Iron Man 100 Word Drabble – Human

by bicyclefish

A side of Tony that only Pepper is allowed to see.

Iron Man 100 Word Drabble – "Human"

With special thanks to babies-stole-my-dingo (if you are still out there!) for putting the image in my head.

She saw what the rest of the world did not. When he returned home – beaten, bloodied. Nights spent curled against her, his head pressed to her chest as he tried desperately to forget. There were no tears, but there were times he trembled like a frightened child in her arms. She would smooth dark hair and run gentle fingers along strong shoulders, yet, he would not – could not – tell her what he had seen. Spared her that knowledge for this: The suit was iron. The man inside was flesh. Flesh could sometimes be weak – but only she could know it.