Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 836

Warning: Character Death

Pairing: SteveTony

Ice Cold (Without You)

Clint cheered over the comms, and it was too soon. Mostly because Tony didn't join in, and it sent a frisson of fear through Steve, because Tony always joined in on the end of mission cheering.

"Iron Man?" he asked, searching the skies for his missing husband. "Iron Man, do you copy?"

There was silence for a few moments, and then Steve asked, "Does anyone have eyes on Iron Man?"

"Negative," Natasha and Thor both replied, and Thor threw himself up in the air, searching from on high.

"I have him," Clint shouted, ten seconds later. "He's… Cap, two streets over. Hurry, the armour doesn't look like it's in good shape."

Steve had never run so fast in his life. He had no idea where his shield was, but in that moment he didn't even care. He could find it later or not, Tony was more important.

"Tony?" he asked, as he skidded to a halt beside the fallen Iron Man armour, his eyes taking in the massive damage. He froze when he saw the metal bar sticking into the side of it at a strange angle, almost as if it was being held in place by…

"Tony, answer me," Steve begged. "Please, Tony, answer me. Answer me, dammit!"

There was nothing, and Steve finally managed to pull the face mask. Tony was pale, too pale, and there was blood around his lips. He was still aware, his eyes moving around, panicked.

"Stay still," Steve said, putting himself into Tony's sight line. "Stay still and keep calm, you're going to be okay, sweetheart."

"Steve," Tony forced out, and it was so weak and so fearful, it broke Steve's heart.

"You're going to be okay. The medics are on their way, you're going to be fine," Steve said frantically.

"Steve," Tony repeated. "Love you, Steve. Love you."

"Tony—"

"Love you. Sorry, Steve. Love you."

"Don't say that," Steve demanded, tears flowing down his cheeks. "Don't you dare say goodbye to me, Tony Stark, don't you dare!"

"M'sorry, Steve. Love you."

His eyes closed, and they didn't open again, no matter how much Steve begged and pleaded with him. He knew, part of him knew at least, that Tony wasn't coming back from this. He'd never denied Steve anything in his power before, not once.

"Captain?"

Steve twisted, guarding Tony protectively, only to find Natasha there with the medics.

"You've got to move, Steve," Nat said, and her own voice was thick with emotion in a way Steve had never heard before. "Let them help him."

Steve shifted, but he didn't get up. He couldn't. His legs wouldn't hold him and he knew it because it didn't matter if they tried now.

Tony was gone.

The sun set in the sky as they worked, and Steve knelt on the concrete floor, tears streaming down his face, until the medics declared Tony dead on scene.

…

Steve stood in front of the holding room, watching the "Dominator" through the window. Stupid name for a stupid villain, but Steve had never hated someone as much as he hated this man.

It was deep in his soul, and he knew that if he got into that room, he'd tear the man limb from limb with his bare hands and he wouldn't even blink.

"Leave it to Clint and I, okay?" Natasha had said, patting his arm.

Steve wasn't sure if the man was safer with Natasha or Clint, though. They all loved Tony, and to know this man was the cause of his…

Steve swallowed hard.

He didn't know what he was supposed to do. How was he supposed to go on without Tony? How was he supposed to fight without him, or sleep without him, or be happy without him?

Eventually, he turned away from the window and walked away. He wouldn't become a cold-blooded murderer, because that wasn't who he was. Not in Tony's eyes, and those were the only ones that mattered.

He left SHIELD and headed for home. Usually, if they needed a pick up, Happy would be the one to come and collect them, but Happy was with Pepper.

Both of them grieving for the wonderful man they'd all lost.

Eventually, he was back at the tower, and he crawled into the bed he'd long shared with Tony, and he wrapped himself around the pillow that Tony usually lay on, that still held his smell, and he cried.

He cried for all the moments they'd lost. He cried for the wedding ring that he'd only recently slid onto Tony's finger, and he even cried for the fights they never got to have, because everything with Tony was worth it, even the hard parts.

Eventually, he sobbed himself to sleep.

…

Steve woke up to a pebble grey sky and the knowledge that even when the sun shone through the clouds, he'd never feel warmth again.

Not with Tony gone from the world.

He may as well have been plunged back into the ice—it would have hurt less.

Written for:

Record Collection: Be Here Now, 1: D'You Know What I Mean? - Write about a character dying.

Showtime: 40. Stay Alive (Reprise) - Tragedy

Amber's Attic: Dale, 4: Protective

Film Festival: 23. (dialogue) "Stay still and keep calm."

Marvel Appreciation: 19. [Character] Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross: Write about someone with a deep hatred for something.

Shelter Building: 1. Mud from Hagrid's Cabin: (setting) sunset

Getting Artsy: Pebble Grey / Cheering

Days of the Year: 9. 23rd June - International Widows Day: Write about someone losing their spouse.

National Indoor Plant Week: 16. Jade Plant: (action) sleeping