Chapter Text
As they entered the Guardians ship it felt cold and desolate without it’s real owners there to inhabit it. Tony sucked in a few deep breaths and willed himself to calm down. He turned to Nebula “You know how to fly this thing? I mean I could probably figure it out but..” All she gave was a short “Yes.” And the hatch behind them closed as she started the ship up heading for earth.
12 hours later they landed. Well landed was a nice way to put it. They had safely crash landed next to a jungle ‘at least not in the jungle’ Tony thought bitterly. Their ship was approached with an army of a hundred at best. As they opened the hatch with Tony leading with a hand still at his wounded iced up side. ‘Fuck that hurt’ Tony came face to face with an army of sorrow-faced soldiers. But also with Natashsa, Bruce, Thor, Rhodey and Steve Rogers. At this point he couldn’t muster up the energy to be angry at the man before him.
He still had Peter’s haunting voice crying thru his head. He hardly noticed when Nebula excited beside him but he looked up when the first person spoke since they excited the ship. It was a Racoon? He’d seen weirder shit to be surprised right now. The Racoon was looking hopefully into the ship. Probably expecting more to come out. And with watery eyes it looked at him and all Tony could do was shake his head. The racoon walked away heading for the city in the background Tony only noticed just then. Rhodey seemed to get out of his trance first as he rushed towards him and enveloped him in a hug they both so desperately needed. He could feel his wound sting with pain and he couldn’t help the hiss that escaped at the contact.
Rhodey never one to miss something pulled back to inspect him looking at his wound with wide eyes “God Tony we’ve got to get that looked at!” “It’s fine, It’s all iced up. We’ve got more important things to worry about” Rhodey stared at him disapprovingly with a curt nod and let him go with an unsaid promise of later. “Is Pepper okay?” He asked his voice hitching on every word. Rhodeys eyes widened “I haven’t checked” Tony took out his glasses from his pocket “Friday? You still there?” “Always Boss.” “Send the another nano-tech suit” He said without looking at the gathered crowd of warriors who had all lost too much. Rhodey all to knowing knew what he was going to do. “Tony, Tony! Wait please we have to this step by step. Don’t do anything stupid right now we don’t know if she’s still-“ Rhodey cut of his own sentence with a quivering lip.
The sound of a thruster could be heard up above some kind of pod landing softly on Tony’s arc reactor Making the Iron Man suit materialise around him. “The Guardians are dead. Strange is dead. Peter! Is dead!
So I am damn well going to check if Virginia is ok!” He said it all with tears streaming down his face. The suit folded fully around him as he took off at sound shattering speed. Heading for Upstate New York.
He’d promised her to be there. Now all she had to do was return it.
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As he landed at the compound he went straight for his and Pepper’s room. To panicked to check with Friday where she was. He was lucky she was there or he might have just broken down right there. The suit unfolded off of him as he pulled her in a tight hug. Pressing kisses on her head as she cried in anguish and sloppily hit him with no power behind it. “I hate you! You said- You..You” She broke off with more tears forming. “I love you so much. I’m so sorry- I’m sorry. I’m here Honey. I’m sorry” this followed the same way for an hour. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, exhaustion taking them both.
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Peter was clinging to him. He should of just left him on earth. Why didn’t they kid stay on earth. He would have been safe. Maybe it would have taken Tony instead. But all he could do was try to comfort the kid with his presence. Peter was looking for Tony to help. But Tony was powerless to do anything. “I’m sorry- I’m sorry Mister Stark” “No I’m sorry kid” Tony got out breathlessly.
And then he was back. Back with Pepper curled up in his arms laying there safe with the earth missing half its population. He had to check 2 more things just to know. “Friday? Where Is May Parker?” Friday sounded sad when she brought the news. “deceased” “Is Happy-“ There was an eerie silence followed by an “I’m sorry Boss” Tony wished his eyes to stop stinging and his chest to unclench he had to find a way. Strange said there was only 1 way. There had to be something they could do. Yes they, Together.