So on AO3, igotyoufirst described the lout from the bar hilariously as a "bar-ogre". I liked it so much, I decided to use it in this chapter.

Also, to avoid ending on a cliff-hanger, I will be uploading the resolution to this little scenario tomorrow and on Tuesday as well.


If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?

- Rumi

Tony stepped over the fallen skinny friend as the bar room broke out into a vicious fight. Suddenly glasses of ale were being thrown across the room as everyone found someone to punch. The young barkeep was conscious and kneeling on the floor, hands over his head, trying to shout over the din but to no avail.

The lout's friends were in the thick of it and Tony saw they were really getting into the spirit of things, by picking up stools and chairs to hit people with.

Now what! Wait, the girl! I must get her out of here!

He stepped around the bar, picked up his sword from his stool and then left the room. Tony quickly ran to the backyard, knowing the kitchen would have another entrance. He stood there, staring the wall, puzzled. Oh crap! There isn't another entrance. How do I get her out?

The shouts from the bar grew louder and Tony looked around. Come on, there has to be a way in and out... wait! For he saw there was a small window. He saw someone moving in there, so he walked to it and rapped on it sharply.

Then he then heard a fearful scream. Tony said hurriedly, "Miss, it is okay, I am trying to help you! You can't leave through the bar! Can you climb out of the window?"

He heard the girl come towards the window and she said in a small, scared voice, "How do I know you are not with them? I am scared! Leave me alone!"

Tony sighed loudly and was going to cajole her, when he heard a snuffling, snorting noise and turned around. He shook his head in irritation, for standing in front of him, nose bleeding profusely, was the bar-ogre.

"Oi! Little man! I have a bone to pick with you! Come here and fight me!"

"Sir, haven't you had enough of this?" Then the ogre quickly moved towards him and before Tony knew it, he was punched hard in the face.

He felt the blow shake him all the way to his toes and Tony fell over on his rump, clutching his eye. Dimly, he looked up to see the bar-ogre was going to punch him when he was down, so he rolled out of the way quickly.

He wasn't fast enough and felt a boot kick him firmly in his butt. Tony cried out in pain and then stood up quickly. The ogre grinned evilly at him as he moved closer to Tony, arms outstretched. "I am going to tear you into two, little man!"

Suddenly Tony had had enough. "I am not little!" He yelled and as the bar-ogre stepped towards him, Tony brought his foot down hard on the man's toes. The ogre howled and before he could react, Tony kneed him in the groin. The bar-ogre clutched his privates and fell to his knees in pain. Tony was catching his breath, so he was taken aback by the girl's sudden appearance behind the lout. He grinned as she brought a flower pot down hard on the ogre's head.

For a moment, the giant being swayed in place and then fell flat on his face. Tony and the girl whooped with joy. Then Tony remembered that the ogre had friends.

"Okay young lady, we need to get out of here! Now!"

He put his fingers to his lips to call Balthazar, when the girl said tearfully, "Please, sir, my fiance... he's still in there..."

Tony shook his head to clear it. "Your fiance? Who..."

She said softly, "The barkeep... Klein, we are betrothed. I cannot leave... I cannot leave without him."

Tony cussed violently and the girl stepped back, defeated. "Sir, you can go if you want, I must save him."

She turned to go back to the kitchen and Tony sighed loudly, knowing what he had to do.

"Alright, young lady, alright, we need to rescue your Klein." He held out his hand. "I am Tony and you are?"

She said softly, "Felicity."

He shook her hand and she asked, "Do you have a plan? To get back in quietly."

Tony stared at the window. "I think I do."


Pepper slowly walked back to the Keep. Night had fallen. Two days had passed since the Nesswadias had visited Stark Keep and Tony had ridden away.

The first day, she had seen her cousin and her family off and then, she had drifted aimlessly around the East Wing, trying to gather her thoughts. Magdalene had confronted her, bringing up her lineage. What followed was a surprisingly tearful argument about her keeping such a secret for so long but at the end of the argument, she and Maggie had made their peace with each other.

The next day, she had spent entirely in the Village, visiting Stephanie and Happy and their two amusing children. It had been a pleasant distraction that had kept her from thinking about Tony and the way he had reacted to her secret.

Today, she had woken up late and taken a long ride on her own. Now night had fallen. Pepper climbed up the Hill and stood there quietly, staring down at the Keep. I remember this view... I was running away from the slavers, desperate to put as much distance between them and me as possible. And I had wondered whose house was this...

She sighed. I do not know how to explain my lineage to Tony. I have hidden such a big secret for so long. No wonder he is hurt...

Then she looked down at the rings on her fingers, one a dark blue, one glowing brightly. Pepper smiled and straightened herself.

Well... Tony can be angry and hurt. I am going to apologize and explain myself and resolve this. The man is stubborn but I'm not going to let him push me away!

She touched the arc ring softly. Now his lordship better come home, so I can have this discussion with him. Else I am going to have to ride out and find him.

She heard a deep serpentine voice whisper to her, Anthony is on his way home. He started out, doing something stupid but... The voice chuckled, but fate stopped him in time.

Then Pepper smiled as she saw the Keep gates open. She recognized Balthazar's mighty outline, even in the shadowy darkness. "Thank you, Dragon." she whispered.

Then she furrowed her brow in confusion at the smaller horse following him.

Tony's brought someone with him... but whom?

She quickly descended the hill, ran lightly across the clearing behind the Keep and to the back gate.

Pepper used her key to open it and ran to the main door. She opened the door and silently observed the scene in front of her.

Tony was sitting in his favorite chair, his head in his hands. Magdalene was chiding him loudly. Looking down at the floor, Pepper realized why.

His boots were full of muck and he had walked into the house without taking them off, leaving a lovely trail of muddy prints all over the floor.

She then noticed the couple standing nervously at one side. A very young couple, barely in their twenties. The scruffy blond young man was wringing his cap in his hands and the pretty dark haired girl next to him, put her arm around him and hugged him gently.

That is when Pepper noticed the dirt marks on the girl's apron and the amount of mud on the couple's shoes as well.

Tony finally lifted his head very tiredly and Pepper took one look at his bruised and bloodied face and leapt into action.

"Magdalene!" She said sternly and the entire room looked at her in shock. "Maggie, leave the floor for now! Get some water and honey please!"

Magdalene thankfully listened to her and Pepper rushed to Tony, who had leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes tightly.

She gently moved her fingers over his face, noting his purplish swollen eye and bloodied lip. His shirt was sprinkled with blood and what looked like spit.

"Tell me, Tony." she said matter-o-factly, "Where does it hurt?"

"It hurts everywhere," he croaked out, "even my ass hurts."

Before Pepper could comment on this, the girl spoke up timidly, "He did get kicked on his behind, miss."

Pepper noticed the boy's nose was bleeding and she asked, "What about you? How badly are you hurt?"

He said softly with a shy smile, "I am okay. Just a small punch." He shrugged as the girl tsked at him and gently touched his face. "I am okay, really, Felicity." he said to her.

Pepper smiled as she saw how comfortable they were with each other. Young love...

Then she turned back to Tony, who had sighed deeply. Magdalene came over with a tray, containing a jar of medicinal honey and cold compresses.

She handed one to the girl, who promptly held it against the boy's nose, trying to stop the bleeding. He smiled at her and squeezed her hand in his.

Magdalene came closer to Pepper, eyebrows busy making gestures at the young couple.

Pepper gave her a quelling look and took a compress, holding it against Tony's bloodied eye. He grimaced and she said gently, "Alright, my lord, would you like to explain what happened?"

Tony silently took another compress and pressed it to his shoulder. Then he said shortly, "It was nothing. If you will excuse me, I would like to retire to my room."

He tried to push Pepper's hand away from his eye, so he could stand up but she held firm.

She asked solicitously, "Are your legs injured, my lord?"

He shook his head, not looking at her, so she neatly sat sideways on his lap, leaning closer to him, so she could tend to his face.

Tony huffed loudly at her closeness but he stayed still as she gently pressed the poultice to his eye, trying to soothe the swelling. He avoided her gaze, so Pepper caught his jaw and made him look at her.

She looked into his open brown eye and whispered firmly, "You have been gone for two whole days, Tony Stark. I am not going to let you disappear to your room in a huff. Not until I know you are okay. So you better start explaining."

For a moment, they had a staring competition, mutinous brown at patient blue and finally Tony gave way. He said shortly, "I was staying at a nearby tavern."

"The Skanky Bush." said the young man helpfully and Pepper could not help but giggle.

Tony scowled. "Yes, a very aptly named tavern. I was sitting at the bar quietly, minding my own business, when a local patron started a fight. I had to stop it, so I tried to. And I got hit once or twice. That's it."

The boy said quickly, "It wasn't all that brief as Tony puts it." Pepper turned towards him and smiled encouragingly at him. He started to explain. She remained on Tony's warm lap, looping one arm around him gently for balance, listening to the boy talk about the great bar fight.

At the end of it as Klein was enthusiastically explaining how Tony had gotten him out of the fighting bar, Pepper studied Tony.

She smiled at him and gently pushed back his hair from his brow. Tony quietly looked at her, unspoken emotions swirling in his one normal eye. She gently stroked his beard and he instinctively leaned against her hand. Then she felt his jaw tighten and he moved his face away, staring at the ground.

Pepper opened her mouth but realized they were in company. She turned back to the couple. "Alright, you two, you are staying here tonight. Maggie, give the young lady, the upper room please. The young man can stay down here."

The girl, Felicity, met her gaze and Pepper recognized the silent plea in her green eyes.

She nodded, understanding and said, "Better yet, let them both sleep here, downstairs. Do you mind, Felicity? Those rooms are horribly dusty. We will give you some bedding, you can remain warm by the fire."

The way they both grinned at her happily, made Pepper instinctively smile back. Maggie opened her mouth to object but Pepper gave her a stern look and she shut it.

She stood because Tony was fidgeting. He slowly pushed himself up, ignoring her outstretched hand of support. He moved towards the staircase and the boy Klein stepped towards him, Felicity close behind.

"Tony, I do not know how to thank you for helping us... I owe you everything. You saved Felicity and you came back for me. I... how can I repay you?"

Tony told him gently, "You and your lady are too young to be running a bar, especially one frequented by such rough patrons. Isn't there someone you can go to? What about your parents?"

The boy flushed and looked at his feet. Felicity spoke clearly, "Klein and I only have each other. We are childhood friends."

She squeezed the boy's shoulder hand and continued, "We ran away from our hometown because... well, my father had sold me to our overlord, to pay off his debts. Klein used to work for the overlord as a servant. When he saw I was a prisoner, he rescued me from the overlord's cabin."

The boy told Tony with a touch of nervousness, "We have been on the run ever since. The overlord was very angry and must have reported us to his lord. If they ever find us, they will..." he shuddered involuntarily and the girl kissed his cheek softly.

Pepper was amazed by the story of the two young lovers. Tony said quietly, "I understand you are engaged to each other?"

"Yes," the boy said shyly, "We plan to marry once we have a steady job and some money."

Tony rubbed his chin, thinking as Pepper said, "You cannot go back to the Skanky Bush. What if those goons come back?"

The boy swallowed hard, despair evident on his youthful face, while Felicity just looked at them sadly. "You are right, my lady, but where can we go?" She said softly.

Then Tony snapped his fingers. "I have an idea!" He turned to Pepper. "What about Boron? They would be safe there!"

Pepper exclaimed, "That's right!"

He explained to the couple, "Boron is a small township not far from here. A twenty minute ride. It is quiet and the people are good decent folk. You wouldn't have any trouble."

Felicity said, "That is good to hear, Tony. We could look for some simple work, couldn't we, Klein?" He nodded, eagerly.

Then Pepper spoke, "I can help you there as well. I am building a small inn on the edge of the town. And I need staff. You both could work as cooks or as receptionists. The pay is not much but you would be able to live on premises."

The girl clapped her hands with glee as the boy broke into a huge smile. "That sounds wonderful, your Ladyship!"

"Please." she smiled, "Call me Pepper. There is no need for titles."

"Okay...Pepper." said the boy shyly. The girl instinctively hugged her and Pepper laughed.

"Thank you so much, Pepper! You have helped us so much!"

The boy hugged Tony. He stiffened and gently patted his back.

Felicity moved closer to him and she said joyfully, "You too, Tony! Thank you for saving me!"

Then Pepper hid her smile as Felicity softly kissed Tony on his cheek and he turned bright red with embarrassment.

He caught Pepper's eye and she winked at him, enjoying his cute discomfort.

But he didn't say a word, he just lowered his head and walked away to go upstairs.

Pepper watched him go and then decided to help Maggie. She gathered bedding materials and once the young couple was settled in front of the fireplace, she said her goodbyes and went to her room.

Pepper shut the door and leaned against it, closing her eyes. Now I can stay here and let Tony sulk or... she sighed deeply, or I can confront the dragon in his cave.

She heard a low curse and was confused for a second until she realized it must be Tony.

That's it! I am going to talk to him whether he wants to or not!

She looked down at her walking dress and boots. But not like this. I need to freshen up. I need to ambush Tony.

Pepper smiled wickedly. And I know just how to do it.