Avengers x Reader One Shots

Wasn't A Fair Trade ✨ Tony Stark ✅(WRONG VERSION) - 25 Jan 2021

You sigh in relief as Tony flies off next to the quinjet. He has a mission, making it easier for you to leave.

You grab a suitcase, one without a tracker or anything electronic so he can't find you, and quickly pack. You grab everything you need, and then go through to make sure he has what he needs to survive. You hack into Jarvis—which takes a bit, but he's going to be gone on a two-day to a week-long mission, so you'll be fine—and reprogram him to kick Tony out of the lab at certain times so he has to sleep.

After that, you do the hardest part of it all—writing a letter. I know, it's something most people wouldn't do, and even if they did it'd be ok a computer, but something about letter writing to people you love makes you happy. It's short lived, especially considering the circumstances, but there nonetheless.

You finally finish, having trouble not pouring out all your emotions, and opt for a short and sweet explanation that you'll be leaving—without a why—and that you've checked and he has everything he needs in the fridge, clothes are clean, etc. You also tell him that you two are done and for him to move on, and that you hope he'll be happy. The finishing touch? You won't be back, including with the team. You tell him not to look for you, as well.

You leave out all the things you want to say—the I love yous, the wishes that you could stay together, the worry that he'll kill himself slowly with caffeine and work after this, the reason you're leaving—to protect him.

You stretch, moving to grab your suitcase, and move to the elevator to leave. After clicking the down button and waiting for it to get to you, the doors open to reveal your boyfriend.

Your heart sinks but you plaster a surprised, fake smile on your face. "Tony! You're back! I though the mission would be longer!" You say, pretending happiness.

He smiles wearily, pulling you in for a tired kiss. "Yeah, well, we finished early." His eyes then drop to your suitcase. "Where are you going?"

You feign confusion. "I have a meeting, remember? We've talked about this."

He looks surprised for a moment but hides it well, although you can tell. "Oh, yeah," he agrees, going with the safe answer.

You smile apologetically. "I wish we could stay and chat, Tones, but I really have to go," you tell him. He nods mechanically, like he isn't processing what you're saying, and dumbly moves out of the elevator as you two switch spots. You wave with faked cheer before going down and allowing your facade to drop, your face to crumple.

Stay strong, you remind yourself, stay strong for Tony at least. You get to the front and bid the receptionist, security, and Happy a goodbye before walking into a camera-less alleyway and changing into your super suit.

It's once you are zipping up your bag that you hear a voice behind you.

"Where are you going?"

The familiar voice of your boyfriend—ex-boyfriend, you remind yourself—causes you to stiffen. You finish, turning to greet him.

He is fully suited, mask covering his face as he floats a little bit above you. "Where are you going?"

A slight ghost of a smile plays on your lips as you lean against the wall lazily. "If I were going to tell you, I'd've put that in the letter, now wouldn't I?"

"That letter is bullshit. And congratulations on hacking Jarvis, did real well there. Almost kept the—what was it? Bedtime protocol? Whatever, it almost kept me out of the lab. Now, you want to tell me the real reason behind your up and disappearance."

"Nah." You yawn exaggeratedly. "I can do this all day, you know," you tell him. He drops to the ground and takes a few steps forward.

"So can I."

You allow the words to linger in the air, for that good good dramatic effect, before responding, "You actually can't. I mean, all day, yes, but I can go as long as necessary—you'd have to sleep or eat at some point."

Tony's mask uncovers to show his face. You force back the pain of seeing his vulnerability, the hurt in his eyes. He had kept his witty banter, hiding the pain from his voice, but was laying it all bare for you.

You close your eyes for a second to push down the tears threatening to spill. "Why are you doing this?" You ask, unable to control the crack in your voice.

"Why are you doing this? Please, just tell me what's wrong, I'll fix it. I promise." He grabs your hand, and you can't bring yourself to tear away. Come on, Y/n, you're only making it harder, on him and you. His promise is empty if he doesn't know what to fix.

After all, how do you tell someone, 'Earlier when you almost died, I was able to save you but I had to trade being able to ever see you again, and I have to go now'?

So instead, you decide that the easier thing is to break his heart, so he won't come looking—breaking your own even worse as a result.

You force yourself to calm down, steadying your voice before you speak. "Look, Tones. It's over. We're over. Move on, find someone better. Pepper, you and she can rekindle... whatever it was you had. Just move on, live your life, okay?"

"Please..." Tony grasps desperately at your hand as you pull it away, moving away.

"Don't come closer," you warn, and he knows that if he does you'll mess up the suit. What happened, that she's willing to go this far to get away from me?

You give him a saddened glance back, biting your lip as you struggle with the desire to jump into his arms, to go back to what was. But it can never be, you remind yourself. And with the last ounce of self control, you leave your life, your love, behind and slip into the dark night.

——
Just going through my 25 drafts I have left