Fall Out
Chapter Eleven: Please Forgive Me
Disclaimer: I own nothing…
Author Notes: Yes this chapter is named after the song that will be appearing in it. Lyrics will be in italics.
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Two days had passed and he hadn't slept. He couldn't bring himself to close his eyes, the look in her eyes haunted him. He had picked up the phone several times, at three in the morning he actually dialed and then hung up after just two rings. She would know… damnit. She would know it was him. Who else would it be?
Standing from the sofa, Tony ran his hands through his unruly hair and sighed, " Jarvis."
"Sir?"
Even Jarvis sounded pissed at him, great, "Turn on the XM radio please. It's too quiet."
Moments later the house filled with music, but it was still empty, still hollow. Still lonely. He eyed the phone again, he fingered it and dialed her number, this time he wouldn't hang up.
Still feels like our first night together
Feels like the first kiss, its gettin better baby
No one can better this...
It seemed to ring forever, he paced from the kitchen into the living room and back. His eyes stayed glued to the floor, and then he heard it, her voice.
"Hello?"
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"Tony? Is that you…"
Still holdin on, you're still the one
First time our eyes met, same feelin I get
Only feels much stronger, wanna love ya longer…
He sighed, he knew she heard it and he nodded, even though she couldn't see it, "Yes… it's me." He waited for her to hang up, to hear the phone hit a wall, but nothing like that came.
"Are you…okay?"
She sounded genuinely worried, "I will be. Hearing your voice helps…" He admitted.
"Do you need me to—"
"No. It's better that you aren't around me right now." Was that a sniffle he just heard? He sighed again, this was very uncomfortable.
"I know you were drunk… that you weren't yourself."
"Pepper, I…" He could tell her, not now, not like this, "I'm sorry. For everything."
" I know." Her voice was hollow, she hadn't forgiven him. He wondered if she ever would.
You still turn the fire on...
So if youre feelin lonely dont
Youre the only one I ever want
I only wanna make it good
So if I love ya a little more than I should
Please forgive me, I know not what I do...
...I can't stop lovin you…
He blinked, he could faintly hear the same song playing in the background on her end, he had to smile in an ironic manner, "We're listening to the same station." He moved the phone from his ear so she could hear and then brought it back.
"So we are." Her voice sounded like she was smiling too.
Pepper Potts sighed, she did it much quieter than her boss, the song tore at her as if it was coming from him, a sign. She knew he hadn't meant to hurt her, that he was just as confused and scared as she was. Neither of them wanted to ruin anything between them, implied or otherwise.
"Tony I…" She wanted so badly to finish the sentence, but she figured now was not the time and she was very close to being afraid of him, of the passion that could overtake him sometimes.
Dont deny me this pain Im going through...
...if I need ya like I do
Please believe me every word I say is true...
...our best times are together...
...touch, still gettin closer baby
Can't get close enough...
Still holdin on, still number one…
Suddenly voices rose next door, her neighbors were fighting again. He had caught her cheating, and something else… Pepper did her best to block it out, "I need to go. I'll be in Monday okay…" She chewed on her lower lip, "But if you, need anything—"
"I'll call Rhodey." He answered flatly and softly hung up the phone.
I remember the smell of your skin...everything
...all your moves...you, yeah!
...the nights ya know I still do...
He tossed the phone onto the sofa and sighed, he needed something to distract him and the music wasn't helping, "Jarvis. Music off."
The sound of Bryan Adams' rough husky voice was replaced by silence. Tony welcomed it with open arms and settled on the sofa, flicking on the tv, he channel surfed for what seemed like hours, his insomnia was beginning to cut out on him, his eyelids felt heavy and moments later he succumbed to a dreamless sleep.
(Pepper's Apartment)
Pepper Potts had turned off her radio as well, the song tugged at her heart, she felt as though the lyrics might rip it right from her chest. But unfortunately turning the music off meant she could hear her neighbors fighting better.
"I can't believe you Janice. Why? Don't you love me…"
"I'm sorry Paul I…"
"You what?"
Pepper plugged her ears and ran from her living room, the voices chasing her, growing more intense as she entered her bedroom and slammed the door shut. She laid down on her bed and curled up into a ball, and fell asleep.
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Okay there's chapter eleven, I know it's a little short, but the next one will be interesting and longer. You all rock my world. Oh and there is a point to Pepper's neighbors fight, it has to do with the next chapter and what happens.