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space-mermaid-writing · 15 hours ago

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IronStrange Winter Exchange

My part for the IronStrange Winter Exchange 2024 @ironstrangehaven

This fic is for @mephsation. Happy Holidays! ♥

Beta by @harpywritesfic

The prompt: Vampires! One of them is a vampire or they're fighting vampires, whatever is of interest

Summary: Tony is a skilled hunter, so of course he helps out when a village asks him to get rid of a beast that killed their cattle. But little does Tony know that there is more than one dangerous creature lurking in the forest.

Tags: Hunter!Tony Stark, Vampire!Stephen Strange, hurt Tony Stark, angst, lots of banter, first meetings, involuntary team up

Read it on AO3 | Masterlist | Word count: 4.4k

His gut told him he was watched by a predator, but it turned out it was an idiot

Tony carefully cocked the trap until it clicked firmly into place, then hid it under a few leaves making sure it blended in with the forest floor.

Standing up straight, he rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. The sun was already setting, but his work was far from over. In fact, it had only just begun.

The village he had traveled through had asked the hunter for help, and of course Tony had accepted. His decision became even more resolute when he was shown the gruesome remains of the unfortunate victims who had come face-to-face with a mysterious beast lurking nearby.

Initially, it had started with the village's livestock - several cattle had been brutally mauled, their remains left in a horrifying state. But things took a darker turn two days prior when the first human life was claimed. And just yesterday, another villager had met the same fate.

A sudden chill ran down Tony's spine, and the hairs on the back of his neck began to rise. He instinctively felt the presence of someone – or something – watching him. It was not just a vague suspicion; it was an instinct he had honed throughout his long career as a hunter. His gut told him there was a predator nearby, and he had learned the hard way never to ignore those instincts.

Despite the unsettling feeling, he reminded himself that he was still close to the village. There was a chance that some overly curious villager - probably an individual lacking common sense - had decided to follow him into the woods. It wouldn't be the first time he had encountered such reckless behavior.

Some people were just incredibly stupid.

In a calm yet deliberate manner, Tony reached for the crossbow strapped securely across his shoulder. He pulled out a sharp bolt and aimed it at a dense cluster of trees nearby, where movement had caught his eye.

"You better come out of your hiding place if you don’t want a bolt right between your eyes," he called out, his voice steady and commanding.

Tony started to count to ten in his mind. He didn’t even get to five, when the branches of the bushes were pushed aside and a man stepped forward.

He was tall, with pretty blue eyes and sharp cheekbones. Judging by his clothes, he belonged to the village, though he was clearly no simple farmer: he wore a long coat over a vest, and gloves.

Tony did not lower his crossbow. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“My name is Doctor Stephen Strange.” He at least had the decency to keep his hands raised in surrender while a weapon was pointed at him. “I’m the town’s doctor. And I came here to look for the beast that killed the two villagers; and get rid of it.”

If that was true, the man was even a bigger idiot than Tony had first thought.

“Really?” he asked, skepticism evident in his voice “Do you have a death wish? Have you ever faced a vampire before?”

The man – Strange – stiffened, his demeanor shifting ever so slightly. “Why do you think it’s a vampire?”

"The mauled cattle and the two villagers were not the only victims. I found several cattle with distinct puncture wounds on their necks. It’s a classic sign of one or multiple vampires nearby." As he spoke, he observed Strange closely, searching for any sign of fear or doubt. But there was no emotion on the man’s face whatsoever; it looked like it was cut out of marble. Something about that bothered Tony.

“Did you even bring a weapon or are you planning to face death with your bare hands?” he probed.

Strange pushed his coat back and revealed a dagger secured to his belt.

Tony let out a scoff that echoed in the stillness of the forest. The situation was almost funny to him. “Cute. Allow me to offer you some free advice: go back to your cozy little house and let me handle this.”

With that, he turned away and removed the bolt from his crossbow. He didn��t need to waste silver on this guy.

“No.” The word left Strange’s lips with a surprising force that caught the hunter off guard. He turned his head back to Strange, curiosity and confusion evident on his face. “The beast will kill again. I have to prevent that.”

The hunter felt a mix of respect and frustration. “Your willingness to help honors you, but leave it to the professionals. You’re unnecessarily reckle-…”

The snap of a twig interrupted him and Tony shut up immediately. Instead, he shoved Strange deeper into the shadows that surrounded them to hide them both from dangerous eyes. He quickly pressed his hand against Strange’s mouth, his expression tense and focused.

“Quiet!” he hissed warningly.

He heard heavy steps of something big passing nearby.

The beast.

With a combination of caution and curiosity, Tony tried to shift his position, peering around the sturdy tree trunk to catch a glimpse of whatever was out there, all the while keeping a tight grip on Strange. Who knew what stupid thing the man would do if he got the chance.

Enough people had died by this beast already.

From his careful vantage point, Tony caught sight of the creature that had stirred the underbrush. It was at least six feet high and had the physique of a bear - yet, Tony was pretty sure there were feathers as well. It was hard to tell what it was.

He waited quietly until it was out of sight, and only then he turned back to Strange.

The doctor had gone still in the hunter’s grip. Their eyes locked for a brief moment; Tony saw dilated pupils, before Strange quickly averted his eyes again.

Now, that was interesting.

A playful smirk crossed Tony’s face as he shot Strange a teasing look. "No need to be so shy all of a sudden," he joked, as he stepped back and lowered his hand.

Strange cleared his throat, visibly flustered, and instinctively moved to the side as if trying to distance himself from the hunter. He looked as though he deeply regretted meeting Tony. Well, it was his own fault. He should have stayed at home.

“Like I said,” the doctor stated. “It wasn’t a vampire.”

He was right, Tony had to give him that – not that he would admit it out loud.

“Don’t get too excited abou-…”

The roar of the beast interrupted him. It sounded angry and pained and the hunter realized it must have stepped into one of his traps.

He turned away from Strange. As fun as the banter was, it wasn’t important right now.

“This is your last warning: go home,” he told Tony before he ran off with a new found urgency.

The beast had stepped into one of Tony’s leghold traps and was furiously trying to free itself from it, roaring and kicking. And now, the hunter finally saw what it was: an owlbear.

The beast’s head was that of a great owl, wide and round, with piercing, molten-yellow eyes that gleamed with an unsettling intelligence. The beak was sharp enough to tear through flesh in a single snap. It was a miracle that only two villagers had fallen prey to it so far.

The jagged feathers of its wings - too small to allow flight - brushed against the trees around it. But it was the talons that usually struck terror - long and deadly, capable of rendering through armor and bone alike.

This was no common predator. The owlbear was a force of nature, a nightmare born of claw and beak, both ferocious and fierce. A creature whose hunger was as primal as the forests it called home.

And Tony just made it angry by setting the traps.

With its massive weight and size, the owlbear was not easy to take down. To kill it swiftly, one would need to strike precisely at its heart or pierce its eye, reaching deep into its brain. Both of these options demanded a close encounter, which was far from advisable for anyone.

Given the circumstances, Tony opted for a different approach. Although it would take more time, he decided to stealthily circle around the beast, careful not to attract its attention. He shed a short sword from his belt, feeling the cold metal in his grip. A strategic stab to the creature’s flank could cause significant blood loss. And if he hit a few organs in the process, all the better.

With determination, Tony gathered all his strength and aimed for the beast’s side.

As the blade plunged in, the owlbear let out a furious howl and lashed out with its powerful legs. Tony had anticipated this reaction and was prepared to dodge. Yet, he was caught off guard when the sheer force of the owlbear’s kick yanked the trap from its anchor, liberating the creature.

It wasted no time snapping at him with its razor-sharp beak.

And Tony reacted too slowly.

Just as the creature lunged forward, ready to bite, Tony was pushed out of the way and he stumbled roughly to the ground.

Strange was back – that idiot had probably never left – swinging his dagger at the beast and managing to slice across the owlbear’s face.

Tony winced when he watched the clawed strike that followed. But the creature must have missed, because Strange was still on his feet afterwards, even though the strength of an owlbear would knock any man off his feet.

After a brief moment of hesitation, the creature chose to retreat, stomping off into the depths of the forest rather than risk further injuries.

Sitting up, Tony took a moment to catch his breath. The brief respite allowed him to rethink his strategy. Now that he had identified the creature, he could plan accordingly.

If he could find out where the owlbear's lair was, he could surprise it there. Poison wouldn't do it for this massive unit. Maybe he could do a field test of his latest invention. Tony glanced at the cable that ran under his leather armor from his shoulder down his arm to his palm. All he had to do was insert the last piece and connect it. That should have enough power to take out even an owlbear.

As he considered his plan, he noticed movement to his side. Strange put the dagger back to his belt.

Right, that guy was still here.

Tony had to admit, the doctor hadn't done too badly. Just-... Tony noticed red liquid seeping through the doctor's sleeve.

“Shit! Let me look at that,” Tony urged because that was a lot of blood.

Yet, Strange waved him off. “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

That was bullshit and both of them knew it. They didn't have time for discussions, so Tony simply grabbed Strange's arm and pushed up the sleeve, before the man could stop him. Apparently, the claws had hit him after all, because the wound was quite deep – yet under Tony's disbelieving eyes the wound began to close itself, the skin weaving together almost magically.

The hunter blinked.

He was sure it was a mistake, that he was wrong. He had to be wrong, because otherwise there would only be one reason for it.

Strange had gone still under his grip again, waiting for Tony’s reaction.

Tony placed his other hand on the pale arm, pushing the silver ring he was wearing into the skin, testing his theory. He had to make sure.

Strange hissed in pain as the silver burned into his skin.

It was just a distraction, because the next moment, Tony held a silver knife at Strange’s throat and shoved him backwards against a tree again.

It felt like a deja-vu but this time there was nothing playful or flirtatious about this

“You’re a fucking vampire!” Tony bristled. “Did you have fun deceiving me? What was the point of this charade?”

“I did not deceive you.” Strange remained quiet, and that only annoyed Tony even more.

“Oh, you’re telling me, you meant what you said? That your goal is to stop the beast from slaughtering humans? Do you really think I’m that stupid?” Maybe Tony was; after all he hadn’t even realized that the man wasn’t human.

The sharp blade of his silver knife pressed into the vampire's throat; not quite cutting the skin but still burning it. He should kill him right now and have one monster less wandering this Earth.

Still, very few vampires were able to put on human acts. And none of them were as convincing as this one.

“I fed from the cattle with the marks,” Strange defended himself. “But I did not kill anyone – neither animal nor human.”

Tony snorted, skepticism dripping from his voice. They didn’t really have time for this argument, but at the same time, he couldn’t rush this.

“You expect me to believe you’re some noble vampire who wants to coexist with humans without ever feeling the urge to drink from them?”

Suddenly, a realization struck him, sending his heart racing.

“Oh god, you weren’t flustered earlier… you smelled my blood.”

Tony had practically held his wrist to the vampire’s face as he had held his mouth shut. The only thing standing between his vein and those fangs had been luck and a bit of self-control.

“I don’t expect you to trust me,” Strange muttered, but he averted his eyes. It was obvious that Tony got at least that last part right.

The silver ring still burned into the vampire’s arm, making it difficult for him to stay focused under the pain.

Strange’s jaw clenched. “Go one, use that knife. You know it won’t kill me.” He looked at Tony and the hunter only now realized just how blue his eyes were. “I’m stronger than you, even with a slashed throat. I will walk away from this, but I may lose a lot of blood. And that puts anyone who stumbles across me before I find an animal to drink from in danger.”

There was truth in those words, and they weighed heavily on Tony's mind. Vampires were incredibly strong. A well-placed stab with the silver knife into his heart could end Strange’s life, but with the blade resting at the vampire’s throat, he realized that Strange would undoubtedly be quicker.

Tony also noted that Strange had yet to threaten the hunter’s life.

“I’m not falling for your lies,” he hissed, trying to convince himself as much as the vampire. Because it had to be lies. Vampires were natural predators and humans were their favorite kind of food. “Even if you act all nice, I won’t be giving you the opportunity to jump at my throat.”

Strange raised an eyebrow as if Tony had said something particular stupid. “I don’t intend to hurt you. But my hand may get forced if it comes down to my survival…” He paused briefly, before adding. “Or we could just take care of the owlbear problem together and continue this argument afterwards.”

He had a point.

Tony shouldn’t give in. But maybe – just maybe – the owlbear would take its anger out on the vampire. That way the hunter would kill two birds with one stone.

Plus, the beast was really big, and even though Tony was one of the best, it would be a challenge to face it alone.

The roar of the owlbear reminded them that time was essence.

“Fine,” Tony finally relented, tentatively removing the hand with the silver ring from the vampire’s arm – but not yet the knife.

“However, you will stay where I can see you at all times.”

Tony didn’t want to have a vampire behind his back.

Strange nodded – as much as that was possible with a blade at his throat. The ring's branding remained on his skin; it wouldn’t heal as fast as the wound.

Good, Tony thought. It was a reminder for Strange.

Since the vampire didn't go feral right away, he lowered the knife as well and stepped back.

Strange exhaled – something vampires didn’t have to do. It seemed to be an automatic action.

Underneath the tension, Tony felt an odd sense of kinship with the vampire. And for the first time, Tony wondered if there was more to this creature than blood lust.

He didn't have much time to think about it, as they still had to deal with the bigger problem: the owlbear. Its noises seemed to be moving in the direction of the village, and that was something they had to prevent at all costs.

Strange seemed to be thinking the same thing, because he said “We need a plan.”

“I have a plan,” Tony said, confidently loading his crossbow with quick and practiced movements. He met the vampire’s gaze. “Prevent the beast from killing people.”

With that, he took off running.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, and darkness wrapped around the forest. Tony had to tread carefully, trying to avoid any pitfalls or hidden holes in the ground that could cause him to stumble. The terrain was unfamiliar, and he needed to stay focused. Strange quickly caught up to him but maintained a cautious distance, matching Tony’s pace.

“You might want to keep your distance from the owlbear,” Strange warned him. “Humans get injured awfully easily.”

Tony shot him a glance, scoffing. “I can take care of myself, vampire.”

Suddenly, a loud rustling erupted from the nearby bushes, followed by the echoing hoot of the owlbear. It emerged, a towering mass of claws and feathers.

Tony wasted no time and fired a bolt straight at the beast’s shoulder. The projectile struck, but the owlbear barely flinched. Instead, it turned its monstrous gaze toward him, a torrent of fury igniting in its eyes.

Well, shit.

Tony dived to the side as the owlbear charged at him.

In an instant, Strange took to the shadows, his form melding into the darkness. He leaped onto the creature’s back, slashing at the matted feathers with his dagger and determination. The owlbear bellowed in anger, thrashing its powerful legs in an attempt to dislodge him.

Tony took the distraction to reassess as the owlbear shifted its weight, its muscles coiling like a spring, preparing for another assault. He had faced many creatures in his time, but few elicited both fear and awe like this one. Steeling his resolve, he remembered the villagers’ faces, their pleas echoing in his mind.

He aimed again.

The bolt flew, striking home. The beast staggered but quickly regained its footing. It let out a deafening screech, a haunting sound that vibrated through the forest as it charged at him again.

Tony dodged it, but couldn't avoid a crushing blow from the creature's massive paws. It pushed him off his feet and he hit the damp forest floor with a pain-filled gasp. He hit his head on something solid and felt dizzy. Yet, he had no time for that, because the owlbear was still right above him – its eyes locked onto him, a mixture of fury and primal instinct.

The creature opened its beak wide and lunged to bite him.

Suddenly, the beast was yanked backward, its front legs buckling in surprise. It craned its head to find what had intruded upon its attack.

Strange had jumped off its back and grabbed the owlbear by its hind leg to keep its massive form away from Tony.

Tony had heard tales of how vampires possessed remarkable strength, but witnessing Strange handling the huge creature was impressive.

His fingers fumbled with a flat disk he took from his belt. Every movement caused a wave of pain to shoot through his body, but he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. He needed to act. Holding his gaze on the owlbear, which was trying desperately to shake off Strange, he placed the disk into the holder on the palm of his glove.

With a click it snapped into place and activated automatically.

It only needed a few seconds to charge, but it felt like forever to the hunter.

Tony aimed with his palm for a soft spot beneath the creature’s ribcage, trying to steady his arm despite the tremors that threatened to overtake him. The burning pain in his chest intensified as he clenched his teeth, fighting against the desire to succumb to his injuries.

Then he shot a beam of bright energy from his glove at the creature. It let out a pitiful cry, before it collapsed with a heavy thud.

It wasn’t dead, merely unconscious.

Tony’s panting felt even louder in the silence that enveloped the forest. He tried to sit up to finish the job, but as he braced himself on his forearms, a hot pain shot through his stomach, and for a moment, the darkness around him wasn't just due to the night.

His head was still dizzy, and as he blinked, Strange came into view. The vampire’s hands and face were covered in blood. Apparently, Tony had fainted briefly and in the meantime Strange had taken care of the owlbear.

And now the vampire was moving into his personal space.

Feeling a surge of instinctive fear, Tony instinctively flinched back, only to increase his pain in the process. His hand grazed his own stomach, and he noticed it was wet and sticky.

Blood.

All the more reason to keep his distance from the vampire.

“Don’t move. You’ll make it worse,” Strange gently admonished him, his voice calm and soothing. “Shhh… I’ll take care of you.”

Despite Tony’s best efforts to stay awake, the nauseating sensation overtook him, and he blacked out.

____________________

Tony was lying on a thin mattress when he woke up. His head no longer felt foggy, but his chest was still aching.

The room felt warm and inviting, wrapping him in a sense of comfort that he had not experienced in a while. As he turned his head slightly, he spotted a small fire crackling in the stove nearby, casting a gentle glow around the space. Next to his bedside stood a cup of water and a bowl of food.

He sat up, groaning. The blanket that had been covering him - soft and fresh-smelling linens - slid off his body, revealing his bare chest, which was wrapped in bandages.

He instinctively reached for the cup of water first, emptying it in a few quick gulps before moving on to the food. As he lifted the bowl into his lap, he examined the contents; it looked like a stew, but it was lukewarm, suggesting it had been prepared some time ago.

As he ate, he looked around the room.

His bed belonged to a small cot in the back of the room. There was a narrow window above him; the curtains were drawn only letting dulled light inside.

Nearby, hanging on the wall, were bundles of dried herbs. They looked like lavender, yarrow and sage, tied with twine. Dangling from little hooks, they created a curtain of healing plants.

A small bookshelf stuffed with leather-bound tomes and scrolls occupies one corner, detailing remedies and surgical techniques. Tony saw some of them scribbled with notes from the doctor.

Right next to it was a wooden shelf, holding supplies and ingredients.

Everything looked modest yet functional.

Tony's gaze drifted towards the door - and he froze when he spotted Strange standing next to it. The vampire was motionless, eyes fixed on him like a gargoyle. Their gazes locked in silence, a moment stretching between them.

After a heartbeat, Strange cautiously stepped forward, advancing slowly as if he were trying to avoid spooking a wild animal.

“How are you feeling?” Strange asked.

Tony shrugged, feeling the familiar pull of sore muscles. “Everything hurts, but I’ll live.” Thanks to the doctor.

His eyes narrowed as he regarded Strange.

“Why did you hold the beast back?” he asked, confusion coloring his voice.

Tony knew Strange’s secret. It would have been convenient for the vampire to let the owlbear solve this problem for him.

“I told you, I don’t want another human to get hurt by it,” Strange explained patiently.

“But I’m a hunter,” Tony protested. It didn’t make any sense to him. Anyone else would have jumped at that opportunity.

“If you’re implying that you will kill me as soon as you’re back on your feet, I’m taking that chance. I’m still faster and stronger than you. Even during the day.”

Tony had to begrudgingly agree with him. He didn't like the vampire's self-confidence; not while he was so nice to the hunter at the same time. Vampires weren't like that, and his behavior irritated Tony immensely. It stirred an urge within Tony to peel back the layers of Strange’s demeanor and understand what made him tick.

“I will leave this place soon. Probably even before you.” Strange continued, looking around the place; there was nothing wistful in his eyes, just acceptance. “People get suspicious anyway if I stay in one place for too long without aging.”

Tony was surprised about that revelation – but then again, it made sense. It was probably the smartest thing the vampire could do.

There was an idea forming in his head. It was either genius or really, really stupid.

Before he could discard that idea, his mouth had already started running.

“Well, if you want to continue preventing humans from getting killed by beasts… I’m heading east.”

Strange looked genuinely surprised by his words. “What?” Then his eyes narrowed. “Is that a trap? Do you want to trick me into trusting you, so you can kill me when I let my guard down?”

Despite the aching in Tony’s chest, his signature smirk was back on his lips. “I’m not denying that I would feel better if I kept an eye on you.” Tony had even the audacity to wink at Strange.

“But since you helped me out here, I don’t think I will do anything funny. At least not unless you give me a reason to.”

It was a dangerous offer. For both of them.

Strange’s face didn’t betray any emotion.

“I will consider it,” he said after a while, and Tony knew he wouldn’t leave this place alone.

“By the way,” the hunter added as he ate another spoonful of stew. “I’m not sure if it’s the right moment to tell you, but your cooking sucks.”

Strange rolled his eyes. “It's been a while since I last had someone to cook for,” he replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. “Or maybe owlbear meat just doesn't taste good to humans.”

Tony paused mid-chew, his attention suddenly drawn to the chunks of meat swimming in the stew. The realization hit him hard. He opened his mouth, allowing the morsels to fall back into the bowl, his earlier humor forgotten.

Yikes.

“We are going to work on that.”

#ironstrangewinterexchange24 #ironstrange #tony stark #doctor strange #stephen strange #Vampire Stephen Strange #Hunter Tony Stark #spacemermaid

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