Disclaimer: I do not own The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man or Thor

A/N: This is based off movies, not the comics. Any coincidental comic facts are by accident. This is not intended to be considered canon in any way, shape, or form. It was written because I had way to much on my mind. Just enjoy it for being a story. It says move/comic crossover because Iron Man is not listed as a movie (God only knows why) NOT BECAUSE THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE COMIC.

Tony Stark is alive.

At least, that's what everyone tells him.

He's told he survived the convoy, the cave, Stane, palladium poisoning and even managed not to die in a car crash or by alcohol poisoning along the way.

Standing on the back side of another chance (and really wasn't getting a SECOND chance supposed to be a miracle?) Tony knows he should already be dead.

If he thought about it (which he DOESN'T) he might wonder how many more chances he has left. (Not that he's counting or anything.)

But Tony Stark is alive and that is supposed to matter.

Except it doesn't.

Iron Man: Yes. Tony Stark: Not Recommended.

It is the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard. Yes Rhodey, or War Machine, or whatever they're calling him, has a suit. Tony built him that suit. But it's big and clunky and has a weapon and it looks impressive and it is nothing at all like Tony's suit. It isn't even remotely like Iron Man; it has half the technology, upgrades or interfaces. It will never be exactly like Iron Man.

After all, it's been proven that anyone with the codes can fly Rhodey's suit.

No one else can be Iron Man.

Iron Man isn't a suit or an alter-ego, it's just Tony Stark. It's Tony Stark being serious, sober and responsible. It's just one man using his mind and his gifts to make a difference.

Tony actually does understand that people don't get that. It's probably even his fault. He'd let the world make Iron Man into a separate persona and he'd never even protested. The closest he'd ever come was an anonymously posted image of Tony drunk side by side with Iron Man and the caption 'Don't make Tony Stark sober. You won't like him when he's sober'.

Nobody got it, but that's ok.

Nobody understands that there is no difference between Tony Stark and Iron Man, but that's ok.

Nobody cares that Tony Stark is alive, but that's ok.

At least, that's what he tells himself.