Chapter Text
The slight breeze, ruffled Tony’s hair. The wind brushed its hands across his face. He took in one big breath, taking in the salty smell. He blew it out slowly in content. A small hand weaved it’s way in between his fingers. He held the hand back tightly and looked down at the figure embracing him. Red hair shown bright in the setting of the sun, Pepper’s face was one of love and pride. Giggling and laughing was a background sound and Tony couldn’t help but have happiness in his heart at the scene in front of him.
His closest friends together, enjoying each other’s presence. They were all at the beach. Steve, Bucky and Sam played frisbee. Natasha and Clint lying down on the warm sand. The Avengers playing various activities all together made him feel happy. But his eyes were more focused on something else. May sat on a picnic blanket reading a book and there was Peter, alive and well, his smile beaming from ear to ear. But who Peter was with Tony cared mostly about. Contagious laughter rang out, the little girl with Peter was a ray of sunshine lighting Tony’s life. Pepper’s eyes met his and she kissed him on his head, her hand ran through his now grey hair. His daughter ran up to him, she had big brown eyes that Pepper believed were her father’s. Tony had to agree, she looked like him. Her arms stretched outward toward him, asking for him to pick her up. Pepper glanced worriedly at him as he grimaced. He bent down with a slight ache in his back, his right arm wrapped around her tiny form and under her armpits. Pepper assisted with setting her comfortably between his right arm and his body. Tony’s gaze shifted over to his left, he sighed slowly, the memory showed itself again.
With a big yell the titan swung his sword barely missing Tony, luckily his suit’s maneuverability allowed him to dodge so swiftly. Thanos wasn’t intending to kill the heroes last time he arrived, but this time, he wouldn’t make the same mistake. Though it wasn’t wanted, they fought in Wakanda once again, their warriors well equipped for a war such as this one. Still lives were lost, their numbers dropping like dominos as they were slain by the titan’s sword. Thanos was making his way to Tony, and the other avengers held him back with brutal force. Thor came down with his axe and lightning rained onto Thanos littering the ground with explosions. His sword glowed yellow once again and the mind stone on it renewed his energy instantly, the avengers winced at the mind stones power, it was willing them to fall under Thanos’ will. They all refused to be controlled. Slowly the titan continued his slow descent to Tony. His eyes met Steve’s, they both nodded at each other to begin the game changing plan. On Tony’s left hand he wore the infinity gauntlet built into his suit. All stones were filled into their respective spots except for the spot in the middle, it was empty and they needed to fill it. Tony closed his hand slowly, bracing himself for the onslaught of pain. The power stone began to glow and Thanos fell to his knees, Tony held down his body and forced him to drop his sword, the titan screamed with protest and it rhymed with Tony’s yelling. The pain was unbearable, it pulsed through his body, like nails piercing through his skin all over and his arm was burning, almost on fire. Through his yelling he told them to take out the mind stone. Thor took the sword and with his axe he cut the sword in half, it shattered into pieces. The mind stone was brought over to Tony and he placed it into the last place in the gauntlet. Thor looked at him eye to eye in reassurance, he put one hand on his shoulder and nodded. He processed to put his axe to Thanos head, ending it completely. Tony saw his life flash across his eyes as he snapped his fingers. Through hazy vision he saw figures reappearing in golden light and then he saw his suit on the left side disintegrate and his arm, it charred to a deep black, burning straight off. Blinding pain made his world go to dark.
Blinking, Tony was shaken out of his daze, he shifted his eyes from the stump of his left arm back toward the setting sun looming over the ocean’s horizon. Colors splattered across the sky, a beautiful violet, yellow and orange. In a stretch along the water, it held the sun and its reflection, the ocean lapped up in small waves, light shimmering across the top, it inched up the beach sand and then retreated just as quickly as it came. The sound of waves calmed Tony, his daughter studied them with awe. Peter’s eyes were locked to the dimming light of the sky, he was mesmerized by its unique set of colors and the stars that began to accompany it.
Tony’s breathing was deep and slow, realization ran through him as this was the calmest he was in over ten years, he had come far in his life. The first invasion of New York was unexpected, the second one he knew was coming and he prepared.
It wasn’t enough.
So they fought again, this time ending it all and once again giving life to those who it was stripped from. He had done so much as iron man, the other avengers had done so much in their roles as well. After the Infinity War, Tony set down the suit, the others decided to retire as well, but all the avengers agreed on one thing.
If they were ever so needed again, they would return guns a blazing to protect their earth and the ones they loved.
Tony again took a deep breath, out came a low whistling sound matching the breeze of the ocean.
A smile finally filtered its way onto his face.
He felt good.