A/n: It's been over two months. TWO MONTHS! Oh my gosh guys I am so so SO sorry! I didn't forget about this story I promise, but what with exams, school, friend problems, I've been super busy! However, I have finally managed to finish this chapter, so I hope you all forgive me and love it! Also I'd just like to say a huge thank you to all my reviewers - 95 reviews! Could we make it to 100? :D
And so, without futhur ado, I present: The Key to My Heart, Chapter 10.
Chapter 10
The whole world seemed to freeze. It was as if the shock was literally stopping her body from functioning. All she could do was stand there, mouth open and aghast, fear and panic slowly creeping into her blood.
"John… what… how… I don't- what?" The words tumbled out of her, she had absolutely no control over what she was saying. John smirked. Pepper could tell that he had planned this down to the last minute, and was incredibly smug with himself that it had worked.
John dragged a chair into the centre of the room. "Sit." He commanded. Pepper didn't move. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. "Your problem." John said, grabbing Pepper's wrists and forcing her down onto the chair, still with the gun pointed at her head. He tied her hands around the back of the chair and her ankles to the feet of it, ensuring she couldn't move an inch. Once he had done this, John grabbed another chair and placed it so it was facing Pepper. He sat down. "Shall we talk?" Pepper just glared at him. She couldn't see a way out. She couldn't move, and besides, John was still pointing the gun at her, so even if she did find a way out she would be killed before she properly began. She was also sure that the police officers outside were in on the plan, and so would provide incredibly little help. The only thing she had was Tony. Oh god, Tony. He was probably still waiting outside, completely unaware of the trouble she was in. If only she could find a way to communicate something to him!
"How did you manage it then?" She asked John, knowing that she had to keep him talking for as long as possible, to get his focus away from the gun.
John smiled a smug smile. "Simple really. You'd be surprised how much people are willing to let slip for a bit of extra gold in their pockets. I learnt the routine of these people, I knew what their schedule was…" but Pepper was only half-listening. Before she had been tied to the chair she had noticed that there were four security cameras in this room – one in each corner. The way she was positioned, two of them could see what she was doing behind the chair with her hands. Slowly, she started to cross her fingers together, and moving her crossed-fingered hand up and down. To anybody watching, it simply looked like she was attempting to escape, but if Tony saw, then she knew he would instantly understand. A while back, they had decided to make a sign which the other would recognise, a sign signalling that they were in trouble.
Of course, her whole plan could fail if Tony hadn't hacked into the station's security cameras, however somehow Pepper doubted it. Tony was an extremely protective man – especially over her – and was extremely likely to be watching her currently.
"…And so here we are now, with me holding a gun and you tied up against that chair." John finished, still smiling at her. Pepper faked a smiled back, her head racing. Would Tony get the message? Would he arrive on time?
BANG.
They both jumped. John leapt up from his chair making an equally forceful noise, and Pepper, turning her head so she could see what was going on, cried out in shock and relief: there, standing in the door frame, was Tony. John pulled at Pepper, seemingly forgetting that she was tied to the chair, resulting in her almost falling off it.
"Oh I'd leave her alone if I were you." Came Tony's rough voice, glaring at John.
"Or what?" He asked, mockingly, "I fail to see any sort of guard or weapons with you."
A soft click. He had released the cap on the gun. Pepper froze.
"Do you really want to do that?" Tony asked, his voice a deadly calm.
"I don't see any reason why not, so yeah, I really think I do." John replied, sneering.
"Pepper, do you trust me?"
"What? Yes of course!"
Tony turned back to John. "Alright then. Shoot."
"What! Tony!" Pepper gasped, in a state of utter disbelief. How on earth could Tony say that?
"On the count of three then. It's nicer to know when your last living moment will be – agree, Virginia?" John sneered, his gun about one and a half inches from her face.
"One…"
"Tony!" Pepper cried out, refusing point blank to accept her situation. This must be wrong, she was not going to die, she was not…
"Two…"
"Oh please, please!" She struggled uselessly against her bonds, desperately trying to escape. She couldn't die, not now, not with Tony standing here, doing nothing…
She could feel the tears burning in her eyes. She closed them, not wanting to be able to see either John or Tony's faces. Breath in, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
"Three!"
Silence, but for a tiny pop. What? Pepper could still think, she could still hear things. She definitely did not feel dead. Opening her eyes, her mouth dropped. About an inch away from her face was a tiny flame – one perfect for lighting a cigarette. The gun was a fake. And Tony had known.
She blinked through her tears, searching for Tony's gaze. He looked… Pepper couldn't tell what expression he wore.
"Entré guys!" He called behind him, into the hall. Instantly half a dozen police officers came into the room, handcuffing John and thanking Tony. One of them said,
"John Harrison, known criminal. You ought to be more careful who you date, miss." Pepper looked shocked.
"I'm sorry, please, I just needed proof of his guilt, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." Tony rambled, frantically untying her bonds. When she was free, Pepper wasted no time in holding the man tightly in a bone-crushing hug, tears threatening once more to spill over.
"Shh, it's ok, I forgive you, everything's fine." She replied, her voice slightly muffled into his shirt. She subconsciously noticed that they were alone in the room. The officers seemed to have sensed that a quite moment between the two was required. Tony pulled out of the hug. He wiped away her tears from around her eyes, still looking sad.
"No Pepper, I should have told you, I didn't know how, I'm sorry." He repeated the last two words over and over again – only stopping when Pepper put a soft hand to his cheek. Softly caressing it, she pressed a small chaste kiss onto his lips, smiling at him.
"Stop apologising! I knew you wouldn't let him kill me, you're too good a man to let that happen." Tony weakly smiled back at her.
"What have I ever done to deserve you?" He wondered out loud.
"You've given me the best job in the world, you've saved my life more times than I can count, but most of all Tony, you've always been there for me. I love you."
"I love you too Pepper, so, so much." He replied, softly pressing their lips together, the kiss an unspoken promise between them both, a promise of trust, of belief, of love.
A/n: Ahh I just love fluffy endings :D Hope you liked it! Oh, and did anyone get the Star Trek reference? John Harrison? No? Ok...
Now, I do actually have something important to say, so listen - well, read - up! This will probably be the last chapter of this fic, and I would just like to thank every single one of my reviewers who has given me their opinions - I couldn't have done it without you! Thank you to my friends, for your interest in this story and my writing. Thank you to MARVEL and all the Iron Man crew - without you this story wouldn't have even existed!
Having said this will be the last chapter, I realise that it has all ended in a bit of a rush, so: would anyone like an epilogue?
I also realise that I never actually replied to any of your reviews, so at the very end of this story (either next 'chapter' or after the epilogue, we'll see what you guys want) will be my individual thank yous to you all.
Thank you all once again, until next story - or next chapter, let's see,
PhoenixFeather0198 :)