In Between

An Iron Man 2 Fan Fiction

dis·claim·er [dis-kley-mer]

noun

1. the act of disclaiming; the renouncing, repudiating, or denying of a claim; disavowal.

2. a person who disclaims.

3. a statement, document, or assertion that disclaims responsibility, affiliation, etc.; disavowal; denial.

Pepper didn't hear his car pull up. Nor did she hear the front door open. She didn't hear Jarvis greet Tony in a hushed volume and she didn't hear the fridge open. She did, however, feel him sit down at the other end of the couch she had fallen asleep on.

It had been late when she had gone down to the lab to check on him only to find him gone. It was even later now and she couldn't hide the sound of worry in her voice as she spoke

"I hate it when you leave and come back late like that". Despite the dim lighting she knew he was smiling ever so slightly when he replied,

"Which part do you hate? The part where I leave or the part where I come back?"

"The in between part. Where I don't know where you are or if you're safe. If I'll ever see you again."

"Aw, Pep" Now she knew he was grinning.

"You shouldn't worry so much. Iron Man can handle a lot. Besides, I have a little picture of you taped up on the inside of my helmet so you're with me where ever I go".

Pepper turned her face into the couch to hide her smile. She wanted him to think she was mad at him for a little longer.

"I'm not supposed to worry when every time you leave as Iron Man you come back with more bruises, more scars". The couch muffled her words and for a moment Tony thought she was crying.

"Tony, I. You. If you die! I'll". She sputtered expertly as she sat up abruptly.

Good, not crying, just pretending to be mad. Tony knew he was off the hook so he shot Pepper a mock expression of shock. "Don't quit your job, start going out with me, and break up with me all in the same week! I said Iron Man could handle a lot, not everything".

fin.