Author Note's: I still don't own the Avengers. They still belong to Disney.

xxxx

"Pepper, are you still there?" asked Bruce after listening to a few seconds of silence.

"I hate when you say those things about yourself," said Pepper. "You're human."

"People who build the robots make the rules," said Bruce. The anti-mutant people could make killer robots to kill all the mutants and say they are doing it for humankind. Not that any of the robots Bruce saw in the last few days were killer robots. They were mostly androids that the best minds in robotics were teaching and/or programming to imitate human behavior since that was where Bruce's interests lied. Then he realized why Tony wasn't here. He had sent Bruce on a wild goose chase. "Oh my God, my darling husband is experimenting on himself."

"Where did that come from?" asked Pepper.

"Killian experimented on himself and there are only a few things Tony knows I don't approve of and experimenting on himself is the top of my list for obvious reasons."

"That's crazy," said Pepper.

"We planned this big trip to see his alumna mater. Then he tells me he has a few loose ends and will join me. Now MIT is closing for winter break and he still isn't here. He wanted me out of the way," explained Bruce. "Pepper, please check on him. I'm hoping I'm wrong."

xxxx

Tony hasn't met with the stockholders in months and hadn't been to a corporate office since spending those few minutes in the London office nearly half a year ago. What changed things? What happened at that time or just before? They had this big contract from Fury to reverse engineer Chitauri technology. Maybe, seeing the Chitauri gliders and leviathans was too much for Tony to handle and made him realize what they had been up against.

Pepper liked Bruce, but he was a scientist and didn't know business from a hole in the ground. Bruce no longer needed a MBA to dress him and follow him around, only because he was a fast learner. Needing to tell Tony that Stark Industries was his company and he needed to step up to the plate, Pepper went over to the manor after work. Instead of greeting her with a smile and possibly a hug, Tony stayed in his suit and refused to lift the faceplate.

"You have been making a lot of upgrades," said Pepper to the man in the Iron Man suit spread out on the sofa. "Which one is this?"

"Twelve," said Tony, sheepishly.

"Twelve?" Pepper could clearly see the number 42 on it. "Lift up your face-mask. I want to see your beautiful brown eyes when you lie to the woman managing your companies."

Tony backed up into the sofa a bit more and covered his face with a gloved hand. "No."

"You can lie to me, but you shouldn't lie to your husband. He's worried sick."

"I'm more worried about that The Mandarin. The bombings appear random and leave behind no incendiary device," said Tony. "How is -"

While Tony talking, Pepper pushed the button to lift the mask. There was no Tony inside. She had been talking to a robot the whole time. Tony could be anywhere and seeing this room by remote viewing. Pepper got up from leaning over the empty suit and slammed her high heel on the floor.

Then she stood up straight and looked at the camera. "Whenever you decide to get out of hiding, call your husband. You don't pay me enough to play your sick games."

As she was leaving the house, Happy was entering.

"Honey, I sorry about earlier." Pepper hugged then kissed Happy. "We'll sit down to discuss security like two intelligent human beings."

Happy looked over Pepper's shoulder into the living room. "That's all I ask."

Pepper stood aside to let Happy pass.

Happy put his arm around Pepper. "I came here to talk to Tony."

Pepper said, looking at the armor with its faceplate down. "He isn't here."

"Then who's sitting on the sofa?" asked Happy.

"An empty shell," said Pepper.

Tony, still wearing his headset, came up the stairs from the basement. "Pepper, I need you."

"Tony's demonstration proves my point about human security personnel," Pepper said, looking at Tony in his tee shirt and jeans. He had a Band-aid brand adhesive bandage on his arm. So Bruce was right - Tony was experimenting on himself. "Retina scans are all well and good, and we are in the business of improving technology for a better tomorrow, but at the end of the day, we need a human face to relate to."

"Understood," said Happy.

Pepper hugged and kissed Happy, again. "You talk to Tony. I need some fresh air."

Pepper waved good-bye to Happy then shut the door, trying not to slam it. She was so angry. She didn't know how Bruce could live with Tony and not get green and smash things. She would need to breathe in the ocean air a few minutes before she reported back to Bruce. Calming breaths. She only worked for the man.