Ok, so I don't exactly know where this is going, I've got a rough idea, but not sure if you'll like it, so I'll write what I think for this and maybe the next chapter, but feel free to give alternative ideas from the last chapter or as a continuation! I'd really appreciate it! AND REVIEWS! PLEASE REVIEW! :D :D (No copyright infringement or anything intended, don't want to offend anyone either.)
The next time they spoke didn't seem to be many words, until Tony was ready again. It was a few glances as Pepper understood and tried to compose herself. She ran through it in her head, then nodded to herself and Tony to show understanding, tried to straighten up then reminded herself again, and thought about extra things, such as how she hadn't listened, how she had trusted Nata'lie', yet at the same time shouted at the one person who had a somewhat effective delaying serum for Tony's poisoning… and how she had reacted with him in the office, how she read those eyes and fell for it, how she didn't even notice his roughening appearance. She quickly dabbed away tears a second time, breathed deeply and wrapped an arm round Tony's shoulders. He was obviously deep in thought because it was a few seconds before he leant into the embrace.
Running a hand through his now unkempt hair, he sighed. He didn't want to release everything at once, but couldn't keep it bottled up. He decided to tell an outline of his father, as he'd never gone into that much depth about it. 'I never really was that… close… to my father. He - he was more erm.. interested in Captain America - the guy found in the ice… I would try but my efforts wouldn't be anywhere near the potential of the.. experiment. Otherwise he would come back in some kind of drunken stupor or, most commonly (other than Steve), just didn't have time for me… I like to think that he took some interest, and I don't know how its even possible, but I think I must have psychologically idealised him to comfort myself sometimes, lying awake at night… but… I always would think about him but make myself too saddened to think deeply… and then, turns out he gave me the answer to a new element - the one that saved my life'
Pepper was still close to him as he explained this, and was still emotional, seeing a sudden, further depth to Tony that she'd never seen before. She thought she'd known allot, but not his childhood… she knew that he was bullied at school, and picked up and somewhat protected by Rhodey, but problems with his father? She knew his parents had died at a fairly young age, and that would have had effect on him, but Steve Rogers being more important to Howard Stark than his own son? A living, legendary legacy? With a small glance to Tony he continued 'Well… these files were kept from me… but he actually care- cared-' Rubbing his back gently, she understood, that he wanted her to understand this block in his life. And she did. That fantastic connection intensified. 'And Fury knew more about him than I did… and Natasha was spying on me and MY FATHER worked with Ivan Vanko's father, and he betrayed him. And so did Obadiah. And yet again I was betrayed, though thankfully not lethally, by Natasha… but still, she got here… she intruded as though these walls were made of tissue paper…' Pepper knew, and he knew she knew, that he was referring to his 'mask'. At How easily people have gotten to him and near-destroyed him, and how Natasha had managed even more easily… He felt even more exposed. Lacked even more trust. 'Tony. You are stronger ok? Your resilience is strong. It can be now - it's over ok, it's over. You are here, and you can build it up again. You can build it up. And I'm here with you.'
Any thoughts? I'm really not sure about this lol. SORRY IT IS SOOOOOOO SHORT! Please review!
And thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO much for all of your support and constructive criticism! :D