A Tin Man's Guide to Saving the Universe

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/39293418.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), The
Consultant (Marvel Short Film), The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media
Types, Captain America (Movies), Captain America - All Media Types,
The Incredible Hulk (2008), Black Widow (Movie 2021), Iron Man
(Movies), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV), Thor (Movies), Black Panther
(2018), Doctor Strange (2016), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to
Thor's Hammer (Marvel Short Film), Item 47 (Marvel Short Film), Agent
Carter (Marvel Short Film), Agent Carter (TV), Ant-Man (Movies)
Character: Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Howard Stark, Maria Hill, Maria Stark, Strike
Team (Captain America movies), James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers,
Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Bruce Banner, Nick Fury, Phil Coulson,
Edwin Jarvis, Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Ana Jarvis, Peggy Carter,
Sharon Carter (Marvel), Captain Marvel, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Peter
Parker, Clint Barton, Darcy Lewis, Thor (Marvel), Loki (Marvel), Odin
(Marvel), Frigga | Freyja (Marvel), Jane Foster (Marvel), James
"Rhodey" Rhodes, Harley Keener, Peter Quill, Gamora (Marvel),
Stephen Strange, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff
Additional Tags: Sentient Infinity Stones (Marvel), Howard Stark's A+ Parenting, Howard
Stark Lives, Maria Stark Lives, BAMF Maria Stark, Tony Stark Has A
Heart, Protective Tony Stark, BAMF Tony Stark, Protective Natasha
Romanov, Natasha Romanov Is Not A Robot, Time Travel Fix-It,
Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Time Travel, BAMF Natasha
Romanov, BAMF Darcy Lewis, BAMF Pepper Potts
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-05-29 Updated: 2022-05-31 Chapters: 5/? Words:
4321

A Tin Man's Guide to Saving the Universe

by AquaStarkWolf

Summary

May be renamed later, we'll see.

A story in which Tony and Natasha travel back in time to save the Universe... and quite
possibly, the multiverse!
 Death and Dying

If you asked me how I thought I might die as a child I would have responded with some sort of
scientific experiment accident, and as time went by and I became Iron Man, it became clearer it
would likely be in battle protecting those I care about. Which is what happened. I died that is. And
for those, I care about. I picked up the gauntlet and I snapped. It’s funny, the way that the stones
were talked about sounded excruciatingly painful. My arm started out feeling heavy, then it went
numb. I could feel something spreading through my body, a sort-of cold warmth running through
my veins. My stomach churned and all I could do was gasp for breath. They say that you see
flashes of your entire life as you die, but I find myself staring at Pepper and Peter, as the edges of
my vision darken slowly. This wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. The entire universe was suffering due to
the hands of one. But the sacrifice was worth it. The lives of the few for the lives of the many.

“We did it Mr. Stark” I barely manage to hear Peter say.

Pepper comes to crouch in front of me with tears in her eyes. I won’t get to see Morgan grow up, I
won’t be able to spend more time with Pepper and Peter. This is it, isn’t it? From an emotionally
absent father to a selfish money-hungry godfather, to the Battle of New York, and all the struggles
with the Avengers that followed. It all came down to this.

To one man snapping his fingers and bringing most people back. Once the world fades to black, I
find myself floating in a dark void, unsure how time flows, and unsure why my consciousness is
still aware of whatever is happening.
 The Cost of the Universe
Chapter Summary

Please comment any thoughts or constructive feedback <3

Stay safe
See the Sentient Infinity stones at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uhp9qE97fb8QIx5gVktWJwm2pS3I3Qh1/view?
usp=sharing

“The cost is too high” a feminine-like voice suddenly says from within this expansive darkness.
An orange flame in front of me. “So many lives were lost it could lead to the end of the universe as
we know it”
“How do we fix this?” another voice whispers as a yellow flame appears as well.
“Our chosen shall rise from the ashes like a phoenix and burn those who’ve abused our power” a
deeper voice growls, burning purple.
My latest Iron Man suit appears as if I was still within it and looks unblemished.
“Where am I?” I ask the seemingly sentient flames flickering in front of me.
“I’m what you’d call the reality stone, I created a space in time for your soul after using our powers
to undo as much as Thanos’ damage as possible.” A red flame flickers, a young sounding
masculine voice responds.
“I’ll be honest. Sentient stones was not my first thought” I respond, trying to process as a green and
blue flame appear as well.
“I’m known as the Power stone; we have a proposition for you” the purple flame flickers in the
darkness.
“He cannot do it alone. Soul, let us bring the Spider” The green flame of Time flickers as he
suggests bringing in the Widow.
“Natasha?” I ask as suddenly the form of Natasha appears next to me, floating in this expansive
darkness, she glances at the flames cautiously before looking at me with shock.
“Where?”
“Miss Romanova, I am Space” the blue flame flickers and her jaw drops. “We brought you here to
discuss the harm Thanos has brought to the universe, and determine a route of action to prevent
him from ever abusing our power ever again”
“How? Everything has happened. The endgame is done” I question.
“We are the Infinity Stones. We have the powers of Time, Space, Power, Reality, Soul, and Mind
to send you both back and fix the past” the red flame of Reality reminds them.
“You both sacrificed a lot for the lives of many for little recognition, you both show your
intentions. We want to send you back to change the course of time from this path that could lead to
the destruction of our universe and in turn the beginning of the destruction of the multiverse.”
Mind follows up.
“Did you just say the multiverse exists?” I ask, Natasha sighs.
“Is that all you got from that? The Infinity Stones just offered to send us back to the past to fix
things” Natasha laughs in disbelief.
“Due to your previous sacrifice, my power will never harm you going forward with this plan in the
past Natalia Romanova” Soul states.
“That’s… Pretty useful” I mumble, only to be interrupted by Reality.
“You’re immune to us all as you have already paid the price for our power and used it responsibly
in an effort to change the damage The Mad Titan had stuck upon the universe” They let Natasha
and Tony process everything for a few moments.
“How is this going to work?” I ask suddenly, “Do we choose when we can go back?”
“When are you thinking” Natasha asks.
“My parents don’t have to die, and Hydra doesn’t have to stay in SHIELD” I suggest, “We just
have to be really careful about what we change and how since change befalls change. There will
become a point when we won’t know what happens next.”
“Wouldn’t those be considered the fixed points Doctor Strange would tell us about” Natasha
questions.
“That’s up for me to decide” Time states, Natasha and I look at the flame curiously. “And I’ve
seen your souls, I’ve seen how you think, and I feel the type of changes you’d like to make, and as
long as you’re careful and think things through, you won’t damage the universe any worse than
Thanos did”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment” Natasha slowly adds, I snort.
“Probably not, but that’s enough of an okay for me.”
“Another consideration is when you want to travel back to. Keep in mind this will be spirit travel,
you will be back in your previous bodies.” Reality brings up, I nod in acknowledgement.
“Near the end of November or early December 1991 for me. I need enough time to form a plan and
recreate JARVIS before taking on the Winter Soldier. When do you graduate from the Red Room
Natasha?” I ask.
“They didn’t let us keep track of time in the Red Room, but I started training in 1995” Natasha
says, we take a few moments to think about what that could mean for planning.
“Do you want to endure that again or would you like me to get you out of there sooner” I ask, she
shakes her head.
“I… would appreciate the assistance in preventing the hysterectomy. Otherwise, history should be
history… Afterall, it’s how I became the Black Widow, who would I be if I didn’t go through my
defining experiences” she asks, I contemplate the logic in that.
“In that case, I’ll make it seem like the crash happened, and have my parents and Barnes on the
down low”
“It sounds like you’re almost ready” Power states, we both nod, and our new reality turns once
again into darkness.
 A Re-Awakening
Chapter Summary

The next chapter is already in the works.

She woke up in a dark room on a familiar cot with handcuffs around her wrist, feeling smaller and
younger than she remembered. She grinned in the darkness. It worked. Now to wait until Tony
comes for me, or an opportunity presents itself.

I woke up feeling better than I’d felt in years, which didn’t make sense. There was no pressure on
my chest, no discomfort in my lungs, no chronic pain. I take a moment to categorize everything I’m
feeling, and then I remember.

“It worked?” I gasp, sitting up, staring around my old bedroom in my parents’ mansion in disbelief,
“holy fuck I’m 21 again!”

First things first. What day is it? How much time do I have?

“It is December fourth” a voice says, although if I’m unmistaken it sounded like a thought in my
head rather than a voice in my room. “Rather observant of you Stark, I am the Mind Stone. As
you’d say, ‘we have a connection’ and I am here to assist how I can”

“Well then, first things first, call me Tony. Next, I need to recreate JARVIS” I sigh and try to
remember where technology is at in this point of time, and how I can get that project started.

“Space is on Earth; I could send a ping and see what we can do about bringing your JARVIS back
from whenever works best for you”

“Wouldn’t that damage the timeline?” I ask Soul in confusion.

“Thanos already damaged the timeline, what it takes to fix it before it’s unfixable doesn’t
negatively impact the time continuum. I figure Time will let me know if it’s a problem, since zhe
are on Earth as well”

“Point taken”
I get up and change into something more professional, something no one in this house would
expect from my old 21-year-old alcoholic playboy self. I walk down the stairs to see that I’m up
earlier than my parents.

“Tony, to avoid the surprise and confusion, Edwin Jarvis is on his way down the hall towards
you”

I take a deep breath through the shock of the statement. Right, my parents aren’t dead yet and he’s
still our butler. Well, more than a butler.

“Master Tony, you’re up early” Jarvis says as he rounds the corner in the hallway, somewhat
surprised by my appearance. I grin.

“That’s not wrong. I didn’t expect to be awake this early, but you know how it is, the thoughts just
keep coming and the brain just wants me to work. Could you set up a meeting with Howard later in
the afternoon?” I ask, he seems confused but nods regardless.

“Of course, Young Sir, anything else I can help you with?” he asks, I shake my head, the I pause
and look thoughtful for a moment.

“If one of the spare rooms could be turned into an office for me that’d be great. In fact, while we’re
at that, could you start the search for a personal assistant?” I ask, he nods with a smile.

“Of course, Young Sir” Jarvis says, before heading on his way to do whatever it was that he was
doing.

Going back in time is weird, it really makes you rethink just how well the human memory can
remember things. I head back to my room and get on my very old computer. Granted, it’s the best
this time period has to offer, time travel kind of sucks sometimes. There are not even quad cores
yet. I let out a deep sigh as I struggle to get on what’s known as the internet for this time. Time to
do some research and catch up on the current time… or is it the past? Ugh.

Breakfast is an uncomfortable affair where my mother tries not to seem obvious in her staring at
my more professional appearance while Howard doesn’t even bother hiding his confusion.

“Something special planned today?” Howard finally asks, I internally sigh with relief at the lack of
passive aggressive attitude.

“I’m having Jarvis schedule us a meeting for later. I’m taking over a spare room to create an office
for myself” I state as I take a sip of my coffee and try to avoid his stare.
“Anything I need to know in advance?” he asks gruffly, I pause and take a moment to think about
it.

“I want my own lab space separate from the house. So, I suppose I want my own property. If you
have a list of potential properties, we already own, that would be convenient” I admit, he seems to
think on it for a moment.

“I’ll get those together then” he states, focusing back on his food.

“Did you have something you wanted to say, mom?” I ask, since she’s seemingly been trying to
determine how to say whatever she’s been thinking this entire breakfast.

“You just look so grown” She finally says with a bittersweet smile. I internally wince, hopefully
this time you’ll live long enough to see me grow.

“Thanks” I finish up and get back to my room to start some more research on who to staff my
building.
 SHIELDing the World from the Future

When I get out of the meeting with my father, I have 9 potential properties to check out, 4 personal
assistant recommendations, and he raised my “allowance” to include potential costs of putting this
all together. Thankfully he seemed to respect my need for separate lab space.

6 days later the main lab space is built, I hired a temporary personal assistant until Pepper joins SI,
and I delegated the security details to Happy, since I already have him on the SI payroll as my
bodyguard. It’s 6 days until the “accident” and I feel no where closer to a solution on how to
prevent everything from playing out.

“Go to the lab, Chosen. You’ll find a gift” Soul grabs my attention, and I determine that’s my first
step of the day.

When I arrive, I head to my lab and freeze in shock.

“Is that… The Mark XLII?” I gasp.

“We wanted to make the process easier…. Say hello to JARVIS”

“JARVIS?”

“Hello Sir. I seem to have an issue with my systems, the records show last access in 2013 and my
system shows that it is currently 1991” Jarvis replies, I let out a watery laugh.

“I’ve missed you JARVIS. There’s no issue. It is 1991, we’ve gone back in time” I respond, I
didn’t quite think it’d be JARVIS from before Ultron.

“Back in time Sir? I’m unsure I understand”

“No worries, JARVIS, we’ll get you up to speed soon enough” I respond. I decided to start
working on making an early model of the Starkphone, while JARVIS has all my previous research,
the technology is still years from where we are now. I did build this lab for a reason afterall.

“If you take the suit and manage to slow down the soldier, I can send the soul of Barnes from the
future we came from to the body of Barnes here. That should give you the time you need to
disconnect any sort of trackers and kill-switches in his programming” Soul offers as we brainstorm
a plan on how to handle the attempted assassination.

“I’d feel better if I had backup, like Rhodey, although I suppose you’re the ultimate backup” I
muse.

“I’d say the infinite backup” Soul teases. “What about Carter”
“Aunt Peggy? She’s determined to keep SHIELD from me, like Howard” I respond, Soul laughs.

“But they don’t know that you know. If you already know, then what’s the issue? You’re a genius,
it seems pretty unintelligent to assume you’d never figure it out”

“That’s… a fair point” I respond. I give Jarvis a call and have him set up a meeting that evening
with Howard and Peggy. We only have 3 days left to make this work. Time to make them count.

“Hello Howard, It’s good to see you” Peggy says as she walks into Howard’s office. He looks up
from his file and puts it away in his desk.

“It’s good to see you too Peggy” he responds as she takes a seat across from him, getting
comfortable.

“What’s this meeting about Howard” she asks bluntly, he sighs and shrugs.

“I haven’t a clue. Tony seems different as of late and organized this with Jarvis, Maria asked me to
make sure you’d stay for dinner” he replies.

“Sorry I’m late, hope you made it here alright Aunt Peggy” I say as I walk into Howard’s office.

“You called the meeting, I’d say it’s safe to say it starts when you arrive” she replies, I grin and
give her a hug before getting comfortable in the seat next to her.

“What’s this about Tony? Earlier this month it was a private lab, now a meeting with your Aunt
Peggy?” Howard asks, I sigh and shift in my seat as I determine what to say precisely.

“You are pretty cocky to assume I’d not figure out about SHIELD” I end up deciding to say, they
both stiffen and glance at each other. “I mean, I’m pretty smart, so you’d honestly have to try
harder to keep something like that from me. Besides, when the company passes on to me, I’m sure
SHIELD would come knocking”

“How did you figure out about SHIELD” Peggy interrupts whatever Howard would have
responded about. “Why bring it up like this here and now?”

“Because I have no choice but to tell you, since I’ll need your help” I end up saying, looking her in
the eyes to see my sincerity.

“Help with what?” Howard asks. I wince and look towards a wall, so I don’t have to see however
they take this.

“Help prevent you and mom’s deaths at the hands of HYDRA” I state.
“HYDRA was destroyed” Peggy finally says, after they both process my statement.

“HYDRA is still alive. They always like to talk about that head’s thing. Cut off one two more
replace it. Let’s just say that happened when Rogers went into the ice” I respond, Howard scoffs.

“How would you know” He asks in disbelief. I look him in the eyes trying to express everything
I’ve been through.

“Because I’ve lived through it. You’ve obviously noticed how I’ve changed. I time travelled from
2023. You died. Then SHIELD covered it up. Which, I’ve always wondered, did the name come
from your lost love in Rogers?” I ask Peggy, she smirks that classic smirk she’s always been
known for, and I laughed.

“Prove it” Howard says, I snort.

“I’d say you’ll find out in a few days, but I plan on doing everything I can to change the deaths of
you and mom” I snark. “We don’t have time for disbelief and lack of trust”

“What do you need from SHIELD?” Peggy asks, I shake my head.

“I don’t need anything from SHIELD, I need your skills as backup when I take the Winter Soldier
on” I admit.

“The Winter Soldier is a myth” Howard huffs, I pale.

“You won’t be saying that in three days when you try to deliver the super soldier serum to the
Pentagon”

“How do you know that” Howard asks angrily, getting up.

“Because I found out the hard way because you died, and I’ll be honest, I blamed you for taking
mom with you for years after the fact” I admit and stand up myself.

“Regardless, it’s time I show you a piece of the future, come with me” I say, taking them to the lab.
 Planning Prevention
Chapter Summary

I created a spotify playlist for this story

https://open.spotify.com/album/5Wvcnn5547f6xz8F9Kz6rO?
si=0LgEFfQoRkeTJrUuVU3pEQ

“Welcome to the future” I say as I walk them into my lab. It’s similar to the set up I had after
Afghanistan using the knowledge I have on future technology.

“This isn’t possible” Peggy says, and Howard looks around in shock.

“You’re right, this isn’t possible with the materials that 1991 has to offer, but it is with the
materials that 2011 has available” I admit. “Show em J”

“Of course, Sir” JARVIS replies, they both startle at the sudden voice and look around in
confusion.

“What was that” Peggy asks, Howard looks at me in shock.

“Is that an artificial intelligence?” He asks, I grin proudly.

“He’s more than that.” I say as my holographic table lights up with the data from the previous
timeline. “This is the data I have from when you died before. I won’t watch the video again, so I’ll
leave the room when you get to it”

“What do you mean video” Peggy says, and they both look at me, I look at the ground awkwardly.

“If I may Sir, the video was from before the crash up until they had the camera shot. They wanted
to leave a video recording to use later on to trigger some events” JARVIS fills in, I let out a watery
laugh and pat the table.

“Thanks buddy” I walk over to the table, and they follow behind me quietly. I pull up the details on
what happened with the serum after he died, and the files on the Winter Soldier.

“Does that say what I think it does?” Peggy gasps, where she’s reading the files.

“Yes, it does. James Buchanan Barnes is alive and under the control of HYDRA from
brainwashing” I respond distantly.

“I want to watch this” Howard says, I look him in the eyes and Peggy stays silent.

“You really don’t. But I’m not going to tell you what to do. I’m going to go get some coffee and
bring you both some back after JARVIS let’s me know it’s all clear” I advise them before leaving
the room to do exactly what I said I would.
“Sir, the video is over and closed” JARVIS speaks up after a while, and I collect the tray of coffee
and head back to the lab in silence.

“So-.“ I start, but Peggy interrupts me by grabbing the tray and setting it down carefully before
pulling me into a hug.

“What’s your plan?” Howard asks. I grin.

“I thought you’d never ask” I respond. “JARVIS, send on out the suit”

The Mark XLII walks out and they both stare in disbelief.

“What the fuck is that” Peggy asks in shock, and I laugh.

“This is Sir’s Mark XLII Iron Man suit” JARVIS replies and pulls up video feeds of Iron man in
action in the future in his different suits.

“This is amazing” Howard says, I freeze in shock. Did Howard just compliment my work?

“Right, well I need Peggy to make sure, maybe with Sousa, since he’s clean, that the soldier’s
handler is taken care of while I take care of the Soldier” I share.

“Chosen, let us help her remember” Soul suddenly speaks, and I consider that for a moment.

“Aunt Peggy, do you want to remember your future?” I ask out loud, before addressing soul,
“I’ve realized that we should probably ask people for consent before doing so unless it’s a matter
of importance”

“Remember the future?” Howard asks, I shrug awkwardly.

“It’s really complicated, and I promise to explain the details once this is all taken care of, but the
simplest version is that I have an object that has the powers of the Soul” I try to explain.

“Let me” Soul offers, I hold up a finger to Howard and Peggy before they ask anything and start to
feel a soft warmth flow through my body.

“Your eyes” Peggy gasps.

“Their orange?” Howard asks.

“I am Soul, don’t be afraid, Tony let me speak through him to explain my existence further. I am
one of six stones of the powers of the infinite universe. My fellow stones are Power, Space, Mind,
Reality, and Time. I can sense and understand all souls without the barriers of time. There are
things that happen in your future that aren’t meant to be” Soul speaks through Tony, sounding like
a million voices at once combined into one. It’s disconcerting. The warmth and the glow fades
until Tony is the guiding force of himself again.

“That was really weird Soul” I mutter, grabbing my mug of coffee and chugging part of it.
“Do it” Peggy says suddenly. I look up and see the shock on Howards face and I assume it’s
reflected on my own.

“Are you sure, you’re going to be yourself and future you at the same time. It’s honestly really
weird” I warn her, she nods. I lift up my hand and Soul is suddenly sitting within it.

“Well then, you sit in my brain, yet you pop into physical form for my family… I see how it is
Soul” I snark as a light within the stone pulses and shoots out and embraces Peggy. Howard
catches her and we work together to set her done on a chair as she processes the information sent
through her soul. The stone disappears again with a laugh in the air.

“It should have warned us to sit her down” Howard comments, I laugh.

“She knew we’d catch her” I respond as Peggy’s eyes suddenly open and she gasps.

“That motherfucker” She growls, then she looks at me and bursts into tears. “Oh Tony, you’ll have
me till the end of the line” she smirks at the old phrase, “Apparently HYDRA created a serum that
eats away the memories in the brain. They took my life”

“What is she talking about” Howard asks, I sigh and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Soon after you passed Peggy developed Alzheimer’s, although now it sounds like that was
unnatural”

“HYDRA is within SHIELD and they knew what I would do about that” She hisses in anger, “This
is not going to be our legacy Howard. It is not!”

“We can’t change too much Peggy” I say slowly, she looks at me with hurt in her eyes.

“You want SHIELD to become a dirty organization?” she asks suspiciously.

“No, but I know if we take them out now, that the future could change drastically enough that we
can’t plan for future events. I have a list of who was dirty in the future, we can keep them from the
important stuff and slowly phase them out of SHIELD without them realizing we ever knew they
were there” I suggest, and we all think about that for a few moments.

“Sir, my apologies for interrupting, but Jarvis has sent word that Maria wants you home for dinner
soon” JARVIS interrupts.

“We better get back then” Tony says, then pauses and looks at Howard. “Look, I want to tell mom
about this, but we should wait until after the rescue mission”

“That would be best, no need to add stress and it offers the authenticity of her reaction” Howard
finally says. We all agree and head back to the mansion for dinner.

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