PARADOX

Tony's POV

I got out of my suit and raced to her. My heart was speeding so fast I swear it could explode. I saw her figure laying on the ground. From this distance, I could already tell she was bleeding. Fuck the government's laws right now. I couldn't care less about what's Captain doing right now. All I gave a shit about now was (Y/N). The person who I loved, but set aside. The person who dealt with my stubborn attitude. The person who I never told them I loved them.

I reached at her body, palpitating from being worried and being weak. My knees dropped to the ground and my forearms directly scooped her up. I held her close to my chest and a few tears left my eyes. I removed her mask and tossed it on the floor. My fingers monitored her pulse and it was hindering.

"(Y/n), I'm sorry! Please don't leave me! (Y/N)!" I screamed into her hair and my tears fell on her cheek. As I raised her head up to face mine, her breath dissolved. It felt like my heart was getting stuck multiple times with all kinds of weapons. Her eyelids began to close and her lips were turning pale. Everyone crowded around us and sought to induce me to let her go so she could get aid. My grip loosened and I kissed her temple one last time. I directed Quicksilver to run her to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. He shifted her in his arms and jetted off right away. My legs stood up and I bent down to pick up her mask. I kissed it lightly and cleared away my tears. I managed over to Vision and asked him, "What happened?"

Vision gave me a guilty expression and responded, "I-I got distracted."

"You never get distracted."

"I know and I apologize."

I gazed at him with furious eyes and remembered seeing (Y/N) pull out a piece of paper out of her pocket. I saw it fly towards me, but I was too focused on her dropping.

"Everyone, (Y/N) threw a sheet of paper away as she was falling," I spoke to everyone who was still here. "Please help me look for it."

Everyone scattered and so did I.

About an hour later, Rhodey wandered up to me and handed me a sheet of paper with my name on it. My eyes filled with tears as I acknowledged her handwriting. I accepted the note and opened it up. It said:

'Tony, after this battle, I know everyone won't be the same as they used to. You'll have a stare down with Steve and not everyone will be willing to shake your hand willingly. I understand that what we did can take us to jail, but I'm willing to look forward to that punishment if it means doing the thing I believe in. I know and understand that you're just following orders but, break the rules if you think it's the right thing to do. Steve and Bucky will return and promise me you'll keep everyone safe. And if I don't make it out of this fight, promise me you won't drink a lot. I'm sorry for not staying with you until the end, but it was the right thing. I always thought about our future together and having one of us gone isn't part of it. Be the amazing man I fell in love with and protect those who need protecting. remember that I'll always believe in you and that I love you very much.

-(Y/N)'

The note soaked in my tears and my hands were shaking from the shock. She knew she wasn't going to make this fight. But she was willing to face me in standing in her way. I folded the note and shoved it in my pocket as I began to walk nowhere. My walking pace began to increase until I began to start running. The speeding made me release my frustrated voices out of my throat. My tears left my face and flew away in the wind. When I was out far enough, I screamed. I was on my knees and cried out in the open. Letting out my pain and letting out the urge to hurt myself.

I laid on the floor looking up at the sky that was going to dark soon. Vision floated over me and offered to come back with them. I tried standing but my legs were just too weak. He instead carried me to the jet and Rhodey helped me from there. I later found out that the others have been captured and jailed. Which made my heart ache every second. Rhodey said he'd check on (Y/N) as I tried to free the others. I agreed on his terms and cleaned myself up.

When I arrived at the cells, everyone was looking at me with sadness and with anger. I walked by one by one, talking to each one of them. When I reached Clint's, my heart sank. He had a family. He had a perfect life with kids and a wife. He wouldn't get to see them as much as he wanted anymore. When it came to Sam's cell, I looked into his eyes and he just didn't want to talk to me.

"You're all going to get out. Even that guy I don't know." I assured him.

"How are you going to do that?" he looked at me.

"I didn't say I was going to."

"Aren't you going after Captain?"

"No, with (Y/N)'s condition, no. I'm staying near her until she can come home." I tried to leave but Sam stalled me.

"You know, she always puts you first right?"

"And I'm willing to put her first too."

I left the room and headed for the hospital. When I arrived, I saw Rhodey exiting. I stopped him in his tracks and asked if she was okay. He gave me a weary smile and looked down to his feet.

"She didn't make it."

Those words echoed in my skull. My heart sunk and my eyes were blurred with tears. I marched to the door and tried to enter. Rhodey stopped me and I shoved him away.

"Move! I have to see her!"

"Tony! She's gone!"

He hauled me away from the hospital and to the jet. My arms fought him as I was trying to escape his grasp. I got punched a couple times in front of people, but I knew I deserved them. I was being stubborn. I didn't accept the fact that she was dead. I was traumatized. I just lost the person I loved the most.

(Y/N)'s POV

I gazed at the jet as it flew away. I was on the roof of the hospital gazing down upon the city. Yes, I'm alive. I told Rhodey to tell Stark I didn't make it. I knew he would set aside all his work just for me, I didn't want him to stop being Tony Stark. I was going to set my friends free before I saw Tony again.