Before you throw torches and pitchforks, I have several explanations. That I don't think I need to share with you all. ;P It's likely similar to why everyone else is gone...Anyway! This chapter is either a hit or a miss, because of how many times I needed to rewrite this...Let's see if it was worth it.
Disclaimer: IMAA belongs to it's rightful owners. Yep. Still.
Tony let out a loud whine and did his best to throw the paper before him across the room. Paper being paper, it didn't go far. Pepper glanced over from where she sat, trying not let herself get too distracted. Tony had been like this all morning and it was doing little to help Pepper's concentration. It took most of her will not to shout at the boy to just suck it up and deal with it, it had gotten so bad. She didn't know what was up with him, he seemed more irritable and impatient lately.
"Mr. Stark!" The teacher finally scolded as this had been the third time Tony interrupted the test. "Do you want me to give you a zero?"
Pepper almost laughed at the face Tony made. It was a strange mix of a pout and a glare; a face Pepper instantly recognized as a face a child made when in trouble. Though she managed to hold it in as she forced herself to look back at her test. Though a few unfortunate student didn't have the luck of doing the same and faced the same threat as Tony had, quickly returning their focus to their own tests again.
Just when Pepper thought that she was finally going to get enough peace to finish her test, only five minutes later, Tony was at it again. Except, instead of inciting the teacher's anger he incited Pepper's. In a fit of anger, she snatched the test out of his hands and glanced at it to find the sheet blank. His name wasn't even on it. Practically growling in anger, Pepper crumbled the paper the best she could and chucked it with what little skill she had towards the garbage, missing horribly. Though she couldn't care less.
The whole class, including Tony and the teacher, just stared at her blankly in surprise. It wasn't much like her to burst out like that in class. Especially out of anger. No, she was supposed to the be the sweet, peppy, happy redhead that kept to herself and her friends. Not the one who growls like an animal and abducts Tony Stark's test in a fit of rage.
The teacher was the first to collect herself. "Mr. Stark and Miss Potts. Zeros. Both of you."
"WHAT?" Pepper exclaimed angrily as she slammed her palms on her table.
"I said I was sorry," Tony tried to soothe her anger, but to no avail. Pepper just quickened her pace not bothering to acknowledge Tony's presence. "Pep, I didn't mean to..."
"Mean to what?" Pepper demanded, stopping dead in her tracks, nearly causing Tony to come crashing into her. "Mean for me to fail the test? Mean for me to get sent to the office? Mean to make me the laughing stock of the whole class!?"
She still felt the heat of embarrassment from that morning. The burning of the student's eyes on her back and their held back laughter as she made that walk to the office. She didn't know what was more embarrassing, her sudden outburst at Tony's test or the walk to the hallway door. Both had students staring in either amusement or annoyance.
Tony averted his eyes away from hers, clearly guilty of what he had done whether it was intentional or not. Then softly and barely audible, "I didn't mean to make you angry with me..."
Pepper rolled her eyes and stormed off again. If he was trying to make her guilty now, it wasn't going to work. He continued to blabber off apologies and tried to spit out excuses, but she wasn't having it. She just wanted to get out of the school and to home, and she certainly hoped that Tony wouldn't follow her all the way home.
"Pep," Tony tried as she almost let the door shut in his face.
"Stop calling me that," she snapped shoving her hand into her pockets to protect them from the cold weather.
It took her almost a block to realize that Tony had stopped following her. For a moment she felt relieved that he finally left her alone, but when she looked back she regretted having opened her mouth. He had stopped moving almost entirely as he stared in her direction, but not at her. She couldn't tell if the look on his face was hurt, anger, or confusion. Though, she didn't want to dwell on which one, so instead, she turned around and continued to move on. She needed time to cool off and maybe take a much needed nap. Then she could worry about what apologies that she would need to make the next day, that is if Tony even shows up to school tomorrow. The boy's attendance lately had become even more sporadic and often than usual. Even more odd, the teacher's seemed okay with it.
Pepper pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind as he feet carried her through the chilly weather to the place she came to call home. The sight of it brought comfort to her stressed mind and heavy heart.
"Home sweet home," she whispered to herself as she fished for her keys in her bag. Her search came to an abrupt pause as her eyes caught a glimpse of something on the window.
That headache that has constantly been threatening to make an appearance all day, decided now was a perfect time to make its grand entrance. All in a brain-splitting migraine.
A pair of arms wrapped around her and suddenly the air in her lungs was making a quick and forceful exit. She groaned in slight pain as a bone or two popped in her spine. Once she was release from the prison of this person's arms, she turned with an annoyed glance at her friend.
"What do you want Happy?" She wondered, unamused by the life-squeezing hug she just received, just like how everything else was unamusing.
Happy pouted, obviously hurt by her tone. "Tony said you've been having a bad week. Said you might need a hug." Happy looked around, as if to make sure no one was listening to the two. "He didn't want me to tell you this," he glanced a few times around him again,"but that hug was from him. His way of apologizing for the other day."
Pepper hasn't spoken to Tony since that morning two days ago. She knew she'd get over it soon enough, after all, she'd make up the test sooner or later. Though, it didn't stop her from holding a slight grudge over the fact that her grade went down significantly due to Tony's own stress and frustration. She didn't need to add on his problems any more than she already had.
"He already apologized Happy," Pepper reminded him. This wasn't the first time Happy has hugged her with the same excused.
Happy shrugged and rose a single eyebrow. "But have you forgiven him?"
Pepper paused as she realized. All this time, she was the one yet to forgive him even after all his apologies; verbal and otherwise. Though, she just crossed her arms."Well, he hasn't earned it yet."
The look Happy gave her clearly stated that he knew she didn't believe those words as the bell rang for first hour. Pepper sighed, realizing that she was likely going to be late to class saying she hasn't even stopped at her locker for the morning.
"Ooh," Happy winced, "time flies, huh?" He waved goodbye to her and rushed off in his own direction to class. Leaving her basically alone in the hallways as most other students filed into their first period class.
The first thing Pepper noticed as she stepped in the classroom—barely before the bell rang—was that Tony was nowhere to be seen. Not odd considering who she was talking about, but odd enough because she had seen him only five minutes before Happy showed up. She had just made a point that she needed her space when the blue-eyed boy approached her. She hoped he hadn't skipped class because of that.
It was also during that hour when Pepper really realized how bad Tony had felt.
"I have your tests graded," the teacher announced, holding a stack of the aforementioned tests. "if you'd like to see your scores."
Pepper dreaded the big fat zero that was drawn on the top of her test from two days ago. She wasn't exactly that best at this chapter, but she knew she would've received a decent grade on it had Tony not had a bad day. She tried to remind herself that it wasn't all Tony's fault. He had things he had to deal with—that she was sure—but she also reminded herself that there was other ways he could deal with said issues.
"Nice job, Miss Potts," the teacher smiled as she slid the dreaded test onto Pepper's desk.
Confused, Pepper flipped the test over to stare at the score written at the top. Pepper could have almost cried as she saw a big one hundred percent written above her name. Though, it wasn't the percent that caused her heart to skip a beat. It was the fact that her whole test was written in Tony's handwriting.
He'd aced the test for her.
Pepper looked and looked, but no matter where she looked, Tony was nowhere to be seen. She tried calling him and texting him. She looked in every room that she knows Tony goes to during their free period. Though the boy was nowhere to be seen. He had this habit of not being there when she wanted to see him, but being there when she didn't want to. She thought she had checked everywhere until she passed the roof entrance. Lo and behold, the blue-eyed boy was there.
He looked so peaceful and calm, so relaxed and carefree compared to how he's been the past week. His breathing soft and calm with no hitch or catch to it, his breath instantly becoming visible as it exited his slightly parted lips. She felt almost transfixed by how peaceful he seemed in sleep. His rosy cheeks and pale skin looked almost impossibly smooth.
She almost felt guilty for having woken him up.
His blue eyes, even as they were barely aware of his surroundings were ever so electrifying. The scene before her almost made her forget her purpose for searching so hard for this boy.
"Pep—I mean—Pepper?" He yawned as he stretched.
Pepper bit her lip, regretting snapping at him the other day. She felt bad enough as it was. "Pep, is fine."
He stared at her for several moments. Maybe it was because he was still just waking up, or maybe it was because he was shocked, she couldn't tell, but he had this look on his face. Pepper couldn't decipher what the look was. "Does that mean you've forgiven me?"
Pepper gave him a quick smile, before averting her eyes from his now excited gaze. "Actually," she softly spoke, "I was wondering if you could forgive me."
His brows furrowed in his confusion. "Forgive you?"
"I wasn't being very fair with you," Pepper admitted. "I was stressed, tired, upset, and cramping. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you."
Instantly Tony's eyes were anywhere but on her. His cheeks were suddenly tinted a darker shade of pink that Pepper could clearly tell wasn't from the cold. "Uhm..." He hummed out. "That's...fine."
She gave a exaggerated roll of her eyes when she realized what had him embarrassed. "I'm a girl, Tony. What did you expect?"
He didn't respond as he twisted his fingers in the hem of his shirt nervously, still averting his eyes from hers. So Pepper continued her apology. "I hadn't thought about what you must be stressing about. I was selfish. So forgive me?"
He finally made eye contact with her, that dang smile accompanying him. "Of course, anything for you!"
Pepper just gave a shake of her head, a fond smile stretching across her face. "Thanks."
He sat there smiling at her as if it was the most natural of things to do. He looked so happy and peaceful at that moment, Pepper felt at a complete loss as to what to say next. She had no clue if she was supposed to thank him more, apologize more, or if she should just move on to the next topic. Tony didn't seem to mind just sitting in silence while he smiled at her, so he was no help in the matter.
He finally ended up yawning loudly as he rubbed his eyes, clearly tired. "Am I the only one that's tired?"
Yawns being as contagious as they were, Pepper in the end was also yawning. "Apparently not."
The blue-eyed genius in disguise patted the empty space beside him with a welcoming smile that practically warmed the air around him. When she didn't move, he snatched her hand from her pocket and tugged her down so she practically crashed into his lap.
"Tony!"
He worked with her to adjust their positions so she was sitting beside him instead of on top of him. He tossed and arm over her shoulder, rubbing up and down to help keep her warm, though she felt he was just keeping himself warm. "Speak!" he exclaimed into the cold air. "Spill all your troubles and stresses."
"What?" She stuffed her hands into her pockets for extra warmth, having not brought her jacket up with her.
Tony sighed. "I know I'm not Dr. Annie, but I have ears. I can ease your troubles too. So, speak. Tell me why you've been so stressed and upset lately."
"Other than you?" Pepper wondered, half-joking and half not.
Tony just rolled his eyes and nodded. "Other than me."
Pepper honestly didn't know what happened. She just ended up spilling basically everything that she knew she shouldn't be sharing with anyone. It was hardly even her business to be sharing to her friends about her problems at home that were only her dad's and her own. Though, it felt much like the other day when she spoke with Tony about her mom. It felt natural and good to get this off her chest.
"Dad's been working double shifts and even more overnights than usual," Pepper said, twisting her fingers together worriedly. "It's gotten bad enough where I might need to get a job, and with school, I don't know how to deal with that stress."
Tony pursed his lips, thankfully taking her story in with seriousness. "Isn't your dad law enforcement? How did he not know it was a scam? Or why hasn't anyone done something about it?"
"I don't know," Pepper admitted, just as confused by the situation. "I honestly don't...He's made a few calls since then, but I haven't heard of anything changing...I just don't know how to help!"
She heaved out a long, much needed sigh of both relief and stress. It felt nice to have finally let someone know, even if that someone happened to be the one person who hasn't exactly been all too willing to spill his own troubles. It's been a long week keeping that bottled inside. Another thing she sure was glad about, was that Tony wasn't upset or angry with her about her bottled up anger and keeping of secrets from him.
"Well," he began, softly interrupting her thought bubble. "I know you probably don't want to hear it, but there isn't much you can do, but—"
"What!?" She demanded, instantly pulling herself away from the boy. "What do you mean I can't help? I could get a job and help pay for house bills! At least, until we get back up on our feet or until dad settles things with the lawyers and work...I could even..."
A strong grip on her shoulders reminded her that she was still on the roof with Tony and not at home looking at overdues and notices. "Pepper," he sternly spoke in a tone that Pepper almost couldn't believe she was hearing from the blue-eyed boy, "I didn't mean that. Let me speak."
She bit her lip and held her breath for a quick, uncertain moment before expelling her breath out in a long huff. Sitting back in defeat, she spoke, "Fine, I'm calm."
"I don't know about what you could do, but I can help," Tony began.
"You? How are you going to help?" Tony gave her a look, which Pepper rolled her eyes to. "Sorry, continue."
"I can offer you some money to help—"
"No," Pepper refused instantly. "I don't need or want your charity. And where would you get money like that? It's not like it's the cheapest thing in the world you know."
Tony shrugged nonchalantly. "I am the son—was the son—of billionaire Howard Stark. Owner of Stark International. Remember? I have money. And honestly, it's no problem because it's not charity. I expect it back once you guys figure this all out. Not that I need it anyway."
"You don't seem like the loan shark type," Pepper commented, before shaking her head. "No! Out of the question. I'm not accepting your money! No ifs, ands, or buts about it!"
Tony pursed his lips and glanced away. "Well, there is another way..."
"Oh, is there?" Pepper crossed her arms now, doubtful that there was another way than his first and unacceptable offer. If the first one was unacceptable, this one must be unthinkable.
"I do live with one of the best lawyers in the state, maybe country," Tony proudly reminded the redhead. "She happens to specialize in your dad's type of case, well, the general area of it anyway."
Pepper stared, and then stared some more, her mouth ajar in the shape of an 'o'. Tony glanced away a little awkwardly, as he rubbed his knuckles at his chest. She finally let out a gasp of realization and joy as she suddenly found herself on top of her best friend. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She looked down at his startled, wide eyes that seemed impossibly vast. Her cheeks already ached from not just the cold, but she didn't notice, or care. She just stared into his eyes with pure, innocent joy in finding an acceptable solution to her problem. He recovered from his shock and smile back, giving warmth to her joy as he let out a laugh. "Anytime, Pep!"
Several moments of silence passed before Pepper realized that she was almost—not almost—on top of the boy before her. Though, oddly enough, she didn't do anything about it. Instead, she found herself blurting out something she'd never thought she'd ask someone; let alone a boy, or Tony Stark for that matter. "Can I listen to your heartbeat?"
Tony blinked silently in a mixture of shock and confusion, before shrugging. "I don't see any harm in it."
Pepper nervously bit her bottom lip as he unzipped the top part of his jacket for her. She laid her ear against his chest silently, hoping to hear the strong heartbeat she hadn't known she wanted to hear so badly until now. "Tony," she began after a while had passed and nothing."Tony, I don't hear anything!"
"That's because you're on the wrong side, doofus," Tony chuckled, adjusting her head to the other side.
There it was. That strong beat she's been looking for. With that sound beating strongly in her ear, she felt her own heartbeat drum against her chest almost achingly so.
"Pep," Tony spoke, interrupting the beauty in her ears. "I think I might be..."
When he stopped, she rested her chin on his chest to glance at him, but he had looked away with his hand over his face. "What?"
"Nothing," he muffled into his hand.
When she returned her ear to his beating heart, it's pace had picked up almost considerably so.
Though, she couldn't tell if it was because of her or something else.
"Tony?" Rhodey asked, not glancing up from his history book. "What about him?"
"Has he seemed different to you lately?" Pepper wondered, paging through her own history book. "I know you two aren't speaking much lately, but you live with him so I figured..."
"I'd know if something was up?" Rhodey wondered with a straight face, barely catching her eye before looking back down. "Other than you? I mean, he must have done something to you to get you to skip four hours, including lunch."
Pepper glared at the reference to yesterday's incident. By the time, she stopped listening to Tony's heartbeat, talking to him further about getting Mrs. Rhodes service as a lawyer, and just talking in general, four hours had already passed. Of course, nobody other than Rhodey and her two nosey friends tied her unexcused absence from class to Tony, as everyone thought the boy skipped school that day. Though, those who did know, had learned to not let it go. Not even for poor, innocent Pepper's sake.
"Yes," Pepper finally spoke, now purposefully avoiding his close gaze. "I've been stressed lately, but I noticed that he has been too lately, and I'm never getting a straight answer from him."
Rhodey paused and thought for a moment. He let out a long sigh, more in defeat than anything. He closed his book and pointedly looked over her shoulder. "Fine, but I wouldn't be asking me," she followed his gaze to their favorite blonde. "I'd ask her about what her father's been up to lately."
"Whitney's dad?" Pepper wondered, returning her eyes to Rhodey's. "What does he have to do with anything?"
Rhodey's shoulders deflated in disappointed. "Do you ever read the newspaper? Or even wonder what happened to Howard's company after it's CEO died?"
The mention of the company rang bells about what little she actually knew about Tony and his life outside of his home and school. About how the company was changed into a weapons manufacturer and how someone weird guy or another owned it now. A name she still cared not to know, that is, until now.
"Whitney's dad, Obadiah Stane, you know, is the new CEO of Stark International," Rhodey explained when Pepper hadn't responded. "He's trying to keep Tony from claiming rights to the ownership of his dad's company."
"He can't do that," Pepper asked worriedly. "Can he?"
Tony never spoke to her of the company and who rightfully owned it. He never even spoke about his dad to her. She never questioned it, mainly because it never mattered to her. It made no difference to her who his dad was and what company Tony might own, it just mattered that Tony was Tony and he had been fine until lately.
"Well," Rhodey spoke, almost regretfully. "he can if the Company Board deems Tony unfit to take over the company and could permanently revoke any claim Tony might have. Not that Tony really cares, he never wanted the company in the first place, but it's the who that would replace him that Tony can't stand."
"Okay," Pepper paused to soak in the new information, "So, Tony should be fine, right? He's going to be turning 18 not too long from now, and they know he's smart enough, right? I don't see why else he'd be ineligible. So, what's to stress about?"
"That's not the problem," Rhodey sighed, showing his own signs of stress. Maybe this had been what the two were always arguing about lately and the stress of it all got between the two inseparable brothers. "Tony could have a perfect GPA, show strong signs of actually wanting to run the company, and be in his mid-thirties for all they cared! But none of that even matters if they even catch wind of Tony's..." Rhodey froze, looking at Pepper like a deer in the headlights. He quickly shut his mouth with an audible pop and stood up abruptly.
"Where are you going?" Pepper asked, watching as Rhodey quickly gathered his things in almost a frenzy. "Tony's what? What is it? Rhodey? Rhodey!"
Rhodey's form got farther and farther away from her. He quickly looked back at her and shouted a few simple words. "Ask him about it!"
Suddenly, that uneasy feeling returned and settled deep within her as she was suddenly alone.
This talk has been way overdue.
Short and so not simple. Though, I can proudly say that despite this chapter literally being almost everywhere, dropping all this crap everywhere, I actually can honestly tell you guys that I know almost exactly where I'm going with this. And sadly, that's a first...But like my science teacher said, "A great scientist admits to doing no wrong!"
Fun Fact: I like to think up of hypothetical scenarios if something happened a certain way.
So, no promises on next update sadly. Though, I've got a cute oneshot I could write...Worth it or no?
Hugs and Love, SilverPedals! Love you guys to pieces, seriously! :D
P.S./Question: If I were to give my stories up for adoption (Which, I'm NOT, don't worry) what story/stories would you take over if you could. I'm honestly curious.
P.S.S. Guys. Guys. I am the worlds smartest cookie ever. Listen to this. I misspelled my own pen name... XD Only me guys. Only me! Not changing it because it looks soo much better. :P (...plus, I'm not supposed to admit to doing wrong...)