The One to Bet On
“No.” Tony shook his head, heart beating wild and rapid, the monitors he was hooked up to a cacophony of sound. “You might have missed it, Strange, but last time I tried to prepare the world for what was coming, half the universe died. Why me?” Why not someone else, why not Steve fucking Rogers, the man with the plan, why not Rhodey, why not Pepper, why him?
“Because you’re a scientist. A futurist. We chose you, Stark. But you have to accept.”
Tony didn’t want to.
“You’re going to regret it,” Tony said quietly. The beeping of the monitors had slowed, the panic had faded away leaving only a quiet exhaustion.
“I don’t think so.” And Strange sounded so sure.
Tony closed his eyes. He wanted to say no, wanted to let go of the weight of the world that had already crushed him. But he couldn’t do that. Couldn’t do that when Strange had used his last chance to save the world, banking on him. “Alright.” He swallowed hard, forcing himself to nod. “Okay. Send me back.”