A/N: I'm really sorry. School has been stressing me out with these exams and stuff and then my psychiatrist wanted me to go to a hospital but I didn't want to and that took some convincing (I'll be ok) and I had a gig (yay!) and just ugh. Thanks again guys. Makes me happy.
Tony thought that would be the end of their problems. But then he remembered. The Mandarin. He's still out there. Hurting people. Innocent people.
What was he doing here having a nice life for once? He should be out there, protecting them. He should be Iron Man right now, not Tony Stark. Iron Man needed to "lay down the wire" or so Steve Rogers would say.
"Jarvis? Update me on The Mandarin's whereabouts. Quietly."
"Actually sir, he seems to be in within 10miles from the Colonel Rhodes's house."
Fuck. "RHODEY!" They needed a safe place for Pepper.
That woke Pepper up. "Whaa?"
"We gotta go. Now." They gathered there few things and Tony grabbed his brief case and they headed into the hallway.
Bruce was already up and alert, as if he never fell asleep in the first place. Rhodes was out in his pajama pants and bifocals. He looked like a young grandpa. "Basement," he ordered.
"Can't we just escape?" Pepper asked.
Bruce and Tony shook their heads simultaneously. "He's too powerful. He'd get us."
"So we just wait there and hide?" Pepper questioned.
Tony knew how pathetic this sounded. Iron Man wasn't a coward. "Rhodes, watch Pepper. Bruce and I are going to go."
"I-I don't think that's such a good idea, Tony. Other Guy might...do some destruction."
"No, we need The Other Guy. Trust me." Bruce reluctantly nodded.
Tony looked at Pepper intently. All he could do was hope she understood. He would win this time. If not, he would die trying. She looked down at her left ring finger. She didn't want to lose him. Not after all of this. She simply nodded back.
Tony took a deep breath. "Let's go."
Iron Man and The Hulk when out in the open, scoping the street. Hulk grunted in disappointment. He really wanted to smash. Suddenly, a flash of blue came down and there The Mandarin stood.
The Hulk wasted no time in taking a battle stance and back slapped him. The Mandarin went flying.
"Nice!" Iron Man commented. He lifted up his repulsor and blasted him in the chest. He stayed down.
This wasn't right. This was easy. Easier than the last fight. Was he letting them win? This thought infuriated the billionaire even more.
"FIGHT!" He demanded as he blasted another repulsor at him.
"I don't think you want me to fight," he grossly cackled.
The Hulk made a face of disgust. Before he could blink, The Mandarin was just...gone. Hulk roared in fury.
Tony glared his eyes from underneath his helmet. Why would he do that? Was he just teasing Tony? Just a joke? Tony didn't think it was funny.
"Rhodes. Is he there? Is Pepper okay?"
"No, he's not here and she's alright," he replied. "Why? What happened?"
"He left," Tony spat. "We're not safe here."
"Where are we safe then?" Rhodey asked.
"I know a place," Pepper quietly noted. Tony heard that.
"Where?"
"Phil's house."
"Coulson's?" Tony questioned.
The three arrived at Agent Phil Coulson's doorstep in the middle of the night. If it weren't mid-January, he would think they were trick-or-treating. "Umm..."
"Hey Phil," Pepper said sheepishly. Purposely not looking at his Captain America boxers. "We're kind of in a pickle. You know, Iron Man and The Mandarin and Hulk and Iron Patriot and it's just bad. I knew we were safe here. Mind if we stay until this whole thing blows over?"
"Of course," he held the door open for the group. Tony kinda shoved his suit inside while Rhodey gracefully put his to the side. Bruce came in shivering with a big towel wrapped around him. "I have some clothes that could fit you." Bruce muttered his thanks.
"Mind if I invade your kitchen?" Tony asked actually quite politely. Phil shrugged and Tony chowed down on Lucky Charms. He hated soy milk but he couldn't care less at the moment.
By the time the whole gang ate whatever they could find, they all sat on the table to discuss strategy.
"So this Mandarin guy, you can't take him?"
"Not alone. Not even with Bruce. That's not the only problem."
Phil patiently waited astounded that The Hulk couldn't do the job.
"He threatened to kill Pepper and others. He's on a killing spree and he named Pepper as a target. But Pepper is..." He didn't want to offend her. "Pepper isn't healthy. She has a dangerous virus in her called Extremis and I don't know how long she has until she overheats and I can't find a cure," Tony painfully admitted. He couldn't protect her.
Phil looked at Pepper with deep concern but she shook her head. "I'll be okay."
Tony was visibly angry now. "Look," he said harshly. "It's killing her and on top of that someone else is threatening to kill her and I can't beat him. I need someone who's quick and stealthy and cunning. We got a few punches on him earlier tonight but he just left and now I don't know where he is I just know he knows I can't beat him. We can't wait, we have to attack."
Phil took this into consideration. "I think I know a guy. Fury just recruited him a few days ago and he's...amazing. He goes by the name Spider-Man. His real name is Peter Parker and he's just about willing to do anything. Something about responsibility and great power."
Bruce raised his eyebrow. "Peter Parker? As in Richard Parker? His dad was a genius! I've studied his works, I'd love to work with his son."
Phil and Rhodey smiled. Everything was working out for once. "Great," Phil said. "I'll give him the mission." With that, he left the room. Bruce and Rhodey excused themselves for bed.
Tony was still glaring at nothing in particular. Pepper started to worry. "Tony, what's wrong?"
"I can't even protect you," he muttered. "Let alone find a cure or have the goddamn decency and balls to actually give you a chance to be healthy."
"Tony-"
"How could you just shrug it off as if it's nothing? It's killing you. I'm not going to let it continue. You have to believe that. You have to believe that I'm trying my hardest right now I've used every technique I could possibly think of. But with this Mandarin guy threatening you..." He steadily took a deep breath to control his anger. "I can't think. I can't sleep. It's happening all over again." His voice changed into a scared whisper at the last sentence.
"Tony, I do believe in you."
He looked up at her and took her hands in his. He looked at the mini arc reactor ring he have her on her left hand. "I won't stop until you're safe."
"I know," Pepper said smiling.
"Do you know I love you and I would give up my own life if it meant keeping yours?" Her smile turned into a frown. "Do you know I will never stop protecting you?"
"Tony..."
"Do you?" he whispered. She nodded slowly, a tear coming down her eye. He softly kissed the tear and then kissed her forehead. "Good."
A/N: Wooh! Spidey! Next chapter will be….amazing! haha
