marvel one-shots

26. iron man ; rip

He killed him.

Steve killed him.

"Tony," she gasped, forcing her body against the sheets of the bed.

"It's okay, Grace," she looked over to Vision. He'd gotten into the habit of sitting in her room during the late hours. Her terrors were lessened with his presence, but they weren't completely nonexistent.

"It's not okay, that's the fattest lie I've ever heard," she stood and went to the connected bathroom to get a glass of water. She entered the room again and sat in the bed, draping the covers over her shoulders.

She was cold, but she couldn't feel it.

"I don't know, that's something I've found parents telling children when people pass."

"He was the love of my life. And he's gone, because of Steve. I'll never forgive him for that."

"No one expects you to," he paused, "But he would like to visit you sometime to offer his condolences and he's like to speak with you."

"If he was sorry, he wouldn't have killed him. It takes energy to raise a shield and bring it down on someone's life source," she clenched her teeth and spoke tightly between them. "I thought shields were supposed to protect you."

He didn't speak.

"Tony was my life source, I'm empty now. Because of Steve and his fucking shield, his safety. Where's my safety, Vision? I'm raw now, and it hurts like bloody hell."

He stood and moved to leave.

"Why don't you ever tell me anything other than lies? You're all I've got left," she questioned through the dim light of twilight.

"The funeral's tomorrow. I'm very sorry, Grace, just know that I won't be taken away. Know that Tony loved you more than anything else in the world, and know the regret and the shame eats ferociously away at Steve."

•••

The funeral parade.

A whole line of officers and soldiers and finally, the coffin. Just the sight of it brought tears to her eyes, she clenched her teeth, quietly scolding herself. Vision put a protective arm around her, she was too weak to fight him off.

She folding into him, putting her face into his chest. She couldn't bear it, the weight tied to her heart felt like it was dropping to the bedrock of New York.

They followed the coffin to the burial place, it was laid in the dirt.

"Vis, I can't look," she mumbled, her lip quivering.

He was quiet, but she felt his head go up to the sky. His heart began pounding, "Grace, I think you should see this."

She looked up, her makeup smudged.

It was, of course, the splendid metal suit flying up through the air.

And it came down, making a grand entrance, as was his usual.

The helmet went back, and she sobbed at the sight of his face which was very much alive.

"Tony," she gasped. The suit opened and he walked to her, she ran to him.

He took her in, stumbling back a few steps at the power of her charge.

"Easy, baby, the heart."

She ran her fingers through his hair and gripped his shirt.

"You're alive, you're alive," she cried, "I thought you were gone, you were gone," she pulled away. "How?"

"Steve got me to nearest hospital and they brought me back. That's what he wanted to tell you, baby," he held the small of her back. The crowd watched them, unable to hear the conversation.

She turned to see Steve in his suit, giving a small smile. It was all he could muster.

"Steve, I-I'm so sorry," she started, he walked towards the couple, slowly.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have killed him in the first place."

"Oh God," she held her pounding heart, "Vis, did you know too?" she called, he nodded, cracking a smile.

"Steve told me he was alive, but wanted to talk to you about it first."

"Oh God, I'm so sorry Vis," he walked towards them. "Oh God, I feel so shitty. If only I listened to you," she patted her hair down.

"Hey at least I'm here now, right?" Tony questioned, smiling as he studied her face.

"Right," she smiled at him and then to the other two.

"Who's in there then?" She motioned to the coffin.

"Uh, well, it's T'Challa's old man," Tony announced. The crowd looked back and forth before making peace with it all.

"Oh, well that works out," she said half-heartedly. "Thank God you're alive," she held him again in her arms.

He kissed away the tears, and she silently thanked the universe for not letting this be another twisted dream.