I saw Infinity War over a month ago, and lo, was Science Bros abruptly ended for IronStrange.

A/N: I do not own Peter Parker or his space dads.


Aside from the plasma canon in his suit, his wit is certainly his greatest weapon; Stephen has to give him that. Stark's got him beat to hell with pop culture and music references, with his AI wired to a pair of aviators like he's the next Fleetwood Mac. He is the engineer of the greatest technology of the twenty first century, and he does not belong in this conflict. This sort of thing is what Stephen deals with on a tri-weekly basis with the fate of the universe and billions of lives at stake. A celebrity hero has no place among cosmic battles.

Yet here he is, having chased after the space ship to retrieve a man who called him a douche earlier. Stephen admits he isn't all bad.

It doesn't make them even though. He's still a douche, but a useful one, with a point about bringing them to home territory, something that Stephen is not used to. He is not a businessman used to hounding rivalries with money. As much as he is loathe to admit it, he is the bookworm here. He has the knowledge and the ability to search for weaknesses.

Together, they might have a fraction of a chance to succeed.

Unfortunately, Stark's weakness snuck aboard the ship. The kid, he's not even sure how old he is, looks about twelve. Stark assured him that he is old enough to drive. Not entirely comforting. Stephen wants to send him back to Earth, but, as Stark so tenderly pointed out, they're two meat sticks with a magic carpet and a tin can against the ultimate enemy with a glowing rock collection. They need all the help they can get, even if it is from just a mutant acrobat. And as Stark dubbed him, he is an Avenger. If Stark trusts him, then Stephen reluctantly must as well.

Stark tinkers with parts of the ship, learning how it works. He is the engineer here, the only one with the capability to land them on Titan. The kid hovers nearby, offering interjections that Stark seems to find helpful.

Together they figure out how to steer. Stephen watches from what he would call the windshield, where light years of space pass by in a matter of seconds.

Stark cares about this kid, about Banner, about his fiance. So many people in his life, and he knows this was a one way ticket.

No doubt he judged the man too early in the game. Perhaps they both judged each other for a lifestyle alien to their own. Stark has an unfortunate amount more to lose than Stephen ever will.

"Mister Doctor?"

Stephen starts. He glares at the kid. This kid. He closes his mouth, having seemed to realize his mistake.

"I mean, uh, Mister Strange - "

"It's Doctor Strange." He looks him up and down. "Spider Boy."

Stark slams something on the monitor. "Spider Man, douchebag."

The Spider Man blushes and twists his fingers together. "So it's not just your name. You're actually a doctor?"

Stephen ignores him. The kid is just talking for the sake of talking. He must get it from Stark.

"Well it could make you sound more intimidating I guess. Doctors can be scary. The ones that give you shots." He shivers. "So is Strange, like, your actual name?"

"Yes," Stephen grates out. "Stop asking. You don't see me asking if you're old enough to have 'Man' in your name."

"Okay, sorry Doctor, my bad." He holds out his phone. "Get a picture of this will you?"

Webbing shoots out and he hangs in front of the windshield and holds up a peace sign. Stephen looks at the phone for a moment, then glances over his shoulder at Stark. He shrugs and nods for him to get on with it.

Stephen scoffs. "We're not on a field trip."

"Well technically I was kinda on a field trip, so I'd say this counts," the kid pipes out. "I gotta have proof when Ned asks if I was in the space ship."

He has to be related to Stark somehow.

Stephen holds the phone sideways. He just barely manages to keep his hands still enough. He swears under his breath and fumbles with the device. Webbing snags a hold of it and jerks it to a stop before it hits the ground.

"Thanks man - Doctor, I mean!"

Stark is looking at him now, staring at his hands. Stephen glares at him and turns away.

"Guess it's a good thing you're not driving, eh?" Stark calls.

The cloak squeezes his shoulders. Stephen pats it reassuringly. "You have no idea."

"That why you became a wizard?" He grunts and Stephen hears metal groaning.

"Yes," Stephen says stiffly, wanting very much to drop the subject.

"Any benefits? Time off in the Bahamas, trip to Hogwarts?"

"We're actually encouraged to detach ourselves from worldly desires so we can better protect the world."

Stark is quiet for a moment, letting the sounds of working fill the silence. "Sounds a bit extreme," he says eventually. "I mean, have you even had a New York cheeseburger? Something I'd sell my soul for."

"Vegetarian, unfortunately."

Stark gives a lopsided smile. He points a finger gun at Stephen. "Well, guess we know who's gonna live longest here."

A crash echoes through the chamber followed by a high pitched yelp. 'Man' my ass, Stephen snorts.

Stark drops a metal tool and takes two hasty steps. "Kid!"

"I'm good!" he pipes out. "All good here."

Stark rubs his forehead and sits down with his back against the console. "I might be having an aneurysm here, Doc."

He's exaggerating, but the longer he keeps rubbing his temples indicates that it's probably been bothering him since the Maw pounded him into the ground that first time.

"I guarantee it's just a headache," Stephen reassures in a voice very similar to the one he used with patients who were certain their heads were about to fall off from pain. He hopes Stark isn't a whiney patient.

He crouches beside him and lifts his first two fingers. Stark holds up a cautious hand. Stephen raises his eyebrow and lets his fingers hover. This close, Stephen sees that Stark is shorter than the suit makes him appear. After a half second hesitation, Stark relents and lets Stephen's fingers hover over his forehead.

"You're not gonna turn me into a pumpkin are you?" he mutters.

Stephen cracks a smile and gently draws the pain out. Stark closes his eyes and blows out a breath, relieved. He shakes his head once and rubs his temple.

"That'll be ten thousand dollars," Stephen says, straightening up.

Stark pats his person. "Ah, see I forgot my wallet. Pepper's got my insurance card."

When he turns his attention back to the console to continue tinkering, Stephen realizes who Stark is. No hidden green monster under that aging face, no mutation that makes him stronger than he looks. He is a middle aged man who needs a trip to the doctor when his head aches. Even Stephen, though mortal, uses magic to get rid of aches and pains. Stark probably knocks back two Tylenol with a bourbon.

The spider kid drops down, startling the cloak more than Stephen. It wraps tighter and tries to jerk him back from a perceived threat.

"Mr. Stark!" he says in that out of breath way. "How long do you think it'll take to get there?"

Stark doesn't look up from his work. "Are you seriously asking me 'Are we there yet'?"

The mask peels itself back from the kid's face. "No! Not-not that. It's just, like, with my other suit I could hold it before I got back home, but with this one - "

"Are you serious right now?" Stark stares at him.

"Just when the need comes up!"

"You are not peeing in my multi-million dollar suit on the first day," Stark growls out. "That new car smell? You can say goodbye to that."

Stephen leaves them to bicker. The cloak flies him up to the scaffolding. He's growing attached. It isn't necessarily wrong. He and Wong are close friends, but they have an understanding that each mission could be their last. The fate of the universe, while Stark was eager to understand and to help, is something that he will never bear the burden of.

No doubt Stark will look after himself and the boy. Stephen cannot afford to be constantly looking over his shoulder to protect them during battle. Of course, he will protect them as much as he can, but when the time comes, when he must choose, he must choose the trillions of lives over his companions.

Even with powers, Wong warned him early on the dangers of touching an Infinity Stone. The fact that Thanos is able to wield two of them already indicates a godly amount of power within him. Even "gods" such as Thor are not able to wield them. The mirror dimension, his go-to place for hiding anything he doesn't want Wong to confiscate, will be his last alternative for protecting the stone.

A loud clang followed by a colorful swear makes him crane his head over the side of the scaffolding. Tony is holding his foot and leaning against the console. Peter covers his mouth and whips his head up at Stephen, like a toddler realizing their parent just said something taboo.

Stephen hopes it will all be enough, that they will be enough.


I know that was really short. I've been thinking about adding a second part at the climax of the movie.

If you liked, please review!