Here's a short one for you guys.
I apologize that I haven't been updating as fast as usual, RL is currently kicking my butt. But my Muse had a sudden burst of inspiration this week, so I've got some new stuff to post. Thanks for hanging in there! :)
I don't own Iron Man. Which is very upsetting, actually.
Dream
Around midnight, Tony begins to stir again. He tosses on the mattress, groaning in distress. Pepper can hear his breathing speed until he is gasping, his chest heaving. She rolls over so that she lies right beside him and lifts her arm to rest it on his forehead in a familiar, maternal gesture. In a few seconds, Tony's breathing calms and he opens his eyes, squinting at her in the darkened room. He reaches for her hand, grasping it like it's the only thing connecting him to this world.
He has been having more and more nightmares in the past few months. Most of his time is spent away on missions
After a while, Pepper speaks. "Another nightmare?"
Tony nods, his face grave. A few minutes pass before he whispers, "It was Afghanistan again. Yinsen, he – " Emotion saturates his tone and he is unable to finish.
But Pepper understands. They have a tacit understanding, a silent awareness of one another, developed over a span of many years. She pulls him closer to her, running her hands through his dark brown hair and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. The velvet light of the moon seeps in through the window as they fall asleep in each other's arms.