I own nothing.

Songs: Clipping by MuteMath/ Dreaming with a broken heart by john Mayer

Chapter 1

The Consensus

"Rhodes?! What's going on?!" shouted an anxious Gene on the other line of Tony's phone.

"I, I just need your help ok!?" To say young James Rhodes was panicking would be an understatement

Meanwhile…..

"Intervention required" chimed the suit for the millionth time. Tony was beginning to feel the worry seep into his every fiber. He couldn't do it he wouldn't do it, it was Pepper, just like it was Rhodey. He couldn't fight back.

"I can't, its Pepper!" he replied, it was getting old, the urgency was not found in the suits tone, it didn't care who it was and what the circumstances where; it didn't look deeper. It didn't care it was his best friend that he could hurt.

Rhodey's voice came over the communication line along with Gene's.

"Stark, the monsters made of fire right?" Gene asked quickly

"Yah what about it" Tony tried to reply evenly as possible but he had just been thrown through two walls and it hurt like hell.

"I think your suppose to prove you can handle anything, be worthy, through the monster into the light along with the two goblets of ice and coals!" Gene's voice was rushed and strained, frantic to say the least.

"NO!" both boys yelled in unison; did it really have to be like this, there was another way they just had to find it.

"Why not!? It's what the test wants of you, it's just a…"

"It's Pepper! It's like a suit that over took, first Rhodey then Pepper!" Tony tried his hardest to hold his best friends away from damaging his suit even more.

"What do you mean its Potts?!" a crash was heard from the other side of the phone line and Gene had to pull it away from his ear.

"What the hell is going on?! Dammit Stark! Keep me informed for the love of…" Before Gene could finish, another crash was heard, and again, Gene pulled the phone away from his ear.

'Pepper' stood over a motionless Tony, ruble surrounding the now sparking, bent, and in some places, broken armor.

"Pepper… don't!" Rhodey was rushing towards them, he stopped twenty feet away, so as not to put himself in any danger. The monster didn't move, its fire-y extearer flowed, but that was it. slowly its head turned, and the face of the mask began to part from the centrel part. The middle of the face, Pepper's face, was becoming clear. Hope filled both boys, but the odds where not in their favor.

A blood curtailing scream came from the girl, she grabbed her head and attempted to pull the 'suit' off of herself.

She felt like she was on fire. Every part of her was in pain, she needed to get it off; now.

"Tony! Help me! Anything! Do anything!" she finished with another scream.

The boy genius didn't move, breathe, speak, he didn't even think. He was always in this position, he could think of a way to save those closest to him; first his father, now his best friend.

"Throw me into the light! Maybe it will…" before she could finish, she fell on her knees and threw her head back, screaming. The suit overtook her once again.

Rhodey looked at Iron Man "Come on Tony! We have to try, when the suit overtook me, there was this burning sensation! It hurt so badly, I don't know how long Peppers going to last. And the light is the only option we have!"

"But what if it kills her Rhodey!? What if she can't handle it, we have no idea what it could do to the Pepper underneath it!"

"It's the only option you have right now Stark, she will die anyway, sooner or later, from the pain, and whatever else is going on under there." Genes voice stoic, hiding the fear he actually had for losing one of his only friends.

Memories flashed from the good times he had with Pepper. He couldn't lose her, he couldn't lose anymore family. All he had was Pepper and Rhodey in his mind. Gene was a friend but he didn't know the biggest secret he has ever kept. He didn't help no matter what was going on in his own life. He was a friend, yes but Pepper was family, and he had lost enough family for a lifetime.

"Tony we have to try." All three boys were silent.

"Are you worthy?" the monster stated to iron man, as it lifted its finger to point, and make it very clear who it was speaking to.

"Rhodey, get to the bowls, I'll distract the monster…" the minor millionaire took off in flight, the lava thing right after him. Gene stayed quiet, he didn't dare speak. It was a tough call, but he hoped everything would go over smoothly.

"Oh.. Ok I'm ready Tony," Rhodey was scared, he knew it, but he would never admit just how much the obnoxious red-head had grown on him over the, what seemed, short time he had known her. He considered her a sister. But he never really thought about how much it would hurt if he lost her. Until now of course; he regretted always ragging on her, never letting her speak when he could manage it.

"We're almost there Rhodey, be ready!"

Ooo clif-hanger! Hahaha so what did you think? I know not my best work, but hey, I had fun ; ) please review! Please please please!