The morning in Flam was bitterly cold, with the winter winds biting through the small village. Tony Stark lay curled up in his warm bed, wrapped in a thick, fluffy blanket. However, the peaceful atmosphere was soon disturbed by a nightmare. In his dream, he found himself lost in a misty, swirling space, surrounded by magical vortexes and blurred images of some distant battle. Faces and indistinct symbols flickered in and out of view, like an omen of things to come.

Tony jolted awake, his heart racing. He felt as if he had just escaped something heavy and ominous. Cold sweat trickled down his spine, despite the snowy landscape outside. Before he had a chance to calm down, a soft knock echoed from the door. The knock was faint, but enough to get Tony out of bed immediately.

He quickly pulled on a thick sweater and headed to the door. As he opened it, the biting winter air hit his face, turning his cheeks red. Standing at the door was Lars, his cheeks flushed from the cold, his breath visible in the icy air.

"Lars?" Tony asked in surprise. "I thought you were still at your grandmother's?"

Lars, a boy of about ten, looked up at Tony with bright eyes and a cheerful grin. "I just got back last night, but it was too late to visit. I came over as soon as I woke up this morning."

Tony smiled, feeling a warmth inside. It had been two weeks since Lars had gone to his grandmother's, and Tony realized just how much he'd missed the kid. "Come in, it's freezing out there."

He pulled Lars inside and quickly shut the door to keep the winter winds out. Lars promptly removed his thick coat and scarf, then glanced around Tony's house with wide, curious eyes, as if searching for something new.

"Tony" Lars said, his voice full of excitement "Did anything weird happen while I was away?"

Tony chuckled, bending down to ruffle the boy's hair. "You won't believe it, Lars. A pink octopus has taken over my fish tank, and I have no idea how to get rid of it."

Lars stared at Tony in wide-eyed amazement. "A pink octopus? Really?"

Tony nodded, doing his best to keep a straight face even as his lips twitched into a smile. "Yup, and it doesn't seem to want to leave. Will you help me keep an eye on it?"

Lars burst out laughing, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Of course! I'll be the guardian of your fish tank!"

Tony gazed at the boy fondly. "Well then, I'm in safe hands. Now, let's go make some hot cocoa."

The two made their way to the kitchen, where Tony began boiling water and preparing two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Lars climbed up onto a tall chair, swinging his legs as he watched Tony with eager eyes, the joy of their playful conversation still lingering.

As Tony set the two mugs of hot cocoa on the table and sat down next to Lars, the boy observed him closely. Noticing the weariness etched on Tony's face, Lars couldn't help but voice his concern.

"Tony, you look tired. I think you should see a doctor" Lars said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Tony chuckled softly, taking a sip of his cocoa. "A doctor? I'm fine, really. Nothing to worry about."

"No, I'm serious!" Lars insisted, setting down his mug. "Last week, I got sick, and a few of my friends got hurt too. We all went to see this new doctor in town. I think you'd like him."

Tony raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A new doctor? Here in Flam?"

Lars nodded, his face lighting up as he recalled his visit. "Yeah, he just moved here last week. At first, he seemed really serious, like he didn't want to talk to anyone. But when we went to see him, he was super nice. He treated all of us without complaining."

Tony smirked, feeling a certain kinship with the mysterious doctor. "Really? What does he look like?"

Lars thought for a moment before describing him. "He's tall, stands up really straight, and looks like a serious guy. His hair is black with a bit of gray at the temples. Oh, and his eyes... they're really sharp, like he can see right through you. But I think that's just how he looks, 'cause he's actually really kind."

Tony listened with growing curiosity, then took another sip of cocoa. "Sounds interesting. I'll think about checking him out."

"I know you'll like him" Lars said confidently, his eyes gleaming. "He might seem strict at first, but he's really good. He knows all kinds of weird things, like those sci-fi stories I read."

Tony chuckled to himself, finding the boy's description amusing. Life in this small village seemed to hold more surprises than he expected. A mysterious new doctor, and if Lars's stories were true, this doctor was anything but ordinary.

Tony raised an eyebrow, now genuinely intrigued. "He's that good, huh? Anything else special about him?"

Lars nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement. "Oh yeah! I remember one time, a friend of mine fell and wouldn't stop crying. The doctor didn't say much, just gently put his hand on her head and made a blue butterfly appear. It flew around her, and she stopped crying right away!"

Tony chuckled, his interest piqued. "He made a blue butterfly appear? Sounds like a magic trick."

"Exactly!" Lars grinned. "And he has a way of making everything feel easy. He treated all of us, and none of us felt any pain. I don't know how he did it, but it didn't hurt at all."

Tony remained silent for a moment, mulling over what the boy had said. A doctor who could soothe crying children with blue butterflies and heal without causing pain? That wasn't something you saw every day. It only deepened Tony's curiosity. This doctor seemed outwardly stern, yet his methods were far from ordinary.

"Sounds pretty impressive, Lars. Maybe I should pay him a visit soon." Tony said with a smile, his interest in the mysterious doctor growing by the minute.

...

Tony stood outside the old wooden house, looking around with a clear sense of unease. They had just driven about 20 minutes from his place to get here, and he couldn't help but be surprised by the weird location. The house sat isolated atop a small hill, surrounded by thick trees that gave the place a shadowy, almost eerie atmosphere. The wooden house looked like it belonged to another century, with its mossy, weathered planks and narrow windows. There was no fence, no sign of modern life. Tony frowned slightly.

"I'm not walking into a haunted house, am I, Lars?" Tony half-joked, his eyes still fixed on the house.

Lars laughed, seemingly unfazed by Tony's suspicion. He hopped out of the car and ran straight to the front door, as if he was completely familiar with the place. "No way, Tony! This is the doctor's house. You'll see!"

Tony shook his head slightly but followed Lars, reminding himself not to let his imagination run wild. After all, the boy seemed to trust this doctor completely. Tony could only hope that the stories about blue butterflies and painless healing weren't just the product of a child's vivid imagination.

Lars ran up to the door and knocked, then called out loudly, "Doctor! Doctor, I'm here!"

Tony stayed a little behind, his eyes still scanning the weird surroundings. Everything was oddly quiet. This house seemed completely detached from the outside world, as if it existed in another time and place entirely.

When the wooden door creaked open, Tony's senses immediately heightened. But in that very moment, he was struck by the man standing in the doorway—the mysterious doctor Lars had spoken of.

'Oh, Shit!' Tony thought. He hadn't expected to be caught off guard like this. His heart seemed to beat a little faster, but Tony told himself it was just the cold air rushing through his veins, making his face flush. Yeah, that had to be it, definitely nothing else.

The doctor in front of him was totally Tony's type. Tall, standing with a confident posture, but what really grabbed Tony's attention was the man's perfectly groomed beard—eerily similar to Tony's own style. It almost made Tony squint, as if he was looking into a mirror but through a layer of intrigue.

That wasn't the only thing striking about the doctor. The silver streaks in his hair at the temples gleamed under the dim morning light, adding an air of distinguished charm. But his eyes... it was his eyes that made Tony pause. They were a deep green, but weirdly, the light seemed to shift their hue, from pale green to dark, almost sapphire blue, as if they held entire worlds within them.

The doctor's gaze wasn't cold, yet it wasn't entirely warm either. It had a penetrating quality, distant but magnetic, as if he knew Tony better than anyone else, even though this was their first meeting. Tony had never been so drawn to someone's eyes before, and it made him uneasy.

"Doctor!" Lars exclaimed, completely oblivious to Tony's discomfort. The boy beamed, as innocent and cheerful as ever. "I brought Tony to see you!"

The doctor glanced briefly at Lars before turning his sharp gaze back to Tony. "Hello, Tony" he said, his deep voice carrying a hint of sarcasm, causing Tony to raise an eyebrow slightly.

Tony smiled lightly, trying to maintain his usual confidence despite his heart beating faster than usual. "Hello, Doctor" he replied, making sure not to reveal any signs of surprise or intrigue. "Lars has told me quite a bit about you."

The doctor gave a slight smirk, his deep blue eyes never leaving Tony's face. "Has he now? I hope the kid didn't exaggerate."

Standing before Tony, Stephen felt a twinge of surprise upon seeing Tony Stark in such a remote place. He said nothing immediately, letting a brief pause hang in the air before calling Tony's name.

Stephen was well aware of Tony's identity, but he chose not to reveal any of that information. Instead, he played the part of a stranger, inviting Tony inside. "Welcome to my humble home. Is there something I can help you with?"

Tony felt a hint of wariness rise within him as Stephen addressed him so casually. He smiled, maintaining his composed facade. "Well, I'm just here to meet you, Doctor" he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "This kid made me feel like I needed to be treated."

Stephen easily picked up on the sarcasm in Tony's words. "I'm sure kids always know how to convince adults" he responded, equally sardonic. "Especially when those adults might be... arrogant."

Tony wasn't one to back down. "And I'm sure a doctor needs a bit of arrogance to avoid losing their touch when treating kids" he said, his gaze sharp.

The two of them silently exchanged barbs, the tension between them growing thicker. Both appeared to be playing the role of arrogant jerks, but beneath the surface, there was a shared sense of pride, a mutual recognition. Stephen could sense it from Tony—he was someone who didn't easily accept weakness, and Tony, in turn, realized that the man standing before him was not only capable but equally proud. This was thrilling and unsettling at the same time.

"Lars said I'd like you, Doctor" Tony continued, subtly trying to diffuse the tension by changing the subject. "But I don't think that's quite the case."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "Maybe the kid needs a bit more time to understand people" he said, his face expressionless but with a challenging glint in his eyes.

Tony found himself oddly fascinated by Stephen's pushback. It only made him want to provoke the doctor further. "So, you're not just a doctor but also a psychologist? A specialist in helping kids understand adults?" Tony laughed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Stephen shrugged, the half-smile still lingering on his face. "Just a humble doctor, nothing special. But I can understand the people I meet, especially arrogant ones like yourself" he said, his deep voice making Tony's skin prickle. It wasn't that Tony hadn't heard such words before, but the way Stephen spoke, the confidence he exuded, drew Tony in.

"So, is that how you treat your patients?" Tony smiled, his eyes glinting with challenge. "Pointing out their flaws to make them feel better about themselves?"

Stephen chuckled softly, his deep blue eyes glinting with a mysterious light. "Just a small technique. Sometimes people need to take a hard look at themselves. Sound familiar?"

"Maybe" Tony replied, trying not to betray any sign of vulnerability. "But no one's been smart enough to make me change."

"Then consider this an opportunity for me to try" Stephen said with a smirk. "But first, tell me how you're feeling. Lars mentioned you might not be doing so well. We can't start this game if you're in bad shape."

Tony detected a bit of sarcasm in Stephen's question, but there was also genuine concern. "Just a few headaches, nothing serious" he said, but couldn't resist adding, "Not everyone can toy with people's health the way you do, Doctor."

"Really? Maybe I should reconsider my treatment methods" Stephen replied, his eyes still locked on Tony's.

Tony raised an eyebrow, a half-smile forming on his lips. "If you don't do your job well, I might have to find another doctor. One who doesn't rely on sarcastic methods to treat me."

Stephen wasn't fazed in the slightest, in fact, he seemed to enjoy the banter even more. "Sounds like you're threatening me with a very stressful check-up. I'm not sure I'm equipped to handle a patient as self-assured as you."

"Interesting" Tony said with a smirk. "I thought you'd be used to dealing with more difficult patients than this. I heard you're great at making crying kids smile. What about me? Will you turn me into a happy little boy with a dazzling smile with just a few simple words?"

"Definitely" Stephen answered without hesitation. "But if you keep up with this sarcasm, I'll have to summon the blue butterfly to calm you down. It's sure to work wonders."

Tony couldn't help but laugh. "I'll do anything to avoid ever seeing a blue butterfly in my life. I can't imagine crying like a child at the sight of one. That would really be humiliating."

Stephen chuckled softly, feeling exhilarated by their interaction. "So, have you ever cried like a child? Or is all of this just part of the arrogant persona you're trying to maintain?"

Tony felt a slight jolt inside. He couldn't deny the truth in that question, but he didn't want to show any weakness. "Only when I need a good reason to get people's attention."

"Well, then, I won't give you any reason" Stephen replied with a mischievous smile. "But I might create a few reasons for you to need me."

Tony's dark brown eyes stared intently at Stephen, his gaze as sharp as if he were trying to peel back the layers of the man standing in front of him. His heart pounded a little faster, not just because there was something different about this man, but because Tony himself didn't understand why he was drawn into this game. It felt as though every word, every glance from Stephen touched a part of him that Tony had never been aware of before.

His voice, dry and slightly trembling in his throat, faltered a little. "You're quite the bastard... Doctor Strange." The words weren't an accusation but more of a thoughtful observation.

Stephen blinked in mild surprise, his deep blue eyes narrowing slightly before he quickly regained his composure. He was used to hiding his emotions from unexpected situations, but Tony had managed to catch him off guard. Tony Stark knew about him? This wasn't something he had anticipated, especially in such a remote place.

"Really?" Stephen responded, his tone remaining calm, but his gaze became more piercing, as though reassessing the man before him. "I didn't think you'd know about me, especially out here. Or did I make a particularly memorable impression?"

Tony didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on Stephen's face—the sharp jawline, the striking resemblance in their subtle arrogance, the deep-set eyes with streaks of silver hair at the temples, and the way he stood, confident but not boastful, different from anyone Tony had ever met. There was something compelling that Tony couldn't shake. Doctor Strange—the name itself evoked mystery, and Tony realized he knew about this man from unofficial sources, secrets he had stumbled upon in the past—a man who appeared on a noteworthy file of Hydra.

But what unsettled Tony most wasn't the name, it was the strange connection—an invisible yet powerful bond. He had never met anyone who made him feel so challenged. Both men stood there, exuding strength, confidence, and pride, but deep inside, Tony felt that Stephen Strange wasn't just any ordinary adversary. And perhaps that was why he felt a bit... unnerved.

"It's just a name" Tony shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, though his tone carried a bit of sarcasm. "I have a habit of keeping tabs on interesting people. And you, Strange, definitely make that list."

Stephen was silent for a few seconds, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips, but his eyes never lost their sharpness, filled with an amused interest in the man standing before him. He hadn't expected Tony to admit it so straightforwardly. "Thanks for the compliment, I suppose. But I'm sure you know, I'm not just a name."

Stephen wasn't entirely sure when the distance between him and Tony had shrunk so much. The two men were now standing only a few inches apart, and Stephen could feel Tony's breath mingling with the cold air. The mist from their breaths seemed to intertwine, rising and fading away, as if it symbolized an invisible connection Stephen couldn't yet explain.

Tony's deep brown eyes, captivating and intense, seemed to look right through Stephen's soul. His long lashes fluttered ever so slightly with each glance, but those eyes never left Stephen's face. Everything around them seemed to blur, and all of Stephen's focus inexplicably narrowed onto the man in front of him. He didn't understand why, but there was a powerful allure in Tony's gaze. It was both arrogant and curious, casting a spell that rendered Stephen motionless.

Stephen's heart raced faster and stronger, yet he couldn't control his reactions. The calm and collected demeanor he usually maintained was suddenly torn apart, replaced by a confusion he had never experienced before. Why did Tony Stark affect him this way? Stephen didn't want to admit it, but the attraction emanating from Tony was like an invisible force, drawing him in closer without any means of escape.

Tony felt no different from Stephen. He sensed the shift in the air as Stephen fell silent, and his gaze remained fixed on the doctor's face. Tony hadn't expected this man to leave him feeling so unsettled, especially not when Stephen was so unusually quiet. There was something in this silence—not outright hostility, but a captivating tension that rendered Tony immobile. His heart thumped so loudly he could almost hear it echoing in his chest.

The stillness between them stretched on, with no words spoken, but neither could hide the mixture of confusion and intense attraction in their eyes. Stephen stood there, feeling as if time had stopped; he didn't know what to do next, and that frustrated him. As for Tony, who usually called the shots, he was now utterly overwhelmed by Stephen's presence.

The two stood close together, their breaths mingling, yet neither dared to take a step forward. They remained frozen, as if fearing that any movement would shatter this delicate balance.

"Tony! Doctor! What are you two doing?" Lars suddenly burst in from outside, running in with his innocent call, making the moment incredibly awkward.

Stephen jolted, awkwardly turning away, while Tony reacted similarly, looking in another direction as if trying to hide his own embarrassment. Both avoided each other's gaze clumsily, and it was impossible to deny the feeling of being two teenagers caught in the act of something they couldn't explain.

"We... uh... were just discussing... treatment methods" Tony stammered, his tone lacking the confidence it had moments before. His eyes glanced at Stephen, as if seeking validation from him.

"Right... that's right" Stephen continued, his voice slightly hoarse with embarrassment. "We were discussing... his symptoms; there's nothing to worry about."

Both of them tried to continue the conversation, but the more they spoke, the worse the situation became. Their explanations were so clumsy that they felt ridiculous. Lars looked at them with a confused expression, not understanding why two adults seemed to be acting as if they had done something wrong that they didn't want him to find out.

Clearing his throat, Stephen attempted to regain his professional demeanor. "Alright, Tony. Let's focus on the main issue. You need to be clearer about... your health condition. If not, I won't be able to help you."

Tony also tried to calm himself, but the awkwardness from moments ago still lingered. "Yeah, right. I've been experiencing a few... unusual symptoms" he began, his tone striving for calmness. But each time their eyes accidentally met, both felt a twinge of embarrassment, as if the previous moment still hung in the air.

Sensing the tension between them, Stephen gently suggested "You can call me Stephen."

Tony paused for a moment, his brown eyes widening in surprise before he returned to his familiar smirk. "Stephen, huh? Well, I guess we've become that close, haven't we?" He raised an eyebrow, a teasing expression evident on his face, as if testing how the doctor would react.

Stephen, seizing the opportunity, playfully joined in to ease the earlier awkwardness. "If you don't feel ready, I won't push you" he replied, his eyes glimmering with gentle mockery. "But I believe there's no need for too much formality between us."

Tony chuckled softly, but despite his teasing tone, he couldn't escape Stephen's sharp, understanding gaze. Even though Tony didn't share the details of his nightmares and accompanying symptoms, Stephen sensed something beneath Tony's small gestures. Someone like Tony Stark must have something weighing heavily on him.

Stephen understood this feeling all too well. Since the end of the loop with Dormammu in the Dark Dimension, he had also been haunted by nightmares. The images of dying, being reborn, and dying again a thousand times were etched deep into his mind. The constant deaths, the unending torment, all haunted Stephen in his sleep. Wong had tried to seal those painful memories away in a corner of his mind, but sometimes, they would resurface, dragging him into an abyss of fear.

Stephen knew that Tony was facing something similar. Though neither of them spoke about it, an unspoken understanding lingered between them. But Stephen couldn't openly use magic, especially in front of Tony Stark—someone tied to both the Avengers and SHIELD. Complications were the last thing he wanted right now.

Thus, Stephen chose a more subtle approach. He stepped over to a small wooden shelf and retrieved a carefully wrapped pouch of tea. "This is a special tea" Stephen said, handing the pouch to Tony. "It helps calm the mind, relaxes you, and may reduce nightmares." There was a healing magic infused within it, but he wouldn't mention that. "Use it when you need it, and when you run out, you can come back to see me."

Tony accepted the pouch, his keen eyes assessing Stephen's words. They both knew that this illness couldn't be cured simply with tea.

"Actually, the only way to overcome it is to confront oneself, but you... understand" Stephen added, his expression turning a touch serious. He didn't say it outright, but his words were a clear implication. Only Tony could overcome this nightmare, just as Stephen knew he had to find a way to deal with the horrors of the Dark Dimension in his own mind, but it felt nearly impossible due to the overwhelming psychological scars that nothing could soothe.

Tony silently accepted the pouch of tea from Stephen. His thanks came out dry and hurried, far from his usual confident and humorous demeanor. He quickly turned to leave the wooden house, as if wanting to escape the doctor's deep gaze. Lars cheerfully bid farewell to Stephen before running after Tony to the car.

On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was quieter than usual. Lars, still holding onto the carefree nature of a child, turned to Tony and innocently asked"Tony, do you like this Doctor?"

The unexpected question caused Tony to momentarily hold his breath. A feeling of turmoil, nameless and unsettling, rose in his chest, taking him a few seconds to regain his composure. He frowned slightly and replied ambiguously, his voice half-hidden, "Kid, I think... I don't know, maybe... he's not bad."

The boy seemed oblivious to the awkwardness in Tony's response and continued to gaze out the window. Meanwhile, Tony felt his heart racing strangely. In his mind, the image of the old wooden house faded in the rearview mirror, but something about his encounter with the doctor lingered, haunting him. He didn't understand why he felt so unsettled, as if he had just run away from something... or someone.

Meanwhile, Stephen stood quietly at the door, watching Tony's car drive away. As the sound of the engine faded, he sighed and slowly returned to the living room. His cloak, which always sensed its owner's emotions, suddenly tightened around his neck, shifting from gray to red. He sat down on the sofa, leaning back with his hands covering his face as if to hide his own embarrassment.

"Cloak, I'm feeling unsettled... do you know how I feel? This is the first time I've talked to him like this" Stephen mumbled, burying his face in the cloak as if seeking comfort. He couldn't deny that the encounter with Tony had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within him—feelings he didn't want to acknowledge.

The cloak gently brushed its fabric against his cheek, a silent reprimand. The soft touch pulled Stephen from his chaotic thoughts. He opened his eyes and looked at the fluttering red fabric before him, as if it were teasing him and reminding him not to be too tense.

"Alright, I understand" Stephen whispered, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "You're right; I shouldn't let this get me so worked up."

But despite the seemingly light words, there were still many unresolved feelings within Stephen. The unsettling sensation of encountering Tony Stark in such an unexpected place left his mind in a tangled mess. It wasn't just a fleeting attraction; it was something deeper—a long-buried memory, an indelible impression from their brief encounter at a party years ago.

In the evening of 2003, when Stephen was reluctantly forced to attend a charity gala. He had been coerced to go by an invitation from the hospital, and as usual, such events held little appeal for him beyond just checking in. The gala was a showcase of the wealthy, where luxury and power were flaunted without reservation. It was a place where desperate social climbers swarmed around men with fat wallets, their eyes searching for promising opportunities.

At that time, Stephen wore a formal but understated suit, standing in a corner of the room, sipping champagne while observing everything with indifference. He had no interest in the theatrics unfolding before him, nor did he care for the polite lies exchanged among the guests. He was too weary of being surrounded by such superficiality.

And then he saw Tony Stark.

Instantly, the image left a strong impression on Stephen. Tony was the center of attention—a quintessential arrogant jerk. He resembled a peacock, exuding confidence and arrogance, his sharp eyes and provocative smile drawing everyone in. The entire gala revolved around Tony, as if he were the brightest star. Women flocked to him, while men either admired or envied him. Tony Stark epitomized everything the gala represented: power, wealth, and an irritating self-satisfaction.

Stephen recalled that he had briefly locked eyes with Tony once, their gazes meeting for a fleeting moment. He couldn't help but feel an alluring pull from Tony—not just because of his appearance or wealth, but also due to the way Tony commanded the attention of those around him, as if he were born to be the center of the universe. Yet, this very quality made Stephen smirk slightly, for Tony was too arrogant, too easy to see through. In Stephen's eyes at that time, Tony Stark was nothing more than a self-satisfied egotist, although he had to admit he was a charming "peacock."

After fulfilling his "attendance duty" and maintaining a facade of politeness, Stephen decided to leave the gala early. He couldn't bear to stay another minute among this crowd, and the distant encounter with Tony Stark hadn't been enough to keep him there any longer. Still, the image of Tony lingered in his memory even to this day.