Work Text
Stephen knew what Wong's favorite music was. He had caught the Librarian listening to Beyonce on numerous occasions and surprised Wong with two tickets to a Beyonce concert for their first anniversary. A concert that Stephen didn't expect to have so much fun at, nor did he expect to get so drunk at the after party, but that was a different story. After the concert (and the massive hangover), Wong began to play his music around the Sanctum when it got too quiet, which, admittedly, happened often.Soon, Stephen got used to waking up to Wongs side of the bed empty and his music playing in the kitchen while the librarian made breakfast. He got used to Beyonce, unfamiliar Chinese music (that he eventually translated and learned every word of) and classic rock drifting through the large house. Stephen also figured out that once Wong was given free reign, he listened to music constantly. When he was studying, cleaning, even when he was organizing the library.Stephen thought he would hate it eventually, the same songs, over and over, but he didn't He got used to it and even found himself missing Wong's music when he was alone. He would find himself at Kamar-Taj more often than not, feeling off and not knowing why until he realized that the room was silent.Hell, if he could still operate his own playlists, Beyonce would be making an appearance among Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Chuck Magione, and the artist the dominated his own nonexistent playlist: ABBA.Wong didn't know that Stephen liked ABBA. Stephen had no intention of telling Wong that he liked ABBA.But the librarian had to ask one day over lunch, Stephen just back from Kamar-Taj and Wong from a day of reorganizing the library after the last Novice study group ransacked the ancient shelves."Who is your favorite artist, Stephen?"Stephen nearly choked on his macaroni salad."Music-wise. We both know you do not have the skills to appreciate art."Stephen set his fork down. "First, just because the painting in Kamar-Taj is over three-thousand years old and looks like a pile of red and brown cow dung, does not mean I can't appreciate art. Second of all, I don't have one."Wong's fork froze halfway to his mouth. "You, Stephen Vincent Strange, do not have a favorite artist?""Yes." Stephen replied, picking up his fork and stabbing bits of macaroni from his bowl."I find that incredibly hard to believe." Wong said around a mouthful of pasta."Yeah, well, it's true."Wong chewed for a bit before pointing his fork at Stephen. "You're lying."Stephen looked up in surprise. "What?""You're lying to me, and I will figure it out.""O...kay?"Wong did find out. The next day, in fact.The reason: Tony Stark.They had been called out for a consultant mission to take care of some interdimentional beings taking over Oklahoma so, a regular Tuesday.But then, Stephen apparently had the gall to pull out the only phone he could actually afford: an old Samsung galaxy from 2009. Stark, spotting Stephen phone, literally screamed and blasted off into the sky, reaching a sonic boom in seconds.Stephen brushed off this odd behavior and called Wong to pick him up (his magic was depleted and he couldn't find the strength to open a portal). Stark showed up not two hours later, red in the face, two of the newest StarkPhones in his hand."Dumbledore. Wong." He greeted."Stark." Stephen responded, raising an eyebrow. "What... are you doing here?""You," he pointed to Stephen, "cannot be an Avenger without a phone like that.""I'm not an Avenger."Stark waved a hand. "Consultant Avenger, part-time, who cares. You simply cannot be walking around with a Samsung, of all things! So, here."Stephen took the phones and looked down. "Why are there two?""One's for your sidekick.""Boyfriend." Stephen automatically corrected. Stark looked somewhat taken aback, but didn't say anything."I already have a StarkPhone, thank you." Wong called over Stephen's shoulder.The doctor turned around in shock. "You have a StarkPhone? And you make me use the landline-"Wong just shrugged and went back to his book."Fine." Stephen handed the phones back to Stark, but Stark only took one."It's your now, Wizard. Has all the latest updates, works with your hands, and already has tons of music on it. I talked to Christine this afternoon and she got me all your favorites.""I can't take-"In one split second, Stark had gone with a shouted 'bye', the Sanctum doors had slammed shut, and Stephen's new phone was in Wong's hands."What-""I told you I'd find out somehow.""I didn't think you'd resort to stealing!" Stephen exclaimed."I resort to a lot of things you don't think of." Wong commented. Stephen stared at him."Like what, butterfly?"Wong hummed. "Do not ask questions you do not want to answer to.""Cryptic, but I mean-""Stephen."Stephen sighed, turning around to see a portal. "Yes, Wong?""Come with me." he said. "We have to have a talk.""What in the-" Before Stephen could react, he was being pulled into a portal and dropped on the Ancient One's couch. Commonly referred to as Tao by friends and family, Stephen stared at her, then turned to Wong who still had his brand new phone -- open on Spotify."Tao." Wong stated coolly, ignoring Tao's struggle to not roll her eyes over her cup of tea. "Please explain to Mister Sorcerer Supreme's AC Apprentice Strange here that Beyonce is the superior artist to ABBA."Finally realizing what this was about (and what Christine had told Tony) Stephen sat up and glared at Wong. "What happened to being open minded?""You're playlist is almost entirely ABBA and whatever Pink Floyd is-""that's a sin-""and, in our friendship, that will be entirely unacceptable."Stephen gawked at Wong. "You're joking, right?"Wong stared back, the corners of his mouth rising ever so slightly in the way that proved to Stephen that he was, indeed, joking. "Unnacceptable. Tao, please explain-"Both sorcerers glanced at Tao, who was uneffectively hiding her laughs behind her half-empty tea cup."What?" They asked, almost in sync."Oh, boys. ABBA and Beyonce are both wonderful artists and you two already share a common interest in Beyonce. I have the videos on my phone as proof.. and maybe blackmail..." she whispered under her breath, then took a sip of tea. "But we all know that Queen is the best band.""........you have a point." Wong muttered, glaring at Stephen. "We may just have to find a compromise."Stephen grinned. "Did you know that Beyonce herself is an ABBA fan?"Wong pulled his best surprised pikachu face as Tao suddenly threatened to post the videos of the after party on the Kamar-Taj instagram page if they didn't work out their music choices."NO!" Both men shouted, having seen the videos, as Tao let out a cackle, telleporting away and leaving the two (fully grown) men fall into a heap after attempting to launch themselves at Tao's now empty seat.