This is a tag to the Iron Man 3 movie that falls within my own Monkey Wrench Avengers series. I don't own any of The Avengers or Iron Man characters included in the story.
"Complicated—what do you mean 'complicated?'" Pepper steps into the workshop with her head tilted to the side, an adorable frown on her face as her ponytail swishes to the side just as adorably and Tony wishes Bruce hadn't said his "Tony, this whole thing has gotten way too complicated," spiel out loud. Or that she hadn't walked into the room while said spiel was happening.
Either would do.
"Um—"
"It's nothing, Pep," Tony cuts in before Bruce could worry her, because she already worries about the small things and this was a pretty big thing to add to her plate. "I've got it covered."
She folds her arms and gives him The Look. Tony does not whimper.
And even if he did, it would be a manly—a very manly—sounding whimper.
"Okay, okay, okay, I'll tell you! Geez," he huffs, trying to take back control of the (one-sided) conversation. He clears his throat. "As you know," he begins, "I've been trying to reverse engineer the process they did to make you," he gestures to her abstractly, "hot. Hotter," he amends when her eyebrows twitch, "'cause you were already hot and of course you were, you're perfect—I told them that, you know? That they didn't need to add anything 'cause you were already," he clears his throat again and doesn't roll his eyes when Bruce let out a snicker at his behalf, "perfect."
"Tony."
"Yes?"
"Move on."
"Okay, okay," he grumbles. "Pushy." This time, Pepper clears her throat, and he raises his hands. "Moving on," he acquiesces. "So anyway, reverse engineering, yada-yada-yada—" He paused to take a deep breath. "Okay. Come here, Pep, take a look at this," he tells her, gesturing to the panel next to him and Bruce.
"Oh, wow," she breathes, taking in the glimmering red-and-orange DNA model. "What is that?"
"That," he says, "is you." She shoots him a questioning look. "Your DNA model," he clarifies. "Jarvis, bring up the original model." Beside the fiery pattern, an ordinary DNA model comes up. "This was you before," Tony says, pointing to the newly-emerged model, then points to the glimmering one. "This is you after."
"Pepper," Bruce speaks up, hallelujah-amen, "do you understand what the Extremis serum does?"
"It turns me into a smaller, fiery version of the Other Guy," Pepper replies bluntly, which makes Bruce smile crookedly in understanding. Tony holds back an amused snort.
"Yes, basically," Bruce nods. "In a way, the Extremis serum isn't all that different from the Super Soldier serum. It gives you superhuman strength, reflexes, eyesight, and don't think I don't know you only came down because you could hear us from upstairs." Pepper blushes, her cheeks tingeing pink before glowing red and orange. Jesus, that was both sexy and terrifying at the same time. "But the key difference between the Super Soldier and Extremis serums is that Extremis lets you regenerate injuries. The…the Other Guy," he murmurs in a lower tone, as if the very words would summon his meaner, greener alter ego, "is invincible, and he can't be hurt, but if I lose a limb, I can't grow that back."
"Which is why he instantly turns into the Hulk whenever imminent danger is about," Tony cuts in.
"Yes, that," his science-loving friend says, and it's a point of pride for Tony that Bruce's not as uncomfortable talking about The Hulk's abilities with him and Pepper compared to, oh let's say, SHIELD. "But you," Bruce adds, pointing to Pepper, "can."
"Wait," Pepper raises her hands, closing her eyes and shaking her head as she wraps her mind around what he's saying. "Are you…" she huffs and opens her eyes to glare at Tony, "are you trying to convince me to keep this?" Her beautiful blue eyes start shining with an inner red-orange light as she waves her fire-glowing hands to emphasize her point. "Because that's not even a choice, Tony—of course I want it out of me! Jesus, what if I set you on fire while we're sleeping?"
"Pep, I know it sounds scary—"
"Scary?"
"Stop!" Bruce puts a hand on his shoulder. "Tony, not right now, okay? Pepper needs to hear all her options, and you don't have to decide now," he adds, looking at Pepper now. "Listen, Pepper. We can fix you both ways—in overcoming the…heating problem, as Tony calls it—"
"I think it's an apt description," Tony defends.
"—and also in reverse engineering the process, so that we can take it out of you."
"Reverse it," Pepper says instantly.
"Okay," Bruce nods. "We'll do that."
"But not right now," Tony adds.
"Excuse me?" Pepper splutters.
"Smooth," Bruce mutters.
With Pepper's orange-eyed glare focused on him, Tony flounders.
"Tony, just tell her," Bruce says patiently.
His gut clenches in rebellion at the thought. "I—" He shuts his eyes and stops shaking his head unconsciously. "Pepper, sit down." With an impatient sigh, Pepper obeys, and Bruce—the traitor—steers him towards her and forces him to sit beside her.
"Thank you, Bruce."
"Don't thank me yet," he warns her, moving to the door. "I'll be upstairs when you're done," the scientist says, and Tony watches his salvation abandon him to his fiery-tempered (pun totally intended) girlfriend.
"Tony, what's going on?" Pepper demands as soon as Bruce was out of sight.
He swallows heavily. "Pep, I love you."
The orange flare dissipates, letting him see those lovely clear blue eyes of hers. "I love you too, Tony," she nods, taking his hand gingerly until he entwines their fingers together, holding her hand firmly. "Look, I know that you want to keep me safe, and that the whole regenerating thing I have probably feels like a godsend to you or—"
"What? No, no, no, Pep, I'm not even— That's not what I—" He huffs. "I want what you want," he tells her. "Yeah, it's relieving to know that you'll never lose a finger or an eye but Pep, you'll still be killable. I know, because I've killed people who had your abilities." He looks her in the eye. "I found a way. That means that one day, someone will figure it out too, and you having these powers makes you a target. For everyone."
Pepper—bless her—understands what he's not saying. "You're worried SHIELD will find out," she murmurs.
"Yes," he exhales, his mind returning to that moment when an arrow killed someone he knew was only trying to help. "I know Fury, Pep. I know what he's capable of. He'll say it's for the greater good and wear a smile on his face while he has you locked away to be his lab rat to recreate the Extremis serum and…no," he tightens his grip on her hand. "I refuse to put that possibility in your future."
"So why did you even bother trying to fix the…overheating problem?" Pepper asks, diving right for the heart of the matter. "I mean, I understand you're giving me options but Tony, you know I want this gone."
"Pep…" Tony swallows heavily and gives her a look of unease. "Pep, until I ran the test I didn't know I wanted it. Didn't know I… But I want you to know that…that if I was going to have one, I'd never want it with anyone else but you. I mean, I'll understand if it's too much for you right now, but I really doubt that you'll…" His throat catches on the next word, because until that moment, he's never realized how ugly a word could be. "I mean, not that you wouldn't want to, but yeah, this is your choice, and if so then maybe we don't have the same wants after all, but this is your choice, Pep—"
"Tony, stop. Stop!" Pepper squeezes his hand a little too tightly. "What are you talking about? What choice? What…" She shakes her head jerkily. "What are you talking about?"
"Jesus, Tony, just tell her already!" Bruce's voice drifts down the stairwell, making him chuckle anxiously.
Pepper gives him an expectant look. "Yeah, Tony, just tell me. Please. I can take it," she says gently. "Is the procedure risky or deadly or something?"
"Yes," he replies, feeling his palms start to sweat. "All those things." Her expression droops, which doesn't fail to trigger his guilt. "Look, I…" He sighs. "I found something that…complicated our options."
"Okay," she nods, visibly bracing herself. "What's complicating this?"
He inhales deeply. "The baby."
She blinks at him blankly, eyes uncomprehending. "Say what?"
Tony exhales shakily. "You're pregnant."
Pepper starts frowning at him, denial in her eyes. "I'm not pregnant, Tony," she tells him.
He swallows heavily. "Yeah, Pep. You are."
Yes, you are pregnant, Pepper. Because, shower sex.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it! Review if you wish, but please send any flames/criticisms via PM ;)
~E