Warnings: Angst, but comfort and fluff in the end!
Word Count: 2,278
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Four months.
You were all alone, by yourself. Your lover was away for a business meeting, and these even if we're still days, they felt like years. It felt so lonely, and weird knowing someone wasn't there.
He should have been here, but he's actually not.
You come out of the bathroom, all freshened and rubbing your wet hair with a towel. You used to see Tony on your bed, teasing you lovingly, but he wasn't there to do so. You shake all those thoughts away from your head and prepare yourself for breakfast.
You cook some eggs and toast, but you miss the feeling of those warm, strong arms wrapping from behind on your waist, the kisses on your face and neck, jokes and laughs. You can't feel them somehow, because Tony wasn't here.
You even felt awkward eating breakfast by yourself, without having your boyfriend by your side. You sighed, and continued to eat your food.
The lab sure was silent too. No clanking, voices of drilling or holographic sounds, because he wasn't there.
After filling your stomach, you open your phone, and see the contact number of Tony Stark. You wished to call him but, you were scared if he was in middle of a meeting, he will be disturbed. So, you just texted him a "hey ♥️" and then dropped your phone aside, hoping he would pick up your message. But, surprisingly, it came within a matter of seconds. You picked it up, and saw Tony replied back. You smiled and then began to video call him. He picked up, finally seeing each other through the screens.
"Hey, Tones." You give him a hearty smile.
"Hey, honey. How are you?" Tony yawned, stretching himself. It looks like Tony was on his bed this all time.
"Wait, you just woke up?" You asked.
"Mhm, a minutes back, I was just browsing my phone till your message showed up." Tony replied, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh, I see. How's the business trip?"
"Pretty well, nothing to be serious of. Incase I get met with some dumbasses who don't know what I'm trying to do."
You giggled. "You know, show that snarky attitude, Stark."
"I guess that works." Tony smiled back. "Did you eat something?"
"Yeah, I had eggs and toast. You should too get up and eat something."
"I don't know what to make, unfortunately." He chuckled.
"Let me send you some there, I have more left."
"Tell JARVIS, he's gonna parcel it to my place so I can have your delicious and beautiful breakfast."
You both laughed and interacted with each other, and went quiet for a while. You shook your head and look back at him, with sad eyes.
"I miss you so much, you know?" You said, trying not to break into tears.
Tony noticed your loneliness, feeling the same. He also missed you too. "Honey, look at me."
"I never wanted to attend this meeting, because I know we each other can't stay away for long. I actually requested them that I'll stay for four months instead of eight cause.. it's more like living in Hell for us." Tony chuckled. "But, I promise. I'll be back, for you."
"You promise?" You pouted, your eyes filling with tears, threatening to fall.
"Promise. When these four months will be over." Tony gives you an assuring smile. "Just remember baby, when you, and your heart feels someone's behind you, it's gonna be me. Just me."
"What if it was just me and not my heart?" You raised an eyebrow.
"Then it's somebody else, honey. Not me." He smirked.
".. let's see, I wish you luck for the meeting too, Tony." You nodded, smiling.
"I'm always here for you, my love. No matter what. Goodbye." Tony winks, and you give him a flying kiss, declining the call. You sighed heavily, dropping the phone aside and laying on the couch. "Four months. Alright, it's not gonna be hard, right Y/N?"
— Two Months Left —
Finally, two months were gone, another two were left to survive without him. You were just busy in your own work, watching TV and doing some chores to distract yourself from Tony's absence. You originally had slight dark circles from the lack of sleep, because you felt impatient and overwhelmed at night. It was so impossible to sleep without him. Yawning and feeling weak, you picked up the plates and then kept it in the cupboards, till suddenly, you felt a strange feeling. You stood in the same position for a while, trying to revaluate what's happening.
It felt as if someone arrived. Was it..
"Miss Y/N. Someone has entered your house." JARVIS's voice blared in the room.
You rushed out of the kitchen, running downstairs and arrive at the main room, smiling and calling out Tony if he was there for real. You did feel that by yourself, but, did your heart too?
You were wrong, that wasn't Tony. It was Nat, who came to see you.
"Hey, Y/N!" Natasha smiled, and extended her arms for a hug. You shake your head in that belief that Tony might have come back, but at least, Nat was also your close friend, at least you have someone by your side too.
You approach her for the hug, and then both pull back. "You okay? Is Tony away for the business meeting?"
"Yeah.. it's been two months now. Two more to go but, it feels like.. empty." You look around the mansion, it sure was lonely without Tony.
"I can understand, Y/N. But don't worry, Tony knows he misses you too, he'll come back in no time." Natasha assured you, relaxing you and giving a comforting pat.
"Thank you, Nat. I really miss him, and I hope he comes back. Because.. I feel incomplete again." You shook your head, trying not to break into tears again. Natasha felt your sadness, and hugged you back comfortingly.
"It's gonna be okay, Y/N. It'll be all okay. Trust me." Natasha whispered, kept on hugging you.
"Say, to distract yourself from your loneliness these months, would you hangout? To make you feel a bit better?" Nat asked.
"Sure, why not! After a long time, I need a damn break." You chuckled, agreeing to join Nat.
"Okay, get yourself ready. We'll have so much fun, alright?" Natasha cheered.
"Yeah!" You smiled happily, going upstairs to get ready for going out with Nat.
— Time Skip —
After spending the whole day out with Nat, you arrive back home, dropping your bag and the coat on the couch, and went upstairs to get changed. Getting into comfortable clothes, you land on the bed, rubbing the empty side of the bed. You didn't wanted to leave your sleep improperly again. You take out your mobile again, and video call Tony again.
He picks it up, seeing him on the couch. "Hey, babe."
"Hey, Tony. I can't sleep." You said in a croaked voice.
"Really? You miss me that much?" He smiled.
"Of course, Tony. It's not even easy to live without you for four months straight."
"But, honey. We only have two months left, but they said that maybe the meeting might finish longer so maybe, possibly I might not come back soon. But, right now, you need to wait, might not happen, I'm sure."
You furrowed your eyebrows in worry, not wanting that to happen. "What are you doing?"
"I'm doing work on my laptop, I'm about to sleep don't worry. You can keep the video call on, and I'll keep talking."
"But, Tony you can work tomorrow too, it's midnight right? Sleep's important for you."
"Who never said it's also for you too?" Tony looks at you, raising an eyebrow. He wasn't wrong, you weren't able to sleep too, but because of his absense, it was impossible. Tony sighed at your silence, and then just closed the laptop, and went to the bedroom from his hotel room, landing on the bed while holding the phone in his hand. "Babe, imagine, the empty side of the bed is just me. Keep the phone in that direction. Where the space is empty."
You did what he said, keeping the phone held but moving it around on the empty side of the bed.
"Do you now feel it's me beside you?" He asked, you nodded.
"Good. Now, feel as I slowly rub your hair, keeping your head over my chest. I'm trying to calm all your worries away, assuring you, I'll be back with you. I'll see you again in the morning. With that lovingly face that makes my whole day better." Tony speaks in his gentle, warm voice which always make you asleep quick.
"Now, you're feeling sleepy. And then I wrap my arm around you, keeping you more warmer."
Everytime Tony spoke, you felt your eyelids closing, and losing the grip of your phone, yawning.
"You're now more sleepy, and then.. we drift off to sleep together, dreaming about us flying in the skies together, not giving a shit what the world says about us, because our love is what keeps us stronger. Not knowing you changed my entire life because you existed. I'm so happy to have you. I'm so glad to have you, as my lover. And we then—" Before Tony can continue, you dropped your phone, falling back asleep, hearing your gentle snores. Tony chuckled, pretending as if he was rubbing your hair, through the phone.
"Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams." And then, Tony cut the call, him falling asleep too.
— Time Skip —
You don't remember about how much time had passed, those moments when you were lonely and alone by yourself. Though you too had JARVIS by your side, asking if you're doing okay or need anything.
But, when you asked JARVIS about the date, he said that the third month was now over. One month left. Sighing, you left the bedroom, and sat yourself on the couch, trying to call him again, but he wasn't picking up or came to be unavailable. Maybe he was in the meeting, so you didn't pick it up again.
You hugged onto your Iron Man plushie, snuggling on it as if it was Tony himself. These months sure passed away quick, but felt like years. You couldn't stay a day alone without him, and it was a fact. But, you were lucky you did survive for months. Now, a month was left, and you were just prepared to overcome this last month too.
— After Four Months —
You wake up from your bed, and seeing the time, knowing that four months were gone. You jump on your bed happily, running around the house to see if Tony was back. You looked in the rooms, the office, the lab, everywhere possible. You didn't give up because, you know how he is.
"Tony? Tony, you here?" You tried to call him around, the voice sure echoed and went dead, there was still no one, and no reply. You just kept looking around and ended in the living room, seeing no one again. Four months sure had ended, but he didn't came back?
He promised after these four months, he was gonna come back. Was he not able to? Was he now meant to stay for longer? Did your fear come true? You turned around, trying not to panic or break down. It couldn't happen, you cannot live alone for longer.
"Tony.. where are you?" You sobbed, letting the tears fall down. These four months even felt like Hell, the emptiness was intolerable for you, you wanted him to come back now.
But, you suddenly had that strange feeling again, this time, you felt it, along with your heart. Remembering what Tony said to you the last time, it echoed in your head;
"Just remember baby, when you, and your heart feels someone's behind you, it's gonna be me. Just me."
You can feel it. Your heart can also feel it. Does that mean..
You quickly turn around, to see him beside you — for real.
It was no dream, or an illusion. It was truly him. He gives you a big smile, happy to see you back again.
"Look, Y/N. I told you. It's gonna be me, when you, and your heart can feel I'm back home. I fulfilled your promise." Tony smiled, from the doorway.
You let out the happiest tears, sobbing in joy, and you run as fast as you can, jumping over and grabbing onto him, for a great, reuniting hug. Both meet with a deep, passionate kiss after staying away for long. You kissed him all around the face, finally feeling him back. You were slowly feeling complete.
You hug him tight back, letting out all your sadness, by wailing and crying out loud. Tony too teared a little, missing his love. "I missed you, I missed you so much." Tony whispered, kissing your neck and rubbing your hair. "Let it out, honey."
"Don't you dare leave me again. I'll kill you if you do." You hiccuped, as Tony puts you down gently and wipes your tears.
"I told you, I promised. I'll come back, no matter what? Now, I won't leave you, I'm here." Tony smiled heartily, cupping your cheeks. You smiled back, the tears of happiness still falling down, and hugging him again. Tony who also wrapped his arms around your back, who missed your presence.
"I love you so much, Y/N." Tony whispered in your ear.
"I love you so much too, Tony." You replied, kissing his cheek.
Finally, you didn't feel lonely anymore. Why? Because he was back. He was here for you now.