He fell into a pit of darkness, unable to see the light, as Tony collapsed to his knees beside him, instantly checking his pulse. "Cap? Cap can you hear me?" The billionaire murmured, his whole body quaking in fear. Fear for his friend. When the soldier didn't respond, he yelled. "Steve! Steve, come on, wake up. Wake up..." Tony croaked, bowing his head. Suddenly Steve shifted, his body shaking violently.
"...T-T...T-Tony..." He stammered, his teeth clacking together as a violent shiver ripples through him. "...everyone m-make it out...?" Captain America was still Captain America. Always putting his friends before himself.
Tony nodded, tears cascading down his face. "Yeah. Everyone's okay except..." He broke off, unable to finish. 'Except you...' the unspoken words echoed inside his head. Steve coughed violently, choking horribly on the blood that climbed out of his mouth. "...come on Cap, stay with me here." Tony begged as he put more pressure on Steve's bleeding abdomen.
"...not much of a ch-ch-choice..." Steve groaned, his body going tense as a wave of pain flooded through him. His eyelids dropped lower, and he had to blink to keep his eyes open.
"Steve, please. Just a little longer bud," Tony pleaded.
Steve sighed, going limp against the ground. Tony could see the look on his face. He could see that Steve was nearly gone. That he wasn't going to make it. "...Steve..." The billionaire whispered, removing one of his hands from the captain's wound and using it to smooth the hair on his head back. The injured man swallowed weakly, his pale, ashen face broadcasting his agony to the outside world. "I'm sorry Steve,"
"T'ny. It's...I-It's okay..." Steve replied hoarsely, his voice barely a whisper. "...L-lead th-them...lead them well, S-S-S-Stark..."
"No Steve. Please," Tony squeaked, tears falling from his eyes as the captain slowly faded away.
Steve felt a hand scoop his head up off the hard ground, and through the milky film hazing over his eyes he saw Tony leaning over him. "Goodbye, Tony," He whispered, then his head tilted back. Steve Rogers was a puppet. A puppet painted red.
"Goodbye, Steve..."