Chapter 2

I grab my phone out my pocket to call Rhodey or even Tony.

"Pepper, you're in danger" Gene says. I look at him confused, unsure if its related to the phone call.

"Turn your phone off. I know you ran from Tony and hes probably going to track your phone and come here" Gene says sighing.

"And yes, I heard your little conversation" Gene says, as I just roll my eyes casually. I reach for my phone in my pocket and turn it off.

"Happy now?" I say showing him the black screen of my phone, he smiles lopsided.

"Yeah, walk with me" Gene says as I follow behind him, unsure what to do but knowing I need an answer to who called me and how im in danger. Gene wouldn't just contact me if it wasn't super serious.

"This is going to be too slow, Tony's going to be after us. Hold onto me and we'll fly out" Gene suggests.

"Why would I trust you? You betrayed me, you betrayed Tony, Rhodey. We were your friends!" I say angrily, feeling frustrated.

"Because you know my feelings for you, and you know Id never hurt you" Gene says with a sincere look in his eyes, and I just knew I could trust him.

He puts his arms around my waist as I rest my head on his chest. We fly off, quite sudden.

(*)(*)(*)(*)

Tony POV

I arrive at the armoury feeling unsure, confused and agitated. Should I have just said yes? Even with all this iron man stuff around? But I mean wouldn't that always be there? My phone buzzes and I look at the caller ID. Its Rhodey.

"Hey Rhodey, what's up?" I ask rather casually.

"There was a surge of Makluan energy in the city" Rhodey says seriously. I stop walking shocked. What did this mean? Was Gene back?

"What? Where? I'm coming to the armoury now" I say as I hang up the phone, shoving it in my pocket and sprinting towards the armoury. I really should have my suit portable.

I enter the armoury and see Rhodey there waiting for me.

"Where's Pepper? I thought she was with you?" Rhodey asks concerned.

"Something happened. Don't worry about it. Just show me" I say trying to forget about the whole Pepper situation. It would just distract me from this whole Gene thing.

"44 Pearl Avenue. But honestly call Pepper first and fix things" Rhodey says giving me one of his looks, I nod knowing its something I have to do.

I grab my phone out of my pocket and call Pepper and it goes straight to voice mail, weird. Pepper's phone is never off even when shes sleeping. "Pepper, I know your probably pissed at me, and im sorry. I know you need some space to yourself, but I honestly really do care about you. This whole iron man thing, the world knows who we are Pep, and I don't want to endanger you more than I am already, and Gene's out and about, and I need you here. We need you here. Call me" I say sighing. Wishing I had the guts to say that in person, but unlikely I ever could. When it comes to that im so awkward and never know what to say.

(*)(*)(*)

Pepper POV

We arrive at this cave type thing as Gene lets me go and heads to the cave. He presses a few buttons, does a finger scan and it lets us both in as I follow close behind . It was basically like an underground five star hotel. It was literately what rich people lived in. Gene heads down the hallway, filled with artworks all so beautiful. There was a couch awaiting us through the hallway as I take a seat opposite Gene on one of the blue couches.

"So, explain. How am I in danger? And how is it any different from the villians we've faced before without you?" I ask angrily gritting my teeth. I was annoyed at myself for following him to a place id never been before with no armour or anything to protect myself.

"Your father got involved in a project with S.H.I.E.L.D, called Ultron. Which was designing an artificial intelligence to protect the human race against other aliens. But, your father realised the issues with the AI, and tried to shut it down, and Ultron searched through all your father's memory bases and saw the love he had for his child, you. And Ultron, deemed to kill Pepper Potts for your fathers misdoings" Gene said sighing.

"Is my Dad okay? Howd you manage to find out?" I ask my brain scrambling full of worried thoughts.

"Your Dads fine, S.H.I.E.L.D managed to protect him, and hes in a secure location. I managed to find out through a failed transmission your father tried to make to the rest of the FBI. And I hacked your phone and heard the message and came as soon as I knew" Gene says putting a hand on my shoulder.

"We have to go back and get Tony's help, and Rhodey" I say standing up worried.

"Pepper. It was Starks fathers weapons in the first place that built the thing. The armour of war machine, Rescue and Iron man are made of the same thing that Ultron is made of itself"

"Only the Makluan rings stand a chance against Ultron, I'm the only one that can protect you" Gene says looking deeply into my eyes as I shudder.

"Where would a massive robot be hiding anyway?" I ask quite curious.

"It can change size and form, even to a human form to protect itself. Its quite smart and wont attack unless necessary" Gene says.

"Cant we alter the rescue armour with Makluan energy?" I ask curious feeling smart for once, having thought of the idea.

"I could, but I'm not sure if it will actually work. We cant involve Tony and Rhodey in case it doesn't work" Gene says seriously.

"I could manage to get the rescue armour out of the armoury and come back?" I suggest.

"But wont Stark and Rhodes be in the armoury?" Gene asks questionably.

"I'll call them to see where they are. Chances are they wont be" I say.

"Pepper" Gene says putting his hand on mine as I sit there unsure what to do.

"I need you to trust me. And I know I haven't given you any reason to, but ive never purposely tried to hurt you in anyway or form. I know you have your love for Stark. But I love you Pepper and would in no way do anything to harm you, I only wish to protect you. So I hope you don't mention anything about me or where we are. Because I know they'll be looking for me since I used Makluan energy to get us here which the idiots would of detected" Gene says sighing as I look at him shocked.

I mean all that time that I was obsessing over him he actually liked me? Even loved me? I shake my head out of my thoughts.

"Alright Gene, I trust you. But don't assume that anything going to happen between us, I know your trying to do the right thing like with the Makluan overload and helping us defeat him" I say giving him a smile.

"Thank you Pepper, I have a long way to go until you could ever see me as good. But these rings, maybe they are made to protect the earth and not for power" Gene says questioning himself.

I grab my phone out of my pocket as Gene shakes his head.

"They'll track you on that phone, make it from mine. It cant be traced back here" Gene says passing me his phone from his pocket. I grab it and dial Rhodey's number instead of Tony not ready to face him. I dial and get a response "Pepper, hey! Where are you? Tony wants to talk to you" Rhodey says and I feel he has a smile on his face. I look over at Gene who could overhear the conversation and shrugs "Dads taking me on a vacation, and I was wondering where you guys were?" I say as Gene just rolls his eyes.

"We need you Pepper! We detected Makluan energy, we are worried that Gene is back and as powerful as ever! Currently at the armoury" Rhodey says as I nod to myself. Great.

"Alright, im heading over" I say casually hanging up the phone. Gene looks at me and sighs

"I'll give you a map to get out and get back and you can take my car" Gene says as I just nod.

"Thanks Gene" I say as he passes me the keys and I give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks for protecting me Gene" I say as he gives me a half smile as I head out the door unsure how this conversation will go with Tony and Rhodey.

SOOOO what did you think? Fast update haha! But really wanted to get this chapter out! Not sure if anythings going to happen with Gene and Pepper but there'll be some sort of love triangle! Review or PM me ideas! Thank you!