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Previously: After fighting off intruders at the mansion, Ed helped Tony replace his stolen arc reactor with the older version. As Tony flew off to confront Obadiah Stane, Ed recruited the help of Colonel James Rhodes to reattach her automail arm. Ed hadn't listened to Tony before, she wasn't about to start now.

I fiddled once again with this 'Bluetooth earpiece' in my left ear, its presence being a constant bother for me. I couldn't seem to be able to forget about it like Rhodey had been able to easily do.

Well, he was used to apparently…

Unlike me.

And, sadly, Rhodey seemed to have noticed it when we had been in the lab and JARVIS had told us to grab one each.

I had needed to watch Rhodey as he placed it somewhat in and around his ear to understand what the hell to do with this small piece of technology.

Apparently, it would allow me to communicate with JARVIS and with Tony once we got nearer.

That, at least, was going to be useful.

"So, you're 100% sure you're not Tony's kid?" asked Rhodey, sending me a look as he zoomed past cars on our way to Stark Industries.

In one of Tony's newer cars none the less.

"Definitely," I replied, grabbing onto the door to brace myself. He drove almost as crazily as Tony!

"How about a paternity test?"

"I'm NOT his child," I repeated tensely as we passed close to another car.

"And you're sure about that?"

I rolled my eyes at his constant questioning. "Yes, very sure. You're being overly persistent about this," I remarked.

"I am because, for one, Tony would not just let anyone stay at the mansion for what? Four months so far? Without a good reason," explained Rhodey and I paused, realizing the truth behind that. He waited a moment before taking my silence as a sign to continue. "And, because the alternative is an even bigger stretch. You…" He paused, eyeing me for a moment before shaking his head. "No… Actually, how about you being the grandkid of a World War 2 soldier? Yeah, more plausible."

I didn't answer right away, thinking that possibility over. That would be a good cover actually. It would explain why I looked like 'Edward Elric' of 1945 while being present in 2009. However,… Edward hadn't exactly been known to go out with women too often back then, let alone have a… girlfriend... I would need to figure out more of that backstory at some point to make it believable.

But, for the moment, I needed to figure out what to share with Rhodey. Tony had told me I could trust Rhodey as much as I trusted Pepper. The problem was, I had spent four months getting to know her. I had met Rhodey about 30 minutes ago.

"How long have you known Tony and Pepper," I asked suddenly, turning towards him, mostly to avoid looking at the road and the speeding cars.

Rhodey seemed taken aback by the question. "Wait, you didn't answer my –"

"You'll get an answer," I cut in. "Once I get some information."

Rhodey sighed, seeming to debate with himself before nodding. "Tony since our time at M.I.T. together and Pepper since she was promoted to Tony's assistant. Many years for both."

I nodded at that response as I tried to think back on what that acronym he said meant. It was… a school, I believe? They went to school together?

Wait… What level of schooling was M.I.T.?

However, that didn't matter at the moment. Rhodey had known both for a long time. That begged the question of – "Why hadn't I seen you at the mansion then?"

Rhodey took a deep breath, readjusting his position in his seat. "Tony and I have had our ups and downs during the years. We had been on a… down sadly…"

"And now?" I asked, flinching at how close we had gotten to another car.

"I came to check on both of you, didn't I? And I knew that Tony had been working on something but, considering my position, the less I knew about it, the better it would be for everyone."

I eyed him for a moment longer before finally saying, "Long story but your assumption of me being a soldier from World War 2 was right."

I needed to trust what Tony said and, from what I gathered from Rhodey, he truly was someone to be trusted as well. He was Tony's friend and he had seemed particularly worried when he had entered the workshop and saw his friend on the floor. I needed to believe that the truth would be safe with Rhodey.

He, meanwhile, had exhaled heavily, his eyes wide. "What has Tony gotten himself into this time…?" he mumbled.

"Neither of us had much choice in the matter," I replied with a scoff.

"Why am I not surprised?"

He continued to drive and I could feel that he had so many more questions but I was almost happy he didn't ask them just yet.

I didn't exactly know how to answer some without him actually seeing the video of the Gate dropping me in Tony' lab.

And he needed to focus on driving.

"You think your arm will last?" asked Rhodey suddenly, motioning towards my automail with a tilt of his head. So much for focusing on driving…

I released the handle of the door and flexed my hand, staring intently at it. "It better," I said, remembering what JARVIS had told us back in the workshop: Tony had still been performing tests on it, making sure the wires worked, moving each piece like it was supposed to.

I just hoped it didn't give up on me during a crucial time.

"Alright, well, it looks like we're getting close to S.I.," remarked Rhodey and I saw more cars slowing down around us along with flashing lights ahead. "I'm dropping you off and heading to the base, deal?"

"Good for me."

Rhodey nodded as he focused on the road, weaving through the nearly stopped cars until, in the distance, in…

Fucking shit…

That was a FUCKING huge suit of armour… and we still weren't close enough to –

"That's Tony!" I called out, pointing to the MUCH smaller suit of armour that had just been flung aside, slamming into a series of cars.

"Brace yourself," ordered Rhodey and I felt him slam on the gas pedal, the car lurching forward and picking up speed.

Oh great…

And I actually did as I was told as Rhodey drove straight towards the huge suit of armour.

Mental calculations told me we wouldn't do too much damage but it would at least distract that suit of armour enough to give Tony some time to get back up.

Hopefully.

I squeezed my eyes shut moments before –

My body jerked painfully forward, stopped suddenly by the seat belt. I groaned out as the car spun and I was flung onto the door and…

I hoped the car didn't flip over on itself.

I was jerked once more as the car hit something and came to sudden halt.

Good… We didn't flip…

"That was horrible," I complained, blinking as I squinted trying to see where we had landed.

And if this whole ordeal did any damage to that monstrosity or not.

"You okay?" coughed out Rhodey.

I glanced towards him as I nodded, taking in the crumpled hood of the car and the shattered windows around us. The car did get severely damaged but…

"Did it work?" I asked, trying to see where that large suit of armour had gone.

"Somewhat," grumbled Rhodey. "Now, let's –"

We jumped as screeching noises came from over us and the sunroof of the car was slowly torn back. I unbuckled, turning in my seat to –

"Tony!"

He finished opening the sunroof and was staring down at us. "Did you flip over?" he asked, bypassing the pleasantries.

"No, so that was very unnecessary," replied Rhodey, rolling his eyes.

"Slamming into Stane was. I'm running out of cars," said Tony and my eyes widened.

"Stane's IN that suit of armour?!" I asked as I pulled myself up and out from the hole in the roof, glancing around us to try and spot him.

"Yes, and I told you to stay home."

Unbelievable…

"Didn't hear you," I grumbled out, lying through my teeth.

I could feel Tony's stare but I ignored it as I crouched on the roof of the car and offered a helping hand to Rhodey to pull him out.

"Go to Pepper after this, Short Stuff. Stane isn't going easy with his hits," said Tony, turning away and heading…

Ah, that's where that huge armour went.

It may have been impressively large but, the bigger they are, the harder they fell.

And the harder it was to get back up it seemed.

"Alright, be careful, Ed," said Rhodey, jumping off the car. "Try to listen to Tony, got it?"

"Can't make any promises," I replied which made him sigh, nodding half-heartedly before running off.

Good, he didn't stick around to see if I actually listened to the orders or not.

I could focus on that armour then.

Considering its size, the amount of power that thing possessed was dangerous and Stane would probable be able to rip me in two if I annoyed him enough.

Which, considering our last encounter, annoying him wouldn't be that hard.

So, I needed a way to fight Stane that didn't put me in grabbing distance.

If only I had my alchemy… I had tried in the workshop before leaving with Rhodey but I still hadn't felt the hum of energy flow through me. I had thought that maybe having a functioning arm would do the trick but I was wrong…

It was getting ridiculous to be honest, especially considering that if that fucking Gate thought I I needed to do something, having alchemy would help!

Like at the moment, I would have created a staff to be able to stab Stane all while keeping a certain distance between us and as I helped Tony with the fight. The chances of finding a staff were pretty slim in this day and age, though. People didn't exactly carry them around to… to…

I stared at a flipped over car, studying the broken axle. That – that could actually work. I just needed to break off the other side as well.

Then I would have a makeshift steel staff.

Hopefully that would be strong enough!

I ran over to the car and, after a lot of bending and pulling, I got the axle free. It was bulkier than I would have liked but it would work.

Time to FINALLY kick Stane's ass.

Especially knowing that, not only had he been the one double-dealing Tony's company's weapons under the table, had been the one to file the injunction against him but had also stolen Tony's arc reactor and left him for dead…

And, thinking about it, I wouldn't have been surprised if Stane had been the one to hire those thieves all those times to try to break in!

He needed to be stopped!

I had finally reached where Stane and Tony were fighting or more, where Stane was tossing Tony around like a rag doll. Tony wasn't even fighting back. But… why?

"JARVIS," I said, hoping this earpiece would let him hear me. "Is Stane's armour that much stronger than Tony's?"

It thankfully did work. "It does have strength Miss," explained JARVIS. "but Sir's reactor wasn't meant for powering a suit that long."

Fucking shit…

We needed to stop Stane. Fast. Before Tony's arc reactor stopped working.

I circled around, trying to stay out of Stane's line of sight but he seemed overly focused on Tony as he slammed him on the ground.

"For 30 years, I've been holding you up!" yelled Stane, grabbing Tony once more. "I built this company from nothing and nothing's going to stand in my way! Least of all, you!"

And he threw Tony into a nearby bus, making the sides crumple into themselves. Tony's suit may be made of strong material but that didn't mean the impacts were only less violent and painful…

Thankfully, I had managed to get close enough by then before Stane could continue beating on Tony.

Taking a running start, I lifted my makeshift spear, aiming for a section of overlapping pieces, hoping to get between them. I stabbed the axle into the metal, using as much strength as I could muster, testing the limits of my new arm.

The staff went in almost 30 centimeters as steam began to seep out of the hole and it stopped moving, no matter how much I pushed.

Fine. I yanked the axle back just as Stane whirled around and I jumped back, just barely missing getting hit by his large arm.

Stane stared at me for several long seconds before saying, "It's no wonder nothing came up when searching for a Gracia, a psychologist with one arm."

I didn't care about what he was saying though. I bolted to the side, swiping my staff at his arm, almost managing to dislodge whatever weapon was attached to it. His focus was on me and not Tony. That was what was important for the moment.

"And, not only that, this supposed Gracia is somehow a ghost of a soldier past, a certain Elric. You will just have to share how that happened," he continued in a taunting voice.

Even though he tried to grab me, I managed to jump back, swiping at him with the axle. It hit its mark but just bounced off, making my arms shake from the impact.

"Fuck you, you asshole!" I yelled out, readjusting my grip on the staff, flexing my left hand.

"I'm not wrong, though."

He wasn't but I wasn't going to let him know that. "You are wrong, I just don't want to argue about this stupid notion with you!" I yelled out, diving to the side as Stane punched the ground where I had been standing.

Here was the thing about fighting Stane in his suit of armour: I had close to five years of experience sparring against Al in his armour. Yes, Al had been smaller but he had also been faster.

Much faster.

Hence why I managed to stab Stane on the side with the axle.

"You haven't aged," he growled, grabbing the weapon, seemingly unaffected by it. "Some people would pay good money to know how you did it."

I staggered back not wanting to be near him without my staff but… those words struck a chord deep within me, one that I had thought I had buried back in 1945.

One that revolved around Zola and the experiments he had wanted to do on me when I had been captured.

Would – would that be my fate in 2009? Would more people recognize me? Would they wonder how I hadn't aged?

Tests and experiments to discover my supposed secret but…

Then they may find the serum too.

I – I couldn't let that happen.

"I am NOT who you think I am!" I yelled out, grabbing a loose rim and throwing it as hard as I could at him.

As Stane went to block it, Tony blasted him in the back of the head as he floated about three meters off the ground.

"Your fight's with me, Stane," said Tony, aiming another shot at the armour's head.

Stane laughed, turning his back to me. "One inconvenience at a time. And I've also made upgrades to the suit!"

I stumbled further back as Stane's armour's legs reshaped themselves and the entire ground began to rumble from… from…

Oh fuck… That monstrosity could FLY?!

"Short Stuff, get to Pepper, make sure she's safe. Do as you're told this time," said Tony as he blasted into the sky. "JARVIS, keep climbing, as high as possible."

I watched the two suits shoot up into the sky before glancing around. Even though I didn't particularly care for being sidelined – AGAIN – I couldn't help Tony in the air. And… I was a little worried about Pepper. Where exactly was she? Was she still at Stark Industries? And, if so… Where was that?

Turning around once again, I spotted brightly lit buildings and some wreckage originating from there. That would probably be my best bet.

"Suit power at 12%."

That – that was JARVIS' voice. But, he must not be talking to me, right?

"Keep going!"

I glanced up into the sky but I could barely make out Tony and Stane. The communication between us must not have been switched off.

Tony was pushing the suit to the limit, to get as high as possible. Why? Could his get higher than Stane's? How would he know that though? Besides, last time Tony had…

My eyes widened. The icing problem!

Stane most likely didn't know about it, not with the metal components of his suit: nothing on it would prevent icing to occur.

And, at that height, the resulting fall may just be enough of a force of impact to severely damage the armour. IF Stane didn't have a back up way to break the ice like Tony had.

I climbed over a fence, searching the immense span of buildings ahead of me, trying to spot –

"Pepper!"

I jumped down and sprinted towards her. She didn't look hurt but, instead, it seemed she was worried more than anything.

"Ed! What are you doing here?" she asked quickly, bridging the gap between us and physically checking to make sure I was alright, her hands resting on my head, shoulder, arm, anything she could reach.

"I came to help and I'm fine," I replied, grasping her wrists and stopping her from continuing her assessment.

"7% power," came JARVIS' voice.

"Just keep it on the screen, stop telling me."

That didn't sound good…

"Where's Tony?" asked Pepper, looking behind me in worry.

I glanced up at the sky but I couldn't make either Tony or Stane out anymore. They were much too high in the air.

"He's somewhere up there," I replied, still searching. "Both of them are."

"Obadiah's suit can fly?!" gasped Pepper in surprise.

"I think the plan is for it to fall, actually," I said.

Pepper didn't respond but I could tell she was still confused. True, she probably hadn't heard about the icing problem. She didn't know that extreme heights were dangerous to a suit of armour not built for that purpose.

"– you solve the icing problem?" asked Tony, sounding far away.

"Icing problem?"

"Better look into that."

I heard a solid 'thunk' and I hoped that meant that Stane's suit was shutting down and falling.

"2% power," said JARVIS.

Fuck!

Tony may just join him in falling!

And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it! I could only stand here and hope that Tony would make it out of the fall, that the power in the arc reactor would be enough to slow him down so he didn't impact the ground violently.

And he wondered why I hated flying…

Several heartbeats passed as Pepper and I stared at the sky. Tony should be getting closer to… to…

There!

Pepper grasped my arm as she also seemed to have spotted Tony falling from the sky. The propulsors on his hands and feet went on and off before we lost sight of him on the roof.

"He… He made it," whispered Pepper, taking a shaky breath, her grip on my arm tightening slightly.

"Pepper." Tony's voice came out of my earpiece and, the way Pepper reacted, she probably heard it as well from hers.

"Tony!" she called out in relief. "Are you okay?"

"I'm almost out of power," he replied. "I've got to get out of this thing. I'll be right there."

Pepper shakily nodded, both of us looking up at the roof.

"Nice try!"

Fucking shit!

STANE!

The fall apparently hadn't been enough to incapacitate his suit!

I took several steps back, glancing left and right to see –

THERE!

I sprinted towards the ladder that led to the roof, ignoring Pepper's yells, using my momentum to push off the wall and grab the lowest rung. Pulling myself up, I scrambled up the ladder, hoping I got up there in time.

Tony's suit was almost out of power.

That power came from the arc reactor.

If the arc reactor failed, who knew if the electromagnetic inside would still work and keep the shrapnel out of his heart.

I didn't want to find out…

Jumping onto the roof, I easily spotted the back of Stane's suit and…

"Tony," I hissed, running towards the two of them where Stane had Tony between his hands, squeezing him tightly.

I didn't really think it through as I used a vent, pushing off of it and landing on Stane's back.

Wires. I could see wires between the plates of the back and the helmet. That could work.

Pulling my automail arm back, I slammed my hand into the space, blindly grabbing whatever I could and pulling up and out.

Stane cursed out, releasing Tony who dropped heavily to the ground. Damn it… This monstrosity of a suit was still working… Stane, meanwhile, raised his arms, trying to grab at me, stumbling around. I held on tightly with my left hand as I reached into his suit once again, trying to rip more wires before I got thrown off.

Hopefully it would be enough to shut the suit down.

I ducked under his reach, slipping back and down, only barely managing to hold on to the –

Fu… ck…

So much pain… All – all through my back.

My vision was blurry, so blurry…

I felt myself slide to the ground and my body crumpled forward.

I – I should have seen this coming… Stane… He had squished me against… something…

Stupid… So stupid…

I groaned, struggling to push myself up, blinking to try to focus my eyesight on something. To try to ignore the throbbing in my back… Ignore the pain…

Ignore the trickle of… Glancing at my left arm, I could see the start – start of blood rolling down. A cut… There was a cut on the back of my shoulder…

Fuck…

But, where – where was Tony? Stane?

"– enjoying the suit." My ears finally picked up Stane's voice and, for some reason, his voice was no longer coming from… the suit? It sounded… clearer? How…? "You outdid yourself, Tony. You finally made your father proud."

That fucking asshole…

With a growl, I shakily pushed myself to my feet, anger boiling within me. Those last words… Considering my relationship with my own father, those words were a dirty and under-handed comment.

And, considering what I knew about Howard's parenting style, it was a low blow to Tony as well.

I breathed deeply, ignoring the jabs of pain from my body as I marched forward towards Stane's voice, hoping to spot Tony somewhere nearby. I truly was going to kick that man with my automail foot. I was –

Bullets and shattering glass.

"Tony, it's ready!" called out Pepper through the earpiece.

Then I finally spotted Tony and my eyes widened.

He was barely holding onto the remaining steel frame of the skylight as Stane was trying to aim his weapon at him. Not only did Tony no longer have one of his gauntlets but he was now missing his helmet too!

"Too bad that brat destroyed my targeting system," said Stane which would explain why he didn't have his own helmet on anymore either. "But, it shouldn't be too hard to hit you."

"Short Stuff," gasped Tony softly, just enough for me to be able to hear. "Get off the roof. Now. Just go."

"Not without… you," I answered just as softly before Stane began shooting.

Shit, shit, SHIT!

I scurried around the roof, sticking behind vents and other structures, barely managing to keep Tony in my sight.

Thankfully, Stane was such a horrid shot and none of the bullets hit any part of Tony that was unprotected!

"It's not up for discussion. Get off. Now!" said Tony, struggling to hang onto the steel frame.

"I - I didn't save your ass in your lab… to watch you die here," I snapped, getting closer to Stane.

"It's the only way to stop him!"

"No, it's not!"

I spotted a satellite dish not too far from Stane and ran over, prying the protective casing at the bottom off, revealing the end of a large wire plugged into it.

"Hold on a minute – a minute longer," I huffed, already yanking at the wire and finally getting it to unplug.

"I don't think we can wait that long!" snapped Tony, still sounding like he was struggling.

"Yes, you can!"

"Just leave, Evelyn!"

I stumbled upon hearing my full name for the first time from Tony's mouth. He… He had never even called me 'Ed' and now… We stared at each other for a moment, our gazes locked and he almost looked pleading…

Did – did he really think he was going to die? Is that why?!

"Fuck. No." Came out of my mouth, looking away from Tony before I dashed towards Stane, weaving between the suit's legs with the wire.

"You don't know when to give up, brat!" yelled Stane angrily, turning in my direction. "I'll take care of you – you…!"

I had let him yell all he wanted as I pulled the wire taunt, using my entire weight to keep it as tight as possible and it was just enough for Stane to begin stumbling sideways in his suit.

His large step to the right yanked me forward and I fell hard to the ground, letting go of the wire. He continued stumbling and…

I scrambled to my feet, dashing towards Tony, not exactly caring what happened to Stane at the moment until –

The resounding crash that followed let me know that asshole had landed heavily on the roof as the impact shook the entire building.

That was good enough for me: it would give me some time to get Tony out of that precarious situation he had put himself in.

"You really don't listen to anyone, do you?" grunted Tony as he tried to pull himself up.

"You're finally getting it," I replied, out of breath as I knelt in front of him as I grasped the metal frame with my left hand and reached out to Tony with my right. "Come on…, let's get you out of this – this mess."

"We need to hurry, Stane's getting up and you're looking worse for wear," he grumbled, holding out the hand that still had the armour on for me to grab onto.

Good idea because, as I began pulling, I ended up squeezing too hard and the metal on the arm started bending under my grip.

To be fair, his suit with him inside it was FUCKING heavy…

It took a moment but we finally managed to get Tony onto the solid part of the roof but…

His arc reactor was starting to flicker.

Its power had almost depleted.

Fuck!

That suit needed to come off or else…

Wait.

I glanced behind us where Stane had almost managed to stand up once again, cursing loudly as he did.

He had stolen Tony's newer arc reactor.

It was now powering that monstrosity of a suit.

Well, I was just going to have to steal it back then.

I ran, stumbling as well, towards Stane, ignoring Tony's surprise call after me. By then, Stane had gotten back on his feet and I ducked under his arm, jumping up and grabbing onto his armour. I reached out to –

"I truly have had enough of you," growled out Stane, getting a hold of me tightly between his hands and beginning to squeeze.

I bit back a groan as I tried to pry him off with only my automail, my other arm being trapped against my side.

Should – should have seen this coming…

"Considering you don't exist, you won't be missed," spat out Stane, squeezing harder.

"Let her go!" yelled out Tony and I briefly caught sight of him charging up his gauntlet through the dark spots that began to swim across my vision.

"St – stop!" I gasped out. He was using up what little energy he had left…

I – I wouldn't let that happen!

With a yell, I slammed my hand into the arc reactor in Stane's chest, squinting through the pain to see if my hand was even grabbing something.

It was.

"Evelyn!"

"You lose, asshole!" I gasped out, yanking the arc reactor out of its socket.

Stane yelled out in despair as his suit powered down and his grip on me loosened, letting me fall into a heap on the ground.

A heap of pure pain…

"Short Stuff…"

I felt myself being dragged aside as I blinked the dark spots away, trying to take a deep breath.

But it hurt…

It hurt so much…

"For a prodigy, you're very stupid," mumbled Tony as he struggled to pull me across the roof, his arc reactor flickering even more.

"Stop…," I breathed out. "Reactor…"

"The one downstairs is about to blow and Pepper can't stop it. We need to move. Well, I need to move both of us," explained Tony in exasperation.

"Asshole…," I mumbled, shaking my head as I made sure I still had the newer arc reactor in my hand.

I thankfully did and it hadn't been damaged.

We – we just needed to switch them.

If Tony would just stop moving then –

"No, not now!"

The yell, being flung, hitting the ground and –

Something heavy on me.

So heavy…

Not to mention the blinding bright light…

And the pain had not subsided. If anything, it may have gotten worse…

What was ON me?!

Once I could see again, I… What the…?

My eyes widened, recognizing the red metal.

"Tony," I gasped out. HE was on me.

And he wasn't moving!

"Tony, come on," I said again my arms shaking as I tried to push him off of me.

It was a struggle just to roll him off and he still hadn't… hadn't reacted… He… He wasn't moving… His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow.

And the arc reactor was almost out…

I needed to switch it.

Now.

I… The suit. I needed to get it off… I couldn't reach the arc reactor because of the protective layer on top of it.

"Tony, suit, off, now," I ordered weakly, trying to pry off with my shaky grip. "Tony!"

He still laid there, unconscious and I tried harder to get the chest piece off, trying to also ignore the jolts of pain that flared up through my body.

It wasn't moving.

"JARVIS," I gasped, resorting now to pounding the chest piece. "Tell me there's a way to open this! We have to open it!" There had to be a way, a manual lever or something. "JARVIS!"

I raised my hand but only then realized my earpiece was missing. I had lost it…

Along with my only way to communicate with JARVIS.

Ok, calm down. There needed to be a way to remove the armour! There just had to be! Just like with the icing incident, Tony wouldn't have built this if he couldn't actually get OUT of it!

Wait, maybe…

I spotted a small button on one side and, after climbing on top of Tony, found a similar one on the other side. Please let those be the release buttons!

I pushed both and then pulled up, the chest piece slowly being pried off until –

It popped off and I went flying back.

I groaned out in pain, not amused that the chest piece had landed on me.

Come on…

Shoving the chest piece aside, I rolled onto my hands and knees, crawling back to Tony and where I had left the arc reactor.

Almost there…

My breathing was heavy as I unplugged the old arc reactor and shakily replaced it with the newer one. The – the light was on and…

Did it work?

"Tony…?" I mumbled softly, scooting closer. He still hadn't moved… His breathing hadn't changed… "Please… Don't leave me too…"

Those words just tumbled out but…

I had meant them.

I didn't want to keep losing people…

And… this was the second time in one night that…

Damn it…

"Don't be an asshole and leave Pepper… Leave Happy, Rhodey and even Peggy. Don't make me call her with bad news, Old Man." My voice was weak but I just kept talking, my automail arm still managing to keep me up.

I groaned lowly, closing my eyes, not knowing what I could do. I wasn't going to be able to get down myself to get help: I didn't have the energy to do so. And I had even less of a chance to get down WITH Tony…

And I couldn't call anyone, not with the missing earpiece…

"Tony, wake up…," I mumbled, feeling my head start to dip in exhaustion. "Don't… Don't you fucking die… Don't…"

Would he even listen to me…?

I didn't listen to him…

And –

My head snapped up and I blinked several times, trying to stay awake as my ears picked up the sound of running footsteps.

And they were getting closer.

"Damn it…," I growled out, taking a deep breath and pushing myself up.

I stumbled to my feet in time to see several men in dark suits run in our direction and… I didn't know what I could do to fend them off but…

I needed to at least try.

"Get to Stark!" said the man in the lead but his gaze was fixed on me.

I unsteadily shook my head and I felt my body tilt slightly from the movement. "Who –?"

"We're the good guys," explained the man, stopping a meter away from me and he looked like he was trying to stop himself from smiling. "We had been with Miss Potts."

The… agents Rhodey had mentioned.

Honestly, I didn't exactly WANT to trust them but…

I was fading. I didn't have the energy to fight all of them off…

"Fine… Help him," I whispered, moving slightly to –

I stumbled, tripping over my own feet.

Oh, fuck it… I was just going to –

"Oof."

Well, I had not been expecting to be caught.

I strained my neck to look up to see the leader, still eyeing me carefully, looking almost in disbelief…

"You're safe now," he said with a reassuring smile. "And it is an honour to meet you."

Uh… What…?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know what you thought! :D