The Unknown Variable

Hello peoples, go threaten someone else, for I own nothing.

Tony's POV

It hadn't taken long for me to go through everything in the case. A lot of it had something to do with early Arc technology, or Vanko. There was the original hard copy of Arc blueprints, a few rehearsal tapes, a couple of Howard's notebooks, and a specific tape with Howard talking to me.

He didn't mention Evanna, or even Penny, so I figured that it happened long before I even met Evanna.

He did state, that I was his greatest creation. A part of me desperately wanted to believe what he said, the part that had always wanted to impress him. Though another part just threw up the walls around my heart, that part was the hole that Howard had created when Evanna left.

There was something that caught my eye though; he put specific emphasis on the model city that he had created. That was never a full project; it was just a set piece that sat in his office for decoration. But…perhaps it was something more, something hidden in plain sight.

I jumped up and ran upstairs, I need to go see Pepper, and now, I had an excuse.

I was dressed and racing down the road in little under seven minutes. The com that connected me to Penny was in my ear, and my Stark phone in my pocket. If this didn't go according to plan, I had a back up one.

I stopped by the side of the road and picked up a box of mixed fruit. I knew that Pepper was allergic to some kind of fruit…I just couldn't recall which one. So I just got the mixed, however, because I didn't have any cash on me, I just gave the Mexican vendor my watch, my very, very expensive watch.

I had been surprised to find Coulson missing; obviously he had more important things to take care of then me. Which I was fine with, it got SHIELD off of my back.

On our way back from the cafe, I had practically begged Romanoff and Fury to give me one more injection…so I could keep it for Penny. However, they said it wouldn't be necessary, and to stop pushing.

Well, not in so many words but I got the picture; even if I was seriously furious about it. I mean not only did they have (I believe) the answers all along and just left us (me) to suffer alone and believe our fate was sealed. But, Penny's life just might hang on wither or not she got that injection, and they refused to give me another one!

It wasn't fucking fair! If Penny died because of them...and I didn't...oh, there would be some SERIOUS hell to pay!

My old…Pepper's... secretary tried to stop me from coming in, but I was determined, so I argued my way in. If I had been in a better mood, I would have flirted my way in, but, I was not.

I had finally managed to get a hold of Penny on the way over here, she seemed distracted, but promised she would be home soon and that she was currently alright. Though that did nothing to quell my worry...it did calm me down a bit.

There was still this nasty feeling in my gut that said she wasn't alright…but perhaps it was just my insane worry for her, considering the time left.

"It was an illegal seizure of trademarked property." Pepper was on the phone when I walked in, but I just ignored her irritated glance and sat down. She was still mad about the party last night, great.

The secretary was trying to 'inform' Pepper that she had done everything she could to keep me out, but Pepper just waved her away.

"It's our position that Stark has and continues to maintain proprietary ownership…" I watched interested as pepper continued. I wondered who was on the other side of the call, but I didn't really care, though it was obvious that they were talking about my suits.

"…of the Mark II platform." Pepper finished.

Ah, so I was right. It was probably someone from the government, she had obviously found out the Rhodey, and there for the military, now had the Mark II.

"No, the suit belongs to us." Pepper argued, I muted the TV, the reporter was annoying me.

"Actually, it belongs to me." I stated, the rest of my stuff was sitting in the corner behind the door. I could make out the model that was shown on film, the excuse for me to be here.

Pepper glared at me, but turned her attention back towards the phone call.

"Burt, Burt, don't tell me that we have the best patent lawyers in the country…"

Ah, she was talking to our law firm. We had bought one a few years back when there were some…constant legal issues.

"…and then not let me pursue this." Pepper snapped.

I stood up and dug around a few boxes, making sure everything was there. While my back was turned to Pepper, I pulled out my phone and with a few clicks of the screen, I was in her computer. An icon appeared on my screen saying do you wish to send? I left the message on scene, hopefully I wouldn't need to.

After a few more minutes of arguing, Pepper hung up and I sat back down.

The pain in my chest was slowly coming back, and the light was starting to hurt my eyes once again, but it was extremely mild in comparison to what I had been feeling a few hours before.

"Got a minuet?" I asked as I placed the fruit on her desk.

"No," Pepper replied coldly.

"You just got off the phone, come on. Give me a minuet." I asked, practically pleading.

"Thirty seconds," she replied, leaning back in her chair.

She continued to give me a cold look as she started counting, "Twenty nine…"

"Okay, look. I know that I said I was only coming over to get the rest of my stuff, but that wasn't the only reason I came." I started as Pepper continued to count.

"I thought I was coming to apologize, and I am sorry for last night it got way out of hand, but that's not why I'm here." I said,

"If you're not going to apologize, then you can get out of my office." Pepper stated, before her eyes drifted over towards the fruit.

"Look, the apology goes without saying…but I haven't been completely upfront about everything with you…and I would like to straighten a few things…can I move this?" I asked, interrupting myself. There was a spinning piece of modern desk art right in front of my face and it was annoying the hell out of me.

"No," Pepper stated, so I just rolled my chair over so it wasn't behind it.

I cleared my throat and tried to continue, "Do you know how short life is? Because seriously, it isn't as infinite as many of us believe…and if I never got to explain…or express…"

Pepper cut me off, as she had been glaring at the fruit.

"Stop, just stop right there. You are on a very short leash with me, and if you say "I" one more time I'm going to throw something at your head." Pepper hissed at me.

I froze in surprise; okay…Pepper was seriously pissed.

"I'm trying to run a company, your…"

"Your." I emphasized, I had given it to Pepper.

"Company," she continued, is looks could kill I would be a smoldering pile of ash. "Do you have any idea what that entails?"

"Yes," I stated, looking down at my hands. This was not going according to plan, but seriously…the plan stunk.

"People are relying on you to be Iron Man, Tony, and you disappeared. All I'm doing is putting out your fires and taking the heat for it. I am trying to do the job that you are meant to do." Pepper stated the whole 'but you're too lazy and self-centered to do so' part was left unsaid but hanging in the air.

I didn't reply, I didn't know what to say. I had given her all my problems because I din't want to deal with them…and I couldn't. She was the person who knew how to run things, who could manage things, not me.

"You brought me strawberries." Her voice was colder than it had been, and I didn't even know she could speak that coldly.

"Well, yes…with a mixture of other fruits…I couldn't remember…" I started, instantly remembering that it was strawberries that she was allergic to.

"There's only one thing on Earth I'm allergic to…" Pepper stated looking at me sadly.

"Strawberries, I knew it…I just couldn't remember. Mixed fruit…I knew it was some kind of fruit." I stated, trying to calm her down…it wasn't working.

"Strawberries and blueberries…have to remember that." I whispered to myself, but she heard me.

"What do blueberries have to do with anything?" Pepper asked me.

She was not supposed to hear that…um…this would only dig me a deeper hole but… "They're what Penny's allergic to."

"Penny. So you remembered what Penny's allergic too, when you knew her for a few months; and yet, you forgot mine when we've known each other for years." Pepper hissed, her voice no longer cold…it was filled with fiery rage that promised my death.

Pepper took a deep breath and said, "I need you…"

"I need you to listen…" I tried to interrupt, seeing where her sentence was going.

"..to leave. Now." Pepper stated, and she looked like she was ready to kill me; or was trying not to.

I sighed, and Romanoff walked in, giving me a glare. I wasn't supposed to be here.

"Miss Potts?" Romanoff stated, as she walked in, with Happy following.

"Hi," Pepper stated, trying to compose herself. "Come on in."

"We wheel up in 25 minutes." Romanoff stated, as she walked over to give some paper work to Pepper.

"Thank you." She replied stiffly.

With both of the girl giving me glares, telling me to leave, I stood up.

Walking towards the door, I glanced at my phone, and pressed the Yes, send button. While I wasn't 100% sure I was still going to die, I wasn't taking any chances.

"If you could get someone to bring this out to my car," I started, talking to Romanoff and Happy, "I would appreciate it."

They both turned towards Pepper, who nodded slightly.

"Well," I stated sadly, glancing between the three of them, "It was fun being your boss while it lasted."

Not much Pen in this chapter ether, but the next will be interesting. Back to Thor.

This are getting hot, and we will discover just what Tony left for Pepper…I think. :)

Thanks to everyone, my Beta's Expecto Prongs and Aqua Are.
Cp