#ANYWAY go watch it if you love Tony or Rhodey or Pepper!!

[mostly-marvel-musings]

Where Do We Go From Here - Part 2

Summary: Two funerals. Two couples. A tragedy like no other. And one big secret.

A/N: Written for @fandom-free-bingo Here’s something different, I hope you enjoy it. Leave a comment, heart and reblog if you enjoyed the story.

Pairing: Tony Stark x Pepper Potts, F! Reader x Rhodey, Tony Stark x Reader (eventually)

Warning: 18+ angst, minors DNI, death, infidelity, smoking, mentions of self-harm and suicide. Hurt comfort.

Word count: 2721

Square filled: We deserve much better than we’ve had

Read Part 1 here

Fandom Free Bingo Masterlist

.

“I love you, Mr. Rhodes.”

“I love you more, Mrs. Rhodes.”

Content.

That was a primary feeling among others, contentment and giddiness. It was the happiest day of your life. You had married your love, James Rhodes. The ceremony was everything you had wished for and more, all of your friends and family watched happily as you exchanged vows and rings, grinning ear to ear as you were declared man and wife.

The day you met him, or rather evening at Tony Stark’s party, hadn’t been the most perfect. Hell, you were too wasted to even remember but Rhodey had dropped you home - more like carried you, tucked you in bed, and left some Advil along with a note like a gentleman, a tiny smiley face with his number that had you giggling like a teenager. And that was the beginning of your relationship.

And exactly six months later you were dancing to your favorite song with your new husband who had a firm arm around your back, the other holding your hand while you lay your cheek against his chest, loving every minute of the moment. The song ended and you broke apart, reluctantly letting him go, you pecked him on his lips a couple times before excusing yourself to use the ladies room.

The door seemed to be locked so you gave a soft knock, frowning when you heard muffled voices of what sounded like two people arguing. Twisting the knob, you entered anyway because you couldn’t wait and stumbled on Tony and Pepper. They had been squabbling.

“I’m really sorry guys, I–I couldn’t wait.” you hurried into a stall, gathering your wedding gown as best as you could. You heard Pepper storm off, the clicking of her heels wasn’t exactly silent, before Tony’s footsteps receded soon after. As you headed out, Tony had been leaning against the opposite wall, looking tired and mildly irritated.

“All okay?” you asked, genuinely concerned for two of your closest friends. He waved his hand in dismissal and shrugged, giving you a tight-lipped smile.

“Was that payback for me accidentally walking in on you in your bridal gown?” Tony jested, making you giggle as well as recalled the moment that happened just a few hours ago. Someone incorrectly told Tony about Rhodey’s room and he had barged in on you with two of your bridesmaids after you had just put on your wedding dress. He could’ve sworn his heart had stopped at that moment. You were stunning, so beautiful he actually struggled to form words. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Tony had left, not before giving you a once over, the image of you had been stuck in his mind for posterity. He couldn’t help but feel how lucky his best friend was.

“Oh God no! That was um, I just really had to go. I didn’t know you guys would be in there, arguing.” you blinked, shuffling from one foot to the other.

“While women’s bathrooms are at the top of my list for quarreling, I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Tony had a knack for making a joke out of serious situations, you knew that, you wondered if that was one of the reasons for him and Pepper arguing. Pepper, as far as you knew, was a no-nonsense person. As the two of you walked back towards the hall, you saw your new husband deep in conversation with her. Thinking nothing of it, you turned to Tony.

“I should probably–”

“Good luck with–”

You spoke at the same time, chuckling as Tony scratched the back of his neck, looking back up at you with a sincere smile on his face.

“Good luck with your marriage, Y/N. I hope you two are happy, and not just for the pictures.”

The sun had risen a few hours ago, heavy curtains blocked most of the light where you lay in the guest bed, working up the courage to face the day. Pepper’s funeral had been another painful reminder of your new reality. People kept offering their condolences to Tony who had his stoic facade on, occasionally looking out for you to check if you were still around. You had made it a point to be there for him, he wasn’t exactly volatile but the man needed you to ground him, probably more than you needed him. Or maybe it was the same. Who knew?

All you knew was if there was anybody in the world who could get what you were going through, it was Tony. And it was the same for him. It was the strangest and the most tragic connection you two had now.

You stood outside your house and stared at it, a house that held so many memories, happy memories with you and James. It was now just walls and bricks. Tony had been reluctant to leave you alone but after much assurance, he dropped you here and left for work.

You went on a cleaning spree once you stepped in, the kitchen had been dirty, your bed was unkempt. Blasting on some loud music that you knew James would’ve hated if he were alive, you cleaned the house. And you actually felt better once you were finished. It was exhausting but therapeutic. Your mood had been lifted enough for you to make a batch of mini blueberry pies to take back to Tony’s. The only thing that you dreaded was opening the closet, conflicted between never wanting to find out what he had been hiding in there and wanting to know everything and be done with it.

.

He was smiling. Not believing this was his reality now, everything was perfect, everything felt right. The way it was supposed to be. A comfortable peace settled in his chest as he watched you from afar, laughing with your friend, Pepper as you cooked. A glass of wine in one hand while you stirred a pot with the other, lips curved into the most gorgeous smiles that always set his heart racing, Tony could feel the love radiating off of him.

Catching his eye, you winked, causing him to chuckle before making your way over, your beautiful face forming a frown as you saw the cup of coffee in his hand.

“Coffee? Really, Tony?” you placed your hands on your hips, giving him a stern look.

“And then you wonder why you can’t sleep at night.”

“I mean, I plan on keeping you awake with me…” he trailed off, smirking as he pulled you close by your waist.

“Oh? I didn’t know we had those kinda plans tonight, Mr. Stark.” your fingers had found their way into his hair while he placed soft kisses along your neck, feeling your body mold perfectly against him.

“Now you’ve got your reminder, haven’t you Mrs. Sta–”

Tony jolted awake, the sound of the buzzer outside broke the little dream into a sad reality. Once again, he had fallen asleep on the couch. A habit that Pepper hated, one that had led to several arguments in the past. The small screen by the door revealed your face, Tony’s previous dream flooding his mind once more, making him shake his head as if it could be brushed off.

“Hey!” you gave Tony a small smile, stepping inside the house and immediately noticing the blanket on his couch.

“Were you asleep? Shit! I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged and waved it off, saying it wasn’t a big deal, narrowing his eyes as he noticed something on the blouse you wore.

“I cleaned the house, it felt great! Which I don’t think I’ve said in what feels like forever. I also made those mini blueberry pies you like. Here.” you handed them to him, watching his face light up genuinely after weeks. It made all of the efforts worth it.

“You ate some too, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

Tony chuckled and reached out to pick up a tiny piece of fruit from your collar, his fingers linger over your skin. Looking down, you noticed the purple-red stain in a couple other spots too, mentally cursing yourself for being so sloppy.

“The stain is gonna set..” you murmured, trying to rub it off with your nails and failing.

“Um, you could wear one of my t-shirts, if you want. I’ll get one for you.” Tony suggested, promptly heading upstairs when you nodded in agreement.

Deciding on taking a shower while you were at it, you turned on the faucet and let the hot water cascade down your body, your weary muscles relaxing under it. Your mind went about this arrangement you had come to, you were living with your best friend’s husband for weeks now, sleeping in the guest bed, dealing with the deaths of your significant others who happened to be in an affair. It was all the makings of a drama movie.

Tony had been your support system, a shoulder to cry on and quite frankly the only person you could tolerate. He didn’t look at you with sympathy, nor did he offer unsolicited advice, he was just there, to hold your hand when you needed, to wipe your tears when you had bouts of anxiety and broke down, Tony was there and that was enough.

Slipping on his t-shirt felt oddly comforting, it smelt of something that was distinctly Tony Stark - a mix of coffee, cigarettes and cologne. Heading downstairs, you noticed him nursing a cup of coffee in his hands as he sat on the kitchen counter.

“Coffee? Seriously? It’s time for dinner, Tony Stark.” you shook your head, your voice breaking him out of his reverie.

His heart definitely skipped a beat. You sounded eerily similar to the dream he just had, two, you wore his clothes which made something bloom in his chest, something that was probably inappropriate. He found his restraint slipping by the minute.

Raising his hands in defeat, he placed the mug away and held out a bottle of wine for you.

“I had this one saved, I know it’s your favorite. What do you say?”

You could use a drink, you thought. Or ten. And the fact that he had your favorite bottle saved made you smile at his thoughtfulness. You had dinner in silence, a comfortable one though before Tony dug into one of the small pies you had made.

“I swear to God, I would’ve married you just for these.” he realized what he’d said the next second, quickly apologizing and cursing himself under his breath.

“I found Pepper’s clothes on his closet, Tony.”

You didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to cause him more pain but it slipped out.

“I burned them.” you added quickly, watching him give you a small nod, as if to say it was the right thing to do.

“Fuck them.” you whispered.

“Yeah, fuck them.” Tony agreed, clearing out your plates. You watched him clean them, noticing he wasn’t wearing his wedding band anymore.

“Are we bad people, Tony?” you asked a few breaths later, staring out the window with your wine glass. Tony sighed, making his way over next to you, shoulders almost brushing.

“You know we’re not, Y/N. We deserve much better than we’ve had. Cheating is a choice, a choice they both made and broke vows. It doesn’t reflect our character, it reflects theirs.”

He was right. Somehow he always said the right things.

“Did you read this in a bad self-help book somewhere?” you jested, angling your body towards him after hearing him chuckle.

“Oh yeah. I’ve got about nine hundred quotes just ready to roll out whenever.”

You felt yourself laugh, a version of yourself that was earlier buried so deep down, you thought she’d never come out. Tony placed a stray lock of hair behind your ear, his fingers caressing your cheek softly as he stepped closer.

You swore your heart was beating loudly enough for him to hear, your eyes glancing down at his lips. Now just inches away, you placed your hands on top of his and took in a deep breath.

“We can’t, Tony.”

“Why not?” he hadn’t moved away, he touched his forehead to yours and closed his eyes, his breath mingling with yours.

“We’re not those bad people, remember?” you breathed, not really wanting him to go away but you had to do the right thing. You didn’t want him or you to regret what would happen in the spur of the moment. He kissed you on your forehead, his soft lips still lingering against your skin as he spoke.

“We are people who repressed our feelings for far too long though. I know I am.” he murmured, leaving you confused.

What did he mean? Repressed feelings?

Opening your eyes, you found his brown orbs imploring yours, saying everything that was left unsaid between you over the years. Cupping his face, he leaned into your touch instinctively, still not moving from his place.

“I’ve had feelings for you way before any of this happened, Y/N. I thought you knew.” he whispered.

You did. You just never found the courage to confront him about it or even act on your own. You were married to his best friend, for God’s sake. And now…

“Would you regret this if I told you how much I’ve wanted you, Y/N?”

Tony had been holding himself back for a long time, he couldn’t any more. He would stop if you told him to, no questions asked, but something inside him said you wanted him as much as he wanted you.

“Answer me, Y/N. Would you regret it?”

Tears filled in your eyes and spilled over, down your cheeks where they met Tony’s gentle fingers that wiped them off. You were waiting for the voice inside your head to tell you this would be a mistake. That voice never spoke up.

“No.”

That simple word was a sentence in itself. It was all Tony needed to hear before closing the distance. He kissed you softly at first, melding his lips against yours as he pulled you against his chest. Kissing him was like coming home after a long, tiring day. It was new and yet familiar, like you were doing something right for once. He coaxed your mouth open to deepen the kiss, a mix of blueberries and wine that felt so right to him too.

Everything else felt like a beautiful blur to you. He carried you up the stairs, never breaking the kiss, laid you on the mattress, peeling his t-shirt off your body and admired your flushed skin. Nudging you with his nose, your eyes fluttered open to reflect zero traces of regret, giving him a signal to go ahead. You could think about the million other things running through your mind later, right now all that mattered was you and Tony.

His clothed shaft made its presence known as his hips drove forward, his head now dipped low between your breasts as he caressed your body. A needy moan left your lips as he peeled your shorts off, fingers teasing your moist entrance.

You undressed him quickly, wanting and needing him to make you feel good. Caging you with his arms on either side of your head, Tony pushed inside your heat, welcoming the warmth that enveloped his cock so well. His name fell from your lips in a soft sigh, urging him closer as you wrapped your legs around him.

Everything fell into oblivion as Tony fucked you, drove you to a point of ecstacy and held you as you fell apart. Kissed you like there was no tomorrow and yet all of his kisses felt like promises, promises of a better tomorrow. A future that would be better than your past, and your present.

[karmasgonnagetya]

Is the Iron Man armored adventures fandom even alive? anyways i watched it like a month ago, and i have to say it is absolute peak. i love it.

Please watch it if you havent its so good except for the fact that rhodey looks grey most of the time, which is infuriating, but other than that, i think it's a good show.

Gene and tony are Toxic yaoi 💔 "sorry tony stark for kidnapping your dad and making you have shrapnel in your heart and trying to kill you and your friends many times but when we were friends i really liked you but this is my destiny yada yada yada" -gene khan.

Imagine being friends with someone, but boom turns out it's your enemy.

Of course, when Gene first met Tony, he had the intention of just using him for info, but of course, they became actual friends to the dismay of Gene.

When Gene got the 5 rings and had flashbacks of the time he spent with Tony and Pepper, he wanted to go back to them and be friends with them but he went after his so called destiny instead cause he thought it was more important cause hes been told it since he was a child.

Im upset there's no season 3. What happens with Gene after the end of season 2? Do they ever meet again? Do they ever make it up to each other? do they become friends again? Save meeeee

[aurumacadicus]

gen with a side of stevetony. avengers. christmas cookies/gingerbread houses/baking in general..?

i’d love it if you could add extra ridiculousness between all the avengers 😂😂 i need some silliness and fluffiness today 😅 thanks!!

Everything I write is ridiculous <3

--

“You know what?” Natasha said, putting her hands on her hips. She frowned at her gingerbread house severely. “This is my fault.”

Bruce didn’t look up from where his face was buried in his hands. “At least you admit it.”

“I should have known better,” Natasha continued, ignoring him.

Thor reached out to pick a gumdrop out of the bowl on the table. He watched, interested, as Tony wielded a tiny blowtorch to toast the marshmallows dotting the eaves of his roof. “Honestly, this is going a lot better than I expected.”

“I think it would have been okay if you hadn’t made the prize of ‘winner gets a favor from me,’” Clint added, eating one of the walls from his own collapsed gingerbread structure.

Natasha sighed, shaking her head. “I honestly thought I’d win and wouldn’t owe anyone.”

Bruce lifted his face from his hands to give her some very serious side-eye. “So you suggested to an artist and an engineer to make gingerbread houses? That was your brilliant plan?”

Natasha turned to frown at him, irritated. “I already said this was my fault.”

“Steve has literally made a palette for different colored icings so he can paint it onto his house,” Clint said, and helpfully pointed to where Steve was mixing green and blue icing to get a different shade of green to add to his candy wreath on the front door of his structure.

“I said I should have known better,” Natasha hissed, whipping around to glare at him. “Stop rubbing it in.”

Thor ate another gumdrop. “I think,” he said after a long pause. “That this started out as wanting a favor from you, both of them forgetting that they are extremely competitive.” He reached for another gumdrop, then decided to go for the bowl of M&Ms instead. “And now they’ve forgotten that this was for fun, and you would simply do them a favor if they just asked.”

“It would depend on the favor,” Natasha told him seriously. “The prize was going to be a no-questions-asked favor.”

“Well, shit, Natasha, both of them do a lot of stupid shit that they’d use that kind of favor for,” Clint sighed, rolling his eyes.

“I said I should have known better,” Natasha hissed again, gripping her hand into a fist.

Bruce leaned his chin on his hand and frowned, pulling the bowl of mixed nuts closer so he could pick through it. “Who was going to be the impartial judge, anyway?”

Natasha winced, just a little. “I was going to put them on the Avengers blog and see which ones people liked best.”

“Oh my god, no, they’ll vote mine because they’ll think it’s funny the lopsided, half-eaten house won, and then they’ll both sulk,” Clint exclaimed. There was real terror in his voice.

Natasha could admit that was probably true, after every poll where the public was allowed to name something. “I’m just gonna send pictures of theirs to Pepper, Colonel Rhodes, and Maria.”

“That’s two people automatically in Tony’s corner,” Thor pointed out, frowning at her.

“Rhodey has already sent me three texts about how the structural integrity of my gingerbread house is in peril because I didn’t anchor them properly with the royal icing,” Tony said, not looking up from using tweezers to place holly sprinkles onto the eaves of his gingerbread house.

“Pepper thinks I should paint more,” Steve added, now working on painting spots onto the wafers that served as the walkway leading away from his own gingerbread house.

Natasha sighed, loudly, and buried her face in her hands. Her own gingerbread house was elegant, but simple, like the kind you’d see as an example on a box kit. The melting snow on Steve’s had been painted to look realistic. Tony had pulled out both a set square and a fucking triangular scale while he was building his. She really should have known better.

[infiniteeight8]

Between my midterms I’ve got finally time to think of some prompts for the obsession’verse. (I will drop a bunch in your inbox, so feel free to chose between them. Also reading your drabbles were a great short break from studying. Thanks for that :) )

Is there ever a point when Tony is (slightly?) afraid of Stephen’s behavior? So far he has been all game, but it’s a dark theme so I was wondering.

I'm going to cheat a little bit and answer this with an explanation instead of a drabble. The reason for that is because the answer is no, Tony is never afraid of Stephen's behavior. In fact, Tony's behavior is going to become more unhinged to match. In my brain, half the fun of Obsession 'Verse is Stephen and Tony being blissfully happy and in love while all their sane friends watch in horror as their increasingly unhinged relationship develops. lol.

I put warnings on this universe because their behavior is deeply unhealthy, but inside the actual 'Verse, there are never repercussions because of it. (Well. Not on Stephen and Tony, anyway. Someone who crosses one of them, on the other hand...)

Possibly that is spoilery for the 'Verse, but I think it's a necessary spoiler, because I don't particularly want anyone to be out there waiting for consequences, or some sort of moral lesson. (I don't think this is what you're getting at all, just speaking to the broader audience here.) Neither of those things is going to happen. Stephen and Tony are going to continue to be together, they'll be very happy, and their behavior will only get more extreme.

:D

One of your other prompts will actually give me an opportunity to showcase that!

On a similar note, if anyone is worrying that the possessiveness will involve interfering with their friendships (i.e., Christine, Pepper, Wong, Rhodey), you may rest easy on that front. I have an in-universe drabble idea that explains why that isn't happening (given that social isolation is normally par for the course in this type of relationship), but the out-universe explanation is that I like those friendships, so the boys get to keep them.

[doyouknowwhoyouare13]

Nyx watches Iron Man

OK YOU GUYS THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES

I LOVE THIS MOVIE SM

GOD THE OLD INTRO

THERE'S THE MAN HIMSELF

WOOHOO

BRO THE GUITAR IN BACK IN BLACK ALWAYS HITS BRO

him drinking alcohol 😭

NO GANG SIGNS

didn't get the photo ✊😔

NOT IT GOING THROUGH THE BULLETPROOF VEST

the ten rings!!!

I WENT THERE

I WENT TO CEASARS PALACE

WORKING MY ASS

I DON'T PAINT 💀

HE'S SO FUNNY

NOT THEM ROLLING OFF THE BED

VISION!!!!

or Jarvis I guess

BRUTAL

PEPPER IS SO SLAY

I want that car

SOUR PATCH 💀

HELPPPPPP

He's actually insane

Literally so smart wtf

No he won't 💀

so many languages

THE WAY HE THREW IT

GENIUS

god the first suit 😭

NOOO YINSEN

SLAY TONY

I'm sorry but I'm so glad they recasted Rhodey

COULSON!!!!

that's sad

NOT THE SCOOTER

HE'S HILARIOUS

sad and sappy at the same time

where did the name Mark come from anyways

HELPPPPP

I love his robots

COMPLETELY HARMLESS MY ASS

GO STARK!!!!

crying rn

I have no idea what he just said

HELP JARVIS IS SO FUNNY

COULSON!!!!!

THEY'RE SO CUTE

That's exactly what I would do if I got a suit

HELP IT'S NOT THAT EASY

THEN SAYS THAT

I LOVE THEMMMMM

Pepper slays so hard

WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS

this bitch

HOW IS BRO STILL WALKING

well nevermind

THE SOUND HE MADE WHEN GOING THROUGH THE GROUND 💀

I. LOVE. THEM.

I am Ironman

YES YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!

end credit

holy shit wait

there's

there's no end credit

oh wait yes there is

FURY!!!!

best movie ever I love it sm

[pepperpottes]

so is there any Pepper/Rhodey fic out there that's actually Pepper/Rhodey centric??

i searched the tag on AO3 earlier, skimmed through about 10 or so pages and everything was just background Pepper/Rhodey for something that was Tony/someone else, or they were one of like 75 other pairings in giant megafics

which is fine!! i'm just curious to see how other writers have explored their dynamic for... reasons

(reasons under the cut so i don't clog the dash with my dumb thoughts)

so i've been having a lot of THOUGHTS and i literally spent the entire day at work thinking about this concept lol

it all started a couple weeks ago when i was rewatching Gilmore Girls and got to AYITL, when Milo Ventimiglia shows up and is in full Jack Pearson mode because he was filming This Is Us at the same time.

(I've also been watching Tracker with Justin Hartley so i have This Is Us on the mind a lot lately, and btw if you haven't seen Tracker it's fucking fantastic)

ANYWAY the way this relates to Pepper/Rhodey is, during all of my This Is Us thoughts, i started thinking about Rebecca and Miguel. now, i know that everyone, fans and show characters alike, absolutely hated Miguel for "moving in on his best friend's girl" after Jack died but to be honest, i was never a Miguel hater. i always loved his character, i loved him and Rebecca together (even more so after the show explained how they came to be), and i thought it was beautiful how they found solace and comfort in each other even though both of them knew that Jack could never be replaced.

so, you see where this is going...

as much as i like to live in denial and refuse to acknowledge Tony's death in Endgame, i did start wondering how, in the horrific reality that is the canon universe, Pepper and all of the other iron fam members have coped with him being gone. something i'm sure a lot of other fics have explored in some fashion, but i haven't read a lot of them yet since i'm just now getting back into fic/fandom (and full transparency that i haven't watched a single second of MCU content since Far From Home, so i have no clue what Rhodey has been up to even though he's been in a few projects since Endgame)

y'all think Rhodey and Pepper might have ended up like Rebecca and Miguel? idk, i can see it.

i'm not sure i see them getting married, but i can definitely imagine them becoming closer than just friends as the years pass and finding that same kind of comfort in one another, maybe even falling in love. Pepper doesn't believe she'll ever find love again, definitely not the kind of love she felt for Tony, but the more she's around Rhodey, the more he helps her raise Morgan, the more they confide in one another... she realizes that she can love someone else, it's just different.

(i also have this headcanon that way back in the day, pre-Iron Man, Rhodey asked her out on a date once, they went and it was totally weird and Tony was a jealous bitch about it. they both acknowledge that they don't have any romantic feelings for each other at that time but i can see that changing after all they've been through)

anyway, idk, i'm sure a lot of people in the fandom might hate this idea for the same reason This Is Us fans hated Miguel, but i personally don't see either situation as a betrayal. i see it as broken and flawed people trying to do the best they can to move through their grief and rebuild some part of the life that they lost. i think it's very complicated, and quite frankly, what fic writer doesn't like complicated?

whatever, i wanna write it.

i might, we'll see. (or it'll end up in the draft graveyard like everything else)

editing to add: I’ve also been reading some pepper/rhodey/tony fics, which I’ve been enjoying very much, but even still they seem to be very tony-focused. As in very focused on tony/pepper and Tony/rhodey but the pepper/rhodey bits aren’t as prominent or almost seem like an afterthought? Maybe I just need to read some more of them to find the real pepper/rhodey vibes

[braveclementine]

Full Circle

Warnings: None

Copyright: I do not own any Marvel characters or locations. However, I do own my OCs, which consist of Penny Fury, Elizabeth Nelson, Elijah Chan, Katya Venice, Violetta Moscow, Lan Le, Josh, Trang Tien, Ahni Jallow, Mai Ito, and Ghaida Kashual as well as other OCs that will come up throughout the story.

Only a few hours later, Elizabeth, Stephen, Elijah, Ghaida, Lan, and Wanda had gone to Asgard. Elizabeth, Stephen, and Elijah were splitting off into a pair to go and find Hogun and Sif. Ghaida, Lan, and Wanda were going to find Volstagg. Heimdall had apparently sent Fandral to Earth, so Steve and Trang were heading out to go find him since he was lost and delirious and would only trust those two. 

But now, they had all returned home. Loki, Thor, Fandral, and Heimdall had been completely healed. Everyone was together. The five children in Elizabeth's stomach were also alright and they had all been spending the nights together in the common room. To Penny, it felt like life had returned to what it would be. 

There were a fair number of fights, mostly between Natasha and Elizabeth about the kids being taken out to the park. Eventually, Elizabeth would concede just to give Natasha piece of mind, but Penny was afraid that the fights were going to push the ice girl back to Ohio. . . and that the others would go with her. 

Now, they were all eating dinner in the common room. Elizabeth had said it would be a fun day, so Papa Johns pizza had been called in. Stuffed crust with pepperoni, banana peppers, and black olives for the weird people *coughElizabethcough*, normal Pepperoni pizza for a large majority of the team, meat deluxe for the super soldiers, and normal cheese pizza for Wanda, Bruce, and Pietro. 

Penny watched as Elizabeth finished her pizza slice, before feeding Rue a small piece of pizza. Rue gobbled it up and then looked up at her, begging for more. Elizabeth fed her another piece and then cut into the spicy chicken wings that were there, dipping them into blue cheese. 

Bucky looked at her, "Was that my chicken wing?" 

"Not anymore." Elizabeth responded, smirking at him. "And there's ninety-eight chicken wings left." 

"But that was the one I wanted to eat." Bucky protested. 

"I mean, I can throw it up into your mouth if you want to be a baby bird." Elizabeth said. 

"EW!" Trang whined. "Elizabeth please, I'm trying to eat here." 

"I'm just saying." Elizabeth shrugged. 

"I lost my appetite." Trang gagged again, putting her pizza slice down, getting up and sitting in Tony's lap, burying her face in his chest while he laughed. "Stop laughing or I swear I'm going to shave your beard in your sleep." 

Tony shut up, swallowing a large amount of soda. Loki smirked, throwing another potato chip into his mouth. 

"Anyways." Elizabeth said, loud enough to gather everyone's attention while she pulled some of the chicken off the bone, dipping it in more blue cheese. "I just wanted everyone to know that all of us Ohioans have talked over the idea of bonding all of us and we're all on board except for Josh and Riri who want to go and live on their own now." 

"Can I ask why?" Wanda asked softly. 

"I love you guys and I always will." Josh said with a shrug. "But Riri and I have both agreed that we want to have a relationship just between the two of us. It was fun being with you guys when I didn't have a soulmate, but with Riri being a little younger, I don't think it's fair anymore. So we just want to live our own life now. That's all." 

"I hope you guys have a good life. You'll still visit, right?" Wanda asked. 

"Of course." Josh rolled his eyes. "Can't get rid of me, even if you try. Elizabeth knows that." 

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "And I've been trying to for years." 

"I feel like there's a but." Rhodey said. 

"There is." Elizabeth said. "I. . . we have also agreed that we're not living in the tower." 

Now there was silence in the room. No one was eating anymore, everyone just looking at her. Trang slid out of Tony's lap at that seconds, looking a little guilty. 

"Why?" Tony asked. 

"It's nothing against you, Tony, or the tower. I love the tower, it's pretty much the only place I've ever called home." Elizabeth sighed. "But I can't raise my kids here. I can't raise my kids in an almost one hundred story tall building, where they constantly have to take elevators or stairs to try and locate their fathers who can be on floor 1 to 95. I want them to live in a two, maybe three story house where they go down one flight of stairs and there's the dad or mother they need. A nice, large backyard for them to play in. Somewhere a little quieter, somewhere they have neighborhood kids to play with, a neighborhood for them to explore." 

She paused, letting everyone take in her words and then continued, "I'm not saying my house cause it's definitely to small, and I'm not even saying we have to live in Ohio. I'm just saying, I can't raise kids here and I don't think we should raise kids here. It's not healthy, Tony. If we want our kids to develop normally, they're going to need some interaction, they're going to need a different lifestyle." 

Penny felt that last couple sentences were digs at Natasha, and Nat clearly felt the same way as she bristled. "The kids are safe here! They're protected. They don't need to live in a house." 

"They're not going to have interactions with-" 

"We're the only interaction they need!" Natasha argued. 

"It's not protection Natasha when you're preventing them from even going outside!" Elizabeth said, getting heated. "When's the last time Anastasia was outside? Christmas at the mall? That was four months ago! Almost five!" 

"Then we just build a playground here." Natasha argued. "We have the roof." 

Elizabeth threw her hands up in the air. "The roof? That's safer then taking them to a park on ground level? Nat, you're smarter than this!" 

"This is a fantasy that you dreamt up when it was just you and Bucky! A fantasy that you'd live in a house with a white picket fence and two kids and being friendly with all the neighbors." 

"What's wrong with that?" Bucky interjected, sounding hurt. 

"Because it's not reality, James." Natasha replied. "Nobody would've known who you two were. But we're the Avengers now. You're the Ohioans. Our neighbors will all know who we are. We will have paparazzi outside of our house all day long. The playgrounds we frequent will become breeding grounds for HYDRA and other organizations that want to hurt us. So no matter what, our kids will be 'sheltered' as you put it, because our house will have to have gates and walls around it anyways. We won't frequent playgrounds because they're to high risk, anyways. So why not just stay here?" 

Surprisingly, it was Sam that spoke up. "Nat, we went to this park called Sharon Woods every single day we were there. Rue, Mateo, and Kisa made friends, they played with other children. The parents we talked to didn't give a damn about us being heroes. Sure, a few autographs, a few photos, but that was it. They just talked about normal things: the weather, schools they were looking into for their children, their older children. It was normal, it was something that I had forgotten could exist." 

More silence met his words. 

Violetta suddenly got up, going and sitting next to Natasha. "What about a trial period? I mean, I love the idea Nat. I feel safe with Valentine there too. Maybe if you just try it?" 

"Okay." Natasha whispered, looking up at Violetta. "I'll try it." 

"I do have. . ." Rhodey started and then stopped and reworded whatever it was that he wanted to ask. "I love you guys. And I would love to marry all of you, be bonded to all of you but. . . I still haven't met my soulmate. And maybe I just don't have one. But I'd want to meet them or at least know if I have one, before I put myself in a permanent relationship with you guys." 

"Same." Violetta said, nodding. 

"We could look into it." Ghaida said hesitantly. "I would never intrude on that without your permission though." 

"I would like to know." Vi nodded. 

Elizabeth and Ghaida's eyes both changed colours. Ghaida's mouth dropped in shock, but Elizabeth started to smile. "You and Rhodey share your soulmate. He's the only one." 

"He?" Vi and Rhodey both asked. 

"There's no way." Ghaida mumbled, almost to herself. 

Elizabeth raised her hands and opened a portal so that a man dropped from the circle, landing on his stomach painfully in front of both Rhodey and Violetta. 

"Elizabeth!" Rhodey shouted, shocked as he hurriedly put his hands on the man, trying to help him. Violetta joined him. 

And then they both withdrew and the room was shocked into silence once more. Natasha immediately snatched up Anastasia, backing away from him while Bruce just stared at Violetta in a mixture of anger and worry. 

"Ow what the fuck!" A familiar voice complained as he rolled over himself, before freezing on the floor. "What the fuck." He mumbled again. 

"And that." Elizabeth smiled down at Blonsky. "Is what I believe we call, a full circle." 

🚺👊 Ⓣⓗｅ 𝑒𝔫𝐃 🫖🤛

[mcsquared789]

2023 Wrap-Up

NOTE: This was previously published on AO3.

Now that we're at the end of 2023, I've been reflecting on how much I've done. I've just kind of fully accepted that this is pretty much going to be a multi-year long project, so I thought: hey, why not do a sort-of Spotify Wrapped on my own series? I would critically go through everything I had written this year, as well as tease what I have planned for the next year, and then put it in a seperate chapter in this fic so you could see how much overall progress I've made.

So that's what we're going to do! Before I continue, I will just add (for further context) that the changelog will always be continually updated with progress and additional reports — whereas these will be uploaded once and never touched again. If you're reading this much later, I will not be updating anything else in this chapter other than describing the writing process for what I've written. This means that what I write later on, as well as any promises I make, may not be accurate to what I've said here. Keep that in mind.

IRON MAN | MAY-JUNE

I started this project with the very first fic, Iron Man — but it's a bit misleading to say that I only started working on this in May. Half of it had actually been prewritten out somewhere else on a Word document, back when this was strictly a personal project and I had just wanted to give writing a try. Specifically practicing, by translating a movie to a novel: a reasonable exercise. It was off and on for a while, but when I finally decided to pull the trigger and bring this to AO3... your incredible support encouraged me to finish it. Therefore, here we are.

But what encouraged me to go to AO3 and start this, anyway? Well, I found out about the platform in no small part thanks to ColeyDoesThings — great channel by the way, subscribe to them if you love fanfiction. But I never really got the appeal of fanfiction and what I could do until I found myself inadvertently writing it, and soon realized that I could do whatever I wanted while writing about things I really care about, which really made something click for me and unleashed a creative spark that had been dormant in forgotten and abandoned projects. A winning combination indeed, that also was spurred on by how diabolically shit the MCU had mostly been this year. (By the way, I'm glad that they're cutting back a lot in 2024. We really need a break, guys.)

But spite wasn't enough — back in March, I had no plans to do anything like this. I really decided to commit to this for my own sanity after I watched the best thing they put out so far this year — GOTG3, of course — and was reminded of the best parts of the overall universe. I then decided that I had to rectify the love I had of it with its overall current state. So I sat down with Scrivener and finally was able to finish this fic: now a much easier task after having written and rewritten the first chapters of it over and over, and also having to adhere to some sort of schedule to finish my work instead of continually perfecting it again and again. The deadline and your expectations, allowed me to bring this over the finish line and deliver the ending.

There were a lot of setbacks. I found it difficult to balance the pacing with the events of this fic — because unlike a lot of other stories in this project, I had to condense a series of months into just about 20 chapters. As well, I also really struggled to make the side characters Pepper and Rhodey important in this... because this was really just about Tony, and I wasn't sure how I was going to change things up yet. I did finally manage to expand their roles in the sequel, however.

Overall, it was a good start. And doing the epilogue (the part when Nick Fury teased the wider universe) finally brought into sharp relief the ambition of the project I was about to undertake, and made me really excited about what I would be able to write next, what characters I would be able to bring together, how much I could actually write of what I wanted to see. Although there was a speed bump...

THE INCREDIBLE HULK | JULY-NOVEMBER

Jesus Christ, this took four months? Ugggh.

Okay, so if Iron Man proved my ability to do this... then this fic had to prove I was capable of expanding on things that wasn't there. This and Iron Man 2 were the only movies I hadn't watched prior to doing this, and this was about as drastically different to anything else in the MCU as it could get. Thus, I think I really struggled with writing it, while also figuring out what to do with Bruce Banner and these characters I admittedly didn't know very well — so the streak I was on had clearly vanished, and I fell behind further with each chapter.

(To be fair: I did take a long holiday in September that stopped me from working on this for a while. So really, it took three months. Still inexcusable.)

That's not to say this was terrible, though! On the contrary, it allowed me to distinguish this fic from Iron Man heavily by including body horror, heavy themes and overall a much darker tone. It really set the stage, I think, of the different genres and themes I may be able to write and change up during this project — and that really excites me for the future. If these two series already feel so different from each other, then how different could they be from Thor? Or Captain America? Or Guardians of the Galaxy? In that regard, I cannot wait to find out. This then will also set the tone for the other fics in the Hulk series, which will have to be wholly original.

It also introduced me to Betty and Thaddeus Ross (at least in a more nuanced way from what we saw of him in Civil War), as well as Emil Blonsky. I now have different ideas for what to do with them going forward that I've already established, as well as bringing in other characters from the comics that will join this universe along with them. So next year, I'll hopefully then see if I can make them work in the universe by expanding on from where their stories end, referring to comics and other adaptations to represent them in these fics the best I can. I'm thinking specifically of Samuel Sterns, Nadia Dornova and pre-transformed, non-fourth wall breaking Jennifer Walters. (This will also then set the stage for whether I can do the same with other characters I plan to add later, like Clea Strange.)

Although I have somewhat of a plan now, I will say that if I can guess what the hardest fics will be to work on in the future... it will definitely be the Hulk series, and the repercussions they will bring to New York and the universe itself. But I'll just end this by saying that I'm still really excited for them and what they'll add, and I can't wait to focus on them soon after I finish Phase 1. In fact, I've cheekily teased in Hulk already what Bruce's fate looks like in Phase 2! Let me know if you think you caught it.

NOVEMBER | THE CONSULTANT

I decided to start doing shortfics, because I needed something to switch focus to during longer projects — and where better to start than that one short film that came out in 2010, that focuses on the end of The Incredible Hulk? 

This was my first attempt at a short story, and I feel that it was a good one: but it will probably not fully represent my ability to write them. For one, this will probably be one of the only fics that connects directly to another fic I've already written: others will probably take place in the intervening periods between one fic and another, like Sanctuary. (See the slate.) As well, this features characters that do not have as big of a role to play in this universe — sorry, Coulson fans. I have yet to see what it's like to write one featuring a character that I intend to also star (or co-star) in a novel length fic.

But this fic was really good, I feel, for helping me practice condensing a story into as few words as I can. The length of these shortfics will wildly vary depending on how much I need to go into detail, but for this I was able to tell everything while expanding on it in just under 3k words! Very nice. And as well as continuing to flesh out Coulson, I also was able to establish a bit about Jasper Sitwell in some ways that I am very proud of: as a hint, it just means I feel confident in writing stories that both work for readers who are not familiar with the fandom and those who are. If you know, you know.

DECEMBER��? | IRON MAN: WAR MACHINE

That brings us to my current fic, the sequel to Iron Man! There have been a lot of factors in this that has helped make this such a breeze compared to Hulk, and they all have to do with how I've written it. For one, I've developed of writing chapters long before I publish them — which has made this fic go by very quickly, but has given me time to catch errors and edit sections I'm not super happy with. For another, the amount of different perspectives in this has allowed every chapter in turn to stay fresh! With all their different challenges and considerations for how I have to write the characters: from Tony, to Vanko, to Rhodey, to Pepper... and soon, a bit of another character we have not properly heard from yet.

(I might as well add that this is the first fic where I've added proper flashbacks — and I think they've really worked in helping me explain character motivations and decisions! Expect more of them from Tony and Rhodey in the rest of the fic, especially for a particularly heartbreaking chapter to come soon... yeah, that will not be fun to write.)

Basically, this is the beginning of what I've truly envisioned will come out of this series, and I'm really loving it! Planning and remaining consistent has been a boon for me to be able to finish over half of this fic in just a month, and has made me really confident that I'll be able to finish the rest by the end of January (hopefully). As well, this is a story with a really complicated and non-straightforward plot compared to its predecessor — so I'm so happy that I've been able to find ways to manage all these characters during this really busy period in the timeline of the MCU, along with other stories that are happening around the same as this one. And I hope to recapture that interconnectivity in future fics — especially the Avengers fics, that I predict will be very, very long.

And with the fun I'm having with it, it's also a good sign for how I feel I'll be able to tackle 2024. 7 months have gone by since I started doing this, which is not really a full year... but now that there's a good chance I'll be taking myself through 2024 like this, I feel confident that I will be able to release much more high-quality fics now without losing momentum, on top of balancing out my real-life priorities. With that said, I suppose we should talk about that will look like?

THE FUTURE

Okay, so I only have one goal for this project next year, that will be more complicated than you think: and that's just to finish Phase 1.

I say that flippantly, but I don't know how long that'll take. Not counting the fic I'm in the middle of, I have two new series to start, three more shortfics I'll be doing, one novella that will be mostly original and one big giant fic at the end that I still don't entirely know what will be like, nor how long it'll turn out to be. Those are a lot of concerns that I need to address early on, so I can then get writing — eh?

If I do have a rough outline, I will say that I think January is going to consist of me finishing War Machine, and February will consist of me completing the entirety of Widowmaker. From there, it's just a steady race to complete one fic at a time, at a reasonable pace, so that you get all these characters and I do as much good with them as I can leading up to The Avengers. This will be made more complicated by the return to work outside of this, which I'm absolutely 100% sure will slow things down at some point — so to that end, all I ask is that you understand when I need to step away for a little bit. I will let you know well in advance like I did last year, so I don't experience too much pressure to deliver.

Of course, the crux of becoming an AO3 author with all these promises I'm making is that I will be definitely getting a lot more attention, and a lot more readers who will be waiting for updates — and that thought both excites and warms me greatly, but also terrifies me a little! Still, if you are reading this and are well invested at this point, you have my eternal gratitude for sticking around and seeing what I'll do next. I started this because I wanted to do it and make these fics happen, but as time moves us further from what spurred me on to do this originally... I no longer just do it because I want to, but also because I know there will be more of you who like, share and engage with my work, and will continue to do so. That is what keeps me going.

So yeah... I'm not gonna stop any time soon. There will be days where it will feel harder to write than others, but every day I get in the chair and get lost in what I'm doing brings me closer to what I'm capable of. Thank you all once again for supporting me this year and brightening up my 2023, and I hope you all love what I'm doing next year! I hope I like it too. *u*

If you have any questions you want to ask about how things went this year that I didn't think of to put here, or have any suggestions for the next year... ask me. I'll answer them to the best of my ability — consider it a cost beneficial transaction that will help the both of us!

And of course, a Happy New Year to you all as well! I'll see you in 2024.

— (M)

[every-marveler-ever]

2021 - 2022, Masterlist

This masterlist documents any works written between January 1st 2021 till December 31st 2022. Other important links below ↙

2019 - 2020 Masterlist

Navigation

TOTAL WORKS: 69

Tailors Can Be Scary: Peter Parker is CEO while Pepper and Tony spend their anniversary away. Tony has set some particular tasks for the CEO in training. [👞-TonyStarkBingo May Flash Bingo]

Tony Stark Will Be There For His Son: Tony just wants to be there for his son, wants to watch him grow up, have fun with his husband and take time off work. He has to stop working. [👞]

All In Spades: Peter is feeling stressed and so Tony does what Tony, likes to think, he does his best to make Peter breakfast in bed. [🌴-StarkerFestivals Summer Bingo]

Sticky Marshmallow: Tony Stark does not like pets, but Peter knows that at one stage Tony didn’t like him and so what’s the harm in a small pet? [🐾-MarvelPetBingo]

They’re NOT ‘Just Friends’: Peter is lucky because he considers his roommate, Tony, his best friend. [🎡-TonyStarkBingo June Flash Bingo] [🌴]

Winter Is Peppermint While Autumn is Cinnamon: The comparison of winter to autumn. [🎡]

Another Will Come Tomorrow: Bucky enjoys the quietness of pre-dawn. [🎡]

Ideal Situations: The aftermath of an alien fight means that Steve and Bucky have to share a hotel room. [⏱️-StuckyBingo June Flash Bingo] [🎡]

California Adventure: Tony Stark enjoys putting a smile on Peter Parker’s face. [🎡]

Cat In The Box: What is Alpine Schrodinger’s cat? [☕-StarkBucksBingo Round 2] [🐾]

Plus One: Peter invites Tony to the wedding. [🌴]

Party Cancelled: The whole room seems to shift, facing towards her. “Aren’t you going out with friends-” “-they cancelled.” Tony’s sceptic, “okay.” [🕷️-PeterParkerBingo Round 1]

Love In Fanfiction: Assumed, by Peter, author and coffee shop owner it’s like a love made in fanfiction. [🕷️] [☕]

Sleep, Just For Tonight: Tony and Rhodey’s friendship is not like Bucky and Steve’s but Bucky wants to help anyway. [☕] [🗽-TonyStarkBingo Mark V]

“Puppy!”: Just some cute young Peter and bio dad!Tony. [🐾]

When You Put Authors In A Room: They are all authors, peter hosts a murder mystery party and chaos ensues. [🕷️]

He Was Lost Now He’s Found: 7-year-old Peter is introduced to a new home, a better home. [🗽] [🧰-SteveTonyBucky Round 2]

The Rest Of Their Lives: Sam and Steve host family dinner night to celebrate their engagement. [🗽] [🎖️-SamSteverBingo 2022]

They Are Happy: Their lives aren’t over, they’ve only just begun. [💍-MarvelousRarePairBingo]

Peter Parker is Possessive Over His Things (Including Harley Kenner): Kitchen Collective: Peter meets Harley and he’s, uh, cooking? [🐾]

Steve, Lucky and Golden Retrievers: Bucky surprises Steve for his birthday. [🐾] [⚾-StuckyBingo Round 3] [🧰]

“You can’t trademark that!”: Peter isn’t sure what he was talking about, Tony’s invention is brilliant. [🗽] 

Missing Him: Tony and Sam lives their lives missing Rhodey. [🗽] [🐾] [💍] 

Permission Forms: Peter needs Tony to NOT sign something. [🗽] [🛏️-MarvelFluffBingo Round 4]

News Worthy: Tony and Sam are happily married, and have been for a while. They’re just waiting for the rest of the world to realise. [💍] [🛡️-AvengersBingo Round 3][🛏️]

A Strange Anniversary: Tony and Sam are happily married, does that not mean they can’t have a second wedding? Maybe it would help people notice. [💍]

Not Roommates (But Friends?): Tony and Bucky are okay with not being roommates this year, it’s fine. It is much better when Steve is in the picture. [🧰] [🛏️] [⚾] [🛡️]

My Boys, A Scrapbook Dedicated To Steve Rogers and Tony Stark: Bucky dedicates a scrapbook to his future husbands. [🧰] [⚾]

Summer Home:Just Peter visiting his dad for the summer holidays but this time he brings a friend along. [🐾]

Minimal Affairs, Maximum Dramatics: Bucky doesn’t want Tony to get married, he does want Tony to be happy just not married. [⚾] [🧰] [🛡️]

Rifting: Steve, Tony and Bucky watch Pitch Perfect, kind of. [🧰] [🛏️] [🛡️] 

Loving Language: Steve and Sam don’t have an unusual love language they just have what some would call an outdated one. [🛏️] [🛡️] [🎖️]

More Than: People may think he’s Tony Stark, or even a replacement for the man, but Peter Parker is neither. [🛡️]

In Colour: So they say meeting your soulmate isn’t really important but to Steve it is important. So he hopes that he meets this person one day, and wakes up and sees colour.  [🛡️] [🎖️]

Knife, Fork, Then Spoon: Tony feels bad that’s all. Rhodey feels like setting him a challenge (with the sense of sympathy of course) [🗯️-IronHusbandsBingo Round 4]

More Than Anything, Ever: It’s nice this way, so much better with the city close and sitting on the porch lifestyle. The cabin, the kids and them. [📄-StarkbucksBingo Round 3]

Moving In: College move-in day is always a stressful one for not only students but families as well and it’s sweet. [😒-TonyStarkBingo MarkVI] [🌭-SteveRogersBingo 2022]

Snowing Birthdays: It’s snowing outside but it’s still Steve’s birthday and Sam wants to still make it special. [🌭] [🎖️]

“Such A Dad.”: is fairly sure there is something wrong with Peter, he’s not talking and he hasn’t touched any of the food. Tony, just thinks he’s tired and Tony’s known him longer, so he must know, right? [📄] [🛡️] [🛏️]

New York Coffee: Days in New York are hard, they’re filled with paperwork and meetings and Obie breathing down his neck anytime he says anything of any nature, coffee helps with all these things (or at least most). [📄] [😒]

Laundry Day: Steve is looking for his jumper, his and his alone, Tony thinks the jumper he’s wearing fits him just right. [😒] [🌭] [🛏️]

Planning For Dinner Before Breakfast: It’s not that weird to be thinking about dinner at breakfast, right? [📄]

Brothers: The hospital is quiet, as they stare at a sleeping child like creeps, thank goodness it’s their own child they are watching.

Pinterest Scrolling: Tony likes to decorate, especially around the holidays. [😒]

Stealing Strawberries: Waking up early was not really in Peter Parker’s big book of brilliant spidey skills, so why is he awake at 6 am? [🛏️]

Date Nights: Date nights are a little different now. [😒] [🏥-IronStrangeBingo Round 3]

Sleepy Movie Nights: Movie night gets sprung upon Rhodey and then he remembers he’s supposed to be a parent. Tony is interrupted by all this and Pepper is glaring at him. [🗯️-IronHusbandsBingo Round 4]

Shine Brighter: The stars shine brighter from inside the castle walls, and Bucky is glad to be there with Steve. [🌭]

Game Day Expirence: At Superbowl LIX, people are calling this the game of the century as they watch married man Sam Wilson play for New Orleans Saints against his very own husband Steve Rogers playing for the New York Giants. [😒] [🎖️]

↪ (Prequel (0.1)) The First Game Expirence: Game day in the NFL seems different now

↪ (Prequel (0.2)) In The Middle Of The Field: Sam has been waiting for the day to arrive, but then their lives got turned upside down by the sport that they both love, and now Sam is standing in the middle of the field.

Sharing: Sam just wants Steve to have a good birthday away from all his Captain American duties. [🎖️]

Blueberry Mornings: Some things are the same in the mansion, just like a nice Saturday morning, and Steve prefers it that way. [🌭]

Attic-ness: The attic is very attic-like unless it’s not an attic at all. Then it’s just a very high floor in Stark Tower that Peter has come across by accident. [😒]

“Are You Cooking?”: Tony Stark is a great cook, cocky, but a great cook.

At 18?: Is it not weird to play 20 questions at a party, especially when you’re 18

Tony Stark Deserves A Cake: Tony heads to a meeting and doesn’t expect to come home and see his kitchen a mess, Peter is sorry, he really is.

The Story Of Figaro And Captain:Sam never expected them to be the white picket fence with pets type, but he thinks he can handle it as long as he is with Steve. [🎖️]

How Do You Meet A Soulmate?: Can a wrong number really lead to meeting your soulmate? [🏥] [😒]

Bundle Of Quiet: Tony’s workshop is rarely ever quiet and when it is, he’s always ready for a screaming body of mess to come in. [😒] [🗯️]

Mr Magical: Apparently, Tony’s character voices aren’t as fantastic as Stephen’s cheating and using magic to make the book alive

Smooth(ie) Moves: Tony likes knowing everything, and Rhodey doesn’t like not knowing. [🗯️]

Background Character: Lila Rhodes did not expect to be in this lecture hall, she doesn’t even go to this school, so she really shouldn’t be a witness to one of the largest news stories in MIT history. The largest may be an exaggeration she’s making seeing as the news story includes her brother. [😒] [🗯️]

Under Pressure: “You failed!” Peter fails and Tony is not used to failing and so he doesn’t realise what he’s doing. [🗯️]

Dancing Away: Dancing is sought of their things, from high school dances to rehearsals, too slow-paced on their porch while the night sky illuminates them. [😒] [🛡️]

Sam and Bucky’s Outside (Spooky) Adventures (MASTERLIST):Bucky has a group of boy-scouts that he likes to dawn over and his partner Sam now gets to join him.[🎃-SamBuckyHalloweenBingo 2022] [SERIES]

Stark Gala Reunion: And they meet once again. [😒]

Hues Of Leaves: In autumn Harley and Peter always find themselves at MIT, autumn in Massachusetts is much prettier than that what Autumn in New York.

What I Think A Hallmark Stucky Movie Would Be: Christmas is slightly awkward when you haven’t been home in years and you are fairly sure you’re parents are replacing you. [😒] [🌭] [🥀-Stucky Bingo Round 4]

[mr-tony-stark]

The guilt that Tony felt for seeing Pepper's reaction to this was almost crushing. He'd vowed to not to do this to her again, and here he was, taking her out to celebrate their new start, and he's doing it.

He moved over in the booth and put his arm around her. He wasn't worried about people seeing them or wondering what was going on. People cried in public all the time now. It was just a new daily normal, and no one would assume they were fighting or he'd been unnecessarily cruel to her.

Although he felt like he had been.

"Please don't cry, Pepper," he said, holding her to him. "Please. I'll do whatever you want to do. If you want to get married, we can get married. I'll marry you right now if you want. I just - I'm just worried about the party. And you deserve to have the wedding of your dreams."

He sat back in his chair and and ran his hands down his face. "I think the romance part of me is broken, Pepper. I don't think I get it. I think I've gone through my whole life thinking that people did these things, giving people flowers, going on fancy dates, all that kind of thing, because that's how you signal to someone that you want the spicy things. I don't want to say just friends, because friends aren't 'just'. But the things you don't usually get with friends. Sex and cuddling and a life partner. It was always why people came to me anyway. I'd give them stuff, or take them out, and they'd have sex with me. Shit - sometimes it didn't even need to be stuff, I could solve their equation for the project they were working on would do it. But there was a signal. I never cared about the signal. What do I care about a flower or a watch? But I give you a bracelet and it means I like you."

He sat forward. He was fairly sure he wasn't making any sense but he was this deep that he was going to keep going. "And then you come along and you impressed me so much, but I'm you're boss and I'm a fucking mess. And I know I want you in my life, so I'm happy that you're working for me. And we get closer and then I make you the boss so maybe it's okay if we have a relationship. And I want one because by then I loved you. So I do what you're supposed to do. I get you strawberries to help me say sorry because I know that there's something about you and strawberries so maybe you'll like them. But god I was so wrong about that. And I get you a giant plush rabbit because the movies always show guys giving their dates giant plush toys, and you fucking hate it. But you still love me. And you still want to be with me. I fuck up all the romance stuff that I don't understand and I don't even like, but you don't care. You love me anyway. So I have this ring - I can't say for sure if I even bought it for you. Maybe I did. We weren't together when I bought it, but I loved you when I bought it. I have Happy carry it around for me, just in case. You know? Because I don't care about getting married. That's just one of those thing people do when they're in love. And I fuck those things up and you love me anyway. But maybe you'll mention it. You'll say that's a thing you want, and I'll be ready to go. But you never did. So I thought we were maybe on the same page? That maybe it doesn't matter to you either. You can love me without all those things I fuck up after all and that's just anther one of them. But then the thing with Peter happens and it seemed like such a good solution. The press loves engagements. And I love you. And I love parties. So we're married? That'll be good. I already think of you as my wife. I still already think of you as my wife. It is fun. I couldn't wait to see your dress, and tasting cake and planning caterers. You know I love all that stuff. I love a party. I hated that the team were all broken up and that Bruce and Thor were just - gone - but we had each other, and we had Happy and Rhodey and Vis. And there were plenty of other people to invite and the whole world had their eyes on us to see the designers and the theme and where it would be. It was good."

He sighed and sagged forward in the chair, his own tears breaking. "And then the world went to shit." He turned his head to look at Pepper. "I guess in my head the baby is different. The wedding is a party. A celebration. I guess to me, that felt like something in poor taste when everyone is grieving. A baby isn't that. We lost four and a half billion people on this planet. Having a baby? That's not a celebration, that's the start of the world healing from it's loss. But what do I know? I don't get it. But I know I love you. I wouldn't marry anyone except you Pepper and I'm so fucking bad at this, and I've messed it up so many times, but you're still here. So if it's what you want, it's what I want. Because I want you and I'll take you in whatever form you want to give yourself to me."

@freckledboss

The shift in his chair, a sign of discomfort. She knows this isn't easy to talk about, and she regrets having such an important discussion while at a restaurant. Where they should be celebrating. Pepper doesn't feel much like celebrating now. The excitement of why they're here to begin with is fading, replaced by sudden sadness and confusion. This isn't the best time nor place, and she realizes that, but they're already in the thick of it, and she wants to say her peace.

"I understand why you're reluctant to have a wedding." His reasoning isn't illogical. In fact, and as much as she may not want to confess, it's rather sensible.

But perhaps by comparing what he wants would help him see from her perspective. “Tony, you think that a wedding isn’t going to go over well with the public… how do you think they’ll feel about us having a baby? Bringing life into this world? Were there not mothers who lost their children? Why should we be allowed to have a child when the world suffers the loss of so many?” She hopes this isn’t too harsh, but it’s reality. “No matter what we do, it’ll be judged and frowned on for quite some time. I know the wedding isn’t important to you.” A part of her won’t admit it, but that does hurt a little. “You might see marriage as just a paper… but then why did you ask me?” The question slips out. Truth be told, she's been very curious as to the reason. Yes, it was an impromptu engagement to save their own asses in front of the press, but still. They could have let the hype settle a bit and then announce they were no longer engaged. It wouldn't have been a decision made lightly by any means. For she didn't recognize how much she wanted him to propose until he'd showed her that ring. But if marriage was something Tony wasn't into, then she would have called it off.

"I'm not going to force us to do this." Despite her best efforts not to get emotional, her eyes start to gloss over. She feels ridiculous. “I never wanted a big wedding… that’s not me. I understand that you want to give me everything I deserve and I appreciate that, I love you for it… but my vision for our wedding wasn’t as grand as maybe you thought it was. I would have been fine with a private ceremony, fifty guests max--but, of course, that's different now, things have changed.”  She’ll wipe away a cascading tear, sighing. "I'm sorry. We're supposed to be happy... I shouldn't be crying."

A moment spent to gather her thoughts. She sobers and considers what he's said. "You're right... this can wait. It's not important... it isn't a priority." Though, to her it isn't just a proposal, just a wedding, just a piece of paper. It's everything. "I don't want this to be the cause of more hate and resentment. There's enough of that going around. If you feel it would be better that we wait... then I'll wait." It may be difficult to let this dream go, and it won't be forever, but she knows he's speaking from good sense. He means well and he's not wrong. Why celebrate with a wedding when their friends and family are gone?

"In the meantime, we have a new house to look forward to and a baby..." there's slight hesitation and she squeezes his hand. "Promise me you'll let me know when you think a wedding would be appropriate?" It could be days from now, weeks, months, years, so long as he's still interested, she'll wait.

@mr-tony-stark

[olderthannetfic]

Your posts about Rhodey/Tony and slash and black Only Sane Men best friends made me think of American Gods, the series with Ricky Whittle as Shadow. Haven't actually watched season 3 yet, and I also haven't interacted with the fandom in a good while, but I remember that back when season one had just dropped, there were lots of Shadow/Mad Sweeney shippers.

I think many people find Only Sane Man types more compelling (and so, more shippable) as the fish-out-of-water protagonists falling deeper and deeper into a rabbit hole of weirdness. Shadow started out working for Mr. Wednesday, following his orders no matter how strange they initially appeared and being the straight man character for his eccentricities to bounce off of, but he never felt like anyone's long-suffering babysitter or nagging mother hen. He had his own troubles, his own sad past as a woobie who got out of jail only to find out the woman he loved had cheated on him with his friend and then died, and scary supernatural shit kept happening to him despite him just wanting a quiet life and a job. And Mad Sweeney was just the aggressive prick who picked a fight with him for no reason, got tangled with him and his zombie ex due to a freaky chain of events that Shadow had absolutely no way to know he was starting, and resented him enough for that to give shippers an unintentionally very gay line like "damn is dark eyes!" that made it into a bunch of crackvids as That One Gay Moment and on many Tumblr blogs as an OTP tag. So right from the beginning, it was clear they were probably never gonna have a "black guy cleaning up after the white guy's messes" thing going on.

And sure, there were also many people shipping Mad Sweeney with Laura, because they had more scenes together and more of an established dynamic... and it was a dynamic where they were both always snarking at each other even when being stuck together, at that. But they often had to deal with a "how dare you ship Laura with anyone, she's a bitch and evil and we as the audience are meant to hate her!!" crowd that sounded suspiciously like many other "don't you dare put a woman between my slash ship" crowds.

Also, a bit off topic from my point but while I never really felt the urge to ship Rhodey/Tony, I also never really understood why Steve/Tony was so popular in MCU fandom before Civil War. My impression when trying to figure it out after watching The Avengers was that comic fans were just really excited to have a liveaction adaptation of a ship that had had years of development (and a Steve/Fem!Tony wedding in a parallel universe, I think?) through the years in comic form... and their enthusiasm ended up dominating the fandom for a while, leaving not a lot of space for other ships. I think the only one somewhat able to rival Steve/Tony was Tony/Loki, but the main Loki ship at that point was Thorki, so Tony/Loki was considered a bit of a crackpair anyway...

I have to say I never checked on Rhodey/Tony before that, though. I just always assumed it had kind of dropped from the face of fandom partly due to the recasting and partly due to people jumping ship to Steve/Tony.

--

Steve/Tony was pretty popular because of existing comics fans (and fic), yeah. I didn't remember it being quite so overwhelming.

Right now, the sidebar for MCU on AO3 looks like this:

James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers (58243)

Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (35675)

Peter Parker & Tony Stark (26000)

Pepper Potts/Tony Stark (21178)

Loki/Thor (Marvel) (14221)

James "Bucky" Barnes/Reader (14103)

James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers (11546)

Loki/Tony Stark (11502)

Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (11474)

Clint Barton/Phil Coulson (10812)

If I filter by time for 2012 and before, it looks like this:

Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (2874)

Clint Barton/Phil Coulson (1984)

Loki/Thor (Marvel) (1451)

Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (1372)

Pepper Potts/Tony Stark (1108)

Loki/Tony Stark (843)

Bruce Banner/Tony Stark (833)

Jane Foster/Thor (548)

James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers (418)

Loki & Thor (260)

Stony had more of a lead than I realized at the time, but this was also the height of inexplicable Clint/Coulson's reign. I think some of the Pepperony never made it off of LJ and other sites too.

--

I haven't seen American Gods, but having a leading role usually helps with those writing problems. A canon can still decide to sideline a major character in favor of other characters (Star Wars, I'm looking at you), but a show lead is in a lot less danger of feeling like a babysitter. Even if he ends up cleaning up someone's messes or something, he's more of an audience surrogate annoyed about this job or worried about his friend or having some emotion the audience is supposed to pay attention to and give a fuck about. The classic sidelined supportive best friend ensemble character feels like a prop because the audience is never invited to know or care how he feels about what he's doing. He's not an audience surrogate. He's not someone whose interiority matters.

That's the real key: interiority. Plenty of media represents minority characters as sexy or cool or some other positive attribute but doesn't invite us inside their head and thus subtly tells us that they're set dressing, not a person. A lead who drives the plot is generally written better.

[yourmcu]

Forgotten (CONTINUED VERSION)

Pairings: Tony Stark x daughter!reader, Peter Parker x Stark!reader (platonic)

Request:

Hello i love your story could you do angsty tony x daughter reader. Wherein the reader has a twin brother and Tony and the avengers prefer the twin brother and becaus of that, the reader became rebel and badass. She always getting trouble and almost drop out student. The avengers and her father were seem disappointed and dont know what to do. Not until the reader involve into car accident and she's critical injured. The reader also slipped to coma. Everyone is devastated about the reader conditione. And they realized that the reader only rebel because she wants to get attention from them. It depends to you what the end come, I just want a full angst this week and I hope you dont mind my English. Anyway I hope your alright.

A/n: y’all wanted it, I finished it :)

Word count: 3,984

(more notes at the end!)

Warnings: angst, hurt/comfort? bad writing of an anxiety attack, accident, knife, hospitals

read it on ao3!

gif not mine! credits to the owner^^

Being a genius/billionaire/superhero’s kid doesn’t always sound nice like it usually does.

You were one of the Stark twins, the other half being your brother, Ethan.

The both of you showed signs that you inherited the commonly known Stark trait (intelligence) at a young age. But Tony mostly focused on his son, showing him all his inventions and gadgets, teaching him everything he knew while you on the other hand, were being babysat by Happy or Pepper, sometimes Rhodey.

You tried so hard to get your father’s attention but he always had his excuses:

“I don’t have time for that.”

“I’m busy with Ethan right now.”

“Maybe later.”

At first you didn’t mind if your brother got all the praise and attention. It wasn’t until your mid-teens that you really started to feel left out and ignored.

You were left to frown when the other Avengers never found anything interesting about you, just like Tony did. They all liked Ethan better. The topic of him being the next Iron Man when Tony retires is getting exhausting.

There was this one time when Tony announced that they were all going out to dinner since Ethan got, yet again, a full set of A’s on his report card.

“Did you get my card?” You tapped on Tony’s shoulder lightly.

He gave you a side glance, “ah shoot, I forgot. I’ll go get it tomorrow.” Then returned his attention to your brother.

But he ended up forgetting again the next day and you had to convince your teacher to give it to you instead. Your marks had A’s, but littered with B’s as well, of course that was no match for your brother’s perfect marks.

And that sort of scenario wasn’t just a one time thing, Tony forgets to pick up your report card every. single. time. The messed up part was you and Ethan literally attended the same school, he was just in a more advanced class than you.

As time passed, Tony went from ignoring you to getting annoyed and pissed at you for everything you did. In his eyes, you were always in the wrong. And the reason? You didn’t know.

“Dad? Can I borrow Bruce for a minute?” You knocked on the glass door of his lab to get him to look up.

He didn’t, but responded, “kinda busy with him right now.”

You looked at your fractured arm, regretting your decisions. “W-well, Ethan was training with Nat, and... and he wanted to try the new moves he learned on me. He went a little hard and - I think my arm’s broken, I just wanted Bruce to check it out-”

“Goddammit!” He shouted after you heard a glass shatter. Bruce covered his face with palms, muttering an ‘oh no’.

Tony glared at you, striding to where you were standing. All that was left for you to do was to brace yourself for what was about to come. “See, this is why we never let you do anything with the team,” he spat. “That right there?”-he pointed to your arm-“that’s on you. Things go wrong because you’re in the way!”

“I’m... I’m sorry-”

“Just get out of here.”

Your arm remained untreated after that.

Then Peter Parker came into the picture. Friendly guy, he was actually nice to you. Him and Ethan got along right away when Tony first recruited him. The fact that he treated Peter better than you made you even more miserable. It made you think he never wanted a daughter in the first place.

You first met Peter when he accidentally entered your room without warning, thinking it was the bathroom. Cliche, but that’s what happened.

“It’s on the first door to your other left,” you stated.

“Yeah, yeah okay, thanks,” he turned around to leave but stopped to look at you again. “I’m Peter Parker, by the way.”

“Y/N Stark.”

Peter’s eyes lit up at your last name. “I... I didn’t know Mr. Stark had a daughter - no offense! It’s just-”

You sighed and waved him off. He didn’t even notice the similarities you had with your twin. “It’s fine. I get that a lot.”

After many events of being, to be blunt, treated like shit, you finally had enough. You neglected your studies, only went to school when you felt like it (which was rare). No one cared your grades anyway, so what’s the point? You became a whole new person, you surrounded yourself with the wrong sort of people, causing you to dabble into smoking and alcohol.

Since you were always in trouble, you could recite Cap’s detention speech at school by heart now.

The principal of your school wanted to see Tony to talk about your behavior. Normally he’d make an excuse not to go if it wasn’t that important but he got flooded with messages from the school, so he couldn’t say no.

You had your legs crossed, sitting across from Tony who had his eyebrows furrowed as he listened to the principal. For some reason you didn’t feel nervous. “Y/N barely attends her classes. I’ve seen every attendance. Are you aware of this, Mr. Stark?”

Tony only maintained his usual relaxed posture and avoided your gaze.

“Some students have also seen her smoke in school grounds. We gave her a few weeks suspension for it, but it doesn’t look like she’s learned her lesson.” They pulled out a couple boxes of cigarettes from the desk drawer. “We found these in her locker.”

“You went into my locker?” You shot up from your seat. “You can’t just do that!”

Tony cleared his throat and got up, gripping your wrist. “I’ll take it from here - will that be all?”

On the way out he doesn’t say a word to you, only that his grip on your wrist got tight as you near the car.

“So,” he started the car. His voice was calm, but it screamed that you were in deep trouble. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

You sighed and slouched in the passenger’s seat, crossing your arms. “I’m... sorry you had to know...?”

“Yeah, I’m just gonna be honest with you here,” Tony still doesn’t look at you. “When I found out I had two kids, I got worried about Ethan.”

You let out a snort. Of course he would.

“I didn’t want him ending up like me. But surprise surprise, my daughter did instead.”

“I’m not ‘ending up’ like you, Dad-”

“Then what do you call - this,” he referred to you. “What, you’re just gonna waste your life, drop out of school? You’re a fucking mess, Y/N, and here I thought I raised you right. Sometimes I think: why can’t you just be like your brother?” He had a hard grip on the steering wheel as he drove, the way he spoke affected the speed of the car greatly.

You opened your mouth to speak but you couldn’t fine the exact words you wanted to say. “I... well, I’m sorry I’m not a goody two shoes like him!”

“That’s not what I-”

“Please, that’s exactly what you meant.”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “Look, I’m grounding you until you pull yourself together, understand?” And he did. He gave new orders to Friday when the both of you got home. You weren’t allowed to leave the compound without Tony’s permission.

Were you giving up that easily? Of course not.

You were on your laptop for the rest of the day, hacking into Friday’s system, the security to the elevator and the entrance. That night, your executed your plan and everything went smoothly.

“This is why you never underestimate me,” you sighed, deactivating the hack once you were out of the building.

Your friend who was picking you up was already waiting a few blocks away from the compound. “I hope you’re cool with me staying over for a couple days.”

“If a bunch of Avengers come and destroy my place to look for you, I’m not going to be friends with you anymore.”

You laughed at out, “oh trust me, they don’t care.”

----

The next day no one noticed your absence, nobody did for another two days. Tony just assumed you were mad about your punishment, so he didn’t think of it much.

Not until Peter came to the compound on the third day, wanting to hang out with you.

“Whatcha got there, Pete?” Ethan asked.

“Star Wars movies. I wanna watch them with Y/N - she could use some company, don’t you think?”

The older Stark twin shrugged, “yeah, I guess she could.”

Peter then headed to the elevator and stopped at the floor where your room was. He knocked on your door and waited a bit, after a few minutes of silence he knocked again, still nothing.

“Y/N? Is it okay if I come in?” He called out. No response. He hesitated a bit, for all he knew you were probably changing or something, or you could be in danger. He went to open the door anyway. “I’m coming in, I’ll close my eyes just to be-”

To Peter’s surprise, your room was empty.

----

You were at a 711 parking lot, waiting for your friends who were buying supplies for a house party. You gave them your wallet, not really caring about anything anymore. Your phone was starting to pile up with messages and missed calls from Tony, Edward and Peter, occasionally from the others as you scrolled pass more.

Without thinking you threw your phone to the ground, cracking the screen, breaking it completely. They’d be able to track you through it now that they know you ran away. You really had no intention of coming back. You weren’t wanted, what’s the point of going back?It’s early but you’ve had a few drinks already. You weren’t sure if breaking your phone was a good idea but there’s one thing you’re sure: you didn’t care anymore.

You didn’t have to turn your head to see who just arrived and ambushed your friends inside the store. They ran out and left you behind. The sound of webs coming out of his shooters was enough for you to tell.

“You shouldn’t be here, Peter,” you sighed defeatedly.

Peter gently took a seat next to you, not removing his mask since you were in public and handed your wallet back. “I don’t understand why you left.”

He took in your awful state. His suit scanned how intoxicated you were, estimated how many cigarette packets you’ve had. His frown deepened at the information.

“I care about you. We all do. Mr. Stark’s not going to stop the search party until you come home.”

You rolled your eyes at the term. “Stupid search party – pathetic – I’m not coming home anymore, Pete-” you slurred and tried to get up but stumbled back, almost twisting your ankle but fell to Peter’s side. “Ow.”

He sighed, struggling to get ahold of you since you always pulled away.

“Stop being so stubborn, okay?”

“If you don’t like my stubborn fucking ass then maybe you should just leave,” you stated. “I’m not wanted there. I got the message. I didn’t run away just to be fucking found.”

Peter stared at you for a moment. He didn’t know why you got grounded in the first place, how you got here and why you didn’t want to go back home. There was something off in the father-daughter relationship, he knew that, but it was news to him that it was that bad. That bad for you to waste your life, to run away. He always thought Mr. Stark was an awesome parent, the way he was treating Ethan, and him…

“It’s unfair,” you ranted. “God, if you only knew how pathetic I feel whenever he tells me off. I’m always annoying to him - not just to him, to the whole team, I’m always wrong in everything I do and it’s honestly tiring? What the fuck do I have to do just to feel loved and wanted?”

You went on rambling while Peter tried to comfort and deny every negative thing that came out of your mouth. He didn’t believe any of it, but the way everyone’s been treating you. He hated that he didn’t notice sooner. He could’ve defended you.

“I have nothing against you, I really don’t,” you sighed. “But you should be grateful they’re treating you perfectly.” You got up and strode to the opposite direction, mentally cursing because your friends ditched you and you has nowhere to go, phone destroyed and everything.

But you were staying true to your word: you didn’t have any plans to go back to the compound. You were going to figure your life out on your own.

“Y/N, I… I’m not leaving you alone out here!”

You were so fed up of the spider-ling. How good he was, how perfect, how Tony clearly wanted him more than you, how he always wanted to do the right thing, because none of you expected what happened next when he went to grab your shoulder. The action was so sudden that it Peter didn’t have time to avoid it.

Knife, shoulder, really deep.

Maybe it was just how wasted you were, because he knew you would never do anything like that.

“You’re really annoying, Parker,” you muttered, not wasting any more time watching him stumble out of shock and pain, sprinting across the streets.

With his uninjured arm, he shot webs while trying to pull the knife (the blade wasn’t even visible anymore on how deep it was) out of his shoulder. There was a loud bang, and Peter never sprinted so fast in his life, not caring less about the pain and blood, because what mattered most was your safety. When he got there, you were far from safe.

-----

A week went by. And during those seven days Tony was on edge, I mean, how can be calm at a time like that?

Peter managed to show up at the compound the same night, breathless and shaky. His state made everyone worried but he wasted no time telling Tony what happened. He got you to the hospital, making sure you were being sorted out right before leaving to break the news.

Tony didn’t think twice and went to the hospital where you were admitted, not listening to Peter’s apologies and leaving Steve to sort everyone out on what they should do.

They didn’t expect you to show signs of waking up after only a week since the accident got you mangled up, it was mostly a blow to the head and as expected, you slipped into a coma.

Right, what happened: an awful timing really, not sure if Peter’s the one to blame but he accidentally stuck you to the ground with his webs, and it just so happened a car was driving at a fast speed – there you go.

Tony made sure you got the best treatment possible. He even went and asked Strange if he could do all the surgeries needed, but he declined, claiming he couldn’t anymore despite the sympathy he felt inside. Instead he asked the best doctors he knew, but still helped out sometimes in any way he could.

You took a breath, trying to open your eyes but the blinding lights of your room and them almost feeling as if they were glued shut from not being open for so long prevented you. You also tried moving your hands, only to feel a warm one rest on top of it, you finally opened your eyes.

“You’re awake,” Tony mumbled, rubbing a thumb on the back of your palm soothingly. “You’re awake and you’re okay.”

“Mr. Stark?” Peter called out, spotting his mentor sitting outside the room where they were doing the final surgery on you. It was his first time visiting, seeing as the knife wound was worse than he thought. “I’m so sorry, I-“

“What happened?” Was the only thing Tony said, not looking up to look at the kid. Peter stood there for a moment but told him everything that happened.

After that and after he made sure you were okay, resting in your room and everything, he let Natasha look after you for the night and headed back to the compound.

The kid would never lie to him but he had to see it all for himself. The Spider-Man suit caught everything through the baby monitor protocol. From when he arrived to the convenient store, when you told him countless of times that you weren’t coming back, and when your drunk self ranted about what you felt.

“What the fuck do I have to do just to feel loved and wanted?”

“He seemed to like both of us equally when we were younger,” you sniffled. “Of course he would, but… my brother just turned out to be special and talented and,” you frowned, “he’s all Tony ever wanted for a kid. Maybe I reminded him of the chick he fucked, I don’t know – must be it, right?”

“Y/N, you’re just as special as-” Peter tried to reason but you threw him a glare. Tony could see the pain and heartbreak in your bloodshot, tired eyes. One that said you didn’t want to hear anything like it anymore. You didn’t want to believe it.

“The thing is, they only want you when you’re gone. Missing. Dead,” you shrugged. “I can take a hint, you know? My only family hates me. My only family doesn’t want me. Now you – all of them – are looking for me… why?” Peter flinched at the loudness of your voice. You truly were broken.

Tony fast forwarded, it didn’t clearly show how you got hit, but he had enough anyway. He wanted to make things right with you. He could only hope that you make pass this, hoping that you’ll let him make it up to you.

“It’s not too late, you know,” Steve said from the entrance to his lab. “Y/N is strong. She’ll make it.”

“Why am I not dead?” You croaked, looking at your father with an anxious expression. You letting out another shaky breath as you struggled to move and look around. “I should be dead. Why am I here-”

“Take it easy-”

“Don’t you understand?” You felt your throat aching, breath quickening. “I don’t want to be here!”

“No, you’re okay. Y/N you’re okay,” Tony tried to calm you down when he saw the lines in your heart monitor go up and down in rapid pace. 

“I’m not - no I’m not - not okay,” you struggled to let out. It felt like you were choking on your own breath, getting harder and harder to breathe by the minute, soon tears started to prick your eyes. “I don’t want to be here!”

“Tony, what's going on?” Steve bursted into the room with an alarmed but calm expression.

“Call Strange. Anyone.” He told the captain but his eyes never left you. He rubbed a part of your arm that wasn’t injured soothingly in attempt to calm you down. “Just breathe for me, okay? I’m here and you’re okay.”

Something about the softness and encouraging look in his eyes made you nod eventually and follow his breathing patterns. He held a glass of water for you to drink, holding your struggling hand softly to get it out of the way.

He’s never looked at you like that before.

Most of the time he ignored you, most of the time he looked at you at anger or annoyance when you’ve fucked something up.

“There we go, we okay now?” You looked away and nodded lightly. That was enough for him. Tony wanted to let you know how sorry he was so bad, but thought against it, at least for now. He was scared you might start freaking out again.

Stephen entered the room with the doctor, the other Avengers following closely behind. The amount of people in the room overwhelmed you a bit, but you were strangely calm because of how your father’s acting. Soft and caring, it made you feel safe.

Both doctors concluded that you had some sort of amnesia. In English, your past memories were blotchy, all of them even from your childhood. Again because of the blow to the head it was already expected. But you remembered the recent ones clearly, which was the reason why you avoided looking at Peter and his patched up arm.

Which also meant it was possible you didn’t remember all of the pain you felt concerning your family. It was unfair on your part.

Strange insisted that you stay a few more days, or one more week, just to run tests and make sure you get enough medicine and stuff.

They decided to see how bad your memory loss was.

“I did that to you,” you still refused to look at Peter completely. “I’m sorry, Peter.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay.” Peter gave you a smile.

You moved to the next person. Red hair, seemed to give off a friendly but civil nature. “Natasha? You’re Natasha.”

The Russian merely smiled and crossed her arms.

“Steve,” you stated, moving to the next person. “You always read old books in the kitchen.”

Steve chuckled, nodding to confirm.

“Ethan,” you smiled as you looked at your twin. He gave you a small wave even if he felt as guilty as Tony about everything even if he wasn’t the one to blame.

You stared longer at the next person, almost shoulder length dark brown hair, he’s wearing a jacket to cover his metal arm but you knew it was still there.

“Ducky?”

Peter let out a giggle, so did you brother.

“It’s Bucky, doll,” Bucky smiled, covering his face with his hand to suppress a chuckle as the rest laughed.

“Oh, right, I’m sorry,” you let out a weak giggle yourself.

You meet Tony’s eyes again, the softness still there.

“Dad,” you stated. “You’re my dad. Tony.”

No, you didn’t completely forget how he treated you. You knew he was annoyed with you, which lead you to think that you did something that made him act that way. “Am I bad?”

Tony’s hopeful expression dimmed. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”

You shrugged. “You’re mad at me, I just… I guess it’s just not clear on why.”

Steve thought it would be best for everyone to head out for a bit so he ushered everyone out of the room except for your brother who took a seat at the corner.

“About that, it’s about time we talked, yeah?” Tony sat on a chair backwards beside your bed. It made you nervous, but you were reassured. “You’re not in trouble, don’t worry.”

He exhaled, resting an arm on the top rail. “You deserve so much better. I should’ve treated you better,” you opened your mouth to ask but he continued. “Look, I haven’t been fair with you and it’s a problem. You’re smart, talented and beautiful. I figured you needed to hear it more often because it’s true. What I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry. I really am.”

Your bottom lip involuntarily trembled. “You – you really mean that?”

“From the bottom of my heart.”

You sighed, a genuine smile plastered on your face. “Thank you. And I’m sorry if I was a pain in the ass-“

“You never were,” Tony shook his head. “You always did your best and I really should have acknowledged it more. Give me a second chance?”

“Of course.”

Tony smiled, getting up and planting a gentle kiss to your forehead.

Everything in life was so much better after all that. Tony treated you and Ethan equally, same goes for Peter. The other Avengers were nicer, not the kind of nice that was almost fake, but it was genuine. All of them were. And you were thankful.

----

TAGLIST: @contanto-que-voce-me-queira @angeldreineedshelp @legendarymcnuggies @zoeyserpentluck @vienmiaprendere @alainabooks143 @hessogxlden

DID ANYONE MISS ME? BC I MISSED THIS PLACE

I highly doubt anyone’s still waiting for this, it was an unplanned hiatus I’M SO SORRY but I decided to post anyway :))

also I hope this wasn’t underwhelming, that’s one of the reasons why I was hesitant to do this but I hope its good heh (I’ve included the parts from my first post as well, just so it feels like a full fic)

WAIT I ALSO HIT 300 FOLLOWERS? INSANE. THANK YOU. I MEAN IT.

[tafuturepsy]

Do you imagine like, Peter introducing Tony to Brooklyn 99 ? The wild shit that would ensue would be amazing :

Peter would be obsessed with it, and obviously quoting the show on a daily basis with Ned. Eventually, he would start cracking b99 jokes while he works in the lab with Tony, with one here and there. Tony wouldn't pay attention, thinking it's just another weird joke of the kid (plus he's sleep-deprived).

But as the lab days pass, Peter would quote the show more and more, because the new season is coming out soon so he and Ned just binge watch it non-stop. After a while, Tony's definetly not sleep-deprived brain would click. He would ask Peter where all these jokes come from, because there's definetly something going on and he doesn't like being left out of the loop. Peter would go red and start rambling : "oh, it's just uh.. you know.. there's this show that Ned and I really like, I mean not only us, there's like so many people who love it, but anyways, it's about cops in brooklyn and they are like all super cool, there's this detective who always has big knifes and stuff, and there's another one who loves weird food, and this big sargeant played by Terry Crews who loves yogurt and-"

Tony would stop him, and ask the name of the show. "Oh. Uh, it's Brooklyn 99". Tony would then get up from his stool, walk up to Peter and say "how about we go in the living room and put it on then ? If you're to quote it all the time, I might as well be able to understand what you're saying". Peter would get really excited, and they would go in the living room to watch it.

Tony would be mostly curious, because why the hell was Peter so obsessed with Terry Crews eating weird yogurt with a big knife ? After a short reflexion, maybe he should go pick up a coffee before starting the show.

After a few episodes, it would turn out that Tony just LOVES it, because there is so much sass in this show, but there's also the same kind of humor that Peter has (and he loves the kids' stupid jokes, not that he would stop rolling his eyes at them though), so he is completely conquered.

Gina is definetly his favorite, which Peter had guessed because she's literally the feminin version of Tony, to which Tony totally agrees. He would then say to Peter that he is a mix of Jake and Boyle, because he always has stupid ideas, he's messy but also clumsy and caring for everyone (but he mostly has stupid ideas). After that, they would try to find who is who in the show and debate over that (Peter says that Rhodey is Rosa because he is super badass and has a ton of weapons on the suit and always has good plans).

They end up binge watching the whole first season that day, and they really have a lot of fun. When May calls Peter because it's late and he needs to come home, Tony says that they can watch season 2 next time, to which Peter immediatly agrees. So this is how a new ritual starts, in which Peter would come to the tower to work in the lab with Tony for a few hours before they would go in the living room to watch b99.

Tony ends up quoting the show in the lab as well, which makes the lab sessions even funnier to the both of them. Sometimes, Tony quotes the show when he is with Rhodey or Pepper, so they end up catching up on the show as well because Tony and Peter barely speak in something other than b99 references at this point and they don't understand a thing of what they are saying.

In the end, they just have b99 binge watch nights all together, with May and Peter staying over. They even make game nights based on the show, like they sort a case they have to solve, and each one impersonates a character as they try to solve the case the way the squad would in the show. Obviously they mess around a lot, while perfectly staying in character, and it can take a lot of time to solve the case but they just have so much fun all together that it's even better that way.

[iam93percentstardust]

Hi, happy Shared Birthday Month, cause it's my birthday month as well!! Can I please prompt you a WinterIron, where Bucky and/or winter soldier is a science nerd and a massive Tony Stark stan? Happy with setting in any era, any rating 😄 Thank you! You are amazing and I love your stuff!

Happy late birthday! Sorry it took me a bit to get to this prompt but here is a cute no-powers au, featuring some minor Natasha/Steve and some science from a paper my lab group read in group meeting yesterday (check the ao3 story for the paper citation). Sorry I didn't come up with something more original for the science but this was on my mind.

As always, everything I write is also on ao3.

~

“Okay, Steve, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me—for us,” Bucky quickly corrects when Steve shoots him an amused look. “So what are we going to do?”

“We’re going to sit quietly in the audience,” Steve says.

“And what are we not going to do?”

“Shout that our best friend would like to bang Tony Stark like a screen door in a hurricane,” Steve dutifully repeats what Bucky has been telling him for the whole drive to the studio. He gives Bucky a sly smile. “Even if it’s true.”

Bucky swats his skinny arm lightly, enough to sting but not so hard that it’ll bruise Steve’s arm, which bruises like a peach. He still can’t believe he managed to win the tickets to watch the live taping of the one hundredth episode of Tony Stark’s show, It’s Only Science If You Write It Down. He’s been following the show since its first episode five years ago. Growing up, Tony Stark was to him what Britney Spears was to other kids. Stark was always in the news for his innovative inventions for his father’s company. Everyone had thought he would take over SI after his parents’ deaths, but instead he’d handed the company over to Pepper Potts, a then-unknown young woman working in SI’s financial department. Stark still held the majority of shares in the company but he’d turned his focus to becoming the next Bill Nye, along with his best friend. Bucky had stumbled across one of the articles about him when he was young and immediately developed one heck of a crush on him that hadn’t at all disappeared with age.

And now he’s here, attending the first ever live taping of Stark’s show.

It’d be a dream come true if only Steve wasn’t the one attending with him. Don’t get him wrong, Stevie’s great, but he’s also convinced Bucky needs to date more often and he’s very… enthusiastic about making sure that everyone they meet that Bucky thinks is even the slightest bit cute knows that.

Stark is the crush to end all crushes. He knows that Steve knows it. He also knows what Steve is like, and he thinks he’ll die of shame if Steve feels the need to let Stark know it too.

“You have your inhaler, right?” he asks as the line creeps forward.

“Yes, mother,” Steve sighs, patting his pocket. “And an EpiPen in the other pocket and my meds in my wallet.”

They’re reminded to keep their phones firmly in their pockets by the surly security guard—incongruously named Happy, according to the badge he’s wearing—at the front door and then ushered inside the studio, only to be stopped by a young woman with a clipboard as they’re climbing the risers.

“Hi,” she says with a sphinxlike smile that makes Bucky want to check that his wallet is still in his pocket. “Which one of you is Bucky Barnes?”

“Uh, that would be me,” he says, raising his hand slightly.

Her eyes catch on the silver sheen of his prosthetic. They don’t register anything other than idle curiosity, but Bucky still awkwardly tucks the arm away. It’s been almost ten years since the accident, but he’s still not used to the looks he gets when people see it.

“I’m Natasha,” she says. “Mr. Stark’s personal assistant. JARVIS noticed you when you entered the studio. Mr. Stark wanted me to inform you both that there’s been a change to the contest winnings.”

Dread starts to pool in Bucky’s stomach but it doesn’t have long to settle before her smile gentles and she adds, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. He just wanted to invite the two of you backstage after the show is over.”

Bucky’s mouth drops open. Steve reaches over to close it and asks, “Why?”

To Bucky’s surprise, Natasha gives Steve a clear onceover, seemingly pleased by what she sees. “Mr. Stark wouldn’t like me to give away his secrets, but I’d imagine it has something to do with the way he spilled his coffee all over his front when he saw your friend’s picture.”

“Really?” Steve asks skeptically. “A notorious playboy tripping all over himself for this yahoo here?”

Natasha laughs, hard enough that Bucky mutters, “It wasn’t that funny.”

Once she’s calmed down, Natasha says, “He’s not as bad as you think. A lot of it is just reputation. And yes, as soon as he got a look at him, he was demanding I figure out a way to get him backstage.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” Steve demands, taking an indignant stance.

Natasha hums, eyes going dark. “Oh no, you got invited backstage because I wanted to meet you,” she purrs. “I’ll come find you boys later. Enjoy the show.”

She saunters off, putting just enough of a sway to her step that Bucky suspects if he were attracted to women, he’d be mesmerized. As it is, he’s the one who has to reach over to close Steve’s jaw this time.

They take their seats and a few minutes later, Tony Stark and James Rhodes walk on set. They’re quietly talking to each other as the crew bustles around them, makeup artists darting up to make sure their faces look perfect. Stark is dressed in a t-shirt that says Engineers do it on the test bench—which is a terrible joke really and shouldn’t make Bucky want to laugh as much as he does—and well-worn jeans that perfectly mold to the shape of his bubble butt. Rhodes could be dressed in a paper sack for all that Bucky notices him.

Steve leans over and whispers, “You sure that I can’t yell that you want to bang Tony Stark like a screen door in a hurricane? Natasha made it sound like he’d be open to it.”

“You do,” Bucky hisses back, “and I’ll tell Natasha you were looking at her rear when she walked away.”

Steve makes an indignant noise and sits back in his chair, sulkily crossing his arms.

“Quiet on set!” the director yells. “And… action!”

“Hi!” Tony Stark says, smiling right at the camera. “I’m Tony and this is Rhodey and you’re watching Disney Channe!”

“He’s kidding,” Rhodes says long-sufferingly. “You’re watching It’s Only Science If You Write It Down.”

Later, Bucky wouldn’t be able to tell anyone what the show had been about. He’d spent the entire show too entranced by Tony’s voice and charisma to pay any attention to the actual science, which is a bit of a shame. He really does like science—he wouldn’t be getting his PhD in physical chemistry if he didn’t—but he can’t tear his eyes away from Tony long enough to actually watch the experiment. It’s fine; he can always watch the show later when it’s released (and maybe, if he’s lucky, he’ll have Tony to watch it with).

It seems like both an eternity and only a moment before the show wraps. Tony and Rhodes leave to thunderous applause, only coming back out for quick bows before disappearing backstage again. Bucky and Steve stay seated while the rest of the audience filters out slowly until Natasha comes to get them. She and Steve chat quietly as she leads them backstage but Bucky can only listen with half an ear; he’s too nervous about meeting his personal hero.

Rhodes is leaving the room Natasha leads them to. He breathes a sigh of relief when he spots the three of them. “Good, you’re here,” he says, specifically looking at Bucky. “Maybe you can calm him down. He’s been bouncing off the walls since he saw your picture.”

“Really?” Bucky squeaks. He clears his throat and tries again. “Really?”

“Really. He read all your papers last night—twice.”

“He has?”

Rhodes nods. “He really likes your piece on inelastic electron wave packet scattering.”

“Yeah? What did he—”

“You’ll have to ask him,” Rhodes interrupts. “I might be a rocket scientist but chemistry isn’t my preferred field of science. If you don’t mind, I’ve got a date to get to.”

He pushes the door open, letting them in, and leaves. Natasha slips through the door, followed immediately by Tony saying, “Where are—oh god, they left, didn’t they? I knew this was too much. Nat—”

“They’re right outside,” Natasha says smoothly. She opens the door further, revealing the two of them awkwardly standing there. Bucky’s gaze darts around a fairly nice dressing room before finally landing on Tony, who is blinking back at him with a wide-eyed, slightly stunned look.

“Hi,” he breathes out.

The corner of Tony’s mouth twitches up in the tiniest of smiles. “Hi.”

“Great, now that that’s out of the way, get out,” Natasha says, giving Tony a shove so that he stumbles out of the room, right into Bucky’s arms. She reaches out and grabs Steve, pulling him inside. “Don’t disturb me for the next hour.”

“Uh,” Steve begins, but he doesn’t actually look upset by this turn of events, so Bucky doesn’t worry—too much, anyway.

He does, however, turn to Tony and ask, “Is he going to be okay?”

“Oh yeah, he’s fine,” Tony says breezily. “Natasha’s just very direct.”

“Right.”

Now that it’s just the two of them alone in the hallway, it’s a little more awkward. Bucky opens his mouth twice to say something, only to shut it again as soon as he realizes his question is stupid. For his part, Tony shoves his hands deep into his pockets and rocks back and forth on his feet.

Then the sound of what is obviously Steve moaning floats through the door. Bucky cringes and jerks his thumb in the direction of the door. “We should—”

“Yep,” Tony agrees.

They get all the way back to the set before they stop. They look at each other for a beat before dissolving into giggles. “Oh my god,” Tony says, clutching his sides. “I knew she moved fast but—”

“Well, Steve doesn’t move fast at all,” Bucky says, “so you can see where I’m a bit lost.”

That sets Tony off into another round of laughter. Bucky is calming down a bit so he takes the moment to admire the way Tony laughs with his entire body. It takes Tony a moment to realizes he’s being stared at. When he does, his laugh tapers off as he gives Bucky a lingering look.

“I’m Tony,” he says eventually.

“Bucky.”

“Wow, that’s really unfortunate.”

“You’re not wrong,” Bucky agrees. “Blame Stevie for that one.”

“Childhood friends, huh?”

“Literally played naked together in the kiddie pool.”

Tony grins. “That sounds familiar.”

“You and Rhodes—”

“Oh no, but if you ever get the chance to meet Janet Van Dyne, remember to ask her about the time she thought she could make a living selling mud pies.”

Bucky takes a moment to marvel that this is his life now, that Tony thinks nothing of giving him dirt on the most prolific fashion designer of their generation. “So, uh, Rhodes told me you read my papers?”

Tony’s eyes light up, and, wow, he looks really pretty when he’s excited. “Yes!” he exclaims. “I want to hear your thoughts on the—uh—the time-dependent density functional theory model.”

“I’d love to,” Bucky says honestly. He bites his lip. “Maybe over coffee?”

A delighted smile spreads across Tony’s face. “I’d really like that.”

He holds out his hand for Bucky to take, which he does. Tony’s hand is small and warm, fitting perfectly against his. They stand there, smiling at each other like idiots, until the surly security guard pokes his head around the corner and asks, “Boss, do you need me to drive you?”

Tony jumps. He shoots Bucky a sheepish grin and then calls over his shoulder, “No, I think we can walk, Happy.”

“Are you sure? There’s—”

“It’s only two blocks.”

“Yeah, but—”

“You know what, Happy. You should go see if Natasha needs you to drive her somewhere. I think she’s got a date too.” While Happy is distracted, Tony tugs Bucky towards a side door he hadn’t noticed earlier. “Come on,” he mutters. “Before Natasha decides to kill me for sending Happy to interrupt her.”

“You could not antagonize her,” Bucky points out.

Tony shoots him a mischievous grin. “Where’s the fun in that?”

[authoressofdarkness]

I saw that you're taking prompts, from the dialogue list. Can I get number 20? “I’ve never had someone taking care of me before.” for starker obviously. I'm excited, I love reading your works. Thank you in advance!

Hi anon! That means so much to me and I’m v glad to be taking this as my first prompt. Thank you 💙

I kinda want to try some new things with some of these prompts, so I’m gonna go at this with omega Tony and alpha Peter and see where it goes. I hope that’s okay with you anon and that everyone likes it 😘

Same age college AU, omegaverse, alpha Peter Parker, omega Tony Stark, some angst and some fluff at the end.

—

It’s a well known fact that Tony Stark has a shitty family.

Well, at least to anyone who knows him, it is. They know how he’ll do anything to not be at home when his father is around, to get out of the endless pressures of social events and promotional things and questions of mating and management and all of the things that he hated about being born an omega and being attached to the last name Stark to top it all off—

For years, it was just him. Some flings, mainly to piss his father off, but he never had his attention for longer than the time it took to scold him or order him around, and his mother was never much help, either. He had precious few friends growing up, never really made any real ones until college when he met Rhodey and Pepper — an alpha and a beta respectively that helped him manage things there and that were the first people to truly understand the depths of struggles he had going on at home.

And they were great friends, still are, but there was never anything more there between them. They helped him float through the first year of school, and then—

And then came Peter Parker.

Tony doesn’t hate all alphas on principle, although he is often rather tempted to try to, what with how they were shoved in his face most of his life. They were great for a good fling but most of them were meatheads. As horny as Tony was, he couldn’t allow just anyone to be close to him, nothing too get to serious, because he’s got a lot of responsibility coming down to him and he needs the right partner — alpha or otherwise — to be willing to deal with that. Not that he’s particularly interested in mating right now but he also isn’t going to allow someone close enough to potentially mark him knowing the repercussions of that.

He’s the heir to Stark Industries, sure, but he’s still an omega. An alpha will have significant legal power over him once they’re mated. And he wants to be the one to run SI, to take on his legacy, to build, to create, and to run his business, and he’s not going to let anyone stop him, even if that means flings forever.

(Not that that’s legally going to fly because he can’t take over until he’s considered qualified which implies a certain amount of stability that translates into having an alpha that’s more than just a fuck buddy but—)

It doesn’t matter. None of it matters after he meets Peter.

Peter is a year younger than him in school, technically, but biologically they’re the same age. Peter just started a bit later than most — and for good reasons, as Tony comes to find out.

He’s in one of Tony’s engineering classes and his organic chemistry class and the omega would be lying if he said he wasn’t immediately taken with him.

He can’t help it. Peter is cute, with his overgrown curls and slim form and silky skin and shy little smile and—

The other man is all alpha, there’s no doubt about it. He exudes it without even trying, but there’s a shyness to him, too. He’s not a meathead; he’s a sweetheart. From day one he’s respectful of Tony in class, kind when he sees him around campus, and that makes them the perfect lab partners in chemistry, and after knowing that, it’s just the natural choice for them to partner for the project in engineering and then—

Then things spiral, and Tony doesn’t even care.

He’s seeking the alpha’s attention, and Peter, the innocent, shy thing he is, is happy to give, to dote on Tony in ways that he would resist if they were coming from anyone else.

They’re not even fucking, but it’s intimate, so intimate that he can’t even explain it, and he loves it, scarily so. It both soothes and sets all his instincts on edge at the same time.

By mid semester they both have keys to come and go freely from each other’s rooms. It’s more common to see them together than it is to ever spot one of them out alone. The whole school probably thinks they’re a couple, and even though they’ve never made it official — and he’s never allowed himself to even come close to considering it before — Tony can’t bring himself to mind.

As midterms approach, though, Tony locks himself in to focus on his work. He doesn’t mean to, really; it’s just that hours studying slip into full nights and then he hasn’t eaten and he hasn’t left the room, even missing one of his classes because he doesn’t realize the time.

Peter hasn’t come by in days and except for the occasional check in text, Tony hasn’t heard from him, either. But they’re both busy with midterms so he really isn’t surprised. In fact he barely has time to eat, let alone check his phone, so even if he was texting him regularly Tony probably wouldn’t be answering.

Except mid terms or no, of course Peter notices when Tony misses class. And when his texts go unanswered by the absorbed omega, he doesn’t hesitate to show up and let himself in.

Tony doesn’t even realize anyone is there until he feels a hand on his shoulder. He jumps so hard he nearly knocks the chair back, and when he turns around he sees Peter, stepping back and holding his hands up in the universal “I surrender” gesture, clearly not having meant to startle him.

“I’m sorry, I knocked but you didn’t answer so I let myself in. I just— you weren’t in class, and I was worried… are you okay? When was the last time you ate?” It takes all of two seconds for Peter’s sheepishness to melt into concern, and he steps forward again, closing the distance between them to tilt Tony’s chin up, looking at the shadow stretching across his jaw where he hasn’t shaved in a few days. “You’ve lost weight,” he murmurs, thumb brushing over Tony’s cheekbone tenderly — which, yeah, is definitely more prominent than it was at the beginning of the week.

Tony’s eyes flutter and he leans into the touch for a moment before refocusing and shaking it off. “I’m fine. This is normal, Peter. I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?” Peter raises an eyebrow. “Do you even know what day it is?”

“It’s Saturday—“

“It’s Monday, Tony. 1pm on Monday, at that. You missed engineering this morning and you haven’t answered my texts all weekend.” Surprise flits across Tony’s face at that, because — yeah, last time he checked it was Saturday, and he had no new texts from Peter, so— “When was the last time you ate?” Peter continues to prod, voice gentle but insistent.

Both aspects only serve to spark irritation in him, though. Tony bats Peter’s hand away from his face, frowning. He doesn’t need to be treated with kid gloves. “I ate a little while ago. I’m fine.”

“You don’t even know what day it is—“

“It all kind of blurs together when you’re not doing anything besides working, okay—“

“Two days is a lot of blur, Tony—“

“And just because I need a shave doesn’t mean I haven’t left my desk or that this isn’t totally normal for midterms—“

“You’re the one saying you haven’t left your desk, not me—“

“That’s not what I meant! I’m just saying—“

“I’m just saying you need to take a short break, it’s not that big of a deal—“

“I don’t need a break, I know my limits—“

“Tony, I really don’t think—“

“Jesus fucking— You’re not my alpha, Parker, would you fuck off?”

The words come out before he can stop them, and he flinched himself at the hurt on Peter’s face, the way the alpha physically recoils, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“I’m not— god, I know that, okay? I’m just trying to help you, Tony. Please, this isn’t sustainable. You need to eat. Just— let me find you something, and then I’ll leave, okay?”

Leave? No, he doesn’t want him to leave. But the only thing that comes out is a quiet “whatever,” and he watches Peter escape to the kitchen with a ball of guilt growing in his chest.

Peter is just trying to help. He likes Peter and he doesn’t want him to leave, he just— he panics, and then he snaps.

Because what if Peter wants more? What if he really likes him? And Tony is a fuck up that does shit like this when he feels emotions and has so much baggage attached to being with him and—

And Peter knows that, at least some of it. It’s been a few months of seeing each other nearly every day, now, and his family situation was never a secret.

So why is he still here? Oh god, did Tony just ruin it?

The thought, for reasons that he’s refusing to immediately think about, is almost too much to bear. He stands up, fumbling his way out of the chair and into the kitchen.

The smell hits him almost as soon as he enters, and he sucks in a deep breath. His traitorous stomach growls, loud and demanding.

Soup bubbles on the stove as Peter works at the counter, chopping up some fruits and vegetables. He’s already managed to put a few little storage containers of food together for him, and something in Tony’s gut feels warm at the sight. But it also drops — preparing premade meals most certainly means that Peter isn’t intending to come back.

He looks up when Tony enters, expression wary. “The soup was the quickest thing you had, and since I had to be here for as long as it takes to boil anyway I thought I would just—“

“Peter.” His own voice sounds remarkable calm for how shaky he suddenly feels, lurching towards the alpha at the countertop. “It’s okay. I… thank you, for this. I’m sorry.”

Peter looks taken aback by the apology. “Tony, you don’t have to apologize. You’re right; I’m not your alpha and it’s not my place to give you orders. I just… I care about you, okay? I just want to help. I know you don’t think about me that way, and I’m sorry I overstepped, but—“

“You’re wrong.”

“What?” The words draw Peter up short.

Tony takes a breath, looking down. He focuses on the alpha’s hands, watching him chop instead of looking at his face. It’s easier. “You’re wrong. It’s not that I don’t think of you that way. The problem is… that I do. And I… I’m not used to this. I’ve never had someone take care of me before. Not really, not in any way that mattered. And what I feel for you… it scares me.” He takes a little breath again, looking down at his own hands. “I want you to be my alpha, Peter. But I’m not really a good omega, and I just have so much shit that comes along with being with me. The thought of asking you to do that… what that could do to us… I just don’t think I could handle that.”

He hears the knife ting against the countertop as Peter sets it down, and the pitter patter of footsteps as the alpha crosses the room. He’s suddenly being drawn into a pair of lanky but surprisingly strong arms, surrounded by the musky, relaxing scent of alpha, and he practically melts into it, nestling his nose into the spot between the collar of Peter’s sweatshirt and his throat almost automatically.

Peter’s hand running up and down his back is soothing, relaxing him the rest of the way, and the press of the alpha’s chin against his head is just the perfect weight to be comfortable, reassuring.

“Tony… I’m not an idiot,” he says gently. “I know who you are. What you’ve done, where you came from, what’s expected of you — and yeah, I’m sure there’s more that you haven’t told me and that’s not public, but— I get why this is a struggle for you, and why you feel the need to put so much pressure on yourself. There’s nothing wrong with you for that and it is most definitely not your own fault that you’re not used to being taken care of. And you’ve no idea how badly or how long I’ve wanted to be your alpha.” He pulls back a little to look down at him, fingers scratching Tony’s scalp gently as he works his fingers through his hair. “But that doesn’t mean that this kind of behavior — towards yourself or others — is good or acceptable. It’s okay to let me take care of you — at least in small ways. I know you’re scared of losing your independence, but that’s not what I want for you, either. I just want to help.”

“Help,” Tony echoes, eyes drifting to the pan on the stove and then back to Peter. “I… I think I’d like that.” He bites his lip, looking up at him. They’re about the same size and height, but this close, wrapped in the alpha’s arms and scent, with his steady gaze on him, he can’t help but feel small by comparison. “You really want to be my alpha?”

“Only if you want me to be, but…” Peter looks down at him and cracks his shy little smile. “I’d like to try, if you’d let me.”

“I’d like that,” Tony admits. He shifts to press up against him, putting a hand on his chest. “I’d also really like it if you’d kiss me.”

Peter looks a little surprised, but not unpleasantly. Still, he shakes his head, giving him a little push back. “Tony, you didn’t even know what day it was. God knows when the last time you brushed your teeth is. No offense, but… ew.”

Tony just laughs a little, unable to help himself. “If I brush my teeth…?”

“Maybe. If you eat your food as well.” Peter moves back to the counter, finishing up the container he was working on. “We can’t be doing anything that’s going to burn you extra calories when you don’t have enough to begin with, hm?”

Tony finds himself grinning. “That’s an argument I can get behind. Literally and metaphorically.”

Peter flashes a grin in return, voice back to that gentle but insistent tone that he knows so well when he says, “Go, Tony.”

And for once, Tony is all too happy to obey.

[vendettaparker]

Talking to the Moon [P.P]

Summary: When Peter’s identity is leaked, he is forced to leave you and his old life behind, shattering your heart in the process. 

Pairing: Peter Parker x Avenger!Reader

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: ANGST, like straight up rip your heart out. Far From Home spoiler (kinda), Endgame spoiler (kinda)

a/n: so if you couldn’t tell this is based off of the song ‘Talking to the Moon’ by Bruno Mars. its a loose interpretation. i’ve been planning an angsty fic like this for a while. angst is my favorite genre of fic, especially when it has a hopeful or fluffy ending. so this one DOES have a hopeful ending and potential for a sequel,, so yuh, enjoy! <3

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Three years, two months, and 14 days. That’s how long it had been since Peter’s identity was leaked. That’s how long it had been since he left you. For good. 

     Peter had been frantic after that news broadcast aired. He webbed back to the compound immediately, crying the whole way. He was scared for himself, sure, but the fear he felt in the pit of his stomach for May, Ned, MJ, you. That was the reason for his tears now. He could hardly breathe by the time he made it to the compound. Happy, Rhodey, Sam, and Bucky meeting him as he burst through the large floor to wall windows in the main room. The frantic yelling, pleas, and cries coming from the main room were what alerted you to his presence. When you walked in he was a mess. Crying, heaving with anxiety about how scared he was. Peter had always been a sensitive, emotional boy, but he always got over his shit eventually. But this? This, seemed like the end for him. 

     You ran up to him, shushing him and holding him. Trying to tell him to simply “breathe”. All he could say, over and over again like a mantra was a schloo of “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you. I’m so sorry.” Your heart broke. How could fate be so cruel to the sweetest boy? The one who was the most deserving of all the happiness life could possibly offer. The rest of the team had shown up within the next hour. Happy, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Pepper also present. Peter had calmed down slightly, but he knew, he just knew, this was the day he had to say goodbye. He had had this talk with Mr. Stark back when he had stopped his first villain, Vulture. Tony knew the type of sick monsters out there who would love to get their hands on the boy behind the Spider-man mask. He and Peter had developed a plan in the tragic case that Peter’s identity should be released, at least, not on his own terms. Tony’s plan was for Peter to run away. Leave. Take nothing with him but the clothes on his back, and even then burn those clothes the minute he could. Tony knew. He knew these dangers. And worse, he knew the consequences. 

     May had come to the compound the second she got the call. She knew as well. Peter knew. She knew. Tony, even in his grave, knew. Everyone knew. Everyone but you. 

     Peter had a getaway car and a destination ready within another hour. He wouldn’t disclose it to anyone. He took you aside, gently stroking your cheek to wipe the hot tears that never seemed to cease. “Hey, hey, (Y/N). I’m so sorry.” He whispered, choking up on every other word, trying to be stronger, just a little stronger, for you. “I have to go now. I’m so so sorry. I love you so much.”

     “It’s okay Peter,” You sniffled, pushing his bangs back and giving him a sad smile. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll be here when you get back. Don’t worry.” 

     Peter’s lips quivered and he heaved another sob. “No, (Y/N). I-I’m not coming back.” You took your hand back as you felt the pressure of tears building behind your eyes. 

     “W-what? No, this—it’s just temporary. Until we can—Fury and Pepper—We can fix this.” You stuttered anxiously, hoping your words would convince him that this was okay. That everything would be okay. 

     “We can’t, (Y/N). It’s done.” Peter spoke, his voice hardly making it to a whisper. 

     “No!” You wrapped your arms around his neck, trying to hold him closer. “Please. Please. Please. I-I can’t! You can’t! I—You’re all I have!” You were sobbing uncontrollably now. The weight of the situation finally caving in and crushing your heart and soul. “Please! I’ll do anything, I’ll protect you! Please!” 

     Your meltdown didn’t help Peter one bit, if anything, seeing how desperate you were to keep hold of him, to just love him; that broke him more. “I’m sorry, please forgive me. Please.”

     “How can I? You’re killing me.” You whimpered into his chest, tears soaking through his black sweatshirt. “I can’t— I just— I can’t!”

     The whole team heard. No walls were thick enough to block out the heartbroken sobs from the two teenagers in love. Fury was the one to finally bring an end to it. Nobody else having the heart to pry you from each other. Even Fury felt his own stoic exterior cracking. 

     You were in hysterics, clawing, and grabbing at Peter’s sweatshirt, hair, face, anything you could grab. It didn’t matter if you hurt him at this point, he’d heal. But if he left you, you knew you’d never recover. Fury had put you in a chokehold while yanking you back. Peter just heaved and heaved, his sobs getting louder and his chest getting tighter. May rushed over to him and took his hand, placing his head in her chest. 

     Fury yanked you back more, but you still refused to quit. Fury released his chokehold, not wanting to do any real damage to you. Right as you were released, Wanda came up behind you and placed her hands on your head, red magic already starting to swirl. 

     “No, please.” You wheezed, trying to get a fresh breath of air. “He’s all I have.”

     Wanda looked at you, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry, (Y/N). I’m so sorry.”

     Without so much as a flick of her wrist, you were out, descending into darkness. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Peter left after that. The car taking him away, and you hadn’t seen him since. As the months went on you never really recovered. Never really felt whole again. You just survived. That was all. You went through the motions of everyday life, but never truly felt like you were living. Two weeks after Peter left, May left with Happy. They moved to California, living there ever since as well. They got married last year. You were all invited and everyone went. Everyone but you. You missed May and Happy, but it still hurt. Plus, you were busy anyway. After you graduated high school, you flung yourself into the avenger lifestyle, fully immersing yourself in it. You went on every mission possible. Did all the paperwork you could. You did anything and everything you could to keep yourself busy. Stop yourself from feeling the pain that had stopped feeling like a searing stab and had now turned into a dull ache. A new constant in your life. 

     Nights were the worst though. The only time you couldn’t be constantly avenging or working yourself to the bone on new suit technology. The only time you had to think and feel. The only thing keeping you going was the hope that Peter was still out there. Somewhere, anywhere, missing you as much as you were missing him. Watching the same moon you watched. Basking in the same sun that shined on you every day. Every horrible, miserable day. 

     “(Y/N)?” the quiet, soft voice of Pepper breaking you out of your headspace. You hummed a response and looked up at her, waiting for her to continue. “Did you hear what I said?”

     “No, sorry.” You responded sheepishly. Pepper’s gaze softened. She took in your lean figure and pale face, eyes seeming to be sunken in from the dark circles. “I was just finishing up this briefing of my last mission.” 

     “You went alone?” Pepper asked, concern washing over her features.

     “It was a simple one. Just took out a mob, was done in like, four hours.” 

      Pepper sighed. “(Y/N)—”

     “Pep, it’s fine. It was so easy, anyone could have done it.” You cut her off, turning back to your laptop, typing away. 

     “It’s not just that though. It’s all of this. This whole funk you’re in. The same one you’ve been in for years, (Y/N).” Pepper waved her hands around to emphasize her point. “We all see it. You can’t keep doing this to yourself. He wouldn’t want this.” 

     Your whole demeanor changed. The solemn, yet calm veneer breaking. “It doesn’t matter what he wants, Pepper! I didn’t want this. All I wanted was him. For the rest of my life. Nothing else would matter, as long as I had him to get me through it. But I don’t have him. I have nothing. He was it for me. He—” You sobbed, tears finally running down your face in an uncontrollable waterfall. “I feel like I died. Like I am just a spectator, no longer doing anything of interest to myself.” 

     Pepper pulled you into her so fast. She was always quick to console you. The months after Peter left she was the only one you could stomach seeing. “It’s okay. I know, shh, I know.” Pepper was tearing up now too. She knew you never got over it. But now seeing with her own eyes how broken you’d really become. The reality hurt. “He’s out there, okay? And it’s going to be okay. He’s okay. We’re okay.” 

     You just cried. That’s all you could do. The more you tried to talk about it the stronger the urge to cry was. Pepper just hummed and held you. Stroking your hair until you fell asleep. 

     When you woke up you were in your room. It was dark and the moon was shining through the opened window. You just stared at it, closing your eyes and imagining Peter was staring at it too. The same one. Thinking about you, just like you were thinking about him. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Another few weeks went by. The same routine, the same empty feeling consistent in your body. Nothing changed. The revelation that you were, in fact, not okay didn’t fix anything. It still hurt. You were still broken.

     You were in the training room, sparring with Wanda when the melodic tune of your ringtone rang through the gym, echoing off the walls. You put your hands up in defense to stop Wanda from continuing the match. Wanda whipped her hands around and brought your phone to you in a wisp of red magic. 

     “Thanks.” You mumbled, wiping your sweat off your forehead with the back of your hand and taking the phone from the air. Wanda nodded and jumped out of the ring to grab her water bottle. 

     You looked at your phone still ringing, seeing an unfamiliar number, but taking in the location: Budapest, Hungary. You answered the call bringing the phone up to your ear “Hello?” You asked, shifting from one foot to the other waiting for a reply. A beat of silence pasted before you heard a tired, yet all too familiar voice on the other end. 

     “(Y/N)?”