.”

Stephen looked at the ring he was holding, but his hand was shaking. For a moment, he frowned. Tony had planned for this. With a discreet touch on his watch screen, Stephen felt a jolt of electricity in the hand holding the ring, and a moment later, it wasn’t shaking anymore.

Stephen threw Tony a look from the corner of his eye, but the sorcerer quickly used the opportunity, smiling as he steadily pushed the ring onto Christine’s finger.

Everyone stood and began clapping for the newly dubbed Dr. Stephen Strange and Dr. Christine Palmer-Strange.

AC AC AC AC AC

Tony stood on the roof, taking in some air. He had just finished dancing—once with most of the women at the wedding, a couple of times with Carol, and even with the kids at their insistence. It had been fun, and Tony felt more loved than ever before, but it was exhausting.

Suddenly, the door opened, and the groom and his bride stepped out to join him.

“You’ve been a busy man all morning. Who knew you were this popular?” Stephen snarked.

Tony gave a mock-shocked gasp. “How dare you!”

Christine gave him a playful shove, and Stephen cleared his throat before speaking genuinely. “I owe you a huge thanks, Tony. Even if just for a minute, you gave me my hands back at the perfect time.”

Tony waved his hand dismissively and joked, “I couldn’t have you choking during the climax.”

Strange’s face went red, but Christine started laughing. When they calmed down, she stepped forward and hugged Tony. “It meant the world to us, Tony. I like the joke, but don’t dismiss it like it was nothing.”

For a rare moment, Tony dropped his mask and said genuinely, “You know I’ll always do my best for my friends, especially at a time like this. I’m only sorry I could make it last for just a minute.”

Stephen shook his head with a smile. “Tony, I spent millions, and no one managed even that. The fact you made it happen for my wedding—you truly are the best man I know. But I have to ask, how?”

Tony smirked. “When I fixed your cuffs at the altar, I injected you with a tiny amount of bio-modified nanites. Unfortunately, they could hold their charge for only a minute before dissolving in your skin.”

Christine’s eyes went wide in awe. “Bio-modified nanites? Oh my god, Tony, you just created something that could change the world! Any chance you can send everything you worked on with them to me and Helen?”

Tony’s smirk grew. “Already did this morning. Call it my wedding gift.”

Christine rushed forward, kissed him on the cheek, and hugged him tightly again. “Thanks, Tony. You really are the best. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Before Tony could respond with something cheeky, a new and unfamiliar voice said ominously, “I wouldn’t worry if I were you. After all, you and your husband are going to die here.”

Tony pushed Christine behind him and looked at the new occupant of the roof. A dark-skinned man with long, dark hair and a trimmed beard stood there, wearing the same robes Stephen usually wore, but his were purple. He held an odd wooden staff and glared at Strange.

Stephen glared back. “What are you doing here, Mordo?”

Mordo smiled sinisterly. “You perverted the magical art I treasured above all else by exposing us to the world. I’m here to usurp your place as Sorcerer Supreme. The Ancient One clearly made a mistake choosing you.”

Stephen began moving his hands into their usual odd positions to cast spells, but Tony caught his arms. Still keeping his eyes on the man across from them, he said firmly, “You and Christine should go back inside. I’ll deal with the crazy guy from your work.”

The groom looked at him with worry and pointed out, “Tony, you don’t have any armor, and he’s no joke. He’s one of the most capable sorcerers out there.”

Tony smirked as he stepped toward the hostile sorcerer, double-tapping the area of his chest where the arc reactor was.

All three dropped their jaws as his suit changed to silver and began to liquefy. The liquid shifted around his body, gaining the familiar red and gold tones. A moment later, Tony was in his Iron Man suit—sleeker and more form-fitting than ever before.

Christine whispered in awe, “He upgraded his entire suit to nanites.”

Tony threw them both a smug look. “I told you, I can take care of this. Go enjoy yourselves.”

Christine seemed reluctant, but Stephen grabbed her and ran to the doors, whispering something about Wong and backup.

Tony then turned to his opponent and used his usual snark. “As much as I can appreciate party crashing, your vibe is all wrong for this one, so I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Mordo frowned and muttered, “I don’t have time for this.”

He slid a familiar ring onto his finger and began making motions with his hands. A moment later, the floor began shifting under Tony’s feet, then disappeared completely. And not just the floor—the entire world around him seemed to plunge into chaos, with no clear structure in sight.

Mordo smirked and shouted, “Welcome, Stark, to the Mirror Dimension, where the usual laws of physics don’t apply.”

Tony frowned. This would be troublesome. Just as he finished the thought, something hit him from behind. When he turned, there was only debris behind him. Another hit came from the side, but again, there was nothing there when he turned.

Tony was getting really annoyed. He created mini-missiles on his back and launched them in every direction, causing them to explode once he was clear of the blast zone. When they did, Mordo was revealed, sneaking up on Tony from behind the debris. The sorcerer was sent flying into another floating chunk of building.

Tony narrowed his eyes and whispered behind his helmet, “Wait, these shapes and patterns look familiar to me.”

He watched his surroundings for another moment before smirking. “Fri, can you calculate the moving pattern?”

The response was immediate. “Already on it, Boss.”

Tony took the occasional hit from Mordo, stalling for time. While Friday finished her calculations, Tony worked on something with the nanites.

When his HUD showed him the pattern, Tony went on the attack. He avoided the next hit, and a familiar device formed from the nanites on his wrist.

He began flying around Mordo, shooting webs. (Peter must never know Tony copied his webbing, or he’d never hear the end of it.)

Mordo looked confused for a moment, then smirked smugly. “Have you become so desperate, Stark, that you’ll attack mindlessly? I didn’t think it was your style.”

“Oh, it’s not,” Tony responded, smirking.

Mordo frowned and tried to attack him, but he couldn’t move. He looked around with wide eyes, realizing he was in a cocoon of webs, tied to multiple debris pieces in such a way that he couldn’t break out.

Tony allowed his helmet to disappear, revealing his smug face. “Physics might be null here, but math and geometry work just fine.”

Mordo looked furious, about to shout something, but Tony punched him hard enough to knock him out for a few hours.

The moment the sorcerer was out cold, the world returned to normal, and Tony stood on the hotel roof, Mordo tied at his feet.

The door burst open, and Carol, Jessica, Vision, and Wong rushed out, ready for a fight.

Wong looked around urgently. “Where’s Mordo? Did he escape?”

“Down here,” Tony said, pointing to the bound man on the floor.

Wong blinked in surprise. “You defeated Mordo all on your own and in five minutes?”

Tony tilted his head. “Was it five minutes? I have no idea. He took us to some Mirror Dimension, and I managed to find the pattern of the laws there to use against him. This time, math kicked magic’s ass.”

Carol and Jessica burst out laughing, saying simultaneously, “Only you, Tones/Shellhead.”

Vision smiled and added, “Quite the accomplishment, Dad.”

Wong grumbled as he pulled out a familiar ring and created a magic circle under Mordo. A moment later, the man was gone. “He’ll wake up in an anti-magic cell, where he’ll stay for a while.”

Carol shook her head with a smile. “We’d better go back to the wedding. Christine and Stephen are panicking down there.”

Tony let his armor melt away, revealing his fancy, self-tailored suit, and they all headed down, listening to Wong grumble about it not being a real wedding without a single Beyoncé song.