I guess, without my realizing it, a few chapters in this fic could qualify for the Pepperony 100 challenge on LiveJournal. I really honestly didn't mean for it to work out like that, but I guess that's what it is. So there are going to be some of those thrown in here, but this fic won't be entirely for the challenge.
I don't own Iron Man. 'Nuff said.
Mission
She says nothing as he stumbles into the basement workshop. The mission must have been a rough one, because the armor he is still wearing is severely damaged. There are deep, ragged gashes cut through the metal, the red paint mottled where the suit has been scuffed. A dent in the torso of the suit alarms Pepper, but the arc reactor appears to be intact. Pepper moves quickly to his side and throws her arm around him, doing her best to help bear at least some of his weight.
She says nothing when he collapses onto the platform, simply too exhausted to hold himself up for any longer. His faithful robots move to support him now, and Tony's head lolls as the mask is removed from his face. As the robots strip him of the suit, he hangs there in place, muscles slack. She returns to his side and helps him to his feet, leading him to the couch in the corner of the room. He falls back onto it, groaning a little. Pepper gently pulls the undersuit off of his limp body and retrieves the medical kit, beginning her work.
She says nothing as she patches him up. This is not the worst she's seen him, but it still requires some attention. Pepper cleans up the gashes on his abdomen, gently covering them with a bandage. Tony whimpers a little when she runs her fingers lightly across his chest, feeling for broken ribs. The area around the arc reactor looks bruised and swollen, and she remembers the dent in the chest of the suit. Tony's enemy must have known about the arc reactor's necessity to power the suit and had attempted to destroy it. That's a terrifying thought.
Pepper says nothing because she knows that this is something Tony feels he must do. When he comes home each time, she patches him up. She likes to think that she's the one keeping him together, mending him up every time he falls apart. It hurts her to see him wounded and weak like this. Even though the suit he made protects him, he is not invincible. Pepper is scared to think about the things he has gone through and the danger he willingly puts himself into.
But at the same time, Pepper is proud of the man he has become. Tony willingly risks his life for people he doesn't even know, and that takes a lot of courage and determination. Being Iron Man is what changed Tony into the man she loves, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Pepper?" Tony calls, his voice rough, her name barely coming out as a whisper.
"Yes, Tony?"
His voice is urgent, anxious. "Don't leave. Please, Pep. Stay."
Smiling softly, Pepper sits beside him. "I'm not going anywhere." She takes his hand, bringing it to her mouth. As she slowly kisses each of his fingers, pausing on the one that holds his wedding ring, he sighs happily.
This is definitely not a songfic, but this chapter reminds me of the song, "Put Me Back Together" by Weezer. I love Weezer. They're one of my favorite bands.
Anyway, you know the drill! Read and Review!