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A Stark Absence Masterpost

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[nessieart]

I'm- thank you! People don't comment on my fics, let alone say they like them. So thank you! Thank you! I'm trying not to freak out and gush about it but I think I'm failing miserably

tooth&claw chapter 2

Read TEETH first to catch up!

t&c masterlist

Previous Chapter

Wc: 3.2k

An: man this took a real long time to get out. I’m so sorrry!

Pairings: Tony Stark x Shifter!reader

Age of Ultron

Warning: canon typical violence, language!, blood, alcohol use, fluff, angst. No y/n used. Nicknames: Poppy/Flowers

"But there wasn't anyone else in the building,” Maria spoke up. You helped her sit, her bare feet littered with broken glass.

Tony had rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, a few cuts and bruises along his forearms, and a split lip, “Yes there was.” Tony flicks his wrist. The StarkPhone in his hand pops the now-destroyed 3D image of JARVIS' consciousness.

Bruce paces to the holo-image, hands out wide and in disbelief, “This is insane.”

Steve hangs his head in defeat, “JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense.”

“No,” Bruce shakes his head, “Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy, this is...rage,” and Bruce would know all about rage. You put your hand on his arm, giving a gentle squeeze.

Thor suddenly barges in the lab, strides quick and long, as he makes his way to Tony, and grabs hold of him by his throat.

“Woah, woah, woah!”

“It's going around.”

Tony chokes out a reply, hands grasping Thor's forearm for purchase, “Come on. Use your words, buddy.”

“I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark,” he lifts him higher in the air.

You jumped to your feet, making a b line to Thor. Your eyes flash a bright blue, fur violently threatening to rip through your skin as your fangs extend.

“Let. Him. Go,” you say on a low growl. You've placed yourself between Thor and Tony, your claws come out as Thor regards you.

“Thor!” Steve stepped forward, “The Legionnaire.”

Thor lets him go, and when Tony lands on his feet, he staggers, and his hand comes up to your shoulder, giving you a reassuring pat. You don't back down from Thor as he eyes you again, his lip curling up on one side.

“Trail went cold about a hundred miles out, but it's headed north, and it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it. Again.”

Natasha crosses her arms in front of her chest, “The genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron.”

Dr. Cho was across the room, examining the destroyed Ultron bot he took over. She hadn't noticed the altercation in the middle of the room, “I don't understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?”

-

Everyone had leaped into action, everyone diving out of the way from the incoming Legionnaire bots. Firing repulsors and missiles at you all.

Steve had flipped the coffee table up just in time to protect himself from a flying Legionnaire bot to the chest.

Natasha grabbed Bruce and made a run for the bar for protection.

You had grabbed Rhodey's arm to shove him down when a repulsor caught the both of you in the side and sent you flying through a glass pane, Rhodey's body flying right after yours and landing on top of you. You groan, and he rolls off you. You can feel the tiny cuts from the glass along your face, a few bruises forming where you landed.

“Poppy, oh God, are you ok?” Hands frantically roaming above your body. He stops, “not to freak you out, but there's a large chunk of glass sticking out of your leg.”

You look down, sure enough, there's a large shard of glass sticking out of your thigh. You twist your body and grab the shard with two hands, and yank it out, yelping a little at the pain.

“Are you crazy!?” Rhodey takes both of his hands and clamps them over the gushing wound. You put your hand over his and go to move, “Stay still! Or you're gonna bleed out. Tony!”

“I'm fine, Rhodey. Really,” he goes to protest again, but you're already moving from his grasp and limping to move back to the main room. Most of the chaos has died down by now.

Rhodey helps you up the stairs just as Thor throws his hammer at the Legionnaire bot across the room.

Your eyes scan the room and land on Tony, he's slumped over his knees on the stairs across from you, and then his eyes catch yours, he looks so lost and defeated he doesn't even try to hide it.

-

Tony paces away from you towards his desk, stopping next to Bruce. And he starts laughing, Bruce subtly shakes his head at him to get him to stop.

Thor takes a step toward Tony, and you place yourself between them again. He stops himself short, “You think this is funny?”

Tony's laughter dies down to giggles, “No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? Is it so... is it so... it is. It's so terrible.”

“This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand,” Thor points a threatening finger at Tony, and you growl in response.

“No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny. It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this.”

“Tony,” your low growl is a warning.

“Tony,” Bruce hedges cautiously, “maybe this might not be the time to–”

“Really?!” He spins to Bruce, “ That's it? You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls.”

Your hackles rise, and you whirl around to say something, but Tony already regrets his choice or words when he meets your eye, and then quickly avoids it.

“Only when I've created a murder bot,” Bruce pleads.

“We didn't. We weren't even close. Were we close to an interface?”

“Well, you did something right,” Steve's stance is wide, arms still crossed against his chest, “And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD.”

Tony scoffs, “Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole? Saved New York?

“Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the livelong day, but that up there? That's... that's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that?”

You knew Tony worried about other possible invasions, things he couldn't prepare enough for. He wakes up most nights in a panic. Other nights, he just doesn't sleep. You've tried to soothe him, reassure Tony that everything would be ok, as long as you were together. Together, you could weather whatever alien, supernatural, or evil forces threw at you.

Steves brows lower, chest puffing out slightly, “Together.”

“We'll lose.”

Steve drops his hands, brows now drawn together, “Then we'll do that together, too.”

Tony looks at him for a moment before turning away. He can't seem to look you in the eye. And when you take a step towards him, he puts a hand up and backs away.

A small whine escapes you, eyes pleading with him to let you in.

***

The conference room was a mess of folders, papers, and storage boxes. Trying to rifle through hundreds of physical documents on the off chance of finding something that links Strucker with anyone else.

Steve's rifling through folders, handing you papers to skim through, “Known associates. Well, Strucker had a lot of friends.”

“Well, these people are all horrible,” Bruce mutters.

You were reading through your own pile of papers when you heard Thor stop and come up beside you.

“What's this?”

Tony's brows furrow, scanning the image of a man, “Uh, it's a tattoo. I don't think he had it…”

“No, those are tattoos. This is a brand,” Thor confirms.

Bruce's fingers tap along the keyboard. After a moment, he perks up, “Oh, yeah. It's a word in an African dialect, meaning thief, in a much less friendly way.”

“What dialect?” Steve asks, putting his folders down.

“Wakanada...?” Bruce adjusts his glasses.

“Wakanda,” you say, Bruce raises his eyes to you, and Tony shifts from foot to foot.

Tony turns to Steve, his voice quieter than before, “If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods…”

Steve, in turn, lowers his voice, “I thought your father said he got the last of it?”

“I don't follow. What comes out of Wakanda?”

“The strongest metal on earth.”

“Where is this guy now?” Steve asks the room.

–

After everyone had filed out of the conference room to gear up to leave, Tony pulled you into a corner, hand gripping firmly at your elbow.

“How do you know about Wakanda?” He lowers his head to catch your eye.

When you avoid it, he says your name, making you look up at him. His brow is set in a frown as he studies your face.

“I've run into Shifters and Weres that have come from Wakanda and neighboring countries,” his hand on your elbow drifts up to your shoulder, pulling you in a little.

You fall into him willingly, hands coming up to rest on his chest as you press your nose under his chin.

“They keep to themselves,” you continue, “the Shifters that guard the Royal Family. I'm positive there's Were blood in that lineage somewhere.”

Tony hums, his hands rubbing up and down your spine.

“I thought you were angry with me,” you mumble into his neck. He stiffens slightly and pulls back enough to look you in the eyes.

He shakes his head, “never. I was angry at myself. For JARVIS. For Ultron, for letting it get so..” he sighs. “I want - I need - to protect you. Everyone. I thought making Ultron a reality would be one step closer to that. To -”

You cut him off with a kiss, his lips molding against yours, and his body relaxes. All the fight and stress rolling off his shoulders just for a moment as you both get lost in the kiss.

His hands grip and pull at your waist to bring you closer, and your hands snake their way up and over his shoulders and into the hair at his nap. You feel Tony shiver when your nails scratch the base of his skull, then lightly pull the hair.

You swallow the groan that fights its way out of his throat and into your waiting mouth. You part, and you both pant for breath, heated and mingling in the space between your bodies.

“Tony, I love you,” you say into his lips. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Love you, too, Poppyfield.”

**

“Don't compare me with Stark! It's a thing with me. Stark is - he's a sickness!” The loud metallic voice of Ultron echoes.

Tony, Cap, you and Thor touch down across from Ultron and his companions. You are on the back of the Iron Man suit, and Thor is holding onto Cap.

Tony straightens after your feet touch the ground, “Ahh, Junior. You're gonna break your old man's heart.”

Ultron shrugs and takes a small step closer, “If I have to.”

“We don't have to break anything,” Thor's voice booms.

Ultron all but glares at Thor, “Clearly you've never made an omelet.”

“He beat me by one second.”

“Tony,” you scold.

You turn your gaze onto the twins. You learned a little about them on the quinjet ride over. They were young and fighting for something they believed in.

They reminded you of Leon and you, young and trying to take on the world. Only for it to never work out for you. Because your brother doesn't want anything to do with you now.

Ultron takes a step toward your group, his red eyes stare you down, and you try not to fidget under his gaze.

“You brought her here?” He hisses toward Tony. “What were you thinking?” His eyes shift back to you. He says your name, soft in his metallic voice, “it's not safe. You should go back while you still can.”

The hair along your arms and the back of your neck stand on end. His glowing red eyes bore into yours, the feeling like he can see through you, but sees everything you are at the same time. It sends a shiver down your spine.

You share a concerned look with the bright eyes of the Iron Man suit, and Tony shakes his head at you.

The boy, Pietro, you think his name is, steps closer, arms wide as he makes a show of all the weapons around the old ship. “Ah, this is funny, Mr. Stark. It's what, comfortable? Like old times?”

“This was never my life,” you can hear the sadness and regret in Tony's voice.

“You two can still walk away from this,” you plead.

“Oh, we will,” the girl, Wanda, says.

Steve takes a step forward, “I know you've suffered.”

“Captain America,” Ultron sneers, “God's righteous man, pretending you could live without a war. I can't physically throw up in my mouth, but…”

Thor takes a step forward, his hand resting on your shoulder to the right, “If you believe in peace, then let us keep it.”

“I think you're confusing peace with quiet.”

“Yuh-huh. What's the Vibranium for?”

The metallic lilt of Ultron's voice sounds amused. His mannerisms remind you an awful lot of Tony, and it gives you pause.

“I'm glad you asked that, because I wanted to take this time to explain my evil plan–”

Ultron goes to fly, and Tony, he meets him halfway, the two of them trading blows as they fly up and out of the wreckage.

**

It's never a good idea to split up. You said this as Steve and Thor ran off in different directions. No one bothers to hear your plea.

You were sure you heard someone come down this way, your claws at the ready to take down another body guard.

“Anyone have a visual on the twins?” You ask into your comms. There's no answer as you crouch a little lower in your prowl down another hallway.

“Here we are,” Wanda says, and before you could make a move, she waves her hands in the air. Red mist flows from her fingertips, swirling and mesmerizing as you try and wipe it clean from the air around you.

You can almost feel it as it digs into your eyes and ears under your skin. All you see is red. A snarl leaves your lips as you launch yourself at Wanda.

It's nice today, you think. The sun is warm on your back as you tend to the garden at your feet. Dirt clings to your hands and under your nails, but it's nice. It's peaceful.

There's small giggles around you in the garden. Every now and then, you get a glimpse of shiny charcoal hair above the vegetable plants. The giggling gets closer as you pretend you don't hear anything.

Suddenly, there's a weight in your back, tiny hands find your eyes as the giggles turn into fits of laughter.

“Guess who!” The little voice says in your ear.

You laugh, thinking real hard, “oh! Well, let's see, it can't be daddy. These hands are too small! Is iiiit,” you grab her around the waist and haul her around your body to the ground below, tickling sides as you do.

“Luna! I should have known!” The little girl shrieks in glee as your fingers find the soft spots of her sides, digging your fingers in as you both laugh together. Her odd eyes glisten with laughter and tears. One blue and one golden.

“Mama! No more!” she wheezes, little hands pushing into your face as you peck kisses around her freckled face. “Daddy help!”

You yelp in surprise as large hands find your waist and haul you up and away. As Tony sets you on your feet, his hands find the small bump of your belly.

“What are my two girls doing out here, huh? Causing a whole bunch of racket so the neighbors think something is wrong?”

“Tony, we don't have neighbors,” you chuckle.

Luna, with her dirt covered hands, tugs on Tony's hand, “was playin’! Scared momma good! Luna, good girl!”

Tony pats her charcoal locks, smiling fondly at her, “of course you are, Luna girl. So good.”

Tony spins you to face him, a pleased look on his face and sparkles in his warm honey eyes, “why don't you both clean up, and I'll order us some lunch, yeah?” His lips find your cheek, and you hum in agreement. You grab Luna by the hand as she skips next to you.

You turn toward the house. It's a nice little cottage in the middle of the woods. It was a wedding present from Tony, and it made you so happy.

It's dark outside, no moon in the sky, but the stars are out, and it's warm.

A little too warm, maybe. Your eyes turn to the cottage. There's a fire.

A fire?

Poppy

“Tony? Luna!” You cry into the night air. There's no response. Just the roar of the fire blazing the cottage to the ground. The hair on the back of your neck stands on end.

The feeling is too familiar, and you whirl around. The silver catches in the firelight, and you stumble back. No.

Those steel blue eyes cut to you on the ground, and the muzzle is back over the lower half of his face.

“Bucky, it's me. Please,” you bring a hand up to stop his prowl towards you. It doesn't stop him. “Where's my family?” Your hand comes to rest on the small bump, tears burning your eyes.

Poppy.

Silver fingers grip the front of your sundress, hauling you up to eye level. His eyes flash bright amber, and you feel your blood run cold. No, you were joking about the serum. Joking about him being part werewolf.

“Bucky, please,” a tear escapes and runs hot down your cheek.

You can hear him try to sniff at you, a growl in his voice, “you were meant to be mine, lepestok.”

Poppy

“What…?” it's whispered in the space between you. You see his eyes crinkle like he's smiling behind the mask.

Poppy!

Your cheek stings. There's a red fog clearing from your vision as you blink rapidly. You're breathing heavily as your surroundings come into view.

“Buck-” your voice is hoarse and throat dry. “where?”

“You're on the quinjet, honey. Hey, eyes here, you're ok.”

Tony. Oh.

“What the fuck just happened? Where,” your hand ghosts over the nonexistent bump of your stomach, and it hurts. It's a horrible ache you never thought you'd experience. “I was-” you choke back a sob as you look into Tony's concerned brown eyes.

He scoops you into his arms, running a hand over the back of your head as he shushes you.

The hum of the quinjet softens as you feel it land. Tony lets you go, and you sit hunched over in the chair. He moves to the front of the jet, conversing quietly with Clint.

Steve sits across from you. He looks better than the others. with their far-off looks in their eyes, it sends a shiver down your spine.

“Steve?” His eyes snap to you, jaw clenched so tight you think his teeth might crack. “Are you ok?” His eyes scan you from head to toe, lingering on your center where your hand is still clutched tight over your stomach.

He nods once, eyes snapping back up to yours. There's a question in his gaze, and you have to tear yours away. Because you might start crying.

For having something you've always wanted, right there at your fingertips, and it all went away in a haze of red mist.

The back of the quinjet door opens, and you spring to your feet, fleeing the confines of the small space and out into open air.

You can still hear the echoes of her laughter in your mind. The feel of the baby bump on your tummy. The daughter you'll never have.

It's heartbreaking and soul crushing. Because you can never have children.

***

[nessieart]

tooth&claw chapter 3

Read TEETH first to catch up

t&c masterlist

Previous chapter

Wc: 3.4k

Pairings: Tony Stark x Shifter!reader

Age of Ultron

Warning: Canon typical violence, language!, no y/n used. Nicknames: poppy/flowers

“What happened?” You look around at the group of disheveled Avengers. They’ve certainly seen better days. Clint is helping Natasha toward a two-story farmhouse, everyone else trailing behind as you and Tony bring up the rear.

The endless sea of golden wheat seems to glow in the sunlight. There's a forest surrounding the few acres of land around the farm and wheat fields.

It's beautiful.

“Wanda,” Tony grimaces, “her powers messed most of the group up pretty bad.” Tony looks over at Bruce, his eyes full of concern for his friend. “others, well,” he shrugs.

“Clint and I avoided the bad Vulcan mind meld, it seems. Cap and Thor seem to be doing alright.” Tony brings a hand around your shoulders, pulling you in and guiding you to catch up with the group.

“What is this place?” Thor asks as you all climb the stairs and gather on the porch.

“A safe house?” Tony shrugs.

“Let's hope,” Clint pushes the front door open, leading you all into a spacious living room. “Honey, I’m home,” he calls out.

A very pregnant woman comes out, surprise on her face as she takes in the multitude of people in her living room.

You feel dizzy, and the ringing in your ears is loud, there is muffled voices conversing around you. And then you hear the peal of laughter, small feet stampeding down the stairs, and two children running and hugging Clint. It's beautifully domestic. You want that, and it makes you sick.

“I - I need some air,” you rush out of the room, before anyone can stop you, and out of the house. The slap of the screen door sounds behind you as you take a running start off the porch and into the grass.

The Shift is fast, and you don't give the tears time to fall from your eyes before you're out of sight.

The ground is wet on the pads of your paws as you weave through the trees, the smells of the forest calm your frayed nerves a little.

Why were the visions Wanda showed you so vivid? Why show you something you can never have?

A few miles of mindless running, you hear the sound of rushing water. Taking your time now that you've had a chance to outrun the panic, you find the source of water. There's a small waterfall that crashes into a pond, then flows down a river.

It's serene and almost makes you forget about the outside world; what happened just a few hours ago.

**

You make it back to the farmhouse an hour later, leaves and twigs clinging to your fur, but you don't mind. You can see Steve and Tony chopping wood out front, so you slowly make your way towards them. Paws dragging you forward and head hanging low.

As you near the two of them, they seem to be in a heated argument, which isn't a new thing with them.

Steve picks up a log and rips it in half with his hands, “Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time.”

You give a soft bark, the two men whirl around to face you. Tony's face is full of relief at the sight of you. Steve's concerned eyes scan you for any injuries, and when he can't find any, he just nods and puts his hands on his hips.

“God I was so worried,” Tony says as he hugs you around the neck. He only had to bend a little to engulf you in a tight embrace, your head resting over his shoulder. He stands and runs his hands through your dark fur.

“Um, Mr Stark?” Clint's wife cautiously comes into view. She's eyeing you with concern, and then she looks from Steve to Tony. She must realize you don't mean any harm as she continues, “uh, Clint said you wouldn't mind, but our tractor, it doesn't seem to want to start at all. I thought maybe you might…”

Tony nods, “yeah, I'll give her a kick.” He runs another hand over your head, picking out a leaf as he does. He turns to Steve and points at his small pile of chopped wood, “don't take from my pile.”

Steve says your name, and your head shoots up to him. He gestures to Clint's wife. “She's usually more human looking than this. This is Laura, Clint's wife.”

When you take a step forward, she shuffles back away from you, a hand going to her belly, so you stop, ears falling back and tail low. Steve comes to stand next to you to put a reassuring hand on your back.

Laura nods hesitantly and heads back into the house.

Steve heaves a sigh, “Well that could have gone better. Are you ok?” You heave a sigh as well, flopping to the ground with a grunt. He sits on a log next to you, and you lift your head to rest on his knee. He picks the twigs from your fur.

“Wanda got to me, too,” he murmurs after a moment, eyes unseeing and distant. “I saw Peggy. It was after the war. Like I never put that plane in the ice,” he sighs again. “She was waiting for me, told me we could finally go home, that my fighting was done.”

His eyes find yours after another quiet minute, “I can only imagine what you saw. The way you looked at Laura, and then her kids,” he shakes his head, “you'll get to have that one day. I'm sure of it.”

“Whoa, is that a dog?” Excited little voices followed by quick footsteps reach your ears. You shoot up to all fours and back away behind Steve.

Steve stands and puts his hands out to stop Clint and Laura’s kids, “well, wait a minute, uh–“

Around Steve, you can see Clint running to catch up, his wife on the porch looking concerned. The moment Clint notices you, he grabs his kids to stop them.

“What the hell is that?” He asks. Steve says your name like it’s the most obvious thing, gesturing to you as you step around him. Head low and body ready to run if you need to.

“Jones?” Clint asks. He slowly lowers his hands and his kids all but launch themselves at you. Small hands rake through your fur, petting and rubbing places no one else has.

A purr rumbles out of your chest as you sit and let the kids harass you with affection. Your hind leg lifts to scratch an itch when they hit a good spot. They giggle, and you flop over so they can rub your tummy.

“Can we keep her?” The girl asks. You give an offended bark and Steve laughs.

“I'm gone for 10 minutes, and everyone's getting handsy with my girl?” Tony stands off to the outskirts of the group, hands in his pockets and a fond smile on his face. You're upside down as you look at him, mouth open, tail wagging, and tongue lolling out. He chuckles at you.

He unties the flannel from around his waist and holds it out for you, shaking it a little. Behind him, you notice Nick Fury. Ah, so that's why he was in the barn.

You sit upright, prance around the kids a few times, making them laugh, and make your way to Tony, “time to change, honey,” he holds the flannel up to block the view of others as you Shift. It's large enough that when he wraps it around you, it covers down to your mid thighs. The sleeves are a little too long, so you bunch them up at your elbows, fastening a few buttons so the flannel doesn't fly off your frame.

When you turn around to face the kids, they run over to you, asking a million questions and tugging you along towards the house. You cast a glance at Clint, and he just shrugs, following you as his kids tug at your hands.

Laura stops you, taking her kids by their shirt collars, “ok you two, why don't you let Ms. Jones gets washed up and changed before we give her the 20 questions.” You shoot her a grateful smile, and she nods at you, turning her kids to run into the house. They both give a grumbled aw mooom, but trudge into the house nonetheless.

You're left at the bottom of the porch stairs, worrying your bottom lip as Clint, then Fury, and then Tony climbs up the stairs and into the house. Steve begins his ascent, but you stop him when you grab his wrist. You can see Tony through the screen door, brows furrowed but waiting for you.

“I can't have that life,” you say quietly for Steve. You know he hears you when he grabs your elbow to step closer, “Can't,” your free hand grips the fabric around your middle a little tighter when you look up at him.

A shaky exhale leaves your lips, you feel the burn behind your eyes but don't bother to blink it away, “Bucky was - he” you shake your head, “- the Soldier was there. There was fire and smoke. And him. He said I was supposed to be his.”

“None of that happened. It wasn't real, Flowers,” Steve brushes the tear from your face with his thumb.

“But it was real to me,” You're trembling and you don't realize you've started to cry until Tony pries you away from Steve and carries up the stairs of Clint and Laura's home.

He runs the shower for you and says there's extra clothes on the bed from Laura and Nat.

It was quiet in the room, Tony didn't pry or ask what happened on the porch. He just let you stare off out the window. He'd wait for however long you needed to.

**

Clint had stuck his head in the room a while later, saying dinner was ready, and to head down when you both were ready.

“We had a daughter,” you say as Tony gets up to leave. He stops short, hand hanging in the air near the doorknob. “I was pregnant, too. Maybe 6 months or so,” a sad smile flits across your face, hand coming up to rub over your stomach again. Tony turns to look at you as you do.

“Were we happy?” He asks softly. His whole body looks like it wants to melt into the floorboards. Tears glisten your eyes, and you nod.

“We could - I mean, if -” Tony clears his throat and rubs his palms down his jeans, “if you wanted to, y’know. Try,” his brows pinch, and he winces. “It um, it sounds nice. The quiet life.”

“It does,” you frown, standing and pacing the room like a caged animal. You tell Tony the rest of the vision you had. He doesn't speak. He looks like he's going to be sick.

“I -” I can't get pregnant, “- I'm sorry I ran away. Earlier,” is all you manage to say.

You didn't pay much attention during dinner. Everyone talked about Ultron and what there was to be done about him.

The plan was laid out. You wanted to go with Steve to South Korea, just to double check on Dr. Cho.

**

“I'll take Natasha and Clint,” Steve said as everyone else put their gear on.

Tony nodded, “Alright, strictly recon. I'll hit the NEXUS, I'll join you as soon as I can.”

You followed Nat to her room. You're positive she'd have an extra suit for you. She raised her brows at you as you stood in the doorway, arms crossed over your chest.

“I need a suit, I'm going with you,” you left no room to argue. You knew she wouldn't. Natasha smirked at you and tossed you a duffle bag.

After changing, you follow Nat down the stairs. Before you get to the bottom, she flips a knife over and holds it out for you. It was your turn to raise an eyebrow, hand coming up and extending your claws. Nat's gaze never wavers, and she raises her perfectly sculpted brow at you in return. You sigh, taking the blade and stashing it in a holster on your hip.

Fury's voice carries across the landing as you reach the bottom with Natasha. “I'll drop Banner off at the tower. Do you mind if I borrow Ms. Hill?”

“She's all yours, apparently,” Tony's eyes found yours, and his brow creased. “Take Tooth and Claw with you, too.”

A round of protests was heard from you, Natasha and Fury. Your voice is the loudest.

“Absolutely fucking not, I'm going with Steve,” you pointed an aggressive finger at the man. His ears tinge pink as his hands come up in defense. Before he could speak you held up your hand, “it's non negotiable.” And you storm outside toward the quinjet.

Steve cleared his throat as you stomped passed, eyes looking at Fury, “What are you gonna do?”

Nick chuckled at your retreating form, giving a knowing look at Tony and Steve, “I don't know. Something dramatic, I hope.”

You wait outside the quinjet for Tony. You couldn't leave without saying goodbye, no matter how upset you were a minute ago.

“Look, I know you're mad,” his hands come up in defense as you narrow your eyes at him, “I'm just trying to keep you safe.” He stops in front of you, hands rubbing up and down your arms.

“And I've told you I can take care of myself,” you bring a hand to his cheek, running your thumb under the cut beneath his eye. You smile a little, “I'm not the one who's fragile.” He huffs and turns his face into your palm, kissing your wrist.

“Just be careful,” Tony's brow creases with worry.

“You too,” you lean up to kiss him, “and I'm always careful.” Tony scoffs and rolls his eyes in response.

**

Clint dropped you and Steve off on a rooftop, overlooking the facility you knew Helen Cho would be in.

“Two minutes,” Steve says, the ear communicator also picks up his voice. “Stay close.”

“Couldn't have dropped us off closer, Clint?” You say as you and Steve start jogging.

You hear his laugh over the comms, “now where would the fun in that be?”

Soon, Steve and you enter the facility. It's dark, the axillary lights are on, some blinking in and out. Reaching the lab, you notice broken equipment, glass shattered everywhere, and a few dead bodies.

Steve rushes forward, “Dr. Cho!” He grabs a rag and places it over her bleeding wound.

Cho's breathing is heavy, her skin sheen with sweat, “H-he's uploading himself to the body.”

You kneel down next to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, “where?”

She shakes her head. Steve goes to get up, but Helen stops him, “the real power is inside the Cradle. The gem, its power, is uncontainable. You can’t just blow it up. Get the Cradle to Stark.”

“First I have to find it,” Steve says. “You guys copy that?”

“We did,” you hear Clint.

You step away, pulling out your phone to get emergency medical personnel at your location for Helen and any of the other survivors, if there is any.

“EMTs are 8 minutes out,” you say. Helen nods in appreciation.

“Go,” she tells both you and Steve.

“There,” Clint says as you and Steve exit the building. “Right above you, Cap. On the loop by the bridge. I can take out the driver.”

”Negative, That truck crashes, the gem could level the city,” Steve helps you up the last few rungs of the ladder. “We need to draw out Ultron.”

”Here it comes” You point. The truck is coming in fast. Steve grabs you by the waist, making a quick decision before you have room to protest.

”Just like old times,” as he leaps from the overpass, once his feet hit the trailer, he lets you go, you roll a little, and get your bearings.

”I hate when you do that,” you groan, standing up. Steve maneuvers to the back of the truck, hanging from the back door before it's blown back, and then he flies up and back down onto the dangling trailer door. “Steve?” You peer over the end of the trailer, and he looks up at you.

”Well, he’s definitely angry.”

”You’re no match for him, Cap.”

Steve shakes his head, getting his balance, “Thanks, Barton…” Before Steve could get back up to you, Ultron flips the door off the trailer, and Steve goes flying back into a car.

“Cap?” You call, watching as he swings from a truck mirror and launches himself back onto the truck trailer next to you. He nods his head at you.

“You know what’s in that Cradle?” Ultron appears in front of you, floating with his arm raised and poised to shoot. He fires, the beams bouncing off the shield on Steve’s back. “The power to make real change. And that terrifies you.”

Steve grimaces, “I wouldn't call it a comfort,” pulling his shield off his back and throwing it at Ultron. It bounces off a few times before he kicks it into Ultron’s chest.

Ultron flings the shield away. It flies off and onto the street, “Stop that!” He shoots a plasma beam right into Steve’s chest and sends him flying to the front of the truck. Ultron turns to you, slightly hovering in the air as he makes his way toward you. “Don't make me put you down,” he raises his hand like he’s going to shoot you, but waits. You growl at him, both hands letting go of the metal trailer and turning towards him to strike.

Steve jumps back up on top of the trailer and onto Ultron’s back. You jump on his front and try to dig your claws into any part of him that you can tear away. Ultron throws you off first, and you barely have time to catch yourself before you’re thrown off. You use the momentum to get into the back of the trailer. Two Legionnaire sentries raise their guns on you. The repulsors charge up, but before they could hit you, they fly out at the sounds of the quintet machine gun.

“Cutting it close,” you sigh. “whoa…” the cradle is - well - it’s definitely different.

You tried to disable the upload, but nothing you did mattered. You were getting locked out no matter what buttons you smashed. After a few minutes of trying to force the cradle open, the clamor of shuffling feet and fighting above your head dies down.

The truck jostles, and you feel it lift off the ground.

Shit.

“The package is airborne. I have a clean shot," Clint said into your ear.

“No! I'm still in the truck!” You tell him, trying to find a way to release the cradle.

“What the hell are you...?”

“Just be ready, I'm gonna send it to you,” you take the knife out that Nat gave you, sawing through the straps. It is released one by one, and it begins to slide around the bed of the trailer.

Through the opening, you see the quinjet try to keep level with the back, Clint opens the ramp of the jet, “Ready when you are, Jonesy.”

You exhale a heavy breath, latch onto the cradle, plant your feet on the wall behind you, and kick off as hard as you can. In the air, you free fall for a moment before the cradle lands with a thud in the quinjet.

Before you could climb in, something grabs your foot and yanks you from your position. You fall, and then large metal arms grab you. For a moment, you're relieved, but then when you look up to your supposed savior, it's Ultron, and your blood runs cold.

You struggle to get free, but his arms hold you tighter, “Ah ah, stop squirming. Don't want to drop you.” If robots could smirk, you're sure he would be.

“Where are you taking me?” There's concern over the comms about you, Steve asking if you're ok, Clint and Natasha asking where you are. Before you can answer, metal fingers dig the communicator from your ear and squish it between its fingers.

Red eyes look down at you, a hand coming up to your face, “You'll see.” And the last thing you hear before your vision goes dark is a saddened metallic voice saying, “You'll all see…”

**

[nessieart]

Hoping to have chapter 3 of t&c up tomorrow!

[nessieart]

It always ends in a fight. ⭐️

[nessieart]

Stranger Than Fiction Masterlist

Stranger Than Fiction

Billy Hargrove x Reader (Slowburn)

AN: Here is a collection of all parts of my 'Stranger Than Fiction' series. ❤️

Part 1: Welcome to Hawkins Part 2: The Convergence Part 3: Foundations Part 4: Deja Vu Part 5: Routine Part 6: Kinship Part 7: Hope Part 8: Shattered Part 9: Stupid Teenagers Part 10: Pity Party Part 11: What Really Matters Part 12: You Never Know Part 13: Be Careful Part 14: Not Dead Part 15: Strong Part 16: Everyday Part 17: Cathartic Part 18: Friends Part 19: Different Kind of Monster Part 20: Snowball Part 21: History Part 22: Help Part 23: Study Part 24: Tension Part 25: Merry Christmas Part 26: Attitude

[nessieart]

only him on my mind

[nessieart]

A small break from commissions

[nessieart]

That’s my girl!

[nessieart]

2 any bisexuals that need to hear this tonight; you are stupid, you are slutty, you are sexy, you are valid

[nessieart]

tooth&claw chapter 2

Read TEETH first to catch up!

t&c masterlist

Previous Chapter

Wc: 3.2k

An: man this took a real long time to get out. I’m so sorrry!

Pairings: Tony Stark x Shifter!reader

Age of Ultron

Warning: canon typical violence, language!, blood, alcohol use, fluff, angst. No y/n used. Nicknames: Poppy/Flowers

"But there wasn't anyone else in the building,” Maria spoke up. You helped her sit, her bare feet littered with broken glass.

Tony had rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, a few cuts and bruises along his forearms, and a split lip, “Yes there was.” Tony flicks his wrist. The StarkPhone in his hand pops the now-destroyed 3D image of JARVIS' consciousness.

Bruce paces to the holo-image, hands out wide and in disbelief, “This is insane.”

Steve hangs his head in defeat, “JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense.”

“No,” Bruce shakes his head, “Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy, this is...rage,” and Bruce would know all about rage. You put your hand on his arm, giving a gentle squeeze.

Thor suddenly barges in the lab, strides quick and long, as he makes his way to Tony, and grabs hold of him by his throat.

“Woah, woah, woah!”

“It's going around.”

Tony chokes out a reply, hands grasping Thor's forearm for purchase, “Come on. Use your words, buddy.”

“I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark,” he lifts him higher in the air.

You jumped to your feet, making a b line to Thor. Your eyes flash a bright blue, fur violently threatening to rip through your skin as your fangs extend.

“Let. Him. Go,” you say on a low growl. You've placed yourself between Thor and Tony, your claws come out as Thor regards you.

“Thor!” Steve stepped forward, “The Legionnaire.”

Thor lets him go, and when Tony lands on his feet, he staggers, and his hand comes up to your shoulder, giving you a reassuring pat. You don't back down from Thor as he eyes you again, his lip curling up on one side.

“Trail went cold about a hundred miles out, but it's headed north, and it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it. Again.”

Natasha crosses her arms in front of her chest, “The genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron.”

Dr. Cho was across the room, examining the destroyed Ultron bot he took over. She hadn't noticed the altercation in the middle of the room, “I don't understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?”

-

Everyone had leaped into action, everyone diving out of the way from the incoming Legionnaire bots. Firing repulsors and missiles at you all.

Steve had flipped the coffee table up just in time to protect himself from a flying Legionnaire bot to the chest.

Natasha grabbed Bruce and made a run for the bar for protection.

You had grabbed Rhodey's arm to shove him down when a repulsor caught the both of you in the side and sent you flying through a glass pane, Rhodey's body flying right after yours and landing on top of you. You groan, and he rolls off you. You can feel the tiny cuts from the glass along your face, a few bruises forming where you landed.

“Poppy, oh God, are you ok?” Hands frantically roaming above your body. He stops, “not to freak you out, but there's a large chunk of glass sticking out of your leg.”

You look down, sure enough, there's a large shard of glass sticking out of your thigh. You twist your body and grab the shard with two hands, and yank it out, yelping a little at the pain.

“Are you crazy!?” Rhodey takes both of his hands and clamps them over the gushing wound. You put your hand over his and go to move, “Stay still! Or you're gonna bleed out. Tony!”

“I'm fine, Rhodey. Really,” he goes to protest again, but you're already moving from his grasp and limping to move back to the main room. Most of the chaos has died down by now.

Rhodey helps you up the stairs just as Thor throws his hammer at the Legionnaire bot across the room.

Your eyes scan the room and land on Tony, he's slumped over his knees on the stairs across from you, and then his eyes catch yours, he looks so lost and defeated he doesn't even try to hide it.

-

Tony paces away from you towards his desk, stopping next to Bruce. And he starts laughing, Bruce subtly shakes his head at him to get him to stop.

Thor takes a step toward Tony, and you place yourself between them again. He stops himself short, “You think this is funny?”

Tony's laughter dies down to giggles, “No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? Is it so... is it so... it is. It's so terrible.”

“This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand,” Thor points a threatening finger at Tony, and you growl in response.

“No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny. It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this.”

“Tony,” your low growl is a warning.

“Tony,” Bruce hedges cautiously, “maybe this might not be the time to–”

“Really?!” He spins to Bruce, “ That's it? You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls.”

Your hackles rise, and you whirl around to say something, but Tony already regrets his choice or words when he meets your eye, and then quickly avoids it.

“Only when I've created a murder bot,” Bruce pleads.

“We didn't. We weren't even close. Were we close to an interface?”

“Well, you did something right,” Steve's stance is wide, arms still crossed against his chest, “And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD.”

Tony scoffs, “Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole? Saved New York?

“Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the livelong day, but that up there? That's... that's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that?”

You knew Tony worried about other possible invasions, things he couldn't prepare enough for. He wakes up most nights in a panic. Other nights, he just doesn't sleep. You've tried to soothe him, reassure Tony that everything would be ok, as long as you were together. Together, you could weather whatever alien, supernatural, or evil forces threw at you.

Steves brows lower, chest puffing out slightly, “Together.”

“We'll lose.”

Steve drops his hands, brows now drawn together, “Then we'll do that together, too.”

Tony looks at him for a moment before turning away. He can't seem to look you in the eye. And when you take a step towards him, he puts a hand up and backs away.

A small whine escapes you, eyes pleading with him to let you in.

***

The conference room was a mess of folders, papers, and storage boxes. Trying to rifle through hundreds of physical documents on the off chance of finding something that links Strucker with anyone else.

Steve's rifling through folders, handing you papers to skim through, “Known associates. Well, Strucker had a lot of friends.”

“Well, these people are all horrible,” Bruce mutters.

You were reading through your own pile of papers when you heard Thor stop and come up beside you.

“What's this?”

Tony's brows furrow, scanning the image of a man, “Uh, it's a tattoo. I don't think he had it…”

“No, those are tattoos. This is a brand,” Thor confirms.

Bruce's fingers tap along the keyboard. After a moment, he perks up, “Oh, yeah. It's a word in an African dialect, meaning thief, in a much less friendly way.”

“What dialect?” Steve asks, putting his folders down.

“Wakanada...?” Bruce adjusts his glasses.

“Wakanda,” you say, Bruce raises his eyes to you, and Tony shifts from foot to foot.

Tony turns to Steve, his voice quieter than before, “If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods…”

Steve, in turn, lowers his voice, “I thought your father said he got the last of it?”

“I don't follow. What comes out of Wakanda?”

“The strongest metal on earth.”

“Where is this guy now?” Steve asks the room.

–

After everyone had filed out of the conference room to gear up to leave, Tony pulled you into a corner, hand gripping firmly at your elbow.

“How do you know about Wakanda?” He lowers his head to catch your eye.

When you avoid it, he says your name, making you look up at him. His brow is set in a frown as he studies your face.

“I've run into Shifters and Weres that have come from Wakanda and neighboring countries,” his hand on your elbow drifts up to your shoulder, pulling you in a little.

You fall into him willingly, hands coming up to rest on his chest as you press your nose under his chin.

“They keep to themselves,” you continue, “the Shifters that guard the Royal Family. I'm positive there's Were blood in that lineage somewhere.”

Tony hums, his hands rubbing up and down your spine.

“I thought you were angry with me,” you mumble into his neck. He stiffens slightly and pulls back enough to look you in the eyes.

He shakes his head, “never. I was angry at myself. For JARVIS. For Ultron, for letting it get so..” he sighs. “I want - I need - to protect you. Everyone. I thought making Ultron a reality would be one step closer to that. To -”

You cut him off with a kiss, his lips molding against yours, and his body relaxes. All the fight and stress rolling off his shoulders just for a moment as you both get lost in the kiss.

His hands grip and pull at your waist to bring you closer, and your hands snake their way up and over his shoulders and into the hair at his nap. You feel Tony shiver when your nails scratch the base of his skull, then lightly pull the hair.

You swallow the groan that fights its way out of his throat and into your waiting mouth. You part, and you both pant for breath, heated and mingling in the space between your bodies.

“Tony, I love you,” you say into his lips. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Love you, too, Poppyfield.”

**

“Don't compare me with Stark! It's a thing with me. Stark is - he's a sickness!” The loud metallic voice of Ultron echoes.

Tony, Cap, you and Thor touch down across from Ultron and his companions. You are on the back of the Iron Man suit, and Thor is holding onto Cap.

Tony straightens after your feet touch the ground, “Ahh, Junior. You're gonna break your old man's heart.”

Ultron shrugs and takes a small step closer, “If I have to.”

“We don't have to break anything,” Thor's voice booms.

Ultron all but glares at Thor, “Clearly you've never made an omelet.”

“He beat me by one second.”

“Tony,” you scold.

You turn your gaze onto the twins. You learned a little about them on the quinjet ride over. They were young and fighting for something they believed in.

They reminded you of Leon and you, young and trying to take on the world. Only for it to never work out for you. Because your brother doesn't want anything to do with you now.

Ultron takes a step toward your group, his red eyes stare you down, and you try not to fidget under his gaze.

“You brought her here?” He hisses toward Tony. “What were you thinking?” His eyes shift back to you. He says your name, soft in his metallic voice, “it's not safe. You should go back while you still can.”

The hair along your arms and the back of your neck stand on end. His glowing red eyes bore into yours, the feeling like he can see through you, but sees everything you are at the same time. It sends a shiver down your spine.

You share a concerned look with the bright eyes of the Iron Man suit, and Tony shakes his head at you.

The boy, Pietro, you think his name is, steps closer, arms wide as he makes a show of all the weapons around the old ship. “Ah, this is funny, Mr. Stark. It's what, comfortable? Like old times?”

“This was never my life,” you can hear the sadness and regret in Tony's voice.

“You two can still walk away from this,” you plead.

“Oh, we will,” the girl, Wanda, says.

Steve takes a step forward, “I know you've suffered.”

“Captain America,” Ultron sneers, “God's righteous man, pretending you could live without a war. I can't physically throw up in my mouth, but…”

Thor takes a step forward, his hand resting on your shoulder to the right, “If you believe in peace, then let us keep it.”

“I think you're confusing peace with quiet.”

“Yuh-huh. What's the Vibranium for?”

The metallic lilt of Ultron's voice sounds amused. His mannerisms remind you an awful lot of Tony, and it gives you pause.

“I'm glad you asked that, because I wanted to take this time to explain my evil plan–”

Ultron goes to fly, and Tony, he meets him halfway, the two of them trading blows as they fly up and out of the wreckage.

**

It's never a good idea to split up. You said this as Steve and Thor ran off in different directions. No one bothers to hear your plea.

You were sure you heard someone come down this way, your claws at the ready to take down another body guard.

“Anyone have a visual on the twins?” You ask into your comms. There's no answer as you crouch a little lower in your prowl down another hallway.

“Here we are,” Wanda says, and before you could make a move, she waves her hands in the air. Red mist flows from her fingertips, swirling and mesmerizing as you try and wipe it clean from the air around you.

You can almost feel it as it digs into your eyes and ears under your skin. All you see is red. A snarl leaves your lips as you launch yourself at Wanda.

It's nice today, you think. The sun is warm on your back as you tend to the garden at your feet. Dirt clings to your hands and under your nails, but it's nice. It's peaceful.

There's small giggles around you in the garden. Every now and then, you get a glimpse of shiny charcoal hair above the vegetable plants. The giggling gets closer as you pretend you don't hear anything.

Suddenly, there's a weight in your back, tiny hands find your eyes as the giggles turn into fits of laughter.

“Guess who!” The little voice says in your ear.

You laugh, thinking real hard, “oh! Well, let's see, it can't be daddy. These hands are too small! Is iiiit,” you grab her around the waist and haul her around your body to the ground below, tickling sides as you do.

“Luna! I should have known!” The little girl shrieks in glee as your fingers find the soft spots of her sides, digging your fingers in as you both laugh together. Her odd eyes glisten with laughter and tears. One blue and one golden.

“Mama! No more!” she wheezes, little hands pushing into your face as you peck kisses around her freckled face. “Daddy help!”

You yelp in surprise as large hands find your waist and haul you up and away. As Tony sets you on your feet, his hands find the small bump of your belly.

“What are my two girls doing out here, huh? Causing a whole bunch of racket so the neighbors think something is wrong?”

“Tony, we don't have neighbors,” you chuckle.

Luna, with her dirt covered hands, tugs on Tony's hand, “was playin’! Scared momma good! Luna, good girl!”

Tony pats her charcoal locks, smiling fondly at her, “of course you are, Luna girl. So good.”

Tony spins you to face him, a pleased look on his face and sparkles in his warm honey eyes, “why don't you both clean up, and I'll order us some lunch, yeah?” His lips find your cheek, and you hum in agreement. You grab Luna by the hand as she skips next to you.

You turn toward the house. It's a nice little cottage in the middle of the woods. It was a wedding present from Tony, and it made you so happy.

It's dark outside, no moon in the sky, but the stars are out, and it's warm.

A little too warm, maybe. Your eyes turn to the cottage. There's a fire.

A fire?

Poppy

“Tony? Luna!” You cry into the night air. There's no response. Just the roar of the fire blazing the cottage to the ground. The hair on the back of your neck stands on end.

The feeling is too familiar, and you whirl around. The silver catches in the firelight, and you stumble back. No.

Those steel blue eyes cut to you on the ground, and the muzzle is back over the lower half of his face.

“Bucky, it's me. Please,” you bring a hand up to stop his prowl towards you. It doesn't stop him. “Where's my family?” Your hand comes to rest on the small bump, tears burning your eyes.

Poppy.

Silver fingers grip the front of your sundress, hauling you up to eye level. His eyes flash bright amber, and you feel your blood run cold. No, you were joking about the serum. Joking about him being part werewolf.

“Bucky, please,” a tear escapes and runs hot down your cheek.

You can hear him try to sniff at you, a growl in his voice, “you were meant to be mine, lepestok.”

Poppy

“What…?” it's whispered in the space between you. You see his eyes crinkle like he's smiling behind the mask.

Poppy!

Your cheek stings. There's a red fog clearing from your vision as you blink rapidly. You're breathing heavily as your surroundings come into view.

“Buck-” your voice is hoarse and throat dry. “where?”

“You're on the quinjet, honey. Hey, eyes here, you're ok.”

Tony. Oh.

“What the fuck just happened? Where,” your hand ghosts over the nonexistent bump of your stomach, and it hurts. It's a horrible ache you never thought you'd experience. “I was-” you choke back a sob as you look into Tony's concerned brown eyes.

He scoops you into his arms, running a hand over the back of your head as he shushes you.

The hum of the quinjet softens as you feel it land. Tony lets you go, and you sit hunched over in the chair. He moves to the front of the jet, conversing quietly with Clint.

Steve sits across from you. He looks better than the others. with their far-off looks in their eyes, it sends a shiver down your spine.

“Steve?” His eyes snap to you, jaw clenched so tight you think his teeth might crack. “Are you ok?” His eyes scan you from head to toe, lingering on your center where your hand is still clutched tight over your stomach.

He nods once, eyes snapping back up to yours. There's a question in his gaze, and you have to tear yours away. Because you might start crying.

For having something you've always wanted, right there at your fingertips, and it all went away in a haze of red mist.

The back of the quinjet door opens, and you spring to your feet, fleeing the confines of the small space and out into open air.

You can still hear the echoes of her laughter in your mind. The feel of the baby bump on your tummy. The daughter you'll never have.

It's heartbreaking and soul crushing. Because you can never have children.

***

[nessieart]

i drew this a bit ago when the benchmark dropped but i had been waiting SOOOO long for fem hrothgar… im so excited ;_; heres a doodle of mine, vivka!! although part of me is still thinking about giving her the pink fur/hair…. 😭

[nessieart]

tooth&claw chapter 2

Read TEETH first to catch up!

t&c masterlist

Previous Chapter

Wc: 3.2k

An: man this took a real long time to get out. I’m so sorrry!

Pairings: Tony Stark x Shifter!reader

Age of Ultron

Warning: canon typical violence, language!, blood, alcohol use, fluff, angst. No y/n used. Nicknames: Poppy/Flowers

"But there wasn't anyone else in the building,” Maria spoke up. You helped her sit, her bare feet littered with broken glass.

Tony had rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, a few cuts and bruises along his forearms, and a split lip, “Yes there was.” Tony flicks his wrist. The StarkPhone in his hand pops the now-destroyed 3D image of JARVIS' consciousness.

Bruce paces to the holo-image, hands out wide and in disbelief, “This is insane.”

Steve hangs his head in defeat, “JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense.”

“No,” Bruce shakes his head, “Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy, this is...rage,” and Bruce would know all about rage. You put your hand on his arm, giving a gentle squeeze.

Thor suddenly barges in the lab, strides quick and long, as he makes his way to Tony, and grabs hold of him by his throat.

“Woah, woah, woah!”

“It's going around.”

Tony chokes out a reply, hands grasping Thor's forearm for purchase, “Come on. Use your words, buddy.”

“I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark,” he lifts him higher in the air.

You jumped to your feet, making a b line to Thor. Your eyes flash a bright blue, fur violently threatening to rip through your skin as your fangs extend.

“Let. Him. Go,” you say on a low growl. You've placed yourself between Thor and Tony, your claws come out as Thor regards you.

“Thor!” Steve stepped forward, “The Legionnaire.”

Thor lets him go, and when Tony lands on his feet, he staggers, and his hand comes up to your shoulder, giving you a reassuring pat. You don't back down from Thor as he eyes you again, his lip curling up on one side.

“Trail went cold about a hundred miles out, but it's headed north, and it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it. Again.”

Natasha crosses her arms in front of her chest, “The genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron.”

Dr. Cho was across the room, examining the destroyed Ultron bot he took over. She hadn't noticed the altercation in the middle of the room, “I don't understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?”

-

Everyone had leaped into action, everyone diving out of the way from the incoming Legionnaire bots. Firing repulsors and missiles at you all.

Steve had flipped the coffee table up just in time to protect himself from a flying Legionnaire bot to the chest.

Natasha grabbed Bruce and made a run for the bar for protection.

You had grabbed Rhodey's arm to shove him down when a repulsor caught the both of you in the side and sent you flying through a glass pane, Rhodey's body flying right after yours and landing on top of you. You groan, and he rolls off you. You can feel the tiny cuts from the glass along your face, a few bruises forming where you landed.

“Poppy, oh God, are you ok?” Hands frantically roaming above your body. He stops, “not to freak you out, but there's a large chunk of glass sticking out of your leg.”

You look down, sure enough, there's a large shard of glass sticking out of your thigh. You twist your body and grab the shard with two hands, and yank it out, yelping a little at the pain.

“Are you crazy!?” Rhodey takes both of his hands and clamps them over the gushing wound. You put your hand over his and go to move, “Stay still! Or you're gonna bleed out. Tony!”

“I'm fine, Rhodey. Really,” he goes to protest again, but you're already moving from his grasp and limping to move back to the main room. Most of the chaos has died down by now.

Rhodey helps you up the stairs just as Thor throws his hammer at the Legionnaire bot across the room.

Your eyes scan the room and land on Tony, he's slumped over his knees on the stairs across from you, and then his eyes catch yours, he looks so lost and defeated he doesn't even try to hide it.

-

Tony paces away from you towards his desk, stopping next to Bruce. And he starts laughing, Bruce subtly shakes his head at him to get him to stop.

Thor takes a step toward Tony, and you place yourself between them again. He stops himself short, “You think this is funny?”

Tony's laughter dies down to giggles, “No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? Is it so... is it so... it is. It's so terrible.”

“This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand,” Thor points a threatening finger at Tony, and you growl in response.

“No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny. It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this.”

“Tony,” your low growl is a warning.

“Tony,” Bruce hedges cautiously, “maybe this might not be the time to–”

“Really?!” He spins to Bruce, “ That's it? You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls.”

Your hackles rise, and you whirl around to say something, but Tony already regrets his choice or words when he meets your eye, and then quickly avoids it.

“Only when I've created a murder bot,” Bruce pleads.

“We didn't. We weren't even close. Were we close to an interface?”

“Well, you did something right,” Steve's stance is wide, arms still crossed against his chest, “And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD.”

Tony scoffs, “Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole? Saved New York?

“Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the livelong day, but that up there? That's... that's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that?”

You knew Tony worried about other possible invasions, things he couldn't prepare enough for. He wakes up most nights in a panic. Other nights, he just doesn't sleep. You've tried to soothe him, reassure Tony that everything would be ok, as long as you were together. Together, you could weather whatever alien, supernatural, or evil forces threw at you.

Steves brows lower, chest puffing out slightly, “Together.”

“We'll lose.”

Steve drops his hands, brows now drawn together, “Then we'll do that together, too.”

Tony looks at him for a moment before turning away. He can't seem to look you in the eye. And when you take a step towards him, he puts a hand up and backs away.

A small whine escapes you, eyes pleading with him to let you in.

***

The conference room was a mess of folders, papers, and storage boxes. Trying to rifle through hundreds of physical documents on the off chance of finding something that links Strucker with anyone else.

Steve's rifling through folders, handing you papers to skim through, “Known associates. Well, Strucker had a lot of friends.”

“Well, these people are all horrible,” Bruce mutters.

You were reading through your own pile of papers when you heard Thor stop and come up beside you.

“What's this?”

Tony's brows furrow, scanning the image of a man, “Uh, it's a tattoo. I don't think he had it…”

“No, those are tattoos. This is a brand,” Thor confirms.

Bruce's fingers tap along the keyboard. After a moment, he perks up, “Oh, yeah. It's a word in an African dialect, meaning thief, in a much less friendly way.”

“What dialect?” Steve asks, putting his folders down.

“Wakanada...?” Bruce adjusts his glasses.

“Wakanda,” you say, Bruce raises his eyes to you, and Tony shifts from foot to foot.

Tony turns to Steve, his voice quieter than before, “If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods…”

Steve, in turn, lowers his voice, “I thought your father said he got the last of it?”

“I don't follow. What comes out of Wakanda?”

“The strongest metal on earth.”

“Where is this guy now?” Steve asks the room.

–

After everyone had filed out of the conference room to gear up to leave, Tony pulled you into a corner, hand gripping firmly at your elbow.

“How do you know about Wakanda?” He lowers his head to catch your eye.

When you avoid it, he says your name, making you look up at him. His brow is set in a frown as he studies your face.

“I've run into Shifters and Weres that have come from Wakanda and neighboring countries,” his hand on your elbow drifts up to your shoulder, pulling you in a little.

You fall into him willingly, hands coming up to rest on his chest as you press your nose under his chin.

“They keep to themselves,” you continue, “the Shifters that guard the Royal Family. I'm positive there's Were blood in that lineage somewhere.”

Tony hums, his hands rubbing up and down your spine.

“I thought you were angry with me,” you mumble into his neck. He stiffens slightly and pulls back enough to look you in the eyes.

He shakes his head, “never. I was angry at myself. For JARVIS. For Ultron, for letting it get so..” he sighs. “I want - I need - to protect you. Everyone. I thought making Ultron a reality would be one step closer to that. To -”

You cut him off with a kiss, his lips molding against yours, and his body relaxes. All the fight and stress rolling off his shoulders just for a moment as you both get lost in the kiss.

His hands grip and pull at your waist to bring you closer, and your hands snake their way up and over his shoulders and into the hair at his nap. You feel Tony shiver when your nails scratch the base of his skull, then lightly pull the hair.

You swallow the groan that fights its way out of his throat and into your waiting mouth. You part, and you both pant for breath, heated and mingling in the space between your bodies.

“Tony, I love you,” you say into his lips. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Love you, too, Poppyfield.”

**

“Don't compare me with Stark! It's a thing with me. Stark is - he's a sickness!” The loud metallic voice of Ultron echoes.

Tony, Cap, you and Thor touch down across from Ultron and his companions. You are on the back of the Iron Man suit, and Thor is holding onto Cap.

Tony straightens after your feet touch the ground, “Ahh, Junior. You're gonna break your old man's heart.”

Ultron shrugs and takes a small step closer, “If I have to.”

“We don't have to break anything,” Thor's voice booms.

Ultron all but glares at Thor, “Clearly you've never made an omelet.”

“He beat me by one second.”

“Tony,” you scold.

You turn your gaze onto the twins. You learned a little about them on the quinjet ride over. They were young and fighting for something they believed in.

They reminded you of Leon and you, young and trying to take on the world. Only for it to never work out for you. Because your brother doesn't want anything to do with you now.

Ultron takes a step toward your group, his red eyes stare you down, and you try not to fidget under his gaze.

“You brought her here?” He hisses toward Tony. “What were you thinking?” His eyes shift back to you. He says your name, soft in his metallic voice, “it's not safe. You should go back while you still can.”

The hair along your arms and the back of your neck stand on end. His glowing red eyes bore into yours, the feeling like he can see through you, but sees everything you are at the same time. It sends a shiver down your spine.

You share a concerned look with the bright eyes of the Iron Man suit, and Tony shakes his head at you.

The boy, Pietro, you think his name is, steps closer, arms wide as he makes a show of all the weapons around the old ship. “Ah, this is funny, Mr. Stark. It's what, comfortable? Like old times?”

“This was never my life,” you can hear the sadness and regret in Tony's voice.

“You two can still walk away from this,” you plead.

“Oh, we will,” the girl, Wanda, says.

Steve takes a step forward, “I know you've suffered.”

“Captain America,” Ultron sneers, “God's righteous man, pretending you could live without a war. I can't physically throw up in my mouth, but…”

Thor takes a step forward, his hand resting on your shoulder to the right, “If you believe in peace, then let us keep it.”

“I think you're confusing peace with quiet.”

“Yuh-huh. What's the Vibranium for?”

The metallic lilt of Ultron's voice sounds amused. His mannerisms remind you an awful lot of Tony, and it gives you pause.

“I'm glad you asked that, because I wanted to take this time to explain my evil plan–”

Ultron goes to fly, and Tony, he meets him halfway, the two of them trading blows as they fly up and out of the wreckage.

**

It's never a good idea to split up. You said this as Steve and Thor ran off in different directions. No one bothers to hear your plea.

You were sure you heard someone come down this way, your claws at the ready to take down another body guard.

“Anyone have a visual on the twins?” You ask into your comms. There's no answer as you crouch a little lower in your prowl down another hallway.

“Here we are,” Wanda says, and before you could make a move, she waves her hands in the air. Red mist flows from her fingertips, swirling and mesmerizing as you try and wipe it clean from the air around you.

You can almost feel it as it digs into your eyes and ears under your skin. All you see is red. A snarl leaves your lips as you launch yourself at Wanda.

It's nice today, you think. The sun is warm on your back as you tend to the garden at your feet. Dirt clings to your hands and under your nails, but it's nice. It's peaceful.

There's small giggles around you in the garden. Every now and then, you get a glimpse of shiny charcoal hair above the vegetable plants. The giggling gets closer as you pretend you don't hear anything.

Suddenly, there's a weight in your back, tiny hands find your eyes as the giggles turn into fits of laughter.

“Guess who!” The little voice says in your ear.

You laugh, thinking real hard, “oh! Well, let's see, it can't be daddy. These hands are too small! Is iiiit,” you grab her around the waist and haul her around your body to the ground below, tickling sides as you do.

“Luna! I should have known!” The little girl shrieks in glee as your fingers find the soft spots of her sides, digging your fingers in as you both laugh together. Her odd eyes glisten with laughter and tears. One blue and one golden.

“Mama! No more!” she wheezes, little hands pushing into your face as you peck kisses around her freckled face. “Daddy help!”

You yelp in surprise as large hands find your waist and haul you up and away. As Tony sets you on your feet, his hands find the small bump of your belly.

“What are my two girls doing out here, huh? Causing a whole bunch of racket so the neighbors think something is wrong?”

“Tony, we don't have neighbors,” you chuckle.

Luna, with her dirt covered hands, tugs on Tony's hand, “was playin’! Scared momma good! Luna, good girl!”

Tony pats her charcoal locks, smiling fondly at her, “of course you are, Luna girl. So good.”

Tony spins you to face him, a pleased look on his face and sparkles in his warm honey eyes, “why don't you both clean up, and I'll order us some lunch, yeah?” His lips find your cheek, and you hum in agreement. You grab Luna by the hand as she skips next to you.

You turn toward the house. It's a nice little cottage in the middle of the woods. It was a wedding present from Tony, and it made you so happy.

It's dark outside, no moon in the sky, but the stars are out, and it's warm.

A little too warm, maybe. Your eyes turn to the cottage. There's a fire.

A fire?

Poppy

“Tony? Luna!” You cry into the night air. There's no response. Just the roar of the fire blazing the cottage to the ground. The hair on the back of your neck stands on end.

The feeling is too familiar, and you whirl around. The silver catches in the firelight, and you stumble back. No.

Those steel blue eyes cut to you on the ground, and the muzzle is back over the lower half of his face.

“Bucky, it's me. Please,” you bring a hand up to stop his prowl towards you. It doesn't stop him. “Where's my family?” Your hand comes to rest on the small bump, tears burning your eyes.

Poppy.

Silver fingers grip the front of your sundress, hauling you up to eye level. His eyes flash bright amber, and you feel your blood run cold. No, you were joking about the serum. Joking about him being part werewolf.

“Bucky, please,” a tear escapes and runs hot down your cheek.

You can hear him try to sniff at you, a growl in his voice, “you were meant to be mine, lepestok.”

Poppy

“What…?” it's whispered in the space between you. You see his eyes crinkle like he's smiling behind the mask.

Poppy!

Your cheek stings. There's a red fog clearing from your vision as you blink rapidly. You're breathing heavily as your surroundings come into view.

“Buck-” your voice is hoarse and throat dry. “where?”

“You're on the quinjet, honey. Hey, eyes here, you're ok.”

Tony. Oh.

“What the fuck just happened? Where,” your hand ghosts over the nonexistent bump of your stomach, and it hurts. It's a horrible ache you never thought you'd experience. “I was-” you choke back a sob as you look into Tony's concerned brown eyes.

He scoops you into his arms, running a hand over the back of your head as he shushes you.

The hum of the quinjet softens as you feel it land. Tony lets you go, and you sit hunched over in the chair. He moves to the front of the jet, conversing quietly with Clint.

Steve sits across from you. He looks better than the others. with their far-off looks in their eyes, it sends a shiver down your spine.

“Steve?” His eyes snap to you, jaw clenched so tight you think his teeth might crack. “Are you ok?” His eyes scan you from head to toe, lingering on your center where your hand is still clutched tight over your stomach.

He nods once, eyes snapping back up to yours. There's a question in his gaze, and you have to tear yours away. Because you might start crying.

For having something you've always wanted, right there at your fingertips, and it all went away in a haze of red mist.

The back of the quinjet door opens, and you spring to your feet, fleeing the confines of the small space and out into open air.

You can still hear the echoes of her laughter in your mind. The feel of the baby bump on your tummy. The daughter you'll never have.

It's heartbreaking and soul crushing. Because you can never have children.

***

[nessieart]

⭐️

[nessieart]

full offense but none of you would have ever survived fanfiction.net in 2009

[nessieart]

More Winter, because I can’t help myself.