IronStrange Haven, formerly IronStrangeHQ

Everyone being entertained with how just one look from Stephen, Tony will stop whatever ridiculous thing he's doing 😂

YOURE THE BEST 🌟

Thank you! 😀

I got this idea and it may not be quite what you intended, but it amused the hell out of me and I couldn’t resist. I hope it does the same for you, despite being perhaps a weird approach!

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“It wouldn’t be that hard to arrange!” Tony says. He’s already got his phone out. “We’ll limit it to professionals. FRIDAY can make a list. Once we have that, it’s all about finding a venue and a judging panel.”

“Tony, no one was seriously suggesting we actually identify the best chocolate cake in the world,” Steve says. 

Tony doesn’t even look up from his phone. “The most difficult part will probably be establishing the judging criteria. That’ll probably be impossible without some ingredient limits. Adding non-chocolate flavors opens it up too much to personal taste, but at what point does an ingredient become too much of the flavor profile?” Natasha waves a hand in front of him, but he’s too focused.

“Tony,” Stephen says.

Surprisingly, Tony looks up immediately. When he catches Stephen’s eye, he instantly sets his phone aside. “Oh, no,” he says. “We are not doing a cake tasting.”

Natasha blinks at the sudden turnaround.

“The best cooks aren’t necessarily on Earth.” 

Steve covers his mouth, but his eyes are crinkling around the edges.

“Which is immaterial because the cake tasting is not happening!” Tony insists.

“Tony—”

“All cake is good in its own way, there is no need to portal across time and space!”

Steve is just hanging in there, but then Natasha snickers and he loses it, and once Steve loses it, the rest of them have no chance. 

First parts one and two.

“How will having my arm in a sling make Rhodey less worried?” Stark snapped.

Stephen supposed he was lucky it had taken this long for Stark to buck against Stephen’s medical care. Stark had gone along with the check up and x-rays and had allowed Stephen to stitch up or bandage his cuts with only muttered complaints, but apparently the sling was a step too far.

“Just because I was able to reduct the subluxation your shoulder suffered, doesn’t mean it wasn’t still injured,” Stephen pointed out. “Combined with the hairline fracture in your upper arm it means it needs to be kept still. If you prefer, I could put your arm in a cast. Which do you think will worry Colonel Rhodes more?”

Stark glared at him. “I think I hate you a little,” he said.

Stephen smirked, entirely unhindered. “I don’t care. Now, according to your x-rays, you have several fractured ribs,” Stephen said. “Thankfully it looks like you aren’t in danger of any internal injuries, so long as you take it easy.” He gave Stark a sharp look at that. “For at least six weeks. I do suggest more, but I won’t ask for a miracle.” 

“I can take care of myself,” Stark said a little mulishly. “I’ve kept myself alive thus far.”

“That is not the commendation you think it is,” Stephen said. “Don’t forget I saw your x-rays. Your body is a mess. Several things are poorly healed. Before this I was judging your past doctors. Now I’m just judging you.”

That earned him another glare, even as Stark’s lip twitched in reluctant amusement. “Were you ever not judging me?” he asked.

This time Stephen was the one who had to contain his smile. “No. But to be fair, I’ve been told I judge everyone.”

“Well, do you?” Stark asked, this time smile more fully. “Judge everyone, that is.”

“It’s possible,” Stephen said. “It’s not my fault that as a general rule people are constantly doing things for me to judge them for.” He arched an eyebrow. “You do realize that half the people that show up in the hospital are here because they did something stupid or reckless?”

“Half?”

“There’s a reason I avoid the Emergency Room,” Stephen said. He didn’t actually know the exact percentages, but it was extensive. “Now, are you going to wear the sling or do I need to put your arm in a cast?”

Stark’s smile disappeared and he glared at Stephen again. “Fine. I’ll take the sling.”

“Glad to see you can be reasonable,” Stephen said. “Miracles do happen.”

Stark rolled his eyes. “Your bedside manner needs help, you know. You’re entirely aggravating.”

Stephen shrugged, unbothered. “When you’re as good as me, you’re allowed a terrible bedside manner.”

“That is awful justification,” Stark said, tone now amused. “But, I do admit that your reputation does look impressive. Here’s my question, do you live up to it?”

“Of course I do,” Stephen said. “I built that reputation.”

Stark nodded in acknowledgement. “It’s the sort of reputation I can appreciate,” Stark said. “I don’t suppose you’re looking to consult, because I have some projects that could benefit from the insight of someone as brilliant as you.”

“Are you offering me a job?” Stephen asked, amused. “What happened to finding me aggravating?”

Stark shrugged. “That’s forgivable; I’m pretty aggravating myself.”

Stephen had noticed. “What an incentive,” Stephen said dryly.

“Is that a yes?” Stark asked, a laugh in his voice.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: Gen, M/M Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange (Movies), Iron Man (Movies) Relationship: Pre Tony Stark/Stephen Strange Characters: Stephen Strange, The Cloak of Levitation (Marvel), Tony Stark Additional Tags: Whump, Animal Attack, Poison, Violence, (I don't think it's that graphic but I used the archive warning just to err on the side of caution), POV Stephen Strange, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting Words: 1,913

Summary:

For Whumpuary 2026 - Day 21: attacked from behind | poison | red “Stark!” he yelled, and just as he stepped forward to try to see what had happened, his own feet were pulled out from under him.

On AO3

Since AO3 is going to be down for maintenance within an hour or two, I'm posting the whole fic here as well.

For Day 3 of IronStrange Week

Prompt: Mythology @ironstrangehaven

You can also find this on AO3

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The Keeper of All Myths   Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. ~Unknown

  Love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~Unknown

  I keep in my heart the love of the past, for there it was planted forever to last. ~Unknown

  When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. ~Unknown

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i deeply enjoyed doing it, and am kinda pleased with how it turned out :)

Sequel to this!

            It took six days for Stephen’s phone to come back online, indicating that he’d returned to this dimension. Each of those days Tony had spent a few hours waiting in front of the Sanctum, trying to figure out what to say in the event that Stephen finally opened the door. When FRIDAY told him that Stephen’s phone was back online, he’d sent a single text, afraid of making things worse by rambling or spamming him.

            I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Can we talk?

            Now, Tony spent the majority of his free time staring at his phone, at the little ‘read’ indicator that told him Stephen had seen his message. It was radio silence from the sorcerer, though, so Tony kept up his newly-established habit of lurking on the Sanctum’s steps, trying not to lose himself to anxiety and despair again.

            It was another four days before the door finally opened, and Stephen sat beside him on the steps. He looked tired- more so than usual- and Tony’s worry spiked even as Stephen looked straight ahead, avoiding looking at him at all. Tony opened his mouth to speak, but found himself hesitating. What if he just made everything worse, again?

            Eventually, Stephen took the burden of speaking first.

            “Wong said that you came here every day that I was gone, spent hours sitting on the steps.”

            Tony swallowed hard, then nodded, though Stephen still didn’t look. “I did.”

            “He told me that I should put you out of your misery and hear you out.”

            “Is… that what you want?” Now, finally, Stephen turned to look at him. His eyes were stormy and bloodshot, and there was a long thin cut across his cheek that had previously been hidden from view. Instinctively, Tony reached for him, but managed to stop the movement before Stephen could move away. “You’re hurt,” he said lamely instead.

            “I wasn’t aware that what I want had any bearing on the situation,” Stephen sniped, holding his gaze just long enough to glare before looking away again. “Nor my health.”

            “Are you okay? I thought you were on a diplomatic mission. You’re not supposed to be hurt on that kind of job.”

            “I’m fine. Negotiations… fell through. It’s nothing you should concern yourself with.”

            “Stephen, if you’re hurt-”

            “Since when do you care about whether or not I’m hurt?” Stephen demanded, voice suddenly full of fire. “Or does it only matter when the damage is visible?”

            The knot in Tony’s chest twisted, and his vision blurred with unshed tears. The last thing he’d ever wanted was to make Stephen feel like he didn’t care. But he’d ruined everything, just as he always did.

            “I’m a coward,” he admitted, his voice rougher than he wanted. “I- I was so scared that things were changing between us, that you were giving me the power to hurt you, that I pushed you away. I was so scared of ruining what we had, of ruining our friendship because of it, that I just… panicked. I’m poison, Stephen. I’ve hurt everyone I’ve ever loved. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I had to go and drag you into my issues and mess things up so bad between us. If you never want to see me again, I understand.”

            For a long moment, the silence stretched between them as Stephen stared ahead at the passing cars and Tony stared at Stephen, tears finally spilling over. Then, Stephen spoke.

            “I can’t do this anymore, Tony.”

            Dread ignited in Tony’s stomach, burning so strong that for a moment he was sure he was going to throw up. Fuck. He’d ruined everything. He’d gone too far this time. Stephen wanted nothing to do with him and he’d just managed to ruin the best thing that had ever happened to him in one fell swoop. Distantly, he was aware that he was shaking, but he couldn’t focus on that. He couldn’t focus on anything but the ever-growing pit in his stomach that was sure to swallow him entirely.

            “Tony, can you hear me?” There was a note of concern in Stephen’s voice as it broke through the fog clouding his senses, and a gentle hand rested on his knee, shocking him out of his panic spiral. Had Stephen been talking this entire time? What if it was important, what if he’d just made things worse by not listening? “Tony. Breathe.”

            He tried to do what Stephen said, but his breaths just came in short, stuttering gasps. He tried to curl in on himself, but Stephen’s hands landed on his shoulders, forcing him to stay upright.

            “It’s going to be okay, I promise.” Stephen’s voice was suddenly soft and gentle, like he hadn’t spent the last ten days hating Tony for what he’d done. “We can talk it out. But right now, I need you to breathe with me, okay? You’re having a panic attack.”

            “I’m s-sorry,” Tony gasped between harsh breaths. He couldn’t quite see Stephen’s face, though he knew the sorcerer was right in front of him. Nevertheless, Stephen’s presence was grounding, his hands warm against the thin material of Tony’s shirt, and he tried to focus on that.

            “All you need to do right now is breathe. Everything else can come later.”

            “But-!”

            “No ‘but’s, Tony. I’ve got you. We’re going to be okay.”

Summary: IronStrange Week 2026 hosted by @ironstrangehaven​, prompt 2 (SFW) - Body Swap