Hi all! I'm back again. This time, I'm trying out a Tony Stark story. Maybe it's a silly idea, but please indulge me. I think you might like it. It's going to be sad, heartbreaking, funny, sweet, and possibly infuriating at times, but I hope you stick it out. I always enjoy writing ghost stories. I really hope you enjoy this story. This prologue made me bawl because of course I found the footage online and watched it again. Chapter One has some humor in it, though. I promise! Happy reading :)

*I apologize if this idea has already been done before. I hope to make it different.

Prologue

Time seemed to stand still when Tony looked over from Thanos to Dr. Strange and saw him hold up his finger, mouthing, "Just one." The realization hit him like a truck. It had to be him. He looked back over at Thanos, whose arms were flailing around as he yelled and roared at the other Avengers trying to stop him and pull off the gauntlet. He had to do it. Somehow, he knew this, but facing the reality suddenly choked him a little. Images of Pepper and Morgan crossed his mind. What would they do without him?

What would they do if he didn't stop Thanos?

That thought was more pressing, and he knew he had no other option. He surged forward, causing confusion to Thanos while he stripped him of all the Infinity Stones and put them in his own homemade gauntlet. He blasted out of the way, turning to watch Thanos get ready to snap.

"I am inevitable," Thanos sneered, moving to snap his finger. Nothing happened but a dull "clang" sound, and he looked at his hand, confused. Tony was out of breath and sore. He was emotional. He was tired. Thanos looked up at him, and Tony was glad to see a hint of fear in the ugly beast's eyes.

"And I," Tony started, breathing hard. "Am..." He thought about how much he was going to miss this place. He could see the people watching him, mouths open. He had to finish.

"Iron...Man," he finished, snapping his finger just as Thanos looked like he was going to lunge towards him. There was a blinding flash, and Tony felt incredible pain surge through his body. He fell, landing hard while the enemies around him began to disappear. He didn't remember anything else until Peter crashed on his knees before him.

"Mr. Stark? It's me, Peter. We won, Mr. Stark. You did it, sir," Peter said. He was crying as he looked at Tony, who could only imagine how terrible he looked. "I'm sorry. Please, Tony."

Tony wanted to tell him to not be sorry. He couldn't find his voice, though. The snap had taken everything from him. All he could do was sit and stare. Pepper reached down gently and moved Peter aside, kneeling before Tony then. He looked at his wife, and he wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay. He didn't get to tell her how pleased he was to see her wearing the suit he'd made her. He forced something to come out of his mouth. He had to.

"Hey, Pep," he said, barely audible, but she heard him. He wanted to add that he loved her, but he knew that she knew that.

"Tony," she whispered. He couldn't look at her. He couldn't stand the pain in her eyes. The grief.

"Look at me," she ordered. He obeyed. He couldn't not look at her anyway, pain in her eyes or not.

He wanted to tell her she was beautiful and brave and smart and that he wished there had been another way. He wished they had more time, but at the same moment, the time they did have together was perfect.

"We're gonna be okay," Pepper told him, nodding. She knew it all anyway. He was sure of it. He blinked, and she started to cry. He knew it was her way of telling him it was okay to go. He felt so tired.

Don't cry, he wanted to tell her. I'll see you again.

He felt a sensation then. It was time to go. Everything disappeared, and then it was dark.