Marvel Imagines

025 - Tony Stark - Dark side of me

Imagine : you work for Tony and notice one day that something isn't quite right (same character from the preferences) *might be a trigger warning for depression*

You knew Tony well. You were more than best friends; you were connected like you shared the same soul.

He was a good man. He loved his employees - especially you and Happy - and he was one of the best bosses in the world. Shifts started whenever you wanted (although you always arrived on time), he rarely reprimanded people for taking days off and he openly encouraged bringing children into the offices. 

Working for him was amazing. Period.

It was 9 am and your shift was just about to start; causing you to speed walk into the lobby. Surprisingly, Happy was waiting for you - something he hadn't done since your very first day. 

"What's wrong?" you asked as you approached him, moving as fast across the polished marble as your heels would allow. 

"Can't discuss it in front of other personnel," he muttered as his gaze listed down to the ground. Something was wrong.

"Mine and Tony's lab?"

He nodded and followed you to the elevator. Once you got out on the correct floor, you started to speed walk towards the lab, however, Happy blocked you with an arm. You turned to him, a confused and irritated look on your face. "What is it?"

Happy sighed. "It's Tony. He's... he's gone off the rails in a big way. He won't admit it, won't see anyone, won't talk about it. When you left last week, he and Pepper had a massive fall out. She's moved to California and won't take anyone's calls. He's just shut down on me. But you; he'll talk to you."

You paused for a moment. "Then I'll see if I can get him to open up."

Happy gave you a small smile then patted you on the shoulder for good luck. He walked away before you could protest or ask him to come with you, and silently got back into the elevator.

Great. Just perfect.

You set off down the path that you had walked every weekday for over a year, but this time it felt off - it felt ominous. Your shoulders tensed before you could stop them and by the time you turned the corner into the lab, your whole body felt stiff. 

Tony was waiting at his desk, busying himself with something on his computer monitor. Around him lay the remains of a horrific alcohol binge; empty whisky glasses and bottles marked as all kinds of hard liquor. It looked like something that would be left by a frat house rather than a CEO in their late thirties. And Tony himself looked just as bad. He seemed to have not slept for days - his hair messy and his beard ungroomed with dark eyes emanating an almost feral quality.

"Tony," you called out but it sounded more like a question.

"Hey there, stranger," he replied. His voice sounded hollow and tired. It was heartbreaking.

"How have you been?"

"Well-behaved. Pepper left. I drank. But you already know - I bet Happy gave you the whole, pathetic story."

You paused and bit your lip, crossing the room then pulling your desk chair beside his. "Well, I'm here now so how about you tell me?"

There was a pause before he nodded, letting you hold on to one of his hands with both of yours as he spoke. "Pepper asked me something the night after you left to visit your parents in the UK. She asked me 'Manhattan or California'. When I asked what she meant she said that she wanted to consolidate the business. The correct answer was California and I chose wrong."

"Why?"

"California meant peace and white picket fences. Children and polite conversation at dinner parties. It meant leaving Iron Man... it meant leaving you."

Now was your turn to pause. "I would have been able to find another job. You know, maybe I would have even moved back home and worked there. You could have left me."

Darkness filled his eyes and his hand moved over yours. "That's the thing. Why can't you see it? Leaving here means breaking up the band. The unstoppable duo. No more coffee mornings or Christmas's together like we have now. No late-night conversations here that last until dawn. It would be over". He stopped to shake his head; as if the very thought was too much to handle. "We'd say that we would keep in touch but it wouldn't be enough. Meeting every week would become every two, then every month, then a year. We'd meet up and I'd sit quietly while I watch you and your husband, and your kids playing in your yard..."

Tears prickled at your eyes. He was miserable at the idea of you leaving him. "That would never happen. I could never leave you..."

"Everyone does eventually."

You were both crying now. He held your hands tighter until you pulled free to wipe the tears off of his cheeks. "Pepper left? She'll come back."

"No. We're on an indefinite break. And, I don't want her to come back. I want you. I need you."

"Then you have me. We'll get through this. Together."

You made him promise to stop the drinking and to clean himself up. A week later, he was almost back to normal - impressing even Happy. It was a slow process but every day he got better. A month later, you moved in with him and started to date; promising that you'd never leave. 

A/N : Sorry for the long absence. Had a lot of fun writing this one, so maybe there'll be a part 2 in the future :)