AN: I'm so sorry for the long wait! I was a bit caught up with my other stories, but I promise I won't abandon this one! I hope you enjoy it!
Watching it is the worst.
Still, Pepper can't force herself to turn the TV of. She sits in the livingroom, alone, and watches as the Avengers fight yet another battle. No aliens this time, today it's robots. Big, shooting monsters made of metal. She's pretty sure they are Hammertech, but just like always, there won't be a proof. She snorts, even though it's not funny. It's simply always the same.
The camera catches a flash of green and follows it. The Hulk is at his best, taking out many of those creepy robots, unharmed by whatever they shoot at him. Pepper is thankful for it. At first, she was wary of the Hulk, but she soon learned to appreciate his existence. Because of him, she can be sure Bruce will come home safely.
After a few moments of watching the Hulk smashing his enemies, the camera finds Captain America. Steve is in his suit, shield on his arm and attacking these robots. He is shouting, probably into his com, but the camera is to far away from him to catch his words. Pepper doesn't need to hear it to know what he's doing: He's coordinating things, making plans and commanding the other Avengers while being in trouble himself. Finally, he seems to have a break from fighting. He lifts his hand to his ear and continues shouting. Suddenly, a figure comes from behind. Steve doesn't seem to notice. Pepper wants to warn him, wants to scream at the screen, even though she knows he won't hear her. But then, just before the robot reaches Steve, it collapses. Pepper sees the arrow sticking out of it's throat long before the reporter, who comments everything life, realizes what has happened.
They try to find Hawkeye now. Pepper knows they won't, she knows archer is to good at hiding to be spotted this easily. Only once the media got hold of a picture of him. It was taken from afar, grainy and way to dark. You can barely see anything. Clint likes it that way, likes to know that the only thing people see of him are his arrows that never miss their target.
The camera gives up its search for Clint when it finds Iron Man. Tony has a whole bunch of robots on his tail. He turns while flying, shooting them. Like always, the camera stays with him longer than with the others. Like Tony says: The camera loves him. Maybe it's because he gives them something to work with. Steve, Clint and Natasha are like legends to them: indestructible, faceless, unknown. Bruce and Thor are beyond what they want to know. But Tony, Tony is a man the media thinks they know. They have reported his countless parties, talked to one-night-stands, interviewed him... the list is endless. They think they know him. Pepper smirks lightly. They don't know him at all.
A flash of lightning pulls the camera to Thor. The asgardian is swinging his hammer as if he had never done anything else. What, when Pepper thinks about it, might be in fact true. She never knows how to act around the god. He is very gentle, tries very hard to behave right when around women. He clearly loves Jane (who is, by the way, in New Mexico with Darcy), but still, he is, like Darcy said, a big lovable idiot. Pepper's not sure where to set the pronunciation.
Suddenly the robots all collapse. The Black Widow once again saved the day. Pepper has not seen Natasha on screen, but she is like Clint in that way: She doesn't want to be seen. Pepper can't blame her. Fame can be a curse.
On the screen, the Avengers leave the scene. Another battle fought, another victory won.
Pepper turns of the TV and prepares for their arrival. Deep down, she hopes that one day, they won't have to fight these battles anymore.