Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.
The stars incline us, they do not bind us.
Pepper blinked up at the sun shining down brightly on her, standing once again in the clearing behind the Keep. It was the perfect day for training and she was feeling horribly excited, even more than when she and Tony used to spar with swords. She simply wasn't scared of her powers anymore. In fact, she was eager to see how much more she could do.
Tony came up behind her and tickled her and she laughed happily at his nimble fingers on her stomach. She turned and caught his face, kissing him softly.
Pepper looked into his twinkling molasses eyes and sighed contently. She had moved back to the Keep, much to Tony's abject joy and Janice's sorrow. She knew she was madly in love with the Iron Knight and she wanted to be with him, till the end of her days. There was a simple inner peace, that she had attained from finally admitting this to Tony.
Her ego had been stoked by the endless number of people, commenting on how she had made such an impact in Tony's life for the better but she valiantly defended him, knowing that he had helped her in so many ways, that people just didn't know about.
Tony began to nibble on her ears and she halfheartedly protested even as she held him closer. "Tony, Tony... we came here to train, didn't we?"
He said something indistinctly against her neck and she gasped as he bit her lightly. Then they reluctantly let each other go and Tony cleared his throat. "You, my love, are very distracting!"
In mock outrage, Pepper punched him lightly and he rubbed his arm, pouting at her.
"Okay Tony, what do you want me to do today?"
He ruffled his hair and said slowly, "Welll... today, I thought I would train with you."
Pepper was confused. "What do you mean, train with you? I don't understand, Tony... you are already an expert."
Tony smiled at her. "No sweetheart, not when compared to you... I will explain."
He pointed at the targets he had set up: three boards with a large black circle painted on each of them, the blackened kite shield and another bench lined with bottles, boots and other assorted junk.
Tony continued, "We will start off slow. First the archery range. Then strength test. Then clay shooting with fire." He rubbed his eyes with glee at the last sentence and Pepper raised an eye brow at him. She noticed his armor lying on the ground, a safe distance away from all the targets.
"And Lord Stark, may I ask why you have brought your armor?"
He gave her an innocent look that instantly aroused her suspicions. "That's because I always use my flame with my armor. I need my gauntlets."
"Yes, but you only need your gauntlets, right? Why can I see your chest plate and your...helmet?"
Then a horrible suspicion hit Pepper and she said angrily, "Anthony Stark, if you want to do what I think you want to do... well, I just won't stand for it!"
Tony looked confused but Pepper knew he had understood her statement. She tapped her foot angrily at him. "I know you want to put on your armor and test how strong it is against my flame! So you want me to fire at you! I won't do it, Tony!"
Judging from the sheepish look on Tony's face, she had guessed correctly and he raised his hands to placate her. "Pepper... sweetheart..."
"Don't you sweetheart me, Anthony Stark! That is a very dangerous trick to try and you know it as well as I do!"
"Okay, okay, we will come to that later. Now you are going to use your flame and then I am going to have a go too because I need to keep myself strong."
He patted his Arc. "We have been out of conflict for some time and I do not want to go soft. Besides," he grinned at her, his brown eyes twinkling merrily, "you and me are old sparring buddies right? First the sword, now fire."
She smiled back at him and he gently took her hands and made her stand about 4 feet away from the first archery target.
Tony, imitating the Master of Ceremonies at the Tournament des Pierres, announced loudly, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the first of the official Fire Games is about to begin. Take your seats and be prepare to be amazed as the wonderful Lady Virginia blows us away with feats of flame!"
She laughed at his words and steadied herself, concentrating on the target. Pepper raised one hand and Tony said, "Try and hit the black circle only."
Pepper closed her eyes, feeling her power flow through her and let out a blast of fire. It fell short of the target and hit the grass instead. She sighed and Tony whispered to her, "Don't worry, do not get discouraged, remember, we fall, we need to pick ourselves up and try again."
She nodded and closed her eyes, willing herself to focus.
I am one with the Fire and It is one with me... I am one with the Fire and It is one with me...
She opened her eyes and focused inwards, feeling her hand shake at the strength of the Fire flowing through her. Pepper let out a blast of fire, bright and powerful enough to hit the black circle and set the target afire.
She gasped at the shock of actually hitting it, while Tony quickly threw a bucket of water at the target.
"And the lady hits the Target. Time for the Knight, to try his luck."
He had put on his gauntlets and so he directly raised his hand. In a smooth motion, Tony hit the target with a fiery ball of blue fire.
He bowed to Pepper and she curtsied at him, giggling at his theatrics.
"Onwards, my lady, the next hapless target awaits."
They repeated the same at the next target, six feet away and Pepper was pleased that she hit it in one go. Tony took two tries and shook his hand wryly, exclaiming, "See, my fire's does not have as much power as yours, it cannot go the distance."
She frowned at him but he grinned at her. "Last one, my lady, this one is a smaller target."
It was also 6 feet away and Pepper closed her eyes and hit it dead on, striking the circle exactly. Tony hit it as well and then told her, "Try using two blasts of flame in succession, alternating your firing hand."
She obeyed him and knocked the target to the ground completely. Tony ran to put the fire out as the target was burning beautifully.
Pepper was silently staring at the fire, taken aback by her own power.
Tony came to her and whispered softly, "I bet you are wondering how something so powerful came from you... so bright, so mighty..."
She nodded and whispered back, "How did you know I was thinking just that? Tony, I can't... I can't believe I have this gift. It just..." she shook her head in disbelief and he patted her head, chuckling.
"All I can say is, you truly live up to the legend of Summac... and I cannot think of no one nobler to be blessed with such a gift..."
He kissed her lightly and she smiled, touched by his words.
Tony smiled at her and said, "Next challenge my sweet... your old friend, the kite shield. Blast it till it falls."
She knew from past experience, this challenge was going to take focus and strength.
Pepper raised both hands focused on the shield and closed her eyes. Suddenly Stane's face came to her mind and she bit down on her lip hard, fear and anger filling her.
She did not even notice the streams of flame coming from her fingers and finally opened her eyes.
The shield was still standing but she was slightly off target with her fire, the grass around it singed black.
Pepper wiped her brow, which was sweating. She was feeling warm and sweaty and a little shaky at the way Stane's face had made her react instinctively.
Tony gently wiped her brow and then handed her his flask. She raised an eyebrow at him, knowing he liked to carry ale in it. But he said with a laugh, "It is just water, I promise you."
She took a deep swig, the surprisingly cold water trickling down her throat.
Tony was watching her quietly and Pepper knew she had to tell him how she felt.
She whispered insecurely, "Tony... I... when I focused, I thought of Stane...and my flame was powerful enough but ... did I do the right thing?"
He took her hand in his broad firm one and held it comfortingly.
"Pepper, I know you look for sources of strength to fire your power... I know you focus inside but... I don't want to tell you what to do...because it is your power, it has to be your way... but..." he shrugged.
"You don't think I should focus using Stane?" She completed.
He nodded quietly, a very pensive look in his eyes. "What do you feel when you picture his face in your mind?"
"Anger, fear, helplessness..."
"And hate?"
"Yes... at the back of my mind... I hate him, I hate how he turned my life upside down and how he made me..." she stopped, her eyes filling with tears at memories. Conversely, her palms were hot and burning.
Tony caught her hands in his and she tried to tug them away, saying, "Tony! They are hot!" He entwined his fingers with hers. "Pep, it is okay, I've got my gauntlets on."
Tony touched his forehead softly to hers and whispered soothingly to her. "Pepper, sweetheart, I understand that you hate Stane ... I hate him too... but...you cannot let hate rule you... you cannot let it cloud your judgement... using hate to power your fire... that's not right because hate eats at you inside, slowly but surely."
He caught her hands and looked down at them. "You have a gift, Pepper... I know it has caused you nothing but grief..."
She interrupted him. "No, Tony, I have realized now that it is indeed a gift and that I should appreciate it. It has helped me... especially..."
"In saving your helpless lover, many a time." He grinned at her and she couldn't help but laugh at his wry comment.
"Tony!"
He sobered and they stood quietly for a moment, hands joined together.
She asked him softly, "What do you do, Tony? I have noticed you concentrating. How do you focus?"
"I concentrate on my flame and nothing else. And I try to clear my emotions. I keep a clear head. If I do want to inspire myself, I try to use the positive side of the situation."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for example, in our first fight against the Chonsario, I was so tired but I kept firing because I thought of rescuing the villagers, not of destroying the Chonsario. The feeling of saving lives inspired me, not the violence or death of the horsemen, vile as they were."
He looked away from her then. "I know it sounds very noble but it isn't always easy and ... I... I haven't always been... I mean I have used hate to power my flame... to destroy... and I do not like what I did... what I became..."
She knew the situation he was referring to and what he had gone through. To get rid of the bleakness that had entered his eyes, Pepper quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
Tony sighed into her mouth with pleasure and she placed her fingers on his arc, feeling his Flame surge through him. He broke off the kiss, held her tightly against him and raised his gauntlet covered hand.
"Let us try it together. Raise your hand, Pepper. And close your eyes."
She did as he said. Pepper took it all in, the warmth of the sun, Tony's comfortingly warm body pressed to hers, his rough beard on her cheek and his musky male scent in her nostrils. She was so sensitive to his Flame she could even hear it surging through him, like a gentle river. It seemed to calm her, the soft sound.
In her inner mind, she gasped, as for the first time ever, she saw a giant ring of red fire, swirling and whirling with might. It seemed to be whispering her name and she instinctively said Summac.
It pulsed vibrantly and she felt it come towards her and wash over her with a gentle but powerful light. As it flowed through her body, she channeled it mentally.
I need to hit the shield, I need to hit the shield.
She saw the shield in her mind, saw its center point. Too strong, too thick. Its edges are weak, it will lose balance if I hit its edge.
Her fingers itched, the fire, excited like a child to be set free. And she let it free, opening her eyes at the last minute, to watch two bolts of orange fire burst from her hands.
They hit the shield on its left and right edge successively and Pepper gasped with happiness as the giant shield tottered backwards and fell to the ground with a clang.
She turned and noticed Tony standing a little away from her, quietly smiling. The look of pride in his eyes made her blush and she stepped towards him.
"Tony, when did you..."
"I felt you concentrating and stepped away. Did you see Stane this time?"
"No..." she said happily. "I didn't. Tony, I saw... when I closed my eyes, I saw a giant ring of fire calling my name."
He widened his eyes at her. "I see fire in my mind too, but streams and banners... this means..." he caught her fingers in his hand "Pep, this means your fire could be alive, could be sentient."
"I want to try it again. I want to bring the shield down again."
Tony smiled widely at her. "Yes! Pep, let's try that again."
He quickly went over to the shield and moved it back some more, increasing the distance between it and Pepper.
She raised her hands, this time keeping her eyes open and focused on the shield. The sun suddenly shone across the shield, illuminating it vibrantly. And a thought began to echo in Pepper's mind.
I want to hit the center... I want to blast it till it falls. The shield must fall.
She heard her fire roar in her ears, as if in answer. And she straightened her fingers and blasted the shield in three short bursts, all aimed at its center.
As it fell backwards to the ground with a clang, Pepper squealed with joy. She whooped and leapt at Tony, who caught her quickly, laughing at her happiness.
He raised her in his arms, exclaiming, "Pepper! That was amazing!"
He lowered her and she smiled softly as he excitedly mimicked her movements. "You moved your hands like this! And the bolts! Pepper, the bolts of fire! You should have seen it! They were deadly but so precise!"
Him being so enamored with her firepower, made her heart swell with love for him. She pulled him towards her and kissed him hard. He seemed taken aback by her enthusiasm. She kissed him deeply, making him moan and press himself tightly to her. When she finally let him go, Tony stared at her dazedly as he tried to catch his breath.
Pepper tapped his chin smugly. "You helped me do this with your tips, Lord Stark... give yourself some credit."
As Tony tugged on his collar vainly, she said mischievously, "Give yourself 12 percent of the credit..."
He stared open-mouthed at her and Pepper suppressed a grin. "I think 12 percent is a decent amount..."
"12 percent! Pepper!"
She shrugged at him, smiling widely. "An argument can be made for 15... if you play your cards right..."
He huffed at her and she pressed her hand to her mouth, to muffle her giggles as Tony indignantly turned his back to her.
She stepped back as it was his turn to try. He took four direct shots at the shield's edges. As it fell, he looked at his firing hand critically. She grinned as she knew his inventor mind was busy comparing his firing power with hers.
"Tony..." she said gently as he seemed deep in thought. "Tony, let it go...".
He was muttering something to himself and she stepped closer and took his gauntlet-covered hand in hers. Pepper began to walk towards the middle of the clearing, gently pulling Tony along, who came after her, still muttering to himself.
She smiled up at the sun. The middle was a dip in the grassy plain and she slowly descended the gentle slope, the blades of green grass crinkling under her feet. The day seemed so clear, so bright. "It is amazing how your perspective can change... just by believing in yourself, in accepting yourself..." she whispered to the sky quietly.
Her statement brought Tony out of his distracted state and he tightened his grip on her hand, tugging her back lightly. Pepper turned and smiled at him.
"Someone mentioned clay shooting?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.
Tony clapped his hands excitedly and positioned her to stand at a point in the sloped valley. He explained, "I am going to toss a number of small objects in the air. Not at you! But at a curve, away from you, passing by you. And you need to shoot them."
"In the air!"
"Yes, Pep, in the air. Do not worry, only one object at a time. And I will do so at the count of three. Wait for the count." He kissed her quickly and bolted back up the hill, presumably to get the target objects.
She watched him with wide eyes and a minute later, he was at the top of the hill, holding up something that looked like an old boot.
"Ready?" He shouted.
She replied, "Yes!"
"One! Two! Three! Fire!"
Pepper watched as Tony rotated his hand around and threw the boot in a perfect curve. It flew above her and passed her and all she did was stare at its smooth trajectory in the air.
As it fell to the ground, she suddenly realized she was supposed to shoot it and raised her hand. She turned back to the hill and shook her head wryly because Tony was busy snorting with laughter.
"Alright, yes, I realized too late that I had to shoot the boot in the middle of the curve. Alright Tony, that is quite enough. Let's go again."
He was still smiling widely as she raised her hand. Pepper decided not to look at Tony this time and just focus on the sky in front of her. She heard him ask "Ready?"
"Yes!"
"One! Two! Three! Fire!"
This time, she saw the bottle whiz past and she fired but missed it by a few inches. It fell to the ground and Pepper bit her lip in frustration.
"Again!"
Once again Tony threw a target, another boot and this time, Pepper timed her shot to hit the boot as it descended. It grazed the boot lightly.
She blew out hard, her lack of aim frustrating her. Tony came running down the hill towards her.
"Let's try something easier!"
He stood in front of her, a boot in his hand and without warning, chucked it forwards, high in the air. Then Tony raised his gauntlet and hit the boot mid-air, with a blast of blue flame.
Pepper clapped as he turned to her. "Now you try, Pep..."
"Tony, I have not managed to get a single hit so far."
"Pepper," he said patiently, "what did I tell you?"
She said slowly, "When we fall, we need to pick ourselves up and try again..."
"Yes, so try, it won't be easy but you can do it. Come on!" He raised his hand, clutching a thick piece of wood. When Tony gave her the signal and tossed it, Pepper focused on the rising object and as it began to fall back, she aimed a few feet below it and fired.
Her shot was slightly closer this time and buoyed by her improvement, she tried again until finally she hit one boot squarely, knocking it off course.
There wasn't much time to celebrate because she and Tony had to run around the clearing, stomping out the smoldering targets in the grass, to prevent a fire from starting.
As she caught her breath from the running around, Pepper watched Tony put on his armor, complete with knee guards. He pulled his helmet on, then backed away quickly as she advanced on him with irritation.
"Pepper!"
"Anthony Stark! Get out of that armor right now!"
"Pepper, sweeting, listen to me!" Tony caught her arms and held her at bay as she fumed silently, steam nearly coming out of her ears.
"Okay, Pepper, take a deep breath... I am not asking you to kill me... all I am saying it...someday it may happen... that you need to shoot around me... to hit someone behind me...I am just asking for that..."
She frowned at him, still highly irritated with his dangerous idea. "You want me to shoot around you?"
"I want to see if my suit can withstand your flame. Just as a strength test. Can it handle it?"
"Okay, so then we should first test it, Without you in it!"
She shouted the last part but Tony seemed to be interested in her idea.
"Alright, that's a good idea, let us try that out first. With just the chest plate."
She helped him pull it off and they placed it standing on the grass, propped up by placing one of the wooden targets behind it.
Tony and Pepper took a few steps back and Pepper focused on the armor. She was slightly flustered as the armor was so uniquely Tony's, so deeply associated in her mind with him, that subconsciously she did not want to hit it.
Tony sensed her discomfort and said softly, "I am right here, Pep, we are just checking its strength, that's all."
She nodded and closed her eyes, feeling her fingers itch. She opened her eyes and blasted the chest plate lightly.
The fire rained across the armor briefly and she stopped. They both ran over to it. It was singed lightly but had not been damaged by the fire and she was relieved. Her relief ended when Tony, first checking if the armor had cooled down, made to tug it onto him.
He grimaced as it was still hot and put it down quickly. Pepper turned her back onto him and walked away angrily.
The man is mad, he is asking me to fire upon him voluntarily... all in the name of an experiment! Well, I won't do it!
"I won't do it, Tony! I just won't!"
She turned back to glare at him, standing there in his leg armor.
"Pepper," he quickly came after and stopped her angry march away. "Pepper, sweetheart, listen, I know I seem crazy..."
She snorted. "More like dangerously crazy..."
"Okay, okay but hear me out... we do not know Stane's strength... We do not know the extent of what he can do... he is a necromancer, a man who exclusively practices dark magic."
Tony looked deep into her eyes and she was slightly shocked to see fear in his brown depths. "Pep, we do not know what Stane is capable of doing... he created or called up Girescu, who was undead!"
Tony swallowed hard. "What other vile magic does he have under his control?"
"And there's the Snake..." she whispered, the memory of the giant grey eye with its reddish orange triangular pupil, making her shiver involuntarily.
Tony caught her arms in his and rubbed them comfortingly. "We can face anything, Pepper, together, but we need to be prepared for it... all I am asking is just a chance to see how strong my armor is against magical fire."
She nodded reluctantly. "Alright Tony...just a stream!"
She raised her finger at him threateningly. "Just as a test! I am not blasting you with the intention to fire at you!"
He grinned boyishly at her. "Don't worry, my sweet, I have no intention of turning into a grilled chicken. Come. Stand here in the center."
She did so, warning him, "Tony, put all your armor on! I mean it!"
He pulled his helmet on and stood four feet away from her, arms at his side.
"Ready?" she asked, not sure if she was talking to herself or to Tony.
"Yes! Come on Pepper! Just a short blast."
She aimed her hands strictly at his chest plate as she did not want to take a chance by hitting his helmet or his legs. Pepper bit her lip hard and looked at Tony. Her hands were shaking.
I do not want to do this...I cannot hit Tony... I just can't!
She fired a stray shot that missed Tony completely and hit a wooden target far behind him.
"Pepper," Tony said slowly, "I know it is difficult... but..."
She reacted angrily. "Difficult is putting it mildly! You want me to hit you with this!"
She raised her hands. "Hit you with fire! Tony, come on! I love you dammit! I can't!"
I am not going to cry, I am not going to cry...
She sniffed loudly and turned away from him. He came up behind her and hugged her, his steel armor hard against her.
"Pepper, I am not trying to torture you or give you grief, I am just..." He sighed against her and she pleaded with him. "Tony, I am not strong enough to do this... please Tony... I hit my mother with my fire and ended up killing her!"
She turned around and hugged him tightly, uncaring of the hard steel armor.
"I love you Tony, I don't want to hurt you..." She whispered sadly. "Please... I can't ever hurt you..."
He nodded gently and she let him go, wiping at her eyes.
Tony tipped her chin up with his hand. "Hey... don't cry sweetheart. Want to see a trick? A trick with my Flame?"
She nodded and he stepped away from her and slid the lid of his Arc open.
Pepper widened her eyes at him in shock. "Tony! What are you doing?"
He smiled widely at her. "Wait and see, my love, wait and see."
She watched quietly as a thin wisp of blue flame began to stream out of his armor, rising lightly into the air. It was hesitant and shy and seemed to pause.
Tony concentrated and it twirled upwards with a smokey trail.
"You see, Pep, I am not as good as you, with my flame but..." she gasped in wonder as the wisp began to thicken, "I can control it somewhat."
The wisp had turned into a powerful blue ribbon of glowing, throbbing fire. It swirled and curled around an invisible point. Tony closed his eyes and began to whisper under his breath.
She shrieked in awe as the ribbon head began to take the shape of a mythical beast of yore, a shape she had seen only in paintings and art. Thin tendrils and tiny horns began to form on its wide brow. It had a serpentine face with deep-set hollow eyes and a long gaping mouth, filled with pointed teeth. Its nostrils were flared and scaled heavily. It was a thick outline in the pulsating blue flame. At last, a huge pair of horns appeared on the back of its large head.
"The Dragon... is this the..." she whispered in wonder as the being began to swirl around above them, the ribbon turning into a long, cylindrical body, with lean arms.
Tony nodded. "I have seen this form before, when I let my flame out in the fight against Asmodeus the Demon Prince. But... it wasn't so detailed then..."
The form wafted towards Pepper and she backed away slightly, so it huffed at her, tiny puffs of light blue smoke from its nostrils.
She grew bold and stretched out her fingers. The ribbon of fire...the Dragon gently moved against her fingers and Pepper gasped out loud at the burning, warm strength of the Flame, the same power she felt, whenever she touched Tony's Arc.
The ribbon began to roar faintly but kept pressing at her hand and Tony laughed. She smiled at him." I think It likes me."
"Him and he definitely does, Pepper, the Dragon has always liked you..."
Tony was looking at her lovingly and something inside her began to glow. Suddenly Pepper felt very warm inside and she closed her eyes. She saw the ring of fire in her mind's eye, rotating in the darkness. It trembled and flew towards her. She could dimly see it take a shape, mid-flight. Then all was dark.
And she heard Tony exclaim and opened her eyes. Her hand was raised and somehow, out of her control, a thick stream of fire was leaving her fingertips. She could feel something moving with her and instinctively, Pepper began to move her own fingers, shaping the stream.
The bright orange stream began to take shape, twisting and moving until finally, the shape of a flying beast was visible. Thick, feathery wings out of flame, a large tail trailing behind the body, a narrow chest and a delicate pointed head. The eyes of the beast glowed dark red, a rich contrast to its orange body. Pepper was confused as to what the beast actually was.
"Tony, it seems like some sort of bird...isn't it?" She asked, curious as it flew elegantly around them, wings beating gently, its very movement, fiery poetry in motion.
"Not just any bird..." Tony whispered behind her, his voice filled with wonder, "it is a phoenix! Good Lord, Pepper, you have a phoenix within you!"
"A phoenix?" She whispered in confusion. "Wait! You don't mean..."
"A fire-bird from the Sun... that lives forever... and regenerates itself in fire and flames... Could Summac have been a phoenix? That crashed onto Earth to die? That would explain its association with the sun and fire... Pepper, what a glorious beast!"
Indeed, the fire-bird was flying majestically around the clearing, leaving behind a fine trail of flame, its tail gloriously orange in the setting sunset. Pepper could see it had grown a fine crest of flame feathers, shining brightly. From its lower position, the Dragon roared at it suspiciously and she suddenly was afraid for her fire being.
"Tony, what if your Dragon attacks it?" She whispered.
Tony hugged her from behind and rested his prickly heavy head on her shoulder. His beard tickled her ear and she shrugged her shoulder but that only increased the prickly sensation.
He tightened his grip around her waist and sighed deeply. "Somehow my love, I have a feeling they will be friends."
She wasn't so sure as the Dragon surged upwards to the fire-bird, with a mighty roar, its blue body long and lean. The two flame beings began to circle around each other, each wary of the other. Then they raced towards each other and Pepper closed her eyes in fear.
"Oooohhhhh!"
"Relax, Pepper, look..." Tony's deep voice was in her ear and she opened her eyes and smiled with relief.
The Phoenix and the Dragon were excitedly swirling and twirling around each other, in loops and circles, as if getting a good look at each other. They then started to move in a circle, each trying to outdo the other.
She laughed at the way, the Dragon kept nudging the Phoenix, trying to gain the lead. And the Phoenix would just push the Dragon back into place quickly. Then it swatted at the Dragon with its tail.
"They seem to be racing..." she giggled, "Tony, they are racing!"
Tony's response was to kiss her cheek and she moved her face to kiss his lips.
Pepper turned in his arms and whispered against his face, "Tony, thank you for showing me such an amazing sight... thank you... you always know how to make me smile... thank you, my love..." she kissed him deeply, her tongue dancing against his, holding him tightly against her.
They kept kissing, the flame beings still circling above them, the magic of the moment making Pepper kiss Tony all the more harder. She ran her fingers through his cut hair.
Finally out of breath, they stopped kissing. Taking deep breaths, Tony whispered to her, "It may have started out as my trick but... I think you have outdone me, my love... I am dumbstruck by your Phoenix... "
"And I by your Flame... I love you, Anthony Stark..." She nuzzled his face and he whispered back, "I love you too, Pepper, I will always love you..."
The roar of the Dragon made them look up and Pepper exclaimed at the darkening sky above them. "Tony, I think it is going to rain!"
As if it was waiting for her permission all this time, a thick droplet of water fell from the sky. Then another and another.
The Dragon fire raced back towards Tony's Arc and he laughed loudly. "Alright, you big coward, scared of a little water... come back now!"
The Flame surged back into Tony, who gritted his teeth and held himself firm as the wide, broad, blue body of the Dragon disappeared into his Arc.
The Phoenix gently lowered itself towards Pepper and moved against her fingers. It drifted towards Tony and lightly circled him as if looking him over. Then it gently drifted over Pepper and magically, fell like a melting wave of light over her. She felt a gentle warmth flow through her. It felt as if the fire within her, had finally accepted her.
Then it began to rain in earnest. Tony, silly man that he was, simply stood in place and stared up at the sky. She picked up her skirt and said loudly, "Tony we have got to get out of the rain! Run!" and started to run back towards the Keep.
