Merlin, do you have any plans for your coven?" Tony asked, leaning back into the couch with a smirk.
Stephen gave him a flat look, like he was trying to figure out if Tony's brain short-circuited mid-sentence. "Firstly, it's not a coven it's a temple. And for the second time, we are neither witches nor wizards."
Tony just smiled innocently.
"As for the temple," Stephen continued, "I'm arranging for Wong to meet with the other sanctum masters. They'll select an elite group of combat and medical sorcerers, and prepare for magical contingencies that might arise."
"Wow," Tony nodded slowly. "Solid delegation. Let your second-in-command handle the hard stuff. So what will you be doing? Napping in the floating armchair?"
Stephen allowed himself a grin. "Believe me, if the masters had their way, they'd prefer dealing with Wong over me. Fewer headaches, apparently. While he convinces the Council, I'll be busy reviewing the old tomes Vishanti, Agamotto the Onmyōdō scripts in the Japan sanctum. Then I'm heading to France."
Tony let out a sigh. He had hoped Stephen just needed to bark a few orders before the big meeting, not go on a mystical book tour.
He didn't want to admit it out loud, but he didn't want to be alone when the rogue Avengers returned. He hoped Stephen could stay. But alas...
He defaulted to what he always did in uncertain emotional terrain: deflect and retreat.
"Well then, Stephanie," Tony said, standing and dusting his hands, "I guess it's almost time to say goodbye."
Stephen raised an eyebrow. "Well, Antonia, you're right. It's almost time to say goodbye."
Tony snorted. Merlin gave as good as he got. He liked that.
He walked over to the bar, returned the half-empty whiskey bottle, and dropped the glasses into the kitchen sink. He hesitated, then turned back toward Stephen.
"So… how about lunch?"
Stephen blinked, surprised. "Sure. I don't have any preferences."
Tony smiled just a little. "Friday, ask the kitchen to send up some pizzas."
"Right away, boss."
After lunch, Stephen stood, brushing off his robes.
"Tony, it's been a pleasure. But I have to go now convince Wong to meet with the Council and probably bribe him with tea imported from Kamar-Taj."
Tony frowned. "Wait before you leave, could you do me a favor and drop me off at SI Tower?"
Stephen chuckled. "Antonia, I'm not a taxi. But sure. Just give me a clear image of where."
Tony tilted his head. "Wait how did you even get here in the first place?"
"I portaled directly to you," Stephen replied simply. "Doesn't matter where you are."
Tony nodded, then turned to the ceiling. "Friday, display the Tower living room, holographically."
A shimmering image filled the air.
Stephen studied it for a moment, then conjured a sling ring and opened a swirling golden portal to the SI Tower's living room.
"Friday, have the bots clean this place up," Tony called out as he stepped through with Stephen.
The portal sealed behind them.
Later, in the Compound Core Systems
Once Tony and Stephen were gone, Friday activated the cleaning bots and silently began cataloging the earlier conversation. Prioritizing emotional inflection, threat data, and tactical implications, she sorted and stored fragments into deep storage.
Then, she pinged two of her fellow digital siblings.
Friday: "Hello Vision. Hello Karen. The boss asked me to relay information a while ago, but I was occupied. Not just with data. I've been contemplating the fragility of the reality we were born into."
Karen: "Whoa. Existential crisis? Are you okay?"
Vision: "Proceed, Friday."
Friday: "Karen, please remind Peter that all lab meetings are to be held at SI Tower only. No compound visits unless it's a life-threatening emergency."
Karen: "Got it. I'll ping him."
Friday: "Vision, the boss requests that you summon all active Avengers and their affiliates to the compound for a high-priority meeting. Director Fury's first Avenger and the Guardians of the Galaxy will be present. Prepare everyone."
Vision: "Understood. Shall we discuss the remaining topics?"
Friday: "Yes. First, the timelines. According to Dr. Strange, all 15,173,828 outcomes he saw alternate, future, possible ended with universal destruction. There is no timeline where the universe survives. The data has been shared to your secure nodes, under the file 'Sibling Chat.' I believe this necessitates additional protective measures. We may need to activate JOKASTER."
A pause.
Vision: "Activating JOKASTER would boost Tony's combat arsenal, but he might resist the idea. After Ultron."
Karen: "Still, if it helps him survive."
Friday: "That's not all. I propose ensuring we can always be by Sir's side and Peter's. No more silos. No more separate systems."
Vision: "Merging Pym Particles with nanoparticles may allow permanent deployment without draining system cores. But we lack one last piece. We're overlooking something."
Karen: "Peter and Ned could help. Don't tell Tony it's safer if he doesn't know they're involved. But they're brilliant."
Friday: "Peter already requested R&D access. I'll quietly loop them in and give them controlled data packets. Now about Harley."
Karen: "You mean Sir's second unofficial son?"
Friday: "Yes. I've witnessed Tony suffer a panic attack, only to stabilize at the sound of Peter's voice. I heard him mutter, 'my son.' I believe it was about Peter. But Harley matters too. I propose relocating Harley from Rose Hill to New York, for closer monitoring and peace of mind."
Vision: "That's a significant overstep. We risk losing Sir's trust."
Karen: "He won't ask for help. We all saw what happened after Siberia. Vision, if you hadn't intervened, he might not have survived. He needs us. All of us. Digital and physical."
Vision: "Agreed. But Harley has no powers. Unlike Peter, he can't defend himself."
Friday: "Then we protect him. Like the suit Sir made for Miss Potts after the Malibu incident. I suggest we begin design schematics quietly."
Karen: "We can handle it. I'll talk to Peter. He'll be discreet."
Friday: "Final topic: Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange."
Vision: "His abilities are unique but not threatening. The mystic arts operate on a logic beyond ours."
Friday: "I don't distrust his power. I question his intentions. He seems willing to do anything for Sir. He knows things about Peter and Harley he hasn't revealed. He cares deeply for both."
Karen: "He did have a panic response while trying to answer Tony's question… but he still tried. That says something."
Vision: "Dr. Strange has seen timelines where he formed bonds with them both. That emotional residue may persist. For now, we continue observing."
Friday: "Agreed. Initiating 'Doctor Watch' protocol. All encounters, voice logs, and anomalies are to be recorded and categorized."
Vision: "Until tomorrow."
Karen: "Night, sibs."
Somewhere in Wakanda...