The Unknown Variable
I own nothing, if u think I do, MORTEM WILL STEAL YOUR SOUL!
Tony's POV
I did my own system check as Rhodey rebooted; my eyebrow twitched as I noticed that Romanoff was trying to get into my systems. I set up a video link, but locked her out of everything else.
"It seems you got your friend back on your own." She stated and I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, well, Jarvis is extremely capable." I replied swiftly, hoping that she couldn't tell I had been crying.
"Thank you, sir." Jarvis replied sounding smug.
Romanoff heard the AI, and raised her eyebrow. "You have an interesting AI there Stark."
I rolled my eyes but grinned as I saw Rhodey coming back online.
"So, I assume you managed to get everything worked out?" Romanoff asked, though I could tell that she was annoyed she couldn't get into the suits.
"Yeah, new the new Reactor Core has a higher energy output and everything is looking good. I'll have Jar send SHIELD a copy of my vitals, maybe then you guys will get off my back since I am no longer dying." I stated with a smirk, causing Romanoff to roll her eyes.
Then another voice cut in. "You're alright then? Oh thank God!"
I sighed at Pepper's statement, I had forgotten about that video.
"Yeah Pepper, I'm fine. Though how did you get connected?" I asked her.
"I had Jarvis patch me through as soon as your communication opened up." Pepper stated and I sighed, even my AI is against me at times.
"Jarvis," I groaned, now was really not the time.
"Tony…Tony I'm so sorry…" Pepper stated and I rolled my eyes again.
"Pepper….Pepper look, now isn't the best time…" I stated and Romanoff butted in.
"Look, you two can continue this on the honeymoon. Right now Tony, you've got what's left of the droids coming to you." Romanoff stated.
"How many?" I asked, as Jarvis pulled the map on screen.
"Only four are left…wait, make that three. Looks like help did decide to show up." Romanoff snipped, and I could tell she was annoyed.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, but she rolled her eyes and cut the link instead of answering.
"Okay, Pepper we'll talk about this later. I've got to go." I stated as I helped Rhodey to his feet, his suit completely rebooted.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Pepper asked again, her voice shaking with worry.
"I…I'm fine Pepper." I stated, and cursed myself for the quiver in my voice. I was far from being okay, but I was alive, and that was what she meant…for the most part.
"Come on buddy! I need you to snap out of it." I stated as I tapped Rhodey's helmet, even though he was now in full control, and was standing, I might have slammed him into the ground a bit harder then I intended…he was a bit dazed.
He finally shook the cobwebs from his brain and glared at me, "You know you can have the suit back."
I rolled my eyes at the video feed and smirked; "Now why would I take back a gift?"
"Gift…wait! Are you meaning to tell me that the whole thing was set up!?" Rhodey exclaimed, glaring at me.
"Well…for the most part. Pen was right though, it got out of hand." I stated, my voice breaking at the mention of Penny.
I saw Rhodey wince and gave me a sympathetic look, which I glared at. I didn't want his pity; I wanted him to kick some ass with me.
"You Ok there?" I asked, lifting up the faceplate and Rhodey did the same.
"Yeah, thanks Tony." He sated, he looked more worn out then I did…and my week had been SHITY!
"Now, you will have to explain just what has been going on, Tony." Rhodey started, but I cut him off mid-rant.
"Not know. Geez, what is with you two and having bad ranting timing?" I snipped.
There was an awkward moment of silence before Rhodey said, "Look, Tony…I'm sorry."
"Don't be." I waved off his reply.
"No, Tony, I should have trusted you…and now…" Rhodey continued and I wanted to yell. Bad Timing!
"I put you in the position, so forget it. We have bigger issues to worry about right now; and as I said before. Drop It!" I stated giving him a cold warning look.
I had almost successfully managed to keep my thoughts off Pen…until he had to go and mention it!
"Alright…alright…" Rhodey surrendered and I smirked at him. "Your right."
"Always am." I replied instantly.
Rhodey glared at me and said, "Not always."
"As far as you know." I came back at him; really, he would lose badly in this game…to bad it wasn't the time to play.
"Come on, we have four more coming in hot." I stated, breaking up the bro moment.
"Well," Rhodey stated, slipping into military mode. "We want to take the high ground, let's put the biggest gun up on that ridge, if their numbers really are that small, they will be easier targets."
"Gotcha." I started, but we both started walking towards the ledge…awe come one…
"Rhodey," I stated turning towards him.
"Tony." he replied.
"Just because you have the big gun, doesn't make you the big gun." I stated I really would like to avoid a fight…
"Tony, don't be jealous." Rhodey stated causing my eyebrow to twitch.
"These are my suits, I know how they work. Why would I be jealous of you?" I snapped back, I was on a thin leash today…and man was he pushing my buttons. "Besides, that's so subtle, who knew the military liked showing of…oh, right, everyone!"
"It's called being a badass." Rhodey replied and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Sure, sure, whatever. You go up top, I'll draw them in, and we'll…" However, I was interrupted when all four droids landed in a circle around us.
"Shit." I stated, my faceplate sliding down just as they opened fire. "Let's do this."
I started with a repulsor blast towards the closest, before jumping into the air to avoid a missile that flew our way.
Rhodey opened fire at the second and third ones, before yelling, "Look out,"
I jumped behind the third as a small, glowing missile shot out of Rhodey's chest, but bounced harmlessly off his the droids armor.
"Hammer's?" I asked with a smirk as Rhodey started cursing.
"Yeah…" he muttered in reply.
"Now this," I stated ducking under another missile and smirking as a small device appeared on my wrists, "Is something to look out for. Duck!"
Rhodey ducked down just in time, as two bright lasers appeared and with a quick rotation of my arms, cut the remaining three droids in half.
"Now that is badass." I stated with a smirk.
"Where'd you get that?" Rhodey asked me as the device slid back into the armor.
"Pen was bored one day…got interested in lasers. I now have quite a few." I stated, smiling at the memory.
"Ah, lend me some of those, will you?" Rhodey asked and I smirked.
"No can do. They're staying with me." I stated coldly. There was no way I was letting ANYONE but me touch them.
"Come one!" Rhodey complained.
"Sir, it appears that there is one more droid approaching at incredible speed. However, the energy output is over triple the ones of the other droids." Jarvis stated.
I sighed, "Rhodey, looks like we have incoming, and I doubt it's good."
Rhodey's faceplate snapped back into place just as we jumped back. With a loud roar, a large suit, definitely a suit, dropped out of the sky.
"Vanko." I hissed, my eyes narrowing into slits.
His helmet slid back revealing Ivan's face as he smirked, "Go'od to'o be back."
"This isn't good." Rhodey stated and I rolled my eyes.
"That is obvious." I stated coldly.
With a smirk, two extremely long whips appeared out of the suit, and Ivan was right, he had doubled the rotation.
"Damn." Rhodey and I stated at the same time.
"I've got this." I stated cooly.
"Are you sure you don't want back up?" Rhodey asked, I smirked as I saw the shadows lengthen and growled.
"I don't think I'll need it." I stated I fired mini missiles at him, and jumped out of the way as he brought his whips down where we had been a moment before.
Rhodey started firing everything he had at the guy, but with a quick swish of the electric whip, Rhodey's large gun was cut off and he went flying.
"Hey! You've pissed me off!" I yelled, reactivating the laser, it cut the first whip in half, causing the electricity to dance around like a storm, and removed part of the plating on his arm.
Sadly, the other whip came out of nowhere and wrapped around my waist before throwing me against a rock.
"Shit!" I cursed as my back flared in pain and my systems flashed.
Rhodey tried to cover me, as I got to my feet, but barely caused Vanko to duck before he lashed out with his one and a half whips.
With a powerful blast, I shot towards him, hoping that Rhodey distracted him enough to hit him. However, I was wrong, just as I was about to tackle him, his broken arm shot out and tossed me over his head.
I turned over in the air, and managed to land on my feet. Only too see a strange sight.
Vanko was thrown into the air by some unseen force, before there was a flash, and he was thrown back into the ground.
I shot repulsor after repulsor blast at him, and Rhodey continued his assault, but the strange things didn't stop.
Vanko managed to get to his feet, but when he tried to hit me with the whip, it froze in midair before the energy flared.
I had no clue what on earth was going on, but I was glad when with a great shower of sparks, Vanko's whip was ripped from the suit, and it went flying through the air into the water.
"Any clue what's going on?" Rhodey asked me loudly.
"Not really!" I replied, though part of my thought that it was Mortem, another part said it wasn't. If Mortem hadn't been allowed to save Pen…why would he help me?
I jumped into the air, and punched him in the head, actually denting the helmet, but that didn't stop him from firing a missile at Rhodey that sent him flying.
The short, half whip that was sparking dangerously wrapped around my neck as Vanko reached out and grabbed Rhodey's faceplate.
"Rhodey!" I yelled, raising my hand and charging up the repulsor.
I saw Rhodey's confused face over the feed before his eyes widened with realization, "You sure!?"
"Can't do it without you!" I yelled back in reply.
He raised his own arm and started charging up the repulsor.
"Ready!" Rhodey yelled as Vanko looked between the two of us in confusion.
"GO!" I yelled as we both shot out a beam, and they collided and swelled right in front of Vanko.
"O'oh…no't go'od." I heard him say before it exploded.
I close my eyes and braced for impact, and was surprised, and worried, when one didn't come.
I opened my eyes to see a spiraling silver and blue shield encompassing the explosion, keeping me, Rhodey, and everyone else safe. Within the bubble was a fiery inferno and I knew, even before the shield fell, that Vanko was dead.
The shield didn't fall until after the inferno burned itself out, and all that was left of Vanko and his suit was one giant charred lump.
The Arc was still flickering, but as I reached down to pull it out, it exploded as if it had been over charged.
My eyes widened, as a message appeared on my screen, and by Rhodey's face, the same had appeared on his as well.
You lose.
My eyes widened as I noticed that the charred suit had started beeping, and the Arc was flashing.
I glanced around as worry clenched my chest, the rest of the droids were beeping and flashing as well.
"Self-destruct!" I yelled as Rhodey cursed and yelled,
"All of the drones are rigged to blow! We gotta get out of here man!"
"Pepper!" I yelled, as I realized that she was probably still here.
We shot off into the sky, but while Rhodey went as high as he could, I swerved around and raced back towards Pepper.
"Come one…come on…" I muttered to myself. There was no way I was losing Pepper too.
I shot around buildings as quickly as I could, thankfully Pepper was easy to find, she was standing on the steps to the auditorium, right next to a broken Droid, looking at it in confusion.
I didn't even land; I just slowed down for a moment, wrapped my arms around her, and shot back into the sky moments before the droids exploded.
Thank God!
As I flew towards a nearby roof, I noticed something extremely weird, the bots were all exploding, that was true, but instead of flames and an explosion, colorful sparks like fireworks shot into the sky as small shields appeared around the blasts, protecting the buildings, and random civilians from harm.
Someone was totally helping.
Pepper was still screaming as I set her down on the roof away from the light show that was the Expo.
She pushed me away as I grunted, trying to remove the sparking helmet, the whip had damage a lot of my circuits and currently, it was electrocuting me along with biting into my skin.
I was quick to press the emergency release that causes the whole helmet to come off.
Well, that was dealt with.
"Oh my god! I can't take this anymore!" Pepper exclaimed with her head in her hands.
Huh?
"What? You can't? Can't take what?" I asked but she ignored me.
"I can't take this!" Pepper exclaimed.
"Look at me!" I exclaimed, my voice was melted, covered in bullet holes, had chunks of it missing, and she was the one complaining? Hello, I just lost my daughter…stop complaining!
"My body literally can't take the stress! I never know if you're going to…kill yourself…wreck the whole company…die…!" Pepper stated and I growled.
I just saved everyone's asses, even though I had just lost Pen and she was yelling at me?! What the hell!
"You know, I think I did okay!" I stated gesturing to the Expo.
"That's it. I quit, I'm resigning. That's it." Pepper stated her breaths coming in quick shallow gasps and I could tell she was close to breaking down.
For goodness sake, I should be the one breaking down right now! Wait…what did she say?
"Excuse me? What did you just say? You're done?" I stated in shock, all emotion draining from my voice.
No, there was NO freaking way that I was letting her walk away! Not after every freaking thing that had happened today; time to kick up the game another notch.
"Surprising... okay not really, but I get it. You don't have to make excuses Pepper. You know, I just thought…that after everything that we've been through, that it meant a little bit more to you." I stated, and Pepper started to protest.
"It does mean…I'm not making excuses…Tony…" But I cut her off.
"Pepper, you're allowed to make excuses. You deserve better, you've taken great care of me over the years. I've been in a lot of tough spots and you've gotten me out of them." I stated, pleading with the universe that Pepper wasn't just going to walk away.
"Thanks for understanding." Pepper stated and I winced, that was not the response I wanted.
"…Pepper…" I stated, and we both froze, we stared at each other for a moment before our lips crashed together.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
My brain yelled, and for a moment, I forgot about Pen, for a moment, my pain faded, for a moment, it was just us, and it was perfect.
"Weird?" I asked after we pulled apart, hoping that the smile on Pepper's face was real and I wasn't having a low intelligence moment.
"No, not at all." Pepper replied with a smile.
"Alright?" I asked, wondering since when my vocabulary became single word sentences.
"Mhhmm." Pepper hummed as we moved in closer…
Then Rhodey had to ruin it.
"I think it was weird." Rhdoey stated with humor.
I turned around to see my friend sitting on the AC unit, with a smirk on his face.
"You guys look like two seals fighting over a grape." Rhodey stated with a smile.
"They did, didn't they?" I froze at the new voice, and we all turned around to see someone else on the roof.
It was a silver hooded figure, definitely female, her arms were crossed over her chest and for some reason, I just knew she was smirking.
"Who are you!?" Pepper half asked, half demanded.
"A friend." She stated simply shifting her position.
My eyes widened, I knew that voice…it couldn't be…
"A friend huh?" Rhodey stated, eyeing the new person, but I was frozen.
It couldn't be…it was impossible…
But I knew that symbol…
"Yeah, just a friend."
I knew that skirt…
"You're the one who was helping us out." Rhodey continued unaware of my frozen state.
"Yup." She replied,
I knew that top…
"You gonna stick around, I bet there's a few people who'd like to meet you." Rhodey asked as Pepper looked back and forth between the three of us.
"Naw, I think I'll go home…have a family you know." She replied.
…and I knew those boots….
"Oh my God…" I whispered, and Pepper turned towards me in concern.
"Tony, what is it?" She asked her eyebrows knitting together.
"See you around!" she called, before I could open my mouth to say anything, electricity swirled around her, and she vanished into the night.
A strange emotion clenched my chest…
I had to figure it out…
I had to see for myself…
"Take Pepper home." I stated as I fired up the repulsors.
"What? Tony!" Pepper yelled, but I didn't answer as I took off into the sky.
…I had to know…
….if my daughter was still alive…
Hehehe…now you have to wait for the next chapter. I know Pen wasn't in this much, and didn't do much, but hey! I want it to work out a certain way, and yes, I shall have an excuse for her lack of action next chapter.
Bye, thanks everyone.
Oh, and just so you know, there's not that many chapters left…hehhe…not sure how many yet… but we're getting there.
Cp