CHAPTER 10

After all the mushy stuff was finally over, Bruce left for a meeting somewhere in France, but, of course, not before I got him to promise and swear not to tell the team what had happened. Thankfully, he did it without much reluctance and took the secret with him to Paris. He said he'd be gone for a full week. Seven days. And he'd make sure I took care of myself within those seven days. So Clint and Steve were now on babysitting duties. Clint was used to it. But Steve... Well... Not so much. This was going to be fun.

"Jarvis?" I asked suddenly, dropping my tools in shock when I realised it.

"Yes sir?" He asked and I thought for a moment, "...Remember when I told Brucie not to tell the team?".

"Yes sir" he replied.

"Well... Are you able to check if he did or not?".

"I am sir, as long as it was said within the tower".

"...Check if he told Pepper" I said. I had only gotten Bruce to promise not to tell the TEAM. And since Peps wasn't on the team... Well... The doctor did agree rather easily...

"...Sir?" Jarvis asked and I glanced up, "Yea?".

"...I have a recording of Dr. Banner informing Ms. Potts about your... Reluctance... To keep down food. It was recorded only 20 minutes after Dr. Banners departure from your lab".

"Son of a bitch. I knew he'd find some way around it" I muttered, shaking my head. Just the. There was a knock ok the door. Pepper.

"Let her in J" I said slowly.

Ok, calm down. Remain calm. Pepper was going to be furious. Then she'd be upset. Then worried. And the go back to normal while making me feel guilty. I was used to it by now. Deep breaths. And I'll survive... Maybe.

Picking back up the screwdriver, I continued building whatever it was I was building. I didn't really know. It kind of looked like a radio with wings... Maybe I should destroy it.

"Tony" Pepper said, walking over and sitting down in front of me.

Sighing, I looked up at her, "Just get it over with".

She looked at me confused.

"Bruce told you. I know" I continued, "J got the recording on file".

"Oh well in that case" she started, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?".

Stage one-Anger. Check.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE?" She yelled, "YOU COULD DIE OF STARVATION STARK".

Oh, she was using the 'Stark' card was she? Harsh Pepper, very harsh.

"YOU COULD DIE, DO YOU KNOW THAT? Oh god, you could die" she continuing, tears overflowing in her eyes, "You could still die. How could you do that to me? I can't cope if you die. What will happen to the company? To the bots? To JARVIS?",

Stage two-Sad. Check.

"Are you ok now? No, course not. Because your starving yourself. Oh god, your starving yourself to death. Food. You need food. I'll get some. Are you hungry? No, your never hungry".

State three-Concern. Check.

"Ok" she said, taking a deep breath, "I'll get some food. Something small. You just... I don't know. But try to eat it ok?".

Stage four-Pepper mode. Check.

"But how could you have done that to me? Not telling me? What do you think would happen if you died? How could I continue with this business? I know you don't trust many people but I had hoped I wasn't in that list" she finished.

Stage five-Guilt trip. Check.

"I'm sorry Peps. I should have told you. I should have said something sooner. But I didn't want to. I hate the fuss. I hate people getting upset and worried over me. There's just no logical reason to do so. And yes, of course, I do trust you. Your one of the only three people in this world I do trust. I just didn't want you to worry like this" I replied and she sighed, fixing her hair, "Ok. Fine. Just promise me you'll at least TRY to eat something".

I nodded, "Promise".

Smiling, she stood up, "Will that be all Mr. Stark?".

Grinning back, I nodded, "That will be all Ms. Potts"

An apple. That's what Bruce had said. 'Start small. Like and apple'. I could eat an apple couldn't I? Yea. I could. Apples were tiny. And they were good for you. Yea. They were. They were healthy. Ok. I'll try an apple.

I was glaring at the fruit in front of me, as I had been for the past 20 minutes. It was staring back at me. It was evil. Horrible and evil and it was going to choke me like it choked Snow White. It was trying to kill me. What the fuck was I saying? It was just an APPLE for damns sake. Just eat the blasted thing.

Giving it one final glare, I reluctantly picked it up, hesitating for a minute before taking a bite. Sweet. It was sweet. Not overly sweet. But not sour either. It was... Ok. Actually, yea, it was pretty good.

A few minutes later I was done, the apple core in the bin, and I was just waiting for the throwing up to begin. But it never did. At all. I was... Throwing up free... For the first time in weeks. SCORE! Grinning, I went back to working on my flying radio thing. I had decided not to dismantle it. Just to see what would happen when it was done. Maybe I'd train it to annoy Fury.

"Come on, bed" someone ordered and I jumped, spinning around to face then. Natasha.

"I know you love being all spy-like and shit, but seriously, DON'T DO THAT" I shouted and she laughed, "You should see Clint's reaction when I sneak up on him. Ten times funnier than yours. I'll show you some time. Now come on, sleepy time".

I held up my hand, "Five more minutes".

"Nope".

"Two more minutes" I said again but she shook her head, "Not a chance.

"Ten more minutes" I said and she sighed, "NOW Stark".

Grumbling under my breath, I reluctantly put down my winged radio, which was done I should point out, and followed her out of the lab.

"Don't you dare" I said quickly as she opened her mouth.

She looked at me innocently, "I was only going to say goodnight".

"No. You weren't. You were going to ask if I wanted a bedtime story and a tuck in" I shot back and she grinned, "And a kiss goodnight, don't forget that".

"Goodnight Nat" I said gritting my teeth as I pushed past, heading to my room.

I had using enough time to hear her shout, "And don't let the bed bugs bite", before I slammed the door in her face. I didn't know which was worse. The fact she was a spy. Or the fact she was a girl.