a/n: I've been thinking up this idea for a while now, I just haven't had time to write it all out. I hope you enjoy, the review box is always open. Effective criticism only, I take no hate reviews they do nothing.
Word count: 497.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plotlines. All characters belong to Marvel; I have no connection or contact with any of them.
#;#;#
Five hours, thirty-four minutes and sixteen seconds since he had arrived at his mansion in Malibu. Paranoia had set in, he lies awake in his bed – eyes wide open, hardly an insomniac but the symptoms are no less the same. Blood shot eyes, feeling irritable and his mind racing. He's been awake for more than two hours now, the everyday noises outside are loud and foreign to him – Tony had spent the last several months in a cave, with no other sound but Yinsen's breathing and occasional snoring.
The bed felt too comfortable, he'd rather be lying on a musky, old mattress in a dark cave than to sleep here in his own home. He was more than grateful for Rhodey for saving him in that desert and he didn't want to seem selfish but there were more threats out there now and the constant paranoia had set in, all he could think of was that Pepper was going to become a target – the Ten Rings would be back for him but they would use Pepper as a source to get him to cave…. pun not intended.
No sound, nothing.
Just utter silence filled Stark Mansion.
His breathing increased, rapid movements of his chest rising and falling as his mind conjured up images of possible outcomes. A shrill scream from Pepper, his body weak from lack of sleep as he gasped – rising from his position on the bed, was the scream real? Or had his mind just falsely re-created a possibility? He was going insane.
The loud blast of noise from an ambulance echoed in the distance causing Tony to jump and fall onto the floor beside his bed, panic rose as his heart thumped erratically against his ribs. The arc reactor suddenly caused searing pain to run along his body causing him to cry out in pain and double over onto the floor. Before he knew it, there was a familiar voice reaching his ears, his eyes now focusing on the figure before him – Pepper, she was safe but the terror inside of him igniting, her being here would cause her to be at danger, the Ten Rings would come after him and then take her in the process. She was unprotected and in danger.
"Tony, you are safe. There's nothing that will harm you here, Jarvis has the place all locked up tight and safe." Pepper spoke softly as if taming a wild lion, her hands rose showing no threat, that she proposed no danger. As she moved forward, her hand graced the side of his cheek – rough with the facial hair that was there, Pepper monitored the look on his face which he resembled a wild deer. Before she even knew it, Tony had wrapped his arms around her petite frame and his face was now buried in the crook of her neck.
"Ssshhh.. Tony everything is okay now. You're safe, I'm safe." She glanced down only to find the famous Tony Stark asleep.