Afterlife
It felt as if a weight had been lifted. For the first time in years, the weight had been taken off of his shoulders.
For the past ten years, he'd felt as if the world's faith rested in his hands time and time again.
Perhaps it still does. In the hands of those who can fix it. But he's not one of those people anymore.
Tony is no longer responsible for that. He may not be gone yet, but he can feel it. The life slipping away from him. It's a funny thing, death. The superhero has come nose to nose with it more times than he can count. However, this time is... different. It feels more real. Less scary. He doesn't cling to life this time, but instead, embraces the light filling his vision.
Until he hears another voice.
"Mr. Stark?" It's faint, barely there. But Tony hears it, struggling to distance himself from the light. His vision clears, a blurry figure filling it. "Hey... Mr. Stark? Can you hear me? It's Peter. We won. Mr. Stark... We won, Mr. Stark. We won and you did it, sir. You did it."
Peter. His face becomes clearer, scrunched up as pain fills his big, brown eyes. The boy he did this for. He risked everything... for Peter. And he succeeded. Tony brought him back.
Peter chokes on a sob. " I'm sorry... Tony..." Tears stream down his dirt covered cheeks, the teen watching helplessly as his mentor's life slips away.
"It's not your fault, kid. You got nothing to be sorry for," Tony says. Or, at least, he thinks he does. There's no response from Peter as Rhodey pulls him back, making room for someone else.
"Hey."
It's Pepper. It's always Pepper. No matter where he is, no matter what he does... Pepper is always there. By his side. And this time is no different.
Tony isn't quite sure where the energy comes from. How the last bits of life are restored in his soul, but somehow, he manages to find the energy to turn his head. The slightest bit of hope sparks in Pepper's pained, glassy eyes.
"Pep," He reaches up and weakly grasps her metal covered hand. He won't let go. He can't.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y?" Pepper's voice is shaky with hope and desperation as she waits for the A.I to respond. Tony knows what she's thinking. What she's hoping for. He always has. Because this... this is everything she feared. Since day one, since she found him tinkering in the lab, dressed up in a metal suit like some fool who thought he was going to save the world. She knew. She always did.
"Life functions critical," The Scottish voice responds. The hope dies out in her eyes, and it's then Tony knows for sure.
He can't leave.
If he's gone... who's going to be Morgan's father? Who's going to watch her grow up, watch her build her first invention? Teach her everything he knows and has learned over the years? How could he possibly leave Pepper to go home and tell their daughter that Daddy wasn't coming home? That he had sacrificed everything... for what?
Tony's dark eyes flicker up for the slightest moment, catching Peter's. He did it for him. For the starstruck teenager who, for whatever reason, had decided to look up to Tony Stark. Not just Iron Man, or that metal faced Avenger. But the man beneath the mask. But now? He won't even be able to catch up. He'll never be able to introduce Peter to his daughter, tell him all about how much she already looked up to him from all the bedtime stories.
"I just want another minute," Tony realized desperately. "I just want to kiss Pepper one last time, and hold Morgan. I want to tell Peter he's going to be alright, and thank Rhodey. I just need to tell Happy to watch after my kids. That's all. Just a minute."
"Tony," Pepper's voice fills his ears, but he can't look at her. Not now. He's supposed to be one of the world's smartest men! He should be able to find a way to escape this. "Look at me," The desperation in his wife's voice is enough to make the hero turn towards her. "We're gonna be okay."
Tony's inner thoughts are silent for a moment. That's what he needed to hear. He didn't realize it until now, but that's what he needed to hear from her. Reassurance that this wasn't a mistake, to put the suit back on.
Pepper's lips pull up into a smile, a smile that's somehow always managed to make everything okay. "You can rest now," Tony hears it. The crack in her voice. The heartbreaking look in her eyes. He sees it all.
But they're going to be okay. Thanos is gone. His family is back-- all of them. They're all going to be okay.
"I love you Pep," A surge of energy bubbles in Tony's veins. It's not life. What a miracle it would be if that's what it was, but... no. It's freedom. Tony stands up, watching as Pepper presses a hopeless kiss against his forehead.
He watches his wife break down as the arc reactor flickers out, the last part of him dying. Leaning down. Tony presses a kiss against Pepper's hair. He clasps a hand on Peter's shoulder, and gives Rhodey one last hug. As he passes Steve and Thor, he can't help but give him the two-finger salute.
"So long, Cap," He sighs contently. Out of the corner of his eye, a blinding light begins to worm its way into his vision
Tony squints at it, shading his eyes with one hand to get a better look. It becomes brighter, and bigger, slowly consuming his vision.
"What the fu--"
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White. That's all Tony sees. Just a neverending river of white nothingness.
"God, it's like looking at Rogers for too long," Tony mumbles under his breath. He's laying on something soft but firm, making him feel a bit out of place. He's quick to stand up brushing off his clothing in the process.
Clothing...? Wasn't I just wearing the suit?
Dark eyes flicker down, surprise filling them. Tony is no longer wearing his trademarked Iron Man suit. Instead, a simple white shirt alongside white cotton pants lay comfortably against his skin.
"Not really my color," He grumbles, picking at his shirt. After a moment, he finally leaves it, looking up to inspect this strange place he's in.
It's quiet, and strangely empty. There's a slight, comfortable breeze in the air, and it's not quite as white as Tony had previously assumed. The ground is as white as snow, however, the sky is still the same, soft blue color as always. There is no sun, but everything still holds a bright color to it, and Tony can feel a nice warmth on the back of his neck. Frowning, he turns in different directions, looking for life.
It's a bit shocking to see a figure in the distance.
Tony freezes for a moment, weighing his options. "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm dead, so what do I have to lose?"
He begins walking in the direction of the figure, the white flooring turning sandy, and soft, peaceful waves rolling onto the shore. There is no salty, beach smell, but Tony can still feel droplets of water splash against his face as he comes closer and closer to the ocean.
Seeing a clear view of the back of the head of the figure, Tony abruptly stops. His brows shoot up in the slightest as he narrows his eyes at the person sitting serenely on the beach.
"Agent Romanoff. Miss me?" Natasha stiffens at the voice, slowly turning her head. Emerald eyes go big and wide as the clear face of none other than Tony Stark come into view.
"Tony?" Disbelief is clear in the Black Widow's tone as she stands up, her brows furrowing together. "Did you..."
"Die?" Tony finished her sentence, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You know what? I think I just might have," He takes a few more steps towards her, so they only stand about a foot apart. Natasha swallows, her tongue flicking over her bottom lip.
"Did we win?"
Tony lets out a breath, raising his chin to overlook the calm waters. The corner of is lip turns up in bliss as he slowly nods.
"Yeah. We did," He confirms, his smile widening. Natasha lets out a relieved breath, running a hand through her multicolored hair.
However, before Tony can take another step, she's smacked him over the head with enough to force to give him slight pain.
"Ow!" Tony yelps, stumbling away while clutching his head. "Why does that even hurt? I thought we were in the afterlife, I shouldn't be able to feel pain!"
"You weren't supposed to die, you idiot," Natasha scolds, glaring at him. "That's why I died. So no one else would have to."
"Well, sorry to have ruined your moment, Romanoff. If I knew it had meant that much, I would have been more careful while killing Thanos' army," Tony snorts, standing straight. Natasha rolls her eyes, but still lets out a breathy laugh.
"Is everyone back?" She asks, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. Tony looks down for a moment, thinking of Peter, and Wanda, and the rest of the Avengers. He thinks back to that moment when each and every portal had opened, when F.R.I.D.A.Y had informed him that she detected Peter's heartbeat.
"They are," He smiles, looking up. "We did it, Nat. You did it. You brought them back," Natasha's lips form into her own smile, one filled with relief as well. Being here had put her in a state of calm the former assassin can't even remember ever feeling. However, the uncertainty of her teammate's fates had put her on edge. Now that Tony has confirmed that everyone is okay, she can rest easy.
"So, what is this place?" Tony's features scrunch up as he takes a glance. Natasha shrugs.
"Some form of an afterlife, as far as I'm concerned. It's... nice. Peaceful," Tony smirks.
"Not for long it isn't," Natasha shoves him playfully, however, she laughs as well.
"Of course not. Now that Tony Stark is here, we have to throw a party, don't we?" Tony nods enthusiastically.
"Hell yeah, we do! We've gotta celebrate the newest addition to this snoozefest."
Natasha rolls her eyes at Tony, the two falling into step as they walk across the shoreline.
"So, you think we're able to go back to the land of the living as ghosts? I'm thinking we haunt Rogers for a bit, make him think he's borderline insane?"
"Tony Stark, you are something else entirely."
Tony laughs at her statement, but he can't help but feel free. Tony may not have his daughter, or his wife, and normally, without them, he would feel guilty feeling what he's feeling. But not this time.
He's happy.