I'll be home for Christmas

"This thing on?", Tony asked, gently patting the helmet. He sighed as the blue light scanned him.

You can plan on me

"Hey Miss Potts.", he began, leaning against the ship. "If you find this recording, don't feel bad about this. Part of the journey is the end."

He blinked, processing his words.

Please have snow and mistletoe

"Just for the record, being adrift in space with zero promise of rescue is more fun than it sounds.", he tried to joke, but didn't smile.

And presents on the tree

"Food and water ran out, four days ago. Oxygen will run out tomorrow morning.", he listed, lost in thought. Or tomorrow evening, or this evening. Time really isn't a thing in space; they could've been on this ship for weeks, months, years...

Christmas Eve will find me

"And I mean it. When I drift off, I will dream about you." Tony tapped the helmet, the only thing that still works. It was going to be her, and Peter, and May, and the team that he might've called family at one point in his life.

Where the lovelight gleams

"It's always you.", he admitted, slightly quieter. This was happening, his thick skull finally accepted.

The man who had lived with hardly anyone was going to die with hardly anyone. Man, fate absolutely hated him sometimes.

The mechanic's hands started shaking as he turned off the helmet, holding his breath. There went his final words to his loved ones. Tony looked down.

This was his punishment, wasn't it? For not being grateful with what he was given? He was born into power, wasted it for personal redemption. He was given a kid, to help grow and develop, but he asked for another, so Peter—oh god, sweet, wonderful, bright Peter—was taken away from him. He was given a woman to love, and broke his promise to her. Now he was never going to see her again.

I'll be home for Christmas

Tony's eyes drifted to the window, where an oddly peaceful, star-filled sky covered the clear glass. Peter would've loved this; he always loved looking at the stars with Tony when neither of them could really sleep.

If only in my dreams