He's so Tired, But She's on Fire
Previously in Chapter Two: Possibilities and Hope
This kicked off a firestorm of a debate. They could save him! They would save him! But they had to act quickly, his condition was almost too far gone, and they didn’t even know which way they were going to save him.
Pepper Potts was lying in the bed next to Tony Stark as they watched the Avengers in the communal kitchen bicker and argue over just how they were going to save the man that meant so much to so many. Pepper felt her heart soar – she wouldn’t lose him after all! He would live! He’d probably go back to being Iron Man and scaring the crap out of her, but she wouldn’t have to live the rest of her life without him and wonder if sending Rhodey to the Avengers in his stead is what sent him on this downward spiral. She didn’t realize she had tears sneaking down her cheeks until a weak, shaking hand laden with IVs gently thumbed one off.
“Pep, I’m so, so sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Tony. Everything is going to be okay now. We’re going to figure this out – and you’re going to be saved!” Peppers voice was warbly, shaking nearly as bad as Tony’s hand.
“Pep…” he started, rasping. “I am so, so sorry. I’m tired. I tried. I tried not to waste it. But I’m tired,” his breath was starting to come in little gasps so she reached over and turned his oxygen up – again, this time to its highest setting. As much as she couldn’t bear to hear him struggling to breath, she had to know what the hell he was talking about.
“Tony… Tony I don’t understand.”
“Pep…” gasping, even with his oxygen at its highest settings she had a really bad feeling about what was going to happen next. “Virginia, baby, I don’t want to be saved.”
Pepper gasped. She just couldn’t comprehend that this man who had been through so much would give up now – not when they were so close to saving him! “Anthony Edward Stark! You listen to me. You are a good man. You are a hero. You deserve to live a long and happy life – even if you don’t get back out there in the suit – do you understand me?” she demanded.
Tony had a single tear tracking down one cheek, still gasping for breath when he replied, “I love you, Pep. But I’m not a good man. Just a fraud. I tried to be good – for you. Everything I did after Afghanistan was for you. Baby, I’m tired,” he trailed off.
Before she could respond, a loud commotion sounded from the communal living room. Squeezing his hand, she checked the cameras, only to see a dead man standing with a group of people she’s never seen before, glaring at the Avengers. Phil had saved her so many times in the past. Maybe he could save her one last time – because there would be no Pepper Potts without a Tony Stark. Giving his hand one last squeeze, she went to fetch the man that the love of her life had dubbed Agent Agent.
~*~
“Phil Coulson.” All commotion in the communal room stopped when Pepper stepped in to grab the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. “You need to come with me now. Tony doesn’t have much time left.”
Director Coulson – who had been unaware of Stark’s condition – stared blankly at the tear stained face at one of the most composed women he’d ever met. “I’m sorry? What do you mean Stark doesn’t have much time left? Was he injured in the H.Y.D.R.A. reveal?”
A collective shudder went through the room as Pepper’s skin flashed a vivid fiery orange before she could respond, “No, Mr. Stark has not been a part of the Avenger’s team since the Battle of Manhattan. He had no part in the H.Y.D.R.A. reveal. He is dying from congestive heart failure even though each of the members of the Avengers have come up with a solution to save him, he has informed me, he does not wish to be saved.” The room erupted into chaos – except for Colonel Rhodes who collapsed into the nearest chair.
“Is he still of sound mind and judgment, Pepper?” he whispered. She nodded an assent not trusting her voice to remain steady. She needed Coulson to get to Tony NOW.
“What does that have to do with anything? We have the means to save him; we will damn well do so!” Barton snapped.
Banner eased himself down next to Rhodes, doing him damnedest to breathe the green away. “If we don’t have permission from the patient, we can’t.” All eyes snapped to him. He glanced at Rhodes and Potts and knew the terrible, terrible truth: “He’s asked you to let him die, hasn’t he?”
“It is his body. His mind. His decision.” Pepper is through talking with these so called heroes. She grabbed Phil by the arm and began dragging him by the arm to the med bay.
“Pepper. I’m sorry, Miss Potts, if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to Mr. Stark alone. It may be his decision now – but I have an idea.”
Pepper looked at him with watery eyes, “What kind of idea?”
“We might not have any choice but to let him die.” A soft sob escaped from the distraught CEO. “But as you well know, I myself was killed in the attack on the Hellicarrier. He doesn’t have to stay dead…” the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. trailed off.
Pepper’s eyes snapped to his and she pierced him to his very soul with her ‘don’t fuck with the redhead expression’. “And what’s the price of this miracle you’re offering?”
“Does it matter?”
“No, no it does not. You fuck us over, I will burn you, your team, and your whole entire world to the ground – do you understand me Coulson?”
“Crystal.”
To Be Continued In: Chapter Four: This is Not the End