How things come crashing down - Roleplay for Pepper and Tony

[mutablepolitics]

Emma had told everyone that her detox was going well. What she was actually doing was focusing on the one bright spot. She told any and all that asked that at least she hadn't been throwing up, and she hadn't. Even the pain wasn't as bad as it had been in the past. That was the only symptom hat had lessened this time

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[only_pepper]

First day back after the holidays and it was all paperwork and catching up. It was for that reason that she was still in her office that evening when Emma's call came in.

Flipping open her cell phone, she cradled it between her ear and her shoulder, studiously looking at the figures in front of her. "Hello darling," she said before Emma could say anything. "Is this important or can it wait? I'm in the middle of some nasty figures here."

[mutablepolitics]

"Tony was right."

It was perhaps not the best way to start the call as she stood there staring into the flames.

"I am more than her. I don't have to be that. I can... I don't know but I don't have to be her."

[only_pepper]

"Emma?"

The dreamy quality of her friend's voice caused her to let go of her pen and concentrate on the call. Frowning, she pressed the receiver close to her ear, as if this would make the conversation magically make sense.

"Who'se her? What are you talking about? Where are you?" She could hear sounds in the background and couldn't figure it out. "Emma, what's going on?"

[mutablepolitics]

"The White Queen. He and I were talking and he asked me if I knew who I was. I'm not her, even if Steve and the others won't see. I've been Emma for so long and it comes crashing down anyway. I just want it gone,' she said, voice hardening with a sigh.

"I'm destroying it. Taking it down. It's mine to do with as I please. I'm the one in control."

[builfromscraps]

Tony had been miles above the city when he received Pepper's message, Jarvis's generated voice repeating it to him, as well as the confusing emoticon at the end. He frowned...Pepper never used emoticons.

"Steve, end training exercise," he cut on the private radio, circling back around and cutting down on the boot repulsors, loosing altitude. "Pepper left me a message, something's wrong with Emma. I'm contacting Fury and telling him something's come up...are you with me?"

He cut the boots altogether, having zeroed in on Steve's position, landing with very little finesse and a lot of cracked pavement. "Fuck..."

[americas_cap]

Steve jogged over to meet Tony, speaking directly to him instead of over the comm. "What's going on?" He'd heard Tony's words but they hadn't made much sense. Something was wrong with Emma? Steve had a difficult time imagining any situation that Emma Frost couldn't get herself out of. Still, he didn't like the fretful tone of Tony's voice.

He repeated what he'd said, about Pepper's message and Emma being in trouble, and Steve frowned. He was wearing his uniform, though the mask was hanging down his back; his shield was firmly in hand.

"Is this a Steve Rogers problem or a Captain America problem?" he asked grimly, already knowing the answer. Tony gestured to the shield with a shining red finger and Steve nodded, mouth drawn in a thin line as he pulled the mask up over his face. "Let's go."

[builfromscraps]

The rockets set in the heels of the boots fired blue and Tony set one hand to the side as he was lifted into the air. He would never get used to the initial kick. Once he was steady he tucked his hands beneath Steve's arms, lifting him into the air and quickly requesting a flight path of the internal navigation. Hellfire was easy to find.

Of course, he wasn't expecting the fire. It blazed bright on the horizon and he heard Steve curse softly, as much as he would curse. Tony's grip on Steve tightened and he scanned for life signs, registering only one. Mutant, female, alive.

"Emma!" he screamed from inside the suit, dropping Steve 20 feet from the ground, close to the gates of the club. He cut off the rockets and skidded through the front door, barely registering the blinking temperature warning. He couldn't see her. "Steve! Help me find her!"

[americas_cap]

Steve's lips lifted in a snarl as Tony let him go, but he tucked his legs under him, gauged the distance, and kicked out just before he hit the ground. He felt the impact in his toes, curled forward, and tucked his shoulder into the ground, rolling over and rocking to a standing stop.

He blinked away the sting of the smoke and flames and raised a baleful glare to where Tony hovered in the air. "Thanks," he shouted over the comm. "Great landing."

Even as he spoke, though, he was searching for a way into the building, eyes tracking the flames. They were lesser to his left, so he jogged to that side of the building and smashed in a window with his shield. His costume wasn't fireproof, but it could withstand high levels of heat, as could he. "I'm going in," he yelled to Tony. "Try to find out where she is and guide me!"