Chapter 2
Pepper was the one that found him. She had decided to come to him, since he didn’t answer any of her calls. Which yeah, he had done plenty of times before, but he always called back when she hit the 10th call, so Pepper knew he was okay. If he truly was too busy he got Jarvis to do it, but it still calmed her nerves that something had happened. From there Pepper usually visited him after a day or an hour varying on how pressing the matter was with her I-am- disapproving -of-you face. A face Tony hated, because he never could figure out what it was he had done wrong to deserve that face.
Now she guesses she wouldn’t be able to glare at him that way again…
Pepper and Tony had been many things, but first and foremost they were friends in every sense of the word. Well, Tony had been a friend to her. Pepper didn’t think she could be worthy of calling her his friend anymore. What kind of friend was she if she hadn’t seen this coming?
She had seen how his smiles had seemed to big. He was beginning to linger in his touches, but always pulling away quickly when he was afraid people didn’t want it (though Pepper made a point to not notice so he continued with the touch he needed). She had tried to do everything in her power to help him, making sure Tony knew that she did it because she wanted to, and not because she felt like she had to. Taking most of the media of his back and trying to get the truth out with the help of her former rival now turned friend Christine Everheart. Most likely raising a few blood pressures wherever team cap was now (though she couldn’t honestly care about them). Putting lawyers to work on the Accords even though she hated doing it, since she knew the reason why Tony wanted them changed was for trying to get Steve back. And Pepper was firm in her belief that Tony deserved so much better than him.
Now it just seemed like it wasn’t enough.
Because Tony had—
Tony had —
Had—
She did not think she could cry more than she already did. She belatedly wondered if she should search for attackers. Maybe Hydra had come in here and— God, she couldn’t even say the words in her own mind. She would think that was what happened if he didn’t have the goddamn most peaceful look she had ever seen on his face ever. Like something heavy was finally lifted from his shoulders.
It did not make it any easier to bear though.
Pepper felt like she had taken everything that had been on Tony’s shoulders onto her own. And she wanted to bear it. Something she could cling to that reminded her of Tony. Something Tony had touched that now would touch her. A last remnant of something she could never have again.
Some people came took Tony’s corpse away to prepare for the funeral. Pepper didn’t want to think about.
God, she needed to call Rhodey and Happy and Everheart if she wanted the truth to get out controlled. She would tolerate no tabloids taking advantage of this.
But at the moment she couldn’t deal with that.
All she could think about was the blood. And the smile, god the smile. He hadn’t even left a note. Maybe Friday knew. God, Friday had probably seen the whole thing. Poor girl. She was so young (and yes Pepper did think of her as something more than just a machine)
“Friday do- do” Was that really what she sounded like, “you know if”- She waved at the room in general, hoping to convey her message to gestures since she obviously couldn’t do it verbally.
“Sir, did leave a voice recording, miss Potts” Friday said sensing what pepper wanted to ask. Pepper nodded, and Friday played the message.
To anyone hearing this I am sorry. So sorry. Sorry for everything. I know I am difficult, and god I love you all for putting up with me through the years. But I can’t fucking deal with this anymore. Tell Steve that I understand now, I understand why he left me behind” It trailed of until a gunshot could be heard. It went straight to Peppers bone’s and send a jolt through her.
She couldn’t do anything than rocking back and forth trying to get air into her lungs.
——
Steve was on his way to team breakfast. It wasn’t a new thing, but this time it was with a different team. Sam provided the meal since he was the only one of them that could cook a decent meal. And well, their former cook wasn’t here. Steve was still angry at Tony for going against him. Tony had listened to him talk countless times about how he missed his old life back in the forties. How broken he felt every time he found something that Bucky would have liked, only to remember a second later that Bucky had died in a time long gone by for everyone else. Tony could always find just the right things to say to him that somehow always made him feel a bit better.
It was one of those nights were they both couldn’t sleep were they finally kissed.
Steve couldn’t see how Tony wouldn’t realize that the Accords were going to go against them in the end. Making it even harder for him to protect Bucky. But Tony could just not see that. Steve was just trying to protect Tony from the godawful truth about the Winter Soldiers involvement in his parents deaths.
But Steve was also sad, because Tony was still important to him.
He missed his lazy smiles and his laugh lines.
But now he had Bucky back. And he would have Tony back again when he realized he was wrong.
People were chatting around him, but he was to engrossed in eating his food and watching the news.
Steve still tried to keep up with the news even though they fugitives.
Clint was yelling at Scott for stealing some of his pancakes, when a ‘breaking news’ advertisement came up.
“Guys, shut up for a second”
“We are so sorry to say this but Tony Stark has been found dead, the evidence points to a suicide by gun.” Everheart said with a genuine sad smile “Miss Potts, Mr. Stark’s good friend and CEO of Stark Industries, have said that a small funeral will be held at Friday, but people are welcomed to show up after to show their condolences. Miss Potts will also like to inform any members of the former Avengers team that sided with the fugitive Captain America will not be welcome, and if they choose to come then they will be prosecuted and put on trial for various criminal acts.
Steve was still running through the words in his head. They didn’t make sense; Tony couldn’t be dead. He could not. He was supposed to realize he was wrong and then come to him.
Everyone around him were quiet. He could hear someone, it sounded like Wanda say “well, God works in mysterious ways”
Steve had never wanted to hit anyone so much, but instead he got up and walked away.
He didn’t know if he should join Tony or not.