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#Android Spiderson AU
superherotiger · 3 years
Note
For your follower request: writing: Peter and Tony in a car accident!
Thank you so much Grey for this amazing request, and I apologise for it taking like a year to get completed hah! I had so much fun with this story, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Angst, injuries and much comfort ahead! Hope you all have an amazing day! -Superherotiger
Ao3 Link
Android Spiderson AU Masterlist
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Systems Crashing - Android Spiderson AU
When Steve awoke from the ice almost seventy years after he’d plunged into the Arctic, he was greeted to an entirely new world from the one he had left behind. Out of everything that had changed though -from laws to clothing to music to food- it was the technology that had raced forward at a breathtaking speed and left the soldier helplessly in the dust. Those first few months out of the ice had to be some of the most jarring and uncomfortable months of Steve’s life, which was quite a feat considering he’d been put through a rather excruciating experiment to become a super soldier in the first place. Still, he liked to think he was getting the hang of this new world and the technology that filled it, all things considering.
But then he met the very embodiment of advancement and mechanics in the form of Tony Stark, and it felt like he was waking up from the ice all over again.
Technology far more advanced than any regular citizen would ever understand was mere child’s play for the billionaire, and it seemed that Tony enjoyed rubbing in that fact whenever possible, especially to the out of time super-soldier who he was unfortunately teamed up with. As expected, their clashing views on- well… everything led to a myriad of arguments and fights, but it quickly became apparent that the man’s arrogant, boastful nature was merely a façade that fell away in seconds when faced with a true threat- such as an alien invasion above New York. And when that happened, they worked together like a well-oiled machine, communicating with ease regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs and actually agreeing on most occasions.
But the battle wouldn’t last forever, and when the dust eventually settled and the Avengers were left to regroup, the understanding would quickly fall away with it.
“Everyone, there’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Tony had announced proudly as he stepped into the newly refurbished common room, a boy with curly brown hair and a sheepish smile tucked into his side. “This is Peter. Peter, the Avengers.”
“Hi,” the boy greeted shyly to the various super-heroes lounging across the room.
A beat of silence passed as the team glanced at each other in shock and confusion, seemingly all sharing the exact same question: Since when did Tony Stark had a son?
It was Clint who broke the silence first though, offering out his hand to the young boy before saying as bluntly as ever, “Never knew that Stark had a kid.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me Legolas,” Tony smirked, only for his expression to soften when Peter returned the archer’s handshake enthusiastically. The pride and fondness swirling in the depths of his eyes as he looked upon the boy was enough of an answer to their unspoken question, and all the Avengers soon moved to greet the billionaire’s mysterious child.
Unlike his father, Peter was soft spoken and polite. He shook each Avenger’s hand with barely contained glee and referred to all of them by Mister or Miss, which was greatly endearing to the everyone in the room. Even Thor couldn’t help but chuckle when Peter shook his hand and chirped “It’s so great to meet you Mr Thor!”
“A pleasure to meet you too, Starkson,” the god replied with a grin of his own.
And then Peter shook Natasha’s hand, their introduction looking to be as friendly as everyone else’s, before a silence hung in the air as the spy stared down at their interlocked hands. It took Steve a moment to realise that she was searching for something, but what, he couldn’t imagine. Tony was the first to react to the shift in atmosphere, his grip on Peter’s shoulder tightening ever so slightly as he shifted closer towards the boy. Protective. A warning even, if the steeliness in his eyes were any indication.
But then, as emerald green eyes trailed up to meet Peter’s brown ones, Natasha simply smiled with a realisation that everyone else had seemed to miss.
“I think there’s something you haven’t told us yet, have you Peter?” she asked softy, a warmth in her voice that she rarely used these days.
At that, the boy shot her a bashful grin and scratched the back of his neck anxiously. “Am I that obvious?” he asked light-heartedly.
“No. In fact, you’re incredibly well made,” Natasha was quick to assure, her eyes flickering up to Tony who watched her with a calculating gaze, adding playfully “But I should’ve expected that from the likes of you Stark.”
“What gave it away?” Peter asked, drawing the spy’s attention back to himself.
Smiling kindly once more, Natasha turned Peter’s hand over in her own and replied, “Your hands are warm, but… they have no heartbeat.”
“Oh, yeah… that would do it,” Peter laughed, and if it weren’t for the confusing subject matter, Steve might have found it entertaining too.
“I’m sorry,” the soldier cut in. “But can someone fill me in on what’s going on here?”
Natasha, Peter and Tony all shared a knowing look with one another, and even though no words were spoken, it was obvious a conversation was taking place with their stares alone. As expected with any debate that involved the spy though, Natasha won out in the end and watched in triumph as Tony turned towards the clueless Avengers and stated carefully “Well, Peter here isn’t just any kid. He was… built, not born…”
Neither Steve, Clint nor Thor seemed to understand his cryptic words, but Bruce was quick to step forward as realisation and awe crept up onto his expression. “Are you saying that he’s… that’s he’s a-?”
“An android. Yep,” Tony answered before he’d even had the chance to ask.
The reactions were wide and varied, from Bruce breaking out into a grin as he spoke to Peter again, to a confused but curious head tilt from the god of thunder, to Clint who began staring at the boy -no, the android- in disbelief as he searched for the clues that his fellow spy had been able to notice and not him.
And then there was Steve.
Stunned, unsure, and most of all uncomfortable Steve Rogers. Because suddenly there was that icy feeling spreading through his bones, and his chest, and his head again. The chill of not knowing, of being the only person who didn’t understand anymore. He’d experienced it too many times before, and the mere sight of Peter, of this- this illusion to a real person just made the soldier feel even more out of place than he already did when he woke up seventy years after he should have died.
If Tony reminded Steve that he had been left behind, then Peter reminded Steve that he never had a chance of catching up.
Weeks went by as the Avengers began to settle in with each other, and while the others had taken to Peter quickly after discovering his mechanical origins, Steve just… couldn’t understand. He couldn’t understand how Peter moved, or talked, or thought or felt. He couldn’t understand why Tony had made him to begin with, which wasn’t helped by the fact that the mechanic got cagey around him whenever he tried to ask about the robot. And Steve also couldn’t understand why everyone else just seemed perfectly alright with a walking, talking, robotic child hanging around the Tower. A regular child would have warranted some concern in itself, but a fake one? That was a whole other level.
Except Steve seemed to be the only one that cared. As a genius himself, Bruce had found great joy in talking to Tony and Peter about his inner workings and gushing over the complexity of his code. Clint and Thor spent every spare moment of the day trying to test the android in both his physical and mental abilities, which Peter was always happy to oblige with. And Natasha and Tony, well, they practically treated him like a real kid. The ruffled his hair and patted his shoulder and served him a plate at dinner even though he couldn’t eat…
No, it didn’t make sense to Steve. And he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable whenever he was around the android either. He’d seemed so life-like when they’d first met the robot -almost a spitting image of Tony he would have said-, but the moment his true nature was announced, Steve couldn’t help but see all the subtle differences. How his joints would move a bit too rigidly or his voice would clip unnaturally during a sentence. How he didn’t get tired or ‘wake up’ like normal people did, just shut down and powered up like a computer. Or more eerily how his big brown eyes just seemed so dull, and empty, and unnatural. Like there was no real soul behind them.
And that’s because, Steve reminded himself, there wasn’t.
So the soldier kept his distance. He stayed away from the android when possible and went along politely if he couldn’t, knowing that Tony was always close by keeping an eye on his mechanical creation, waiting for any excuse to rip into Steve if he dared say the wrong thing. “So… what’s the point of him?” Steve had once asked in an attempt to understand their world, only for Tony to level him with an icy glare of contempt and snap back “What’s the point of you Sparkles? Ever wonder that?” The soldier quickly shut his mouth and didn’t try and talk about the android again in fear of getting his head bitten off. Better to stay away and not cause any trouble, he figured.
But sometimes contact was unavoidable, especially at team dinners.
Tonight Tony was treating them all to five-star Italian dining with a private table out of sight of reporters, a stunning view of the city, and waiters dressed like they were serving a gala and not a mismatched group of super-heroes. Peter was there too, but Steve wasn’t really sure why considering he couldn’t eat anything. His plate was left untouched throughout the whole meal even though Tony insisted he should have one, but again, no one else was questioning it, so Steve didn’t either.
It was only midway through dinner when Steve’s usual plan of avoiding was foiled by Peter asking him a direct question, the android’s fingers twitching in what was probably a glitch in his programming as he asked the soldier “Have you ever seen Star Wars, Mr Rogers?”
Swallowing his mouthful of food, Steve was acutely aware of Tony’s gaze boring into him from just beside the boy, taking a moment to think of his response before he replied carefully “Uh… no. No I haven’t.”
“Oh! We should watch it sometime then, it’s amazing!” Peter beamed happily. “My friend Ned introduced me to it and it was so much fun! I could watch it over and over.”
“If you’ve already seen it then what’s the point?” Steve asked, which was rewarded with a quizzical head tilt from Peter and a hardening stare from Tony. Rushing to explain his reasoning though, Steve said “I mean, I thought you had a photographic memory right? Doesn’t that mean you only need to watch it once?”
“Well… I do, but, it’s still fun to re-watch things,” Peter replied hesitantly. Maybe even timidly, if robots were capable of that.
Can you even feel fun? Steve’s first thought asked, but wisely stayed in his head when he felt the chill of Tony’s glare still locked onto him. Instead, Steve just awkwardly turned back to his meal and let the conversation slip away, relieved when he soon heard the android strike up a conversation with Bruce instead and the attention of a certain billionaire finally drifted away with it.
Dinner went on as normal, and Steve thought he’d finally caught a break when they made it to the end of the night without a single hitch. No incidents with reporters, no mishaps with the food, and no fights within the team.
Well, almost no fights within the team.
Because by some unfortunate stroke of luck, Steve ended up in the same car as Tony and his robot, sitting in a heavy, awkward silence as they drove through the chaotic streets of New York. Every now and then Peter tried to spark a conversation with his creator and the super soldier sitting across from the pair, but Tony’s attention seemed to be elsewhere, which was odd for the genius who almost always seemed to be fretting over his creation. Peter must have found it odd too, because he eventually turned to stare out the window instead, hands twisted together to hide the twitching that raced through his fingers. Again, Steve couldn’t help but wonder why Tony hadn’t fixed that already.
The drive continued, and the silence dragged on. Steve wondered if the tension that filled the air could possibly get any worse, until…
“You know Rogers,” Tony growled in a voice as cold as ice. “You could at least pretend to like him.”
Well, turns out it could get worse.
“Dad, don’t,” Peter sighed, still staring out the window as if he were too weary to move.
“You know what? No, I’m not gonna shut up about this,” Tony snapped before his gaze turned back on the super soldier in a deadly glare. “You’ve been treating my kid like shit and I want to know why.”
A defensive flame rose up in Steve’s chest as he levelled the billionaire’s stare, saying “What? Because I asked if he needed to watch Star Wars more than once?”
“Don’t play smart with me Rogers,” Tony hissed, pointing an accusing finger at Steve’s chest as he said “From the moment you met him you’ve been treating Peter differently. You avoid him like damn plague, and you can’t even look him in the eye when he talks to you.”
At that Steve shifted uncomfortably, and Tony with his ever-observant gaze was quick to notice.
“What? Thought I didn’t see?” he asked like a trap just waiting to be triggered. “Didn’t think I noticed the way you go quiet every time that Peter’s mentioned, or how you ignore him at dinner, or how you brush him off whenever he tries to talk to you because he’s a decent human being-“
“Well he’s not a human being, is he?” Steve shot back, only to immediately regret his words at the fire that surged into Tony’s eyes a moment after.
“What did you just say?”
Now I’m in for it, Steve thought drearily.
“Dad, please… just drop it,” Peter said again, the dejection clear in his voice.
“Absolutely not. Not after the shit he just said.” Tony’s glare never left Steve, cold and fiery all at once as he demanded “Apologise right now.”
Clenching his jaw, Steve muttered “Why? You want me to lie and say he’s human when he’s not?”
“I want you to treat him like he deserves to be treated: With respect,” Tony practically snarled. “Is that so much to ask?”
The question left Steve stumped for words, and for the briefest moment, his gaze locked with Peter’s as the tension dragged on into silence. The android stared back at him with apprehension, -and for a moment- the briefest flicker of hope, before Steve shook his head and reminded himself that the robot couldn’t really feel such things. He was just programmed to pretend to, that’s all.
Even if the pain in Peter’s eyes cut through Steve’s chest like a cold knife. Even if it hurt to look away when he noticed the boy shrink back into Tony’s side in defeat. It wasn’t real, those emotions weren’t real…
Right…?
“Unbelievable,” Tony scoffed. “Mr High-and-Mighty Captain America is too damn proud to admit he was in the wrong? What a surprise.”
“I’m not going to argue with you about this anymore Tony,” Steve said with a firm voice, hoping it might quell the fire still simmering in the billionaire’s eyes.
Instead it only seemed to add coals to flames, Tony’s eyes narrowing into slits as he spat “Fine. I guess you better hand in your suit, and your new motorbike, and while we’re at it- that shield you love so much, considering it was Stark property to begin with.”
“What?!” Steve balked, eyes snapping forward to meet Tony’s again in a heartbeat. “You can’t do that!”
“Actually I can. My stuff, my rules,” the man stated evenly, his composure betrayed by the bitterness in his voice as he leant forward and added “And I don’t share my creations with people who don’t respect them.”
Steve’s eyes remained locked onto Tony’s, hardened blue against fiery brown. They’d played this game many times before. From the moment they’d met they’d clashed – “Big man in a suit of armour. Take that off and what are you?” “You’re a lab rat Rogers, everything special about you came out of a bottle.”-, but this felt different. Personal to a level that neither of them had faced before, because this involved Peter. The boy who Tony adored, and the android that Steve would never understand.
How could he? He would always be two steps behind the rest, a man out of his time…
Too lost in the heat of Tony’s glare and the whirlwind of his own thoughts though, Steve didn’t see the glaring beam of headlights speeding up behind him until it was too late.
But Peter noticed. And unlike the other oblivious heroes in the car, Peter actually reacted.
So with panicked eyes whipping over to Steve -the one about to get engulfed by the headlights of oncoming traffic- Peter leapt forward in the blink of an eye and dragged the captain down, shielding the man with his own body without even a moment’s hesitation. Later Steve would think about how brave that was- how selfless and forgiving and undeniably human. Later Steve would regret not jumping forward to protect him instead. But in that moment, there was nothing the super soldier could do but watch as Peter’s terrified expression was encompassed in a blinding white light-
And then the world went black.
When Steve finally resurfaced from the darkness, he was met with a blur of colours and a sharp ringing in his ears, drowned out and somehow too loud all at once. Nerves flared all across his right side but the pain had yet to hit, maybe because of the adrenaline that was now pounding steadily throughout his veins as he pulled his thoughts together. It was difficult at first -understanding falling apart like sand every time he reached for it-, but when his vision finally stopped spinning and he recognised the shivering figure beside him, all his senses snapped back into place in an instant.
“Peter,” Steve gasped out roughly, straining to breathe. Whether it was from the impact or the shock of the boy’s wide-eyed, paled expression, Steve wasn’t sure.
Instead of dwelling on that though, Steve dragged himself to his elbows with a groan and ignored the shattered glass and twisted metal scattered all around them. The only thing he could focus on was Peter- on the boy who had jumped forward to protect him despite Steve refusing to acknowledge his humanity, whether he was made of flesh and blood or not. Despite the fact that Steve had been avoiding him for weeks on end, and that he had literally been fighting with his creator for that exact reason mere seconds beforehand.
Despite the fact that Steve didn’t deserve it, Peter had saved him anyway…
“Peter? Are you awake?” Steve asked in a rushed whisper as he placed his hand over the boy’s shoulder. His entire frame was shaking, and muffled, mechanical whines sounded from his chest as if he were having trouble breathing. The car was dark besides the harsh streetlights pouring in through the broken windows, illuminating Peter’s face which was paralysed with both shock and terror. This time Steve didn’t doubt the fear that had consumed the fragile boy. There was no way to fake something like that…
So giving his shoulder a light squeeze, Steve asked as gently as possible “Son, can- can you hear me? Are you alright?”
Peter suddenly lurched, a sound that was both robotic and yet all too human filtering out of his mouth as he curled his arms tighter around his shuddering form. A sound that Steve immediately recognised as pain.
“Peter, are you hurt?”-
Hurt, not damaged. Not like a machine that can be replaced, but like a person who can be mended.
-“Show me where you’re hurt, and we- we’ll fix it.”
As he spoke, Steve remembered the other passenger who had yet to be accounted for, and glanced over to see that Tony was thankfully unharmed in his seat due to the belt strapped across his chest. The fact that Peter might have stayed safe too if he hadn’t disregarded his own belt to shield Steve instead crossed the soldier’s mind, but he quickly shook the thought away to focus on Tony again. The billionaire must have been knocked around in the impact as he was still stone-cold unconscious, prompting Steve to jostle his knee in an attempt to rouse him, though he barely stirred when the soldier called his name.
Before Steve could reach over in another attempt to wake him up though, his attention was snapped back to the boy by his side as Peter’s fingers coiled around his wrist, warm like the day they had first met, but now coated in something wet. The realisation had Steve’s gaze flickering to where the boy had moved his hand from his waist and revealed a glinting shard of metal piercing out of his side, oil spilling out in a sickly dark river to the floor.
In the confines of the broken car and the harsh shadows that surrounded them though, it didn’t look like oil. No, for Steve, all he saw was blood, and a terrified boy that was reaching out for help. His help.
“Shit…” Steve muttered and without a second thought pulled his jacket off and pressed it against the wound. With a stiff move of his arm, Peter’s hand lowered over Steve’s in a surprisingly gentle manner, staining both their hands with the leaking fuel and making the guilt in Steve’s chest grow exponentially.
“Tony- Tony wake up!” Steve barked, no longer trying to be gentle when the kid was bleeding out beneath his fingertips. “The kid needs you, wake up!”
The shouting seemed to do the trick as Tony’s brows pulled together with a groan, eyes fluttering open in a daze as he took in the shattered surroundings. Steve didn’t let his attention wander for long though, yelling his name once more until Tony was blinking back at him in confusion. The second he followed Steve’s hands to the whimpering child curled up on the floor though, awareness flooded into Tony’s eyes as fast as the blood drained out of his face.
“Holy shit- Peter!” he cried, jerking against the seatbelt in his panic to move forward and scrambling to get it undone.
As Tony freed himself from the belt, Steve turned his focus back to the boy and felt his heart twist when he saw Peter’s eyes start to twitch and his head tilt with unintentional lurches. “Stay still son, it’s going to be okay,” Steve tried desperately to soothe. “Tony’s here- he’s going to fix it, alright? You’re going to be alright.”
“Tony- T-Tony- Tony,” Peter repeated on loop, his voice sounding far more robotic than Steve had ever heard it before.
Said mechanic knelt down awkwardly within the cramped space to lay a reassuring hand over Peter’s forehead, seemingly managing to ease the boy’s panic as his eyelids fell shut at the touch. “I’m right here kiddo, you’re okay… you’re okay,” Tony murmured, though his expression showed the true extent of his worry. And in a move so parental Steve would have done a double take in any other situation, Tony swept his hand to the side and carded his fingers through the boy’s synthetic hair in assurance. In comfort even, which Steve realised had lessened the tremble in Peter’s fingertips significantly. Not a glitch like he’d first suspected, but an anxious habit. Another gesture of humanity.
The relief was short lived though when Tony’s hand stilled and his eyes grew wide, pulling his hand into the light to find a similar shiny oil coating his hand that had long since stained onto Steve’s.
“Shit… shit!” Tony muttered as he tapped Peter’s cheek and said hurriedly “No sleeping yet buddy, I need you to run an emergency diagnostic for me.”
Another distorted sound echoed from his throat, making both Tony and Steve wince at the agony Peter was obviously suffering through.
When the boy didn’t open his eyes at Tony’s second request, the mechanic let out a guilty sigh and pressed his thumbs beneath the curve of Peter’s jaw. “Sorry kid- I hate doing this, but I’ve got no other choice,” Tony mumbled, probably not expecting Steve to hear or just not caring if he did. After pushing his thumbs in, a slight electric crackle sounded in Peter’s joints as his eyes snapped open again, his once brown irises shining a bright blue into the darkness.
“System override activated,” a voice -not Peter’s, it wasn’t as gentle or as caring as Peter’s- responded.
“Perform emergency diagnostic,” Tony said clearly as his expression twisted in remorse.
“What’s happening?” Steve asked, concern soaked into every syllable. “Is he going to be alright?”
Tony blinked up at the man as if he’d only just realised he was there, before shaking himself back to reality and saying “I think he injured his head- there might be a leak near his motherboard. I’m running a scan to make sure.”
“Can it be fixed?”
“If it is leaking I need to stop it ASAP, otherwise he might lose some of his coding,” Tony explained anxiously. When the man glanced over and caught Steve’s ashamedly confusion expression though, he added quickly “The coding is what makes Peter, well… Peter. His likes, his dislikes, his feelings, his learning abilities. Losing that would be impossible to recreate.”
“I thought… can’t you just- just rewrite it or something?” Steve asked.
“It’s not that simple,” Tony sighed in frustration. “Peter’s a self-learning android, so he’s been creating his own code for years now, hundreds of thousands- maybe even millions of individual scripts that he’s written himself. I wouldn’t even get close to replicating it.”
A heavy silence fell between them as Tony fixed his gaze back on his creation, nervously awaiting the results as Peter’s eyes dimmed and glowed on repeat, each limb twitching in succession as the diagnostic continued. Despite it being the most mechanical Steve had ever seen the boy, he was overcome with the sudden realisation that he was anything but a normal robot. He felt emotions, felt pain, and he could think independently. Made decisions by his own calculations. Made sacrifices that he shouldn’t have had to, and Steve finally understood why.
Because Peter was, in every way, good. He had made himself to be so, had programmed himself to be selfless. And if that wasn’t worthy of praise, then Steve didn’t know what was.
“I’m sorry,” he spoke, his eyes transfixed on where Peter’s hand had fallen over his own. “I’m so sorry…”
Tony glanced up at him for a moment with a clouded expression, something akin to respect swirling amidst the apprehension. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, that robotic voice chimed back in and had both of them snapping to attention at once.
“Diagnostic complete. Detected: Rupture of the fuel core, electrical malfunction in left leg, left shoulder, and severed wires in the left wrist. Possible fluid leak detected in the occiput. Requires immediate attention.”
“Shit, we need to get him to the med-bay now,” Tony said as he turned around and opened up a hidden compartment beneath one of the seats, dragging what looked like a first aid kit out into the open. As if on instinct he moved to lift Peter up, but assessing their surroundings with a frantic gaze and finally landing on the super soldier across from him, Tony’s shoulders sagged in defeat.
“Can you carry him?” he asked, his eyes shimmering with fear and uncertainty, but most notably a trust that he hadn’t shown Steve since the battle with Loki. “Please… He needs our help.”
Guilt struck Steve like a spear to the chest when he realised the desperation woven into Tony’s voice, and he wondered how he’d never seen it before. How he’d never noticed how much Peter meant to the billionaire -greater than any amount of money or pride could measure up to-, or how the fury had always been a mask to the hurt he shared whenever Peter was rejected. Rejected by Steve, again and again and again in a constant cycle of avoidance and disinterest.
God, he had a lot of apologies to make.
But for now he steeled his nerves and gave Tony a firm nod, vowing to help in whatever way possible as he lifted Peter carefully into his arms. Steve’s old assumptions that Peter would be heavy and stiff like a robot were thrown out the window immediately when the boy’s warm form pressed against his chest, the only sign that he wasn’t human being the oil still soaking steadily into Steve’s jacket on his side. Slowly, the soldier rose to his feet, mindful of Peter’s head that had begun to drip with that same dark fluid, and threw aside the crumpled door with a single, swift kick.
Before any of them could celebrate being able to leave the hellish interior of the car though, Peter’s body jerked back to awareness with the force of Steve’s motion and had him blinking the blue glow out of his eyes, empty light replaced with terrified brown eyes once more. “W-W-What,” his voice crackled, before an electrical spasm ran down the left side of his body and had his voice box distorting in agony again.
“Jesus Tony, you couldn’t have skipped the pain part of being human?” Steve threw out sharply as he carried Peter through the opening as gently as possible.
“Unfortunately he programmed that one himself,” Tony answered with a grimace, his hand naturally carding through Peter’s hair again as the boy was overcome with another flash of pain. “He’s been watching me for too long… picked up on all my bad habits without even realising, huh bud?”
“It hurts- Dad it hurts,” Peter’s voice croaked, making Steve’s chest ache in sympathy.
“I know buddy,” Tony soothed. “De-activate signals from your lower torso and appendages and reroute reactor power to your head. That should help.”
With a mechanical whine echoing from his joints, Peter’s body stiffened before falling slack with a shudder, head leaning against Steve’s shoulder in what appeared to be exhaustion. “Can I shut down? Please?” he asked with wide, pleading eyes.
His creator drew in a pained breath and let it out in a sigh, the remorse clear in his eyes as he replied, “Not yet Pete, I need to check that your hardware hasn’t been affected first.”
“But it hurts- hurts- hurts- h-hurts- hurts-“
The phrase looped mercilessly and had both Tony and Steve wincing at the awful sound, the former rushing to reassure his creation while the latter began scanning their surroundings like the soldier he was trained to be. The scene around them was chaos; battered cars skewed across the intersection, glass scattered across the asphalt, horns blaring at the disturbed traffic flow. People had left their vehicles now to get a better look at the accident too, leading Steve to draw Peter’s ever vulnerable form closer into his chest, as if to shield him from their prying eyes.
What really caught his attention though was the familiar faces breaking through the crowd, watching as Natasha’s emerald green eyes widened in concern when she recognised the boy in his arms.
“We saw the crash behind us,” Natasha said as she ran up to Tony’s side, her usually composed mask breaking at the sight of Peter’s gritted teeth and wide, blank eyes.
“Was it intentional?” Steve asked. He would never put it past their enemies to try and ambush them on the way back from dinner.
“Don’t think so,” Clint’s voice chimed in as he joined the small huddle of concerned faces. “Bruce and Thor are checking on the other driver now.”
“This is our chance to move then,” Tony said firmly, snapping his head up to take in their chaotic surroundings. “Where’s your car?”
Pointing towards another sleek black car, Natasha said “Just over there- Happy’s already waiting for you.”
“Perfect,” Tony replied as one hand tightened over the first aid box and the other over his creation’s limp fingers. “We’ll meet you at the Med Bay. Can you-?”
“Sort out this mess? I’m on it,” Natasha agreed before he’d even had a chance to ask.
But with no more time to waste, Steve and Tony gave a grateful nod to the spies and began running towards their awaiting ride out of this nightmare, watching as Happy’s face paled with horror at the sight of the impaled boy before opening the back door for them both. Tony was the first to climb in and was half-way through pulling open the kit by the time Steve had carefully manoeuvred he and Peter to sit beside him, afraid he would jostle the metal shard and cause more damage to the already shaken boy.
“You’re doing great kid,” Steve murmured when Peter let out another groan of static. “We’re gonna get you fixed up in no time, alright?”
“Hurts… Hurts… Da-a-a- Tony- Tony- Hurts,” the words cut in through the garbled crackling of his voice box.
“I know Pete, you’re doing so well,” Tony soothed beside him, sorting through the equipment in the box that Steve now realised was a custom first aid kit for Peter alone, stacked with tools and bolts and wires that the soldier couldn’t even begin to comprehend. And with the engine rumbling to life around them, the two carefully lifted Peter’s head up so that Tony could fully assess the damage, while Steve focused on holding the android as still as possible. The soldier thought he should have been disturbed when Tony was able to slide a whole panel of Peter’s skull to the side -revealing the intricate inner workings of the boy’s brain-, but he was too busy staring down into those striking brown eyes to notice.
So lost and so frightened…
So undeniably alive.
“You’re alright son, you’re alright,” Steve assured quietly.
For a moment the boy just stared, as if calculating his words, before scanning his surroundings with a terrified shudder. “D-Dad…?” he called weakly.
“Right here kiddo,” Tony assured as he worked.
“Can’t see- can’t see you- you…”
“I’m just behind you buddy, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Dad, I can’t- can’t move- can’t move,” Peter shuddered, leaving both Tony and Steve staring down at him with painfully sympathetic gazes. “I’m scared- scared- scared- scared-“
An instinct that Steve had never experienced before burnt up his chest like a wildfire, and lifting his oil-stained hand from Peter’s side to his cheek, Steve kept his eyes as steady as his voice as he spoke in a murmur “You don’t have to be scared, because we’re right here. Tony is right here- I’m right here. And it’s going to be okay, I promise…”
If Steve had looked up he might have caught the disbelieving expression of shock that had flashed across Tony’s face, but he never broke Peter’s gaze, desperately trying to push the reassurance he wanted to say through his sky-blue eyes. Dull brown orbs stared right back up at him, wide and confused, but most importantly searching. Searching for a reason to believe the soldier who had treated him so poorly in the past weeks.
“Scared… scared… scared…” the phrase repeated softly, causing the guilt to twist in Steve’s heart when he realised the boy obviously did not trust him.
But that was fine. He deserved it, really. The important part was that Steve kept trying, kept working for the trust that he never even realised that he wanted. He wouldn’t stop fighting for Peter, that Steve promised.
Gliding his thumb reassuringly across Peter’s cheek, the soldier continued softly, “I know you’re scared, and that’s okay. But we’re right here, and we’ll be right here the whole time, okay? You’ll be good as new in no time.”
“Scared…”
“I know son.”
“Con- Confused… Confused…”
“That’s alright, I get confused all the time,” Steve replied through a sympathetic smile. “Waking up seventy years late will do that though… guess I still have a lot to learn.”
The strain in Peter’s jaw began to loosen, tipping his cheek ever so slightly into the soldier’s palm as his creator moved with deadly concentration behind him, trying his best to prevent any further harm to the child. And here in Steve’s arms, he truly felt like a child. Sounded like one too when he blinked up at Steve and replied weakly “I like learn- l-learning- learning.”
“Yeah?” Steve prompted, pleased to hear some of the boy’s usual energy return to his voice.
“There’s so much- so much to learn. I want to learn about ev-everything,” Peter replied wistfully. “Sometimes there’s so much- much- much information, it makes my head- it makes my head-head hurt.”
“I can imagine.”
“Not all- Not all bad though…”
For a moment they trailed into silence, and Steve marvelled at how warm Peter’s skin felt under his fingertips, or how silky his hair felt despite being artificial. The android -like Natasha had first said all those weeks ago- was beautifully crafted, and it was only now that Steve was realising just how incredible that truly was. Walking, talking, learning, feelingmachinery. What an astonishing feat. What a magnificent creation…
“You’re right son, it’s not all bad,” Steve smiled encouragingly.
Mustering the remains of his power supply, Peter offered the soldier a pleased smile of his own and allowed his eyelids to fall ever so slightly in exhaustion. For the first time since waking up in that car wreck, the pain was vacant from his features, and Steve felt his chest flutter with relief to see so.
“All done kiddo,” Tony breathed out in relief as he placed his tools aside and clicked the panel back into his skull. “I patched up that leak, and your motherboard is safe and sound. You can go to sleep now if you’d like, and we’ll fix up the rest at the Med Bay.”
Humming contentedly as the mechanic carded his fingers through the boy’s chestnut curls, Peter asked quietly “Sleep?”
“Yeah kid, time to sleep,” Tony smiled, the love he held for the android pouring out of his very being like a flood of warmth.
“Thank you,” Peter murmured, first glancing up at his creator, before flickering his tired gaze back towards Steve’s own. “Both of you…”
Steve just shook his head and replied with a pooling sense of guilt and admiration “No son, I should be thanking youfor saving me. You acted like a true hero out there, you know that?”
“Well… I learnt from the- the best,” Peter said proudly as his gaze flickered back up to his creator. Never before had Steve seen the great Tony Stark melt quite as fast as he did in that moment.
“Guess I could learn a lot from you,” the soldier chimed in gently, aware of the exhaustion that weighed down in Peter’s eyes as they shifted to meet his own. “Maybe we could start with Star Wars?”
That caught the android’s attention, partially fallen eyelids jumping open again as he breathed out shakily “Really…?”
It pained Steve to see how hopeful Peter looked from the mere mention of interacting with him, and the captain knew he would have to work hard to repair the bridge he had almost burnt down in his ignorance. “Definitely kid, it’s the least I could do,” Steve answered sincerely. “And besides, I’d like to get to know you better. I know that I, uh… I haven’t done a great job of that so far, and I’m sorry for that.”
Letting out a hum as his eyelids began to lower again, the boy replied lightly “That’s o-o-kay Mr Rogers. Writing new- new code is hard s-some- sometimes.”
Steve smiled weakly at his words; at the forgiveness he didn’t feel he deserved, and the understanding that passed through Peter’s weary gaze. It was ironic, Steve had to admit, that an android of all people would be the one to truly his understand his struggle of not understanding the world. To understand what it felt like to not quite fit in, to be unfamiliar amongst the standard. He had found understanding in the one thing he thought he could never comprehend, and Steve was forever grateful for it.
“See you soon Pete,” the soldier smiled gently.
Peter offered one last shaky smile to the two men watching over him, expression overflowing with fondness, before sliding his eyes shut and going limp with a sudden electrical whir.
“Tony,” Steve breathed out nervously as the boy’s head lolled to the side. “Tony he’s-“
“Just shut down, it’s okay,” the mechanic assured sympathetically. “It’s a bit jarring at first, but you get used to it…”
Letting out a shaky sigh, Steve loosened his grip over the boy until he was resting more comfortably within his arms, appearing less like a lifeless corpse and instead like a child lost in slumber. His job wasn’t over yet though. He could still feel the tension in the air as Tony began packing up the first aid kit and wiping oil smears off his hands with a rag, gaze flickering from the soldier to his creation with concern. Steve couldn’t blame him for the apprehension though after the fight they’d had just moments before the crash, but to make amends with Peter, he would also have to make amends with his creator.
“I may not always understand things… understand him…” Steve started uncertainly, forcing himself to meet the mechanic’s cautious gaze as he said, “But I promise Tony, I’m going to try my best from now on. I… I want to understand.”
Stares unwavering, Tony’s penetrating eyes began to search his very soul for any sign of deceit, before his attention fell back on the boy in his arms and he brushed his fingers over the fine curls of hair once more. “That’s all I ask Rogers…” he said, practically in a whisper, as the adoration flooded back into his features at the sight of the boy- of his kidonce more.
Beneath the fire and defensiveness, there had always been love. A love that could match no other; a love a father held for their child.
And suddenly, Steve understood.
~~~
Taglist: @joyful-soul-collector @lost-lunar-wolf @lbigreyhound13 @aixabi @zanderljones @iwritedumbshit @anarinette @sfabsha @appleschloss @sdottkrames
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sword-of-stardust · 3 years
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I POSTED ANOTHER ONE SHOT!!!! It’s another one that’s just me venting about my OCD through Peter Parker lol. I’m behind if I wanna finish these prompts by the end of the year, and I probably won’t post tomorrow because of the holidays, but I believe in myself!!! I can finish before the end of the year lol
Chapters: 20/28
Summary:
Unrelated one shots using the Febuwhump 2020 writing prompts. (I'm starting late but better late than never right?) I’m using these prompts like warm-up writing exercises, hoping to experiment with writing some different AUs. Hope you like them! EDIT: Yes I understand it’s no longer February and it’s in fact the end of 2020 but I wanted to finish this lmao enjoy.
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Febuwhump, febuwhump 2020, Tony Stark Acting as Peter Parker's Parental Figure, One Shot, One Shot Collection, unrelated one shots, Whump, Peter Parker Whump, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt Peter Parker, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Tony Stark Has A Heart, The Following Tags Only Apply to Some Chapters:, Post-Endgame, Pre-Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 (Movie), Kidnapping, Trans Peter Parker, Trans Male Character, Gender Dysphoria, Angst, Protective Peter Parker, Civil War Team Iron Man, not team Cap friendly, Suicidal Thoughts, Hypothermia, Platonic Cuddling, Peter Parker is Tony Stark's Biological Child, Peter Parker Calls Tony Stark "Dad", Adopted Peter Parker, Historical Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Medieval, Kid Peter Parker, Android Peter Parker, Anxiety Series: Part 4 of My Irondad and Spiderson Fics
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ao3feed-buckynat · 6 years
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Tell me what it's like to burn.
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Hi0BXv
by BeaBumble
Fearless child, Broken boy; Tell me what it's like to burn. ----- Gripping the web between his fingers, Peter lowered himself down to eye level with Mr. Stark. Tony watched him and groaned as he watched Peter force a wide smile of innocence on his face. Clint scoffed, observing the exchange from the sidelines. "What the hell?" Or... AU where the Avengers all live in Avengers Tower like one big happy family. Their life gets turned upside down when a certain Peter Parker is thrown into the mix, with problems of his own to share while finding a place in the bunch.
Words: , Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Fandoms: The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, James "Bucky" Barnes, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Clint Barton, Wanda Maximoff, Vision (Marvel), James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Scott Lang, May Parker (Spider-Man), Ned Leeds, Michelle Jones
Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Peter Parker & Avengers Team, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov, James "Bucky" Barnes & Sam Wilson, May Parker (Spider-Man) & Peter Parker, Peter Parker & Everyone
Additional Tags: Precious Peter Parker, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, Iron Dad & Spiderson, Android Peter AU, The Avengers Are Good Bros, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, no civil war, Everybody are friends, Everybody is Alive, Just let my babies be happy for two seconds, No Infinity War, If You Can Believe it, Angst and Fluff, hopefully balancing each other, Domestic Avengers, Found Family
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Hi0BXv
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superherotiger · 3 years
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for irondad prompts !!! peter having a nightmare at the tower ?? mayhaps
Hello! Sorry I’m so late to this, but I may or may not have gotten carried away with yet another obscure Irondad AU 😅 Hope you enjoy it everyone, and let me know what you thought in the comments! Your support means the world to me!! 💛
Ao3 Link
~~~~~~~~~~
Peter didn’t dream like normal people.
He didn’t slowly slip into unconsciousness and watch the fragments of his thoughts reform against the darkness, or cycle in and out of REM throughout the night. He didn’t get drawn out of slumber by the morning sun or startled awake by an alarm, and he didn’t care about the feel of the mattress or pillows he lay on.
No, his dreams were different. Memories as clear as day brushing against each other and leaving the imprint of something new. Something not quite real, but not quite fake either. Like he had become an audience member to a scene he had previously been the star of. They were a strange phenomenon, these dreams, but something that Peter had found himself enjoying more and more as the weeks went by.
And maybe that was the worst part, because Peter knew that he shouldn’t. Shouldn’t be able to enjoy it; shouldn’t be able to remember it; shouldn’t be able to have it in the first place.
Because Peter -like all androids- shouldn’t be able to dream at all.
But there was no other way to describe the images playing out in his coding during his nightly shut downs. No other name for the phenomenon he had been experiencing for almost three weeks straight now. Despite all his programming that said it should be impossible, Peter had learnt to dream. And while it had been confusing at first, Peter began to look forward to his shutdown slideshows. Sometimes it would be like he was walking through the bustling streets of New York, and other times it would be like joining the Avengers for their weekly movie nights. Most often though, he was met with a familiar, chaotic lab and the bots -who were essentially his brothers- chirping at the mechanic humming energetically to the sounds of AC/DC beside him.
That was his favourite dream by far.
Peter hadn’t told his creator, Tony Stark, about the dreams yet. He worried that as soon as he mentioned something abnormal in his programming, Tony would kick into panic mode and review his code for a flaw, possibly taking the dreams away in the process. As wrong as he knew it was, Peter didn’t want to risk it. He enjoyed the dreams too much to jeopardise them, and even if there was a slight glitch in his AI, did it matter that much? It didn’t seem like it was doing him any harm.
So he kept the dreams a secret -despite never being coded with the ability to lie- and went about his life like any normal teenage android; energetic and always learning.
But then the ambush happened.
It had been a standard Hydra raid for the squad of super heroes, and Tony had assured the boy with a quick tussle of his hair that they’d be back by dinner time. They didn’t know that the information had been outdated. They didn’t know that Hydra knew they were coming. But Peter watched and listened through a back door in Friday’s coding as the Avengers were caught by surprise inside the not-so-abandoned base, cries for backup and retreat blaring across the comms before all their signals went dead.
Peter had never been programmed to fear, but it was something he quickly learnt as he waited for some sign of hope that his team -his only family- was still alive out there.
It wouldn’t be until well past midnight that the Avengers finally returned, bruised and battered from every angle as they stepped off the bullet-ridden Quinjet. Peter was one of the first to meet them on the landing pad, alongside Pepper and Dr Cho who rushed her team forward to assess the wounded heroes. But as much as his artificial heart ached at the sight of the weary squad, it was Steve’s sharp call of “Tony first! He’s in critical condition,” that really made Peter’s entire system malfunction in terror.
Almost on instinct, Peter went to move towards the Quinjet and his injured creator, but a familiar gauntlet on his shoulder was quick to pull him away from the medics rushing up the ramp.
“It’s alright Pete, let the med-team do their work,” Rhodey said in a firm but soothing voice.
“He’s hurt,” Peter blurted out.
“He’ll be okay though,” Rhodey promised, tightening his grip on the boy’s shoulders. “He always is…”
So slowly, despite the burning urge to run forward and help his creator somehow, Peter leant back against the colonel’s still armoured chest and drew comfort from his steady presence. Rhodey had always been a source of security to the android, his rational nature perfectly balancing out Tony’s spontaneous personality.
But no amount of reassuring words or gentle touches could have prepared Peter for the sight of his creator -unconscious and bloodied and pale as a ghost- getting carted away on a stretcher, swarmed by the medics who relayed information too painful for the android to comprehend.
Peter only saw the damage for a moment -a mere flash- before Rhodey twisted him away from the horrific scene, but for someone with a photographic memory, a moment quickly became an eternity. A brand he could never forget. And later that night as the android shut down in an attempt to escape the reality that Tony was still in a critical condition in the Medbay, his once peaceful dreams became twisted into mosaics of crimson blood and warped, broken metal. Of a figure that should have been moving around the lab with an excited rhythm in his step but was instead laying deathly still in a cold, lonely cot. Of a set of warm, brown eyes that usually made Peter’s circuits ease up, but instead were clouded and empty. Lifeless.
For the first time in his entire lifespan, Peter was jolted out of stasis from his very own code, something he would usually be worried about if not for the panic tearing through his system from the horrors still imprinted in his vision. He couldn’t feel pain like normal humans did, but the gears in his chest had become tight and constricting; the arc reactor that kept him alive almost seeming to stutter like a heartbeat.
By the time he was finally able to still the twitch in his fingers, his systems had fully rebooted and the haunting images of blood and darkness became nothing more than a lost file in his archives. That didn’t stop the dread that had settled in his metal skeleton though, or the anxiety that thrummed through his wiring. The trails of his broken rest continued to linger over him like storm clouds hung over the skyline, and Peter shuddered with the realisation that his seemingly harmless lapse of code had spiralled into something far more dangerous.
Dreams torn down to nightmares.
The thought was so jarring, so downright terrifying that Peter physically lurched from the bed and scrambled to his desk in a flurry of panic. If there was something wrong in his code while Tony was still unconscious in the Medbay, there would be no way to fix it short of tearing himself apart and playing doctor and patient at the same time. An idea that Peter was sure his creator would be downright horrified by if he ever heard it.
So hooking himself in to Friday’s mainframe through a cable in his sternum, Peter quickly ordered a scan of all his internal systems for the cause of these awful glitches. Because they had to be a glitch, right? There had to be something wrong with him…
The scan came back clear, and Peter could only stare at the results -his pristine, healthy results- in a confused, anxious haze.
“They’re clear,” Peter murmured.
“Yes. Were you expecting them to be otherwise?” Friday asked, a hint of concern lacing her robotic voice.
Rubbing his shoulder nervously, Peter replied “My stasis was interrupted… I think there’s something wrong with me…”
“Nothing in your scan would suggest a malfunction,” Friday said in her best attempt of reassurance. “Perhaps your system reboot has resolved the cause of the interruption?”
Peter rubbed at his temple and sighed, knowing that the reboots had never affected his regular dreams but hoping nonetheless that they might have cleared the horrors that had infected them. “Thanks Friday,” the android murmured as he pulled out his cable with a jerk. “I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“Sleep well Peter,” the AI answered in an almost motherly chime.
It managed to coax a weak smile from the boy, but it was gone within the hour as he was hit with yet another barrage of nightmares in the midst of his usual stasis. He awoke with a jolt again but managed to settle the panic far quicker this time, forcing his body to remain still so not to alert Friday to his obvious malfunctions. She couldn’t know about the nightmares, because if she knew then she would tell Tony, and then he would know that Peter was faulty. That he was beyond repair, because Peter couldn’t even find what needed to be repaired in the first place!
So like with the dreams when they first started forming, Peter didn’t tell anyone about the nightmares. He forced out a smile, made frequent visits to the Medbay, and tried to focus on his creator’s recovering form instead of the broken one he was greeted with every night. He thought maybe, just maybe, if he saw Tony enough during the day -alive and breathing and smiling and teasing like always- he might be able to replace the bloodied images with new ones- happier ones.
But still the nightmares came, again and again and again, hour after hour as Peter desperately tried to rest, until finally the effects of the internal reflected to the external. His movements became sluggish and stiff, and the electricity that once travelled behind his irises had become dull flickers instead of a vibrant glow. The constant scans and reboots had tired out his core while the lack of a full shut-down cycle left his body just as lethargic. In summary, he not only felt awful, but he looked it now too.
And while everyone in the tower had noticed his decline and tried to offer their help, there was only one person who would truly understand him. Who would even have a remote chance of fixing the mess he had created.
“Pete?”
The android paused at the doorway to the room, meeting his creator’s concerned gaze from where he sat propped up in a medical cot. Tony’s wounds had healed greatly from when he first arrived almost a week ago, but the doctors said he was still too injured to walk just yet, which drove the genius insane without the ability to tinker. And while Peter would usually find his frustration at least mildly amusing, he couldn’t bring himself to smile this time. Not after seeing his blood stained corpse every night for an entire horrendous week.
“Are you alright kid? You look worse than me,” Tony tried to joke, only for his smile to fall when Peter didn’t move from the doorway, joints locked in place. Sympathy was quick to overtake the concern however as Tony flashed the android a soft smile and waved him forward. “Come sit with me bud, I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“I saw you yesterday morning,” Peter pointed out as he forced his legs to move.
“Feels like an eternity when you’re cooped up in here,” Tony laughed.
The familiar sound made Peter’s sensors light up for a moment, pleased to hear his creator happy once more, before it was washed away with that heavy dread and exhaustion shortly after. Peter moved to sit on the nearby chair like he had done in all his past visits but was stopped by a gentle grip on his wrist, blinking in confusion at Tony as he flickered his gaze over the android in concern. Taking in his creation’s jerky movements and dull eyes with a worried clench of his jaw.
“Sit with me,” the man eventually said after assessing Peter for a moment longer.
Hesitantly, Peter lifted himself onto the edge of the bed and stared down at his tightly clasped hands. The twitching had gotten worse in the past few days, and despite his best attempts to fix it alone, he couldn’t find the source of the reflex- both in his physical wiring or his code.
Tony would know how to fix it… he always knew how to fix things. But Peter didn’t want to worry his creator when he had his own health to think about, his own recovery to battle. That was the most important thing…
“What’s going through that head of yours Pete?” Tony asked as he squeezed his shoulder encouragingly. “Pepper said you’ve been quiet lately, and that you haven’t been joining Rhodey and her for dinner anymore.”
At that Peter winced, a flash of guilt overriding his system as he thought about the many meals he had missed with his family. It wasn’t like he could eat or anything, but it was just something they always did together. The one time of the day in a household of conflicting schedules where they could sit down and actually talk and smile and laugh with each other.
But without Tony there alongside them all, dinner quickly became an unfortunate reminder of what was missing. Of what they could have lost -forever- if things had gone differently.
“They’re worried about you kiddo,” Tony’s voice pressed on when the boy didn’t respond. “… I’m worried about you.”
Like electricity rippling through his system, Peter straightened up and locked eyes with his creator who stared back at him with a solemn sigh. His words -though simple as they were- were enough to trigger a response from Peter’s core programming, the one that was pledged to easing the fears of those around him right alongside his innate desire to learn and evolve. If he had made the man worried, made his family worried by closing himself off, then he had to find another solution.
Even if it meant admitting his own dysfunctions.
“I think… I think I’m broken,” Peter finally spoke, measuring his creator’s reaction which quickly spiked in fear.
“What? Why? What happened?” Tony asked rapidly, pulling the android a little closer to inspect him like Peter knew he would.
Well, it was too late to back out now.
“My nightly shut downs have been getting interrupted by… images… pieces from my archives,” Peter explained weakly. “The images are real, but… they get distorted into something untrue. Something that sends my system back into alert mode.”
Tony’s hands stilled over his shoulders almost instantly, and the android glanced up to find his expression bright with surprise. “You’ve been… dreaming?” Tony asked, awe and disbelief and wonder swirling around in the depths of his warm brown eyes.
“Sort of?” Peter shrugged. “They’re like… memories, but not at the same time. I don’t know how to describe it.”
“That’s… that’s amazing Pete,” the mechanic practically beamed, curiosity running wild in his eyes like the true inventor he was as he asked “How long has this been happening? A few days? A week?”
Peter adverted his gaze with a brief flutter of sheepishness, murmuring “A month…”
“A month?” Tony balked. “Wh-… why didn’t you tell me?”
Wincing in shame, Peter opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by a strike of panic crossing Tony’s features as he tightened his grip on the android’s shoulders. “Have you not been able to sleep for a whole month Peter?” he asked, the concern now shifting into guilt as he stared upon his creation.
“What? No- no, no. Just this week, I promise,” Peter assured in the hopes to soothe his worries, which only served to confuse the man further.
“But you said you’ve been having dreams for a month.”
Shaking his head, Peter rushed to explain “Yes, I’ve been dreaming for a month, but it was only since this week, since you… you…” The words lodged in his throat, and his eyes grew wide with the same terror that had plagued his system since that night on the landing pad. The same pit of dread in his stomach from when Rhodey had turned him away from the gory sight of his creator, of his friend.
And Tony -who knew the inner workings of Peter’s mind as deeply as his own- didn’t miss the fear for a second, his eyes growing soft as he rubbed the boy’s shoulder in comforting circles.
It was only with his grounding touch that Peter was able to continue, hanging his head in defeat as he muttered “They’re not dreams anymore… they… they’re…”
“Nightmares,” Tony answered for him, his voice heavy with understanding as all the puzzle pieces fell into place.
And with no more places to run, no more excuses left, Peter could only nod and accept his own flawed code.
“I’m broken,” he repeated, spoken in a whisper, but echoing throughout the room like thunder.
“You’re not broken,” Tony’s voice returned just as boldly, sliding his hand under the curve of Peter’s jaw until their eyes met once more. “You know what you are?”
Peter stared up at his creator blankly, terrified and simultaneously desperate to hear what he might say.
And with a smile spreading across his lips, Tony stated proudly, “You’re my brave, genius kid who taught himself to dream. If that’s not just damn incredible, then I don’t know what is.”
A burst of warmth travelled through Peter’s circuits as he leant into the man’s hand with a bashful smile, pleased that he wasn’t upset, but hesitating ever so slightly as he thought back to the many restless nights he’d endured throughout the week. “I don’t feel very brave,” he admitted softly. “If I were actually brave, I wouldn’t be getting these stupid nightmares.”
“I’m afraid dreams and nightmares are two sides of the same coin kiddo,” Tony replied with a sympathetic smile. “It’s just your brain trying to sort itself out; the good and the bad. All normal stuff.”
Letting out a frustrated puff of air, Peter muttered “Being normal sucks…”
Tony just chuckled and combed his fingers through the android’s fine curls of hair, soothing them both with the familiar action until Peter’s hands twitched no more and the tension in his chest released. For the first time in a week, Peter felt at ease again… felt like himself again.
“Any tips for making them stop?” the android asked after a few more blissful moments of silence.
“Time. Patience.”
“Sounds boring,” Peter mused, earning another smirk out of his creator.
“Agreed, but it does work,” Tony assured him gently.
Nodding his understanding, Peter leant back into the man’s touch and felt his eyelids begin to grow heavy with his steady presence. For days now he’d become paranoid of falling asleep, of the images that would greet him if he did so. But here in this moment, with his creator very much alive and breathing right beside him, he felt the terror finally ebb away.
“If you’re gonna sleep, you may as well lie down,” Tony laughed as he tugged the boy into his side and angled the headrest to a more comfortable position for them both.
“You know I don’t need a bed to sleep,” Peter murmured in his shoulder, too weak to fight the embrace that his creator had wrapped him in.
“Yeah, but don’t think I forgot the time you shut down in the elevator and scared the living shit out of me at midnight,” Tony shot right back, ruffling his hair for a moment before settling back into the cushions. “Why don’t you put my mind at ease for once and sleep horizontally, huh?”
“Hm… fine then,” Peter mused with his eyes long since shut and his systems on the verge of rest. But just before he gave the final order to shut down, Peter shifted closer into his creator’s side and asked wearily “What if I have another nightmare?”
“Then I’ll be here when you wake up,” Tony answered without a moment’s hesitation. “And we’ll be just fine… I promise…”
So with those final words and the comforting weight of Tony’s hand in his hair, Peter restarted his sleep cycle for what must have been the hundredth time that week. But unlike the past attempts, his dreams that night were filled with warm summer days in the bustling lab, and laughter filled evenings around the dinner table, and more importantly, the beaming smile of his creator as Tony wrapped him in his strong, secure arms.
And just like that, Peter had found his new favourite dream.
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superherotiger · 2 years
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Meme the android AU or one of your WIP AUs you have talked about, meme makers choice!
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And many thanks in advance for giving me the excuse to make this:
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Send me the title of one of my fics/AUs and I’ll make a meme of it!
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superherotiger · 3 years
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My Greatest Creation Is You (Android Spiderson AU) // Ongoing One-shot Series
Main Series:
Dreams of the Dreamless: (Tumblr) (Ao3)
Peter didn’t dream like normal people.
No, his dreams were different. Memories as clear as day brushing against each other and leaving the imprint of something new. Something not quite real, but not quite fake either. Like he had become an audience member to a scene he had previously been the star of. They were a strange phenomenon, these dreams, but something that Peter had found himself enjoying more and more as the weeks went by.
And maybe that was the worst part, because Peter knew that he shouldn’t. Shouldn’t be able to enjoy it; shouldn’t be able to remember it; shouldn’t be able to have it in the first place.
Because Peter -like all androids- shouldn’t be able to dream at all.
Systems Crashing: (Tumblr) (Ao3)
“I’m sorry,” the soldier cut in. “But can someone fill me in on what’s going on here?”
Natasha, Peter and Tony all shared a knowing look with one another, and even though no words were spoken, it was obvious a conversation was taking place with their stares alone. As expected with any debate that involved the spy though, Natasha won out in the end and watched in triumph as Tony turned towards the clueless Avengers and stated carefully “Well, Peter here isn’t just any kid. He was… built, not born…”
“Are you saying that he’s… that’s he’s a-?”
“An android. Yep,” Tony answered before he’d even had the chance to ask.
The reactions were wide and varied, from Bruce breaking out into a grin as he spoke to Peter again, to a confused but curious head tilt from the god of thunder, to Clint who began staring at the boy -no, the android- in disbelief as he searched for the clues that his fellow spy had been able to notice and not him.
And then there was Steve.
Stunned, unsure, and most of all uncomfortable Steve Rogers.
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Art
Systems Crashing Moodboard
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Android Spiderson AU tag
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superherotiger · 3 years
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Happy FFWF! Can you make a moodboard for one or more of your fics?
Happy (late) FFWF!!!
I would gladly spend all day making moodboards for my fics hah, but for now I'll just do one for my most recent story, Systems Crashing (Android Spiderson AU):
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Thanks so much for the ask, this was heaps of fun! Hope you have a great day!
-Superherotiger
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superherotiger · 3 years
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happy ffwf! pick a universe of yours and then make it suddenly opposite day, what would that universe look like?
Happy (super late) FFWF!
Ooh this is a cool question hah! It’s Opposite Day for my Android Spiderson AU, so instead of Tony creating his mechanical son Peter, It’s android Tony adopting a human son Peter!!! Peter doesn’t always understand why others treat his father differently or why Tony has trouble making friends, but he loves the android with all his heart, and every line of Tony’s programming loves him back just as fiercely!
Omg, I actually really like this idea... is this... something anyone would be interested in? Because I’m tempted lol. Anyway, thanks for this awesome question and I hope you have a great day!
-Superherotiger
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superherotiger · 3 years
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Happy FFWF! Part of writing fics is also promoting them - so, can promote at least one fic (one of yours or your favourite one or just one that you think deserves more attention) like a car salesman who tries to sell you an overprices used car or like some teleshopping channel?
Happy (late) FFWF!
Omg I love this question, and absolutely I will hah!
*clears throat*
“Are you tired of regular whump? Bored of blood and messy human trauma? Well have I got a deal for you!
Hi! I’m May Jour C.D. of the Angst Alliance, and I’m here to share with you our latest prototype of hurt/comfort called Systems Crashing! Set in an Android alternate universe, experience the woes of existential crises and the meaning of humanity through the eyes of fan favourite Steve Rogers! Featuring physical and emotional angst, fights, misunderstandings, and an entirely new world view, Systems Crashing will meet all your angsty needs!
And if you read right now, we have an exclusive offer of comfort and resolution to add on for you! That’s right! Comfort and resolution, all for the low, low price of free if you read right now!
Don’t waste another second, and get this exclusive offer before it’s gone!”
-The Angst Alliance
(I have way too much fun with this 🤣)
Thanks so much for the ask and I hope you have a great day!
-Superherotiger
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superherotiger · 3 years
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ahhh i loved the android!peter story you posted! any chance there will be more fics in the same universe? (not meant to pressure you or anything, just curious <3)
Hi Anon!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the story, it was so much fun to write! And sure! If I get the inspiration for another idea I’ll definitely write it, and if you’ve got any suggestions for a story you’d like to see in that AU, send it over to me and I’ll see what I can do 😄 Hope you have a great day!
-Superherotiger
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superherotiger · 2 years
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Android Tony Android Tony Android Tony
Yesssss!!!
My Android Tony one-shot follows the idea that Tony was an android built by Howard as a way to prove his genius, but when Maria and Howard were killed, Tony was left to try and figure out his place in the world as the first sentient robot. He convinces and charms the public so he can stay active, he learns to create and write his own code, he constantly fights with authorities about his rights and what he can and can’t do.
It all comes to a head though when Tony meets a young boy named Peter on one of his visits to the New York orphanages. He immediately grows attached to the little genius, and after many visits throughout the month, he decides he wants to adopt Peter to give him the life he deserves. Peter is elated to hear that his hero Tony Stark wants to adopt him, but the public are less keen about letting an android care for a human child, and a massive debate erupts across the legal and political planes. Not giving up though, Tony fights back the entire time and asserts his right to be a parent to Peter, letting nothing stop him until their family is finally united!
I’m super hyped for this one, I just haven’t had a chance to sit down and type it yet haha! Thanks for asking and I hope you have a great day!
-Superherotiger
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superherotiger · 3 years
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Aaaaah I'd love a snippet of the android!Peter prequel if you're offering! I reread dreams of the dreamless a few times since it was posted, so the idea of a prequel is really exciting!! No pressure tho <3 <3
Of course! Here’s a snippet!
“Never knew that Stark had a kid.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me Legolas,” Tony smirked, only for his expression to soften when Peter returned the archer’s handshake enthusiastically. The pride and fondness swirling in the depths of his eyes as he looked upon the boy was enough of an answer to their unspoken question, and all the Avengers soon moved to greet the billionaire’s mysterious child.
Unlike his father, Peter was soft spoken and polite. He shook each Avenger’s hand with barely contained glee and referred to all of them by Mister or Miss, which was greatly endearing to the everyone in the room. Even Thor couldn’t help but chuckle when Peter shook his hand and chirped “It’s so great to meet you Mr Thor!”
“A pleasure to meet you too, Starkson,” the god replied with a grin of his own.
And then Peter shook Natasha’s hand, their introduction looking to be as friendly as everyone else’s, before a silence hung in the air as the spy stared down at their interlocked hands. It took Steve a moment to realise that she was searching for something, but what, he couldn’t imagine. Tony was the first to react to the shift in atmosphere, his grip on Peter’s shoulder tightening ever so slightly as he shifted closer towards the boy. Protective. A warning even, if the steeliness in his eyes were any indication.
But then, as emerald green eyes trailed up to meet Peter’s brown ones, Natasha simply smiled with a realisation that everyone else had seemed to miss.
“I think there’s something you haven’t told us yet, have you Peter?” she asked softy, a warmth in her voice that she rarely used these days.
At that, the boy shot her a bashful grin and scratched the back of his neck anxiously. “Am I that obvious?” he asked light-heartedly.
“No. In fact, you’re incredibly made,” Natasha was quick to assure, her eyes flickering up to Tony who watched her with a calculating gaze, adding playfully “But I should’ve expected that from the likes of you Stark.”
“What gave it away?” Peter asked, drawing the spy’s attention back to himself.
Smiling kindly once more, Natasha turned Peter’s hand over in her own and replied, “Your hands are warm, but… they have no beat.”
“Oh, yeah… that would do it,” Peter laughed, and if it weren’t for the confusing subject matter, Steve might have found it entertaining too.
“I’m sorry,” the soldier cut in. “But can someone fill me in on what’s going on here?”
Hope you enjoyed it!!! I’m super excited for this one! :D
-Superherotiger
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superherotiger · 3 years
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Superherotiger’s Masterlist!
 Hello everyone and welcome to my masterlist! Here you can find all my Irondad stories, Alternate Universes, and other random content in a nice and organised spot! Hope you all have a great day! -Superherotiger
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Ao3 // Ko-fi // Commission information! // Super’s Sketches (art tag) // Tiger Talks (rambling tag) // Anthropros (Original series) //
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FANFIC LINKS BELOW:
Alternate Universes:
Kindred Spirits (Soul Guide AU)
Of War and Starlight (Celestial Irondad AU)
My Enemy, My Destiny (Villain Irondad AU)
Stark Men are Made of Iron (Arc Reactor AU)
Something You Can’t Replace (Estranged Irondad AU)
Dear Fellow Traveller (Outlaw Irondad AU)
My Greatest Creation Is You (Android Spiderson AU)
The Runaway Starks (Teenage Irondad AU)
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Multi-chapter:
Return to Me, The One I Love So Endlessly...: (Tumblr) (Ao3)
James Edwin Stark was born on the 10th of August 2001, and for the first time in his life, Tony Stark cried tears of joy.
All the fears, all the dread that had once consumed his soul washed away with a single look at the baby’s gentle features, so familiar and yet so distinctly unique at the same time. Tony made many promises that day. Promises to love his son, to protect him, to always be there for him.
On the 10th of August 2002, James Edwin Stark was stolen in the middle of the night, and his father’s world came crashing down. Shattered and alone, Tony whispered the same promise he’d made to his son the day that he was born.
…My love for you is endless…
Fourteen years later, hidden away from the world in a forest of pine, Peter Beck would dream of a day he might get to see the towering city of New York. And when a wounded stranger stumbles onto their property a week out from his birthday claiming to be a famous billionaire from New York, his dream might just come true.
...
(Kidnapped BioSon AU for the Friendly Neighbourhood Exchange 2!)
You always get back up (and I’ll catch you when you fall): (Tumblr) (Ao3)
Peter Parker always gets back up. But sometimes, he falls, and it hurts, and he breaks. Thankfully Tony Stark is always there to help pull him back to his feet...
...
(Whumptober 2020 prompts starring Irondad and pain.)
The Strongest Instinct: (Tumblr) (Ao3)
Tilting his head towards the screams of a fresh kill echoing down the street, Tony blasted off in his nanotech suit and weaved through the abandoned cityscape. He didn’t know why he stayed there. His corrupted mind would never given him a chance to find the answer, but he always stayed in the city. Wandered the crumbling boroughs, lingered in places he didn’t remember. As if he was searching for something…
But just as quickly as the thought would occur, it would get washed away again.
Hunger. Hunger. Hunger-
That’s all there ever was…
...
(Alternate timeline to Episode 5 of What If...? starring zombies, Irondad and hurt/comfort)
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Irondad Oneshot Masterlist
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Irondad Drabbles
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Irondad Analysis Masterlist
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Marvel:
A Friendly Chat: (Tumblr)
Thor and Tony talk late one night on the helicarrier and fosters the beginnings of a lifelong friendship. (Drabble)
Woven With Care: (Tumblr) (Ao3)
The passionate ramble was enough to draw a real laugh out of the sorcerer this time, and Peter warmed knowing that he had successfully made Stephen happy for once; a feat Mr Stark had sworn was impossible based off of their own snarky interactions. It was a rewarding sight, Peter had to admit. But even though the conversation moved on and their banter remained as light as the sunshine that splashed across the city, Peter couldn’t stop thinking about the yellow gloves that encased the Sorcerer Supreme’s hands.
It was obvious Stephen took his position as Sorcerer Supreme very seriously. With great power comes great responsibility as Ben would say, and Stephen had maybe the heaviest responsibility of all: protecting the universe. Peter supposed it shouldn’t have been that surprising at all that Stephen would take his uniform just as seriously.
But if the sorcerer insisted on suffering through the heat of summer just for the sake of protecting the world, then the least Peter could do was try and make it a little bit more bearable along the way.
...
Birthday Gift for the lovely Iron-Mum, starring our beloved DoctorDad and SpiderSon!
~~~
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superherotiger · 2 years
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Fanfic WIP Tag Game
Thanks so much for the tag @lbigreyhound13 @milstrim and @emma-elsa-0000!
Rules: List all your WIP titles (all meaning even the ones that are vague or nonsensical)
I know I haven’t written in a hot minute, but here’s a list of my WIP titles haha. If you’re interested to hear more about one of them or want to see a snippet (if I have one lol), send me the title in an ask! 😄
When The Time Is Right
I Promise You’re Enough - Chapter 2
Return to Me - Chapter 4
Collab with Grey
Those are the only ones that have written progress, but you can also ask about any of my other AUs!
Soul Guide AU
Outlaw Irondad AU
Arc Reactor AU
Android Spiderson AU
Pirate Irondad AU
Villain Irondad AU
Celestial Irondad AU
Estrange Irondad AU
Miraculous Irondad AU
Medieval Hydra AU
Teenage Irondad AU
Android Tony oneshot
Tagging @callie-caje @lunasquared @lbigreyhound13 @doctornineandthreequarters @imyoursavinggrace, and anyone else who’s interested is free to join as well! 💛
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superherotiger · 2 years
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Would you ever write an IronDad Detroit Become Human AU?
CALLLIEEEEEEEE YOU KNOW I WOULD!!! YOU KNOW I WILL!! Detroit: Become Human is such an amazing game, and I would freaking love to throw my beloved Irondad and Spiderson into the mix too! I've already kind of got that going on with my Android Spiderson AU, but I'd also really love to write an AU where Tony is the android instead and he has to fight to have the rights to adopt a little kid Peter!
And gosh, imagine writing some of 'death' scenes but with Detective Android Peter and Lieutenant Stark instead, like BRUH- I'd cry, honestly.
Thanks so much for the ask and I hope you have a great day!
-Superherotiger
Writer's Would You Ever...?
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superherotiger · 2 years
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I just found ur account but I'm already running on the ceiling for literally all ur AUs, but specially the Android spiderson one👀
Awww thank you so much! That’s so sweet of you! 💛💛💛 I’ve been sick since yesterday, so it really made my day to hear you enjoy my stories! And aww, I’m really glad you like the Android AU, it’s definitely one of my favourites! 💛💛💛 Hope you have an amazing day!
-Superherotiger
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