WOW...thank you So much for the awesome reviews guys! I was really happy to see that people aproved of the chapter! So here's another to make you happy! Argh...I'm getting nervous about the darkness of this FF, I hope I'll still have friends at the end of this!
'Pepper, stay with me.' Happy said firmly.
I felt the speed at which we drove, where are we going ? I tried to focus but I couldn't make it out.
Happy squeezed my hand, 'don't leave us Pep, focus on my voice, come on.' He rubbed my shoulder.
I'm not going anywhere. Where's Tony?
'Pepper, don't you dare give up' Happy pleaded.
I shivered, but I wasn't cold anymore, I snuggled deeper into the jacket which covered my body. The smell was comforting; it was as comfortable as being with Tony, in our bed, our warm bed.
'We're nearly there Pep, hold on for me.' Happy spoke again.
I'm trying, I am, I don't know what's wrong, why am I shivering? Where's Tony? Why isn't he with us? Why isn't he here?
'It's ok Pep, we're almost there.' Happy squeezed my hand.
I tried to nod, I couldn't. I swallowed hard, I felt warmth coming over me, my eyes felt heavy and I felt my head loll sideways. Where are you Tony? My mind ran through the last few minutes, I couldn't remember anything at all, I was crying, I was struggling, there were screams, but they weren't my own. A man, I suddenly remembered, I jolted in my seat, no, Tony, they were going to kill him.
Happy sped up, he squeezed my hand, 'it's ok, Pep, you're safe, you're ok.' He tried to soothe me.
'No, Tony.' I muttered, it hurt to talk, my whole face was throbbing, 'Tony, please no.' I cried.
'He's ok, he'll be ok, stay with me, Pep.' Happy rubbed my arm.
The car finally came to a halt, I heard the doors open and shut, the cold wind pierced my skin, Happy swiftly pulled me into his arms.
'Help us, please, she's hurt.' I heard him yell.
Voices instantly surrounded us, I flinched every time someone touched me, I heard Happy still trying to soothe me, a prick in my arm settled me instantly, I felt myself being lowered onto a bed, the cushions underneath my head were a comfort, they tried to pull away the jacket, I clutched it to my chest.
'Leave that with her.' Happy instructed.
Thank you, I tried to say, I felt at ease, it was finally completely still and peaceful.
'Tony!' Rhodey's voice rang through the coms. I ripped the ear piece out and dropped it. I walked determinedly toward the location of the ring leader. The fire burned and raged around me, the debris no longer threatened me; I caught a glimpse of myself in a reflection through a broken window.
Blood covered my face and my arms I couldn't tell whether it was mine, or the animal I just slaughtered.
Peppers face was etched in my mind, the terror, her tears, her blood. I couldn't stop my mind from wandering, what did he do to her? His filthy hands on her body bore into my mind. Her bare skin under his touch, the way he pinned to the ground. I clenched my fists, the rage was blinding. I didn't even feel the heat from the flames as they attacked my body. I grit my teeth and pushed through the fiery haze. The door at the end of the hall beckoned me. I knew he was there, I knew he would probably be the last thing I see. I didn't care. Someone had to be held accountable for Pepper.
'Tony Stark.' The voice beamed through the roar of fire.
'Rommel.' I hissed.
Two terrified looking guards stood beside him, 'I see you've done your research.' He grinned. 'Welcome to my humble abode.' He laughed holding his arms out.
The guards didn't find the situation amusing.
Beams from the ceiling fell down around us; I didn't flinch, neither did he. The guards stammered backwards.
'I'm going to kill you.' I said calmly.
'I was certainly hoping for a climactic ending to this saga.' He grinned.
'I won't disappoint.' I managed. A smirk ran across my face.
An explosion of windows around us finally sent the two guards running for cover.
'Afraid, Stark?' he mocked me.
'Terrified.' I smirked.
'Then let's put you out of your misery.' He laughed.
He ran toward me before I could think his fist met with my stomach.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him down, my knee met with his face.
I was momentarily winded but I recovered my position. I threw him to the ground and pressed my knee against his neck.
He struggled for a few seconds, he hit me in the ribs over and over, I didn't give in, I retaliated with return punches to his face. He laughed. I looked down at the sadistic grin on his face; before I could react I felt a sharp pain in my side and an elbow to my face. I faltered, I lost my grip on him and his foot met with my jaw.
I stumbled backwards and fell to my knees. I instinctively clutched at my side; I looked at the blood which stained my hand. 'Playing dirty.' I muttered.
I got back to my feet; he stood a few feet away from me, a small knife in his hand.
Another beam fell between us; I finally started to feel the heat on my skin. I stepped back and shielded my face with my arm.
'You can easily get out of this Stark, I just want the Extremis.' He yelled over the raging inferno.
'That's never going to happen.' I yelled.
'Don't be an idiot.' He chastised me.
I stood my ground, 'it adds to my charm, wouldn't you say?' I said with a straight face.
A quick moment later a bright flash sent half the wall behind me shattering into the lower levels.
A repulsor blast ripped through the walls, 'Tony!' Rhodey's voice yelled through the War Machine.
In that moment I realised how much my body was lacking oxygen, the hole in the house let fresh air in and my lungs struggled to inhale. The fire burned through the house.
'Call on the Extremis and save yourself.' Rommel yelled.
I fell to my knees, Rhodey started toward me, 'no!' I yelled.
Without hesitation, my mind connected to the house, to Jarvis and to the War Machine. He stopped in his tracks, unable to move.
'Get out of here.' I said through the internal coms.
'Tony he's going to kill you, drop the connection and get out.'
I shook my head, 'no choice, leave!' I yelled through the smoke, 'keep Pepper safe.'
The suit obeyed, I watched as he took off into the sky.
I turned back to Rommel, I closed my eyes, I commanded the suit and it began assembling itself around me. I knew there was no other way. I could stand here and be stubborn and die, or I could die trying to fight. I knew Rhodey would be calling for me. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
'Jarvis shut down coms.'
Rommel pulled out a gun; I recognised it immediately, Stark weapons. How ironic.
A large flame ripped through the floor below us, he shielded his eyes from the fire, I took this to my advantage and advanced toward him. I lunged at him though the fire. My boots crushed the brittle beams beneath me.
I knocked him to the ground, the weight of the suit pinned him down. He shot at me; the gun was a low frequency EMP blaster, my own weapons against me. I stammered backwards. I regained my balance; I made a move toward him.
'Stop right there.' He yelled, he raised his other hand. He held up the neuron stabiliser.
He grinned at me, blood stained his teeth, he spat at the floor and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
My heart sunk, I knew it was coming. I saw it when I found the schematics to this building. I knew this was his play all along. The least I could manage was to take him down with me. But where was the other guy? I knew this wouldn't be over, even if I managed to kill Rommel, the other one would come, he would finish his work. I knew how these things played out.
'Jarvis, initiate the self-destruct sequence.' It was all I could do to protect the world, to stop the Extremis making its way into the wrong hands again.
He grinned at me; his finger hovered over the button, 'I know you're more than familiar with this little gem.' He spoke loudly, the roar of the fire was deafening.
My heart raced, the flames danced around us, eerie shadows lingered like the ghost which I knew I would soon become.
'Give me the Extremis and I let you walk.' He said simply.
'We both know that's a lie, Rom.' I said through gritted teeth.
He laughed, 'well it was worth a shot.' He laughed, his finger moved to push the button.
My mind clicked straight away and I managed to fire a repulsor beam at him. He dropped to his knees; I watched the flames engulf him as he fell through the floor. I smiled to myself.
Slowly I felt my body weakening; I looked over to where his body fell. The stabiliser lay on the ground. I fell to my knees; the familiar hum brought the memories rushing back. The pain, the fear, the confusion. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, I couldn't command anything. I was back on the couch, Stane's face inches from mine, 'you think that just because you have an idea that it belongs to you?' I tried to speak; I tried to tell him he was crazy. But it was useless, no matter what I said or how many times I said it. There would always be someone like him, always another Stane who wanted to rule the world. I fought against the suffocating numbness.
My lungs failed me and my heart struggled with every beat.
I lay in the rubble staring up at the starry night. The roof was completely burnt through and tiny droplets of water mixed with ash fell gently from the sky. I felt the heat closing in on me, a strong vibration from underneath caused the fragile floor to shatter beneath the weight of my suit, I felt myself falling and falling.
I crashed into the ground below; the flames engulfed me. The metallic taste in my mouth was oddly familiar; I felt the blood seep out of the corner of my mouth. I couldn't fight it anymore; instead I lay silently looking up at the world burning around me. I smiled.
The Extremis was out of their reach, and Pepper, Pepper was safe.
Darkness slowly enveloped me, but Peppers face stayed with me until it finally ended. I closed my eyes.
I was actually quite emotional writing this, I hope I did the characters some justice, also for those who may be freaking out about the end, don't! If you remember the beginning, this is not the end!
Please let me know how you found this! I'm working on the next installment as we speak, pretty excited :)