In this AU, Stephen and Tony are old friends, but other than that, they both become the heros they are.

Also yes, it is inspired by Barbie and the Diamond Castle.

CW: Moving away, st@b wound (I know that's crazy, just read lol), monsters, love magic exists

<Middle School>

"Tony!" Stephen says, running up to his friend. Tony turned around and smiled. "Hi Stephe! You look like you ran a thousand miles, what's up?"

Stephen panted, catching his breath for a moment. "I needed to talk to you. My parents want to move out of town because dad got a job offer.. I-i don't want to leave, and I told them that, but they said it's not up to me, and we're moving in a couple weeks..."
Tony frowned. "What?! No, that's not fair, come on! You're my best friend..." He protested. Stephen nodded in agreement. "I know... I really wish I didn't have to.."

~moving day~

After school, Stephen was saying his goodbyes to his friend, both upset about the situation.

"Stephe, I don't know if I'll be able to get through high school without you.." Tony says. Stephen sighs but smiled sadly. "You will. You have to, I said so." He said, which successful made Tony chuckle a little.
He then continued, ".. Besides, if you really miss me that much, I... Made this for you." He says, handing Tony a necklace with a friendship ring on it. Stephen was wearing a similar one around his neck. "I know it's corny and we haven't worn those since elementary but-"

Tony interrupted him, shaking his head. "No, no... I'll cherish this until you come back, Stephen." He says, putting the necklace on.
"You.. You sound so sure I will.." Stephen mumbles, looking down. "You better. If you don't, I'll find you and kick your ass. C'mon, Stephe, this won't be goodbye forever, you know that."

~~~

<Present Day>

Tony woke up the same as he did every morning; slightly choked by the necklace falling to the side at night, bed sheets falling off the bed, and his hair a mess. Occasionally, there was also a wet spot on the pillow from drool.
He got up, doing his daily morning routine (IE, brushing his teeth, getting dressed, etc.). The second after he finished tying his tie, Happy yelled at him from the other room.

"Tony, come on. Everyone's waiting for you to give your speech about the avengers." Tony rolled his eyes. "Kay-  give me a minute, yeah?" He responded with spite. He fiddled with his hair one last time before walking out of the room.

~~~

That evening, Tony went to a casino to have fun, like he does often. While gambling, someone walked up next to him and said, "You're still wearing that thing?"
Tony jumped a little, turning his head. After a moment of processing, realization swept across his face. "Stephen!?" He exclaimed. Stephen smiled, waving at Tony with a scarred, shaky hand. "Long time, Tony."

That brought Tony's attention to Stephens hands, and his face filled with worry as he grabbed them carefully. "Oh my god, what the hell happened to you..?" Stephen chuckled a little.

"Buy me a drink and we'll talk about it."

~~~

"Jesus... Magic, huh?" Was all Tony could think to say, hearing Stephens story with a good buzz from alcohol. Stephen nods, sighing as he took a drink. "Yeah. Got into a war I didn't know I was applying for."

The two talked, catching up about their lives over the course of a few days. Tony left out the detail that is Peter, though, and it surprised Stephen when one day, another person chimed into a conversation.

Mind you, not in a normal way, either.

Tony and Stephen were in the avengers complex, sitting on one of the couches. When a young spider boi decided to peek his head around the corner.

"Um.... Mr. Stark?" He says meekly. Stephen was surprised and confused, looking between them for a moment. Tony looked at Peter, who literally, just had his head peeking out. Like he was hiding.

"Kid, what the hell- why're-?" He starts. "Um... I have a hypothetical question.." Peter mumbled. "Okay?" Tony responded, confused.
"So... Hypothetically, if someone was stabbed-" Peter starts, but the minute Peter said "stabbed", Tony was up.

Peter tried to slide away from him so Tony wouldn't see, but failed at doing so. Peter was in his suit, holding his mask in his hand, and there was a wet red spot on his stomach, which was covered by the other hand.
"Oh, my god." After Tony said that, Stephen hurried over, looking shocked but immediately directing the situation. "We need to get him to the hospital. I'll open a portal, come on."

~~~

"What the hell were you stabbed with, anyway?" Stephen asks after Peter was stitched up. "Uh... I'm honestly not sure? This girl like, I dunno.. she sang, and it paralyzed me and made me feel sad?? Next thing I know, I'm bleeding and she's nowhere to be found.."

"A siren... What the hell is a siren doing here?" Stephen mumbled to himself.

~~~

Tony and Stephen put Peter on bed arrest, and the next day, went to check out what happened. They walked up on a woman sitting on a rock, singing a song, causing the tide to shift, the air to blow more, and the plants to wilt.
"Wow. Some song." Tony mumbled in an attempt to joke. That, however, caught the siren's attention. She looked confused, almost offended, as to why Tony and Stephen weren't in some form of pain after hearing her sing.

Everyone is different- some fall into depression, some drown themselves, some receive physical wounds from her songs (Like Peter). But Tony and Stephen  just... Stood there.

"What have you charmed yourselves with?!" She hissed. Tony was startled and looked at Stephen for help. "I haven't charmed anything." He says simply.
"Liar! Only certain charms can protect you from my voice, now what is it?!" The siren screeched. "Alright, bye-bye." Stephen said, sending her somewhere else.

"Charm?" Tony asked after she was gone. Stephen shook his head. "The only magic that could prevent a siren's effects is some kind of powerful protection charm, and I haven't cast any magic since we got here."
Tony thought for a moment, gears turning in his head. "What kind of protection charms are there?" He asks.

"Plenty. Runes, chakras, certain gemstones, or even any item imbued with magic." Stephen responded. "Any item?" Tony repeated. Stephen nods, lost in thought himself.

".... Like a ring?" Tony added hesitantly. Stephen paused, looking up at Tony, turning slightly pink. "W-.... Well yes, but Tony I didn't know magic when I gave you that."
"Do you have yours on?" Tony probed. Stephen sighs, and pulls the necklace up from under his shirt. "Course I do.."

"Then that's the only thing it could be. My question now, though, is: if you didn't know magic until recently, how did you charm the necklaces?" Tony asks. "I don't know.... But I know who might be able to help us figure this out."

~~~

"A siren song had no effect on you? That is strange." Wong says, rearranging the books in the sanctum in Khamar-Taj. "Well, I think it was these necklaces," Tony starts, showing Wong the friendship ring necklace he was wearing. "But Stephen claims he can't have charmed them when he gave it to me."

"May I see it?" Wong asks, to which Tony nods and took off the necklace, handing it to him. Wong took it, examining it for a moment. "It does seem to be charmed. Specifically, with love." He says.

Tony and Stephen both blush, looking at each other then back at Wong. "Love? You're talking about true love magic? Wong, I was a child- not only did I not know magic, I also wasn't in love with Tony-"
"Nor would you have to be. True love takes all kinds of forms- platonic, romantic, familial- it doesn't matter what kind it is. Love is powerful when used as a weapon, and just as strong of a barrier against evil."

‘Wasn't?’ Tony wondered to himself as Wong spoke. Wong gave Tony the necklace back, and he put it on again. "So, Stephen's love protected me?"
Stephen went red, glaring over at Tony. "Yes, although, in order for this specific type of charm to work, the feelings must be mutual." Wong clarified. "Ha, ha." Stephen teased. It was Tony's turn to glare, and he also added a middle finger.

~~~

Once Tony and Stephen were back in New York, they talked between themselves.

"So, because we had strong platonic love as kids, these simple little things became magic talismans?" Tony asked rhetorically. He was honestly a little fascinated.
"I suppose, but..." Stephen trailed off, looking away to hide the slight blush that was creeping to his face. Tony looked over at him. Now, he's not stupid; he knows he likes Stephen, and he knows Stephen likes him.

So, he tested the waters.

"But what, Stephen Strange? Is there something else?" He asks. Stephen glanced over at him for a minute, but couldn't find his words, so he just looked away again.
Tony got up, walking over to Stephen. "Anything, maybe, you'd like to say?" He egged on. Stephen realized what Tony was doing, and therefore realized Tony knew.

"Because if you don't want to say it, that's fine. But I will." Tony continued, stepping in front of Stephen to look at him. "I like you, Stephen. Not just as a friend anymore. I'm not sure when that changed, probably honestly when you left. But I've felt... Differently about you for a long while now."

Stephen blushes, finally making eye contact again. "I... Didn't know.." he mumbles, unsure how else to respond at the moment. "Well, now you do. Is it too much to ask how you feel about me?" Tony asked him.
Stephen thought for a moment before responding. "I suppose I... Fell in love with you. Don't know how, or when, though.." That seemed to be a good enough answer for Tony, though, because he smiled and simply said,

"Good."