Hey, all you people! I was listening to my iPod and the plot for this story just kind of came together in my mind. Starting off with lots of fluff, so enjoy and review!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers. If I did, Science Boyfriends/ Brony Stanner would be canon.
Pepper sat on the edge of her chair, tapping her pen against the tabletop anxiously. She cast yet another furtive glance at the antique clock across the room. It had been two hours. Two hours of peace, quiet, and no distractions from her work. No fire alarms set off, no emergency evacuations from Stark Towers. Yes, it was quiet.
She narrowed her eyes. It was too quiet.
Placing her pen and paper back on the table, she got up and strode towards the elevator. The boys were fine, she told herself. Why was she so worried? Maybe for once, their experiments were going according to plan.
"Jarvis, which lab are the boys in?"
"Floor 87, first door on the left."
"Floor… eighty…seven…" she mumbled while looking for the right button. "Ah! Got it." The elevator flew into action, sending Pepper's stomach through the floor. "God, I hate this thing." The elevator Tony and Bruce designed was 350% faster. However, it was not 350% safer, which was what Pepper really cared about.
"Ugh," she moaned, clutching her stomach as the elevator stopped. Stepping out of the death trap, she stopped to listen.
"No, you forgot to adjust for the new energy levels of the arc reactor." That had to be Tony.
A sigh was clearly audible. Bruce. "Tony, I told you, you're the expert on arc reactors. You said you'd handle adjustments while I focused on the antiproton capacitator. "
"No, you said you'd-"
"Boys!" Pepper decided it was time to step in before Tony said something stupid. "Just relax, take a breath and…" she stopped, staring slack-jawed at the monstrosity they were creating. Ten feet tall, at least seven or eight arm-protruding-things sticking out of the sides, and in the center, a massive arc reactor similar to the one in Tony's chest. Taking a moment to regain her composure, she continued. "And tell me what the hell you two think you're making."
Tony gave an evil lopsided grin and put his right arm around Pepper, using the left to add extra zest to his words by demonstrating his story.
"As you know, Pepper, I am kept alive by the miniature arc reactor in my chest. Designed, of course, by me. And once I realized palladium wasn't a safe enough power source-"
"You mean when it was killing you, which you conveniently forgot to mention the entire time it was happening?" Pepper snapped.
"Ah, details, details. Anyways, after I discovered the issue with palladium, you must remember that I created a new element. In my garage. In less than a day. Because, you know, why not?" Bruce rolled his eyes in the background. Without even looking, Tony quickly pointed at the scientist and said with an attitude "Hey, I felt that eye-roll, Banner. Your blasé actions do nothing to lessen the pure awesomeness of me." That earned a smirk from the generally somber Bruce.
"Get to the point, Tony." Pepper insisted.
"So, as I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, I discovered a new element, vibranium. This is what now powers the arc reactor snuggled between my beautifully sculpted pecs. Certainly, you remember those as well." He winked at which Pepper gave him a prompt slap on the arm. "Ow. Was that really necces-"
Bruce interrupted. "Long story short, this new element powers the arc reactor better than ever. So, we thought we'd create a power plant designed to run on the vibranium and see where that goes. Potentially, this could power up the whole city if we get it right. But for now-"
Tony cut back in. "For now, we're using it to power Stark Towers for a couple weeks while we run more tests. Not to say we won't have auxiliary power ready in case this doesn't hold, but this is the primary power outlet for the building once we finish it."
"And once we create another supply of the vibranium." Bruce countered. " Tony used it all up in his new battery."
Tony feigned a look of shock and offense. "Excuse me for using what tools I had to stay alive, I just thought maybe I could be useful-"
"All I'm saying is you could have saved a little to-"
"I mean, I was pretty useful in that battle with the Chuitari, if I do say so myself-"
"I wouldn't know, I was kind of a giant green rage monster at the time-"
"Well, I-"
"BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UP!" Pepper screamed. Both boys dropped silent and stared at the reddening face of a Miss Pepper Potts.
Collecting herself and tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear, Pepper cleared her throat and continued. "I think it is an excellent idea. Continue working if you wish, but Tony, don't push Bruce so far as to transform, and Bruce, please don't transform if possible. This seems to be the first idea you boys have had that doesn't have a 90% chance of exploding, and I would like to at least give the contractors a week of rest before calling them in again." Pivoting on her heel, she strode out of the room determinedly, feeling very much like a babysitter underpaid and overstressed. The two boys always seemed too volatile to be put together. Surely they'd kill each other in a matter of time. But just as she stepped into the elevator, shaking her head, she heard faint whispers from the other room.
"Hey, Bruce, did you see the color her face turned when she thought you were going to hulk out?"
"Her? Your face when she screamed was priceless!"
As the pair continued snickering and recounting the best moments of the last conversation, Pepper smiled. Maybe these two were good for each other.