"Friday let me in." Natasha said annoyed and worriedly. It had been twenty minutes of trying to get into Tony's lab and no luck, and she wasn't going to give up anytime soon. She was worried he was going to hurt himself, or worse.
"I'm sorry Agent Romanoff, but Boss has put the workshop under lock down mode." Friday said, almost apologetically.
"I KNOW!" Natasha shouted, she has had enough of this. "Fri, if you don't let me in in the next ten seconds I will break down this door." And just like that the door swung open, and Natasha ran in as fast as she could, but as soon as she went in, he blood stopped cold. She had never seen Tony like this ever. He was sitting over in one of his sports cars, looking blankly at a wall, a bottle of booze in his hand.
Natasha quietly made her way over to Tony, not wanting him to know of her presence.
"I why you're here Natasha." Came a soft voice. Natasha stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes glued to Tony, although he didn't even give her so much as a glance. "You're here to kill me. Like everyone else." Natasha's heart sank, is this what he really thought? That everyone wanted him dead? Oh, she has to fix this mess.
"Tony, I'm not here to kill you..." Natasha said gently, making her way to sit next to Tony in the car. Tony still hasn't looked at her. "Why would you think that?"
"Everyone wants me dead, Obie, Fury, Steve, heck I wouldn't be surprised if Pepper wanted me dead..." Tony said his voice cracking at Pepper.
"No she doesn't, she loves you." Natasha said, even though it hurt to. It hurt so much.
"Not anymore, we're over..." Natasha could've sworn she saw a tear roll down his cheek. "I wonder if the world would be better off without me..."
Natasha wanted to scream at whoever did this to him, she wanted to find the person and watch them cry out in pain. Tony Stark was not allowed to say this stuff, never. He was Tony Stark, he was supposed to be sarcastic and rude...but that was just the media mask he wears. The true Tony is much gentler, and caring... and that is why Natasha loves him, because with him, she knows she's not the only one wearing a mask.
"No it wouldn't" Natasha stated firmly. Tony turned his head to her, his eyes were red probably from crying and hair was sticking all out in different ways, and there was a grease streak on his cheek. She pulled him into a firm hug, and he cried into her shoulder. She hugged him tighter, tears welling up in her eyes. She will make this right. She has to.
"Why do I mess everything up?" Tony said in between breaths. Natasha couldn't take it anymore. She held his face up to hers and looked him in the eyes.
"You do not mess anything up, you've never messed anything up and you never will. This isn't your fault, everyone had a part in this, even me. I don't ever want to hear you say you want to die, because you are Tony Stark, the man who can escape death without much thought, a man who loves everyone and does everything he can to make others feel comfortable, don't think I didn't notice. If I ever hear you say that again I will make sure I haunt your nightmares. Believe it or not, we need you. I need you. You cannot give up over one mistake that wasn't even yours. You are a great man, Tony, even if the others can't see, I see it."
Tony looked up at her with wide eyes tears spilling out of his eyes, his face formed in the most adorable, yet depressing pout. Natasha just hugged him tight. She held him like this for the next twenty minutes until the shuddering shoulders stopped, and his body went limp. Natasha pulled him out of her embrace to find he was sleeping. She sighed, picking him up and gently putting him on the couch and pulling a blanket over him.
She sat next to him for a while, before finally leaving, but not before planting a soft kiss to his forehead.
She left, her mind on one thing and one thing only. Her mission. Find Steve, and make him tell her everything.
"Thor I don't think thats a good idea."
"No! The Captain has hurt our Man of Iron, and deserves to pay!" Thor's voice boomed throughout the room.
"I know but we don't even know where he is, and I don't think that will stop the fighting." Rhodes said, trying to reason with the God.
"But he has hurt our friend!" Thor exclaimed.
Rhodes sighed, "I know, but this gives everyone an opportunity to heal. Maybe time away from each other is what we need."
"I don't see how that works, but I trust you, so I guess i can trust your judgement." Thor said stroking his jawline thinking. That when Natasha appeared from the basement, looking extremely tired. "Ah! Lady Natasha! How are you on this fine day."
"Great." Natasha said a little to bitterly. She tired to make her way over to the door, without them noticing, but of course Rhodey of all people would.
"Hey where are you going" Rhodey asked glaring knives at her.
"To get some food, why?" Natasha said, trying to play it smoothly.
"You said that last time." Rhodey said. Oh crap, she did.
"Umm..." Natasha said, lost for words. Come on Natasha think.
"Let me guess your going to see Steve?" Rhodes said bitterly.
Natasha saw no point in fighting it. "Yah.."
"YOU KNOW WHERE THE CAPTAIN IS!" Thor bellowed. Natasha flinched, then nodded. "MAY I ASSIST YOU IN VISITING HIM!"
"Question, why are you even seeing him again?" Interrupted Rhodey, glaring at Natasha.
Natasha sighed, "I need answers.."
"Answers to what?" Rhodes said bitterly.
"To what happened in Siberia, Tony won't tell me anything and if you hadn't noticed, he's been acting strange. I literally just found him drunk and sobbing."
Rhodes tensed. "What?! Jar- I mean Friday why didn't you tell me?"
"Boss had told me not to." Friday answered apologetically.
Rhodes tensed, "Dammit Tony."
"He's fine, he's asleep on the couch now." Natasha answered soothingly.
"You mind if we come with you?" Rhodes asked expectingly. Natasha looked into his eyes and saw the desperation in his eyes. He just wanted to help his friend, Natasha knew that. She actually wouldn't mind if he threw a punch at Steve, in fact, she'd be quite amused. But it was still dangerous. Then she looked at Thor and the puppy dog face he gave her made her think otherwise.
"Alright fine." Natasha finally sighed.
"YES! I WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO SHOW CAP HOW HE HURT OUR FRIEND AND MAKE HIM PAY!" Thor boomed.
"Yes, but lets keep the punching and fighting to a minimum. We don't want to upset his majesty." Natasha said, amused.
"King?" Rhodey questioned.
"T'cholla." Natasha said, grabbing her coat. "You coming or not?"
"Yah, okay. Friday when Tony wakes up tell him I had to do something with the military and that Thor had to go to Asguard for a bit." Rhodes said following Thor and Natasha out the door.
"Why of course Colonel Rhodes." Friday's voice rang, sounding almost amused. "And what should I tell Vision?"
"Same thing, but also to look after Tony. Alert me if anything comes up." He said existing the room finally, leaving the tower in total silence.
Vision strolled into the common room, to find nobody there. He had just woken up and although he knew he didn't require sleep, he couldn't help but feel exhaustion tug at him.
"Friday, would you please tell me where everyone is?" Vision asked. It was weird to ask someone something usually he would be asked. In fact, Friday's presence in general was weird, especially knowing he used to be her.
"Colonel Rhodes had Military things to attend to, Thor had to go back to Asgard, and Agent Romanoff was only here briefly. And Boss is in his workshop." Friday answered.
"Ok thank you." Vision said gratefully as he made his way to the kitchen to cook breakfast as usual. For a man made not too long ago, he was catching up pretty well, especially in his cooking skills. Although it wasn't the same without Wanda. He looked up to her, and every time he saw her he got this feeling that he just couldn't explain. He had asked Tony about, and he had said he was in love, but that couldn't be right. He couldn't love could he?
Just as Vision had finished making breakfast, Tony had walked into the room. Vision couldn't help but note how terrible the man looked. The only time he had seen him like that was when he had palladium poisoning.
"Oh, hey Vision." Tony said, using his media smile. Vision hated that smile he knew something was up. "What'chu cooking there?"
"Oh, just some eggs and bacon, would you care for some?" Vision asked humbly.
"No thanks I'm fine." Tony said. No he's not. vision thought.
"If you say so." Vision shrugged, taking a plate then sitting down next to Tony.
"Have you ever just sat and wondered how the hell you got here." Tony said suddenly. The question startled Vision, this wasn't going to lead anywhere good.
"No, I can't say I have." Vision said, apologetically. Tony patted Vision's shoulder and smiled at him.
"Did I ever mention how much I love you Vision." Tony said. Vision looked at him confused. "Because I do."
"Thank you Tony, I have a deep regard for you too." Vision said, not knowing what else to say, but that's when Friday interrupted.
"Boss, I believe Thaddeus Ross is asking to meet up with you." Friday said, her voice distant.
"Where at?" Tony asked questionably.
"The raft." Friday said, almost sounding scared. That was unusual. Why would he want to meet him at the raft? Vision seemed to be thinking the same thing, for he gave Tony a questioningly look.
"Um sure, meet him there. What time?"
"Two hours." Friday answered.
"Okay we're on a tight schedule then" Tony clapped his hands together, "Vis you want to come?"
"I don't see why not." Vision shrugged.
And that was it, Tony and Vision made their way to the quinjet.
I'm sorry this took so long, the next chapter will be out sometime next week hopefully. Im planning on this being a long fanfic, so just bare with me. Thank you amb6675 and moonlightfirewolf for following, it means a lot to me. This is the first fanfic I am actually going to finish. Don't worry I have plans for a good ending, unless you want something different. Please review, and bare with me on the next chapter! Thank you!