Here's the next part. I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated, I've just been so busy. And I know that's always my excuse, but it's true. Life never slows down.
The first half of this chapter is in Tony's POV, and the second is in Pepper's.
Chapter 9
He is flying, the wind rushing past him as he soars gracefully through the sky. Despite the fact that he is wearing the suit, Tony can actually feel the air. The suit functions as his second skin, allows him to use his senses, even while encased within it. It is natural, a part of him, just like an arm or a leg.
He picks up speed, veers to the left a little, and now he can see the house. The fully-functioning Extremis inside his brain calculates the distance to the concrete roof, how long it will take to reach it, the vector required in order to land safely. It barely takes any effort; it is easy as breathing to Tony. Tony delights in the complete feeling that results from the flow of data in his Extremis-enhanced mind. Data is his need, his sustenance. He could survive off of it.
He feels better than he has in months. The combination of the data and flying gives him a giddy, sort of high feeling. He laughs as he reaches the roof, lowers slowly to rest his feet onto the ground. Pepper is there, waiting for him, and she grins upon hearing the metallic laugh emanating from the suit. Tony moves toward her, metal clanking against the concrete. Calling on the armor, he wills his helmet to retract, revealing his vulnerable skin. Pepper steps closer, rests her hands on either side of his face. She smiles again, her beautiful face filled with love, compassion, hope. She leans forward, eyes focused on his lips, and then –
And then he wakes up. His constant headache returns, and he groans, rolls over to feel the bed beside him. Pepper is gone, probably at work already. She has been working a lot lately. She blames that on all of the controversies that have arisen in the press as a result of his ailment, but he knows that she doesn't want to be a distraction to him. And though she loves him, she can't stand to see him so weak and hopeless.
He wishes she were here, though. When Pepper is around, everything seems okay. She helps ease his overwhelmed mind. Sometimes, even without the Extremis, his brain moves at such a fast pace that he can't keep up with it. He has tried various things to help alleviate some of this: loud music, drinking, flying, but nothing helps more than Pepper. He truly would go crazy without her.
Pepper cracks open the bedroom door, slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible. But Tony is still awake. "Pepper?" He calls. The light from the arc reactor fills the room with a blue glow.
She freezes. She thought he would have been asleep already. "Tony." She responds.
He sighs. "Pepper," he says, "I don't know what to do." She knows exactly what he is talking about, and it makes her sad.
She closes the door, gracefully makes her way over to the bed. She climbs across the bed to Tony's side, and leans over him. She looks directly into his eyes, presses a hand on the arc reactor to feel the faint vibrating as its power keeps him alive. He stares back, his deep brown eyes burning with intensity. This is what she loves the most about him: the clear passion in his eyes when he looks at her.
Then Pepper lowers her head until her lips are level with his, and kisses him. For a second, he kisses her back, but then he jerks away from her, gasping in pain. She pulls him into a hug, her hands and voice soothing as he fights the Extremis.
The episode is a short one, and in a few seconds, Tony's heart rate slows and his breathing returns to normal.
"Oh, Tony." Pepper's voice is hushed, flowing with emotion. She buries her face into his neck, silent tears seeping through his t-shirt.
She tries to be strong for him, but it's becoming hard to maintain.
I apologize for the boringness of this chapter. I promise the next one will be more interesting!
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