Disclaimer: I do not own the Marvel universe at all, kthnx.

Warnings: social unrest, two men in a relationship together, unethical practices, language, alcohol, dark themes, psychological trauma, mind games. You know. The fun stuff.

Author's Note: Just fixed my outline for the rest of part 4 and the first half of part 5. Yay! Now we can get on with the story?

BITTER SIRENS

PART IV: A DISTORTED REFLECTION

CHAPTER VII: OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

In the right situation, six hours could feel like the blink of an eye. In the wrong one, six hours could feel like an eternity. This was the wrong sort of situation. Every minute crawled past, making its presence known before slinking off.

No matter what he tried doing, how he tried distracting himself, the time still would not go faster.

It didn't help that he could feel Loki's gaze following him everywhere.

Clint closed his eyes, staring down at the concrete floor. It was still there, at the back of his head. The feeling of every cell screaming out, every thought being unwound, jumbled, like slack chains, and nothing he could do would put them back together again. It was like being in a cage, where he could see anything, but no matter how much he shouted, no matter how much he beat at that invisible barrier, he couldn't be heard. His body did what it did, and he had no say over it.

And there Loki was, in a cell, those toxic green eyes watching him. He who unmade Clint.

Banner was lucky he had gotten out of guard duty. Clint would have subjected himself to another month of personality tests and psychological evaluations if it'd gotten him out of this.

0

"And lastly, the government funding has been received for us to begin construction of a new arc reactor for the city grid." Pepper placed the stack of papers before him. "I highlighted everywhere you need to sign."

Tony groaned, staring down into his coffee cup. This was ridiculous. It was two in the afternoon and he looked like he had only been up twenty minutes. Pepper rolled her eyes, slamming her pen on top of the stack. She was not going to leave until every one of those papers was signed and she could get all of these contracts moving again, because being in the Avengers was really hampering Tony's ability to run Stark Industries and she could only take so much more of it.

"Tony, I need you to focus. Right now." Pepper picked up his coffee mug, taking a sniff of it. It didn't smell like he'd added any alcohol. That was surprising. She did not smell any coming off him, either. That meant there was absolutely no reason he should look so run ragged right now, unless he was keeping something from her.

She placed the coffee cup back down, crossing her arms. "I have three meetings today, and if I am late to any of them—"

Tony mumbled something then picked up the pen, working through each page methodically, pausing to scan the contents quickly. Sometimes she wondered if he was really just brushing off the contents like it looked like, or if he could really read that fast. It could be possible.

Within ten minutes, all of the pages were signed, and Tony was handing them back up. Pepper slid them into her suitcase, in the last file with the green tab, and clicked it shut. "Where's Dr. Banner?"

Tony looked up sharply at that, almost choking on his coffee. He coughed once, twice, then finally managed something. "Lab."

That was somewhat surprising, considering she had not seen the two apart for a while. At first it had been trying, but now she was used to it. As used to it as she could possibly get. In fact, it made her life a little easier, seeing as Tony actually slept and ate on a regular basis. It was a start.

Now if only he could get on a schedule like a regular human being, and they'd be in business.

"I will let you know how the meetings went tonight, and have a full report ready for you tomorrow." Pepper hoisted her briefcase, giving a curt smile before going.

0

The sun was starting to set outside, its rays setting the whole city awash with golden light. That was her signal that it was time to go, finally. The day felt like it'd stretched on forever, and it wasn't just the meetings. She actually liked meetings, usually, but everyone was being an absolute pain because of the protests.

The fact that companies were actually hesitant to associate themselves with Stark Industries because of a little bit of social unrest was absolutely infuriating. She hadn't said anything, though, hiding it all behind her courteous smile and a firm handshake.

They would come around eventually. She would make sure of it, even if that meant pulling Tony in to distract them. Companies usually caved when they got to meet him in person, all charismatic and talking too fast for even their top engineers to keep up.

Sighing, Pepper finished packing up her suitcase and slung her purse over her shoulder. She headed down in the elevator, stepping out in the lobby. "Good night, Cheryl." Pepper gave a short wave to the woman at the front desk, smiling again.

The woman smiled back, like it was infectious, and waved as well. "You too, Miss Potts."

Readjusting her purse on her shoulder, she headed through the lobby, shouldering the door open when she got to it. The car was waiting at the curb, Happy waiting patiently. Pepper couldn't help but smile a little bigger, seeing him there. She slid into the back seat, buckling in.

"I'm glad you came out from Malibu."

Happy glanced over his shoulder, giving a little shrug. "I'm here to serve." He laughed, then turned on his blinker, pulling out into traffic. It was slow going, but that was nice, relaxing. And they got to catch up a little, about how Happy was actually training in boxing a lot more since the whole HammerTech incident, and how the mansion was doing fine without anyone there. He didn't mind checking up on it now and then, though he did miss everyone being in Malibu.

She missed it too. She missed a lot of things, but she wasn't about to break the happy banter for anything. This was the best way to unwind from the day, excluding champagne and bubble baths surrounded by scented candles. Maybe that's what she would do tonight.

Happy slammed on the breaks.

Pepper threw her arms forward, seatbelt crashing against her before she could fly too far forward. She took a deep breath, looking around.

The cars in front of them were crunched together, right in the intersection. Pepper fumbled for her purse, riffling through it for her phone. It had to be in there somewhere.

That's when she heard the chanting.

She looked up slowly, eyes widening.

There were enough people to be classified as a mob. An angry mob. A lot of them were holding signs. Pepper put her hand to her heart, trying to calm it down for a moment. It felt like it was going to burst straight out of her chest.

Happy looked back over his seat, frowning. Pepper couldn't help but look, too. There were cars behind them. They were locked in.

"Stay calm, I'll handle this. Just keep inside, okay."

Before she could protest, Happy was out of the car, walking for the crowd. Pepper finally found her phone, speed dialing Tony. No answer. She glanced up.

One of them punched Happy.

Pepper lowered the phone, staring as the crowd launched on him.

A few of them were staring right at her.

Pepper reached down, slapping the seatbelt until it finally snapped off. She stumbled out of the car, purse clasped to her side, suitcase in one hand.

They were moving closer. Pepper took a step back. Someone was there.

"Quickly Miss Potts."

Pepper spun.

Phil Coulson stood there, small, patient smile bowing up his lips just slightly. Pepper looked from his face to his shoulder, then back up again, unable to speak.

He grabbed her elbow, quickly leading her through a dinner and out the back exit. It wasn't until they were halfway through the alley that she finally managed to say anything.

"What about Happy?"

Phil didn't break stride, still leading her. "S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are converging on the crash site as we speak. Do not worry about him. We will handle this."

"Tony told me you were dead!"

Phil gave that patient smile again. It was the same type Pepper used when dealing with clients who just weren't listening. She wouldn't back down though, and Phil seemed to realize that.

"I am whatever S.H.I.E.L.D. needs me to be, Miss Potts. This way, please." Phil turned her down another street, pausing at a light as police cars sped by, sirens wailing. As soon as they were gone, he guided her across the street, into another car. "I am sorry, but I cannot allow you to return home at this time. The driver will take you to a safe location until we can decide upon a course of action."

There was that smile again, and Pepper could only nod as she was gently pushed into the back of the car and whisked away.