Umm...I'm sorry? Tissues may be needed, this chapter made me cry a lot so...yeah...enjoy!
"These are getting harder to do." Tony murmured more to himself before he looked into the camera, it was obvious that the video hadn't been made on the same day as the others due to Tony looking more tired and wearing something else "Harley. How's your Potato Gun coming along? Hopefully, you've taken the corrections into account for once." He chuckled, "Thank you for everything, kid. Had you not been there for me all those years ago then Iron Man would've been no more. I would've been no more. You saved my life kid and I can never repay you -well, obviously I can't know, but you get what I mean." He coughed and blushed, "I hope you don't mind but I've actually left a bit of inheritance for you. It's not much, but you've got some cash and a property or two. I…well, I've also left you a suit. When you're older, I'd like for you to take on the role of Iron Man. If you want to, of course. But…well. Yeah. Good luck and all kid." Tony gave a pained smile before the screen darkened once again.
"I don't want the suits, the money or the properties." The sixteen-year-old muttered, tears trailing down his face, "No one can replace Tony Stark and it sure as Hell won't be me."
"Of course no one can replace Tony, but someone can continue his legacy," Steve whispered from where he sat near the teenager. Peter and Shuri reached over to hug the boy that had become their friend and apart of their small kid-genius group that Tony had created jokingly.
The screen flickered back on, "Peter. I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess. But thank you for always being there, kid. Thank you." His voice was a whisper, "Like Harley, I've left you similar stuff. I think I made IronSpider 2.0, if not then FRIDAY has the details and plans. Good luck out there kid, you're a good friendly neighbourhood hero. Those old ladies must love you." He winked as he referenced the many times Peter had left a voicemail about helping the elderly find their way or help with their shopping.
Peter said nothing just cried and buried his face into May's neck as she held him close. It was almost like Tony knew what was happening because before the video cut out, the man seemed to smile gently and apologetically down at Peter.
"And May, look after yourself. You've raised a great kid, thank you for letting him be in my life." He smiled.
A tear trickled down the brunette aunt's cheek, she nodded and silently thanked him for helping the pair out.
—LINE BREAK—
"Fury."
Everyone was shocked when Tony addressed the man that had been lurking in the shadows watching with teary eyes, no one had noticed the tears and when they had, they didn't know what to think.
Tony smirked and shook his head to correct himself, "Uncle Nick."
Gasps filled the room.
"Wait-"
"What?"
"Kid insisted on calling me 'uncle'. Howard had named me his Godfather, to be fair." Was all the old man said,
"Have I made you proud?" Tony's voice was quiet as he asked the question, "I know I never made dad proud, but after a while, I stopped trying for him. But I always tried to be good for you and mum. Was I?" He stopped and diverted his eyes, blinking rapidly before coughing, "Anyway, I'm sorry for being an ass, I love you, Uncle Nick. Thanks for everything."
"Stupid motherfucker." The old man whispered wiping at his single eye that was overflowing with tears, making everyone look away. It was uncomfortable to see the man cry.
—LINE BREAK—
"Happy. Good old Happy Hogan." The man grinned cheekily as he addressed his old bodyguard and driver, "Thanks for everything buddy, thank you for protecting Pepper and myself. Thank you for being a good friend. We've had a good run." He smiled through the screen,
Happy, who sat next to May, sniffled and blew his nose into a handkerchief.
"All I can to you, my friend, is that you need to hurry up and ask her out." The man once again winked,
Happy was blushing and avoiding everyone's gaze, but he could feel May looking at him.
"Look after them and look after yourself, Happy."
"I'll do my best." The man whispered more to himself than the others that heard.
—LINE BREAK—
"Hey FRIDAY. You're going to have to continue learning to get on without me around. You did a fairly good job when I was off fighting purple grapes and having moons tossed at me." Tony chuckled as he spoke to his AI, who was undoubtedly in the room with him and probably didn't realise that she was recording him.
"I learned from the best, Boss."
"It's a shame you couldn't know JARVIS properly. At least he's still helped you out from the great beyond."
"I was also meaning you, Boss." Tony chuckled at his AI, his gaze never leaving the screen. He was talking to FRIDAY through his computer so she would know he was looking exactly at her.
"Thank you, sweetheart. I trust you to keep the place running. I also left Vision a list of instructions on how to update you. I think I've done enough to keep you running for a good decade. Assuming all the updates go as planned."
"Thank you, Boss."
"Anytime, FRI. Or I suppose not…now anymore." He rambled making no sense.
"I will miss you, Boss. I believe Dum-E, Butterfingers and U share the same sentiment." Tony's eyes filled with tears as the three bots came into view. The man hugged them, falling to the floor and wrapping an arm around his knees as the realisation of what he'd be losing hit him. Dum-E's claw gently rubbed at his hair.
"I love you guys. I'm sorry. Daddy's checking out soon." He stuttered through tears, "I'm going to be with JARVIS, you remember him." The helper bots beeped in a solemn and sad way, "Yeah. I know. I know." He pressed a kiss to each of his helper bots claws before patting what must've been FRIDAY's code. The screen darkened.
"I hope you don't mind that I put my own farewell video together." Came a somewhat shy voice that belonged to the AI,
"Not at all FRIDAY." Someone murmured, it was nice seeing something like that. It showed just how much Tony loved his bots. Because he did.
—LINE BREAK—
"God I don't know where to start." Tony said wiping at his face and releasing a breathless laugh, fingers pinched his nose, "Fuck." He whispered, "Rhodey. Honey Bear. Platypus."
Rhodey's breathing hitched loudly and people looked out of the corner of their eyes as the man buried his head in his hands. He wasn't ready for this.
"You've been there for me since I was fourteen." He started and his next words came out as a whisper of amazement and painful confusion and disbelief, "And you stayed." Tony stared with wide eyes and a shocked expression, "You stayed. I don't know why. But you stayed." His voice was breathless. Cinnamon eyes rapidly overflowing with tears. "I…God…Rhodey…I'd be dead without you. I'd have been lonely and probably offed myself had you not befriended me. Had you not walked into your dorm room and asked why a kid was there." Tony looked away and was silent for a couple of minutes, lost in memory.
Tears poured down Rhodey's face as broken sobs crawled out of his throat sounding muffled as he hadn't removed his hands from his face.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. You've always been there. When mum and dad died, when I was shoved further into the spotlight. When I was kidnapped and you…you found me. I had lost all hope. Thinking I'd die in that desert. Anything was better than the cave though. But you found me." Tony looked up at the ceiling, "You found me. You always did." He looked back into the lens with a tragic smile and tears, "I am sorry, Rhodey. I'm sorry for all the shit I've caused you and I'm sorry for making you suffer more. I hope you will forgive me one day for not telling you. I love you Rhodey. Never forget that." Tony smirked, "Don't worry, we'll meet again on the other side. After all, we made a deal-" Tony cut himself off and looked expectantly into the camera.
"We'll be friends forever. When we die, we'll be ghost friends and haunt the shit out of people. Together." Rhodey whispered
"Damn right we will." Tony murmured moments later, no doubt having timed how long it would've taken for Rhodey to say it and no doubt knowing the man would've. "I'll miss you Honey Bear, but I better not be seeing you anytime soon. Otherwise, I'll kick your ass back to life."
Rhodey's sobs became louder and Pepper held onto him tightly, tears were in her eyes.
—LINE BREAK—
"Pepper. Pep." He tried to smile.
A loud sob had been ripped from her throat as the video started.
"Have I ever told you, I love you." A tear trickled down his cheek starting yet another waterfall of tears, "Because I do. I love you so, so much that it hurts. I'm sorry for leaving you. Believe me, if there was another way I'd have jumped for it." His crying was audible, a choked sob echoed down the mic, "I asked you if you would ever forgive me if I disappeared without saying goodbye. You said yes. Yes because you knew there'd be a reason." He sniffled, "Well, sweetheart, do you forgive me? Because I wouldn't. I want you to fucking shout and scream and curse my name. You don't deserve this." He was speaking quickly as he cried through his words, "You don't deserve this at all. I hate myself for leaving you both like this."
No one noticed the 'both' as they found themselves crying alongside the bawling CEO.
"Pepper…I'm scared."
The room seemed to freeze at that confession. Tony was never scared.
"I'm scared to leave you. I don't…I…" He broke off burying his head in his hands as heartbreaking sobs came through the speakers. "God…Pepper…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm selfish. I can't believe…how could I marry you and then make you a widow in a matter of weeks."
"You're not selfish. Not at all. Tony Stark." She forced through her tears glaring at the crying man that couldn't see her.
"I love you. I love you so much. So so so much. And I can never apologise for everything I've done." He whispered, his hand reached out towards the camera in what could only be an attempt to cradle her cheek or touch her and comfort the woman he knew would be mourning. He pulled it back after realising it was a stupid gesture.
Pepper closed her eyes trying to imagine the worn and calloused hand against her cheek.
"My love, it's okay." He said, eyes seemingly boring into Pepper's, "It's okay." He whispered, "It's okay to cry, to laugh. It's okay to be angry. It's okay to be okay and it's okay to not be okay." He smiled sadly, "It's okay to love again. It's okay." He paused, more tears sliding down his face, "I'll see you on the other side. Like with Rhodey, you better not be up here anytime soon. I love you." He blew a kiss towards her and shut the camera off.
Pepper stood up and ran out of the room. She couldn't breathe. All the guards couldn't help but lose their composure for a second at the sound of her tears.
Here's my tumblr if you're interested, it also has the story collages: anxious- - -soul (no spaces between the dashes but sucks and wouldn't allow the dashes without spaces)
Anyway,
Thank you for reading,
Hope you enjoyed this,
Please review,
No hate -don't like, don't read
Bye~