The darkness continues... as you may have noticed this piece has a much darker undertone than the previous work I've published, however if anyone wishes for some happier words, I'll be writing something more cheery eventually, but for those who, like me, enjoy the suffering of Tony Stark, stay with me fo a lot more is on its way!
I made my way to the top floor of the tower; I stood looking out at the cityscape. I couldn't help but smile to myself, the glistening windows reflected the beauty of the world in which we lived. Darkness lurked beneath the serene city, but the people fought relentlessly to make the world better than what we had allowed it to become. Not heroes; people, simple real people.
I sighed loudly; my breath fogged up the window, and as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. A sickly reminder of the fading existence I was faced with.
My mind wandered from the first time I stepped into my father's shoes, to the first time I felt like I was doing something noble. Pepper was always there beside me, beautiful, powerful Pepper. When she set her heart on something she made sure it was done, that is why I shudder to think how she will fare when she finds out that my fate is already written. There's nothing that neither I, nor she can do to change it.
The ever challenging situation with which I found myself faced, was a continuous uphill battle. My head was pounding, I remembered the drawer of medicinal goods in the bathroom. I took a bottle of scotch from the bar and made my way to the back.
'Jarvis, dim the lights please.' The sound of my voice seemed like a distant memory of a friend long gone. I barely recognised myself.
'Certainly, sir.' Jarvis obliged.
I took a packet of Advil from the drawer, sat down against the bathroom door and leaned back against the cool wood. I took two pills from the packet and put the bottle of scotch to my lips. The harsh liquid soared down my throat, soothing the ache which burned inside me.
'How long until the symptoms cease?' I asked quietly.
'Based on the tests I've conducted, I would estimate three months at most.' Jarvis replied.
I nodded; confirmation of the end. I sat silently drinking away the day. What more could I do.
My introspection was interrupted by hushed voices as they crept through the cracks. I raised my head slightly to focus on the voices.
Pepper and Rhodey.
I leaned back against the door, I had no intentions of facing Pepper right now, especially not since I'm pretty sure I am completely drunk, and incapable of standing up right now.
'Has he told you anything?' I heard Pepper ask Rhodey.
A shuffling of feet indicated that they made their way and sat down at the bar. I could still hear them, but only just.
'No, nothing.' Rhodey replied.
'This is ridiculous, he's so stubborn, he'd rather die than let anyone in.' Pepper said in a slightly raised voice.
'Have you asked him?' Rhodey asked her.
'Of course I have, every day.' Pepper replied.
Even without seeing her, I could hear the frustration in her voice, I could picture the small crinkle on her brow which appeared whenever she was stressed, I felt completely guilty, because of me she stressed more and more every day.
'What did he say?' Rhodey asked Pepper.
'He never says anything, he tells me not to worry.' She answered him.
'What is actually going on? Rhodey asked.
I looked down at my knees, here we go. Pepper is going to reveal everything, not only will she be on my back all the time; Rhodey will be there too, on my case about not telling Pepper.
'He's really sick; I think it's got to do with that serum.' I could barely hear her.
'The Extremis?' Rhodey questioned.
A silence fell upon the house; I could only imagine that she had nodded.
'What's happening?' Rhodey asked.
She took a while to reply.
'He's losing consciousness, for a few minutes or so, at first I thought he was just deep in thought, thinking up plans and ideas for the suits, but then I'd catch him staring off into space every so often without even realising that it happened when he comes back.' She paused. 'It's happening more often.' Another pause. 'I've seen him in the bathroom hiding away the fact that he has nose bleeds on an almost daily basis.'
'Has he said anything about that?' Rhodey asked.
'No, nothing.'
Rhodey cleared his throat, 'these kind of things are generally associated with the brain, aren't they? I'm sure he knows this.'
'Of course he knows, that's why it worries me, he knows and he hasn't said anything.'
Brilliant, intuitive Pepper, I smiled to myself. She knew more than anyone ever could about me, I cursed myself on a daily basis for taking so long to have realised how important she is to me. Now as the sands ran scarce, my heart ached at the idea of leaving her behind. The strongest woman I have ever known, the only woman, aside from my mother, who could keep up with me, and who chose to do so, because she cared. Why had I been so blind?
'He knows something serious is happening to him, and he won't tell me.' Pepper started crying. It broke my heart to hear her. I couldn't bare it. I took a long swig of the scotch; my own eyes began to water.
She held back the remainder of the details from Rhodey, I mentally thanked her.
No more was said; the quiet sound of weeping was all that I heard. I closed my eyes and let my own tears fall silently. I drank and drank until there was nothing left. I felt my head loll forward forcing me to look down at my legs. My jeans were covered with dark red droplets. I rolled my eyes, again. I pulled the cuff of my sleeve down over my hand and wiped my face. She was right. The symptoms were occurring more often. This was happening too fast.
So another chapter is down, I hope you like the misery as a lot more is on its way! YAY :) hahaha, I love Tony angst!
Thank you for the reviews for the first two chapters, it's very comforting knowing there are people out there who love reading sad stories as much as I do haha!