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Ever since Tony left Stark Industries for the forest he's felt better. It was an accident, really. He stumbled out into the woods one day looking for clarity from an argument with his ex-wife, and from the insanity that is the deal with his cohead. He'd risen from his desk and walked towards the door mumbling something about needing to get away, Pepper and Happy shouting behind him.
Meeting Peter was an accident. He'd tripped over a log on the forest floor, falling to hands and knees, slacks torn. He inhales through his teeth, rising to continue walking, dusting his hands off on his ruined pants. "Fuck, well... Guess I'm taking the rest of the day off" Tony mumbles to himself, continuing to walk down the hidden path. The ground shifts under his feet as he nears a brook, and Tony would swear the water almost glitters.
As he goes to step into the water, a voice whispers from beyond his view, "I wouldn't do that." He shrugs, walking into the cold water. Before he could take another step, however, his senses filled with pain, cold, and the smell of mud.
Then everything goes black.
"Stupid humans..." Peter mumbles, hopping down from his perch in the tree. Rolling his eyes, he approaches the strange man. Next to his head, he makes a soft clicking noise, expecting some form of a reply. Instead, the figure doesn't move. "Why couldn't you just listen to me?" Peter grabs his wrist, dragging the stranger to the bank on the other side, "You would be more useful to me if you were conscious y'know." Peter flips the man over and that's when he sees his face.
And holy fuck is he gorgeous.
When Tony finally comes to, he realizes he's lost. Instead of being in the creek, he's laying in a glade of wildflowers. The smell of mint and lavender fills his nose as a youngish boy comes into view holding a yellow cup. Tony closes his eyes back, pretending to still be knocked out.
Suddenly, the taste of flowers explodes in his mouth and it takes everything in him to not moan at the sweetness. His eyes flutter open just as the strange boy looks away and Tony finally sees him.
This young boy has pointed ears and branches tangled in his curly hair. He looks ethereal. He rolls the sleeves on his cream-coloured shirt up and inspects the damage on Tony's forehead. "Ah, you're awake... How are you feeling?" The boy meets Tony's eyes, caramel color catching the sun perfectly.
"Honestly? Like shit," Tony sits upright, hissing at the pain. "Who are you?"
"I'm a forest fairy. My name is Peter. And you are?"
"Fairy? Are you the kind that steals humans' names and keeps them?"
"By the moon..." Peter mumbles, "Humans still believe that? No. And we never did. It was a dumb fairytale our great great great grandfathers made up so humans would leave us alone. We also don't have wings. Don't ask."
"Sorry, my head hurts too much for this." Tony falls back onto his back, smiling when Peter leans down next to him. "Um... I'm Tony."
"It's going to get dark soon. I've been watching you for a while and it seems like you're trying desperately to get away from something. This part of the forest is protected by magic. Nothing is going to get to you here. I have a cottage just up the path if you would like to spend the night there?"
"I couldn't impose."
"It's just one night... you'll be alright." Peter reaches out to Tony, taking his hands in his own.
That was ten years ago.
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"I'm home! I got the seeds!" Tony opens the blue door to the flower-covered cottage and looks around for his lover. "Sweetheart? Where are you?" Tony raises his head, sniffing the air for the smell of Peter. He finally catches it, the light scent of honeysuckle and warmth emanating from the bedroom. He approaches the door, pushing it open to find a pile of his clothes in the center of the bed. All of his favorite well-worn band tees lay tangled with the duvet, hoodies, and every single towel Tony has ever looked at. "Aww, baby..." In the center of it all is one Peter Parker, curled up and sleeping cozily under a lavender-colored crocheted blanket. He drops the brown sack in the armchair, removing his cloak and shoes. "Sweetheart..." He purrs, climbing into the nest and wrapping his arms around the omega fairy. "What's all this?"
"Alpha..." Peter whispers sleepily, curling back into the man's chest, breathing evening out once again. Tony can't help but smile at Peter's messy hair, devoid of its usual branches.
"Just needin' cuddles, Peter?" In lieu of a reply, Peter nods gently and nuzzles closer. "Well, that I can do. I also have the bluebell seeds you requested for the tea garden. We can head outside so you can plant them after our nap if you'd like. I wouldn't mind catching up on some reading while you do." Peter nods again, eyes fluttering shut. "Alrighty, baby. Talk to you in an hour or two..." Tony smiles, curling around the boy and falling asleep.
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"Y'know you're no use on this, T," Peter laughs, glaring playfully at Tony from his place in the flowerbed. "I can't decide if the chrysanthemums and bluebells can be friends or if I need to put them near the lilies."
"Why don't you ask them? I mean, can't you read the forest, sweetheart?" Tony replies, looking up from his book, turning the yellowed page as he does. His sunglasses glint in the sunlight, and Peter's breath falters. He's never gotten tired of seeing the man in "layman" clothes. While he and the rest of the colony tend to stick to canvas pants and earth-toned shirts, Tony wears lavish suits, pressed jeans, and t-shirts with logos for brands Peter's never heard of. Today it's a tiny upside-down triangle right over Tony's left pec.
"They don't speak to me, I can just feel energies sometimes." Peter defends, placing the Bluebells equidistant between the two patches of white and yellow flowers. "Maybe I should just space them evenly and cut my losses."
"Good idea." Tony doesn't look up this time but instead places his book on the wooden table in front of him. He reaches over to the basket of blooms Peter had trimmed earlier that morning and begins weaving a small crown out of the wildflowers.
By the time they're done, Peter's got dirt caked under his nails and the tips of his fingers are stained with soil. He turns to the older man, finding him asleep with a flower crown in his lap. "Tony?" Peter whispers, nuzzling into his side. "Tony, honey? Ready to head inside? I know it's just the middle of fall, but it's gonna get cold soon and I don't want you to freeze. Besides, I have wedding soup I need to start making if you want dinner."
"I'm up!" He laughs, "I also made this for you." Tony smiles up at Peter, handing him the wildflowers. "I think it should fit?" Peter places it on his head, smiling at the older.
"It's perfect." Peter leans down, kissing Tony gently on the lips. "Now. Food."
"Aye Aye, lovely omega." Peter rolls his eyes at the title, knowing Tony only pulls rank when it benefits him. "I am always willing to let you cook while I read."
"Or you can cook and I will crochet a new blanket."
"Nope. No! You volunteered! I don't want to burn down half the forest because I didn't make the stew correctly."
"And we definitely don't want that..." Peter laughs, disappearing inside the cottage.
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It's been 11 years since Tony ran off into the forest to get away from his problems.
And he hasn't regretted it since.