spiderrpcrkerwrites

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

Dream fics to write (someday)

Tasm Peter no plan fic

Battinson marriage of convienience fic

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

Updated Masterlist

💗-fluff 😭-angst 🙈-steamy

Marvel

Peter Parker

Out of Time (Coming soon)

No Rest for The Wicked Part 1 Part 2 💗

Prom Night (Fem!Reader) 💗

What it’s like to be you 😭

Magic and Madness 💗

Dreams (Gender Neutral!Reader) 💗

The Misfit ((collab with @sectumsempra-beaches )) (ON HIATUS) 💗

: Prologue   Chapter 1

Kinks 🙈

Fangs, Claws, and Webshooters

Steve Rogers

Wedding Bells (Desi!Reader)

The Trouble With Wanting

Natasha Romanoff

Faking It   Faking It 2 (Fem!Reader) 💗

Red (Fem!Reader) 💗😭

Impostor 💗😭

Someone New 😭

Sniffles 💗

Michelle Jones

Exam Season 💗

Harry Potter

Draco Malfoy

Seeing off (Fem!Reader) 💗

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/N: I'm pretty sure i wrote this a year ago for a month of prompts that i lost inspo for in a week ksksksksk anyway i figured everyone needs some fluff rn. I'm not familiar with western weddings, don't @ me lmao

First dances are always hyped for no good reason.

Atleast, that's what Michelle tells herself as she slicks back her hair for the final time, smiles at her sister and takes a deep breath. Maya goes up first, behind two of her half sisters who'd grudgingly agreed to be her flower girls. Her father offers her his arm and kisses her cheek once.

She's not nervous about tripping and embarrassing her family, or of mixing up the vows or tackling her fiancé because he looks downright edible in that stupid tuxedo. Michelle Jones is scared of dances.

She's great at other activities that involve hand eye coordination, and mediocre at so called cultural events. What truly terrifies her is dancing, particularly when her husband is a ballet prodigy and swings around New York in his free time.

The ceremony goes by quickly and the speeches don't take as long as she hopes. The bouquet is caught by her sister of all people, to which her father shakes his head and jokes about too many marriages costing his pocket and sanity.

Finally, Peter grasps her hand and she manages a smile despite the butterflies that have made her stomach their permanent residence. He leads the dance and she follows. Leaning into him, they choose to sway after a while as the host invites others to join in. Her cheeks are wet but the grin doesn't leave her face.

"I thought you weren't going to cry?" He jokes as she looks up at him.

"I'm crying at your atrocious dancing skills, I'd expected the swan lake at a minimum."

"I'm pretty sure if you could get some ballet shoes for Aunt Nat we could set one up for you." At this, she rolls her eyes.

"So, Mrs. Parker, how does it feel to have interrupted everyone's holiday plans?"

"Parker-Jones, actually. And it doesn't really feel like a holiday wedding."

"Well, it's snowing, you'd only need a santa to complete the holiday aesthetic." He spins her around again.

"Tony could be one?" She quips as they continue to sway in place.

"Mmm." She giggles as he spins her around. There's so many people watching them, and yet she doesn't feel any fear.

Something catches her eye when she looks up in wonder. "Is that...mistletoe?"

"Mistletoe, at a Christmas wedding. How shocking." He leans down and kisses her, again, in a kiss that lasts forever, where they both are entwined and it's just them, in a moment frozen in time as if it's a snow globe.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/N: remember when I said I was done with angst LMAO anyway uhhh major angst, my desktops acting up so no keep reading, SIM is an ass and we love him, also mild pining and Steve suffers a lot lmao I love my boy but he must suffer. I had to bust out kahin toh for this no regrets lads

“You’ll do it?” Steve can’t read Rhodes’ face. He’s staring straight ahead at the screen, his face emotionless.

“Yes.” A single stray tear runs down his face, and Steve looks away to give him space. Rhodes’ voice is choking when he whispers, “I wrote the fail safe for the project...in case he was ever...compromised. Or unavailable.” He sighs deeply and turns to Steve. “Will he recognise me?”

“Maybe. He still remembers, I think. Remembers being...human.”

“He’s playing with us. Toying with...emotions and memories. He’s playing God.”

“Our sources last saw him in New York. Tony’s here, Steve.”

“Don’t. Don’t call him that. He’s not Tony.”

“He’s not yours anymore, is he?” Rhodes’ smile is cruel.

“Move, darling.” the man in the armour drawls. “We tried this last time, remember?”

Steve is on his knees, broken. His last attack is fended off by the many strings of pure light, binding and burning him.

“Tch, tch. I leave you and this is what you’ve  become. Disappointing, winghead, hasn’t my genius rubbed off on you?” He raises his repulsor, aiming it at Stev’s head. “Pity it’s come to this. Hydra would’ve loved to get their hands on you. They can have your corpse, I suppose.”

The repulsor beams scatter as War Machine throws himself in between.

And all of a sudden, Tony freezes, his veneer breaking. It’s enough for Nat to de magnetise his fields, rendering his suit useless.

Rhodey isn’t moving. Tony’s ice blue eyes never leave his figure as he’s tied and dragged away into a containment unit.

“There must be life, oh beloved, where life is not so cross with us...Hmm, Stevie?” Tony sighs and sits up, watching Steve across the cell, who only glares coldly.

“Where is the Vibranium, Tony?”

“Don’t know, don’t care. Hydra? Sinister Seven? Some war criminal?”

“You gave Hydra vibranium?” Steve hits the missile proof glass hard enough for it to rattle.

“Oh don’t worry, by the time their scientists figure it out, all of them will be in graves. Such is the human brain, feeble and weak. No substance, no...perseverance.”

The alarms go off late. So, so late. Rhodes's body had vanished from the morgue, a singular bottle of some heart slowing enzyme with a single sticky note in his place.

But it has been vanity, and not love, that has been your folly, Steven.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

Just Friends

a/n: don’t be fooled by the title lmao this is full fluff, based on this post, beta read by @thebookwormslytherin

Amidst the chaos that always comes with nappy changing, Tony has an epiphany. He gently sets Morgan down, who’s cooing happily. He disposes of the dirty diaper, washes his hands, puts mildly scented baby-friendly hand cream on, all the while staring into space. He’s sitting on the living room couch, staring at his lockscreen that features his tiny family, grinning happily at the camera. He shudders once and calls his friend.

Rhodey hates his friend sometimes. Yes. he would die and kill for him, was best man at his wedding and is the first number on his speed dial. He also frequently gets his afternoon siesta by his oldest friend asking inane questions. Today, he has a strange quiver to his voice.

“Yes.” He sighs as he picks up the call, expecting a query on which cereal would be better for his baby once she starts solids.

“Honeybear, I’m-I’m confused.”

“What happened?”

“I just realized...I never asked Pepper to be my girlfriend. We live together and we have a baby, but we never like, established we were in a relationship. What are we, Honeybear? What if we’re just friends?”

Rhodes looks at his phone incredulously and has to hold back his giggles. “Did you, uh, talk to her about it?”

“What if she says we’re just friends? What do I do? Do I move out? Who gets Morgan. Oh my god, is Morgan illegitimate?”

“Jesus. Just...go talk to her. It’s gonna be okay.” is all Rhodey manages to say before he disconnects and dissolves into a laughing fit.

~

“Pep. We need to talk.”

“Hmm?” Pepper doesn’t look up from her laptop. Morgan’s been put to sleep ages ago, and the two are enjoying a glass of wine and winding up the day. 

“What are we?”

“What?” She looks up and chuckles.

“I’m serious. When did I ask you to be in a relationship with me? What are we, Pepper?”

“We’re friends. Pals. Happy?” She’s smiling affectionately at him now while he’s gasping.

~

Rhodey makes his way to their place for dinner three days later. He’s amused when Tony announces that he’s got an important announcement to make. He motions for him to go forth.

“So, uh. Pepper.”

“Yes, Tony.” Pepper can barely control her smile, but t disappears when Tony goes down on a knee.

“I know that there has been some confusion over what our relationship status has been.”

“Mhm.”

“And the other day, you called us friends.”

“..Yeah.” There are actual tears in her eyes at this point. Aware that they aren’t noticing him, Rhodey quietly slips his phone out and starts filming.

“So I’d like us to be a step above. Will you be my uh, best friend for life?"

"And replace Rhodey? I couldn't dream of doing anything like that. I'll be your second best friend."

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/n: why am i doing this tell me to go study. Inspired by Ajab Si by KK

Anytime he sees her smile, its as if someone punches him in the chest.

Her animated eyes, sparkling. The slight furrow in her brow, and the way she bites her lip to not let giggles escape.

Tony is very sure he can differentiate all of her smiles now. The slightly bewildered one, the sly one, the shy one and the loving one.

Every single one of them leaves him gasping for breath.

Its always new, to him. Since the first time he saw her and gave her a conspiratorial wink. When they went on their first date, and her loving smile was directed towards a young couple, sharing ice cream.

The one she gives him at getting him back, grinning through her tears when he sits up in bed. The one at their children's weddings and graduations.

The one she gives him when she tells him she loves him.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/n: why am i doing this tell me to go study. Inspired by Ajab Si by KK

Anytime he sees her smile, its as if someone punches him in the chest.

Her animated eyes, sparkling. The slight furrow in her brow, and the way she bites her lip to not let giggles escape.

Tony is very sure he can differentiate all of her smiles now. The slightly bewildered one, the sly one, the shy one and the loving one.

Every single one of them leaves him gasping for breath.

Its always new, to him. Since the first time he saw her and gave her a conspiratorial wink. When they went on their first date, and her loving smile was directed towards a young couple, sharing ice cream.

The one she gives him at getting him back, grinning through her tears when he sits up in bed. The one at their children's weddings and graduations.

The one she gives him when she tells him she loves him.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/n: yeah yeah okay I should be studying but also consider: I'm v good at procastinating (and also this is an old drabble I'm trying to not let my creative spirit die). Based on this song by Ritviz, original idea by @thebookwormslytherin

He has often mused on what being lonely actually means. He's surrounded by people all day, from his neighbours to the vegetable vendor down the street to grad students that often come up to him to ask for appointments.

He's not alone, but he thinks he might be lonely.

It's not something bad, after all. He's been fond of being left alone most of his life. It's better than the awkwardness of strange questions about the beast that lives within him.

Bruce is lonely and he's only a tiny bit miffed about it.

He drowns himself in work, an assassin tracks him down to the other end of the world and then he helps save it. It's sweet to have been in a team, but he doesn't have much keeping him back in the States. He comes back to burnt coffee, a leaking tap and an overdue bill. He sighs and goes out to have dinner.

~

The decision to stop at the ice cream place was maybe a good one. It reminded him of a childhood he never had and the love he never got, as he saw a girl drag on her father's sleeve and point to a sundae.

The girl sitting next to him mutters something under her breath and seems surprised when he giggles. It may not give him as much physical appeal as Steve, but his watered down serum gave him enhanced senses. She smiles at him and leaves her number behind on a napkin, perhaps recognising him.

Bruce was alone, but suddenly he wasn't lonely.

She texts him on and off, tells him all about learning law and her career plans. He texts her the appropriate responses and expects to be left alone after getting a promised recommendation letter from him. She then keeps sending him mini updates about her life, asking him about his adventures and poking fun at his antiquated tastes in everything, from music to dating.

She laughs away his worries about being too old for him and makes him promise a date. He doesn't ruin it entirely apparently because there's a text asking for the next before he even reaches home.

~

If you visit his flat, there are changes, some more visible than others. A tabby will wander around aimlessly before settling down to nap in the hot sun. Legal textbooks gather dust in a shelf full of books on neuroscience, the previously empty fridge is now full of ice cream. There is music and laughter once a fortnight where she introduces him to her friends who look him over and accept him into their circle.

Most of all, Bruce is neither alone or lonely.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/n: stress wrote this a few days ago. Beta read by both @thebookwormslytherin and @irondad-is-irondead, inspired by both 'To see a Tiger' by Ruskin Bond and my own experience when I went to Ranthambore, a national park here. Contains some descriptions of bats and tigers. Refer to P.S. for more notes.

He knew sleep was a lost cause when the clock struck one.

He debated switching on the light but decided against it. The serum in his veins wasn't up to the Captain America quality, but it still granted him great vision. Besides, he'd had many midnight sniping missions.

The cottage they were staying in was tiny but comfortable. It was cold, colder than he expected. He'd only come east once, disguised as a diplomat of all things (and to assassinate another). It was a long, long time ago; he barely remembered killing them.

Bucky looked at her sleeping next to him, gently snoring. She'd dragged him along to visit relatives, and they'd suggested taking him to see a tiger. They hadn't had much luck, and the next day a hired jeep would take them back to the main city, from where another flight would take them out of the country, back to the States.

He sat up and yawned. The phone on the nightstand vibrated but he didn't pay much attention to it. The rest were busy with a mission demanding minimal contact with the outside world, so it would probably be someone who could wait till the morning.

It was then that he heard a tiny squeak and something brushing against the curtains. At the disturbance, Y/N twisted once but remained asleep.

Getting up, he guessed it was probably some poor creature that had stumbled into their temporary abode. Sighing and getting up, he walked towards the panes, opening them wide open.

He ducked once as a bat swooped over him, hurtling towards freedom. Probably attracted towards the moths around the lamp outside the door, it must have assumed some more would be inside the house.

He hums under his breath as he makes to switch off the lamp outside. Maybe it's the old man in him, but he would hate to have more nighttime visiters looking for dinner.

Bucky opened the door, making to switch off the lamp. Plates were neatly gathered on the verandah, presumably the collection of the nearby scattered huts to be taken and cleaned by the guest house staff. Grumbling, he walked up to the very edge, staring at the horizon and the glinting moonlight.

He hadn't noticed when the big cat crept up to him. Turning, he inhaled sharply at the tiger perched on the grounds, disdainfully licking at the plates. It looked at him and he swallowed.

As a child, Bucky was told stories of a shikar his grandfather had attended. It was the fashionable thing back then, to hunt and brag about your trophies. Grandpa's big eyes as he narrated, for the tenth time the tale of the man eater his friend had bagged, had captivated little James to no end.

The tiger continued to stare, perhaps curious about who this random human was. He didn't have any weapons with him but a stick nearby (for chasing off village cows when they wandered too close to the  property) would be his only defence.

However, it thankfully didn't come to that. With a grunt deep in its throat, the tiger turned around and bounded away. The sigh of relief Bucky left was audible.

He didn't sleep for the rest of the night.

Early the next day, Y/N was equal parts shocked and miffed about his tiger encounter, when a few nights previous they'd stayed up with cups of tea, waiting for the tiger they'd been assured but to no avail.

Suddenly the jeep stopped. In the midst of the road, stood another tiger, glaring at the jeep. Angry at the intrusion of his privacy, he snarled once and went on his merry way.

P. S. : Shikar is the literal translation of Hunt in Hindi. The backstory is that from ancient times, tiger hunting has been described as a sport of royalty. Until the British Raj, it was pretty legal. Post independence, hunting/poaching of tigers is banned. Considering Bucky to be born in 1917, it is perfectly possible for his grandfather to have journeyed to India for the hunt.

National Parks and Tiger reserves are very common vacation areas, many a drive away from main cities. They also boost tourism revenue and help in conservation. The two main ones for Tigers are Ranthambhore and Sariska Tiger Reserve, both located in the western state of Rajasthan. Hotels and guesthouses have cropped up everywhere near them, with some even giving individual vilas to guests.

I myself did not see any tigers when I went to Ranthambhore for a few days, sadly.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

Zinda.

A/n: gasp! Yes, I still remember how to write, lmao. Holiday present for @rxmanoff (i know I promised a fluffy fic but i just completed this and you always patiently listen to my rants about falana song being for falana character lmao i love u); this is angst with a happy ending and us based on the song 'Zinda' from the movie Lootera.

Mujhe chhod do mere haal pe

Zindaa hoon yaar, kaafi hai

It begins mostly as a coping strategy, like he hasn't enough of them.

I'm alive, I'm alive. It's enough.

It's what he tells himself when he wakes up in that cave. When he falls from the sky and expects to wake up in hell, ready to repay for his sins.

~

Hawaaon se jo maanga hissa mera

To badle main hawa ne saans di

Akelepan se chhedi jab guftagu

Mere dil ne aawaaz di

This life he's managed to somehow acquire, this pretense of being apologetic for having a whole family when he sees broken friends and peers, should be ripped from him if his guilt had a say in it.

He should be guilty. He should be apologetic. Should reverse this calamity, but the simple answer is he is tired.

He knows he should repay the debt he owes to this world. The fact that if there is a god above, who is merciful enough to let him live, after so many mistakes and wrongdoing, is enough to push him to find a solution.

~

Mere haathon, hua jo qissa shuru

Usey poora toh karna hai mujhe

Qabr par mere sar utha ke khadi ho zindagi

Aise marna hai mujhe

The snap is painful.

He knew it was a bet, if he would be able to do it, if he would be able to trick the titan. If he was brave enough to leave his life behind.

He hoped this act (he didn't dare call it a sacrifice), would be enough, for any deity above to consider his debt repaid.

He feels it within his bones, excruciating to the extent he feels it disintegrate his very flesh, rip out his veins.

The world ends in white.

~

Zinda hoon yaar, kaafi hai.

He didn't really expect to live.

It's a miracle, Strange tells him, that he lost only an arm and would walk only with support for the rest of his life.

He lives through all that he was afraid of missing. Morgan growing up, Peter's graduation and wedding, his 25th anniversary, Morgan graduating and taking over his company. It's all so delightfully giddy he refuses to believe it all really was given to him.

He doesn't mind he can't rise without support or see without glasses or has people blame him for more problems. He's alive, that's quite enough for him.

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

Almonds

A/n: anyway obligatory 'tanya is very fuckin desi and will write absolute crack every 3 months after radio silence' ficlet. Beta read by @thebookwormslytherin and @desitonystark (love u bbs). Desi!Fem!Tony, established winteriron marriage. I do not know how to write children speaking apparently lmao

"Hello, siiiiir! Here to see your wife after a 2 month gap? I was pretty miffed when you didn't show up at the airport." Tanishka 'Toni' Stark smirked to herself as she busied herself with resetting her lab after a sabbath to visit home. Whirling around, she expected to see James with that insufferable smile of his. She saw instead her son rushing up to her still in his pyjamas.

"Hi baby! It's 3 AM, why aren't you sleeping in your nice, nice bed?" She cooed at him as she picked Peter up and set him on the desk.

"No sleep. There is a monster under my bed."

"Aww baby, you wanna help mum?" She knew jet lag wouldn't let him sleep anyway. Childhood trips from the States and back had led to many sleepless nights in her childhood, much to the chagrin of her many nannies, until her mother would be roused and would come rushing to put Toni to sleep by singing to her.

"Wanna….watch." Peter yawned. He was learning new words every day, even picking up some of her native language. He was growing up too fast, it seemed like barely a year ago that he was babbling and reaching out to grab her hands.

"Oh? Well let the show begin then. Fri, where's my husband disappeared to?"

"Major Barnes is currently on a reconnaissance mission. He has requested minimal contact. He and Captain Rogers left a week ago."

"Huh. And I wasn't informed...why?"

"Major Barnes specifically requested me to not inform you, ma'am."

"For heaven's sake, my husband is off God knows where and I haven't slept in 72 hours. Fri, where is he?"

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that, ma'am."

~

When James stepped off, he felt as if something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it, the mission was a success and miraculously no one was injured, why did he feel strangely afraid?

It hits him as he steps out of the debriefing room. Toni is nowhere to be seen, despite Friday's assurances she's back. Whistling, he strolls up to Peter's room, surprised to see him asleep in the day. Normally the kid was bumbling around during the day, insistent on never napping.

He wakes up squealing when he sees his father sitting cross-legged on his bed, smiling at him. He immediately clambers about, chattering his head off about his first trip to his mother's home.

He suddenly stops when James looks confused.

"Dada?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Why you were gone? Mumma was sad."

"Oh?" He knew he had been forgetting something when he'd left abruptly for the mission. It hit him now how Toni would be worried sick about him.

"D'you know where mumma is now, kid?"

"She's in-inventing!" Peter sits up. "Do you wanna watch?"

"I'll go, kiddo. You stay right here and take a nap, 'kay?" He kisses his temple and gets up from the bed, tucking Peter in.

~

He nearly crashed into the glass when the doors refuse to open. The lab had biometrics registered, but it refused to let Bucky in despite confirming his identity.

He waved to Toni, who was scowling at him through the doors. Showing him a finger, she turned back to the desk.

Bucky dramatically threw himself on the doors, claiming ignorance of the blaring alarms. It might be resistant to missiles, but the lab and its inhabitant weren't impervious to a mopey super soldier. The door crashed open and Bucky toppled to the ground. Toni turned to check on him, and upon seeing nothing but his ego was bruised, she pretended to busy herself on fixing the gauntlet in front of her.

"Meri jaan…" The words had begun to sound less foreign on his tongue, and he only stuttered through foreign languages when he really wanted something.

"Yea?" She turned casually, taking a handful of almonds and munching on them.

"I'm uh, sorry. Like really, really. I truly, genuinely forgot."

"Aww, really?"

"Yes, really." He stood next to her, picking up the gauntlet as if seeing the armour for the very first time.

"Maybe you should also eat almonds then."

"Huh?" He dropped the gauntlet with a resounding crash, as both of them grimaced.

"Ya know, kids are told to have almonds before exams to help them remember. Amma was telling petey all about it." She rolled her eyes but didn't protest as Bucky gathered her in his arms.

"Yeah? I don't like almonds."

"I don't like you." She scrunched her nose and grins as Bucky made an expression of disgust at the almonds she offered him.

P.s.: yeah so almonds are apparently said to boost your memory power and apparently Toni is a troll lmao and i agree with Bucky almond skins always get stuck in your throat and mum chases me around trying to get me to eat them akjdjsjs

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

"I've always wondered..." Tanvi draws the pallu of the saree over her shoulder to ward off the mosquitos that find her shoulder a feast "...if we would've been friends back then."

Will stands mutely, as always. She's got used to a constantly hovering presence after the second battle, when nani hammered into her head the importance of pretenses. He's cute, has some brains apparently, and doesn't wrinkle his nose when she pulls out a cigarette.

She's promised herself to quit. Her therapist made her. She's considered firing the geriatric lady and then reminds gerself about the ethical issues, and the fact that finding jobs and paying clients was hard for everyone.

"Probably not. I'd be too cool for you." She giggles and sighs, leaning even further over the balcony to see some odd cousins scattered about in the maidan, one of whom is bravely lighting a huge stack of fireworks.

She stands up straight, crushing the lit cigarette under her red soles. Fireworks had always grated on her nerves, and now they remind her too much of battles she wished she'd done more in.

When she loses him, and mysterio decides he's a bad guy now, and the boy she's called a friend since childhood stands in front of her, poised to kill, she has one thought befire she closes her eyes: Will never said anything about their hypothetical friendship.

When they're standing on the bridge and the power crawls in her lungs and makes her wish for more, he finally speaks as he lets go the bear hug he'd pulled her into.

"No, we wouldn't have been. I didn't like nerds back then."

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

T H A N K JUUUUU 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'M IN LOVE ♥️♥️💕♥️💕💕♥️💕♥️♥️💕💕♥️💕♥️💕♥️💕♥️💕♥️💕♥️

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

Toni def arrives to her wedding with a baraat bc fuck traditions

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

This is just...tony

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/n: it's been 3 hours since I wrote the last one but shhhh. Inspired by @desitonystark

"Pepper yaar pick up sometimes!" Toni whined as she tossed random pieces of clothing into her suitcase, brushing off the seemingly helpful gestures of the maid. Toni calmed down and gave her a polite smile before stepping away from the closet. She held the phone away as she stage whispered something about 'hot tropical weather' and 'three days max'.

Pepper finally picked up, the noise of a shower in the back.

"Kya hai?"

"I got a rishta!"

"What." Tonu could practically hear her assistant's eyes rolling to the back of her head. She sat on the floor, watching the maid pack.

"Arey, before we moved south Delhi, I used go have this neighbour, kinda cute. Fir we lost touch. Now he's sending marriage proposals to mummy!"

"Oho. And?"

"And mummy is flat over him! Pep, am I not allowed a love story? I thought I'd have so much fun, sneaking around mummy's back; we'd give each other missed calls...the whole circus. Instead this idiot wants me as his wife already?"

"If you have so much problem reject him outright na!"

"I-he's not a bad guy. And Rhodey found his insta; he's kinda cute. And, there is a real lack of good guys, you know." Toni only heard a sigh on the other end, and the sound of the water suddenly cutting off.

"What do you want to do, then?"

"He tried to make my love story arranged; I'll turn this arrangement into love."

"Just...don't pull any stunt, okay?"

Toni gave a non committal hum and sat up.

~

"You still slurp chai." Toni muttered as Steve set down his mug. Bucky, who'd swiftly taken over the kitchen, had sent out chai and a mysterious assortment of semi edible stuff that he classified as namkeen. He and Sam had then proceeded to giggle at the two from the kitchen window.

"Yeah, uh, it's hot."

"Hmm." She still stirred her tea.

"I, uh..."

"Have never done this before? Koi na, you've shown you're pretty ballsy." The sickly sweet smile was back for a millisecond.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"A rishta? Steve, you could've texted me! Dropped in!" She paused, as if to reflect on the non viability of the statement. "Why do you want to marry me?"

"Well I've been thinking of settling down, and yours was the first name I could think of..."

~

"How was it?" Pepper had stood outside the door the entire time, only once interrupted by Bucky to hand her a mug and ask her to sit down. At Toni's return, she straightened up.

"Look for a hotel or something. And tell ma I need a few days. And uh, free up my week." Toni rolled her eyes. "Looks like I'm getting hitched."

[spiderrpcrkerwrites]

A/n: the og idea was by @desitonystark , I just genderbent Tony. Also this was partially inspired by shubh mangal saavdhan

He doesn't really think of any other name when Ma suggests it.

It's a casual conversation, but she's been dropping hints she expects grandchildren before she turns 60. It's far away, but then again, so are his marriage prospects.

He's barely started earning enough to not blow it all over the weekend. Marriages are still a rare thing for his generation.

Right?

"Your friend from school, Nathan, he also got married." She drops the peas into the huge bowl and dumps the pod on the ever growing pile. He's back for Diwali, before he dives back into the bustle of Bombay. Concern for him is apparent on her face.

"And Stuti, too, I went to her engagement last week. All my cousins are asking when they'll get to attend yours."

"Ma, please."

"Oho, am I dragging you to the altar? Just start meeting people, if nothing. Send them prospectives."

Steve hums nonchalantly and grabs a few peas too. She does have a point.

~

Maria often imagines what Howard would say about Toni if he were still alive.

She resembled him more than her in that strong jaw and determinate nature of hers. Thankfully the anger she had apparently skipped out on.

Or so she thought until she heard her anguished wail. Maria had thought to merely mention the rishta the Rogers family had sent; not expecting Toni to go off like a bomb.

"WHAT THE FUCK?"

"Language, beta." She looked up from the very traditional letter that was sent. Toni paced about, muttering. Stopping suddenly, she grabbed her blazer from the meeting in the morning and ran upstairs.

Her mother sighed, looking heavenwards and cursing all eleven forefathers of her daughter.

~

Bucky yawned as he opened the door, eyes half shut from sleep. He had tried to nudge awake Steve, who'd refused to leave the bed, citing a headache from travel.

What he had expected to see was the society guard asking for his bonus, or perhaps the secretary for the maintenance check. Maybe the landlord for a sudden inspection.

What he definitely had not expected to see was a face he had mostly seen in Natasha's magazines or on some celebrity's Instagram. Toni Stark stood at the door, smiling.

"Uhhhh...."

"Hi!" She was practically beaming. "Is Steve home?"

"Yeah."

"Can I-"

"Oh, yes, please. Come on in."

He made it to the bedroom before dissolving into giggles. Shaking Steve awake, he pointed at the living room. He threw back the covers and went, cursing under his breath.

What do you do when the love of your childhood, to whose mother you'd sent a rishta to under the influence of three beers and two idiotic friends, is sitting in your living room? was not a question Steve had ever expected to answer.

Then again, billionaire heiresses didn't also show up at bachelors' houses at 11 in the morning uninvited.

"Hi Steve." She finally turned off that billion-watt smile that filmfare lived for and pursed her mouth, resembling more the 14 year old he had fallen in love with and never managed to get over. "What the hell is wrong with you?"