Chapter 21

She remembers teleporting to Tony quickly, but the energy beam it's already pouring out to them. Trying to use Protect lessens the pain works, but not as much as she would have liked. The pain isn't like when she transforms, but it's close. And also, unlike it, she's sure she will have some nasty wounds on her by the time this is over.

She just hopes everything will go fine.

When there's no more pain coming, she opens her eyes, not surprised by all the mayhem she finds.

'How are you?'

Tony, who has been leaning most of his weight before, sits up slightly. "Fine, I think. You?"

She releases a sigh of relief, her body's muscles finally untensing seems to be the last straw as she says with a tired tone of mental voice. 'I'll faint at any moment.'

Not giving time for Tony to answer, she proceeds to do just that. Using her last her effort in transforming into her original Mew form.

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The next time she wakes up is to the sound of Rhodes talking. His voice sounds weird, though. It takes her a second to realize she's on top of something hard but warm. One longer for her to find out that what she's hearing is some sort of TV.

She still feels tired, so while she doesn't nuzzle to the warmth or open her eyes, she's still focused on the sound.

"... The official statement of what occurred at Stark Industries last night. There have been unconfirmed reports that a robotic prototype malfunctioned and caused damage to the arc reactor. Fortunately, a member of Tony Stark's personal security staff..."

"'Iron Man.' That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it." That's Tony's voice, she smiles a little. Happy that her friend is safe. "I mean, it's not technically accurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy, but it's kind of evocative, the imagery, anyway."

"Your alibi is on top of the table," Coulson's voice comes next. And this time she does open her eyes to see her form clinging tightly to Tony's arm. She looks up at the same time Tony lowers his gaze and she can see the palpable relief in his expression.

"Okay?"

'As I can be,' she says. Tony opens his mouth to say who knows what, but it's at that moment that Coulson talks, probably thinking Tony's word was meant for him.

"You were on your yacht and..."

Coulson stops himself, finally looking up from the tablet and seeing her. He nods his head a little in her direction before looking at Tony once again. "We have port papers that put you in Avalon all night, and sworn statements from 50 of your guests."

"I was thinking maybe we should say it was just with Eva here on the island..."

She uses that cue to float away from his arms and turn into a Linoone once again, now that her identity with SHIELD is all but revealed. She's got to admit she's afraid because she knows HYDRA hides under SHIELD, but that ship already has sailed, so it's better to not cry over spoiled milk. Or something like that.

"Just read it, word for word."

Tony reads the alibi, though it's clear he's distracted. He's constantly looking at her, probably worried, but when he only finds her stretching, he returns his attention to the card he has to read. He seems conflicted.

"There's nothing about Stane here."

Unlike Tony, whose attention seems to be divided into other things, Coulson's gaze is firm on her. He still answers Tony. "That's being handled. He's on vacation. And small aircraft have such a poor safety record."

"But what about the entire cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my... I mean, isn't that kind of flimsy?"

"This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you." He looks at his watch. "You've got 90 seconds."

'Don't worry Tony, everything will be fine.'

He slowly nods, though his posture doesn't untense. She moves her head against the end of his trousers, which seem to calm him somewhat. Still, she knows what he's planning to do. Or not really planning, but not wanting to hide, either.

'I'll support you no matter what you decide,' she settles on adding, because it's true.

Those seem to be the magic words because now he relaxes his shoulders. Just in time for Pepper to walk inside. The sound of her heels against the floor relaxes her, too. Probably because she remembers walking while wearing heels and taking comfort in the sound.

"Agent Coulson?" She says with a smile after nodding at Tony. "I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help."

"That's what we do." He gazes at everyone, giving her one second longer to her form, before he adds, "You'll be hearing from us.

"From the Strategic Homeland..."

"Just call us S.H.I.E.L.D." Coulson interrupts and Eva is so glad she can definitely call them that way, instead of that long-ass name.

Pepper blinks twice before clearing her throat. "Let's get this show on the road then, shall we?"

She sounds so wary and tired and she doesn't think it's only because of all the work she had to do. Her Tony-is-going-to-do-something-stupid senses are probably tinkling.

"You know, it's actually not that bad," Tony starts with the tone reserved for his babbling. "Even I don't think I'm Iron Man."

Yeah, that sixth sense of Pepper's is definitely tingling. She can see it in the deadpan of Pepper's expression. She has this thousand-yard stare for one second longer that she thinks her soul has already left her body.

Then, she open her mouth.

"You're not Iron Man."

To that answer, Tony crossed his arm: "Am so."

"You're not."

Tony pouts, but still lets himself be led to where the reporters are waiting. It takes her one second to decide to follow behind them, run up to Tony's pants and back until she's resting on top of his shoulders.

"Wanted some company, huh?"

'I'm here for moral support only.'

She sees the soft smirk on his lips, showing she's fooling no one. He doesn't answer back because they're already going to the sight of the reporters, making a wild flashback of the last time she was in front of them appear.

She hears Rhodes talking on the podium. "And now, Mr. Stark has prepared a statement. He will not be taking any questions."

Tony walks forward and starts talking, but she can't hear. She's still thinking in the old Tony she met. He was more tired, then. Lost and confused.

Now he's more distracted than confused, though there's some of the latter still, but there's a determination and confidence in his posture that's real.

She feels proud of her friend. Though she does stop her daydreaming when Rhodes moves closer, to remind Tony to stick to the cards.

And he sees then, the moment she knows it will change this world. When Tony looks up from those cards and says. "The truth is... I am Iron Man."

She feels so proud she's going to burst. She burrows her head on his neck, pressing her cold nose to his pulse, feeling his excitement and apprehension.

And she promises herself then that those will not be his last words. She will change the future.

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Reviews fill my soul with motivation! And if you wanna read up to 8 chapters ahead, go to my p-a-treon/JorieDS

Btw, I created a Twitter a while ago and I'm finally using it. If you want to read updates on my writing life, feel free to visit it: @DshaGuila

PS. I finished writing this arc so now I can safely say that Eva will say goodbye to the Ironman movies in Chapter 36! What will come now? Only I know. Ufufufufufu