Chapter 6
The Descension of Light
The light descended instantly, it was almost like he had been standing in the dark with a candle and the candle finally blew out. He was alone again and all he wanted to do is run to them but the harder he tried, the further they were and then they one day… they were completely gone.
As they were driving their car lost control and flipped over. It kept flipping until they hit a tire, Pepper tried to open her eyes but blood was dripping in her eye and it was smoking. Smoke filled her lungs and she couldn't breathe, she tried to catch her breath but the smoke kept filling her lungs. She began to panic because her flight or flight started to kick in, she knew that if she didn't get out of the car that it would blow up. Then she could save James and they could get out of there before the car blew up. She was instantly snapped out of her thoughts when feet approached the car, she was very excited.
Pepper: we're stuck in here! Please, help us!
She looked over at James and say that he was passed out and bleeding from his head, Pepper started to cry
Pepper: please(she pleaded with the person standing outside their car) I need your help! My boyfriend! His hurt we need to get to the hospital, please!( she cries) I don't want him to die.
The man bends down and smiles at pepper
Man: as you wish, ma'am
Pepper:(she is relieved to hear this, she relaxes and lends back in her seat as the guy gets them out of the car) thank you, thank you so much.( she says as the guy is pulling her out the car and she tries to stand but fails).
Man: are you alright?
Pepper: just a little banged up but my boyfriend, he needs to go to the hospital.
Man: then let's go, my car is just over there( he points to the car)
Pepper:(reaches her hand out): can you help me please, I would be I can barely stand.
James:(coughs) Pep(coughs) Pepper, pepper!
Pepper: James!
James: Pepper! R-are you ok!
Pepper: yeah but I just can't stand up on my own. I'm also a little banged up, we're going to the hospital don't worry.
The man picks up Pepper and puts her into the car then he lays James in the back seat. He drives them to what seems like forever, pepper is in too much pain to notice. Eventually, the pain knocks Pepper unconscious. She is awakened by the sun, she sees bandages on her head, arms, and legs… she moves any part of her body. She calls out for James but he doesn't answer, she starts to worry and that's when the man enters.
Men: what's wrong?!
Pepper: where's James?
Men: not to worry, we dropped him off at the hospital.
Pepper: then, I don't understand- why am I here?
Men: we need information.
Pepper: that's what libraries are for, why do you need me?
Men: you work for Stark industries.
Pepper: do what you want to me, I won't say a word.
Men: how noble of you but nobility won't save you, you will die!
Pepper: then get it over with!
Men: how about we take a trip to the hospital and finish what we started.
Pepper: that was you, you caused the accident.
Man: your a quick one aren't you?
pepper:(sighs): finish me off then.
Man: what about Tony?
Pepper: what?
Man: Tony, you two are close and your all he has left. What do you think will happen once you're gone?
Pepper: more like what he will do to you.
Man: more like what will he do to himself, his already broken...this, this will kill him.
Pepper: he has people by his side, even more now. They will be there for him every step of the way.
Man: he loves you, don't you get that. That kind of thing can never be broken, no matter how hard you try. It's perfect!(smiles)
Pepper: you want to break him?
Man: I don't have to, your industry has access to the most amazing technology. Don't you want to save him?
Pepper: of course but If you gain access to the technology then the world is in danger and I can't do that.
Man: so noble, that nobility is going to get you killed.
Phone rings
The man picks up the phone
Tony:(over the phone): considering the leads that you've given me, I'd say I'm right on time. By the way, if you wanted information you could have kept Pepper out of this.
Man: I could've but I had to make sure you would corporate, she's my leverage.
Tony: no, she's your mistake. You made a mistake when you took her and your going to regret it.
Man: no! You're stupid! It is your smart remarks that are going to get her killed. I'm not going to go easy on her, I'm going to make sure she suffers.
Tony: that's where you're wrong.
Man: you can't stop me!
Tony: that's the second thing that you're wrong about, the first thing is I'm here(he stands behind the guy with a smug look on his face)
man:(in shock still turned around): how did you?
Tony: simple but I'm not talking about this with is she! Where is she!
Pepper: ( she hears Tony yelling at the man): Tony! Tony!( it was painful for her to scream, let alone move but she had to gets Tony's attention so she could get out of there)
Within seconds Tony was in the room
Tony:( besides himself with grief) oh my god! Pep( he caresses her face)
Pepper:(looks confused) are you ok?
Tony: I'm not the one covered in bandages.
Pepper (closes her eyes and Tony starts to panic. He grabs pepper off the table that the man had her own and carries her to the helicopter that he had waiting by. When pepper awoke she was in a warm and comfortable in a hospital bed. Pepper vision is blurry, she can barely see through the fog when her eyes finally clear she can see a person sitting next to her hospital bed.): james?
Tony:(smile fades): afraid not, how are you holding up?
Pepper: are we at?( as if he was reading her mind, he cuts her off short)
Tony: Yeah.well that was a perfect Christmas.
Pepper:(giggle, strains in pain)
Tony: sorry(smiles)
Pepper: thank you for saving me( she smiles at him)
Tony: no apology needed, I'm just glad that you're ok.
Pepper: all because of you, I don't know what would have happened if you didn't.
Tony: I'm always going to come for you, you never have to question whether or not I'm going to save you or not. Anyway, I don't wanna talk about this anymore.
Pepper: I just don't know how I can ever repay you.
Tony: you don't need to repay me, Pepper, you were in danger and I saved you. That's all there is to it.
Pepper:(nods) hows James?
Tony: still out, we made sure that he was in the best facility possible.
Pepper: whats wrong?
Tony: nothing.
Pepper:(gives him a questioning look)
Tony: nothing that can't wait until you make a full recovery.
Pepper: just tell me.
Tony: the doctor was quite clear that no one was to upset you. I'm not one for following rules but when it comes to your well-being, there isn't anything that I wouldn't do.
Pepper: (panics) it's something bad! Oh my god! Is James ok?!
Tony: he's fine but like I said, it will have to wait.
Several weeks had passed and pepper's wounds showed no sign of healing, she began to feel restless lying in the hospital and not getting any work done. Pepper never missed a day or school or work, she felt bad about missing so many days and she knew if she tried to get out of the bed that not only would the doctor and nurses stop her but so would Tony, Rhodey and Happy. She was trapped in a place that she didn't want to be, it wouldn't be the first time that she's been held against her will. She tried to shake that thought from her head, memories from that day haunted her and it also made her panic because being in that hospital and not being able to leave...made her feel like she was there all over again. Her chest began to feel like it was caving in, she felt like she couldn't breathe, it became harder and harder to exhale and everything seem to fade away into the darkness. Suddenly she was there all over again and he was coming right at her!
Pepper: Tony! Tony! Help me, help me, please! Where are you!
Tony:( runs up to pepper and takes her face into his hands, he gives her a comforting gaze with a smile on his face.) hey! Hey! It's ok, I'm here. Hey! Look at me! Look at me, it's me, I'm here. (Pepper meets his gaze and smiles) hey!( he smiles) I'm here.
Pepper: I noticed(smiles)
Tony: well you've always been very observant(smiles) after what you've been through I think it's a good idea that you talk to someone.
Pepper: I'm talking to you.
Tony: you need to talk to a professional.
Pepper: you can get your degree in a matter of minutes or hours depending on the wifi connection(she smiles)
Tony:(laughs) that's true but this is really important, delicate situation, after what you've been through….. You should talk to someone who knows what to do about your situation. Considering that I'm still working on my issues, it would be like the blind leading the blind.
Pepper: you already have the therapist waiting outside, don't you?
Tony:(smirks) you know me too well. I just really want to get you better.
Pepper: I would feel better if you told me about James.
Tony: that's another delicate situation, I'm sorry pep but I've been given very strict orders not to upset you.
Pepper: wouldn't be the first time(smiles)
Tony: not intentionally, never intentional. Change the subject(smiles and eyes her suspiciously) the weirdest thing has been happening, so! Since you've been in the hospital, I've taken over your work. The thing is, all of the paperwork gets done miraculously! Now a little birdy told me that you've been working from here. Don't try to deny it! I have proof and an eyewitness, plus I can see your computer and phone from here. I've been spying on your activities through my phone, so what do you have to say for yourself missy(smiles)
Pepper: nice deductive skills, Sherlock! Look I've been getting restless in this hospital and I needed to do something.
Tony: I just didn't want you to mess up your healing process.
Pepper: I've been really careful(smiles)
Tony: well from now on just take it easy, I can take on the work because in case you forgot I did use to run this company(smiles) for now, all you need to worry about is getting better.
Pepper: ok, for now.
Tony: (smiles) I'll be back to see you tomorrow.
Pepper: I'll be waiting(smiles. Tony gets up from his chair while smiling at Pepper, he resist the urge to kiss her on her forehead and then exits her room.)
Several weeks later, Pepper was back at work and it was like she never left. She was ordering Pepper around, sending out memos, filling out Paperwork, doing interviews and everything else required of a CEO. Tony had visited Pepper to make sure that she was holding up and seeing her back at work and happily brought a smile to his face. His smile soon faded when he thought of James, would she still be happy when she found out about James. After he found out he wanted to punch his skull in, he wanted to kill him for betraying Pepper but he knew what he really needed to do was be there for Pepper. He knew that once she found out that she would need him now more than ever, just like she was there for him when Obadiah and Steve had betrayed him or when they had killed Jarvis or when he thought Bruce was dead. She had always dropped everything to be a shoulder to lean on, someone to talk to. She was his voice of reason and the only person that could calm him down in his fits of rage, she would be there in a matter of seconds and know exactly what he needed. He felt so helpless that he couldn't provide her with what she needed, she never showed any interest in anything materialistic. She was the sentimental type, she had such a big heart that she would feel happier giving than receiving anything. In the chance that you did give her something, she made sure to wear it with a huge smile on her face like that was the most amazing gift she ever received. I didn't feel like it was my place to tell her about her boyfriend but neither were the police but they have to question Pepper about James's behavior in the last few days.
One of the detectives walks up to Pepper when they approach her with a displeased look on their face she starts to panic.
Pepper: oh my god! Is James ok!
Tony runs to Pepper's side to catch her from falling.
Tony:(talking to the detective's) let's move this discussion to her office.
Detective: that's a good idea, she should be sitting down when she hears this.
Tony (wraps one of his hands around Pepper's waist to hold her up, he walks her to her office chair and then sits her down.): you need anything?
Pepper: answers( she stares at the detectives)
Tony: I understand, do you need anything besides that?
Pepper:(she stared at him with an annoyed look on her face)
Tony: I'll let you guys talk.
Tony exits Pepper's office and leaves the building to help the Avengers.
Pepper:(annoyed) so, what's this all about? What's with all of the cloak and dagger?
Detective: what can you tell us about James?
Pepper: nothing that you don't already know, I suspect.
Detective: we were hoping that you would be more cooperative, it's important to the case.
Pepper: well if you told me what was going on, I would know what you're looking for.
Detective: we wouldn't want the facts to corrupt the information. So if you could please tell us about James.
Pepper: James is a great guy, we meet at a Holiday party a few years ago. He's a financial consultant for various businesses, so far his work with a lot of popular CEOs and up and coming business companies. James thought that Stark needed consulting(smiles) Mr. Stark, surprising politely declined and told him that he had a better place for the job. Several years later, we bumped into each other at a convention that one of his employees were hosting.
Detective: Ms. Potts, James is a professional con artist. He assumes the identity of people that he robs blind and his other partner would kill once they showed signs of going to the authorities. The high profile clients were threatened with exposure, they couldn't afford this information to go public so they sweep it under the rug. One day that bump heads into the wrong person and James's partner gets violently murdered and James flees the scene. The cold thing is, that was his best friend since 1st grade, we have reason to believe that James is a social climbing sociopath. We also suspect that he tried to infuriate Stark's Industries years ago but when he failed, he targeted you.
Pepper: he did all of this…..over money.
Detective: yes, his goal is to be a mogul. You must understand that he is a manipulator and he is very dangerous, he will try to contact you and when he does we advise that you contact the police.
Pepper: why are you here!(tears begin to form in her eyes)
Detective: the person who tried to kill him before is back, his going want to cut his ties here before he leaves again.
Pepper: when you say cut ties, you mean…. Me, he wants to kill me.
Detective: yes. We suggest you get some protective custody and that you leave your home.
Pepper: I need some air( Pepper storms out of her office and leaves the building. Once outside she is greeted by Happy, he is smiling when he sees her exit her but his smile fades once he sees the look on her face.)
Happy: is something wrong?
Pepper:(gets in the car and Happy gently closes the door and goes over to the driver's side. Once he gets in the car he stares through the mirror, she looks up at him) I don't want to talk about it.
Happy: where to?
Pepper: Tony's place.
Happy: (shocked) really?!
Pepper: really, can we go now? Fast!
Happy:(smug): yes ma'am.
Happy drives Pepper to Tony's Place.
Happy: Have you informed that you will be staying at his place?
Pepper: no but I will tell him when I get out of the car.
Happy: oh boy.
Pepper: what?
Happy drives off and Pepper Texts Tony, a few minutes later he looks out of the window and smiles. He waves for her to come in when she hesitates he walks outside.
Tony: Hey!(smiles) if I would've known that you were stopping by I would've cleaned up.
Pepper: oh geez! You have guest! It's fine I can call someone else( she takes her phone out and starts dialing)
Tony:(yanks the phone out of her hands)ah ah! What do you think you're doing?
Pepper: calling the hotel, I can't stay here!
