Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers

Warnings/Tags: Major Character Death, Post Infinity War and Endgame

Daily Updates -hopefully.

Should be either three or four chapters long. No more.

Cross-posted on my AO3 with a collage.

Thanos was dead.

The missing half of the universe had been restored.

They had done it.

They had actually done it.

The final step had been completed.

But no one had realised or known of the price to restore the worlds.

Except for Tony.

—LINE BREAK—

All of the survivors had gathered in Wakanda once again to wait for all of their lost ones to return. Pepper had her hand on Tony's shoulder, his arm was around her waist. They watched as Shuri clutched her brother tightly, as Steve cried into Bucky's neck, as the Guardians group hugged and then cried when a green woman appeared, as Dr Strange shook Wong's hand with a smile, as Sam was pulled into Steve and Bucky's hug and as Wanda fell to the floor sobbing as Vision never returned with her.

"Mr Stark!" Tony turned just in time to feel arms wrapping around his waist desperately, he clutched the young boy and the two slowly fell to the grassy ground.

"Hey, kid." He whispered into Peter's hair letting his own tears trickle silently down his cheeks and into brown locks,

—LINE BREAK—

There was a celebration within the halls of the Wakandan palace. Everyone was dressed in the finest of clothes, unsurprisingly, Tony was sporting his favourite purple suit to signify the peace in the world as that was one of the connotations of the colour. He and Pepper danced, they had managed to get married within the months of devastation in an attempt to bring some light into the world.

"I love you, Pepper." She smiled, her forehead pressed against his as she looked into his eyes,

"And I love you, Tony." They shared a kiss as the dance ended and made their way to the buffet to grab some more wine and a small plate of food before separating to mingle a bit.

Things were good. Tony had made his peace with the Rogue Avengers. They had hugged it out and all that jazz. He finally got the girl and everything was finally…working out for the better.

—LINE BREAK—

Tony sighed and slipped out the back door to stand on the balcony when no one was watching, too busy talking and laughing and being happy. The setting sun beamed down on him, covering him in the beautiful light. He swallowed the remainder of his champagne before setting it down on the ledge. He closed his eyes and faced the sun before sighing heavily and opening them again, he stared straight ahead at the wonderful nature of the African kingdom.

"I'm ready." He whispered, "I am ready."

A sudden gust of wind whirled before him as a skeletal woman cloaked in darkness stood in front of him. Atop her dark hair sat a crown soaked in black. She stared at him with hollow eyes and a sad smile.

"My dear Anthony." Her voice was almost soundless as she spoke to him.

"Lady Death." He greeted,

"Have you said your farewells?" She murmured looking over his shoulder and into the room where smiles and laughter filled the walls. Tony looked back and gave his own sad smile,

"No."

"Anthony."

"It is a time of celebration. Who am I to ruin it?" She stared at him with an unamused look, "I left videos for them."

"I suppose that is better than nought."

She leaned forward and pressed cold crimson lips to his forehead.

Her lips remained for several moments.

"Peace be with you, Anthony Stark, my Merchant." She whispered against his forehead before pulling away. She smiled at him sadly, "I shall see you again in only a handful of seconds."

He closed his eyes gently.
Inhaled deeply.
The stone floor hit his knees.
He exhaled.
Slumping to the left.
Body on the ground.
Air gone.
Darkness came and never left.
Life let go of his hand as his fingers became entangled with Death's.
She led him to peace.

—LINE BREAK—

Pepper looked around for Tony and saw him outside staring up at the sleeping sun with closed eyes. She smiled and began to walk towards him.

He fell to his knees.
Then to his side.
He didn't get up.
She screamed. Glasses of champagne falling from her hands and shattering on the floor.

People rushed out to the limp body and…it was confirmed that he was dead. A heart-wrenching silence filled the room before agonised sobs blanketed them. Rhodey held Pepper as they both cried. No one knew what to do as they looked to the body now covered with a table cloth.

—LINE BREAK—

They all gathered in a room several hours later where a series of videos were lined up to play on the screen.

"Shall we?" Someone had said and there were several murmurs that meant yes. Tony appeared on the screen causing sniffles to rise in the room.

He smiled sadly into the camera. "I don't know where to start. This is rather morbid, really." The man on the screen cleared his throat, "I've got a long list of people to talk to -well about…I don't know how to address this. To be fair, I hardly know what I'm doing. I should mention that I never thought I'd be doing this or at least…speaking to so many people. Before I name people, I guess you all want an explanation."

There were more murmurs of agreement. Everyone wanted to know.

"There is always a price. In this world and I suppose the rest, there is always a price to pay. Nothing is free. Let alone the one thing we needed to do to restore the other half of the universe. Some would say I made a deal with the Devil. Or rather another one depending on how you view me." He chuckled bitterly, "People have always thought I had the Devil on speed dial." He bit his lip, "Thor -or rather Loki, I suppose, was not the first otherworldly being I had met. In my youth, I came across a young girl. In a way, this little story resembles that of Beauty and the Beast, in regards to the Prince's transformation to the Beast."

He shook his head and chuckled lightly, "I've always loved Disney movies. But that's not the point. I came across a young girl. She was battered and bruised and more or less in my way. As I had been walking towards her on my way to a party I think, I noticed people avoiding her like she carried a disease. It disgusted me. Believe it or not, but I'm not all that evil. I am not the villain despite what many believe. So I crouched down before her. Offered her my hand and asked her what happened over a nice cup of coffee.

She told me. I asked how I could help after slipping several piles of $100's into her shabby bag. She said she didn't need help, but I insisted. She continued to refuse and so I asked if she had anywhere to stay. She said no and I took her to my apartment. Let her take the bed after cleaning up and helping her with her wounds. I took the couch. When I woke up the next day, she was gone. The money I'd given her was on the bed with a note. Unbeknownst to myself, I had passed her test."

He looked off to the side for a minute, "The next time I saw her was probably my first near death experience. Poison, I believe. She appeared and saved me. She introduced herself too. She goes by Lady Death."

Thor gasped, eyes wide as he looked to Loki (who was alive). The two shared a look.

"I had no idea she would acknowledge a mortal like that."

"There had been many a talk of a Merchant of Death," Loki replied to his brother,

"That's what Tony was called when SI was selling weapons." Pepper murmured,

"He always loathed that name," Rhodey added.

"She was there in Afghanistan. Probably keeping me alive enough to build the arc reactor. That rusty car battery wasn't doing much good." He chuckled.

Everyone noticed the tear trickling down his cheeks.

"What I'm trying to get out is, I made a deal with Lady Death. She would restore the universe in exchange for my life. I didn't tell you all because I knew you'd insist on finding another way. I was ready to go. Well…I suppose at first I wasn't. I had finally gotten that fairytale ending I had dreamed about my whole life. I had the girl and the family. I had happiness. So I am sorry for not telling anyone, but what's one life for half of the universe? It was the price to pay and I paid it with a smile."

The video ended and another popped up seconds later. No one started it until they had their crying under control -or at least some form of control.

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,
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Bye~