Tony took a large swig from his water bottle as he exited the gym and stepped onto the elevator. He had been up since 6 AM working off some frustrated energy. After getting Pepper into bed, he simply just laid there and looked at her for about two hours before he got restless.
He hated the idea of her being hurt in any way, shape, or form. And after taking her to the hospital ward twice in one day, to say he was on edge would be an understatement.
Pepper had laughed while they casted her broken ankle.
"It's kind of funny when you think about it." She said as they molded the plastic around her delicate limb.
"How is it funny?" Tony was dumbfounded, "How is THIS at all funny?"
"I don't know…I mean…they're just a bunch of kids when you think about it." When all she got from him was a blank stare, she continued, "I mean, Steve is from another time, Thor is from another time and PLANET, Bruce is scared to be around…anyone—he's almost more like a puppy than anything else, Clint and Natasha were both orphaned for so long that they never really got a chance to have a real home life, they're all kind of naïve in a way."
"Yeah, so were Manson's Girls, but that didn't justify murder." Tony said through gritted teeth as he brushed his hand over her wounded thigh.
"How is that even the same thing Tony?"
"I don't know…I was watching a documentary the other day…"
"And you immediately thought of the team?"
"They're dangerous!"
"It was an accident! Both times!" She reasoned. "They're like puppies with tails that are too big for them! They don't know how destructive they are!"
"Why do you keep comparing the most powerful team in the world to puppies?"
Pepper shrugged and tried to hide her smile as the doctor finished.
Tony couldn't help but smirk. His Pepper was always trying to be positive for him. If the roles were reversed—if he had been the one with a puncture wound and a broken ankle—those super heroes would have been out on the street so fast, they would have gotten nosebleeds. But being that she had him wrapped around her dainty finger, he decided to give them another chance.
Now, all he wanted to do was curl back up into bed with his girl, and go to sleep for the rest of the day. But once the elevator doors opened, he knew that that was out of the question.
On the couch sat Thor, with Pepper sitting next to him, her feet sitting in his lap. "See, on my planet," the Norse God was explaining, "I was the best at all kinds of artistry. I could make pottery, tapestries, you name it!"
"We don't boast about those kinds of things on this planet Thor." Clint called out from the kitchen.
"Oh don't listen to him! I think you're doing wonderful." Pepper assured the large man.
As Tony crept closer to the couch, he could see that Thor was decorating her plastered foot. It was only halfway done, but it looked as though the Asgardian was recreating Starry Night on the white cast.
"Damn…not bad Blondie." Tony complimented, startling everyone.
"There you are!" Pepper exclaimed as he greeted her with a gentle kiss. "You were gone when I woke up. I thought you had taken the suit out or something."
"No, I was in the gym on 76." Tony plopped down behind her and pulled her back to lie against his chest. "Are you okay?" He murmured into her hair.
"I'm fine!" She assured him, smacking his leg. "The team thought it would be nice to make us breakfast."
"Yeah…that's….that's sweet." He said through gritted teeth as he looked over at Steve and Clint flipping pancakes in the kitchen.
"I'm making my grandmother's special syrup!" Rogers said proudly, as he stirred the gooey mixture. He stopped when he saw Clint glaring at him, "What?"
"You too man?"
"What?"
Tony blocked out there arguing as he turned back to Pepper, "How are you feeling? Do you need some of your pills?"
"Maybe after breakfast." Pepper whispered, kissing his arm as he wrapped it around her chest.
"Hey Tony!" Bruce greeted them, coming out of the bedroom.
"Dr. Banner." Tony nodded at him with a look of suspicion that increased when Natasha came out of the room as well. "Did you at least change the sheets when you were done?"
Natasha shot daggers at him, as Bruce stopped in his tracks, a look of mortification on his face. "What? No!" He stammered.
"We were installing an adjustable mattress and a sling for Pepper to rest her foot in while she's sleeping." Natasha informed the Billionaire as she headed into the kitchen.
"Oh! Really?"
"No you can't play in it." Pepper stopped his train of thought before it even left the station.
"Okay! Bon appetite!" Steve announced bringing a couple of trays over and setting them on the coffee table.
"Wow! This actually looks edible." Tony exclaimed, handing Pepper a plate full of pancakes. "Sweetie, do you want to try the Captain's syrup? Because I think Aunt Jemima is chillin' in the fridge."
"Yes, she's been in there for six and a half years." Pepper reminded him, "So I think I'll take my chances with Steve's syrup, it looks great Steve thank you." She smiled at the Captain as he poured some of the gooey syrup onto her plate.
"You're welcome ma'am. I hope you like it."
The group dug in, all of them enjoying the silence. Of course it didn't last long.
"I have decided that I do not like this Abby Lee Miller." Thor announced, as though he were stating an important life choice.
Everyone stared at him in confusion before Clint spoke up. "Who the hell is Abby Lee Miller?"
"She is a tyrant and a menace!"
"She's the instructor on Dance Moms." Natasha explained. "She's not really nice to the kids on there."
"She is a monster! She yells at small children and demands that they do not cry! It is absurd!" Thor slammed his hand on the table, causing them all to jump.
"Relax buddy, it's not real." Tony assured the angry god. Everyone turned their glances on him. "What? I saw it once! When I saw the title I…I thought it would be about dancing moms, so I was intrigued! Then…I just…I couldn't turn it off…"
"It's okay honey, we all have our guilty pleasures." Pepper patted his cheek and cleared her throat.
"Yeah, I mean, sometimes I watch The Dog Whisperer." Clint confided. "I mean…that's slightly less creepy than watching little girls dance…but whatever."
"Those kids are talented!" Thor exclaimed pointing an angry finger at the archer. Tony nodded his head in agreement.
"Okay guys, calm down." Pepper teased, clearing her throat again.
"You okay?" Bruce asked her.
The redhead smiled and nodded, "Yeah *ahem* I guess I just swallowed weird or something…" Pepper rubbed her neck in discomfort. "My throat kind of *ahem* hurts."
Tony looked concerned as he turned her face towards him and made her open her mouth. "I hope you're not coming down with anything…" He trailed off when he felt her neck. "Pep…honey you're breaking out into hives!" He exclaimed as the quarter sized welts appeared on her pale skin.
"Hives? What could I possibly be having a reaction to? Unless…" She trailed off as she looked at the syrup on her plate.
"Captain Rogers, you wouldn't have happened to put strawberries in your special syrup would you?" Tony barked glaring at the man.
"We—well yeah…but what's wrong with strawberries?" Steve asked, shrinking back in his seat.
"Dammit!" Tony shot up and ran into the bedroom. "Pepper! Do you have an EpiPen?"
"In my purse!" Pepper replied, choking on a cough after her attempt to shout.
"Which one! There are like six million purses in here!"
"The black…*cough* one!"
Tony let out a frustrated growl as he ran into the living room with four or five black purses on each arm and one around his neck.
"The Michael Kors one!" Pepper rasped pointing. The men all stopped and studied the purses.
"Oh for god's sake!" Natasha sighed, snatching the appointed purse off of Tony's left arm and rifling through it. "Got it." She pulled the yellow pen out and ripped the cap off.
Tony winced as the Russian jabbed his girlfriend in the outer thigh with the device and held it there for ten seconds. After removing the needle, she rubbed the injection spot gently.
After a few seconds, Pepper stopped choking, and she was able to take a few deep breaths. "You okay sweetie?" Tony cooed pulling her into his arms. Pepper nodded with a sigh.
"Yeah…I'm fine." She assured him. "Just no more pancakes for now okay?" She smiled at the terrified men in front of her.
"Miss. Potts I am so sorry." Steve choked.
"It's okay captain." Pepper waved him off and turned to Tony. "I think I'd like to have a little rest now."
"Oh no! We're taking you down to have you looked at before anything else!" Stark told her, picking her up and carrying her towards the elevator.
"Tony! I'm fine!"
"You went in to anaphylactic shock!"
"Only a little bit!"
"There's no such thing as a little anaphylactic shock Pepper—" Their voices trailed off as the elevator doors closed.
The group sat in stunned silence for a moment before Clint spoke up. "Agent Hill is going to kill us."
A/N: I wonder how much more I should make Pepper suffer. I know that that's the plot and all, but if you guys think I should give her a break let me know! I'm having fun either way!
Review?