it felt as though every time tony tried to do right, tried to make the universe a better place, he failed desperately. nearly every attempt to improve things ultimately resulted in the world looking worse for wear. he wouldn’t say good things never came from what he did - after all, iron man was the result of years of mistakes, the avengers were a result of him taking a leap, the vision was a direct product of the disaster that was ultron - but the cost of those good things was questionable at times. maybe they would get home, and they would be able to restore their world, maybe they would even be able to restore it to a better version, one where natasha didn’t have to die. but what would happen to everyone else who had been taken from their worlds? what kinda trauma would people have to endure here before they got to go home? what if someone died in this world? was it permanent?
there were so many unanswered questions, and honestly, tony didn’t know if he’d ever find the answers for them. he was doing his best, but it wasn’t enough and he knew it. he didn’t need anyone to tell him that. the sight of vision only provided more unanswered questions, but he found himself smiling nonetheless. tony walked over to him, putting both hands on his face and moving his head gently, looking him over. “my god, it’s really you. by all accounts, you really shouldn’t be here. it’s great to see you, too.”
for all of the questions that filled their mind, the question of whether tony stark remembers him is answered in the smile he provides upon seeing them. vision allows him to take his face in his hands, examining him with a keen eye as if looking for any imperfections or deviations from memory. when he finally speaks up, they don’t find the stark’s comments to be incorrect, by all accounts, they shouldn’t be in twenty-twelve. whether it be due to the fact that by removing the mind stone that thanos had irreparably damaged them, or the fact that they were merely a thought in the current year, it didn’t matter. it did bring up the question of whether any of this was real, the same way it begged the question about whether the events of a life with wanda in westview were the results of their dying circuitry malfunctioning, or something more. now wasn’t the time for existential questions though, no, instead it was a time to take in the moment for what it was: a reunion that was never meant to be. “i don’t suppose i should.” they admit, a smile warm and real on their face as they look down at the man who had created them. “i must admit, i’m glad i am in spite of it all.” there’s a question on the tip of their tongue, one they aren’t sure the avenger can answer, so they keep it to themselves instead. time would certainly provide the answer, and given the current circumstances, other things took precedence. “do we have any knowledge of what has caused this anomaly, mr. stark? could it perhaps have something to do with the stones?”
