Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers
Warnings/Tags: Not Wanda, Steve, Clint or Natasha Friendly, Peter is Tony's Biological Son, Not Endgame Compliant.
Title based on the Ruelle song 'War of Hearts'
Written for this anon prompt: 'This is mainly to focus on Tony and Strange. Could it be something longer? Peter Big Brother! Rhodey and Thor are the best uncles! Pepper is affright mother. YSA "Your Silent Admirer"'
Peter's about 17/18 in this.
Cross-posted on my AO3 with a collage.
'Infinity War'. That's what the press was calling it. Together the surviving superheroes had been able to reverse the 'Snap', also what the press had dubbed it, and the public were returning to their lives.
The Guardians had returned to protect their Galaxy with the promise to visit; the remaining Asgardians (half of them had been murdered without the help of the Snap, they didn't come back) set up a new home, Thor, Loki (of course, he's alive) and Valkyrie all promised that once their people were settled, they'd come visit too. Dr Strange along with a handful of others, such as Captain Marvel and The Wasp, had joined the New Avengers and were invited to move into the Compound, which they gratefully did. Then there were the Rogues. They'd been pardoned and had settled back in at the Compound where Tony, his son, Peter, Rhodey and Vision (who was also alive and had been restored, Mind Stone and all) had been living for the past few years before either of the three could say no. The trio weren't impressed but refused to leave their home.
—LINE BREAK—
Tony lay in bed. It had been about a month and a half since everything happened and he couldn't sleep. Too much was on his mind and well, Thanos had merely added to the countless nightmares Tony already had. Alongside Afghanistan, Obadiah Stane, the wormhole, his vision of everyone dead and his ex beating him half to death, the genius could now add Thanos stabbing him and holding him uncomfortably gently, Dr Strange giving up the Time Stone for him and watching his son turn to dust in his arms. It also didn't help that he was stressed and found it difficult to not flinch at the sight of the Rogues and his would-be murderers, that being said he and Barnes were slowly becoming good friends as Tony helped him with his arm. His eyes finally closed as his breathing evened.
"Stop. Stop. Sorry. So sorry. Please…no…No! Peter…come back…no…no, Steve…stop…please." He whimpered as he slept and dreamt of pain. He tossed and turned a bit as his breathing picked up and his forehead glistened with sweat and cheeks with tears. Tony quickly sat up as he woke. "It's okay. It's okay. It's over. You're safe." Well, truth be told Tony still felt unsafe around Steve and Wanda but at least he was surrounded by people who did care.
—LINE BREAK—
"Nightmares?" A sudden voice asked as Tony entered the kitchen,
"You too?" He asked back whilst nodding once as he stared at Dr Strange who was making a drink,
"You don't watch 14 million futures and come out mentally unscathed." Was the man's response, "Hot chocolate?" He then added and Tony nodded again as he took a seat on a stool behind the island. "I'm having Baileys in mine, do you want some too?"
"Go for it." Tony murmured sleepily, "Might help me sleep later." Stephen nodded with a slight frown but soon he was placing a steaming hot chocolate with Baileys in front of him before taking a seat next to the short genius.
"How's Peter doing? He's in his senior year, right?" The easiest way to get Tony to talk was by mentioning one of the few things he loved; technology, science or his son. The genius sent him a smile,
"He's getting there. I know he has some nightmares from what happened on Titan -then again don't we all- but he's settled back into routine." Tony murmured, "And yeah, he's in senior year. We've been looking at colleges and universities at the minute. You should see his desk, it's covered with brochures and shit." Strange smiled at the soft expression on the man's face, "He's growing up too quickly." He added with a hint of sadness to his smile. Stephen placed a hand on the man's back but said nothing about it.
"How are you, Tony?" There was a brief silence as Tony stared at him,
"How…am…I?" He sounded out as though such a genuine question asked to him was something unknown and truth be told…only a handful of people ever asked with the intention of actually wanting to know and caring about the answer. "I'm…I'm not…okay. I can't sleep -not that I ever really could, but now… now it's just ten times worse. I'm constantly, constantly worried about Peter, I know it's normal, I'm his dad after all, of course, I'm going to worry. But now…I'm constantly checking on him and half of the time…" Tony's throat closed up a bit as he blinked tears away, "Half of the time, I…keep expecting him to…turn to dust." Strange didn't say anything as Tony fell silent.
"Then there are the others. Half of the time they're glaring at me, the other half they're bitching behind my back like teenage girls. I mean things like that don't affect me anymore, but I don't want Peter to be in such a negative environment. Don't get me wrong, Bucky and I have apologised and sat down together to talk, dare I say we're becoming friends. There's also Sam and Scott, their alright. They're actually quite nice to me, but the others." He mock shivered, "I just can't… deal with all that shit on top of everything."
"What of Rogers?" Stephen asked quietly and Tony snorted,
"Don't get me started with that fucker." The sorcerer couldn't hide his look of surprise at Tony's strong language, "I can't even look him in the eye because all I see is him staring down at me, shield in the air as he looked at me with such hatred that you wouldn't expect from someone who had genuinely murmured 'I love you' to you only hours before. I keep…dreaming of him bringing that shield down. But instead of it hitting my chest, sometimes I dream of it coming down on my neck…" He looked down at the mug in his hands, "that was where he originally intended to put it before he changed his mind last minute." Strange's trembling hand touched his shoulder and Tony placed one of his own hands above it in a move of gratitude.
"And the arsehole has the decency to pine after me now that we're all together again. He actually seems to believe that we can be together again." The last bit was said with laughter in his voice. Tony shook his head before turning to look the doctor in the eye, "But enough about my woes, how are you?" He asked genuine concern in his voice as he spoke softly.
—LINE BREAK—
"Morning dad, Dr Strange," Peter mumbled as he wandered into the kitchen,
"Peter!" Tony startled, "What are you doing up? It's only…" He looked at his watch, "six…forty-five…in the morning…" Tony looked confused and turned to look out the window, the sun was rising. "How is it already morning?"
"Dad…have you both been out here all night?"
"I…it would seem so." Tony shook his head and stood up, his legs took a few minutes to wake up though, "Right. Do you want me to make you some breakfast?" He asked Peter walking over to his son,
"Yes please."
Believe it or not, Tony Stark could cook. Sure he lived off of take-out most of the time, but that was mostly because he didn't have time to cook for himself. Though once Peter came along, cooking was a thing that definitely happened because a growing boy couldn't just live off of take-out. In fact, Tony and his mother used to cook together once a week when Tony was young.
As they ate breakfast, Peter took to glaring at Dr Strange, who did notice. Tony, however, remained oblivious to it.
"You doing anything after school, kiddo?"
"Not really. I think I might see Aunt May after patrol if that's alright?"
"Of course it is."
"Well… I never know, I mean you and May don't get along so I like to make sure it's okay with you."
"Kid, she's your aunt, you're allowed to see her. Our getting along has nothing to do with that."
"Thanks, dad."
"That being said, you need to get home for…half six going seven tonight. It's family night."
Family night used to be fun, it was when Tony, Rhodey, Pepper, Happy and Peter spent the night together watching TV and just enjoying themselves, then when the Avengers came along it got even better, but after Ultron things died down and the night barely if ever happened. Now that the Avengers were back together though, Steve was insisting they continue that tradition or rather that they (the Rogues) were included because, after Ultron, family night reverted to the original group. Tonight would, however, be the first family night with everyone and it could so very easily go wrong.
"Don't pull that face, Uncle Thor is coming too." Peter's face lit up, the god was his second favourite uncle (Rhodey would probably kill Thor and Peter if the god took the title of favourite uncle) and no one had seen Thor much due to him and the Asgardians settling down.
"Sweet! I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"I gathered." Tony smirked before turning to Strange, "You coming, doc?"
"Well given that I half live here and half live at the Sanctum, I do believe it's only right that I come." Peter's eyes narrowed and Strange raised an elegant eyebrow at the teenager, Tony remained oblivious to it.
"Good. Good." Tony stood up with his coffee and gave Peter a hug, "Have a good day at school, Peter, I've got some work to do in the lab. See you later."
The minute Tony was gone and Peter heard the elevator close, he turned to the sorcerer who was watching him.
"So you and my dad spent the whole night talking."
"That we did." Strange stated taking a sip of his tea with his trembling hands.
"Are you interested in my dad?" His eyes slowly narrowing more and more,
"He is an interesting guy."
"You know what I mean."
"Do I?"
"You're avoiding the question."
"That I am."
"Can you give me a straight answer?"
"I'm not straight, so no."
"Dude!"
"Yes?"
"That is such a dad thing to say, I swear to god."
"I am interested in your dad in a romantic way." Strange turned to Peter, "Is that the answer you wanted?"
"Yes. And all I'm going to say is that I don't approve. You don't have my permission to date my dad. He's tied up enough over Rogers and he isn't ready to date."
"He is a grown man."
"Many have said otherwise." Stephen sighed and stood up,
"At the end of the day, Peter, it is Tony's choice. You can't decide for him."
Here's my Tumblr if you're interested, it also has the story collages: anxious- - -soul (no spaces between the dashes but sucks and wouldn't allow the dashes without spaces)
Anyway,
Thank you for reading,
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Bye~