Fic: Dysania
I wrote something. Finally!
Dysania, Tony/Pepper, PG, 746 words
It’s almost ironic that as soon as Pepper gets a short break from the cleanup happening in New York City, she ends up getting sick.
Warning: Spoilers for Avengers!
Dysania
It’s almost ironic that as soon as Pepper gets a short break from the cleanup happening in New York City, she ends up getting sick. She supposes that it makes sense, what with all the stress she’s been under from working to contain the already severe damage Tony and his buddies did to NYC and the Stark Tower, but she still hates being confined to a bed when she could be out enjoying the beautiful Malibu summer.
At least she’s at home, in her own bed for a change. Her job requires her to travel so much that she often forgets what it’s like to simply sit around in her apartment and do nothing. So she spends the day in bed alternately watching Say Yes to the Dress and sleeping, a box of Kleenex at her side.
Around three o’clock in the afternoon, Pepper wakes to a steady thumping noise that seems to get progressively louder. When she opens her eyes, Iron Man himself stands at the foot of her bed, a red thermos in his hand. The faceplate flips up to reveal a tired-looking (but somehow still grinning) Tony Stark. “Hey.” He says, as if having an attractive man in a heavy metal suit holding a thermos in your bedroom was the most natural thing in the world.
“Tony, what are you doing? How did you get in here with that thing on?” Pepper says, struggling to talk with her nasal passages so blocked up.
Tony gestures with his free hand. “Through the window.” He says matter-of-factly, then frowns. “Wearing this thing makes it hard to fit through doors.”
Pepper rubs her eyes tiredly. After over ten years of working for Tony, nothing surprises her anymore. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in New York.”
“What, I’m not allowed to take a break to come see my sick girlfriend?”
“Not when I’m on the other side of the country and you have a ton of work to do, no.”
“What do you think this suit is for? I got here in less than an hour. And don’t worry, Pep, the guys said I could go. They also said that I should take care of you for a change.” He holds up the thermos proudly, grinning like an idiot. “I brought you some soup.”
“Tony-”
“No, don’t you ‘Tony’ me. I know this is your favorite, chicken noodle, straight from Soupbox. I stopped in Chicago to get it on the way here.”
Pepper’s last shreds of resistance immediately disappear. “I could kiss you right now.”
“As much as I enjoy your excellent kissing, I would rather not spend the next week in bed coughing up a lung, thank you very much.”
“What, are you going to suggest that I wear a mask again?”
“Actually…”
“Tony.”
“Okay, fine. No.” he says, grinning playfully. Unable to help herself, Pepper grins and allows herself a small chuckle, inciting a powerful coughing fit. While Pepper struggles to regain control of her respiratory system, Tony rubs her back with his heavy, metal-clad hand.
As the thick coughing begins to subside, Pepper reaches up to rest her hand on Tony’s cheek. It takes a few more moments before she is able to talk without coughing. “Are you okay?” She asks him.
Tony laughs. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Pepper looks at him pointedly, solemnly. “If you mean about the whole riding-a-nuke-and-going-into-space-and-then-falling-from-the-sky thing, then yeah, I’m fine.
Some bruises and cuts from the battle, slight acute cyanosis from losing oxygen while I was in space, a couple broken ribs from being caught by Hulk, but that’s about it. Nothing too bad.”
“You didn’t tell me you passed out and that the arc reactor was failing. Or that you knew it was a suicide mission.” Pepper says quietly.
“Who told you?”
“Bruce.”
“I’m sorry. I was going to tell you.” Tony rubs at his eyes. “I called you.”
Pepper looks up. “That’s why you called me on the plane?”
Tony nods. “I had to talk to you, before I..." he trails off.
Pepper’s eyes fill with tears and she pulls Tony to her in a hug that’s surprisingly comfortable, considering the fact that one of them is covered in metal armor. “Tony, I’m so proud of you.” She says, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder. “That was stupid, but selfless. But will you promise me something?”
“What is it?”
“Don’t do that to me again.”