Well, i updated the story! I'm happy with it, but i don't think it's my best chapter... Well, i hope you guys like it better than i do.
Disclaimer: IMAA is not owned by me, Nicktoons or Marvel does.
Tony didn't watch as Ghost wandered away towards those tables. Honestly, he didn't really care. At least not at the time for he was actively busy trying to force Extremis into working. If he could do just that, he could save himself so he could save his friends and his dad. Almost easily. But too bad for him, because luck wasn't on his side today. He was really starting to get frustrated at why he couldn't use Extremist.
He thought maybe because it was so cold in there, but then again, he still had usage of the portable heater. The he thought about the Chloroform he was now almost positive they used on him. Then again, it doesn't take about three days for that to wear off. Maybe Ghost found a way to block it. That was not a good sign.
He watched almost with an absent mind as Ghost walked over holding a knife. A knife, really? As worried as he was, he couldn't help but think about how old it was getting for the captor to go straight for the blades. Honestly, he's seen it many times before, and was almost victim to them many times before, with different people. So he was growing tired with the whole knife act. Couldn't they choose something more unique?
Not that he didn't mind it being a knife instead of something else that might be around. He just was tired of the same old threat.
"I see you don't look scared." Ghost said.
Tony wanted to give him a sarcastic remark about just how cliché this was. But he kept his mouth shut. This was much like an interrogation. Give in, you pretty much lose. Its a win or lose game. If he answered the question or demand, he was surrendering, there for he lost. They won. Or in this case, as he was seeing it, was if he screamed or showed his pain, he lost.
If that was what Ghost was even planning.
"I'll make it quick." Ghost said and he moved his arm out in a quick slash.
…
The Maggia had left them alone for once. Rhodey was sleeping as was Howard. She didn't really blame them. They were seriously out of sleeping habits, but then again, she who was getting the least amount of sleep then the other two, realized that it wasn't so late in the afternoon. It was the very beginning of the afternoon. So it didn't really matter if the other two were awake.
So she used the time alone to get some time to think with out the other two asking her questions. She could think about Tony more clearly. She was worried. Not because of the fight, but because of the lack of knowledge. She didn't know if Tony was still alright. She didn't know if he was still safe. Though, she knew there was nothing safe about being tied up in a chair. She still couldn't help, but wish that he was okay and safe.
After a few minutes of worrying over Tony she almost brought herself to tears just thinking about what they might do to him. What they might have already done...She just blinked the tears away and did her best to adjust her arms so they were in front of her. It tired her muscles, but it was a whole lot more comfortable than having them tied behind her back. She brought her knees to her face and rested her chin on them.
She continued to think about Tony. She even used that spared time to sort out those feelings she never had time to work over them. She was so confused on what her and Tony's relationship was. Ever since the invasion she'd been so confused at what she was to Tony.
He'd kissed her on the cheek, after she tried three times to confess to him that she liked him. And more than a friend too. But, they never really had the chance to talk about the kiss after the invasion. That, or one of them was avoiding the talk. Too afraid to face their feelings. She had a feeling it was him, but she knew that she was scared to share her feelings and to actually talk them out with the person she was sure she loved.
She jumped the instant she heard a voice behind her. "What you thinking about?"
"Rhodey, don't scare me like that." She said moving to sit next to him.
"Sorry." Rhodey replied. "So what are you thinking about?"
"Tony." Pepper said a blush reaching her face.
"I should have known."
She wanted to punch his shoulder like she normally would have when he jabbed at the two with his comments on how they were meant to be. Which she didn't exactly oppose, she just was embarrassed to say so.
"So, do you like him?" Rhodey asked curious.
"N-no." She stuttered.
"Yes you do." Rhodey said smiling. "I know you do."
"No I don't."
"Okay I was wrong." Rhodey said to her relief. "You don't like him, you love him."
If Pepper was eating, she would have choked on it. She looked to her friend with a red face. She couldn't hide it. "Rhodey!"
"Ha! I knew it! You love Tony, you love Tony!" Rhodey sang. "Tony and Pepper sitting in a tree..."
This time, she shoved herself at him successfully pushing him away. "Jerk."
"Admit it." Rhodey pressed. "You love Tony. You are in love with Tony Stark."
"Fine!" Pepper said giving up. "I love Tony! I am in love with Tony stark!"
A chuckle sounded from next to them and when Pepper realized that Howard had heard what she'd said, she wanted to find a deep hole and bury herself there. Never to be found again.
"Howard!" She squeaked. "How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough." He said with a smile.
She felt her entire face flare up as blood rushed up. She wanted to say something, but she was speechless. She just admitted to her love to Tony in front of his dad. What if he was mad? What if he thought she wasn't good enough for his son?
"Is it okay...?" She asked nervously.
"What? To be in love with my son?" Howard asked incredulously. "Of course! I don't mind! Go on ahead!"
She could have died in relief. "Thanks."
"Yep," Howard said. "You know, I never thought that Tony would make any friends. Let alone find someone who could love him the way you do. I always thought he'd end up with Whitney or something."
Pepper winced at the name. Whitney Stane. The person she almost lost Tony to. Over that short period of time that Tony dated Whitney, she thought that she'd missed her chance to be with Tony. She remembered how hurt she felt when she first found out. Then to mask the pain, she dated Happy. Which, she had to admit, it was nice to be able to hang out with someone else. It was nice to know that she was able to enjoy time with another, but she knew she would never feel as strongly towards anyone but Tony.
"Yeah, that's what everyone else thought." She mumbled.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up." Howard said.
"No, it's alright." Pepper said. "It's what everyone thought. The two rich kids in school, best friends since childhood, the seemingly perfect couple."
She snorted. As if. They were no where close to a perfect couple. She wasn't saying that he and herself would be any better, she was saying that she loved him and she would do anything to keep Tony safe. He actually trusted her enough with his biggest secret. Iron man. Though she was the one who found out, he accepted that she knew it.
They soon fell into a silence as the day grew on. She was hungry and she was tired. Not enough sleep, not enough food, not enough comfort. The place was pretty cold, but not too cold that it was numbing.
Oh Tony, she thought. Come be my hero again. I'm sorry for leaving you.
…
Ghost laughed when Tony flinched away from him, lessening the damage the blade would have caused. His chest now had a not so deep cut running across it. "Good job, now if you would. Sit pretty."
Tony wanted to ask if he was serious. Did he really think Tony would 'sit pretty' for him while he cut him? But he bit his tongue, holding his words back. He wouldn't give Ghost that pleasure. He already had enough pleasure of successfully kidnapping Tony.
Ghost slashed out at Tony once more with more speed this time. But he deliberately made it only a small cut. Though, it was still big enough to cause blood to course down Tony's bare chest. He bit his tongue to hold back any sounds he might have made. He bit down until he tasted blood.
Ghost walked off somewhere, taking the heater away. Tony waited for the cold. And after a few minutes, the heat was gone. He knew this would happen. Ghost would get him used to the heat, so the cold would hit him harder than a brick wall. Tony was amazed at how cold it got.
Ghost returned and Tony could hear the smirk on Ghost's face. "Maybe this will help."
Tony ignored him. He wouldn't' talk, he wouldn't scream, he wouldn't respond. He wouldn't allow it. He would ignore his jabs and sneers. He would make sure that no matter what Ghost did, he didn't give him that satisfaction.
About an hour later, Ghost seemed tired of Tony's disobedience. "The next time we meet, you'd better make me proud. Or have you forgotten, you're friends are also under my grasp?"
Tony glared at Ghost. "Leave them alone."
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. It all depends on you."
…
Ghost had actually cut Tony free except for the new chains around his feet. Either way, he was happy to have his arms free. He was able to keep at least a little bit warm. It seemed like it was colder than it had first been, but Tony knew that was only because he had already gotten accustomed to the heat. Now, he really couldn't feel his feet or hands. Though, his chest was burning from the many cuts it received. He had cuts running up and down his torso and arms. He was just glad that none of them seemed to go deep. But that didn't keep him from getting lightheaded.
Soon enough, he was out like a light on the floor where he'd abandon the chair next to him.
…
Rhodey woke up from an uneasy sleep when he heard Pepper talking. He rubbed his eyes and looked around to find her. He was expecting to see her talking to Howard or maybe arguing with the Maggia, but the Maggia wasn't there anymore. That they knew of at least. But when he saw her, she was talking to herself.
"Pepper, you okay?" He asked moving closer to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Pepper lied.
Rhodey narrowed his eyes, but decided to leave it be. "Okay."
Pepper looked down and bit her lip. "I'm just worried."
"I know, I am too." Rhodey replied.
"What if he's hurt? What if he can't escape? What if he's-" She stopped with a choked sound.
Rhodey put a hand on her shoulder. "Pepper, you know him. He'll be fine. And I know that he's not dead."
Actually he didn't know if Tony was alive or not, but it was best to keep that feeling to himself. It wasn't best to worry Pepper, especially when it involved Tony being in danger. He sat there silent for a minute just waiting for Pepper to reply. For about a full 5 minutes, she said nothing.
"I wish I could say sorry to him." Pepper mumbled barely audible.
"I know." Rhodey said looking down. "I do too."
He felt really guilty. They both shouted at him, they both made such a big deal over that argument. He never shouted back, he never tried to prove them wrong. Which made the whole argument seem like it was just one sided. Which pretty much it was. They left before Tony could explain himself better. They left him alone.
"I mean, maybe he doesn't know that we're here, so he cant save us. Maybe he thinks we left him forever and doesn't care if he dies or not..." Pepper said close to tears.
"He will be fine." Rhodey said trying to keep her calm. "Pepper, you must get some sleep. I haven't seen you sleep in a while."
She frowned as shes considered the idea. "Okay, I will."
…
It was horrible, right? But i tried my best on it, and i hope the next chapter goes better, and the next chapter should be the next step to the final chapter, like i said, i'm trying not to drag this out too much. So, again, i hoped you guys liked the chapter, even though i think its not so good...
Fun fact: I love playing with frogs/toads, so i'll walk around the neighborhood at my dads house, looking for them and pretty much collect them. Then me and my brother hold frog races on the sidewalk, before we let them all go.
The next chapter should be up soon, but i might work on Haunted Shadows or Baby Phase. Baby phase for sure, but Haunted Shadows, might be a bit longer. Well, i'm off to play Skyrim then to more writing!