Peter
For Peter it all started the first time he had to cancel on Mister Stark. He had been planning to go by the tower after school to help Tony with some ideas for the New Avengers uniforms but Ned had called him. Instead he ended up responding to a police scanner report of some sort of enhanced individual fleeing a robbed pharmacy nearby.
He had Karen send Mister Stark a quick text that Spiderman was following a lead and then swung off towards the perps last location. With Ned’s helpful tips in his ear it wasn’t long before he came face to face with, well he wasn’t sure what exactly it was.
The thing had on clothes like a scientist or professor complete with lab coat, corduroys, and sweater vest. Those clothes however were stretched tight over unnaturally long sinewy limbs ending with clawed hands and feet. It’s face held fangs, large bloodshot eyes, and humongous ears. The creature was sprinting full tilt down the sidewalk pushing in front of it a shopping cart filled to the brim with various drugs that must have come from the pharmacy.
“Only in New York” Peter muttered to himself.
Peter swung around in front of the creature landing about 20 feet away and bringing the creature to a dead stop as it sized him up. He webbed up the top of the shopping cart to prevent spillage before yanking it out of the creature's hands to come to a rolling stop by his side.
“Excuse me, I'm gonna need to see your receipt.”
The creature screeched, positively furious and broke into a run to close the distance and launch itself at Peter.
“They never appreciate my opening lines.” Peter sighed forlornly as he flipped to the side and prepared to go on the offensive.
Pointy ears wasn't a talker but he was fast as hell and surprisingly smart. He seemed to be a step ahead of Peter the whole time they fought. Peter was having to dodge or jump back more often than not, always just missing those wicked claws. Peter shot a web able to catch one of those clawed hands.
He didn't have time to act on his small victory though because the creature used the web attached to it's hand to yank Peter forward flipping him through the air so his head connected to the creature’s free fist.
Stars burst across Peter's vision as the punch sent him spiraling back the way he came. He landed on his back on the sidewalk and the creature was on him in an instant. Before he could react it brought down it's claws slicing in a diagonal arch across Peter's torso.
Peter screamed, the pain in his body and head causing his vision to white out momentarily. When it cleared after a few seconds it was just in time to see the creature about to slash down on him again.
One instant a long nightmarish arm was stretched above the creature's head and the next something amazing happened. The arm was ensnared and held back from coming down on Peter by what looked like a thick band of bright burning fire. The creature tried to yank on the fire rope like it had done with Peter's webs but there was absolutely no budge. After a second another band descended from above capturing the creature's other hand. For a second it stood there mad and practically frothing at the mouth. It’s eyes still locked on Peter's prone form on the ground before the bands snapped back the way they had came taking the pointy ears with it. Peter tracked the creature with his eyes and it wasn't until he saw the creature disappear into a familiar fiery circle that Peter was able to compute what was happening.
He sighed in relief slumping back into the sidewalk. From above he saw an impressive figure descend with the sunlight at his back making the white streaks in his wind ruffled hair look almost silver. Doctor Strange was all fury and and composure. His chiselled features hardened into something cold and untouchable as his magic receded back into him. His red cloak rippled with power as he floated down to land next to Peter. The man had always been tall and powerful looking but from Peter's vantage point flat on his back looking up Doctor Strange was a steely godlike creature and most importantly he was his rescuer.
Strange's eyes flicked over the scene businesslike, calculating the risk, making sure there were no other threats, and that civilians were safe before those same eyes turned to Peter. In an instant he switched from protector to doctor his eyes that were hard and cold tuning warmer, and softer with a touch of concern and fondness. He knelt near Peter's side his trembling hand cradling Peter's head to feel for any fracture or injury.
He spoke at last, voice low and soothing. “You need medical attention Peter. I can't treat you here but I also don't want you to move too much or it will aggravate this laceration.”
Snapping out of all his thoughts of 'Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.’ on repeat Peter looked down to where Strange's other hand hovered over his torso. The creature had torn through his suit and there was a long shallow cut running diagonally across his chest and all the way down to his hip.
Karen's voice piped up through his speakers. “Shall I notify Mister Stark that you require assistance.”
Peter shook his head furiously before getting a painful reminder of the hits he just took with a bout of vertigo. “No no no you can't tell Mister Stark are you kidding me he'll freak out.” He thanked the heavens for Ned that he figured out a way to circumvent the new and improved baby monitor protocol 2.0. Mister Stark had snuck it back in his suit but Ned hacked in and changed it so that Karen would ask before alerting Mister Stark to Peter's mishaps.
“Don't worry Peter.” Strange withdrew his hands and replaced his sling ring on his finger. “I've got you.” Strange conjured a portal and then with surprising strength put his arms under Peter keeping his weight off his hands and stood lifting him bridal style in order to keep from aggravating his injuries. Peter's head was upset a bit by the change of altitude so he allowed it to flop to the side to rest on a firm pectoral muscle. He looked up and saw Strange smile a bit before stepping through the portal and closing it behind them.
Once through Peter was deposited into a soft bed that smelled like clean linen with hints of mint and pine. Strange then went into full on Doctor mode he stripped Peter out of the top half of his suit and set about magically stitching the skin On his torso back together. Peter watched transfixed as the two sides of the cut came back together seamlessly and the pain subsided to a dull itchy throb. When Doctor Strange finished he looked good as new with only a tingle in his skin as evidence that he had ever been hurt.
Before Peter could thank the Doctor the man straightened up stalking across the room to the closet. He returned a moment later with a pair of sweatpants and a shirt and placed them next to Peter on the bed.
“Change into these. I'm going to go get you something that should help with you head and then I'll see about fixing the tear in your suit.”
Peter was about to speak up again this time to tell the Doctor that he could fix the suit himself but in a literal blink the man had disappeared leaving him alone in what Peter realised must be his bedroom.
Peter changed quickly not knowing when the man was due to reappear. As expected the T-shirt and sweatpants were too large but also super darn comfortable with that same smell of fresh linen with the barest hint of pine. Peter had just laid his suit over the edge of the bed and was contemplating how he could keep Doctor Strange's clothing when he turned around and nearly ran straight into the man himself.
He steadied Peter on his feet with a gentle hand at his shoulder and handed him a small mug.
“Drink this.”
“What is it?” Peter grabbed it and smelled the warm liquid in the mug dubiously. “Is it a potion?”
Doctor Strange smiled again amused. Peter watched transfixed as it softened his face. His eyes crinkled in the corners as his mouth pulled back giving a much kinder look to his normally serious face. “In a manner of speaking.” He said in an answer to Peter's question that really answered nothing until he elaborated further. “You've likely got a concussion but head healing magic can be tricky so rather than directly influence your brain I made you this tea infused with healing magic as a safer way to alter your brain chemistry.”
“Wow. So you made me a potion.”
When Doctor Strange rolled his eyes Peter didn't think he looked too annoyed so he considered it a win.
Peter sat down on the bed and began sipping his tea which wasn't actually that bad now that he tried it.
Doctor Strange settled down across from Peter sitting cross legged. Peter nearly choked on a sip because there wasn't a chair across from him. Doctor Strange just sat hovering in the air at the level of the bed. He held out his hand and Peter's suit zipped past him off the bed and into Strange's waiting arms. Peter watch as Strange set about mending it with his magic. The rip in the suit bonded itself together but Strange didn't stop there various fiery mandalas coming from his hands, his chest, and his head and sinking into the fabric of the suit one after the other.
The two of them sat there companionably one weaving spells and the other nursing a magical tea while watching him. After awhile of sipping Peter's headache went away replaced by the same kind of tingly feeling there had been on his chest where the gash healed. He had finished off his tea and was starting to feel awkward just staring at Strange when the other man uncrossed his legs, stood, and stretched. He held Peter's super suit out for a second eyes scanning down it critically before he handed it back.
Peter jumped up switching his tea mug to one hand as Doctor Strange held out his suit for him to take. “Thank you Doctor Strange I really appreciate it. You helping me out back there and fixing the suit and all even though I could have done it.”
Strange shrugged off his thanks easily. “I didn’t just mend the suit I also took the liberty of casting some protection spells over it.” When Peter’s mouth fell open in shock Doctor Strange went on seeming a little unsure of whether or not he overstepped his bounds. “Don’t worry it’s nothing invasive and nothing that will hinder the technological functions of the suit, heaven knows Stark would never let me hear the end of it if I tampered with his tech, but it should prove useful if anyone tries a mystical attack on you.”
‘Wow that’s amazing Doctor Strange thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome Peter. Don’t hesitate to ask for help in the future.”
As soon as Peter got home that night he took off Doctor Strange’s clothes folding them and setting them aside where they would be safe right next to where he kept his supersuits.
He went to bed that night thinking about a man descending from the sky angel-like in his grace and fury, strong arms lifting him as if he weighed nothing and trembling hands handing him magical tea. He felt tingles but they had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with the smell of fresh linen and kind blue-green-grey eyes crinkling at the edges from a rare smile.
Peter had a crush on Doctor Strange.