A Strange Variable

Sharp Pains

This all started with Kang.

Everyone told them not to go after him but they went anyway.

Correction.

Everyone told Tony not to pursue him but he chose to go on.

Stephen only followed him to act as back up.

Why did he follow him to act as back up?

Tony and Stephen were, as Tony put it, "facial hair Bros" and being such a person in Tony and Strange's (reluctant) regard would make that person responsible for the well being of the other so in lighter terms, he had to help his "bro" just as he knew Tony would help him.

The two chased the villian into an alley and Kang had finally been cornered, back against the wall and nowhere to run as the two closed in on him.

"You both are very stubborn." The villian snarled.

"I like to think of it as incredibly determined." Tony quipped as he aimed a repulsor after Kang.

"Now surrender and you'll be dealt with fairly and without any significant injuries." Stephen commanded.

"I've got no time to surrender sorcerer supreme." Kang smirked.

Cringe filled Tony's expression behind his helmet as he faced Kang. "I'm calling it, that's officially the worst time travel pun."

"You've made worse Tony." Strange rebutted.

"Your words breaks my heart Stephen, they really do." Tony joked.

"If you're both done talking I'll be taking my leave now." Kang soon tapped a button on his arm band and a portal appeared.

"Not so fast!" Strange fired a energy bolt while tony shot a repulsor blast, both hoping to prevent the villian from escaping but instead getting an unexpected result.

The portal absorbed the two projectile attacks before redirecting them. An energy bolt hit Tony right in the suit's reactor and a repulsor blast made contact with strange's chest, both energies sending the two flying backwards before Kang blinked out of reality  and was nowhere to be seen.

"Ow." Tony winced as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"Ugh that was unpleasant." Strange got onto his knees.

That's when it really took effect, a sharp pain without any warning burst through both of their senses and sent the two men writhing and sprawling on the ground in pain.

"Aaaagh!" Tony cried as he felt a piercing sting struck his heart. It was just like the shrapnel from Afghanistan but it felt so much worse. He clutched his heart in pain as he tried to gather his thoughts as to what to do. His breaths were becoming shorter and his lungs were seemingly running out of air. His vision was becoming darker and hazier by the second as he felt his strength slipping away little by little, all being replaced by his flashbacks of Afghanistan. The attack. The shrapnel. His life slipping away. The pace maker. The torture. The abuse. The agony. The hurt. The screams. Yinsen's Death. The terrorists.

Strange was in no better state. He was screaming in anguish as the pain overwhelmed his hands. They shook violently as his nerves exploded with pulses of shock and pain. He couldn't move his hands to gesture a spell and the pain was so overpowering that his mind had become so fogged with the horrifying sensations and memories that flooded to the forefront of his mind. The car accident. Waking up from his surgery. His depression. His defeat. His loss. His vulnerability.

Both of them were in pain again. Both of them hated this pain but the pain loved them. It made them who they were. They always had pushed past it and persevered, never giving it a second thought after they'd overcome it. Now the pain cried for their attention and quickly the pain pulled them both to rest.