Chapter 22: The Snap—Tony’s Survival

The battlefield lay still, dust settling as the echoes of the battle faded into silence. The overwhelming presence of Thanos was gone, his army reduced to ash, his ships disintegrated in the sky. The heroes who had fought so fiercely now stood, battered and bruised, but victorious. But for all the relief that flooded through them, their focus remained on one man—Tony Stark.

Shuri worked tirelessly, her hands glowing with advanced Wakandan healing energy as she tried to stabilize Tony's condition. The damage from wielding the Infinity Stones was severe, but he had survived the initial blast. His Mark 100 armor, though heavily damaged, had absorbed the brunt of the energy, keeping his body intact. Yet the toll was clear—Tony was pale, his breath labored, and his suit sparked with failing systems.

"Come on, Tony," Shuri muttered, her voice trembling as she applied more healing energy to his chest. "You're not going to leave me now."

Steve knelt beside them, his hand resting gently on Tony's shoulder. "You saved us, Tony. You saved everyone."

Tony opened his eyes, his vision blurry but focusing on Steve and Shuri. He could hear them, but the pain in his body was like nothing he had ever felt before. Every movement sent shocks of agony through him, but he forced a weak smile.

"Cap..." Tony rasped, his voice barely audible. "Did... did we win?"

Steve nodded, his eyes filled with both relief and sorrow. "We did. Thanks to you."

Shuri's hands moved with precision, her mind racing through possible treatments. "I need to get him to Wakanda. The suit has done its job, but he won't survive like this for long without more advanced care." Her voice wavered slightly as she fought to remain calm. Tony had always been stubborn, but this was beyond even his usual resilience.

"I'm not... going anywhere," Tony whispered, his breath shallow. "Not done yet."

He coughed, and the sound rattled through his chest, but he held on. The weight of everything that had happened pressed on him, but there was a sense of peace now. He had done what needed to be done, even if it had nearly killed him.

Peter Parker, still covered in the dust and debris of the battle, ran to Tony's side. "Mr. Stark!" His voice cracked with worry as he knelt down. "You're going to be okay, right? You're going to be fine."

Tony glanced at Peter, feeling a pang of guilt for everything the kid had gone through. "Hey, Underoos..." Tony managed to joke, though his voice was weak. "You did good out there. Real good."

Peter blinked back tears, nodding quickly. "Thanks, Mr. Stark. But we're going to get you fixed up, okay? Shuri's going to help you. You're going to be okay."

Shuri glanced up at Peter, offering him a small, reassuring nod. "I'll do everything I can."

———

The Avengers gathered around Tony, watching as Shuri worked to keep him stable. The sky, once filled with the chaos of war, had returned to a peaceful blue, but the cost of victory weighed heavily on everyone. They had won, but it had come at a price.

Thor, still gripping Stormbreaker, looked out over the battlefield, his eyes scanning the horizon for any remaining threats. There were none. The army that had terrorized the universe was gone, and Thanos—who had once seemed invincible—was now just dust on the wind.

"It's over," Thor muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Finally over."

Captain Marvel, floating down from where she had been dismantling the last of Thanos' fleet, landed beside the group. Her face, usually so composed, softened as she looked at Tony. "You saved a lot of lives today, Stark."

Tony's lips twitched into a smirk, despite the pain. "That's what I do."

Bruce Banner, still in his Hulk form but exhausted from the battle, knelt beside Tony, his green eyes filled with concern. "We've got to get him somewhere safe." He glanced at Shuri. "Wakanda's the best place. Their medical tech is miles ahead of anything else."

Shuri nodded. "I can get him stabilized for transport, but we need to move quickly."

With the urgency of the moment pressing down on them, the Avengers rallied. Thor summoned the Bifrost, and in a flash of swirling light, Shuri, Tony, and several of the Avengers were transported to Wakanda, leaving the quiet battlefield behind. The remnants of Thanos' army, the wreckage of ships, and the bodies of fallen warriors were all that remained of the great battle.

———

The advanced medical technology of Wakanda was something that had always impressed Tony, but now, it was his lifeline. Shuri had transported him directly into one of Wakanda's most advanced healing chambers, where every piece of tech at her disposal was focused on repairing the damage caused by the Infinity Stones.

Tony floated in a restorative liquid within the chamber, his body suspended as healing rays bathed him in energy. Vibranium-based medical tech worked to repair the damage done to his cells and tissues, but it was a slow process. The power of the Stones had nearly torn him apart, and the fact that he had survived at all was a testament to the durability of his Mark 100 suit and the strength of his will.

Outside the chamber, the Avengers waited, their faces etched with concern. Steve, Rhodey, Pepper, and Peter stood together, each one silently hoping for good news. Thor paced restlessly, while Bruce monitored the readings on the chamber's display, his expertise in both biology and technology guiding Shuri's work.

"How long will this take?" Pepper asked, her voice tight with worry. She had been strong for so long, but seeing Tony in this state was breaking through her calm exterior.

Shuri glanced at the readings. "It could be days, maybe weeks. His body absorbed a tremendous amount of energy. The suit protected him from the worst of it, but the damage to his nervous system, his muscles... it's extensive."

Peter stared at the chamber, his hands trembling slightly. "He's going to make it, though, right?" His voice was small, filled with the uncertainty of someone who had already lost so much.

Shuri turned to him, her expression softening. "Yes, Peter. He's going to make it."

———

Days passed, and slowly, Tony's condition began to improve. The healing chamber worked its magic, repairing his body piece by piece. Shuri monitored his progress closely, fine-tuning the vibranium-based treatments and adjusting the healing rays to target specific areas of damage.

Each day, Tony grew a little stronger, his body healing from the strain of wielding the Infinity Stones. Though the process was slow, the Avengers were patient, knowing that they had finally won and that they could afford to take the time Tony needed to recover.

On the third day, Tony finally woke up, his body still weak but his mind clear. Shuri was there, as always, monitoring his vitals and making sure the chamber was functioning at optimal levels.

"Stark," she said softly when she saw his eyes flutter open. **"You made it."

Tony blinked a few times, trying to focus on her face. "Guess... I'm harder to kill than I thought."

Shuri smiled, shaking her head. "You're as stubborn as ever."

Tony managed a weak chuckle. "That's why you like me."

As the days went on, Tony's strength returned little by little. The chamber had done its job, but the emotional toll of the battle still weighed heavily on him. He had come so close to dying—closer than he ever had before. And the fact that he had survived felt like both a victory and a burden.

———

A week after the battle, Tony was finally able to leave the healing chamber. He was still weak, his movements slow and careful, but he was alive. The first thing he did after stepping out was take a deep breath of the Wakandan air, feeling the weight of his survival settle on his shoulders.

Shuri, always by his side, helped him adjust to life outside the chamber. She had been instrumental in saving him, and though neither of them said it aloud, the bond between them had deepened even more through the ordeal.

"You saved my life," Tony said one day as they walked through the gardens of the palace, his steps still a bit unsteady but improving every day.

Shuri smiled softly. "You saved the universe, Stark. I just kept you alive long enough to enjoy it."

They stood in silence for a moment, both of them feeling the weight of what had happened and what was still to come.

"So... what's next?" Tony asked, his voice thoughtful as he looked out over the peaceful landscape.

Shuri glanced at him, her eyes full of the spark that had always drawn him to her. "The future. Whatever that looks like, we'll figure it out together."

Tony nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah... together."