Chapter Text
Tony woke up from a ray of sunlight tickling his eyes. He grimaced at the interruption to his peaceful slumber. He squeezed his eyes shut further in a futile attempt to keep out the light.
Grumbling, he turned from his back onto his side, pulling the blanket with him to shield his face from any further disturbance from the sun.
But now something else tickled him in the face.
Tony opened his eyes in irritation – and noticed a flop of black hair with white streaks poking him in the nose and eyes.
Tony’s lips curled into a relaxed smile. He still wasn’t fully used to this; Stephen staying in his chambers overnight, to him being the first thing Tony saw in the morning.
Tony adored it. And he didn’t want this to ever change, their routine that they had built together. One he wished continued, for all the days to come.
A more than pleasant warmth spread in his chest, slowly radiating into every one of his limbs, filling him with deep-rooted contentment and peace. And love.
Tony could tell the sorcerer was still sound asleep by the steady rhythm of his chest. He didn’t want to wake Stephen yet – although he knew they had to get up soon – so he just put his arm around Stephen's shoulder and buried his face in that dark hair, inhaling the scent of his husband.
Stephen must have been only at the brink of sleep, because he stirred. Slowly he moved his head up, in search of the source of the sensation that had torn him from his sleep.
He noticed Tony and looked at him with sleepy eyes, blinking a few times before having any coherent thought.
It was unbearably cute. Tony had no choice but to kiss him, placing a little peck on the sorcerer’s lips.
“Hmm…” Stephen closed his eyes again and hummed delightfully.
“Good morning,” Tony whispered fondly, a smile permanently etched onto his face.
“Morning.” Stephen's voice was raspy from the lingering sleepiness. It was and will forever be Tony's favorite thing to hear in the morning.
The king smiled and lifted himself halfway onto his arms to lean over Stephen's face. He pressed a soft kiss onto his lips.
“It’s your special day.”
Stephen cocked up an eyebrow. “Oh really? I almost forgot because it’s merely the only thing everyone talked about these last few weeks.”
Tony shoved him playfully. “Douchebag.”
But before he could withdraw to the other side of the bed, Stephen slung his arms around him and pulled him close. Tony's resistance was half-hearted at best and died down fast. He settled against Stephen's chest.
“We could stay in bed all day and reschedule to tomorrow,” he suggested.
“Great idea.” Stephen buried his face into Tony’s soft hair. “You’re the one telling Pepper.”
“Absolutely not.
“It’s my special day,” Stephen reminded him. “So I won’t do it either.”
Tony couldn't argue against that. “We can ask Jarvis,” he settled and Stephen agreed, not taking this whole argument seriously anyway.
He moved his hand into Tony’s hair and started playing with it, brushing his fingers against the scalp. Tony let out a content noise and closed his eyes.
It was the day of Stephen's coronation and there were still a thousand things left to do – yet they couldn't seem to care, basking in each other’s presence.
Until a knock on the door finally reminded them of the world outside these four walls.
Jarvis entered, carrying a tray with breakfast. “Good morning, Sirs.”
“Is there any possibility we can stay another hour in bed?” Tony asked, groaning. He turned his head back to Stephen, who had sat up, putting his feet on the carpet. “Don’t get up. He hasn’t answered yet.”
Stephen rolled his eyes affectionately, and fished his robes from where they hung over the back of a chair.
“I’m afraid duty awaits,” Jarvis dashed Tony's hopes of a lazy morning. “Your bath is drawn and Miss Potts awaits you in the throne room afterwards.”
“I’ll use my own bath,” Stephen told him and the manservant nodded.
“I will inform Wong.”
Stephen saw his husband off by pressing another brief kiss onto his lips. Then he left the King’s Chambers – not without taking the tea Jarvis had brought with him.
By now, he almost slept as often in Tony’s bed as in his own; still he enjoyed the luxury of his own space.
______________
An hour later they met with Pepper in the throne room to go over everything one last time.
As the already reigning king, Tony had taken the role of the officiator, signifying that he approved of the to-be king.
He stood in front of the two thrones, solemnly, facing the room. This area was elevated by a step and since Stephen was standing on the lower level, Tony registered with a sly smirk that – for once – he was taller than the sorcerer.
Waiting for him to speak, Stephen noticed his smirk and raised one eyebrow.
“Consort Stephen, are you willing to take the Oath?” Tony asked, quoting the ceremonial speech.
“I am willing,” Stephen said. He had the easier part of the two of them; he mostly had to answer the questions.
“Will you, Consort Stephen, get drunk with me…” out of the corner of his eye, Tony saw Pepper’s eyes shoot up in a glare next to them as he changed the text on the spur of the moment. His smirk got even bigger. “…before the ceremony, to be able to bear all the people and their long and boring speeches?”
“Tony, please. We’re on a schedule,” Pepper scolded him exasperated. Normally used to his antics, she had been extra stressed these past few days before the event she had basically been planning on her own for months.
Sighing, she turned to Stephen and expected him to step in. Between the two men the sorcerer was usually the more dutiful one.
Stephen's eyes were on his husband. “I’m so glad you asked. Please! I really do.”
Pepper threw her hands in the air, giving up. “Not you too! Fine! If you want to make a fool of yourselves in front of no less than seven realms, be my guest.”
She seemed truly upset this time, which was why Tony stepped to her, raising his hands placatingly. “Pep. My friend. Best coronation planner of all kingdoms. We have been rehearsing this for weeks. Stephen and I know every single word and every gesture by heart.”
His reassuring voice made her take a deep breath, calming her down a bit.
Maybe she was the one needing a drink, she thought.
Tony took her hands, smiling at her calmly. He was joined by Stephen, who stepped next to them. “Everything will go smoothly,” the sorcerer promised.
“Exactly,” Tony agreed. “We’ll make you proud.” Like she was a mother of two not always well behaved boys.
“This isn’t about me.” Pepper was quick to object. And really, this was Stephen’s day. He was going to be crowned a King today.
“But we couldn't have done this without you.”
Pepper tried to hide her blush and the smile on her lips. “Alright. I guess I really prepared you the best I could.” She already was very proud of both of them. No matter how this day would go.
“You did.” Tony let her hands go and she shooed them both away.
“Fine. Enough rehearsal. Go get ready.”
Amused, Tony and Stephen took the opportunity to leave. They still had a little time before the guests arrived and they had to get changed.
“Getting drunk really sounds tempting,” Stephen admitted in a low voice.
“It really does,” Tony sighed. “But Pepper is going to behead us and proclaim a republic if we do that.”
“Vishanti forbid. In the end, she will install a democracy..”
“Just imagine.” Tony clutched his heart, dramatically. “The horror…”
Laughing, they went to enjoy their last hour alone before the palace would be filled with people.
__________________
Finally, the time had come for the coronation. The palace was packed; more so than at their wedding. It was so full that some guests were even happy to just stand in the back of the throne room.
It was a joyous day. The windows showed a perfect blue sky – as if even the gods blessed this occasion.
The guests chattered amongst each other, using the event to catch up with people from the other kingdoms that they rarely saw.
But as soon as the music started, all eyes turned forward expectantly.
Tony entered the room from the side door in the front. Everyone stood up respectfully on his arrival. Tony eyed the front row while walking to the center: it was reserved for family and close friends.
He spotted Donna Strange, who beamed happily. He winked at her. Her brother was about to arrive.
Tony stood in front of the thrones, solemnly, facing the room. The music changed and the big double door in the back opened.
Everyone watched the procession with Stephen as the main act. His ceremonial gowns were still robes in the style of Kamar-Taj but in the colors of the House of Stark. It was an art of red and gold.
One of the pieces looked suspiciously like the red cloak Tony had gifted his husband.
Stephen stopped in front of the king the same time the music ended. A cushion marked his place in front of the steps that led to the thrones, and Stephen kneeled on it, lowering his head.
Tony stood straighter and raised his eyes back to the crowd before he opened his mouth.
“People of Midgard, Allies of Midgard, Friends of Midgard. Before you kneels – humbly – Stephen Vincent Strange, Consort of the King of Midgard, Prince of Kamar-Taj. If you have any objections to his approval as a King of this kingdom, you may object now.”
There was a deafening silence. As if everyone was trying not to make even a noise by breathing.
Tony smiled, his eyes back on Stephen. Even though the sorcerer appeared calm on the outside, Tony knew he was nervous. He noticed the little tells: the shaking hands, the tight jaw, and that he refused to even do as much as glance up to him.
They had rehearsed this many times. Like Tony had said: Stephen knew his words by heart; he didn’t do things halfway.
But the public was unpredictable. There was always a last doubt left; would everything go as planned?
As if the hall wasn’t filled with people that loved and adored the man. Not just friends and family but also nobles and members of the aristocracy, as well as citizens.
There were several royal servants assisting. One of them stepped at Tony’s side, presenting him a golden scepter on a cushion. Tony took it and gave it to Stephen, who took it carefully.
“Consort Stephen, are you willing to take the Oath?” he asked his husband, his voice strong enough to carry even to the last row of their audience.
And Stephen answered, “I am willing.”
“Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the People of Midgard according to their respective laws and customs?”
“I solemnly promise to do so.”
“Will you – to your power – cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?”
“I will.”
Another royal servant brought a pillow on which the crown was resting. The boy tried to hide his excitement, but he was only partially successful; the barely concealed smile betrayed him.
Tony exchanged a quick glance with him. He had personally chosen Peter for this task; it would be his last as a servant boy. Stephen and he had agreed that it was time for the boy to get a full royal education.
It was never soon enough to secure the future of the realm.
Tony took the crown – a beautiful piece made by a master of his craft – and turned back to the sorcerer. He held it in the air right above Stephen's head.
“I hereby declare you, Stephen Vincent Strange, King of Midgard.”
He lowered the crown onto his head. It fit perfectly.
Stephen lifted his face and his eyes met Tony’s who grinned proudly at him. Infected by it, Stephen mirrored it. He elegantly rose to his feet and the trumpet call rang out, signaling that a new King now joined the former as rulers of the kingdom. The royal court offered up three cheers.
“Long live King Strange!”
“Long live King Stark!”
“Long live the Kings!”
The crowd was on their feet and the cheers went on when Tony extended a hand – their fingers entwining – as he led his husband ceremoniously to their thrones.
They turned around like the unit they were, presenting their front to the audience. The cheers grew louder as they sat down.
Midgard now had two Kings.
This marked the end of the official part of the ceremony. Next up, guests would present gifts and congratulations to the new ruler.
Donna was first to step up to them and she lingered in a curtsy. “Your Majesty, congratulations and sincere best wishes on this special occasion. I wish you and King Stark a long, successful and joyous reign together.”
“Thank you, Princess Strange.”
Donna looked up at her brother, so very proud of him. A servant approached them, carrying a casket that was opened in front of Stephen.
Donna gestured to its contents. “I took the liberty to hand-select the gifts to the new king myself.” Her smile turned into a mischievous one.
Stephen spotted family heirlooms from the House of Strange. Most of them were normally passed onto the first born child; but Stephen was sure their parents had never wanted them to leave the Kingdom of Kamar-Taj.
Donna clearly hadn’t told them what she had packed.
Stephen was touched by the gesture. It was a piece of his old home he was allowed to keep.
“Thank you, Donna.” He spoke quietly and more intimately than the occasion normally would allow. “I look forward to your coronation.”
He really did.
The siblings looked at each other, smiling softly. When they were children, they would have never thought they would be standing here in front of each other for this kind of event. It was reassuring that after everything that had happened, they still had each other; even when they belonged to different realms now.
With another curtsy, Donna left, heading to the ballroom, where the rest of the festivities will take place.
Next in line were Thor and Loki; both grinning broadly.
“On behalf of the King and Queen of Asgard, we wish you a long, happy and successful reign,” Thor spoke first as the older one, addressing both kings.
A wooden chest was put down in front of them. Loki opened it with a swirl of his hand, revealing – to Tony’s surprise – an axe.
In his eyes it didn’t seem fitting; while it wasn’t an unusual gift for this kind of occasion – even if there were better choices – Stephen wasn’t known for wielding them. Not with his own hands. Especially a heavy one like this.
But glancing at Stephen, Tony noticed him looking at it with awe.
“The Axe of Angarruumus.” Stephen's eyes moved from the chest back to Loki. The gift had definitely been the mage’s idea. “I see you use your time in Kamar-Taj well.”
Stephen had heard that soon after he had proposed Loki for the position of Sorcerer Supreme, Loki started spending more and more time in the Sorcerer’s Temples. Becoming Sorcerer Supreme was a long process with many tests before he was awarded the title. But Stephen had no doubt the Asgardian prince would manage it; if he set his mind to it.
“Actually, this is from the vault of our father. I believe you can make better use of it.”
“I will. Thank you. I’m very honored to receive this.”
“You should also visit me in Kamar-Taj soon. I’m thinking about redecoration,” Loki added, teasingly.
Stephen smiled and had no intention to bite. He didn’t feel the urge to compete with Loki anymore – at least not in this regard. He was happy where he was – at Tony’s side, ruling the Kingdom of Midgard. Maybe he would make plans to bring magic into this realm; which would be a task for a whole lifetime.
“I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas,” he therefore replied.
Loki’s smile grew more honest, they were past their days of competing and one-upping banter.
Thor and Loki left to go to the ballroom and the next guests in line stepped forward. It would take a while to exchange friendly words with everyone but Stephen couldn't mind less. He was happy; this was a joyous day. Not only because he had been crowned a king, but also because of his fantastic husband at his side.
In a short break between two guests, Stephen took Tony’s hand in his. Brown eyes looked at him, silently asking if everything was alright.
Everything was just perfect.
Stephen kept his voice low, when he asked, “I was wondering: is there something like a coronation night.” He winked at Tony, who caught up immediately.
“Oh absolutely.” His smile became wicked. “I will show you how to be a King outside, and in the bedroom.” His words were husky, promising.
"I look forward to that," Stephen said with a smile of his own. "Your Majesty."
♛ THE END ♛