Darting into a seated position, eyes quickly scanning the room for potential danger, left hand grasping firmly at the soaking wet vest top he wore - his right hand clenched as tightly into a fist as possible. His breathing coming out in short and sharp bursts making his throat feel tight and hoarse. Legs tangled among the sheets where he had been clearly thrashing minutes; during the horrific nightmare. "Jarvis, what time is it?" He croaked out, coughing as he did so feeling his stomach churning slightly at that moment. =It is 2:37 AM, Sir.= Groaning out and rubbing the hand that had been clenched in his vest over his face and through his hair, his heart still pounding a mile, a minute.
Tony forced himself to extract from the mess that he'd created in the bed, and stumbled towards the bathroom, Jarvis automatically putting the lights on dim for him to slowly adjust to the light, both hands placed either side of the sink as he stared at himself in the mirror. His skin sickly pale, his eyes blood shot and hollow, tear streaks stained both cheeks, his lip split and bleeding, he only assumed from where he'd bitten it in his sleep - His vest no longer a pale grey, but now at least 3 shades darker, as well as holding a red tint. - Looking upon the figure staring back at him, Tony didn't recognize himself any more. He was a genius, a man of many talents and very few things he couldn't over come. - Why was the horrors of Afghanistan plaguing him so horrifically?
He had escaped hadn't he, saved himself as it were. Yes he'd lost a good man in the process, but he was trying so hard to keep his promise to Yinsen and not waste his life, save the innocent, stop the wrong doers.
So why could he still not sleep?
Turning around and sliding down the cupboard built around the sink, so he was sat on the floor, his back pressed to the cool of the cupboard; in his dimly lit bathroom, the tears began once again, burning trails down his cheeks now as he hiccuped in attempts to hold them back.
It had been 2 weeks since he'd returned, the suit was faster, stronger and better in every way, he'd saved countless people already and by far lost count of the weapons holding his families logo upon them, he had destroyed. - He was becoming a better man day by day, however even with his body and mind exhausted from doing such things, sleep still escaped him.
=Sir, Miss Potts has arrived.= Aside from the frown etching itself onto his miserable features, Tony's expression hadn't changed. His mind slipping into thoughts of Pepper, why was she here at an unruly hour? Why was it always down to her to save him, even when it was from himself? That perfect woman, was the reason he'd fought so hard to escape that god awful cave, not that he'd found the strength to tell her that.
Another sob ripped itself from his throat as the tears came thick and fast, more thoughts of destruction, pain, and emptiness filling the hole that lived within his chest, Tony felt as if he was free-falling into an abyss, a flash of colour approached him within a few seconds of hearing heavy footfall, Pepper's warm and soft hands cupping his cheeks instantly as he assumed she tried to get his attention. His eyes squeezing shut in the hopes to hide her from the whirlwind of emotions he was feeling right now, his mouth opening and closing as he hiccuped on his own tears again, the lump in his throat not easing off.
"Why?" He croaked, before erupting into a silent wail of emotions. Jarvis not missing a beat responding for her =I called Miss Potts, after her request of knowing if you were in any distress.= Weakly nodding Tony moved forward so he half collapsed on Pepper, needing her strength in that moment to help him piece himself back together. His head ending up on her lap, as he curled into a ball on the floor, tears slowing slightly. Tony himself, eyes still tightly closed, trying his hardest to focus on her scent, the feeling of her hand in his hair, while the other stroked his back softly, her words soft and to the point. Whispering words of safety, and company. Using the combination of all to ground himself in the moment, knowing at this precise moment Pepper was the cure.
Who was there to help a super hero? Well that would be his wonderful P.A. of course.