And I… I. Am. Iron Man.
Tony forced himself to keep his mouth shut. Everything was a burning sort of pain, but he didn’t let himself let out any noises of distress. Peter was holding onto him, sobbing. Peter. His kid. Tony wanted to tell him not to cry. But he knew if he opened his mouth he would let out the screams he was holding inside. And he couldn’t let Peter hear them. Couldn’t let Peter know how much pain he was in.
“We won, Mr Stark.” Peter let out another heartbroken sob and Tony wanted nothing more than to reassure him, tell him everything would be okay. ‘It was worth it.’ He wanted to say. ‘It was all worth it. I saved you. I finally managed to save you.’ He forced himself to look away from Peter and his eyes fixed themselves on a figure standing behind him. Rhodey. Tony stared at his best friend of so many years and prayed that he understood the meaning behind it.
Look after them.
Rhodey nodded, biting his lip.
“Please don’t go, Tony.” Peter was looking at him, begging him to stay. I can’t. Don’t you see? I’m already gone. Then another familiar face came into his vision. A pair of hands gently pulled Peter back, passing him to Rhodey who held him tight. Good. He’s safe now.
Tony looked back to face Pepper. His wife. His beautiful, kind wife who was always there for him. She smiled softly, her eyes watery, as if she was on the edge of tears.
“It’s okay.” She brushed his forehead softly.
‘I love you. I’m sorry.’ He needed her to understand. ‘It was worth it in the end.’
Pepper nodded. She understood. “You can rest now.” Tony gazed at her for a moment, before looking back to where Peter and Rhodey were standing.
Peter was crying and Rhodey was in tears restraining him. They were all there. Tony wished for a second that he could see Morgan one last time, but he was glad that she never had to see him like this. To see him die… His eyes flickered one last time to focus on the faces around him. He wanted nothing more than to tell them.
When I drift off, I will dream about you. It’s always you.
Tony knew he would dream of them all. No matter what came next, he would know that his friends, his family, were safe at last.
You can rest now.
For the first time in as long as he could remember, Tony let himself sleep.