Author's Note: This is the first time writing for the Marvel Universe, but this little 4-part story would not let me be until I sat down and wrote it. I blame the writing prompt 'Some people need permission from their loved ones to die,' and my radiation safety class. This story has lots of spoilers for the Endgame and also needs a warning because it may attract onion slicing ninjas.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Marvel's characters. I have only purchased a lot of their comics over the years.

Permission To Let Go

Dr. Strange was right. If he would have known the actions it would take to save the world; the plan would have failed. Tony would have poured his energy into figuring out another way...any other way to defeat Thanos. But now that he was in the moment, now that there wasn't any room to think, Tony knew that he had to act. If he didn't, he was going to lose everything, scratch that, everyone he cared about.

Every fiber of his being howled in protest as he moved, but he ignored it. After all, he had survived open heart surgery without atheistic, what were some fractured bones compared with that. Thankfully, he managed to force his body fast enough to steal the infinity stones.

Tony started to feel the symptoms of acute radiation poisoning almost instantly. As his skin burned and nerves screamed, he breathed. He was the calm inside the raging storm of battle…he was Ironman…and with a single snap of his fingers he set the world right.

Now it was the end. Cap or Thor might have a chance to survive using an infinity stone, but after feeling the full toll, the stones exacted Tony doubted it. Honestly, the scorching pain made him respect Bruce even more for being able to continue the fight after snapping. Tony, he was already dead. The grim reaper just hadn't caught up with him yet. With the last of his strength, he was able to crawl to find a place to sit and wait for the radiation and injuries final drain the last of his life.

He couldn't close his eyes because he knew if he did, he would never open them again. He would never see his Pepper or Morgan again…and he wasn't sure that he could live with that. Tony wasn't sure how long he could last, but he knew that FRIDAY had probably already sent out the emergency beacon, so all he had to do was wait. Platypus was the first to find him; his solid armor felt cool against Tony's skin. Then Peter, speaking words that no longer made sense. Still Tony held on until the person who really matter came.

"Hey, Tony, look at me." Pepper pleaded, and he tried, oh God, he tried to, but his vision had faded to grey. He wanted to speak to her. To tell her how much he loved her, how much he loves Morgan, how badly he wanted to protect them, but his lungs couldn't even form a whisper…his lips could form no sound.

"We are going to be okay." Pepper spoke again, with her hand against his heart, and the words brought him a peace he could not explain. Tony had known how much he needed Pepper, every single piece of her…but he hadn't realized just how much he needed her permission until that moment.

"You can rest now." This time her words were so faint he could barely hear them, but that didn't stop them from softening the pain. It was the end of his story, and he could finally stop fighting.

He wouldn't be there to watch his baby girl grow up, to see graduate her from college, to delight in her falling in love and eventually walk her down the aisle. He wouldn't be there to fall asleep in Pepper's arms, to buy her impractical things that she would never use just to show her how much he loved her, to grow old with the most beautiful woman in the world…there was so many things that Tony wouldn't be able to do, but at least now his girls had the opportunity to live full lives. That would have to be enough.

For the first time since New York, Tony Stark let felt no fear or doubt as he let the darkness swallowed him.