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A/N: Gosh! I love you all so much, love the comments. The chapters may come out the tiniest bit slower since it's march break here in Canada and my beta's are on vacation :P
Pepper's house was a regular bungalow, the perfect size for only her; Tony was uncomfortable standing in the living room, looking around inquiringly. Pepper was standing behind him, her arms crossed.
"I know it's not what you're used to, but better than living on the streets." She spoke up, voice giving nothing away.
Tony turned around to look at her in surprise. "Hey, don't talk like that, I'm…. grateful really. This is better than I'd hoped since all this started." He walked up to her, grasping her clasped hands and made her look at him, at his sincere expression, the appreciated dip to his eye. "I don't even know why you want me here. Fuck, this is 100 times an improvement from dear Richard's or dads. I-I feel like I can call this home, no matter how long I stay here, okay?" He tried to expose the seriousness of his words through his eyes, and little by little, she relaxed and gave him a hesitant smile.
"Good, cause if not, I'd be throwing you out on your ungrateful ass."
Tony chuckled. "Yeah right, you could never do that to your amazing best friend." He explained haughtily. Pepper teasingly glared at him.
"You think you're so high and mighty, one day Ton one day." She waved her index finger at him and swiftly did a half turn to face the rest of the house. "Now follow me, I'll show you to your room." She looked back at him, searchingly. "Then we'll go out and get you some clothes and toiletries, those clothes won't do you long." She waved him after her and showed him to his bedroom, the bathroom and kitchen, the small tour finishing with them both sitting down at the dinner table, a cup of coffee warming their hands.
"You know what's weird?" Tony started, sipping at his coffee.
"No, but I'm sure you'll tell me." Pepper pointed out, mimicking Tony's action.
Tony disregarded the fleeting comment and continued with what he wanted to say. "That I've never been in your house before, and we've been friends for years!"
Pepper tinkered nervously with her mug, spinning it in a circular motion and taking another sip at the warm drink. "I always thought you wouldn't be impressed, you know?" She shrugged, and Tony opened his mouth to respond on his behalf, but Pepper resumed before he could talk. "I have money, yes. But you, your wealth far surpassed and I felt inferior to you in some ways. I know it's not a fair comparison…"
"You're right it's not!" Tony said, sharply. "Don't ever feel that way again. Hah! Now it's kinda like we changed roles. So we're even now, alright?" His voice softened, and he reached over to massage Pepper's hands between his own.
The redhead nodded in promise and smiled warmly at her friend, who returned it. They were silent for a while after that, drinking their coffee and basking in the comfortable atmosphere that had befallen them.
However, the greater life was soon going to be jeopardized.
Tony had been living with Pepper for about a week. Nothing was threatened, his life went on normally, and Richard never showed up to take him away to be his prisoner once again.
The thing was, Richard may have never appeared, but that didn't mean he didn't ruin the flawless week in some other way.
One night, when Pepper and Tony were seated and talking over supper, a phone rang, it's sound echoing through the house. A tense feeling came over Tony then, but he ignored it as being irrational, and let Pepper get up to answer it, taking a bite out of his lasagna and watching her anxiously.
"Hello?" He saw her expression change from curious to horrified. The bad feeling blew up inside him, his stomach rolled and he had to throw down his fork.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about..." She shot a frightened glance to Tony, who dropped his head into his hands."
"He didn't say anything to me… I have no idea where he is… Now wait a minute, don't you blame me for-… Goodbye Mr. Weissborn." Her jaw was clenched and the words came out cold and angry. She almost threw the phone back on its base, and gave a short scream of frustration, running a hand through her long red locks.
"Wha-what did he want?" Tony mumbled around his hands, rocking back and forth in his chair.
"The dick is certain I have something to do with your disappearance. It's not like I didn't, but we don't want him knowing that." A sound that could have been a sob escaped from Tony's covered mouth.
"We knew this was going to happen sooner or later." His voice was flat, a huge difference from what he resembled. "It just happened sooner than we would have liked."
Pepper held back her own cry and stumbled over to Tony to wrap him in a comforting hug, not just for him, but also to soothe herself.
"We need to hide, he'll find out where we are quickly enough-"
"I'm so sor-"
"Don't you dare fucking apologize Tony. This was my idea, and I'm still going to do anything I can to save you and me both." Her voice was firm and Tony decided not to argue with her on it. He sighed and finally lifted his head from his hands, locking eyes with Pepper's who ignored, thankfully, the slight red sheen to them.
"We'll leave and go to a hotel for a while. We'll find someone else who could probably take us in." To lighten the mood, she added. "Maybe you're 'wonderful' boss would like to take care of you."
Tony grinned despite himself. "Wouldn't that be lucky?" Pepper nodded and stood up, clapping her hands.
"Now, let's go get your things, I'll find somewhere-"
"Aren't you coming too?" Tony asked, confusion lacing his voice, and arched an eyebrow wonderingly.
Pepper shook her head. "It would be more obvious if I disappear right after he calls to accuse me. We'll pack your stuff, get you out, and if he ever comes over, he'll have no proof you had ever been here."
"You're not safe alone Pep." Tony worried. "I can't just leave you here for him to use to his advantage."
Pepper grinned, sly and slightly frightening. "You should know me better than that. Have I ever let someone take advantage of me?" Tony had to agree with the point, and didn't say anything to contradict her. "Come on, let's go get your shit gathered, I'll find a hotel for a couple nights, and ask that boss of yours. It's worth a try."
Tony could imagine it vividly. Loki approving, living in the same house as his, figuring out his feelings for Tony, finally ravishing him completely…
Tony gulped and stood up brusquely, making his way over to his room at a fast pace.
"Chop chop Pep! We don't have all day, it's already seven o'clock. Let's get our shit on the road." Pepper chuckled at his rush, relieved somewhat that there was one good thing that Tony could look forward to, despite the horrible turn of events.
The call for a place for him to stay didn't take long, and she went to help Tony with his luggage, that wasn't much, so it didn't take so long. They bounded into Pepper's silver car, and drove to Tony's temporary lodging.
"I'll come see you every day at work alright?" Pepper told him, squeezing him, as that was her type of hug. He couldn't breathe, and his ribs were hurting to some extent; however, he returned it heartily until they both pulled away, gasping for air and laughing.
Tony sobered up soon after. "Make sure nobody follows you." He advised pointedly.
"You don't need to worry, I'll be careful." Her voice was soft with a twinge of concern, her eyes beginning to shimmer with tears. "Now get out, we don't want Richard showing up at the house and finding me not there." Tony bobbed his head and gave her one last short hug before hopping out of the vehicle, opening the trunk to grab his duffel bag, and strolling into the medium sized building in front of him.
Pepper watched him leave; pushing back the waterworks, rolling her shoulders back, and tried to stay strong.
"You'll get out of this somehow Tony." She whispered to herself in the darkness of the car, sighing before pulling out of the parking lot, leaving with a trail of light.
A/N: Review! Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm so enthusiastique about posting! I thought it would take me much longer than it is to put more chapters up!
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