Okay, my favorite HC about how Tony survives his snap involves his nanotech. Tony didn't actively create the nanites to be sentient. But in the words of the Grandmaster, life finds a way. Somehow, exposed to Friday and Tony's other AIs, and existing within his literal heart, the nanites were on the verge of evolving into a new lifeform and when Tony snapped, the power surge from the infinity stones was the catalyst the nanites needed to bridge the gap from ultra advanced technology to sentient life. In an instant, Tony wasn't simply wearing armor, he was surrounded by millions (billions?) of newborn children that had the capacity to understand what was happening and made the collective decision to help their creator absorb and channel the power of the stones. Even their help wasn't enough to prevent all the harm that power can do to a mortal, and it burned out the brand new life of the nanites in the process. They knew the consequences of their choice and they made it anyway, because they were the child of Earth's Best Defender and how could they do anything but follow their father's example? So Tony survives, hurt, but alive, probably never realizing exactly what, or rather who, it was that saved him.
Oh my goodness, I would love that! This has been floating in my head for years and I've never felt I could do it justice in a fic
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Something amazing has happened! If you liked my HC, please please please go read this beautiful fic by @areiton
