Avengers Stories //Oneshots//

Broken Arc Reactor

Tony's pretty sure the words aren't supposed to be jumbled, but that is how he's hearing them. There's a pressure building inside his chest. His fear spikes. The Arc must have been damaged in battle, but he can't do anything about it right now. Not while sitting a meeting with the rest of the Avengers a Director Fury.

The engineer pulls his jacket a bit tighter around him, the chill of the room getting to him, though he's sweating profusely and has to keep subtly wiping it from his brow. His sunglasses are perched on his nose, darkening the bright lights of the debriefing room, something he is thankful for.

He rest his hand over the reactor, subtly feeling it for cracks. What he finds makes his blood turn cold. He can barely move his finger across the surface without finding a crack. Tony needs to replace it. He can already feel the energy pushing against his hand, heating it to uncomfortable temperatures. His heart is skipping beats as the energy falls out of line.

Fury is speaking loudly, talking about who came up with the killer robots that had rampaged through the city only thirty minutes previously. Jarvis is recording the audio, Tony knows, so the genius can view it later.

"Sir," Jarvis says into his earpiece, sounding worried and calm at the same time. "You need a new reactor."

"I know that, J." Tont hisses under his breath. "What's my stats?"

"Your heartbeat has shot up to 130 beats per minute and the sharpenal has moved one millimeter closer to your heart. The Arc Reactor energy is becoming unstable and-"

"Stark."

Cap's sharp voice stops Jarvis.

"Is there something you would like to say?"

Tony throws on an easy going smile, putting his feet up onto the table. He can barely contain a yelp of pain at the movement. "Nope. What makes you think that?"

"You're talking to Jarvis which means you aren't paying attention."

Stupid enhanced hearing.

"Everyone but Mr. Stark and Captain Rogers, dismissed." Fury says, eyes cold and calculating.

"Hey!" Tony protests as everyone else leaves, Clint snickering. The door shuts and Tony's heart skips. He needs another reactor. Now.

He starts to get up but Cap's hand lands on his shoulder. Tony knows he isn't trying to keep him there, Steve's just trying to get his attention in his way, but he tries to get up anyway. He can't. His strength has drained from him. "Jarvis, get me another reactor. Use a suit. Just get it here." He whispers, head angled away a bit so Cap doesn't see him talking. Then he turns back and grins.

"What's up?"

"Stark you need to listen to the meetings. What if there's a valuable piece of information that you don't know?" Fury says, hands behind his back and cape billowing despite there being no wind. Creepy.

"Relax. I have Jarvis record everything for me to go over later." He relishes in their suprise for a moment before a spike of pain has him nearly losing conciousness. Fury blinks quickly twice, what Tony has figured out is what happens when he is worried.

"Tony, what's wrong?"

The captain seems thrown off by the question and Tony takes his chance to push the blonde's hand away and force himself up to stand. The reactor flickers wildly before Tony can cover it up. The fail safes. The arc reactor will shut down if the energy is trying to get out, so it doesn't explode.

The other two people in the room jump forward, eyes wide. Tony waves them away aven as he sways a bit. Steve's hand comes back to his shoulder to steady him and, again, Tony pushes him away and tries to walk to the door.

"Tony!"

He's not sure who called for him but now he's on the ground. The usually impenetrable glass of the arc reactor has shattered all over the floor and he's lying on his side, heart pumping in his ears. Steve lands on his knees in front of him, blue eyes wide with fear as Fury's yells for a medic and another arc reactor or a car battery with a cord wash over them.

"You'll be okay, Tony."

Steve's whispered words and the opening of doors with the rest of the team are the last thing Tony hears and sees before the world turns black.

The genius wakes to a comfortable bed and a brand new arc reactor in his chest. A blanket had been brought all the way up to his neck, but not thick enough that he couldn't see the bright, innocent blue light in the barely-lit room. He shifts a little to the side, hair falling in his face.

"Tony?" The brunette turns his head to see Steve sitting in a chair beside him, looking haggard with his messed up hair and dirty Captain America uniform.

"'Sup?" Tony's voice is hoarse, but he forces humor into it.

Steve makes him drink some water after helping him sit up, pulling the glass away when it was gone.

"Tony.... why didn't you tell us? Tell me?"

Tony fights with the blankets for a minute. "I thought I could get another one before it went out."

Steve sighs and looks at him, blue eyes sincere. "We care about you Tony and want to know when something is wrong, okay?"

"....okay."

"We always want to help you, Tony. If I'm not listening, you need to make me listen."

"Okay. I believe you."

"Good because you are one of my best friends and I need you to know this."

"I know, you are one of my best friends too." This conversation was getting way too sappy for Tony and he quickly moved on to another subject, but knew he would keep the captain's words in mind from now on. ".... now can I get out of bed?"

"You have to rest, Tony. You nearly gave all of us a heart attack."

"Even Pirate man?"

"Even pirate man." Steve agrees before realizing what he said and facepalmed.

Tony laughs, almost cackling.

Bonus:

"Okay, time to debrief." Steve says to the rest of the team as they gather in the helicarrier. Clint groans dramatically, falling into a nearby chair. Cap chuckles.

Tony smiles a little, then winces as the rest of the suit removes itself from his body. Jarvis reported that he needed another arc reactor and once again Tony's blood ran cold. Of course, Natasha notices his face.

"Tony?" The red head asks.

"I-" the reactor flickers rapidly and he hits it with his fist. Clint jumps to his feet, previous exhaustion seemingly forgotten. Steve eyes go wide. "-think I need a new arc."

Steve and Clint help him settle into a chair before his shaking legs give out. The reactor flickers again just as Fury walks in. Natasha is talking curtly and quickly into her earpiece. Tony catches words like "Jarvis" "Lab" and "Pepper".

The arc flickers again. Tony taps it, watching the blue light dim in some places and brighten in others.

Jarvis arrives ten tense minutes later. Even Fury seemed nervous and off, constantly asking for updates in how Tony feels and how long is left with the arc reactor.

Bruce, de-hulked-, is the one to put the reactor in when Tony's shaking hands can't do it. It glows bright blue and the engineer slouches in relief. Everyone does.