Fall Out
Chapter Twelve: Choices
Disclaimer: I own nothing…
Author Notes: Sorry this took so long… busy week.
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Pepper Potts shifted uncomfortably in her sleep, a small sigh left her lips and she kicked the sheet from her body. Something felt off, she felt out of place, as though she shouldn't be where she was. Despite her eyes being closed, Pepper could tell it was still night, her body just knew. But there was something familiar and also unfamiliar.
She laid there a moment longer and then finally opened her eyes… something was wrong. Slowly she sat up and looked to her right, expecting to see something, or rather someone. She saw nothing but empty rumpled sheets.
She sat on the edge of the bed and listened. It was quiet… too quiet. A frown crossed her lips as she stood from the bed and padded across the stone floor, down the stairs and into the living room. There she paused, everything seemed in order here… but. She eyed the stairs that lead down.
Pepper approached them slowly, as if the lead into the unknown. Each step was practically in slow motion, dread filled her. The further she descended the harder it was to see, smoke filling the air. Pepper ducked, covering her nose and mouth. She coughed a few times as she tried to see through the now thick, black smoke.
Suddenly it parted and Pepper Potts gasped at the sight before her. Tony's shop lay in ruins. All his robotic helpers in pieces… and then she saw him, he was in the suit, but he was moving frantically, trying it seemed to remove the suit, but couldn't. Flames from the fire licked at him, trying to grab onto the metal and burn it. Instead it caused it to glow red with intense heat…
"Tony!"
Tony's eyes shot open, he felt panicked. Something was wrong, slowly he sat up on the edge of his bed and eyed the time, 4:03 am. He ran fingers through his messy hair and yawned, "Jarvis?"
"You are up early, Sir."
Tony grumbled, "Not exactly." He looked around a little bewildered, " I feel a little uneasy. Scan the property."
"Certainly, Sir."
A few moments later, "Sir, the perimeter is secure."
"Why doesn't that make me feel any better?"
"I wish I knew Sir."
(Pepper's Apartment)
They were arguing again, but Pepper didn't mind, for they had woke her from a nightmare, one that she wished would go away, but hadn't for the past six months give or take. It was still that same dream, the dream that he never came back, well he did… but in a box, dead. She shuddered and burrowed further into her comforter and turned over.
After what seemed like hours, her neighbors went quiet and she fell back asleep. The next time her eyes parted, it was 4 am. This time the dream she was having woke her, she had been screaming his name, that alone was enough to wake her, but it was not the first time she had screamed his name in her sleep. She doubted it would be the last. But something else bothered her about the dream, one of the aspects felt a little too real.
And then it hit her, she was inhaling smoke, just like in the dream. The air was thick with it. Quickly she shot out of bed donning her robe and slippers, Pepper made for the living room and froze swallowing a scream that had worked its way up her throat. Her living room was literally on fire.
The wall where her flat screen tv had been was gone, it was nothing but flames and smoke now. Pepper wasted no time moving for her window and the fire escape. She looked back twice… and could save nothing. Luckily she had left her Blackberry at To—Mr. Starks'. The sounds of utter chaos and sirens greeted her with the early morning air as she shimmed down the escape as the fire began to reach out her window.
(Tony's Home)
He couldn't go back to sleep, something still bothered him. To begin with he had been awakened by someone who suspiciously sounded like Pepper, calling his name. The last time he had such an experience, his head was being dunked in water by terrorists.
To hell with this, Tony thought, "Jarvis. Television."
Without a word from the AI, the tv flashed on and Tony's eyes went wide.
"No one is sure what caused the Appletree Apartment building to become a blazing inferno. There has been speculation of some kind of foul play."
"Pepper…" Within seconds, his Audi was roaring through the early morning streets of Malibu.
Pepper felt vulnerable standing there in nothing but an oversized t-shirt, robe and slippers… fuzzy pink ones for crying out loud. What had she been thinking when she bought these anyways? But then she reminded herself that it didn't matter. It was a petty thing to think of right now, at least she got out safe and alive.
Her eyes locked on the place had called home for many years, frankly ever since she had settled in Malibu. She stood there as if made of stone and watched a part of her life burn away, go up in smoke and flames. She felt a tear at the corner of her eye and quickly wiped it away.
"Pepper!"
She knew that voice, that tone, like a comforting hand it caressed her. But why? Why had he come? Why was he here, how did he know?
"Pepper?"
His tone was more urgent now, frantic and worried. Why couldn't she bring herself to answer him? She waited in silence, hypnotized by the flames until she feels familiar hands on her shoulders, turning her around.
"Why did you answer?" Without thinking her pulled her to him, against him his arms going around her, "I was worried. Are you okay?"
She didn't mean to, but she stiffened within his arms and slowly pulled away from him, "I'm fine."
He felt his heart drop as she went rigid against him and then pulled herself from his arms, "Good." His voice was quiet, affected.
Pepper sighed, her eyes glancing once again to the building being torn apart by flames, "Tony… I have no where else to go." She looked at him, really looked and frowned at how rough he seemed, how haggard.
"I know." Tony held out his hand, " Come on, "He smiled, "Me casa, you casa."
The smile almost worked, he almost looked like the Tony she knew, "Thank you." She walked passed him, ignoring his hand.
The drive to the Stark mansion was a quiet, uncomfortable event. Pepper stared too calmly outside the passenger window, Tony focused way too much on his driving, actually remaining within the speed limit for once. His eyes would glance to her briefly, her composure bugged him… how she could be so calm. But then he noted her fidgeting fingers and one corner of his mouth arched just so.
Sometimes he wondered about her, wondered what she felt, why she was so good at hiding her emotions. Why did she hide them? He never could understand her, but then he had to question himself on if he's ever really tried. Probably not, but he should, he should really give it some effort.
Pepper Potts sighed heavily, she was tired and wanted nothing more than to crawl into her own bed. She snuck a quick glance at Tony and felt that she would never sleep in her own bed again now, not just because of the fire, but other reasons. Reasons she didn't want to indulge, choices that she wished she didn't have to pick from… or that weren't staring her in the face at least.
And then she realized he was looking at her, looking at her in such a way that made her incapable of looking away. He held her gaze, his eyes seemed to be looking deeper, beyond her own eyes. She felt her breath catch just slightly in her throat, the action unfortunately causing her to cough.
He almost swerved the car into oncoming traffic, quickly recovering he reached a hand over to her, touching her back slightly, only to have her pull away, " Are you okay? I hope you didn't inhale too much of that smoke."
A few more gag like coughs and she could inhale and exhale normally, though shakily again, "No. I didn't. I'm fine." She scooted as close as she could get to the door and felt a wash of relief as they pulled into the garage slash workshop. She barely waited for the car to come to a stop before she was out, but she forced herself to calmly walk towards the stairs.
Tony got out, slammed the door and went after her, "Pepper can we talk?"
She paused, turned and couldn't look him in the eyes, she bit her lower lip a moment and played with the tie of her robe, "Not tonight. I'm tired, a little upset and worried." Why was she worried? She wasn't sure, but she felt in the back of her mind that the fire that caused her to for now officially call this place home was no accident.
Tony nodded, she was right, tonight or this morning rather was no good for either of them, "Get some sleep. If you need me I'll be down here. Just bug Jarvis and in return he'll bug me." He grinned.
She actually managed a small smile, I reached her eyes, "Will that be all Mr. Stark?"
"Yes, that will be all Ms. Potts." The smile was returned.
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Okay, a little plotness going on now. And they're starting to get along again… though Pepper isn't exactly up for touchy feely at the moment. Again sorry this took so long thanks for being patient.