Here comes the drama ;)
Enjoy!
Pepper stared at Tony waiting for him to speak, the room had gone silent after the news of Christine Everhart's soon to be arrival. Things had gotten confusing now more than ever.
Tony opened his mouth about to speak, before closing it quickly. His eyes huge with shock. "Wait, so explain the situation again". He said folding his arms over his chest.
Pepper looked up at Bruce studying his face for emotion. He must be more confused than her and Tony- yet he seemed so calm.
"Christine Everhart". Pepper whispered wrinkling her forehead with stress. "Just phoned me."
The words sounded weird out loud, and Pepper doubted her own sanity for a split second questioning the situation.
"The same woman that-". Tony muttered walking towards Pepper swiftly motioning at Bruce to join them.
Pepper nodded attempting to clear her throat, whispers of her fair hair fell over her face.
"The same woman from Vanity Fair, that has had it in for you ever since your fling". She said watching Tony's pained expression. He hated being reminded of his former playboy lifestyle- not when he constantly remembered Pepper being present through out all of it.
Tony ruffled his hair nervously blushing slightly at Peppers words, his eyes full of regret.
Pepper continued keen not make the situation more awkward than it already was. "Anyway, she told me that the people messing with us are going to kill us." She stopped speaking, nervously looking at Tony to Bruce.
Bruce swallowed taking off his glasses slowly to look at Pepper. "Do you think that she's um- in on it?". He whispered anxiously, careful not to scare Pepper.
"I don't know". Pepper said biting her lip. "She sounded pretty scared, I told her to come here".
"Jarvis?". Tony spoke firmly preparing for their guest. "Keep the house on lock down, as soon as Miss Everhart arrives I want all cameras on her- no one comes in which she's here, and no one leaves one she's here, okay?".
Pepper turned to Tony feeling her cheeks grow pink.
"Yes Sir, Shall I keep the police on standby?". Jarvis replied.
Tony frowned glancing at Peppers face- she was on her verge of tears. Her cool exterior crumbling. He watched as her hand gripped at the white cotton bandage on her wrist. "No, just alert Agent Romanoff about everything- tell her to join us as soon as she can".
"Yes Sir". Jarvis said, instantly emailing Natasha.
Pepper swallowed feeling her mouth go dry. She needed to tell Tony everything, to come clean about the incident with Justine.
"Tony". She whispered, her vision going blurry as tears made their way to her eyes. "I have to tell you something- I haven't been entirely truthful with you". Her voice cracked as she struggled to get the words out.
Tony nodded moving closer to the pale woman, his arms slinking round her fragile frame. Carefully he leant into her holding her body against his- he could feel her body shaking struggling to keep the tears in.
He'd never seen her cry before.
"I know". He whispered stoking her hair softly, he glanced over at Bruce who looked sadly back at Tony, silently Bruce got up and left Tony and Pepper alone, allowing them some privacy. "You don't have to say anything". He said feeling his eyes well up.
Pepper lightly touched Tony's chest allowing her fingers to glide over his arc reactor, she didn't know why but it always calmed her to stroke the hard metal in his chest. "How do you know?". She muttered closing her eyes as she leant into his chest, smelling his familiar smell.
Tony leant into her hair, roughly wiping away a tear on his cheek.
Tony Stark didn't cry.
"It doesn't matter Pep". He said rubbing her arms softly. "But I want you to know that I am going to do everything in my power to stop these creeps from ever touching you again".
Pepper pulled away from Tony quickly, looking up at his brown eyes. And she knew that he was the telling the truth.
Tony Stark was vulnerable.
Not because some freaks were threatening to kill him.
But the fact that the one thing he couldn't live without was hurting.
"I'm so sorry I didn't say anything". She whispered biting her lips sadly, her eyes wondered over the floor not baring to look at his face any more.
Tony gently touched his hand over her chin, guiding her face back to his. "When people are scared and don't want others to feel their pain, they hide the truth". He said thinking back to the palladium arc reactor in his chest- killing him. He didn't want Pepper to know that he was dying, because whether he would admit it or not, Tony had always loved her. Knowing that he would die and not spend the rest of his life with her was too unbearable for him. "I of all people know that". He said smiling.
"Sir?". Jarvis cut in, making Pepper jump slightly. "I believe Miss Everhart is approaching the door, shall I notify ?".
Tony frowned already sick of Christine's interference in their whole situation. "Yeah, tell Bruce he can come back- we have a few questions for Miss Everhart."
Pepper stood by the doorway as Christine nervously walked into the large room. Her blues eyes looked huge and frightened at she glanced at the three people staring at her from inside the room. Her eyes finally landed on Pepper as she attempting to calm herself.
Pepper had to admit for someone who could supposedly be acting and secretly wanting to kill her, Christine looked bad. Her blonde hair was windblown and scuffed up around her shoulders, and her usually tan skin looked fluorescent in the light.
Christine stared at Pepper waiting for her to say something. Although the two had, had their differences the situation had changed now. "Pepper..". She whispered attempting to get out the words she needed to speak.
"Miss Everhart". Tony cut in, walking quickly next to Pepper, placing his arm around her waist. His face showing no signs of sympathy. "I really hope this isn't some fucked up story- seeing as you have just walked into a house full of a man with breathtaking anger issues". He pointed to Bruce who was nervously sitting on Tony's couch waiting for the woman to walk in. "Me, a man with the best technology in the world." He said rolling his eyes. "And Pepper, a woman who time and time again had saved not only her own life, but mine as well- so I hope your story's good".
Christine stared at Tony with wide eyes, her whole body shaking at his speech. She was not used to people speaking to her like that- it was usually her being the bad guy.
"All right". She said blinking fast, her eyes constantly staring at Pepper. "I don't even know how to begin".
Pepper gestured to the sofa, waiting for Christine to walk a head. "Just start from the beginning". She said showing no signs of friendliness. "We need to know everything, and hopefully we'll find some way to sort this out".
The blonde woman nodded at Pepper, quickly walking towards the huge seat. Carefully she sat down bowing her head slightly. Pepper walked beside her sitting near Christine waiting for her to begin.
"I told you on the phone, how these people contacted me". She whispered talking directly to Pepper. "They never told me their names, they just said they needed to hire me."
"What for?". Tony muttered frowning, his patience was wearing thin with Christine.
Christine took a deep breathe as she looked at her feet. "They told me they were going to ruin your career". She said to Pepper finally looking up at the red heads face.
Tony scoffed, laughing sarcastically at Christine his eyes narrowing at the blonde woman. "And you think we're going to trust you now?". He spat, frowning at her. "Your a manipulative liar!".
Pepper glanced up at Tony shaking her head slightly. "We need to hear the rest of the story Christine, only they can we decide if we can trust you or not". She said staring at the blonde woman.
"Okay". Christine whispered. "I guess it all started when I met with this brunette woman, she seemed weird from the very start, you know?". She said glancing at Pepper. "Well it happened, when she said we were going to kill you".
Earlier that day.
"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."
Christine felt her world crumble around her as her stomach dropped at the brunettes words finally hit home. These people were bad news, and somehow she'd been caught up in the mess of it all.
"What?". She screeched grabbing onto the woman's arm yanking her to a stop.
Justine glared down at the blonde woman, waiting for her to release her grip- she didn't.
Swiftly she pulled the young woman's arm into the air, turning it around her back. Causing her to scream out in pain. Justine grinned pushing Christine into the shadows of a nearby alley way, shoving her body against the wall.
Justine could feel the blonde shaking beneath her grip, struggling to get away. "Rule number one, never ever touch me again". She whispered harshly into her ear. "Because there will be consequences, understand me?".
Christine nodded attempting to free her arm from the woman's tight grip.
"And number two, do you want to kill Pepper Pott's?". Justine asked her, roughly pulling the thin woman's body around to face her. "Do you?". She screeched, causing the Christine to scream in fear. "Because if you don't, I will kill you right here right now".
Christine felt her legs go weak against the cool surface of the brick wall. She had three options.
She could go along with these nut-jobs plans and kill Pepper Potts- an option that she really didn't want to take.
She could refuse to play a part in murder, and die right there in the alleyway.
Or she could do something that as a reporter she was all too familiar with.
She could lie.
"Fine". She whispered staring into the green eyes of the dark haired woman pressing her against the wall. "Fine, I'll help you kill Pepper Potts". She stuttered feeling her blood pump through her veins.
Justine grinned releasing the blonde from her tight grip. "Remember if you're lying I will hunt you down- and kill you". Her words rang in Christine's ears frightening her soul.
"So what happened?". Pepper whispered after hearing Christine's story, her hands had gone cold at the thought of the brunette recruiting others to help kill her and Tony.
Christine went pale staring up at Pepper, before glancing back at Bruce and Tony. The two men had grown quiet after listening to the blonde's words, tension had rose in the air.
"I made up a lie and told her I would meet her in a hour- and ran". She whispered shaking violently. "I phoned you as soon as I could, and came here". Christine began sobbing throwing her head in her hands.
Pepper contemplated reassuring her, but thought against it. There was nothing she could say that would make her feel better.
They were all in deep trouble.
"Look, Christine." Pepper said frowning. "We're going to talk in private about what we can do to help." Christine nodded, allowing the three people to walk over the other side of the room leaving the blonde on her own.
Bruce looked at Pepper anxiously his eyes full of sadness. "What do you think?". He whispered standing next to Tony.
Tony rubbed his mouth, staring back at Bruce. "I hate to say it- but I think she's telling the truth."
"What should we do?". Pepper whispered staring at the broken woman crying on the sofa.
There was no denying it, no one could be that could of an actress- the woman was a wreck.
"I guess she'll have to stay here". Tony muttered feeling sick- he hated the thought of this woman staying in Stark Towers. "If we let her go out there again she's dead".
Pepper nodded feeling her stomach drop. There was no other way around it, the people who hired Christine would know she lied by now- and would kill her the moment she stepped foot in public again.
"I'll tell her." Pepper whispered walking back towards Christine.
Slowly the woman stood up turning towards Pepper, her eyes full of stress.
"Christine-
Pepper said about to tell the woman she would be safer staying with them.
But Pepper was interrupted.
A loud crashing noise evaded the room, causing her ears to ring with pain. Her body dropped to her floor with adrenaline as shards of glass scattered around her.
Faintly she could hear the screams of Tony in the background calling her name, but she was too shocked to answer him. Slowly she made her way to were Christine had been standing, her blood pumping through her veins.
Pepper reached out an arm guiding her to the spot of the room she wanted to go.
She noticed the speckles of rich blood splattered over her pale skin, threatening her.
But none of it mattered.
Pepper looked down to the fallen body on the floor. Christine lay over the leather chair her arms and legs hanging over the side like a doll. Only then did Pepper realise she was screaming- her throat dry and parched. Her eyes wandered over Christine's body, seeing the small pool of blood coat her blonde hair, a neat bullet whole stood out between her eyes, causing Pepper to gasp, sending waves of shock through her body.
She could feel Bruce's arms pull her back as Tony attempted to find a pulse in Christine's body.
It was too much, Pepper felt the darkness surround her vision as her body began to faint laying limp in Bruce's arms.
Christine Everhart was dead.
So we couldn't have anyone knowing who the mystery villain was!
If you liked this chapter please REVIEW! It keeps me inspired to write more chapters.
Thanks for reading!