Marvel Oneshots

Fractured Reflections (Tony Stark)

The skyline of New York City flickered with the fading light of dusk, the horizon ablaze with oranges and pinks, a serene facade masking the chaos that had just erupted within the Stark Tower. Y/N sat at the edge of their bed, fingers tracing the worn edges of a photograph of happier times—Tony's smile wide, his eyes sparkling with the kind of joy that felt light-years away now.

The mission had been a nightmare. What was supposed to be a routine retrieval turned into a trap, a relentless assault that left Tony wounded and their team reeling. As he stumbled back into their home, bloodied and bruised, Y/N's heart had raced—not with relief, but with the simmering anger that had been building for weeks.

It was a familiar ache, one that she had tried to dismiss as concern for her husband's reckless ways, but tonight, it felt sharper, more profound. She could feel the frustration bubbling beneath the surface, an impending eruption that she struggled to contain.

The door swung open with a groan, and Tony leaned against the doorframe, his once polished armor now dulled and battered. He looked like a ghost of himself, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "Y/N," he said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What were you thinking?" she blurted out, unable to hold back any longer. "You can't just rush in like that! You're not invincible, Tony!"

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair, which was disheveled and sticking up in all directions. "I had to do it. I couldn't let them get the tech. You know that."

"And what about us?" Y/N shot back, standing up now, her heart pounding in her chest. "You always prioritize the mission over everything else. Over me."

"Don't make this about us!" His voice rose, echoing in the spacious room. "This is about saving lives! I can't just sit back and watch while innocent people are in danger."

"Right, because putting yourself in danger is the only solution," she replied bitterly, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "What if something happened to you? What if I lost you?"

For a moment, silence enveloped them, the tension so thick it felt suffocating. Tony's eyes softened, but he quickly masked it with a hardened expression. "You're being dramatic. You know I always come back."

"Always? How can you be so sure? You keep pushing the limits, Tony. One day, you might not come back," she challenged, her voice trembling with emotion.

He looked away, his jaw tightening. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't lie awake at night wondering if this will be the mission that takes me from you? But I can't let fear dictate my choices. I can't stop being Iron Man just because it scares you."

"Scares me?" She scoffed, the pain of his words stinging like a slap. "It terrifies me! But this isn't just about fear—it's about trust. I trusted you to be careful. I trusted you to come home in one piece."

He stepped forward, eyes blazing with frustration. "I came home, didn't I? I'm here, standing in front of you!"

"Only because you survived!" Y/N's voice cracked, tears threatening to spill over. "And now we're standing here, on the brink of losing everything we've built together."

"Maybe you're the one who doesn't want this," he muttered, the accusation hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

"What?" She was taken aback, her heart aching at his words. "How could you even think that? I love you, Tony! But I can't keep watching you put yourself in danger while I stand by helplessly."

"You act like I'm doing this on purpose!" he barked, frustration boiling over. "I'm trying to protect everyone! Even you! Can't you see that?"

"And who's protecting me?" she whispered, the fight leaving her. "Who's looking out for my heart?"