Dawn
May 13, 2019
11:45 AM
"There seems to be an unknown disturbance causing a massive power outage in the metropolitan area—"Tony's secretary followed him into his office and he groaned internally. "How long do you think this will last for? Do you think the military is going to be deployed?" God, did she even stop to take breaths in between her sentences?
"I think the military can handle themselves—"He started, clinging desperately to the last ounce of patience he had for the woman. "Actually, Mr. Stark," A familiar voice interrupted him. "The military is in need of your assistance."
Tony turned, mouth open in surprise, and a grin broke out on his face. "Rhodey!" He felt a sense of relief wash over him now that his best friend was here and with him. Rhodey grinned back and embraced him, patting him hard on his back.
"You're back early," He added questioningly. "Tried calling, but—you know." He replied with a shrug. "Ah." Tony half-nodded. Makes sense. The secretary shuffled away and closed the door behind them, leaving them to talk privately amongst themselves.
"How've you been, bro?" Tony stepped back to take a look at him full clad in his uniform. "I've been busy, but you know that." Rhodey laughed. "It's nice to be back." Tony nodded in agreement, but his friend could see the grimace on his face.
"How's Pepper?" Rhodey asked, raising his eyebrows slightly. "She misses you." Tony smiled and Rhodey shrugged, a sly grin on his face. "Well, we both know how she feels about me." He joked and Tony laughed.
"She looked fine, you know? Like her usual self, I mean. But I can tell she hasn't been sleeping much lately." Tony couldn't do much to hide the scowl on his face and Rhodey put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Is she at her apartment?"
Tony stalked over to the window, gazing out on the city that was his home. "I don't know. Maybe. She could be over with S.H.I.E.L.D. but it looks like they haven't got a clue as to what's going on either." He sounded distraught.
"Tony, the government or the military may not be able to figure out what's going on, but it can't be beyond us." Rhodey reasoned. Tony's eyes brightened up a bit at the prospect, already forming ideas in his mind. "Of course," He murmured to himself. "This could be anyone—Doom, Magneto, A.I.M…"
Tony crossed the room in a few quick strides, rubbing his thumb against his lip thoughtfully. "What about the armory?" He heard Rhodey ask behind him. "We should have a backup generator, right?" Tony nodded in confirmation, "It takes time to kick in, though."
Rhodey sighed and leaned back against the wall. "Right. There's a trade-off to everything." He noted sarcastically. "Tch." Tony clenched his jaw and sat back on his heels, suddenly feeling as if his chest weighed a ton. What's going on with me today? He thought incredulously to himself.
"It seems that way. Looks like our only option now is to—"He coughed, trying to rid himself of whatever was stuck in his chest, but it wouldn't clear. "You all right, man?" Rhodey moved to help him but he waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fi—"
He was interrupted by a low rumble followed by a flickering of the lights and television in his office. "It's back!" Rhodey cried and he moved to the window in surprise and watched as electricity sparked to life throughout the city.
Tony suddenly felt a rush of energy jolt him and spread throughout his body; it felt as if his entire body was alight. His vision began to swim and he felt his knees buckle as he gasped for breath. He heard a voice calling his name in the back of his mind and suddenly his vision cleared.
"…To get help. Can you hear me?" Rhodey articulated slowly, trying to support his upper body. Tony shook his head and took in several deep breaths before attempting to stand. "Hey, take it easy, man!" Rhodey warned, but Tony felt fine. In fact, he felt more than fine.
He brought his palms out—they were shaking ever-so-slightly as if he was having an adrenaline rush. "Rhodey," Tony breathed, looking up at his friend's perplexed expression. This kind of power had to have come with the electrical surge. And if felt so…so familiar.
He felt dread creep through his gut and slowly raised his hand to the arc reactor in his chest. "I can feel it here." His fingertips and toes were still tingling, but he could feel the source of his power at his arc reactor. "It's not right, it's…"
He looked up at Rhodey sharply as realization dawned upon him. Suddenly it all made sense—the amount of power, the unexplainable electrical surges. "It's magic." Rhodey's eyes grew wide with disbelief and he stood up slowly, his mouth agape. "Tony, you don't think…" He began unsurely, but Tony cut him off.
"The date—think about it, seven years ago on this day!" Tony shouted, clenching and unclenching his fists tightly at his side. His eyes were wild with anger as he passed a hand across his face to try to calm himself down.
"Wait—" Rhodey grabbed his shoulders and tried to console him."How could I—how could I have not realized sooner," Tony mumbled quickly to himself and Rhodey shook him. "Cut it out, man! If—and I mean if—it's really him, then we need to suit up."
Tony's eyes lit up and he focused in on him again at the other man's words. "You're right." He needed to think clearly at a time like this. He scowled; somewhere in the back of his mind he knew this day would come. He should have been more prepared, should have been more careful—
If he still had a heart, he knew it would have stopped then and there. His face drained in color and Rhodey's eyes grew wider in alarm. "What is it?" He stared at him anxiously, waiting for a response, but Tony was standing stock still, which unnerved him even more.
Suddenly his face twisted and he ground out one word through clenched teeth,
"Pepper."
