IronStrange Haven, formerly IronStrangeHQ

Absolutely! 😀

Previous parts in the series can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/series/5088431 (I uploaded all of them, even though I’m behind on other ficlet uploads.)

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Tony has taken to keeping Strange on his bedside table while he sleeps, but the amulet—the man? is that more accurate regardless of his current shape?—doesn’t usually speak until Tony has dressed and settled in with his coffee. 

This morning, Tony has barely gotten his eyes open when Strange announces, “I’m ready.”

Tony doesn’t have to ask for what. “Lemme get my coffee,” he says muzzily, rolling out of bed.

“I have started a pot brewing,” JARVIS announces. 

Tony throws on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans and hangs Strange around his neck. He’s at home, it’s not like anyone is going to see him, and it’s convenient. Strange says nothing, but Tony swears he can feel him vibrating with impatience. He’s barely got the full mug in his hand before Strange says, “Well?”

“I believe I have already identified Strange’s… former self,” JARVIS announces.

“How?” Strange demands. Tony takes a sip to lower the level of coffee in the mug and heads down to his lab.

“I believe it will be clear when I show you,” JARVIS says. He’s not normally so cryptic.

“All right, let’s see it,” Tony says when they get into the lab.

The displays light up with an array of photographs and a couple of files. “May I present Doctor Stephen Strange.”

Strange is quiet for a moment. “That’s it,” he murmurs eventually. “That’s me. I… I recognize me. I remember me.” Then he snorts. “I told you Strange was my name.”

Tony frowns at the file. “JARVIS, this guy is still active. He completed a surgery yesterday. How could he be working as a surgeon and hanging around my neck as an amulet at the same time?”

“The same way I could be familiar with technology from 2003 despite being locked in a box from 1990 to 2010,” Strange says. “Time travel. He,” despite his inability to gesture, Strange clearly meant the Stephen Strange who was still working as a neurosurgeon, “is on his first trip through this timeline. I’m on my second.”

Tony blows out a breath. “I’d like to argue with you. But it answers a lot of questions.”

“And raises several more,” Strange says.

“Understatement,” Tony mutters. What had happened to his body? Why had he come back in time? Had he completed that task already, or not? The fact that he’d been forgotten in a box for twenty years suggested he’d completed it, but they didn’t know. Which made the most important question, when had he come back from?

I'm going to put this one under the cut. It's not at all explicit, but it does mention (a recent) past physical abuse within a relationship.

https://www.tumblr.com/ironstrangeprompts/805055075336781824/prompt-1731-after-a-months-long-battle-to-keep

Welcome! 😀

Here is the text of that prompt:

Prompt #1731 After a months-long battle to keep the rifts between universes closed in the aftermath of Thanos destroying the stones and the hours in which they didn't exist, Stephen is so exhausted he starts falling asleep at the drop of a hat. During meals, during training, during meetings with the Avengers- anytime he's sitting still for more than a couple minutes, he's soon to fall asleep. Tony notices this, and with the aid of the Cloak starts moving Stephen to various beds and couches around the compound- anywhere that's more comfortable than where he fell asleep. Neither he nor Stephen are prepared when Stephen wakes up in Tony's arms mid-transit.

I’ve interpreted “with the aid of the Cloak” to mean “sometimes the Cloak moves him, sometimes Tony does” rather than both of them moving him at the same time.

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Stephen wakes to the sensation of moving. This has, unfortunately, become common lately. For the past three months, he hasn’t had more than three days in a row without being called out to help close a dimensional rift. Kamar-Taj rotates the duty among sorcerers, but between Dormammu and using the Time Stone to find the path to victory against Thanos, Stephen is their strongest sorcerer in terms of sheer power and all too many rifts require his mystical muscle. In such a state of protracted exhaustion, his body takes every fragment of rest it can get. The Cloak has become adept at locating and delivering him to the nearest comfortable surface.

But this time he’s not swathed in the even, yielding fabric of the Cloak’s embrace. Nor can he detect its dry, ancient scent. Instead, warm, strong arms circle his back and support his knees. His head is tilted over, resting against someone’s chest. He can smell metal and grease. “Tony?”

“Shit.” Tony adjusts his grip. “You’ve never woken up before.”

Before? Stephen still feels a bit muzzy with sleep. And Tony is so warm. Two human arms shouldn’t feel more secure than the Cloak’s swaddling, but they do. “Don’t stop,” he murmurs. It makes no sense, except for all the ways it does.

“I’m not going to leave you wherever you pass out,” Tony says. “Apparently, I just can’t help myself.” He sounds wry, but also soft. 

“Good,” Stephen murmurs.

They’ll probably need to talk at some point, but that’s not enough to stop Stephen from sliding back into oblivion. 

https://www.tumblr.com/airas-story/805586660900405248/i-love-your-ficlets-so-much-thank-you-for-sharing

🧡🧡🧡🧡

Sequel to this one.

The problem, Tony discovered quickly, about learning of the existence of his ‘protector’ was that now Tony noticed him. Not always, in fact, for someone who was claiming to protect him, Strange wasn’t actually around that often, even according to FRIDAY.

But he was around enough.

“Okay. This is going to drive me nuts,” Tony said as he dropped down into the bench next to Strange. Say I believe you about the whole ‘you protecting me’—”

“It doesn’t actually matter if you believe it or not,” Strange said factually.

”—Say I believe it,” Tony repeated emphatically. “Why would you be protecting me? Also, you said I was your first assignment. Who, exactly, assigned you to me? How’d I make it onto the list.”

Strange shrugged. “I could answer those questions, But honestly Stark? The answers would absolutely infuriate you even more than not knowing the answers.”

Tony narrowed his eyes at Strange. “Did someone I know hire you?” Though why anyone would hire an ex-neurosurgeon as some sort of bodyguard was unfathomable.

That earned him a derisive snort. “Absolutely not.”

“Look. I don’t do bodyguards—”

“I wouldn’t call myself your bodyguard,” Strange said, nose wrinkled in distaste.

”—I don’t do bodyguards,” Tony repeated, ignoring the interruption. He wasn’t sure what Strange would call it, given the whole I’m protecting you bullshit. That was like the definition of a bodyguard. “So, what do I need to do to get you to stop?” Tony finished.

Strange rolled his eyes. “You can’t. I’m hardly going to quit my assignment because it annoys you.” His nose wrinkled. “You’re not actually supposed to notice me.” His voice went low, clearly talking to himself. “It was simple enough procedure and Wong told me—begrudgingly—that I applied it correctly.”

Tony wanted to pull his hair out. “Okay. Back to who assigned you. I don’t care if the answers will infuriate me more than the not knowing, because trust me, the whole ‘not knowing’ things? Literally my least favorite thing in the world.”

Strange looked skeptical. “If it helps, you’re not special.” Rude. “You’re not the only one being protected. In fact, I used to have a protector, before I knew enough to protect myself.”

Tony stared at him, absolutely baffled. “Have you forgotten I’m Iron Man!? You think I don’t know how to protect myself? Compared to you?”

“Offensive implication,” Strange said, though he didn’t seem to actually care. “It’s about knowledge, Stark. In fact, the same person who was protecting me was also the one protecting you.”

Wait. Strange wasn’t the first to be ‘protecting’ Tony?

“What, were they fired because they couldn’t do their job?” Tony asked. Because he could protect himself just fine. But if ‘protecting him’ had actually been someone’s job, they’d failed miserably. 

“They died,” Strange said, tone suddenly flat.

Tony: Hey Strange, you’ve got a little something…

Tony: *Leans in closer*

Stephen: What-

Tony: *Kisses him*

Obviously there is some public sex in this one. 😀 Even if no one else realizes what’s going on.

Behind the cut for the usual reasons.

Part 3?

https://www.tumblr.com/airas-story/804328438671523840/prompts-part-two-to-this-perhaps-after-a

Sequel to one and two.

“Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo?” Stephen asked, his finger trailing over the various scars on Tony’s chest while they laid together in bed, Stephen’s head on Tony’s shoulder. Tony was staying nights more and more often. Stephen thoroughly enjoyed Tony’s increased presence, and not just because it helped keep episodes of dissociation away. Between Wong and Tony, it was getting better. The Cloak tried to help, but the Cloak had always been there. It didn’t help as much as both Stephen and the Cloak wished it did.

“A tattoo?” Tony asked, tone surprised. “Strangely enough, I’ve never thought much about it.” A pause. “Have you?”

Stephen hummed. “Not until recently. In one of my sessions with Master Jareth we talked about finding ways to reclaim my body. So that it feels like it’s mine again. I don’t know if it would actually help, but the idea of a tattoo, something new, something I’ve never had, something to make my body mine…”

“That makes sense,” Tony agreed. “Though I admit, I’m having a hard time picturing it. Stephen Strange with a sleeve tattoo.”

“I’d start with something a little simpler than that,” Stephen said amused. “I’d alter my arm bands so I can see my wrist, put something there where I’d see it regularly.” He’d thought about his hands. If done right it could be safe even with his scars. But he didn’t think he could trust a stranger with his hands right now.

Tony snorted. “You do cover yourself nearly head to foot. The outfit’s grown on me, but still.”

“It’s practical, Tony.”

Tony ignored that. “Have you decided what you want?”

“Not yet,” Stephen admitted. Though there was one thing… it was a ridiculous idea. Sentimental, really. Stephen had never considered himself sentimental before. “Any ideas?”

“I heart Tony Stark,” Tony said promptly. “With a little heart symbol, obviously.”

Stephen couldn’t have stopped from laughing if he’d tried. “I promise you Tony, that’s not happening.”

“Maybe I should get a ‘I heart Stephen Strange’ tattoo,” Tony mused and Stephen’s heart fluttered at the permanency of the suggestion. “Show you how it’s done. I bet I could make it super stylish. You’ll be jealous then.”

“So you’re not averse to getting a tattoo then?” Stephen asked.

Tony laughed. “You like that, don’t you. The outright declaration that I love you where anyone can see it.”

Well, yes. “Unlike you, Tony, I value the art of subtlety.” He let his fingers trail down Tony’s chest a moment before he caught Tony’s hand, lacing their fingers. “I’d prefer my mark on you be a little more subtle than that.”

Tony was silent for a moment and he must have read Stephen’s real intention in the words. “Is that what we’re doing, then?” he asked voice quiet. “Yours on me? Mine on you?”

“I want to make my body mine again,” Stephen started slowly. “Keeping you with me… That’s a bonus.”

Whee, so glad I get to keep going on this one!

Previous parts in the series can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/series/5088431 (I uploaded all of them, even though I’m behind on other ficlet uploads.)

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Strange is unusually quiet when Tony gets back to the lab after his meeting with R&D. Normally he has all kinds of thoughts about what SI is working on, even if it hasn’t triggered any memories. He doesn’t know much about engineering—they’ve established that—but he’s extremely intelligent. This time he’s silent.

“Strange?” Tony asks after a couple of minutes.

There’s no response. Tony can’t help a chill. Could Strange… Fade? Die? Whatever happens to a cursed amulet of uncertain origin.

Tony swallows the sudden fear. “You still there?” 

“Yes,” Strange says, subdued. 

Relief rushes through Tony. “You’re awfully quiet.” Strange doesn’t answer right away. “Something wrong?” Tony prods.

“Leave it,” Strange snaps.

“Hey, I’m trying to help,” Tony protests. 

“Leave it.”

“If you remembered something–”

“I used to be human,” Strange shouts, and there’s agony in his voice.

Tony’s mouth snaps shut. He’d suspected.

“You were talking to that engineer about brain implants and I knew how to do it,” Strange says. “Not the theory. Not the procedure. I knew how to perform that surgery physically. I’ve never experienced such a strong association before, I must have—” Strange’s voice chokes off.

I must have done it a hundred times, maybe.

Or I must have loved it.

“Neurosurgeons are a pretty small population,” Tony offers quietly. “We can probably identify you now.”

“Not yet,” Strange says. “I just… I need a minute.”

Thank you for writing! I like your stories

“So,” Tony said, leaning against the back of Stephen’s sofa chair. “I’m really bad at this.”

Stephen slid the bookmark into place as he turned toward Tony. “You’ll need to be far more specific. There are a number of things you’re terribly bad at.”

Tony’s expression twisted in offense. “Excuse you,” he said. “I’m incredibly capable, thank you very much.”

Stephen arched an eyebrow. “Emotions. Communication. Subtlety. Humil—”

“Okay,” Tony said, cutting him off. “So there are a few things I’m not great at. I don’t need a list.” He made a face. “You make me sound like a lost cause.”

“Well…” Stephen teased. He froze as he got a better look at Tony’s expression. There was something vulnerable and lost in Tony’s eyes. He tugged Tony closer until Tony perched on the arm of the sofa. “What’s wrong?”

“Who says something’s wrong?” Tony asked. He didn’t meet Stephen’s gaze.

Stephen waited.

“You weren’t wrong about the communication,” Tony said finally. “Or the emotions. I’m bad at those.”

It wasn’t as amusing now when there was clearly an actual problem. “You’re always capable when you need to be,” Stephen offered.

Tony squeezed Stephen’s hand tightly. “There’s something I need to tell you,” he said. “It’s…” He took a deep breath. “It’s not as bad as it’s going to sound.”

Given the tension in Tony’s shoulders and the expression on his face… Stephen really doubted that. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Stephen said calmly.

It went silent for a heavy moment. “There are… complications with the arc reactor,” Tony finally started. “I thought I could fix it. But I… haven’t, yet.”

Complications.

With the arc reactor. 

Stephen didn’t let himself react, but he didn’t see how that couldn’t be as bad as it sounded. “All right. What does that mean?” Stephen asked. Tony needed Stephen to stay calm, even-headed. Tony needed Stephen to not be terrified at what that meant, even if Stephen was.

Tony still wouldn’t look at him. “It’s poisoning me.”

Stephen swallowed hard. “How long do we have to fix it?” he asked. How long did they have left?

Silence. “Six months,” Tony said finally. “Maybe. Hard to tell.”

A knot caught in Stephen’s throat, but he nodded. “Okay. Six months. That’s time to figure things out.”

Tony wasn’t good at subtlety, but he was alarmingly good at hiding things. He had to have been hiding this for months already, but now Stephen knew to look and he could see the hopelessness in Tony’s eyes. “Yeah,” Tony said. “Time.”

Does this count? Haha even if you cannot accept it glad to see the next round. I am glad those who are always late to the party like me can make it. Thanks!

https://www.tumblr.com/infiniteeight8/802237088301989888/hey-cannot-believe-i-might-make-it-to-the-queue?source=share

I’m glad you were able to get in this time! 😀

Here’s the text of that prompt:

> Stephen gets injured (serious and grave, or measly injury with dramatic reaction by Stephen your call) and tony...how does tony react? 

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“Boss, Wong is calling,” FRIDAY announces.

Tony frowns. “Not Stephen?” Tony had consulted with Wong occasionally during the snapped years, enough for him to have Tony’s personal phone number, but since Stephen came back and Tony had taken up the armor again it’s been Stephen he meets with almost exclusively.

“No,” FRIDAY confirms.

“Put him through.”

FRIDAY chimes to indicate the line is open. “Wong, what’s up?”

“Stephen has been injured,” Wong says. His voice is heavy; a chill sweeps through Tony. 

“How seriously?” Tony demands. 

“He’s in the ICU at Metro General. They are… not yet willing to say whether or not he’ll make it.”

Shit. “Did he ask for me?” Wong is Stephen’s emergency contact; they’ve fought enough battles together for Tony to know that.

“No,” Wong says. “But I think it would help if you were with him.”

Tony doesn’t ask any more questions, just shuts down his lab and puts on the armor. He doesn’t have to throw his weight around at the hospital, which is good because he’s not feeling up to any bullshit. Stephen is… Stephen… Stephen is a friend, and Tony doesn’t have many of those.

Joining Wong at Stephen’s bedside feels surreal. Stephen has always seemed untouchable. The robes, the ease with which he summons massive spells, the scale of the threats he takes on… The armor can take a hit. Stephen doesn’t get hit.

But there he is, pale and still and swathed in bandages.

Tony sinks into a chair, terror sweeping through him at the sudden realization that Stephen is as human and fragile as any of them. 

Tony could lose him.

Tony can’t lose him. 

https://www.tumblr.com/airas-story/779762505590423552/this-was-another-missing-ask-that-was-in-my-email

Sequel to this one. This is also an AU of my story Just a Chance from a while ago for those who want to read that story.

The anxiety in Stephen’s gut twisted, growing more insistent the longer it took Tony to react. “My soulmate,” Tony finally said. His voice was difficult to read, but Stephen couldn’t detect any underlaying anger or unhappiness. It had always been a risk that Tony would be upset that Stephen hadn’t told him sooner, but surely… surely Tony understood why Stephen had waited?

“Yes,” Stephen said. “I’ve known since Titan.” Best to be honest, to get it all out there before Tony could assume the worst.

Tony seemed speechless. A very, very rare occurrence for Tony. Despite the number of times Stephen had told Tony they were soulmates—or Tony had learned on his own—this was still an entirely unique one. “Never would have guessed that I was triboluminescent,” Tony said finally. “Don’t think I’ve heard of one of those before.”

A startled laugh escaped Stephen. “I suppose that’s not entirely inaccurate,” he agreed. He resisted the urge to bite his lip as his gut twisted again. Tony wasn’t reacting poorly—and Stephen had far too much experience with Tony reacting poorly, though at least never cruelly—but Stephen still didn’t know what he was thinking. “Is this… is this okay?” he asked.

“Okay?” Tony asked, tone strange. He let out a laugh. “This is…” He ran a hand over his face. “I mean… you’re my best friend. Or one of them at least. Of everyone…” He took a deep breath. “Of everyone out there, if you were to tell me you thought you might someday be able to actually love me, to do more than just put up with me… I think I could actually believe you. So yes, this is okay. Unless… Well, I guess it depends on how you feel.”

Stephen took in a quick breath. He knew just what that confession meant to Tony. How Tony feared that nobody truly loved Tony, too aware of the dynamics that had played into almost all of his relationships. He knew Tony pushed those fears down and away most of the time, choosing to trust in the relationships he had and the promises his friends gave him. But the fear lingered. Stephen knew exactly what that meant to Tony, to not have to fear that, to be able to believe wholly in Stephen’s love.

And Stephen had never been so grateful that he could give Tony that.

Or at least that Tony wouldn’t have to fear that. Because Tony knew they were soulmates, but he didn’t know how Stephen felt, not yet. “You don’t need to wait for someday,” Stephen admitted. “I already love you. I have since Titan.”

Tony startled at that, staring at him in shock. “Since Titan?” he asked. “Because of—” he waved his hand, clearly indicating the already faded soulmate mark.

“Because it’s you,” Stephen corrected. “Because you make me happy. Because you’re good and kind and ridiculous and brilliant and so many other things. Fate might have linked us to each other, but fate didn’t make you who you are, you did, and it’s who you are that I love.” He shrugged a little. “But I don’t mind fate trying to give us a hand.”

Hi anon! Sure, I can do that. There’s a new one under the cut, but I’ve also written ficlets that meet this description twice before. Just in case you haven’t seen them before, here they are:

spitroasting with tentacles (the multiple Stephens are Defender and Sinister)

top!stephen using his clones with tony (this one is omegaverse)

And a new one under the cut for the usual reasons. I haven’t specified clones vs. alternates for this one, read it as you choose! I, uh, may have been very enthusiastic about “multiple”. LOL. There’s also some comeplay and spitroasting here.

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