This would be huge. It was going to change the whole freaking world. Of course, the Avengers were always first. I would blow it by them- they would help me work out any and all possible flaws- everything had flaws. Pepper fixed my tie, and gave me a kiss on the cheek, and wished me good luck on my presentation. She knew how big this was for me, even if when I explained it to her she didn't understand. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and as I looked into her eyes, I made the same vow to myself I had been for years, every time I had looked into those beautiful blue eyes. I vowed I would do everything in my power to never, ever lose her.
I had all attention on me- things were going so well- things were going great. That was, right up until Nicky boy walked in, interrupting my presentation, along with a mean, old, grumpy social worker, and a child. "Oh great." I thought to myself, figuring I was somehow at fault for the girls misfortune.
I didn't realize how at fault for her misfortune I was until I held those test results in my hand. They had tested three times. There was no mistake, the numbers came back perfect every time. They tested it against the results the government had on me, my DNA samples. It felt like my chest was caving in on me, like I was being crushed. I didn't even realize the social worker had left, I kept my eyes on her, on Ruby. I memorized every detail of her. Her caramel colored skin, she had one eye that was golden, deep, with one spot that had a dark fleck in it, while the other eye was half a mossy green color and half a light blue- she had a genetic mutation of sorts. I almost didn't notice it at first, but it was there. Her hair was black, blacker than the abyss it felt like I was falling into. Her lips were slightly cracked, but I noticed she chewed her lips, but her mouth shape, her eye shape, her nose, those were my features in her, undoubtedly. She had on very worn out tennis shoes, dark denim skinny jeans- rips all over them, some of them purposefully there, and some of them not, she had an oversized plaid shirt on, the sleeves were rolled down despite the nearly 95 degree weather. I dropped the paper from my hands. "I can't do this." I choked out, and quickly left the room. I ran from the conference room to the parking garage. I unlocked my Acura NSX and jumped in, flooring it out of Stark Tower- Avengers Tower- before anyone could attempt to stop me.
I drove well over the speed limit all the way home. As I pulled into the drive, I saw Peppers car. Shit, I didn't think she would be home. I almost put it in reverse and took off until I could figure out how to tell her, but then I saw her look at me from our kitchen window. I was caught.
I turned my car off and walked to the front door, as I flung it open, Pepper rounded the corner to greet me, but my legs knew I wasn't ready to face her. I took off for my office, practically running there, I slammed the door shut, locking it, and sunk into my chair, putting my face into my hands. I heard the knock on my door, and Peppers gentle voice, "Tony? Tony how did it go? I didn't expect you home so soon."I couldn't get my mouth to work, I would open it, but nothing would come out. I just stared at the door, the door where I knew my future- the one I had planned, the one I wanted, stood on the other side. "Tony, baby, please let me in." She begged.
When there was no reply, I heard her tell Jarvis to open the door. Jarvis was loyal to me, so of course he asked me before unlocking it, but I couldn't even manage to reply to him, so after several long minutes of Pepper begging him to open it, and Jarvis asking for my permission, he gave in on the assumption that I must need help. Pepper ran in, dropping down to her knees in front of me, "Tony, what's going on?" She asked as she took my hands in hers. I felt tears slide down my cheeks as I slid onto the floor in front of her, bowing my head. She took my face in her hands, raising my head, "Tony, talk to me." She whispered a desperate plea.
"Pepper… I really messed up." I manage to choke out.
"Tony, whatever it is, whatever happened, it will be okay. Does it have to do with your presentation, did something happen during it?" She clung to my words, searching in my eyes for answers.
"I barely even got started on it." I said as I sucked in a deep breath. "It doesn't have anything to do with work."
She stood up, taking my hands in her own, trying to pull me to my feet. I stood with her, and she took me to our bedroom, closing the door tightly. "Tony, whatever it is, please tell me." She said as she sat us both down on the bed.
I looked into those eyes, so full of worry and concern. I loved those eyes, I loved her. "Pepper… I don't know how to say this."
"Tony, we are a team, just come out and say it." She said as she squeezed my hands, "We will get through it."
"Pepper… Seventeen years ago I went to Brazil and I met a woman, I spent lots of time with this woman while I was there, we had a relationship, but when I came home we lost touch. We really lost touch shortly before I left, after a fight. I moved on, and I assumed she did the same. I just never heard from her again-" I started.
"Tony," Pepper interrupted, "If she has come into your life again, or if you are trying to apologize for being with another woman, just stop. If she is coming after you, making allegations or something, we will lawyer up, we will get through it honey, I know you only have eyes for me now."
"No, Pepper, Sophia Silva is dead. She died about 3 years ago from glanders while she and her daughter were coming to America. She started showing symptoms here, but it was too late, doctors weren't able to save her. Pepper, today, during my presentation, social services showed up with a young girl, she is Sophia's daughter, her name… Her name is Ruby, Ruby Stark, she is my daughter, Pepper."
Pepper's body went completely stiff as she stared into my eyes. "There has to be a mistake." She said, her voice barely coming out above a whisper.
"They tested it 3 times, and Pepper, I can see part of myself in her. In her face." I was begging for her forgiveness with my eyes.
She shot to feet, taking in sharp, shallow, breaths as she put one hand to her head, "I need to go." She said as she quickly made her way out of the bedroom.
"Pepper, wait!" I yelled after her, "We're a team… I'm sorry, Pepper, please don't go."
"Tony, I need to get out of this house. Do not follow me." She said as she grabbed her keys off the table, then out the front door she went. I was left, alone, staring at the door she had just ran out of.
"Sir" Jarvis charmed in, "Is there anyone I should call for you?"
"No, Jarvis. There is no one to call." I said, the words burning as they left my mouth.
This was it. The start of the end. My future, the future I loved, just shut the door in my face as she ran out of it. It felt like I had been stabbed in the chest, like every part of me had just shattered.