Here is the second chapter, this one is taking a while to come out of me. You know it's moments like this where even I want a saucy, suave boyfriend. Have fun everyone and please review to tell me what you think.
Chris Cadaver
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Chapter 2- Saving me
~XOXOXOXOX~
He's the kind of guy that will make you love your name, just because of the way he says it. - Written and revamped by my Muse, for this story only
~XOXOXOXOX~
The next few weeks found me in his personal labs, I was helping him do research. I don't think I could have been happy to find myself in one of his freshly laundered lab coats and being a low-class research assistant a few months ago, however; right now I wouldn't have it any other way. Even if there are a ton of close calls where I get picked up by the back of the lab coat and tossed out of the lab on to my refined ass by one barely contained Bruce Banner, I think that adds to part of the fun; after all he is the reason I am here.
Today I managed to get pulled away from the lab by an angry red-head, of which I had completely forgot about until now. I shouldn't have forgotten her, I mean I call her every evening before bed; what we talk about right now escapes me though. "Hey Pep, nice weather outside today, what do you need from me today? Another signature, maybe a new car I can give you both you know easy as that." I closed the lab door around behind me, not bothering to listen if there was a click or not.
With a wink sent in her direction her face flushed red, she looked every bit the genuine ginger she is; I would know she is mine. Then it hit me, she doesn't need a reason to see me, we are still together and I have neglected her. All of the feelings that I had for her came crashing back like a tsunami wave. "I just came to see if you are getting enough sunlight and fresh air, apparently the press says that you haven't left the tower in weeks; Tony they said weeks." The second time she had said 'weeks' it came out in a cat like hiss, I could tell she isn't pleased. Then I heard the tapping and looked down at her highly polished, black high-heeled shoe, yeah I managed to piss mother hen off; yay.
"I haven't left because I haven't had much of a reason to, Dr. Banner and I are in the process of discovering something that could be a major discovery in medical science. We have been cramming all of our time into it, both of us have worked our fingers to the bone to get this project done before SHIELD decides to show up again. They always seem to want something from us." I crossed my arms showing her this is one argument that I would not back down from, I know I probably looked like a sulky child; if she attacks what we are currently working on I might snap at her like a rattle snake and eat her for lunch.
The tapping from her left foot became more rapid and louder, I definitely seem to be getting under her skin; this time I am not even meaning to. "Tony, I am sure your project is great," I felt my pulse quicken as she ignored the fact that him and I are working on it together. "However, as a Doctor, no matter what his actual profession is, should know that getting out of the tower will be good for you."
"How dare you Pepper, do not threaten him, or how he uses his profession. He respects that I am a grown man and can make my own decisions, even if he doesn't agree with a majority of them; he never tries to shove his professional opinions down my throat like everyone else. Hell Pep, even you shove medical jargon down my throat more than so many others do. You need to back the hell off, I understand that we are together, however; you cannot rule my life as though I am you pet." I was huffing at the end of my speech, never having felt better than that exact moment. For once I told Pepper Potts exactly how I felt, even though it wasn't pleasant for either one of us to hear out loud; it was long over due for being said.
At least the tapping stopped, honestly Pep, my floor thanks you; I looked at her face and her mouth dropped open. When she started to speak again I really wished she hadn't. "Alright Tony if that's really what you think of this relationship I am not going to try anymore. I am breaking up with you, I will still run the company and keep the stocks up, however; you are going to need to find someone else to take out your dirty laundry. I am through with that aspect of your life." When she marched out I felt a large piece of my heart go with her, even though she wasn't the main person on my mind or heart; she had become such a fixture in my life that seeing her not there anymore terrified me.
I collapsed to the floor in my agony and let out a yell of pain, to which brought a nervous Banner to my side. "Is everything alright Tony, she looked really mad walking past the lab windows." My mind pieced together the situation and I realised he was just being nice, he had to of heard everything since I ended up not closing the door all the way. That's one of the things I like about him, he'll ask even though he knows; just to see if you want him to know. If he figures out you don't he will drop the subject and move on.
"She left me big guy, she didn't understand what I needed and how to deal with me; she's gone." I let my pain wash over me and I pulled my legs to my chest hugging them tightly, I wanted nothing more than to curl up in my friend's arms and cry until I fell asleep; I know that it won't happen and I am better off just wallowing by myself in a corner.
He took up a similar position next to me and pulled out a picture from his lab coat, I looked it over when he handed it to me; the woman was in a beautiful blue dress. She looked stunning, though what caught my eye was on her ring finger was a band; knowing that he was never married left me to one possible solution. This kind man was at one point left behind too, also by a woman he loved deeply; his cut deeper because she had left him for another man.
"Her name was Betty, I loved her with all my heart; she got married a year and a half ago. We ended up going to college together and working on the super soldier serum together as well, her father always hated me. In fact it's a mixture of the two of them that I broke Harlem." He looked so ashamed about what he had done, I handed him back the picture of the pretty woman and sighed.
"Pep, she always kept me in line; that was always fine by me. I'll admit I crossed it a lot, but she always came back; I had so much hope that things would be perfect and I would eventually marry her. Lately there have been other things on my mind and a lot of doubts have filled my head, somehow along the way I started to neglect her. I loved her still, I figured she would always be by my side no matter what; a part of me thinks she will just come prancing back and take back what she said. I don't think she will, I think this time she means it and part of me is okay with it; the other part wants to drink myself to death." I hugged myself tighter and fought the need to take off towards the elevators, Tony Fucking Stark does not do heart to hearts with anybody no matter what mindset he's in. However, I am doing it right now, even if I don't feel like it is helping much.
"Tony, you are a good man I am sure there will be someone who will be your anchor again, just you wait; who knows maybe that person is closer than you think. I know it hurts right now and all you can think of is how to convince your mind to stop loving her, but that's a hard feat to accomplish when your heart has yet to stop loving them. So don't try to convince yourself yet, give it time; I know it may seem over used and cliché but it's the truth. Time does heal most wounds, in time you will find someone who will hold you first in their world and cherish you. I don't hurt anymore over Betty, I have replaced the pain from her leaving me, with the affection and care of our friends. I know it hurts right now, but with time it will dull and fizzle out; you'll see my friend." At the end he had stood up and was dusting himself off from being on the floor, I took his offered hand; giving him a watery smile as he helped me up. "So, how about those Genetic anomalies?" I let out a biting laugh and we went up to the seventh floor talking about our current project as though nothing had just happened.
I could feel it though in the atmosphere around us, something had changed. Maybe it was the way he walked a little more closely to me, and we brushed elbows when getting into the elevator, but I could tell that our relationship had just gotten on hell of a lot more complicated than when it first started out.
~XOXOXOXOX~
Okay and that's a wrap for this chapter, sorry for making her look so nasty; I needed them to have something to bond over. Anyways Read and review, I love you all.
Chris Cadaver