36 | lovers' quarrel

Hope

Something's wrong. No, not wrong, exactly. Something's different with Tony. And I know I shouldn't be surprised about that. He has been held captive for three months in a foreign country. I'm sure that changes a person.

Every night since he got back, he would lie down beside me and wait for me to sleep. But, I have been having trouble sleeping lately, paranoia perhaps. But I couldn't sleep, especially when I always feel him climbing off of the bed when he thinks I'm already deep in my slumber and heading off to his workshop to do God knows what.

And then a couple of hours after, he'd go back to bed as if he hadn't left.

"For you, sir, always." I heard Jarvis's voice as I so quietly walked down the stairs towards his lab, my ears sharp as I listened in. I shouldn't do this. I shouldn't eavesdrop. But ever since his abduction that lasted for three months, I can't help but be paranoid all the time. His secretive actions are not helping.

"I'd like to open a new project file, index as Mark 2." Tony said.

Mark 2? What does that mean?

"Shall I store this on the Stark Industries Central Database?" Asked Jarvis.

Before I've reached the bottom of the steps, I see Tony standing before his hologram table with an image of what I think is some sort of chunky robot.

"Actually, I don't know who to trust right now. Till further notice, why don't we just keep everything on my private server?" Tony responded.

Even me? He can't even trust me? So much so that he has to sneak off every night to have a secret rendezvous with Jarvis?

"Working on a secret project, are we, sir?" Jarvis said. He even sounds like he's excited. I'll get you next time Jarvis.

"I don't want this winding up in the wrong hands. Maybe in mine, it can actually do some good." Tony said as he stared at the holographic image in front of him before spinning it around.

"I know something that wouldn't do you any good." I said, still standing by the glass door and windows that separated the stairs to the workshop. The moment he turned around with surprise on his face, I crossed my arms against my chest and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Lying to me."

"Good evening, Ms. Andrea." Jarvis greeted.

I typed the passcode for the door and pushed the door open, entering the workshop.

"Jarvis, isn't it past your bedtime?" I told the A.I., my eyes still fixated on Tony, who I think is already racking his brain up for a decent explanation.

"You should be in bed." He defended with his finger held up at me.

"I could say the same for you." I replied as I approached him.

I averted my eyes towards the hologram, seeing it in a closer range made me realize that it's not just a robot given the certain features this one had, like the necessary holes on the mask so that a literal human can see when they're inside it.

"Is this a suit?" I asked.

"I can explain." He immediately answered.

"Please do."

I looked at him and saw him staring at me for a while longer. He does this when his brain is producing too much information all at once, he just sort of hangs. It's either he's trying to come up with a lie or the explanation is a lot longer and complicated than usual. I'm hoping it's the latter. Because I don't do well with secrets.

"This..." he pointed at the suit. "This is how I escaped."

I furrowed my eyebrows as I flickered my gaze between him and the hologram. "What do you mean? I thought my family found out where you were, told Rhodey, and then he—"

"Yes, that's true. But they found me when I'm already strolling in some desert after escaping..." And he went on to tell me everything. The suit. How it powered the reactor in his chest. How he's going to build another one. How he's going to build a lot more for the greater good.

"I really think I can do a lot of good with this, Andrea." He said, placing his hands on my arms as if trying to convince me.

"With you in these suits?" I asked.

"Well, I don't think I have any volunteers at the moment." He answered.

My lips parted. Just the thought of him using himself as a weapon for every war that would be waged in this problematic world, it's terrifying. He's incredible, but he's not invincible.

"I don't think I can handle worrying about you all the time, wondering if you're okay or already blown up into a million fucking pieces." I said, slightly frustrated just by visiting the worst case scenarios.

He pushed his eyebrows together and squinted his eyes at me while he dropped his hands from my arms.

"And you don't think I worry about you? When you're off fighting a family enemy almost every month for the last fifteen years? You don't think I nearly go out of my mind while you risk your life for mine?" He argued.

"That's not the same."

"How is it not the same?"

"I'm immortal, you're not."

"That does not automatically make you the protector in this relationship."

"Yes it does."

"No, it doesn't!" He exclaimed, moving away to lessen the impact of his rage which actually surprised me. He wasn't angry at me. That I know. He's just...angry. And I understand because I feel that sometimes. I feel outraged not towards people exactly. I just feel it, because of the situation, because of everything that's happening, because of everything that I think is going to happen—which is mostly the product of my paranoia.

"What happened to us being the dynamic duo?" He asked.

I wanted to ask him the same question. But I know that only I can answer that. It's simply because I'm afraid of losing him again. I know he feels the same towards me, that's why he's acting like this. But I can't be killed. I don't need protection.

"I need to protect you." I said, much calmer this time as I felt the tears brimming in my eyes, feeling the fear creep up my spine as I revisit the worst-case scenarios.

"And I need to protect you." He replied. Like me, he was also more relaxed, but that didn't lessen the sincerity in his voice, the determination in his face.

"I don't need it. I can't be killed." I said.

This time, Tony didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stared at me. It was only for a few seconds, but the intensity of his stare made everything feel like it was all in slow motion. I even felt my racing heartbeat slow down its pace not because I was getting less agitated, but because it was just also slowed down.

And then everything went back to normal.

"Death is not the only way for them to take you away from me. You know that better than anyone." He said.

I do, actually. I just forgot. I forgot that death is not the only worst thing on this planet. But it is the only worst thing that I am considering right now because it's the most possible for him. Fifteen years and I'm not ready to let him go yet. But I know that at some point, I have to. Because Peter told me who he had become. He's destined for great things. I just have to be brave enough to let him chase it.

But right now, I'm not ready yet.

"Go back to sleep. I'll come up soon." Tony said, turning his back on me and returning his focus on his hologram table.

And me? Well, I went back to our room, laid on our bed, and felt Tony hug me from behind when he finally joined me...but I didn't sleep. How could I when my mind is once again plagued with my fear towards the future?

—

Days passed by, nights passed even slower, and Tony and I were still tip-toeing around the subject we fought about that one night. It's been a long time since we last had a serious fight. Our fights are usually just banters. Never really serious. So we make up in no time. But what happened to Tony in that cave changed him, and dare I say, for the better. It scared me. Because I'm slowly seeing him emerging from his shell and finally becoming the great man this world is waiting for.

I shouldn't be selfish. I mean, I am selfish. But I can't be too selfish with him knowing that soon, he'll be everyone's hero, not just mine. Whether I like it or not, he'll be out there, fighting whoever or whatever it is that comes our way. And when that happens, I can't stop him anymore. All I have to do is fight alongside him.

"Your boyfriend is insane." Pepper said as she emerged from the stairs that connected the living room to Tony's workshop.

Pepper witnessed Tony working on his repulsor gloves slash flight stabilizers. I don't need my vampire hearing to say that he made a mess.

"Yeah, but I love him." I said as I flipped through the pages of a magazine.

"Poor you." Pepper simply answered before sitting beside me, leaning back on the couch and sighing in relief. She must be so exhausted between babysitting Tony and doing her actual work.

"What about you?" I asked, putting down the magazine on my lap and turning my head towards her.

She shifted her gaze towards me and furrowed her eyebrows "What about me?"

"Are you in love with Uncle Finn?" I asked.

I saw the immediate shock and fluster on her face the moment I asked. She looked away from me and blinked her eyes multiple times and quickly, as if recovering from my sudden question.

I have been noticing how Uncle Finn and Pepper grew closer. Sure, I lost three months so I didn't get to know how it went with them during that time, but these past few days, the two of them seemed...almost inseparable.

"Now you're insane." She answered, clearly avoiding the question.

"It's okay, if...you know..." I trailed off. Hesitantly, she glanced back at me. She doesn't look defensive anymore. But she was open. "Just know that I won't ever call you 'Aunt Pepper'."

"Oh, God. Please don't." She said as we laughed.

Our laughs were cut short when the front door opened and in goes Swab Head with a box of pizza in hand. I immediately rolled my eyes and groaned in annoyance. His mere presence vexes me. I know Tony trusts him, but I can't bring myself to do the same. I mean, his attitude alone towards me is already unforgivable. The way he would talk to me with that condescending tone. He has hated me since the first time we met, so I returned the favor.

"Look, it's the scary tribrid." Obadiah joked as he approached us, placing the box of pizza on top of the coffee table.

If only he believed the news, we'd be having a much more different conversation. You'd think that he'd believe it given that he's known me for fifteen years and I haven't aged at all.

"What are you doing here, Dr. Phil?" I asked. The last thing I want to do right now is deal with him.

"Why? I can't visit Tony?" He asked, still coming at me with that annoying tone of his.

"Not when I'm here."

"You're always here."

"Exactly."

"Okay, round one's over. Let's take a break. Pizza?" Pepper chimed, taking the box of pizza and opening it before handing it over to me.

"No, thank you." I answered, earning a smirk from Obadiah before moving over to the piano and, to my extreme dismay, started playing. Pepper put back the pizza and started to get busy with her laptop.

The idea to just throw this man out of my house is tempting. I'm already at the brink of just throwing a fit because I'm already stressed with trying to accept Tony's new hobby. Now I have to deal with Obadiah's constant unannounced visits ever since Tony came back. I get it. He's worried. But stop showing up in front of my face.

"How'd it go?" I looked in the direction where I heard Tony's voice and saw him just emerging from the stairs.

"It went that bad, huh?" Tony said when Obadiah didn't reply and continued playing the piano. I'm just sitting here preventing myself from bashing his head onto the keys.

I should refrain from my violent thoughts. That's not healthy.

"Just because I brought pizza back from New York doesn't mean it went bad." Obadiah responded with his fingers still pressing the keys.

Tony sat beside me and took a peek into the box of pizza. "Uh-uh, sure it doesn't. Oh, boy." He said before grabbing a piece of pizza and taking a bite of it.

His gaze then landed on me, looking at me from head to toe as he chewed his pizza. Now, what does he want?

"You look nice tonight." He said.

"Did I look bad last night?" I asked.

"You can never look bad." He answered.

He's charming me. I'm guessing he wants to make up.

I just stared at him. My silence seems to have indicated that I'm suspicious of him, causing him to smile at me before taking my hand into his and leaning on the couch, his head slowly tilting towards me. I didn't bother to move away or withdraw my hand. I miss him. So, I just let him be.

"It would have gone better if you were there." Obadiah said.

God, just shut up.

"Uh-huh. You told me to lay low. That's what I've been doing. I lay low, and you take care of all..."

"Hey, come on." Obadiah said as Tony trailed off. He removed himself from the piano and began to make his way towards us. "In public. The press. This was a board of directors meeting."

Obadiah sat on the other side of Tony, clutching a glass of scotch in his hand.

"This was a board of directors meeting?" Tony echoed.

"The board is claiming you have post-traumatic stress. They're filing an injunction." Obadiah explained.

I furrowed my eyebrows at the information he just revealed.

"A what?" I said, not liking where this conversation is going. In fact, where this company is going. Tony's one of the best things that has ever happened to this company next to his dad. And God knows how much more he can do with it in the future.

"You're not a part of this." Obadiah told me.

I was ready to just start losing it right then and there. I was just concerned about Tony's position in the company, and him in general. The least Obadiah could do about it is acknowledge it. He doesn't have to shut me out like that.

Before I could snap at Obadiah, Tony quickly came to my defense.

"You have to stop talking to my girlfriend like that." He said.

I was surprised at what Tony did. He never did that, defending me to Obadiah. That's because I can most definitely defend myself. I've always told him that I'm fine being that man's most hated person. And mostly because our arguments are always nonsensical. But I guess, Obadiah saying that I'm not a part of this when I'm in fact as every bit a part of this as he is, maybe even more, is not something Tony is just going to let slide.

I just sat there, slightly shocked at Tony's words before Obadiah responded.

"Sorry. But this is serious, Tony. They want to lock you out." Obadiah said.

Tony then let go of my hand as he started to get worked up at the current situation.

"Why, 'cause the stocks dipped 40 points? We knew that was going to happen." Tony replied.

"Fifty-six and a half." Pepper said, correcting Tony.

He then looked at Pepper. I feel like furniture over here just listening to them argue. "It doesn't matter. We own the controlling interest in the company."

"Tony, the board has rights, too. They're making the case that you and your new direction isn't in the company's best interest." Obadiah said. How can they think that it's not in the company's best interest when they are not the ones who has seen what Tony had seen?

I've looked into Tony's head, he let me look into his head. Just judging from his memories, it was already horrible. What more for Tony who was actually there in person?

"I'm being responsible! That's a new direction for me, for the company...I mean, me on the company's behalf being responsible for the way that..." Tony flickered his gaze between Pepper and Obadiah and must've realized that he's being ganged up on, causing him to walk out, attempting to take the pizza with him.

"This is great." He said, sarcasm dripping from his words. "I'll be in the shop."

The two of them continued to argue before Tony finally sent Obadiah on his way, much to my relief.

I stood up from the couch and took the package from the table that I have been wanting to give Tony for a while now before I shot Obadiah a sarcastic smile as I walked past him to get to the stairs.

"Have a nice night. If the bed bugs don't bite you, I will." I said, all while keeping the smile on my lips before skipping down the stairs to Tony's workshop.

I typed the passcode before letting myself in, seeing Tony sitting in front of his computer where the slice of pizza lay on a plate beside it, his face buried in his palms and his lips letting out a deep sigh.

"Hey." I greeted.

Tony glanced at me and smiled, not all the way though. Just the small smile he wears when he doesn't want me to worry about him.

"Hey." He said. "You're not still mad at me, aren't you?"

I pushed my lips into a thin line and shook my head as I continued to approach him.

"Good, because I need you right now. Come here." He said, spinning his swivel chair around so he's facing me. He extended his arms out towards me before I reached him, sitting on his lap.

He buried his face on my neck as he wrapped his arm around my waist, engulfing me with a hug.

"I missed you so much." He whined against my neck, his voice muffled.

"Me too." I replied before he pulled away slightly, looking up at me as he leaned back on the chair. I looked down on him while I brushed his hair with my free hand before he noticed the package I'm holding.

"What's this?" He asked.

I gave him the package and started opening it while his arms were still trapping me against him.

"Pepper said you wanted to throw that out. I told her I'd do it but instead, I made this." I said as he proceeded to unwrap the package.

When it was already unraveled, it revealed his previous mini arc reactor enclosed in a glass box. And on that reactor has the words 'Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart' engraved on it.

"You do know that you're proof enough, right?" He said, looking up at me as he placed the glass box on his computer desk.

"Am I?" I asked with a teasing tone while I squinted my eyes.

"I mean, it's not like I'm just using you, right? Because if so, I'm pretty sure Klaus will find another way to prove that I have a heart." Ah, yes. Dad always threatens Tony, saying that if he hurts me, he'll rip his heart out.

"He's just kidding."

"Sure, he is. He just likes to joke about it for the last fifteen years." He sarcastically said.

He reached for the slice of pizza and leaned back, taking a bite of it before offering me some. I looked at him and took a bite as well, a teasing smile playing on my lips as I chewed.

"I can't believe you just made pizza the hottest thing ever." He said, staring at me with lust darkening his eyes.

I know that look all too well. I shook my head, already knowing what he's planning on doing.

"Pepper and Obadiah are upstairs, they could walk in." I said.

He pursed his lips and shrugged his shoulders. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Guilty. Yes, I am ashamed of that. But to our defense, we thought the door was locked and it didn't occur to them to knock.

"You have to be quiet though." Tony said as he placed the pizza back on the plate before standing up while carrying me in his arms.

A giggle left my lips as he placed me on the desk, spreading my legs so he'd stand between them as he leaned in, his lips meeting mine.

Can't describe how glad I am that the lovers' quarrel is over.

—

Sorry if this chapter is quite boring. I'm confused as to why I'm so prone to sickness when I'm just in my room binge-watching You. I have not left my house for days and I've gotten a lot of rest and somehow I got sick again skskksksks.

Anyway, things will be a lot more exciting in the next chapter!