This is Not the End
Previously in Chapter Three: He’s so tired But She’s on Fire
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.”
“Mr. Stark, I hear that your health has taken a dramatic and drastic turn for the worse,” Coulson announced his presence in the room where one Anthony Edward Stark lay dying. He thought he’d been prepared for the scene that greeted him – but the sight of one of the greatest men in the world so, so still in a hospital bed gasping for breath surrounded by so many machines, shook even his resolve.
“Phil?” a weak whisper greeted him. In all the years knowing Tony Stark, the man had never once called him by his first name. It had always been Coulson, Agent – or their personal favorite, Agent Agent. “I knew it was coming soon – just didn’t think it would be you to collect me,” he gasped out.
“Stark I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Coulson, you’re dead. I’m dying. Cut the shit. You’re here to take me aren’t you?” How the hell was he supposed to respond to that? Tony must be delirious. But then, he thought, like all of the Avengers, he’d thought Coulson was dead. Hell, Coulson had been dead – until Fury had reignited the T.A.H.I.T.I. Project and brought him back.
“Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Stark, you and I are very much alive. I’m here to offer you a proposition. Get you back into fighting form – and get back at your so called teammates while we’re at it.”
“Of all the people I thought would come to collect me, you were on my list – but you weren’t at the top Coulson. I’m not looking for deals. I’m ready to go. I’m tired. So, so tired,” Tony rasped. If he were honest with himself, he’d been hoping to see a certain someone else. Coulson was good – don’t get him wrong – but he just wanted to know if he’d made him proud.
“Then perhaps, I will collect, after you are dead Mr. Stark? After all, where will the Avengers be without their Technical Consultant – their Weapons Designers? I’ve seen everything you’ve done to try to make this team work after the Battle of Manhattan only to be turned away time and time again. Without you, there is no Avengers, Mr. Stark. Can you let go knowing that?” Coulson was not above using Stark’s heart against him.
“Director Coulson? I do believe that Sir is too far gone to be saved. Please refrain from making his last moments any more difficult”.
“My apologies J.A.R.V.I.S. I am trying to save Mr. Stark. Even if he loses this fight we still have time to win the war so to speak”. Coulson noticed that Stark’s eyes were beginning to glass over and his was no longer focusing solely on him. “Stark, listen to me, I need to know why you think you don’t deserve to be saved?”
What he answered with chilled Coulson to his bones, “Iron Man yes, Tony Stark… Not Recommended.”
“Oh, my God.” This was his entire fault. Not S.H.I.E.L.D., not the Avengers – his. That stupid personality profile he and Romanoff compiled when Stark was DYING of Palladium poisoning – was the cause of Tony’s decline. He’d seen Stark pouring his heart and soul into the Avenger’s Initiative. He’d known Romanoff had read him wrong and signed off on the report because he’d thought that he would be saving his live not ending it! He’d known – known dammit, that when push came to shove, it would be Stark laying down on the wire and going out in the blaze of fire that Iron Man had been born in. He’d told Fury that when he’d been ordered to activate Stark – that if the excrement was about to hit the ventilator, he would not be the one responsible for telling Potts about Stark’s demise – that they’d be sending the man to his death. Sure enough, when the World Safety Council (buncha H.Y.D.R.A. controlled dicks!) sent the nuke, it was Tony Stark laying everything down on the line and taking it through the wormhole.
They’d nearly lost him. Would have lost the world without his quick thinking and willingness to make what he thought was a one-way trip. He’d heard that he’d tried to call Pepper mid-nuke into space flight – and that was all Coulson need to know about what Stark though his odds were of returning. Widow closed the portal at the last possible moment and he’d just barely made it through then! If not for Hulk catching him and slowing down his fall, they still would have lost him. He saved the goddamned world and then the Avengers just sort of forgot about him because he’d been trying to save his life.
“Stark, you listen to me. The only reason you were not considered for the Avenger’s Initiative was that I knew we’d lose you. I knew Widow has read you wrong and the personality profile was a bunch of bullshit – but I knew personally with your history, you’d go out in a blaze of glory either to save the world – or just one of your teammates – or a civilian. You’d do anything to stop the loss of life – even at the cost of your own”. Phil felt Stark’s eyes focus on him one last time. He could tell by the monitors that they didn’t have much time left.
“Pretty sentiment. We’re still out of time though.” Tony’s eyes were losing focus again, drifting over Coulson’s shoulder, his O2 stats were too low for his oxygen being on high and his pulse was getting slower and slower. Coulson reached forward and took his hand knowing that this was it. Hating it; knowing that it was his fault, but that this was it.
“If you had a chance to come back, don the suit and get back out there with your team would you take it? Stark?” Coulson was trying to get Stark to hang on just a little bit longer – he really didn’t want to do what he was going to do this without his permission – but they really, really needed him in the Avenger’s Initiative. But Stark was quickly becoming unresponsive. He would though, unless he responded ‘no’ before he passed in the next couple of minutes, God help him, Coulson would.
“Yinsen?” the whisper was so weak he barely heard it. Who or what was a ‘Yinsen’? Tony’s eyes was focused over his shoulders but there was no one there when Coulson turned. “Tired Yinsen.”
“J.A.R.V.I.S.? Who or what is Yinsen?”
“Yinsen was a fellow captive with Sir in Afghanistan. He died during the escape. Sir never recovered from his death or spoke of it to anyone but myself. If he is seeing him now, then I am afraid the time has come.”
“So, sorry Yinsen, can I come home now?” The monitors besides the bed began to blast warnings and trill alarms. He was fading and fading fast. One final whisper of, “Yinsen? Did I waste it?” and he was gone.
Anthony Edward Stark died on a sunny Sunday afternoon surrounded by the best medical equipment his money could buy, a man back from the dead, a ghost that he’d spent the last decade trying to make proud. He’d poured his mind, heart, and soul into an initiative only to have it stomped on, shredded, chewed up, and spat back at him like it was nothing at all. He was 43. This all could have been avoided if only the damn Avengers had kept in the fold! Could Coulson truly bring him back – knowing how he’d suffered – how he could suffer again? One thing was certain. If he did bring him back, things were going to change – drastically – and not just because he was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., but because he was Tony Stark’s friend goddammit, and he’d let him down. “J.A.R.V.I.S., make the announcement please.”
“Of course Director Coulson.” Coulson could hear the pain and anguish in the A.I.’s voice, “Attention Avenger’s Tower: At approximately 4:12P.M. Sunday, February 15, 2015, Anthony Edward Stark has passed away due to complications relating to the surgical removal of the arc reactor.” Coulson and J.A.R.V.I.S. both could hear Pepper’s wailing cries from where ever she was in the Tower.
To Be Continued In: Chapter Five: Reactions, Reasoning, and Doubt