Sorry about the wait, but it's now Easter break so the uploads will be more frequent!
Enjoy!
"So tell me Dr. Banner". Pepper smiled leaning against the shiny black car, her professionalism kicking in. "How much do you already know?".
Bruce walked slowly towards the red head, thinking back on the numerous stories that Tony had told him about her.
He grinned picturing Tony's face whenever he mentioned Pepper.
"Not much." He smiled gently placing his bags into the trunk of the car. Quickly he glanced at the slim woman, taking in her body language.
She was hiding something- sugar coating the situation.
"Well things have got a whole lot weirder since the last time you and Tony were together". She said opening the car door, allowing Bruce to slide in first.
Pepper glanced around her, feeling the hairs on her arm prick upwards.
They were watching her.
Waiting for the perfect moment to attack.
The wind blew her hair onto her face, clouding her vision slightly, her heart beat faster telling her senses that they were here.
A shadow in the corner of her eye caused her to spin around, scanning the scenery around her for any movement.
There was nothing there.
The airport was empty.
"Pepper?". Bruce asked anxiously from inside the car, his fingers nervously strumming the inside of the car. "Is everything all right?"
Pepper frowned turning back towards the car, slowly she slid inside slamming the door behind her.
"Sorry, I thought I saw something." She muttered tucking her shiny hair behind her ear.
Bruce swallowed slowly taking off his glasses, the people messing with Pepper and Tony had definitely shaken them up.
"Don't let this swallow you up". He whispered blushing slightly.
It wasn't his place to give advise- especially to a woman he'd just met. But something was telling him, that she needed that second opinion of clarity, the reassurance that everything was going to be fine.
"Once you've been dragged into this bundle of mess there's no turning back". He whispered sadly to the red head, licking his lips nervously. "Which is why we all have to just go with it. And whether we like it or not, we only really have one choice-to fight until the end". Bruce whispered shaking his head.
"I guess that's what we'll do then". Pepper said trying to smile. "Fight until the end".
"Sir, I believe you have an incoming call from Agent Romanoff". Jarvis said, snapping Tony awake.
All that time he'd just sat staring into the screen, watching the pixelated image of Pepper tied to the chair- until his head hurt.
"Okay Jarvis, put her on". Tony replied clearing his throat.
Immediately the screen placed on the nearby wall lit up, showing Natasha's face. Tony instantly relaxed at the sight of the small woman.
She was the last person he would expect on a screen at that moment.
"Stark." Natasha spoke narrowing her eyes at Tony, the sight of him defeated took her by surprise. "I'm guess you saw the message?". She whispered.
"How nice it is to hear from you too, Agent Romanoff". Tony muttered running his fingers through his hair.
"Look we have numerous S.H.I.E.L.D agents on the case searching for the-
"It's not enough". Tony muttered cutting Natasha off.
"What?". She whispered frowning.
"It's not going to be enough!". Tony shouted standing up from the chair. "S.H.I.E.L.D were in control last time, and you saw for yourself how that nearly turned out."
"So what do you want us to do?". Natasha shook her head, feeling the pain from earlier injuries take it's toll. "This has happened too fast, we've barely recovered from the Loki incident."
"I suggest that S.H.I.E.L.D shuts the hell up and listens to me for once". Tony whispered staring at Natasha, eventually she nodded allowing him to continue. "My number one priority is keeping Pepper safe, and I don't care what any of you think- I am not saving the world again for you morons unless you keep her safe too."
"So how do we do that?". She whispered speaking her voice low, careful not to allow any other agents to hear her.
"We all stay here". Tony replied picking up his phone quickly. "We can track these freaks quicker if we all work together."
"Who's we?". Natasha spoke quickly looking around her.
Tony smiled looking up at the screen.
"Everyone".
"Christine Everhart from-
"Vanity Fair, I know". Justine rolled her eyes, at the blonde reporter standing in front of her.
Obviously her brother would see potential in this blonde wreck of a woman, but to Justine she was in over her head.
Christine had no idea what she was in for.
"How much did he tell you?". She spoke not bothering to introduce herself, there was no need for names when they'd barely speak in the future.
Christine stared at Justine, shocked at her bluntness.
"Not much". She stuttered, smoothing her hair down. "Just that we're going to ruin Pepper Pott's career?". She whispered glancing around her.
This woman was clearly in over her head.
"You have no idea." Justine muttered walking ahead of Christine.
"So, what are we going to do?". Christine laughed nervously, struggling to keep up with the brunette.
"You'll see." Justine replied, swiftly taking off her glasses to glare at the young woman. "I need you to get a few things first though."
"Okay, what do you need." She asked breathing deeply.
"Camera equipment, a reporter and a gun." Justine sighed slowing down her fast pace so Christine could keep up with her.
"A gun?". She whispered harshly under her breath, widening her eyes to stare at the dark haired woman. "What do we need a gun for?".
Justin rolled her eyes tired of the blonde woman.
"To kill Pepper Potts."
"All right, here we are". Pepper smiled staring at Bruce's amazed face.
Together they stood underneath the tall building that had once been Stark Towers. Bruce stared at Pepper, his mouth wide open with shock.
"I knew Tony was a billionaire- but I wasn't expecting this". He whispered shaking his head slightly. "I-I don't feel right about staying here".
Pepper frowned turning towards Bruce, seeing the sad look in his eye.
"Why?". She whispered turning her attention back to the building.
Bruce blushed looking down at his feet, realising why Pepper had seemed so relaxed about meeting him for the first time.
"I guess Tony didn't, tell you about my er- condition." He whispered feeling the heat of embarrassment flow across his neck.
Pepper frowned, smiling down at Bruce.
"Of course Tony told me." She smiled feeling comforted by Bruce's sweet nature. "I didn't see it as a problem."
Bruce turned to Pepper, shocked at how calm she seemed.
"You didn't see it as a problem." He whispered. "I could lose control at any moment, and destroy everything".
"To tell you the truth, I don't see that happening". Pepper laughed lightly walking towards the door. "I'm more worried about Tony destroying the building, seeing as he's done it about 3 times so far".
Bruce smiled, walking after Pepper.
Never did he think that he would be accepted so quickly and so fully into a group of peoples lives.
For the first time in his life, he felt at peace- he felt like he was finally at the place which he had been searching all of his life for.
These people didn't see him as a monster, they saw him as a human being. They weren't going to test him or judge him for all the things the 'other guy' had done. The embraced him, and enjoyed his company.
They didn't judge him for being himself.
He was home.
"Tony!". Pepper called grinning at Bruce. "We're back!".
Bruce glanced around him, looking at all the experiencing furniture. His eyes widening at the mini waterfall placed beneath the stairs.
Pepper continued walking ahead, glancing around each room for any sign of Tony.
"Dr. Banner". Tony grinned waltzing in front of Pepper, smiling at the red head. "Nice of you to join us again".
Pepper sighed relaxing at Tony's calm exterior, slowly she turned around to watch the big reunion.
"I wish we could stop meeting like this". Bruce shrugged hugging Tony quickly.
"Nah, you love it really big guy". Tony smiled walking back towards Pepper, quickly wrapping his arm around her slim waist. It was nice for him to feel her safe in his arms. "So you finally met the famous Pepper Potts."
Bruce smiled nervously glancing back at Pepper, who mouthed 'sorry' back at him.
"Indeed I did". Bruce laughed lightly. "And I have to say, it's nice to match a face to all the stories you've told me".
Pepper turned to Tony, raising a slim eyebrow up at him.
"All the stories huh?". She whispered laughing.
Tony shrugged rolling his eyes. "That makes me seem sensitive- and uh vulnerable". He spoke raising his eyebrows.
"Don't worry Stark". Pepper tapped his chest softly. "Your true identity's safe with us". She said sarcastically.
"I'll show you to your room Bruce". Tony said changing the topic.
Pepper laughed rolling her eyes.
No matter how hide he tried, Tony Stark could not deny how utterly in love he was.
Slowly Pepper sat down on the huge leather sofa, resting her sore legs. Swiftly she took out her phone for the first time since the 'incident', the huge crack down the screen sent a wave of shivers through her body.
Quickly she dialled Happy's number, pressing the slim phone to her ear.
She hadn't heard from him since he'd dropped her off after rescuing her.
The phone buzzed three times before she heard his familiar voice mail.
"Hey you've reached Happy, I'm not here right now which means I'm probably doing something extremely important- if not I'm hungover. Leave a message and I'll get back to you".
"Happy, where are you?". Pepper smiled sighing slightly . "We need to talk, something big has happened- call me back".
Carefully she ending the call, staring at the crack on her screen once more.
The last time she'd used her phone, she was calling Phil.
Her phone rang causing her to jump violently.
Her heart beat fast in her chest, sending her blood pumping harshly through her veins.
"Hello?". She answered shaking slightly.
Pepper expected it to be Happy, answering her message.
"Pepper Potts?". The voice on the end of the line whispered hurriedly. It was a woman's voice, which seemed familiar.
Her body relaxed as she realised it wasn't Justine.
"Who is this?". She asked frowning. Why would some random person be calling her, after the devastation in New York.
"It's Christine Everhart, from Vanity Fair?". She whispered speaking quickly.
"Christine? Why are you calling me?". Pepper asked remembering the blonde woman who had slept with Tony a couple of years back, the very same person who had mad snide comments about her job.
"Look, I don't have much time okay?". Christine whispered sounding stressed, something bad had happened. "You and Tony are in serious danger". She whispered breathing heavily. "These messed up people are after you- they want to kill you!". She said speaking slightly louder, her breath sped up as Pepper sat shocked at the sound of her.
"What? Christine, what's happened?". Pepper held her hand to her forehead, attempting to think clearer. "Are you in trouble?".
"It doesn't matter about me, okay? They've planned this all." She shouted sounding hysterical. "We've all fallen in their trap."
Pepper swallowed understanding what Christine mean.
These people that wanted them dead, had planned everything.
They wanted to threaten S.H.I.E.L.D. Targeting Tony on his dad, making them all feel defenceless.
"Christine come to Stark towers we need to know everything". Pepper said biting her lip.
"But I'll just lead them there". She cried feeling the strain.
"It doesn't matter, I have a feeling they're already nearby- waiting for the opportune moment to attack".
Pepper quickly ending the call throwing her phone across the room, watching it land with a thump on the ground.
Tony and Bruce stood in the doorway watching her from a far.
"Who was it on the phone?". Tony whispered staring at the shaken redhead.
"You'll never guess who". She replied frowning with confusion.
I hope you all like the twist in plot, more Avengers will join Tony and Pepper.
But someone is going to die in the next few chapters...
Please REVIEW!
And the story will continue with more action next time ;)