-Price of Heroes-
"…where we keep you updated on the latest Ironman action. I'm Heather Kale of Action News at 4, sighing off."
With a white flash the T.V. screen went black with quiet, leaving the room dead silent for thought. Tony Stark rubbed his eyes and sighed. It had been a long, boring week of nothing but to do nothing. Sure he went out a few times this week to take care of a few robberies here and kidnaps there, but would always return to unhappy Pepper, who scolded him for not listening. It was not like he was trying to disregard her advice; it was the boredom that drove him to mischief. Plus, he found it amusing to push the limits to see how far he could push her before she gave up all together.
Tony sighed as he refocused to the present. God he needed something to happen, and really soon before he looses all control of his actions. "Jarvis, do another scan on possible locations again. I don't care how small the clue is," Tony ordered out loud.
"Yes, sir," said a butler like A.I., "Would you like to see my progress, sir?"
"Why not. It's not like I have anywhere else to be…" mumbled Tony, "And I'd like this search to be our secret, Jarvis. Pepper does not have to know about this."
"Sir," was all Jarvis said as Tony sat back to watch the three computer monitors fill with boxes of codes, names, bills, maps and profiles. Tony had no idea how long Jarvis would take searching for any sign of recent movements over the past week. It was unlucky anything has moved since then, but it never hurt to be too careful.
"So here's the deal…" chimed a voice, as his red head assistant walked into the room. Tony jumped and clicked a key on the keyboard as all the computer monitors went black. Pepper stopped halfway towards his desk as she looked up to the blank screens. "Am I interrupting something?"
Tony smirked like a smart ass, "Oh, only you would wish." With that the room went dead silent as Pepper cocked an eyebrow at him, looking a bit appalled by her boss. Taking a hint, Tony frowned, "Relax, Pepper. It was just a joke. I was finishing up a scan of the suit. Just checking up on it so see if there were any damaged not yet fixed."
Pepper looked relieved and cleared her throat, "Back to my original point. I'll make you a deal. Since you seem so determine to break every rule I set. So I called Rhodes, and you and him are going out clubbing tonight. Getting you out of here might be the thing right now."
Tony's dark eyebrows lifted in surprise as he mocked, "So I'm off the hook? What, I'm no longer grounded, which seems kind odd considering this is my house and I make all the rules. I'm guessing there's a bottom line here considering I'm getting a babysitter for the night."
"Tony, don't make me regret giving you leeway," Pepper warned Tony, who looked amused, "It's only tonight, and from here on out we will giving small chances to come back into the light without drawing to much attention from the media."
Tony cocked an eyebrow, " 'We'? What's this 'we' I heard? Is S.H.I.E.L.D. still looking over my shoulder then? Geese, they don't give up."
Pepper gave annoyed sigh as she rubbed her temp. "Tony, we are just trying to protect you. The less press on this matter the better chance you have at staying alive. And last time I remembered, it was you who put yourself in this position. If you just listened in the first place, none of us would have to go through the aggravation of trying to keep track of your actions. So do us all a favor and try to behave tonight."
Tony thought on it as he tilled his head towards Pepper. "So I behave like a good little boy with no incidents, and I'm off the hook?" Pepper nodded as Tony smiled at her, "Okay. What time?"
Pepper dug out of her black planner filled with weekly plans, and answered, "8 pm at the Grad. James will be over around 7:45 to pick you up. So I suggest you get ready before he ever enters this house."
Tony gave a wince like she had hurt him, "Ms. Potts, why do I need Rhodey to pick me up? Don't you trust me to make it there on my own?"
"Tony just do it," Pepper said strait, a bit annoyed with his mockery. "James picking you up no matter what you say." She was done debating as she turned to leave, but with her hand barely on the door handle, Tony stopped her in her tracks. "So since it's a parental watching night. Will you be there then?"
Pepper felt a pit in her stomach. She knew he was thinking about the night she wore that ridicules blue dress and their almost romantic moment that caused him to come onto her. "Tony…" was all Pepper was able to say.
Tony watched Pepper's eyes. He could see the uncertainty in them as she looked around, not meeting his own dark brown eyes. "I'll take that as a no. Oh, well. Guess beggars cannot be choosers. I promise to be there Pepper. So you can take it easy." Pepper nodded and left Tony alone to whatever he was doing before.
Tony did not bother going after her. It was enough that all week she had to deal with him and trying to force her into an unlikely date was slim to none. He was already pushing his luck with her, no point to pushing the question over board.
Tony sat back and tapped lightly on the small glowing object under his grey shirt out of boredom. Now he had an hour to kill before his chaperone came to retrieve him. Man, what was he supposed to do until then?
"Sir, I have an alert on possible hit," Jarvis spoke up as Tony hurriedly hit a key to reawake the screens. "There is a log in that an L.A. warehouse has a incoming shipment. Trucking records do not match shipment, which suggests an illegal delivery. I also have the item as marked as unknown. I did more research into the item and its diameter and weight match perfectly to that of a case of Jericho missile. I have the run as schedule for tonight."
Tony grinned: it had been the best news all week. "Good job, Jarvis. Load the location and any other needed info onto the suit. Oh, and get the suit prepared." Jarvis closed down the boxes of info on the monitors and then added something in that Tony was forgetting about, "Sir, Ms. Potts has you for an 8 o'clock at the Grad."
Tony sighed annoyed, and replied, "I'm just going to check it out then. It shouldn't take that long. I'll be back before either of them notice." If what Pepper does not know won't hurt her: so he was just going to have to make it a quickie. As soon as Jarvis had uploaded the information, Tony was off to get suited. He hoped this was the needed fun he was waiting for a long time.
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Declaimer: Once again, as a refresher, I don't own Ironman. I own Angel, Jeremy, and other characters not in original storyline.
Authors Notes: So here's a look into Tony Stark's life after the movie. Pretty much a short chapter, but I promise they'll get longer.
Sooooooooooooooooo……..I hope you guys are liking the storyline (What little there is at least) cause I got no reviews. So I'm going on. Alone…with no reviews…………………………………………………………………….cough….
I think the point I'm trying to make here is that I need reviews to know what's happen peeps! Maybe just a little note my way to know I'm pleasin the masses. Okay?
So yah, more coming soon. Later.
