- Harry Styles, Falling

(please note that these next many chapters will be No POV. This is the only time I will say it until the inevitable. However, it should be highly obvious from the way I’m writing that this is not Blythe’s POV)

Tony sits on the floor of the dimly-lit Benatar, his emotions evident in his posture. He stares at his busted helmet on the floor in front of him, sighing as he reaches for it and taps it.

“This thing on?” The helmet scans across Tony’s body as he leans against the wall, taking deep breaths. He looks skinnier than before and weak with malnourishment.

“Hey, Rogers...Steve. If you find this recording, don’t post it on social media. It’s gonna be a real tear-jerker. I don’t know if you’re ever going to see these. I don’t even know if you’re...if you’re still...oh god, I hope so. Today is day 21, uh 22. You know, if it wasn’t for the existential terror of staring into a void of space, I’d say I’m feeling better today. The infection’s run its course, thanks to the blue meanie back there. You’d love her. Very practical. Only a tiny bit sadistic. Some fuel cells were cracked during battle, but we figured out a way to reverse the ion charge to buy ourselves about 48 hours of time.”

He looks out of the window and into the expanse of space. “But it’s now dead in the water. We’re 1000 light years from the nearest 7-11. Oxygen will run out tomorrow. And that’ll be it. And Steve, I...I know you said no more surprises, but I was really hoping to pull off one last one. But it looks like...well you know what it looks like. Don’t feel bad about this. I mean, if you grovel for a couple weeks and then move on with enormous guilt. I should probably lie down. Please know that...when I drift off, I will think about you. Because it’s always you.”

--

In a bathroom in the Avengers compound, Steve stands holding a blade. Having just shaved his beard, he sighs and looks into a side mirror. He’s worried. Worried that Tony might be gone. Worried that Blythe might be gone. Not knowing if they made it or not. The mirror starts to shake suddenly, as if a switch was turned on.

Outside, it becomes clear that the shaking is being caused by the Benatar arriving. Guided by Captain Marvel, Steve, Nat, Bruce and Rhodey watch as it touches down with the landing gear deployed. The entry hatch opens and Tony stumbles out, being supported by Nebula. Steve runs to grab Tony, the thin man gripping the larger man’s arm.

“Couldn’t stop him,” Tony rasps.

“Neither could I,” Steve replies.

“I lost her, Steve. I lost Blythe.”

“Tony, we lost.”

“Is...uh…”

A heavily pregnant Pepper was spotted by Tony, behind Steve. “I’m fine, Tony. And so is Morgan.”

“Oh, thank god.”

--

The heroes sit in a living room area of the compound. Tony is getting blood for healing, taking deep breaths. A hologram of casualty reports lists the names and faces lost to what’s being called the Decimation. Tony sees Peter and Blythe’s faces pop up.

“It’s been 23 days since Thanos came to Earth,” Rhodey says, interrupting Tony’s thoughts.

“World governments are in pieces,” Nat explains. “The parts that are still working are trying to take a census. And it looks like he did...he did exactly what he said he was gonna do.Thanos wipe out fifty percent of all living creatures.”

“Where is he now?” Tony asks. “Where?”

“We don’t know,” Steve responds. “He just opened a portal and walked through.”

Tony glances over to see a sullen Thor sitting on a bench, deep in thought.

“What’s wrong with him?” Tony questions as Thor looks back.

“Oh, he’s pissed,” Rocket replies. “He thinks he failed. Which of course he did, but you know there’s a lot of that going around, ain’t there?”

“Honestly, until this exact second, I thought you were a Build-A-Bear.”

“Maybe I am.”

“We’ve been hunting Thanos for three weeks now,” Steve interrupts. “Deep Space scans and satellites, and we’ve got nothing. Tony, you fought him.”

“Who told you that? I didn’t fight him. No, he wiped my face with a planet while the Bleecker Street Magician gave away the stone. That’s what happened. There was no fight.”

“Okay.”

“He’s unbeatable.”

“Did he give you any clues, any coordinates, anything?”

“Pfft! I saw this coming a few years back. I had a vision. Didn’t wanna believe it. Thought I was dreaming.”

“Tony, I’m gonna need you to focus.”

Tony starts to get angry. “And I needed you. As in past tense. So did she. That trumps what you need. It’s too late Steve. Sorry. You know what I need?” He stands up, pushing things off the table. They fall with a clatter, making everyone in the room wince. “I need to shave. And I believe I remember telling all youse-”

He goes for Steve, getting stopped by Rhodey. “Tony, Tony, Tony!”

“Alive and otherwise, what we needed was a suit of armour around the world! Remember that? Whether it impacted our precious freedoms or not - that’s what we needed!”

“Well, that didn’t work out, did it?” Steve snaps.

“I said ‘we’d lose’. You said ‘we’ll do that together too’. And guess what, Cap? We lost. And you weren’t there. But that’s what we do, right? Our best work after the fact? We’re the Avengers, we’re the Avengers. Not the Prevengers.”

“Okay,” Rhodey agrees, trying to calm Tony down.

“Right?”

“You made your point. Just sit down.”

“Okay…”

“Okay?”

“Nah, nah. He’s my point. You know what?”

“Tony, you’re sick.”

Tony gestures towards Carol. “She’s great, by the way.”

“Sit down. Sit.”

“We need you,” Tony turns his attention towards Carol. “You’re new blood. Bunch of tired old mules!” He turns away and walks up to Steve, getting in his face. “I got nothing for you, Cap! I got no coordinates, no clues, no strategies, no options. Zero. Zip. Nada. No trust. Liar. I need to go. I can’t stay here.”

“You need to get some rest, Tony,” Steve pleads.

“Funny how you suddenly worry about me. Did you worry when our daughter was out there?”

“Why are you suddenly so aggressive? Of course I was worried.”

“Stop. Stop the fucking charade, Rogers. Tell me. Where were you when we were on the battlefield? No answers? Well, I know exactly where you were! You were peacefully hiding in your safe place!”

“It’s not my fault, Tony. I tried to protect you.”

“Oh, look how funny it is! You swore to protect us! You swore to protect Blythe! And yet she’s dead! You did nothing to protect her Rogers! And you know what? I blame you! I was there and I saw her die! I had to just watch her because I couldn’t reach her! I needed you! She needed you! And you weren’t there!”

His voice dies down a little. Steve looks hurt by Tony’s words, and they stare into each other's eyes. He rips out his Arc Reactor from his chest and shoves it into Steve’s hand. “Now take this. I no longer need it. It died with our daughter. You find him, and you put this on. You hide.”

“Tony, I…”

“Don’t. It’s too late. I want a divorce.”

The absence of his reactor kicks in, and Tony falls to the ground. Steve reaches for him and everyone starts to gather around.

“Tony!”

“I’m fine. I…”

He falls unconscious.