Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from this story. So, yeah, this is only for fun and if you read it then you know that too.

Pairings: Bruce/Natasha; Tony/Pepper

A/N: *WARNING MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH*

This idea came out after I saw a few gifs on Tumblr only that they were about Natasha who died on a mission and Bruce being sad about it. I decided to change that a little. If you are the one who made that gifs set then I have to say that you're amazing! And also thank you for the inspiration.

A/N2: This is set two years after Avengers.

Darkness. It was all that was left after yet another destroying battle. The darkness of the red blood that pooled on the streets from New York, mixed with the pieces of metal and rain. The darkness that covered the now destroyed Big Apple into the dark memories of the earlier events.

Another invasion. It was worse than the first one. They thought that Loki was the one that gave them power but they were wrong. They were powerful enough to come back themselfes. They were powerful enough to nearly destroy their planet and then leave it back as if it was a broken toy. Only that their technology, plans and powers weren't enough. The Avengers did win and saved the world again, but not without sacrifices.

"Where is she?" The thick, panicked voice of Tony Stark echoed through the destroyed rooms of his Tower. He didn't cared that he had to build this Tower back from the smallest detail again. Money weren't a problem for him, they never were. "Where is she?!" This time he sounded way more despearate, his dark eyes widdening with fear and panick.

"Tony," Barton grabbed the brunette's arms in a tight grip as he tried to hold him back from entering the room. "Tony, calm down." He felt sympathy for the man that he held away despite the fact that he never lost someone he loved. Or at least that was what he thought.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Barton," Stark snapped through clenched teeths as he squrimed and struggled to escape the other man's grip even if he knew he couldn't. Damn the archer for being stronger than him. Damn the aliens for invading the Earth. Damn Loki for bringing them to Earth years ago. Damn everyone.

"Tony," Another voice came from the room that was in front of him. The genius eyes widened again and he felt that they could pop out from their place anytime. He felt his heart tighten in his chest even if he knew that was impossible. "I'm sorry." Those last words made the billionaire's heart stop momentarily and he could feel his legs failing him. Luckily, Barton never losened his grip on his arms and held him up against what was the ruin of a wall.

Stark's large and brown eyes fixed themselfes on the door of the room he recognized as being the office of Pepper Potts. Or what was left of it anyways. He could see the glass desk shattered around the former white floor and the holes in the large windows but that wasn't what truly mattered. The thing that made his heart ache was the sight of blood pooling around a mess of strawberry blonde hair.

A few hours before

Tony Stark almost ran inside the Stark Tower penthouse as soon as the elevator doors opened. Another alien invasion was threatening the Earth and of course, the Avengers were on call. This time with Tony being the first one called and informed about it for the simple reason that the team decided for him to be the team captain after he risked his life to save all those humans. He was definitely a hero after that, not that he considered himself like that. He knew that he wasn't the hero type.

"Pepper?" Tony called out as he threw his Acura car keys on the glass coffee table of the penthouse.

"Over here!" The voice of the one and only Pepper Potts came from the room he knew was her office. Without any other sound, Tony made a quick run to her office, his breathing more ragged than usual.

"Tony, what's wrong?" Pepper asked once she was the worried face of her fiancé in the door way. Her brows furrowed in a full of concern frown as her bright blue eyes rose to meet Tony's dark brown ones.

Tony closed his eyes for a moment, a gesture he used to do each time he felt like he had to tell her something important and didn't knew how. That made the redheaded woman worry even more for him. She parted her lips to speak once again but was intrerupted by the billionaire's sudden intake of breath.

"Remember what I told you when I was on call last night?" He asked directly, knowing that there was no way in which he could make the news he had sound better. At her short nod, Tony decided that he should get straight to the point.

"Well, the situation is way more serious than we suppossed it'll be. The situation is repeating, Pepper. A portal was opened a few miles outside New York and the first aliens began to make an appearence. Thor and Barton are there already and they're saying that this is way more difficult than the last time." He explained and kept his eyes fixed on her face as he spoke each word.

He watched her face twist with shock and a hint of fear as well. The sight of her perfect features twisting with fear made the billionaire's heart break ever so slightly as a sigh escaped his lips. He knew what she was thinking. He learnt to read her eyes durring the years and this time it was no exception.

Not knowing what to say, Pepper stood up from her seat silently and crossed the room in a few long strides. Her delicate hands reached up to cradle Tony's face between them as her eyes fixed themselfes on his. No, she wasn't going to cry now even if she wanted to. She had to be strong for him. He was a warrior now and he needed all the support that was possible.

"Just don't die," she whispered quietly before she pressed her lips against his in a gentle kiss. She could feel Tony's smile against her lips because as always, he understood better than anyone else the meaning of those three words. He recognized them as their own strange love declarations.

"I won't. I always find a way out from everything." He stated with a smile on his lips that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll have Romanoff stay with you the whole time." He added as he leant in to peck her lips quickly once again before he turned around to leave.

"Oh, and Pepper?" Tony called over his shoulder as he rested a hand on the door frame. "Keep your phone next to you this time." Without any other word, the billionaire made his way out of the office and toward his workshop to get ready and face the unknown.