Out Of Time

forty-one

It took Y/N about 30 minutes before she followed Tony downstairs. He was looking through the box and setting up an old film machine. Tony put in one of the reels, still not noticing Y/N. When it came on, it was Howard. Older than she had knew him, but still Howard.

"Everything is achievable through technology," Howard said. "Better living, robust heath, and for the first time in human history, the possibility of world peace. I'm Howard Stark, and everything you'll need for the future can be found right here. City of the Future? City of Tomorrow? City of... I'm Howard Stark and everything you'll need in the future can be found right here." Y/N watched at a little boy stood up from behind the model, picking up a piece of it. "So, from all of us at Stark Industries, I would like to personally..." Howard noticed the little boy. "Tony, what are you doing back there? What is that? Put that back. Put it back where you got it from. Where's your mother? Maria? Go on. Go, go, go, go."

A man ran onto the screen, picking up little Tony and taking him away. Y/N let out a small sigh as the video continued and current Tony flipped through an old notebook. The video changed multiple times before Howard began speaking again.

"So, from all of us at Stark Industries, I'd like to personally show you my ass. I'd like to... I can't... This is... I can't... We have this, don't we? This is a ridiculous way... Everything is achievable through technology." Tony threw the book his was looking through to the side before taking a drink. Y/N watched as the video changed one last time. "Tony. You're too young to understand this right now, so I thought I would put it on film for you. I built this for you. And someday you'll realize that it represents a whole lot more than just people's inventions. It represents my life's work. This is the key to the future. I'm limited by the technology of my time, but one day you'll figure this out. And when you do, you will change the world. What is and always will be my greatest creation is you."

The video turned off and Tony just sat there. Y/N silently limped closer to the man.

"You're father had so much faith in you," Y/N stated, finally speaking up. "Especially for you being such a young age. I wish I had been able to see that." Tony stayed silent. "You're father was a good man. When I woke up from being asleep all those years, I was so saddened to hear about what happened to him and your mother... I never knew your mother. But she had to have been really wonderful if she got your father to settle down."

"He did say something about you once," Tony said, not turning to face her. "At least that I remember. Not by name. But," he picked up the picture of Howard and Y/N, "he said that he had been in love before he met my mother. That the woman had changed his life in more ways than one. That he hoped I would find the same someday... he kept this picture on him at all times. Never let me or my mother purposely see it, but we knew it was there. Always there in his constant search for your brother and you."

"I didn't reciprocate your father's feelings, Tony. I-I didn't fully understand them myself. I was so in love with Bucky, even after he was gone, that I couldn't think about being with your father."

"What about your feelings for me? Were they ever real? Or was it just apart of the mission?"

"Tony-"

"Just tell me."

Y/N sighed. "They were-are real. After the whole Obadiah incident, I requested to stay on. I wanted to be there for you."

"Or you just wanted to make yourself feel better!" Tony exclaimed, jumping up and turning around.

He froze at the sight before him, eyes wide. Y/N was bandaged and bruised, almost not a speck of clean skin showing. She was clearly favoring one leg over the other, but it even looked painful for all the weight to be on that one.

"Y/N..." He softly said, unmoving. "I'm-"

"I don't want to hear it, Stark. Honestly, I came to tell you the truth and see if any of my things survived. If everything goes as planned, you'll never have to see me again."

"I don't want that."

"Really? Because last night didn't show it."

"Last night-Last night I wasn't in my right mind. I'm dying, Y/N."

"I know."

"You're the one who told SHIELD." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "How'd you find out?"

"JARVIS slipped the files without breaking protocol. He knew someone needed to know and he knew how worried I was- I still am. But I... I can't do this anymore. You've been too reckless and you're too closely related to my past."

"No. Stay." Tony stepped forward and Y/N stepped back. "I can't- I haven't slept since that last night we helped each other."

"I would say the same, but due to having be thrown last night, I actually got the correct amount of sleep."

"Please don't go." Tony's eyes glazed over, looking like he might cry. Y/N turned into an agent immediately, so that she couldn't let Tony emotions, or her own, affect her.

"I don't have a choice. SHIELD is all I've had since I woke up. I have to get back to that. It's better this way."

"No it's not. Stay. You have me, Rhodey, Pepper, Happy. You have people here."

"I can't." Y/N shook her head, taking a few more steps back. "I'm sorry, Tony. But this is it." She turned around, heading for the stairs.

"If you walk away now, don't ever think you'll be invited back. I don't open up to anyone that easily. If you walk away, I know you were just playing games with me. That you were just here for the mission." Tony words caused Y/N to freeze. "I hated you Rogers twins for years, part of me still does. But you have a chance to change that. Don't go."

Y/N took a deep breath. "Good bye, Mr. Stark."