Breathe, Tony

I blinked. Several times. My eyelids were working against my will for a few long seconds irritating me to the core as they were constantly dropping. Like they didn’t want me to bother and look what was happening around or who those voices calling my name so eagerly belonged to.

„Son... Anthony, wake up!“ 
Wake up, Tony.
What? What was this? Who?

My brain started to panic immediately because it recognized the voice at instant even despite that hearing it in the first place shouldn’t be possible.

„D... dad?“ I tried my voice, my mouth feeling stuffed with no room for the tongue to pronounce words correctly. And I was thirsty. So thirsty. 

Mr. Stark, sir, please.
I licked my lips to wet them, leaving them open afterwards so the air could get in more easily. 

„Wh... What...“
He didn’t let me finish, his frowned brows turning more gentle and soft as my eyes finally focused on his face. It was him. It was him! But how?

„Anthony, please, listen to me.” There was a desperate pitch in his otherwise calm and distant voice. “You can’t sleep now, not yet. Son, are you with me?”
Are you with us, Tony? Please, hold your eyes open. Tones, don’t close your damn eyes!

I murmured something, maybe an answer, maybe it was just another groan. I tried to shift a bit and pain sprung in every cell of my body almost sending me back into sweet unconsciousness. Almost.

“We need to take it off.”
It’s the only way. We need to.
I wanted to ask what he was talking about, but then he glanced at my right hand loosely placed next to my side while I leaned against some cold rock. My breath got stuck in my throat when I saw... A ragged breath came after that with a sound dangerously reminding a broken sob.

“We need to take the gauntlet off.”
Tony, we need to do it, love.

It was burnt. My whole hand, my arm, my chest, a side of my neck, my… I lifted my good hand aiming for my face with uncooperating fingers, but someone else stopped me before I could reach my destination.

“Don’t, Tony. Don’t touch it. I know it hurts. But we need you to focus.”
Focus, Tony. 
“Tasha?” I asked with wide eyes, swallowing another series of groans drawing out of my throat when my whole body was suddenly set on fire, spasms running over it, leaving me with my teeth gritted so forcefully that they might as well fall off.
No, no, it’s not Tasha, Tony. Please, oh my god.

The woman just smiled and that stopped me from uttering my next question. Am I dead? I had to be. They were here. My father kneeling on one side, Natasha on the other one, looking at me with so much love and sorrow and regret.

“‘T-though… it won’ h-hurt here...” Wherever the HERE was. 
“It will stop, I promise, my boy. After we’ll get this thing off your hand.”
I’ll make it stop, Tones, I swear to god, it will stop. 

My gaze fell back to the limb I couldn’t force to move no matter how hard I tried. The iron-man gauntlet was burnt and melted just as my hand beneath it. The stones shone brightly, and they whispered to me in a promise of more pain coming soon.

“No…”
Suddenly my sight became hazy and I realized the reason was that my eyes were filled with liquid. A one tear escaped the corner of the right one, chilling the burns over my cheek. 
“No… Please…”
“Tony.”
“Anthony, look at me.”
Tony, look at me. We have to take it off. We have to try. I know it hurts, baby. I know. It’s gonna be okay.
I reacted instinctively, turning my eyes towards my father, the tears silently falling from my eyes. His face was so different from what I remembered. I couldn’t recall this much affection in his features.
“My boy,” he started carefully, taking a hold of my other hand, his fingers squeezing lightly. “You have to stay strong. Just a little longer. I promise. It will get better. You’ll be fine. You’re so brave.” 

His breath got stuck, and my heart shattered because dad was never lost for words. 
“I’m so proud of you, Tony. I’m so proud. Please, let me help you.” 
Those words were like a band-aid on the bruise I didn’t know I still felt. 

“Dad,” I tried to speak again, but then another figure appeared and kneeled beside him diverting my attention.
It’s not… Please, Tony. Don’t speak to them. Your father. God-dammit. Don’t speak to them.

“Tony.” The voice was tender, and her eyes were just as glassy as mine own had to be.
“Mom,” I called out to her with raspy, strained voice. Her hand brushed the side of my face.
“Mom.”
No, Rhodey, please, Cap, do something! 

I had to be dead. Certainly. But why was I hurting so much then? Why did they need to take that damn thing off? Why won’t they let me rest in peace?

I had to utter some of those questions aloud in this non-coherent way of mine because suddenly there was even more devastation visible on their faces.

“Hold him down.”
You have to hold him. Cap, Thor, you get that fucking thing off his hand. 
I will… I will do it.
“No, dad… P-please.”
Peter, get here, talk to him. Pep, take his other hand. Don’t let him slip.
“I’m so sorry.”
I’m so sorry.
“Leave it… no… da’, no.” 

I couldn’t help it. I just wanted it to end. I didn’t want to endure anything more. Why couldn’t they understand? 

I felt two pair of hands settle on me, pinning me down and I whimpered. I couldn’t see where dad was now, if he moved or not, but then someone started to lift my unresponsive hand and I screamed. As they started to pull, my throat was already raw, and I knew there was no way I was going to speak after it would be over. So I just went on, holding to that little piece of consciousness left, broken screams escaping my dry lips each time the gauntlet moved and tore the abused skin on my hand.

I begged, and I screamed my voice hoarse. But it didn’t stop.
I’m so sorry. Tony, I’m so sorry. Please, stay with us. It’s going to be over soon. 

When the weight finally slid of my arm, I was barely breathing. My heart was missing every other beat, and I wondered if I was going to die for a second time.

“Tony, it’s okay.” I tried to look up with the last remains of my strength, but dad’s face was far, almost unreachable. Other faces were appearing in its place. 
“You can go now, son. We’ll be waiting for you. We’re so proud.”
“No,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’m tired. W-want… sleep. S-stay… here… d-dad…”

Don’t Tony. Come back to us. Don’t stay with them.
Mr. Stark, I need you, please, come back. Please?
Tony.
Tony.
Tones.
Tony, stay with us.
We need you, Man of Iron.

I could hear the voices now crying and cursing, and someone might be shaking me, someone is blowing the air in my lungs because I can’t take a breath on my own. I wanted to see them. So much. It almost sounded like Pepper. And Rhodey. Cap. Peter… 

“Peter?”
I opened my eyes again. Maybe for the last time.
“Mr. Stark? It’s me. Peter. Please, keep your eyes open.”

It wasn’t just in my head. It couldn’t be.
“You have to fight, Tony. For us. Please, don’t give up.”

How could I tell them I’m done fighting? That I couldn’t do this anymore?
“Breathe, Tony.”

I’m trying.
I’m trying.

“I have him back. Thor, keep close if he’s heart gives out. Someone take it for me. I’ll make a portal.”
“Where to?”
Another voice until now absent made an offer.

“Wakanda. We’ll take him to Wakanda.”