Chapter 32

Tony's recklessness is intensifying as the bleakness of February sets in. She's getting worried, and her voice has taken on an edge of urgency as she has told Tony that if he doesn't want her to follow him, Jarvis should update her on his movements. She doesn't want to be oppressive, but Tony needs someone to help him rein in his more intense responses. And, while they now have a more amicable relationship, Pepper still feels uncomfortable doing anything that would cross her professional boundaries. She thought Rhodes could be the one to set him on the right path, but when she proposed that Tony should tell him the truth, he shook his head and told her: Don't insist, please.

That 'please' did her in.

She couldn't continue her argument when he said that word. She's that weak. And even from a distance, the few times she has seen him after the fight with Obadiah, she can almost feel the tension between Tony and Rhodes, so it wouldn't have worked anyway. After Christmas, for the first time in what seems like forever, their argument doesn't turn into a shouting match and his mood isn't sour. That's when he meets her.

From what Tony tells her, he knows about Eva, the Mew, but not about 'Lilith' the human. So, when he runs into her Lilith form, after another fight with Tony, he stops one moment at seeing her. And she doesn't blame him, she's only wearing tight shorts and one of Tony's shirts.

She waves at him in greeting. He shakes his head, and she hears the faint sound of his sigh, before he gives a small nod and smiles weakly at her before leaving.

Yeah, he's a nice person, a bit stiff, yet his kindness remains.

He is far more hospitable than she expects, given the nature of their conversation. She can still feels his moody emotions, but it's understandable, after all, Tony has been working on military missions, most often going against direct orders to not interfere. She only knows because Fury showed up at Tony's house with a dour expression, making it clear that Tony's standing in the government was not good. The military is losing trust in him and Senator Stern is preparing some moves against him to show the world that America is not reliant on Iron man.

She goes downstairs and notices him sipping beer, one of the only alcoholic drinks she allows him to have because of its lower percentage.

Leaning against the door, she says after observing him outwardly and inwardly, "You don't seem to be mad."

"Yeah, well. This was the same lecture until something more exciting happened." At her raised eyebrow and questioning look, he explains, "Apparently, the military were doing a field test for an aircraft made by Hammer Industries from the Ugandan airspace when it went radio silent."

"Do you need my help?"

He shakes his head as he looks into a tablet. "I've got Jarvis running for some info and it seems that the Congolese army shot the aircraft down. And watch this, it was supposed to be invulnerable to surface-air-attacks."

He snorts, looking a step away from laughing as she fixes him a dry look. "You don't seem surprised."

"I'm not. It was made by Hammer, after all." He shrugs in a 'what can you do' way before going to where his suits are in.

She raises both eyebrows. "Rhodes told you to act?"

"Not really. I overhear him while he was talking on the phone, but I think it won't be long before—"

"I apologize for interrupting you, Sir, but you've got a call incoming."

Tony winks at her. "Seems the military is going to let me get some fun."

Rolling her eyes, she huffs. "You're not even sure who is it."

"Jarvis?"

"It's General Turner, Sir."

When he gives her a smug grin, she feels her fists clench with a desire to smash it into the ground. He seems pleased with her expression because he motions Jarvis to connect the call with a smile.

From what she hears, the so-called General seems to hide as much information as he possibly can when he explains what he wants from Tony. Basically, only telling him that he needs to retrieve the technology and rescue the pilot.

"I'm in, don't worry. However, what am I gonna do if soldiers come to me, thinking me ready to invade or something?"

The old man was quiet for a moment, before answering firmly, "You've got the right to defend yourself, don't you?"

And then he cuts the phone call.

… What an a-hole.

"They indirectly told you to kill innocent people." At Tony's troubled look, she asks softly, "Just do what you feel it's best and will let you sleep without trouble at night."

He pats her head with a sigh. "Thank you."

.

Tony leaves and the room falls silent, so she takes a moment to compose herself before continuing to write the second volume. The first book has had its cover selection almost done, and the only thing left is deciding on an exact date of release—most likely in the upcoming month.

She wants to concentrate on her outline but finds that she can't. So she follows Jarvis' commentary of what's happening. It appears he only slightly injures the soldiers, and doesn't fight back with fire. He guides the pilot to safety, and she releases the tension she had been carrying on her shoulders.

When he's tasked with bringing the airman to their base in Cairo, she settles into her seat with a relieved sigh. Now, deciding to continue writing, she sits on her red chair. She's about to tell Jarvis to stop with the updates when she hears the name General Ross. When she tunes in once again, she realizes that the Ross they're talking about is the one from Hulk and he is scolding Tony for not defending himself, as he 'should have done'.

Now she's once again worried, because from what she hears, the USA is not too happy with Tony's actions and they haven't been for a while.

Shit.

She moves her laptop aside, knowing she won't be able to write anymore. So, she decides to wait for Tony while cooking some food for him to at least relax as it's almost dinnertime.

He comes almost by the time she's done. She doesn't need to look at him to feel the weariness exuding from him.

"So you heard, huh?"

She tries to smile, she really does, but it ends up looking more like a grimace. Tony walks up to her and runs the back of his hand on her cheek. She lets it pass this time because she knows he must need the comfort, but still. Instead of it becoming into something remotely romantic, she goes to give him a platonic hug him.

"What are we gonna do?"

"We, huh?"

She punches his back lightly. "Yes, we're friends, remember? A superhero team."

He sinks into the hug, his breath catching in his chest as he sighs. "I want to leave as my legacy something besides weapons and war and I don't think Iron man is going to cut it."

She could barely get the words out, her throat so tight she could hardly speak; "You're not going to die."

"I've been thinking of opening the Stark Expo," he continues as if she hasn't said anything, but she knows by the tightening of the hug, he heard her. "I've been planning it for some time now and just yesterday I sent the plans to Potts."

She laughs wetly. "You're giving her so much work when she's supposed to be just your assistant. I bet she's going to need one of her own soon, too."

He presses his cheek on top of her head while chuckling. "Yeah, maybe I'll give her that idea next time she calls."

"Taking the credit away from me, huh," she huffs.

"What's mine is yours. What's yours is mine."

She slaps him on the back once again. "As far as I know, we haven't gotten married."

"Yet." She's got some words ready to tell him, but he stops her by saying, "You wouldn't deny something to a dying man, right?"

"Shut up, you're not dying."

"Sure, sure," he says, humoring her.

.

.

Reviews fill my soul with motivation :D

Also if you wanna read up to 8 chapters ahead, go to my p-a-treon/JorieDS