CHAPTER TWO:

She sat in the darkness, shaking from cold.

There was a knock on the door, and it opened, spilling light into her face. "Felicia?" She heard Tony ask.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

His eyes drew to the molten bed.

"I had a nightmare. I can't control my powers."

Tony approached her, and she scrambled backwards.

"Stay away from me, Tony. I'm dangerous."

"No more than Bruce," he dismissed.

He sat down next to Felicia, took off his jacket and put it on her.

It was like a giant hug.

"You're safe here, Leigh." He took her hand. "I promise you; I'll do everything in my power to make you feel safe."

"Why are you helping me? It's not like I'm not useful."

"Because you need someone to be there for you. And I've decided to be that for you. Would you like to stay in here, or would you like to get a new room? I can set you up with some melatonin if you want it."

"I'll probably need the melatonin. And it's probably not a good idea to stay in here."

"Ok. Come on, then."

He stood up, dragging her with him, and took her to the room across the hall.

"Wait here." He left the room and went to his lab, rummaging through a draw, ignoring the questioning look Bruce was giving him.

Tony found his prize, grabbed a glass of water, and walked back to Felicia's room.

"Leigh? I'm back. I've brought you some melatonin and water."

She held out a hand, covered in burns, and in it, he put the melatonin.

She put it in her mouth, took the offered water and swallowed a mouthful with her tablets.

"Thank you," she said in her soft voice.

He kissed the top of her pale blonde head and left the room but watched over her through the crack in the door until she fell asleep.

Then he went back to the lab.

"Tony, what's going on?" Bruce asked.

"Well, Jolly Green, I found my soulmate, and after losing everything she loved, she was kidnapped and experimented on. Now she has destructive powers she can't control, and so, I'm going to play the mad scientist with my chemistry set and make her a power repressant."

"Wait, was the fire alarm earlier her?"

"Yep," Tony replied. "I gave her some melatonin, though, so she should be fine now. Burned through her clothes, though. JARVIS, remind me to get her some clothes. You got her measurements, right?"

"Indeed, sir. Shall I order some for Ms. Glass? She will need something to wear."

"Do it. Go with cool colours. Have it done within…" He looked at his watch. "Five hours. I want it in her room before she wakes up."

"Tony, you realise you drugged her?"

"I asked, and she agreed," he defended. "Besides, she was having a nightmare. I assume it had something to do with her family, given her reaction. I've sworn to make Leigh feel safe, so I'm going to keep trying."

Bruce was silent for a moment.

"This is because of Pepper, isn't it?" He asked.

"What?"

"Pepper died because you couldn't protect her. Now you've found your soulmate, you're trying to do right by her."

"Don't bring Pepper into this. I don't bring your ex-wife into it."

"Don't mention Betty. Please, Tony."

"You brought Pepper into it," Tony replied childishly.

But he never stopped working.

He couldn't.