Pepper couldn't focus her whole meeting. Her thoughts kept drifting towards her genius left alone at the tower with his new teammates. She hadn't had much time to talk to him lately and when she did, he was distracted and refused to give her a straight answer when she asked how he was doing. So, she was being forced to resort to drastic measures. She dialed the number on her phone quickly and sighed as she waiting for them to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Natasha… It's Pepper."
"I saw…. Is um….everything alright Pepper?"
Pepper could feel the awkwardness drifting off the woman in waves, even over the phone. She had forgiven the "Natalie" incident, but obviously Natasha didn't buy it.
"I'm worried about Tony. I'm not getting to talk to him very much. Then, when I do he's so distracted he barely registers what I'm saying. Has he been acting strange lately?"
There was silence for a moment and Pepper bit her lip in worry as Natasha finally responded.
"Well… yes you could say that. He's been…. Jittery. I don't think he is sleeping a lot even when I know he's lying down; I think he's just tossing and turning. Then he's always looking over his shoulder lately. It's like he's expecting something to jump out at him. Honestly Pepper I was very close to calling you anyway, I'm worried about him as well."
Pepper was hailing a taxi before Natasha even finished that sentence.
"I'm on my way home Natasha. I'll reschedule the meetings, he's more important than anything here."
She heard a sigh of relief on the other end and smiled fondly at the other woman's concern over Tony. It made Pepper happy to think that Tony might actually be finding friends he could rely on.
"And Natasha?"
"Yes Pepper?"
"I forgave you a long time ago. You don't have to talk to me like you're worried I'm gonna rip your throat out."
"… T-Thank you Pepper. I'm sorry for that anyway, but it was-"
"It was your job I know. Just… let's start over alright Natasha?"
"…..I'd like that Pepper."
"Good. Keep my boyfriend in one piece until I'm there please."
"You make that sound easy."
"Oh believe me, I know it isn't. Alright I'm about to get off at the airport alright? Talk you when I land Natasha."
"Goodbye Pepper."
"Bye."
Pepper hung up and hopped out of the cab, her face a mixture of worry and relief. She rushed into the airport, quickly texting Happy to send her bags home as soon as possible, already scanning for the next available flight to New York.
"Why in such a hurry Ms. Potts?"
Pepper spun around shocked searching for the voice, puzzled when she saw no one near her except for the ticket woman. "Maybe it's me who really needs sleep." she mumbled to herself as she took her ticket and strolled towards her gate.
She wasn't aware of the hateful green eyes following her every move.
