avengers one-shot

less of you

Summary: Tony had to stay the night alone because Pepper has few works to do.

// TW: Panic attacks, nightmares, anxiety. //

Tony look over to body piles. He saw all his teammates lying on the ground looking lifeless.

He walk over to Captain's body first. He check the pulse but suddenly he felt a hand grabbing him. "You could have save us." He said while struggling to breath.

He look behind and saw the alien ship were moving. He stumbled onto the ground.

He look up the dream transitioned. He's holding a nuclear bomb and heading into the wormhole.

Pepper appeared on his screen and he just look at the call. She didn't pick up. As he enter the wormhole, the nuclear hit the ship and everything explodes.

His arms starts to break due to the pressure. He fell down and just close his eyes, preparing for death.

When he open his eyes, he saw a very familiar place.

Titan.

He look to his back and saw Peter stumbled so he caught him. He didn't know what's wrong, he didn't know what to do.

He lay Peter on the ground while craddling his head. "I'm sorry." He look away and he turned to dust.

Tony jolted woke up with his hear beating rapidly. He clutch onto his heart, feeling every beat. He's still alive. He's on earth, in his bedroom.

He reach his phone and he call Pepper right away.

"Hello? Pepper? Are you awake right now?" He breath heavily. "Tony? Yes, I'm right here. What's wrong?" She asked.

He felt a little bit of relief in his heart at the moment when he heard Pepper's voice. "God, I just need to hear the sound of you."

Tony just lean against the bed header. "Its alright Tony, its alright. I'm here."

He put his phone down for a moment and release the clutch from his heart. He still feel hard to breath, he needs to make sure that everyone is safe.

He held his phone back up again. "Please, calm me down." Tony's voice become shaky as thousands of thoughts entered his mind.

"Hold on, I'm coming." Pepper was about to hang up but Tony told her not to. He heard few footsteps coming so he hang up immediately.

"Pepper." He jump out of the bed and rush to hug her. Pepper just let him hug her and stroke his hair. "I'm glad you're here. I know its selfish but you're the only one that ever make sense to me."

Deep down, he never wanted to have nightmares and such traumas. He just wants a normal life with Pepper. He wants to wake up everyday facing her.

"I don't know how to do this without you." He mumbled. If Pepper wasn't there, his panic attacks would have been worse.

"Its alright, you're safe, I'm safe. I'm here." She kissed Tony's forehead, calming him down. He just keep clinging onto her as he heard a voice.

"Tony? FRIDAY notified me that- Oh my god, I'm sorry, I'll come back later." Peter was about to leave but Tony pulled him into the hugs.

He's still terrified over the facts that he saw everyone was dying. Pepper's face shows up on his Iron Man mask's screen. It's no adequate to replace his family by his side.

The three soon fell asleep on the bed with Peter in the middle of the bed. Tony felt safe with warmth surrounding him and he loves it. Sometimes he think, it always gets worse when its night time.

The next morning, he woke up to an empty bed. No Pepper or Peter sleeping on the bed. He sit up on the bed and just stare outside the window.

He came across a note on the bedside.

I'm dropping Peter at school so you can have a good sleep. Rest well hun.

- Pepper.

How could he rest well when she wasn't there? He felt like he was in pieces, knowing a lot of things could happen to Pepper.

He exit the bedroom and saw Steve cooking in the kitchen. "Hey Tony, good morning." He greeted. Tony just give him a head up and grab a cup of coffee.

"You good? You look like you went through shit." He laughed.

"Had a nightmare." He said. Steve immediately shut up and just continue cooking. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Nah, everything will be fine as long as you guys are safe." He smiled.

That evening, he ride in his Audi RS7 to pick up Peter.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow man." Peter fist bump with Ned and bump their chest. "Bro for life." They laughed.

Peter noticed an Audi RS7 parked in front of his school. "Hey Tony." Peter greeted. "Hey kid. How's your day?"

"I had an amazing morning because Pepper cooked pancakes and bacon, which is the best breakfast by the way. Then Ned and I keep talking about the latest LEGO Star Wars collection, they just release it today! It was literally so cool-" Tony put his hand over Peter's chest. "Kid, take a breath." He laughed.

"Enough about me, how's your day Mr. Stark?" He asked. Tony park his car at the mall parking lot.

"I'm not okay. Actually, I don't know. Today's time felt really slow to be honest. I keep thrashing on the bed because Pepper told me to rest well but I couldn't. I don't where to go in this life." He ranted.

Peter put his hand over Tony's shoulder. "Its okay, Mr. Stark. We still haven't fully figured everything out in this life. You have all of us." Peter shoot a genuine smile toward him.

Tony felt so lucky that he got the best people in his life. He unbuckled his seatbelt and hug Peter for a few seconds. "This is nice." Peter hug back.

They hop out from the car and Tony lead him into the mall. "Its really nice to have you guys in my life." He muttered.

"Thank you Mr. Stark." Peter tapped on Tony's shoulder. He felt safe for a moment when he's with Peter.

"Now let's get you that latest LEGO Star Wars collection." Tony push Peter into the toys shop and listen to Peter rambling about Star Wars.

"This feels warm."