Gabie

III

The meeting ended so Allie, Pepper, Happy, and I all escorted Killian out of the building.

"Well, I can't say that I'm not disappointed. But then as my father used to say, 'Failure is the fog through which we glimpse triumph,'" Killian muses and gives another dashing smile.

"That's very deep," Pepper comments politely. Killian hums and shrugs. "And I have no idea what it means."

"Well, me neither. He was kind of an idiot, my old man," Killian admits and Pepper chuckles. I don't find it funny, I actually get it.

"I'm sure I'll see you again, Pepper, Allison," he says and kisses Allie gently on the cheek. Allie blushes a bright red and playfully shoves him away. He then embraces Pepper warmly and walks towards his car.

"Ms Potts?" Happy prompts and Pepper flushes.

"Allison?" I deadpan and she chuckles. She's not flustered or dazed, just a smiley girl thinking Killian's a good guy.

"Happy," Pepper breathes and looks around all flustered.

"The car is ready, if you're ready to go," Happy informs and Pepper glances after Killian as he walks to his car.

"Yes. I just um...God, I forgot my other thing, so I'm just gonna," Pepper stammers and turns around. "Allie and I...we'll be back-in a sec after we grab our stuff." Allie takes that as a request so she follows Pepper inside.

Happy watches Aldrich's car as he pulls out.

"Get a pic of the license plate," I suggest and he instantly whips out his phone. Happy snaps the shot just as Killian drives away.

"Smart," he praises.

"Wanna follow the shady guy?" I ask and Happy grins widely.

"I like your moxie kid. Let's go."

III

Allie

III

"Oh my lord," Pepper gasps making me jolt to attention. All the worst case scenarios are already going through my head.

"What?! Am I bleeding? Are you having a heart attack? Is the mansion filled with attackers? Are we on fire? Am I pregnant? Are you pregnant?" I rattle off and start frantically looking all around.

"No Allie we are fine, it's all good," Pepper assures me. "I'm just surprised at Tony's gift to you is all."

"Gift?" I mutter and look out the window as Pepper pulls up to the mansion.

"Why do you always either think your bleeding or pregnant?" she asks quizzically as she parks the car.

Right out in front there is a huge stuffed rabbit, and I mean huge.

"OH MY GOD! IT IS ADORABLE!" I screech and hop out of the car. "I always assume that because I get cut without noticing and bleed all over, and I watch way too much soap operas and someone is always pregnant on those shows," I answer quickly and then dash into the stuffed rabbit. "IT'S SO FLUFFY I WANNA DIE!"

The rabbit is soft and towers tens of feet above me.

"It is large," Pepper observes with a raised eyebrow.

Looking up I spy the tag around it's collar. It reads: Allie my name is Bobbi and I'm going to be your best friend. I burst out laughing at the cheesiness and begin jumping up and down excitedly. I love fluffy things and I've always wanted a huge stuffed animal.

"I can nap on it's huge feet!" I cheer. "I have to thank Tony!"

"Tell him I say hi," Pepper says and waves to me while getting back in her car.

"Bye Pepper!" I call as her car peels out.

Vibrating wth excitement I rush inside and throw off my jacket.

"Tony! I'm sorry I'm late. I lov-What the...? What is that?!" I splutter and stop in my tracks. Tony is sat in his Iron Man suit on the couch.

Next to the couch burns a small fire in the fireplace. On the mantle stockings hang and on the other side of he couch a Christmas tree sits. I insisted we decorate for Christmas.

"You're wearing this in the house now? What is that, like Mark 15? Or is it 35? Or 37? I'm sorry I don't know the numbers," I say and saunter to the couch. I'm attempting to look sexy. Tony glances at the suit number but his masked face gives away no expression.

"Uh...yeah. Something like that. You know everybody needs a hobby," he replies.

"Oh, and you have to wear your hobby in the living room? I don't mind wearing it around the house it's just the suits are uncomfortable to cuddle with," I pout and plop down on the couch next to him. He surprisingly gets up and walks around the coffee table.

"Just breakin' it in. You know, it's always a little pinchy in the gooey bag at first, so.." he trails off but shakes his metal ass at me. I giggle and blush a bright red. "Oh hey, did you see your Christmas present?"

"Yes, I did. I don't know how I could have missed that Christmas present. I love it so much! It's so fluffy! And it's so big! Thank you so much!" I proclaim and I imagine he preens under the mask. Suddenly a thought comes to me and I frown. "Wait is it gonna fit through the door?"

"Well actually, uh...it's a good question. I got a team of guys comin' tomorrow, they're gonna blow out that wall," he responds casually.

"You got me a huge rabbit and you're gonna blow up a wall? For me?" I gape and get starry eyes. "You're amazing."

"For you I'd do anything." I grin and sit up on the couch. "So, uh...tense? Good day?" He walks up behind me and clamps his metal hands on my shoulders to massage them.

"Ooh shoulders, a little naughty. Naughty girl," he teases and I snort. I don't mind his dirty jokes, he means well. "I don't wanna harp on this, but you do like the custom rabbit?

"Do I like it?"

"Nailed it, right?"

"Hells yes you did, I love it!" I stand up and turn to face him while sensually wrapping my arms around the neck of the suit. "So much so that I came in here to thank you in a special way."

Because I'm so young my soulmates withhold affection until I take the first step, so when I do it's usually a big deal.

"So why don't you lift up that face mask and give me a kiss?" Instead of lifting the helmet Tony knocks on it and shrugs.

"Huh. Yup, dammit. No can do. You wanna just kiss it on the-"

"Uh-huh," I grumble cutting him off.

"The facial slit?" he finishes.

"Well, why don't I run down to the garage and see if I can't find a crowbar to shimmy that thing open?" I suggest and turn on my heel.

"Crowbar. Yeah." I look over my shoulder and wink as I head to the garage.

"Oh, except there's been a...uh...a radiation leak," Tony interjects hastily. I can tell he's lying though.

"I'll take my chances."

"That's risky." I ignore his words and start down the stairs to his lab.

"At least let me get you like a Hazmat suit or a Geiger counter or something like that."

I roll my eyes and continue down the stairs.

I find Tony doing pull ups as he remotely controls the suit.

"Busted," he grumbles and drops down from the pull up bar. I frown at him and cross my arms, he was trying to fool me? The suit behind me mimics the motion oddly.

"This is a new level of lame. Cool that you can control the suit from that face thingy but lame," I lecture.

"Sorry." It's a one word reply that make me shake my head, and catch sight of the food tray in the corner,

"You ate without me, already? On date night? I didn't think I was running that late," I huff.

"He was just-"

"You mean you?" I correct as he tries to gesture to the Mark 42. I pieced together it is the same one from the rest drive.

"Well, yeah. I just mean we were just...just hosting you while I finished up a little work," he explains and my anger softens.

"And yes, I had a quick bite. I didn't know if you were comin' home or if you were having drinks with Aldrich Killian."

Mark 42 turns it face towards me as if to glare accusingly.

"What?" I balk. "Aldrich Killian?"

"What?" Tony returns pretending to be clueless.

"Aldrich Killian? What were you checking up on me today? I thought I said we would finish the role play tonight," I protest. I cannot believe he's worried about Aldrich.

"Happy and Gabie were concerned."

"No, Tony you were keeping an eye on me. No matter what you always have an eye on me, why are you so worried?"

"Because you're eighteen! You're young, you're prone to fainting, you attract accidents, you get sick so often, you barely know any self defense, and you are the best thing to ever happen to me. If I don't keep an eye on you then I'm afraid you'll disappear," he confesses. I stop short and gape at him. He's really that worried?

"Tony I survived long before I met you and I promise I'll stick around for a long time," I vow and step forward to take his hand. "You gotta talk to me."

"I just want you near me all the time."

Tears begin to come to my eyes at the hurt sinks in. The separation I have with my soulmates is painful but right now it's necessary.

Unable to trust my voice I look down, hoping my hair will cover the tears. I cry way too often and I don't want him to see. If he sees he'll feel guilty and I don't want that.

"I'm sorry I'm going to bed," I croak and make a break for the stairs.

"Hold on. Come on. Allie," he calls but I keep climbing the steps.

"Hey, I admit it! My fault. Sorry." I freeze and gaze back at him.

"S'not your fault," I counter. "I-I just cry a lot."

"Some of it's my fault, we are hurting you and ourselves. Allie I admit it I'm a piping hot mess. It's been going on for a while, I haven't said anything."

Turning around I hastily walk back down to comfort Tony.

"Nothing's been the same since New York."

"I'm glad you're ready to talk," I sniffle and blinks way my tears. I know something's been up as I tried pressing but it didn't work. I had to wait and support him until he could come to me.

"You experience things and then they're over and you still can't explain 'em. Gods, aliens, other dimensions. I...I'm just a man in a can. The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because of your scheduled visits. Which are great. I love you, I'm lucky. But, honey, I can't sleep. You go to bed, I come down here. I do what I know, I tinker." Tony gestures around to his tools and his suit while he talks.

Did he say he loved me? Wait this is worse than I first thought.

"But threat is imminent, and I have to protect the one thing that I can't live without. That's you. My suits, they're uh...They're part of me." He's holding my hands know and kneeling before me. Seeing him so humble, so vulnerable, it's weakening and soul crushing.

"A distraction," I conclude.

"Maybe."

"No I mean that's how I cope too. When the depressions and the anxiety get to much I write. The stories and my characters they're apart of me but ultimately they distract me from the war waging in my head," I elaborate gently and cup his cheek. Leaning down I kiss him softly and embrace him. "If it helps do it, but only at times when you should be awake." Tony holds me tightly and clings to my blouse. "You should invest in a therapist, lavender sheets, and some prescribed sleep meds if it gets that bad."

"Thank you," he whispers in my ear. I pull away and kiss his nose.

"Thank you for building an army of suits to protect me," I return in a joking manner. He chuckles and I giggle. "Now I'm going to hang in the hot tub."

"Okay."

"And you're gonna join me," I add and he lights up. "I can't make out with myself now can I?" His face only hers brighter and he leaps to his feet, sweeping me off mine in the process.

"Better."

"And can we order Chinese? I'm craving dumplings right now."

"Anything for you honey bunny." He pushes his face into my neck and starts leaving a trail of kisses up to my mouth. I giggle and squirm; I'm super ticklish.

"And Tony?"

"Yes?"

"I love you too."