Inescapable

Ch. 48

A/N: Life has a way of getting in the way! I know everyone can understand... life got complicated, but I never forgot about this story. And finally, after a long wait. It is finally complete.

Most likely I will eventually be doing a follow up, the continuation of Loki's part of the story. But that won't be just yet. I hope you all enjoy the culmination of this story. Thank you so much for all the reads, likes, and comments. They mean the world to me!!!

There was a peace to your restful slumber, until reality started to slowly creep in. Every nerve on your body slowly started to remind you of the excruciating pain you should be experiencing. Every muscle ached as you came out of your peaceful sleep. Slowly blinking your eyes open, you quickly realized you weren't on the battlefield like you half expected you would be. An involuntary groan left you as tried and failed to sit up and take your surroundings. Falling back on the plush pillow you try to take stock from your prone position.

The room wasn't one you recognized, it was small, plain and undecorated, with no discerning features that gave away your current location. If anything, it looked like a small infirmary room or barracks. Sighing against your pain and frustration, you tried and failed, once more, to sit up. Your mind flew at a million miles per hour, concerned that Tony wasn't with you. Had your secrets finally caused irreparable damage? Could he not forgive you for the choices you made? You shakily brought a hand up to cover your eyes as your emotions got the better of you and fear took hold, letting quiet tears stream down your face.

You don't know how much time passed from the moment you woke, to when you heard the door to the room open. Clearing your face, you looked over hopefully and your heart soared when Tony walked in through the door, his eyes trained on the StarkPad in his hands. "Tones..." The moment you spoke his head snapped up, eyes meeting yours. The look of sheer relief in his eyes made a breath escape your body, relief flooding your frayed mind.

"Sweetheart." He whispered, moving quickly to your side, placing the StarkPad on the nightstand next to you and kneeing down beside you to be closer to you. "You're awake." Your shaky hand reached out for him, and he immediately took it in his firm ones. The guilt you felt grew exponentially when you realized how tired your husband looked. "Tony, I'm so..."

He cut you off mid-sentence. "No. You don't get to talk right now. You listen." His tired faced grew stern and you obliged, staying quiet as he continued. "Don't you ever do that again. Don't you ever play the stupid self-sacrificial play again Y/N. You hear me?" You nodded, but stayed quiet, seeing that he still had more to get off his chest. "What the hell were you thinking? – Don't answer that. – You died. I lost you. And I couldn't fucking breathe Y/N. We're done, that's it. We're retired, you hear me?"

"Tony..."

"No. Don't Tony me. We're done. Think about AJ... We can take a backseat role. Administrative. Maybe I can jump in for life changing missions, if the world is ending." He continued to ramble. "But we're done. You promised to share this life with me till we are old and grey. And that's what..."

"Okay." You say cutting his rambling short. His face stays frozen in place, as if that one word short-circuited his brain.

When he finally shook his head clear he responded, "okay? Just like that?"

"Yeah. Just like that."

He gave out a small chuckle and let out a breath. "Well- that went fucking easier than I thought it would. Glad you agree though, I bought us a house in the middle of nowhere, and it would've been fucking awkward if you had said no. I would have had to resell it."

You smiled and squeezed his hand, "I'm sorry Tones."

He squeezed your hand in return, "yeah, whatever. Just don't do it again sweetheart. I..." He swallowed, emotion breaking through his playful demeanor. "I can't go through that again." You nodded quietly, rubbing your thumb over his.