A/N: Okay, so I've just been thinking a lot about space travel and stuff lately, and I wanted to do an AU fic where Tony's in space, and this is what came out instead. It's been a known fact that you do not dream during cryogenics, but Tony Stark does. So this is what I.. created. If you could review, that'd be wonderful :)
...
They say you don't dream in cryo, but Tony Stark did. In fact, his dreams in cryo were better, more vivid, and more interesting than any dream he had ever experienced on Earth. But they could also be more terrifying, and painful to witness all at once.
He dreamed of the rainforest, droplets of condensation cascading down the cast leaves of attenuate Cecropia trees. Venomous snakes rarely ever seen, slithering along the roots of thousand year old sap covered Teak trees. Various forms of butterflies gleaming in the sunlight shining through the dense forestry, as somewhere nearby the animal food chain worked it's wonders. Although Tony had no experience with the animal kingdom, the beautiful yet curious images showed up in his mind anyway. He tended to prefer machines that talked and acted like sentient beings.
He dreamed that he cured a disease. Of course Tony wasn't a doctor, nor did he have a large amount of knowledge about medical procedures, but his dreaming state of mind still decided to show him a possible way to cure a disease. By the time Tony woke up he couldn't remember what disease he had cured or how, which festered in the back of his brain for quite some time, as he was sure it could have done great things for the world.
He dreamed of his parents. His mother, Maria, giving young Tony a huge smile as she lifted him and swung him around in her arms. And his father, Howard, sitting just off to the side, watching them with the happiest smile Tony had ever witnessed. Maria and Howard having a picnic in the park, while they cheerfully watched baby Tony crawl after a caterpillar. They used to be happy, the Starks. Tony was still never sure what exactly happened to cause the sudden coldness, and lack of warmth in the family, but he missed it.
He dreamed of the surface of the sun. It was as though he could feel the burning heat of the giant star burning his flesh, while the back of his brain told him it wasn't real. He could almost reach out and touch the sun, holding the power of it in the palm of his hands. And then he was falling. Falling, falling, falling, right into the center of the sun. These dreams most often occurred during his REM sleep, during which the doctors would monitor him closely.
But mostly, he dreamed of Pepper. His beautiful Pepper. Her long slender legs, shimmering red hair, glistening bright blue eyes. He could see all of her in his dreams, almost better than he did on Earth. He dreamed of her adorable smile, and the way her dimples fit so perfectly with her facial structure. He dreamed of the way her lips looked when she told him she loved him, which were the words Tony couldn't wait to here the moment he returned home.