Chapter 14

"What do you mean I'm not going, of course I'm going" Tony thundered.

"I meant exactly what I said. You're not going, Tony. Have you forgotten that you got stabbed through recently? If you go you risk reopening the wound, and with it that big, it is a risk too great to ignore. It's a miracle you survived last time," Bruce told him firmly. Tony may be stubborn, but Bruce wasn't budging on this one. He was worried about his friend. He hadn't had enough time to fully recover yet and another fight with Thanos in his state would only end in disaster, no matter how upgraded his suit was. Bruce shuddered thing how Tony's mindset could also end up killing him if he faced Thanos now.

"He's right Tony," Steve stepped in, "You can't fight and survive with a gaping wound. It would be better if you stayed here."

"No, I need to get out there and get back at Thanos so we can end this bloody nightmare and I can get my kid back."

"It will do Peter no good if he comes back only to learn that you died," Steve told him angrily, "He would be heartbroken and if he's anything like you he would probably do something reckless and get himself hurt." Tony went quiet. Steve's eyes softened, "Look, we're not saying you don't get to fight him, but this time it would be best if you stayed behind. It's just a get in and get out mission after all. There will be another chance."

After Friday had told him the suit was ready, Tony was off the sofa and in his lab working through the footage and energy signatures he was exposed to in the fight. He was able to locate it easily enough, he is Tony Stark after all, and all-powerful stones give off pretty distinct signatures especially when their power hit you point blank. It then took slightly longer for him to be able to triangulate where the source was. He told the team and they started working on a plan to get a stone, one stone should be enough he had said. Unfortunately, that led them to where they are now, with Tony insisting to go and the others shooting him down entirely.

It was to no one's surprise that Tony did not end up going on the mission. He had been mostly stubbornly set on going until May had marched into the meeting room and dragged Tony out to talk to him. When they returned, with Pepper in tow, May had announced that Tony wouldn't be going and Tony just crossed his arms and scowled but didn't say anything to protest. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Before Steve had boarded the ship Tony and Nebula had brought to Earth, he had turned and hugged Tony, ignoring his slight flinch. He smiled softly when he returned it. If something happened to him, he could go easier knowing that he and Tony weren't on the same rocky ground they had been on for over a year. Their once strong friendship was on the mend again and Steve was grateful for their talk in the lab, Steve was happy he got the chance to apologise properly.

Steve looked around at his team on the ship as Nebula and Rocket started it up. Thor, Natasha, Clint even Bruce were all looking steely and determined. They had called up Scott who had been spending the last few days on a different floor with his daughter. They had both needed this time together and everyone was all too pleased to give it to them, especially Tony who hadn't hesitated to tell them that if they wanted anything, to just tell him. He had suited up, and with a last goodbye to Cassie, had boarded the ship.

They were ready for this, Steve was sure. They would not lose. Not again. Never again.

Tony was pacing again. Rhodey sighed before heaving himself off the sofa and towards Tony. He gently grabbed his arm and led him to the couch in the lab. Tony struggled at first but eventually conceded and slumped down on the sofa. Rhodey sat back next to him, rubbing his back gently.

"It'll be fine Tony," Rhodey reassured him softly, "You know them, they're a team to be reckoned with. They will win."

Tony snorted bitterly, "Yeah, because it worked out so well last time."

"Things are different this time." Tony raised a disbelieving eyebrow as if to say 'how?'. Rhodey had been fluent in Tony-language for decades.

"Well firstly, they have the element of surprise. Thanos doesn't expect them to recover and be on the hunt for him so soon, let alone be able to find him or be stupid enough to try. Secondly, they are fighting to get back what they lost. We didn't know or realise what was at risk last time. This time, it has happened, and their broken hearts will work in their favour. Desperation is often one of the best motivators. Kinda like Afghanistan."

Usually Tony would flinch at the reminder of a time he would love to forget, but he was too tired and keyed up and had experienced stuff worse than that now. "I guess so," Tony reluctantly agreed with Rhodey's speech. He was right though, desperation was often a key motivator. He had been attacked by enough desperate people to know that and what they can do. And the desperation, determination and raw power that the team had… yeah, they might just be able to do it.

Tony drummed his fingers onto his knee. Then his leg started jiggling, up and down. Then he was shifting around. Eventually, he just got up.

"No more pacing," Rhodey told him with a glare, "It's fraying on my nerves even more."

"I knew you were nervous as well," Tony smiled slightly. Rhodey rolled his eyes.

Tony didn't start pacing again. he went to his workstation instead and started typing up a code. Then he started working on a new weapon, a powerful one. Then he ran upgrades to his suit and went over nanobot statistics from the data collected from the last suit. He was doing a lot. At the same time. Multitasking was one of Tony Stark's many talents. But he did wonder how it relaxed him so much, working to forget his problems hadn't worked for a while, the job of helping him forget would usually fall to –

Tony hadn't even recognised the chatter filling the lab. Familiar, hyperactive chatter from a certain hyperactive ball of sunshine. Peter's voice had filled the lab. And Tony hadn't really realised it, so used to having Peter nattering on in his ear about his day or a new project he was working on. It was a tactic he often used when he picked up on the fact that Tony was having a bad day and wanted to forget. He would talk about all the mundane things he could think of.

Tony turned abruptly. Rhodey was smiling softly, his phone held up, "So, it helped did it? I knew it would."

Tony stared at him. Tony recognised this conversation, it was one from 2 months ago when Peter was having a Decathlon competition and was nervous so babbled and rambled to Tony for three hours straight. Rhodey had started playing the audio. Tony really loved his brother. "Thank you," He breathed.

"Anytime," Rhodey said back, just as softly, "Besides, I like listening to his rambling as well. It's soothing somehow."

"I know what you mean," Tony replied. Tony turned back to his work, his jittery nerves being smoothed over as his kid's voice washed over him and trying to ignore the ache in his side. Tony immersed himself in his work and hardly noticed time passing by until the doors to the lab opened and Pepper, May and Happy walked him all holding an assortment of food. They went over to the designated snack table to deposit the food there. There had to be a snack table in the lab with Peter's metabolism and Tony's unhealthy habit of not leaving the lab for days without even taking a break to eat or sleep.

Tony turned to face Rhodey again only to find him asleep on the couch he had left him on. Tony couldn't help the swell of affection for his best friend who was obviously tired but refused to leave him on his own. Rhodey snorted awake as Pepper walked over to shake him.

"We brought food," Happy said and Tony rolled his eyes at him stating the obvious. Happy glared at him.

"You both have been down here for hours, we thought you might be in need of food" May added on.

Rhodey got up to walk over to the table and Tony made to get up off his chair before falling back into it with a hiss. The others glanced sharply at him in worry and rushed over to him, entirely ignoring his attempts to brush them off.

"Are you okay?" Pepper asked worriedly

"I'm fine," Tony waved her off. They glared at him. "What?" he asked defensively.

"Forgive us if we don't believe your version of 'being ok'" Happy retorted.

"Did Bruce check on the wound?" May asked next, ever the practical nurse.

"Yeah, he checked before he left"

"When was the last time you took your medicine?" Rhodey this time. Tony was getting claustrophobic from all the mother-henning.

"I don't know," Tony sighed running a hand through his hair, "Yesterday?"

May immediately left the room as Rhodey helped Tony up and to the table while Pepper and Happy brought chairs around. May came back, as they all sat down, with Tony's medicine and a glass of water. She placed them down in front of him and stared at him pointedly. Tony sighed before downing them all. It was only after he finished that she too her seat with a satisfied look. A small smile played at the edges of Tony's lips. Their mother-henning might be overwhelming at times but it was appreciated. And besides, it was better than not being cared for at all. Unfortunately, Tony knew how that felt as well.

They all tucked into the food, conversations taking place but more subdued than normal with the loudest member not present and the looming threat and worry over their teammates. After they were done and cleaned up, they decided to go to bed since it was so late. Pepper took Tony by and led him to bed with her. Tony thought about protesting and going back to work, he couldn't be lazing about while the others fought for the lives of half the universe, but he was tired and emotionally drained, and his side was starting to hurt again so he got changed and crawled into bed beside Pepper. Pepper turned and curled into his arms, tucking her head beneath his chin.

"I miss him," Pepper whispered into the dark of the room, her voice watery. Tony tightened his arms around her and swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat.

"So, do I Pep, so do I. We'll get him back, don't worry. We'll get them all back. The purple grape doesn't stand a chance against us," Tony blinked back tears and worked to comfort Pepper who had comforted him when he first came crashing to earth and needed to cry his heart out and rant until his voice had gone hoarse.

"I know you will," Pepper said turning her face into his chest. Her absolute, desperate trust in him and the others was overwhelming, but Tony didn't feel it as a pressure weighing him down as the expectations of others did. He knew that he didn't have to pretend to be or do anything with Pepper, the same with Rhodey, Happy, May and Peter. They were his family and he trusted them unconditionally, just like he knew they trusted him. It wasn't overwhelming in the sense that he felt that he could do no wrong or else their opinions on him would change, they've seen him at some of is worst times after all, but instead, their trust helped to raise his spirits. Knowing that people believed in you, even when you mess up time and time again, is one of the most uplifting things Tony has ever experienced. He knows they won't stop believing in him if he messes up and without that pressure that he was so used to having for most of his life, he felt more free and able. He would get them back, single-handedly if needed, but he knows it won't be. He knows he won't be doing this on his own.

Author's Note:

Ta Da! Another chapter already? Yeah. I really want to finish this story before Endgame comes out (and I've been getting so much inspiration lately), I've already almost finished writing it so expect more recent uploads than before.

Until next time.