Chapter 5: IDWL
This is probably the last chapter! It was a request, and so the requests will be short, and simple! Once again I would like to thank xXSimplySunshineXx for her story idea… And of course I would love to thank my readers and those fabulous few that also review!
I think… (THINK) this may also be a long chapter… I think and type so we'll see how it goes! Let's do some shout outs before we begin!
Shout outs:
Slobberyblobber – Well, we'll just have to hope it isn't someone innocent huh? Thanks for the review!
Jannet748 – If I can understand… Gracias por a review! That's the best Spanish I got folks! Thanks for the review too!
BryanSollbergerAndNightless - A mouthful for your name! Haha… Pepper isn't good at being straightforward huh? Thanks! Oh and there were only 2 seasons and 52 episodes I believe! It's sad and I so very wish they did so much more!
SilverPedaks1402- Haha thank you thank you thank you! It wouldn't have been possible without y'alls constructive reviews! Thank you! Cliffhangers again huh?
MissPotts27- Yes! At the moment of crisis, the truth has been told! Tony is just a sweetheart and seems that he doesn't want anything getting to his girl! Thank you so much for the review!
Guest – Haha! I tend to do many "turn of events!" Thanks for the review!
Firework471- Yes… With Tony and Pepper (and Gene -_-) there is so much emotion! Thank you! I appreciate that!
Camii-SuperMartianObsessed – Haha! Thanks!
xXSimplySunshineXx – Oh stop it! I will blush… don't make me! Haha! He has his reasons, and of course we talked about all of this! Thank you for the idea for this story and… thank you for all your supportive reviews!
Thanks so much for all those awesome reviews! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I own zip…
Gene looked from Tony to Pepper, his expression resembling shock. "You're Iron Man?" He asked to Tony. Tony's face was red, he struggled to breathe but managed to nod. Gene went red as well.
"I—I'm—surprised—too slow." Tony said between gasps. Gene pushed down harder completely blocking Tony's airway. His face went from red to purple.
"I may have been slow to find out Stark, but I'm fast enough to proceed with your girlfriend."
Tony's eyes rolled up into his head and his body went limp. Pepper screamed, it sounded weird though. "TONY!" She blasted up with her feet and threw herself at the metal bars. The steel instantly bent and broke, throwing the Mandarin and Tony away.
Tony lay sprawled out on the floor, his chest rose and fell, a little shaky, but enough to reassure Pepper that he was okay. She faced Gene and glared at the metallic face. The Mandarin looked back, she could feel him smirking.
"You'll never get away with this." She hissed. Pepper had plenty of experience with controlling the Iron Man suit. Many times, she had shot with his repulsor and rocketed him into the air with his jet boots. This was a tad harder, but she managed to activate the repulsor beams on both her hands.
She felt the beams at full charge, and with both hands out in front of her, she released the pressure. With a hum, the beams caught Gene on his shoulder, throwing him off balance. Pepper recoiled as well, unable to absorb the blast. She managed to stay on her feet, whereas the Mandarin seemed out of commission as of the moment.
Pepper rushed over to Tony's side, and gently turned him onto his back. His neck was bruised from the grip, but other than that he looked fine.
He's a trooper.
Pepper gently touched his shoulder, and gave him a small shake. Tony stirred, his eyes fluttering open for a brief second. "Pepper…." He tried staying conscious but it seemed that his brain lost quite a lot of oxygen.
At last, he took one deep breath and mustered up his strength to sit. "Where's Gene?" He asked. He slowly looked around, gathering in his surroundings. He obviously knew where he was, but the Mandarin wasn't in sight. That bothered him
Tony wasn't completely unconscious. He was awake and heard the battle around him, but it seemed that his eyes wouldn't open to see it. His mind felt fuzzy, and that only meant he lost quite an amount of oxygen. But Tony was able to understand the situation of the "brawl."
Pepper pointed to Gene, but her finger fell short. "What?" Removing her faceplate she scanned the room. "But he was right there!" Tony pulled himself together and managed to get from sitting to standing.
He teetered on heels. Pepper made a grab for him, but he placed a hand out. Shaking his head he said, "It's okay, I'm good. But where is Gene?" Tony braced himself against the cool wall behind him. "Pepper, I need my armor." He watched as Pepper disengaged the armor and handed the backpack to him.
Tony slipped it on, his lightheadedness once again coming back. He shut his eyes, instantly regretting it. Tony remembered he heard about how people with motion sickness end up throwing up because they had shut their eyes. Even though he knew that, his natural instinct was to shut his eyes.
And he regretted it.
He doubled over, bracing himself on his knees. His backpack hung off of one shoulder. Pepper rushed up to him and gently placed her hand on his back. "Tony? You're not going to be able to fight like this! Gene will kill you! He hates you enough for coming here in the first place!" She knew what she had to say but couldn't. "Tony—I—I don't want to loose you." Wow, she said it.
Tony looked at her; his face was red with pain. It was obvious that he was having hard time breathing. "Pepper… I won't ever loose you. I won't let him take you away from me. Not now, not ever." He stood up, placed a hand on her cheek, and leaned in giving her a kiss. Almost instantly he pulled away. He looked apologetic. "Didn't take enough air." He smiled.
Pepper placed a hand over his hand on her check and smiled up at him. "The faster we find him the faster we can enjoy ourselves. Go get him tiger."
…
Tony tapped his chest and took off instantly. He gave Rhodey a call and told him to get Pepper home safely; after all, she had no need to be in the middle of a war.
Gene was gone. He may be gone, but that didn't mean that his armor couldn't find him. There were many bloops on his scanner indicating life signs near the area. Tony tried reducing each scanner to something near by, but managed to cut down the fifty people to ten. It wasn't much, but it was better than a crowd.
"Rhodey? What's wrong?" Tony noticed that the life sign that were Rhodey and Pepper, indicated by a blue blip than the surrounding red, were moving faster.
"GENE!" It was the only thing Rhodey managed to say before the line went dead. Luckily, Tony knew exactly where they were.
He took off in that direction, plowing through the shop, caring nothing about the antique figures placed on the shelves. Bursting out the door, he was greeted by many fans who began shouting and screaming his name. He waved in their direction, but was trying to focus on the streets and sky.
Once the photo session started, he shot into the air and began flying around the city, scanning each building, each street, each corner. He made sure to keep the blue dots in sight, but what was strange was that they weren't moving.
Tony had given Rhodey and Pepper a tag that they put on everyday. It is like a small sonar chip that goes on anything they wear. It's a charm bracelet for Pepper, and a watch for Rhodey. They never take it off, because they know its purpose and how important it is for their safety.
"They wouldn't take it off… right?" Even if their life depends on it, it didn't seem like they would dare take it off. Of all things, Gene couldn't have possibly known that the chip was on their accessories. The sonar is only picked up on Tony's gadgets, nothing else and no one else can find that trace but him.
This was very concerning. If they were stuck in one place, unable to move, that would be better than the actual tracker being off them completely.
Either way, Tony flew in that direction hoping to get at least some trace rather than none.
On his way over, he saw dark spots float in his vision. Oh no, he thought. Not now! I will not pass out now! He forced himself to push that thought of his mind. His throat ached badly. He had been choked before, as well as other traumatic incidents involving his throat. But this was ridiculous, the pain would've killed him if his oxygen didn't deplete first.
But Pepper, she said the word. She said the word. He meant to tell her how much he loved her long before, but he was afraid of what her reaction. What if she was freaked out about his feelings? What if she was so freaked out that she broke up with him? That would've crushed him. Pepper meant a lot more to him than Whitney. Sure Whitney was his best friend, but she was only his best friend. Pepper meant a lot more. She was what he needed, wanted, his whole life.
This was for Pepper, he loved her, and she loved him. That was enough to get his blood pumping and blood rushing to the rescue mission.
Oh, and of course Rhodey, his best friend from forever.
…
"Get your hands off me!" Pepper screeched. Gene pulled her along behind him. She tugged against him, fighting against his pull.
Rhodey had found her as she was exiting the shop. She was as stealthy as a ninja at that moment, desperate not to get caught. Rhodey was outside, his eyes darting around the streets, keeping the perimeter secured. Once he found her, he squeezed her in a hug. "Oh my gosh! We were so worried!" He had said.
As they were running, something big shadowed beneath them. Before long, Gene knocked Rhodey unconscious. Pepper tried running, but he caught her by her wrist. She tried screaming, but before anyone around them could say anything, Gene pulled her into a hug. "Oh! It's been forever, huh?" Many of those suspicious eyes drifted off once they knew the two teens weren't being bullied by the other.
Gene turned into the Mandarin and next thing you know, Rhodey was dangling from his shoulder, and Pepper was being dragged away by her wrist.
What made it worse was that as she was being pulled along, her bracelet was pulled off. There was nothing she could do to stop it from falling. She managed to snag it by her foot, but then Rhodey's watch fell off. That was it. Both the accessories were off and Pepper had to let her charm go. She watched helplessly as the devices got further and further away.
She had to find a way to get Tony to follow them. So as she was pulled, she would loosen up her shoe, pulling on the heels. After a while, she would slip off her first shoe. After another while, her other shoe would come off. Then her clip from her hair, and then the other clip, then her necklace to her earrings, and anything else that would help Tony find her.
She didn't know where Gene was taking her she had no clue. There was no hint that helped her figure it out. Eventually, her luck ran out and there was nothing else she could pull off. Gene would notice her bare feet, but it was worth every effort.
At last, he threw her and Rhodey into an alley. Rhodey hit the floor with a thud. Pepper ran forward and placed a hand on him. Looking up at Gene, she threw daggers at him. "I hate you!" She yelled.
"No worries. Soon I'll be the only one you will show feelings for."
…
Tony's first hint was her charm bracelet along with Rhodey's watch. Trying not to attract any attention on himself, he retracted his armor and moved by feet.
He continued following the trail noticing how far they were being placed away. Gene couldn't have been taking them that far out, right?
Eventually, Tony found the last item. It was Pepper's 1-month anniversary gift; it was the necklace. Pepper would've never taken that necklace off unless she was just that desperate. Tony's heart fell as he just thought of what Gene could've been doing to her. And then there was Rhodey, who knew what Gene was doing to him.
Tony's cell phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw the caller ID and instantly froze in his tracks. "Gene!" He shouted. He heard whimpering in the background. "Whatever you do, don't hurt her." His voice softened a tad.
A chuckle. "Stark. You want her, you get her. 31st street." The call ended. Tony sprinted towards that street. He nudged his way past crowds, apologizing as he pushed them over.
Finally, reaching the street he looked around. Where would he be? Where would they be? He dashed along each corner of the street. Nothing, nothing, and nothing.
At last, he heard a whimper. And he would know that whimper from anywhere. "PEPPER!" He ran, fear spreading into his veins. "No… No… NO!"
He suddenly ran into a hard metal figure. He shook off the daze and glanced up. His eyes flared. "Gene… Where is she? Where is he?" He stood, pushing his nails into his palm. He could almost feel the skin break.
A chuckle. "I'll show you." He stepped aside and showed him the view of his two friends tied up and pushed into a corner. Rhodey was unconscious, and Tony wasn't surprised of that. But Pepper was awake, her eyes flashed in warning. He turned quickly and missed a blow that would've knocked him unconscious as well.
He ducked away, sliding onto his knees. Pushing his chest, he rose as his Iron Man suit came around him. By the time his fist was raised, the suit was part of him. He drove his fist with the hardest strength he had.
Gene fell down. He growled slowly getting to his knees. Even though the suit covered his face, Tony could feel him smirk. Tony stood his ground, clenching his fist. He wouldn't let Gene win; he wouldn't dare let him win.
Gene came up in a flash. It was so quick that Tony had only a moment to react. He stepped back in alarm, unable to react quickly enough. He got a good punch on the jaw, which thankfully didn't affect him as much as it would've.
He stepped back, taking a breather. He glanced in Gene's direction and looked at his stance. One leg, most likely his most dominate one, was back a little which meant most of his weight was there. If he could give a good blow, and quick enough, Tony could probably stop the suits function. That or, blast Gene where he stands with his arc reactor.
He decided that one.
Making a fake move, he watched as Gene made a leap forward, thinking Tony was coming forward as well. Tony waited, counting the seconds in his head. Then finally at the right moment, when Gene was right above Tony, he released the charge in his chest and watched as Gene crumbled to the ground in a scream.
Tony braced himself, placing his hands on his knees. "It's over Gene. And you lost again."
…
Minutes later, the police arrived with some SHIELD agents. The agents confiscated Gene's rings, while the police took him in for custody. With no one able to provide him an alibi, he was stuck in jail until he found someone.
SHIELD told Tony that the rings would be in safekeeping, and if things went out of hand, they would destroy them so that no one else would get hurt.
Tony nodded as he listened. He had helped Rhodey and Pepper to their feet. Rhodey had a small concussion, but he kept murmuring cheers of excitement and congratulating Tony on his victory. "Yeah man! Hoorah to you…"
Tony smiled, but his gaze shifted towards Gene. Walking over, he winced. What was he going to say? Why was he even walking towards him? He stole his girlfriend, threatened her life, and even tried to kill him in the process.
Gene was in the car, his hands cuffed in front of him. He sat forward, his shoulders and back straight. But Tony saw his jaw quiver. Gene was embarrassed by his defeat; he was broken for he was unable to achieve the easiest thing in the world.
Tony nodded to one of the officers, who opened the window to the car. "Gene." Tony said hoarsely. After screaming all day, he was sure his voice would take a little longer to recover.
Gene didn't even look at him. "Stark."
"You know you deserved this. You deserved this long ago, but you're just getting your punishment now." Tony said softly.
Gene glared. "You don't deserve her. You're nothing compared to me. I would've made her a QUEEN! A queen, Stark! You have nothing to offer!" Tony leaned in to his face. He set his jaw and glared at him, flashing him his most menacing eyes he could.
"Yeah? Well at least she loves me."
…
Weeks later….
Tony gave her another small kiss. He laughed as she giggled and closed her eyes. She blushed red.
Tony had just realized that she was ticklish. So, as a normal boyfriend would do, he didn't let her go until tears began forming in her eyes. "STOP!" She cried. He didn't stop. He kept tickling and tickling, finding it hilarious to find her squirming with laughter.
He felt guilty after seeing her huffing and puffing so he decided that a kiss was appropriate for a quick apology. "I love you Pepper." He said softly.
She looked up at him. No more worries, no more threats. Gene was long gone. His sentence had been thirty years for abuse and trying to attack an innocent. He deserved it, and well she was glad that he was gone. Tony was still feeling guilty, thinking that he could've talked it out, but Pepper won him over claiming that if he hadn't been gone, they wouldn't have been able to be together.
Suddenly the alarms went off in the armory. Toy sighed, getting to his feet and checked the scanner. He laughed.
Coming back to sit down, Pepper was perplexed. "What? It could be an emergency!"
Tony chuckled. "Rob Glob? An emergency? Please… The police can handle him. Besides, I have a girlfriend I have to pay attention too." He leaned in for another kiss.
Pulling away, Pepper said, "I love you too, Tony."
YAY! It was much longer than I anticipated! BUTTT… The story is over! Yes… Gene is gone! Rob Glob is no trouble! The teens have been reunited, and Rhodey… well the poor guy has always been the third wheel! So anyway… TA DA!
It was super fun to write and I enjoyed every excruciating cliffhanger and not mention all of those blood-chilling reviews! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I super duper pooper-scooper appreciate it! (Yes I had chocolate).
Please review! I would love to know what you thought about the last bombing chapter! I hope you loved or at least liked it xXSimplySunshineXx! And thank you all for reading and reviewing! I can't wait to keep that New Year's resolution going!