The Unknown Variable

I have nothing barrowed, old, new, or blue, so YOU CAN'T SUE! Hehe, ;)

Pepper's POV

I tried to contain my furry at Tony as we flew through the air. Hammer was doing a weapons demonstration tonight, and I had six meetings to get to before then.

I just didn't know what Tony had been thinking recently. Monaco, the Expo, making me CEO…I did notice that all of those things rhymed…the strange behavior at the office…everything. Part of me was wondering if everything had just caused him to lose it.

I mean, I loved Tony, and I had for years, but he had finally just crossed that line…and I just didn't know if I could do it anymore.

I sighed as my laptop dinged, but instead of there being a new email, there was a video file open on my desktop. I couldn't tell what it was of, because it was blacked out and paused. I was surprised and worried when it played on its own, and nothing I did would close it.

My eyes widened as Tony's face appeared on screen. He was sitting at his desk with a glass of whisky in his hand, though it looked untouched. His face was pale and he looked exhausted, and downtrodden. I hadn't seen him this bad in years.

"Pepper," Tony stated, and instantly, I could no longer be mad at him. His voice was heavy, and filled with pain. His eyes were cold, sharp…and practically lifeless.

My breath caught, as I noticed that he looked sick, like he had been through hell in back. What on earth where those lines climbing up his neck?

"If you're watching this…" my heart clenched in worry; what on earth was going on? "Then it means one of two things. Ether I failed utterly and completely at talking to you…or I'm dead."

My heart literally stopped and my breath froze. Dead? Why would he be dead?!

"Hopefully, it's not the latter one…yet." Yet? What did he mean by yet!

I started to panic, but I couldn't bring myself to look away or move an inch. Something had happened, I just knew it.

"Look Pepper…there are…things…that I haven't told you. A lot of things actually." What hadn't he told me? I knew practically everything he did, no matter how much I wished I didn't.

"You have done more for me than anyone Pepper. You were there while I was a mess…over Evanna…you were there during the thing with Stane…no matter what Pepper, you have always been there.

"When…Evanna…left…I thought my heart would never be whole again, but you Pepper, you were the one who helped stitch it back together. Without you…I don't even want to think about it.

"You helped heal my heart, and while I've never been one to show it…you found yourself your own place in there as well."

Tears threated to fall from my eyes as I continued to watch Tony on screen…something had happened…I just knew it. He would never be saying this otherwise.

"I'm sorry to say…that I'll never be able to say this to your face Pepper. I tried…for so long to tell you. Not only that I love you Pepper, because I do…"

My heart froze at his declaration, but I couldn't bring myself to feel the joy I normally would, there was another side to it…I just knew it.

"But…I'm dying Pepper."

The world around me froze, and everything started to blend together in a giant blur. No, it couldn't be true…

"I've done everything…but nothings worked…"

What's wrong…what could be wrong? Nothing could…he had the Arc…the Reactor was keeping him alive…

"In Afghanistan…I thought I would die; and I accepted that. But then… then I found my salvation. The Arc was the thing that gave me a second chance Pepper…"

God, what on earth happened? Was it something Vanko did?

"But now…now it's the thing that's killing me."

No…no that couldn't be true…

I watched in horror as Tony unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the large black lines that stretched from the Reactor, all the way across his chest.

"There are so many things I've wanted to tell you Pepper…so many things I wanted you to know. But now…I'm sorry.

"I'm sorry for everything. For every action, for every idiotic thing I've done. And now…I'm sorry for leaving Pepper."

Tears were falling down my face and I could barely breathe as I saw the video come close to the end. God, Tony had tried to tell me…he had been sitting right there…what did I do?

"You're the one person I trust to carry on in my place." Tony stated sadly, "It was why I knew you were my only successor. I tried to change the world Pepper; I tried to leave something valuable behind. You are that something Pepper…change the world.

"I know you can."

The video died and I collapsed into sobs, I didn't care about my makeup, or about the Jet's staff staring at me.

Oh what have I done?

Tony's POV

It hadn't taken long for the shipment of necessary equipment to arrive, that was a luxury when you had that kind of money. The crates arrived just as I finished drilling through the ceiling of the lab, creating holes in the walls, and redirecting the power.

However, as I opened the crates, that wasn't the only thing to arrive.

I jumped backwards as a black figure immerged from the floor, Penny in his arms.

"Who the hell are you!?" I yelled, as the couch flew across the room at the figures gesture, and he laid my daughter down on it.

Penny looked like hell, there was blood on her face and matted her hair. She was in her suit, but it was heavily damaged. The metal was torn in places, and her hood and neck of the shirt was torn clean off. The lines had continued up her face, her left side completely covered and her right half way.

"Who the hell are you?!" I repeated as I ran to my daughter's side. The only sign that she was still alive was the shallow breathing and faint pulse.

I turned towards the figure, who I realized was a boy…man…I couldn't tell how old. He had long messy black hair and silver eyes, his skin was pale, practically grey, and he was wearing mostly black, though his clothes were hidden by a cloak.

The guy held out his hand flat, and silver sparks flew from it, forming words in the air.

I am Mortem, a friend of your daughter.

I raised an eyebrow; she had never mentioned him before…great. A part of me was mad, another was amused, and it was such a typical teenage thing to do.

"What on earth happened to her? I thought she had some kind of day pass or something…"I stated confused… who the hell was he and what on earth was going on?

The guy…Mortem…sighed and the sparks wrote, She decided to help her friends, though she knew there would be consequences. She used up all of her energy, and got too injured in the resulting battle.

"Where on earth did this happen?" I asked, as far as I knew, she was saying goodbye to Banner in South America and then the people she knew in New Mexico…

Her town in New Mexico, it was the reason SHIELD was there.

I remembered Pen mentioning something like that the last time we talked…but I was still unsure of what was going on.

"Who are you?" I asked again, I got his name…but besides that I knew nothing…well he claimed to be a friend of Pen's but…

He sighed and stated, I am a friend of your daughters. I have known her for a very long time, even though she only met me while you both were in the cave.

My eyes widened as I replied, "You were there?!"

Indeed, I could not interfere, so forgive me for not helping your escape. I was, however, able to help Penny.

"How?" I asked, wondering what he was talking about.

I dulled the pain, kept the nightmares at bay, and offered her silent support…as she didn't teach me sign language until you returned.

"Wow, wait a sec… you're telling me that you've been around this whole time and I never heard about you?"

I swear that he smirked as he replied, I wasn't just around, I have been here with her since the beginning. It is only now that you can see me.

"What on earth are you talking about?" I asked, did he just say that he had been in my house without me knowing about it for months! With my daughter?! If he did anything…I'll kill him.

I'm afraid that isn't possible. You see, while I have many names, and people know me as different things…they are all one and the same. I am Death Mr. Stark, and it is only because you are so close to it that you can see me.

My mouth dropped open in shock and horror…I was talking to death…Penny knew death…oh God…

After a moment of silence...where my brain tried to process everything it just heard, I said, "Is there…"

No, there is not. I looked at him, and was surprised to see remorse on his face.

It was strange, who would think that Death would feel bad about someone dying?

"But you just said…" I started but he interrupted me.

I know what I said. He glared at me before adding, but I can't interfere…I've done all I can.

My eyes widened and I stated, "You're the one that gave her that pass…"

Mortem, Death…nodded, I have done much for her. The reason that she could help you out in Monaco… how she got the popcorn on your trip home, why that man was unable to report to Stane…

My eyes widened as I realized that I hadn't been the only one protecting her in the cave. He must also have stepped in, if that dark glint in his eyes were anything to go by.

"Can you help me now?" I asked, a plan forming in my brain. I could process all of this later. Right now, the thing that mattered was the Penny was kept alive.

Mortem raised his eyebrow in question, and I had a feeling that he had learned that from Penny, she did it too often.

"I'm going to need some help putting this together." I stated, gesturing to the equipment in the box.

Mortem looked unsure, before he glanced upward and smiled. For Penny.

I nodded, and grasped his cold hand, "For Penny."

I just hoped that the saying –don't make a deal with the devil- was wrong…or that he wasn't the devil.

Otherwise, we were both screwed.

Yup, Pepper knows… a few things. And Tony now knows Death. Isn't it wonderful?

Hope you're enjoying it; yes I'm getting a kick out of all of this. XD Look, I'm nice, two updates in one day, thank me! :)

Thanks to everyone, VOTE
Cp