#4Black

Pepper was sitting on the couch steadily working from her laptop when she heard a horrific shriek followed by a loud bang come from the workshop.
"What the hell?" It had sounded like a woman's scream "he must have the television on to loud or something." She turned her attention back to her work…only to hear it again. He had to learn to turn the volume down, she reached for a pair of headphones.
"PEPPER!…PEPPER GET DOWN HERE!" Tony's voice was loud and frantic.
Pepper rolled her eyes "Hold on Tony!"
"NO NOW I NEED YOU!"
Pepper let out a big breath of air and went down to tend to her painfully annoying boss.
"What is it Tony?"
He was standing on top of his desk with one gauntlet on his eyes frantically scanning the floor.
"Kill it Pepper, you need to kill it!" He was ready to blast away at what ever had him so upset.
Pepper eyed the blast holes scattered all over the floor. "Was all this necessary Tony?"
"Yes Pepper! Now kill it please!"
"Kill what Tony?"
He was pointing towards the hot rod, his hand shaking. "It's a black widow Pep I know it, those things are deadly you know."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Big bad Iron man was scared of a spider, sure it was potentially dangerous, but nothing a shoe couldn't fix.
"You called me down here…to kill a spider?"
He nodded frantically.
Pepper walked over to the hot rod and spotted the small black spider, it was smaller than a nickel…and defiantly not a black widow, just a common house spider.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me…Tony it's just a house spider!"
"KILL IT PEPPER!" Rolling her eyes she walked back to his desk and picked up a thick envelope.
"What are you doing?" He asked still standing on the desk eyes filled with fear.
"Relax Tony, I just don't want to get spider goo on my shoes." Pepper went back to the hot rod and dropped the folder on the floor. "There all gone…Will that be all Mr. Stark?"
Tony hopped down from the desk and did his best to macho himself up. "That will be all Ms. Potts."

Two days later Pepper arrived at the mansion to find Tony standing on the kitchen counter with a familiar look in his eyes.
"Pepper where have you been, I've been trying to call you,"
"What's wrong Tony? Another black widow?" She deadpanned walking right past him.
"NO! It's the same one!" He cried "It only has seven legs…it's looking for revenge."
Pepper couldn't help but laugh "Your being ridiculous Tony, now come down before you fall."
"Not until ol' seven legs is dead." He sat down on the counter top pulling his knees to his chest.
He was being such a baby.
"Tony, I killed that stupid spider myself" She glanced around on the floor "and I haven't seen a spider since I walked through the door."
Tony jumped to his feet again. "There Pep look!" He was frantically pointing down at the fridge. She couldn't believe it. Sure enough there was a small black spider, no bigger than a nickel with only seven legs.
"Huh?" She grabbed a magazine off the counter, dropped it on the floor and stepped on top.
"You see Pepper? I told you it was back!" He slowly came down from counter.
Pepper scooped it up in a paper towel and dropped in the trash. "Well its dead now Tony."
"You sure." He was gazing at the trash can, half expecting it to crawl back out again with six legs.
"Would you like me to check?" She went to open the lid.
"NO!" He cleared his throat "uh…no, I think you got it….Thank you Pepper." He squeezed her arm gently, relief filling his eyes.
"Your welcome Tony."
When she came to work the next day she found a small velvet box on her desk. Inside was a small black spider charm complete on a silver chain. There was a note underneath.

For Pepper, who bravely risked her life for her wonderful boss in the battle of ol' seven legs…and came out undefeated. But if she mentions this tale to anyone he will come back from the dead once more and seek revenge…again.
-Tony

Pepper looked down at the charm and laughed. Sure enough one its legs were missing.

A/N I felt it was time Tony needed saving :D
Lots of Love
-Shelly