Chapter 5

By: MysticFantasy

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"Tony." Pepper lightly gasped at the sight of his bruised face and body. "What happened to you?"

"It's nothing, for starters." Tony answered as he walked sorely to the couch. "Steve, Clint and Natasha helped me prep for that fitness test Fury wants to put us through in a few days."

"How in the world did you end up like this?" Pepper asked as she helped him sit down.

"Well, it should really be my fault. I agreed to Steve's offer of helping to improving my already awesome boxing talents." Tony said.

"You actually went against Steve in boxing?" Pepper asked looking and sounding utterly surprised.

"Yeah. He was holding back though. If that makes you feel any better." Tony said.

"Only a little." Pepper stated as she got up to grab an ice pack from the mini fridge close by. "I don't feel completely bad because I know that Steve wouldn't hurt you on purpose. He's about the only one of you that I can trust not to do something crazy."

"He'll be glad to hear that." Tony said taking the ice pack and placing it over the heated bruise that formed on his cheek. Even holding back most of his strength, Steve was not someone to get angry or mess around with.

"I've already told him that I trust him and that I'm grateful he keeps an eye on you whenever you're sent on those missions."

"What? You asked him to babysit me?"

"Not babysit. Just monitor." Pepper replied with a little smirk. "He informs me of everything that you do when you're on a mission. I think he sugar coats some of it to not worry me."

"I am going to have to mess with him for this." Tony said. "And don't think you're off the hook either Ms. Potts."

"Oh?" Pepper questioned with a raised eyebrow. "You're going to punish me for having someone inform me if you're ok or not?"

"Well, when you put it like that."

Pepper lightly smiled.

"Here's the deal. You be more careful on missions and I'll ask Steve to stop being my inside information." Pepper offered.

"Hm. You drive a hard bargin." Tony said but smiled. "Alright."

"Of course I'm still going to ask Steve to keep an eye on your until I'm sure that you're being more careful." Pepper said standing and walking toward the small kitchen.

"Wha? Then why did I just make a promise to be more careful?" Tony exclaimed as he followed her, his walk now more stiff.

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Clint tried to hide his laughter as he watched Tony walk toward them looking incredibly stiff and sore.

"Can it Robin Hood." Tony declared.

"Sorry but...I didn't think we pushed you enough to be like this the next day." Clint replied as he let a full smirk appear on his face.

"Well, you did." Tony said.

"Ready for the next lessons?" Natasha asked with her own evil looking smirk.

"No." Tony declared.

"Too bad." the spy said.

"Just be glad today will just be stretches and things of that manner." Steve said.

"Will I even be able to take this test of Fury's after you guys are through with me?" Tony asked.

"No."

"Probably not."

"I don't think so."

Tony lightly sighed as they walked over to a few blue mats that had been set up on the floor. He was sure that his three team mates were doing this for their amusement.

He couldn't honestly say he didn't see something like this coming.