Random Iron Man Stories

Panic Attack

*ignoring the part in im3 where tony got the reactor removed, he still needs it to keep the shrapnel from getting to his heart. He doesn't want to get rid of it for two very simple reasons: one) Blue light=alive, two) he wouldn't be able to sleep without the weight in his chest.*

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Tony and Peter were walking around around the tower. They pass by the code green room. A room where the walls and everything was made out of cement. This is the room where Bruce goes when he is on the urge of Hulking out. Thank god Tony was smart enough to make the room sound proof. Originally there were cushions in the room but Hulk did what he does best-smash. Well more like rip. Anyway, the father-son duo were walking around when someone from Tony's past arrives, Obadiah Stane.

"Hello, Anthony, I need this." Stane says, reaching for Tony's chest, where the Arc Reactor resides.

"No, you can't have it, he needs it." Peter yells.

"Not to worry." Obadiah says, getting out the Sonic Taser from his pocket. He uses it on Tony and Peter. Tony's lips turn a blueish-purple and blood drips down the side of his head from his ear. Peter is able to resist it for a few minutes due to his spider powers but he falls victim to it as well. Once they are tasered, Stane reaches to Tony's chest and gets ahold of the reactor. Once he gets ahold of it he yanks it out of Tony's chest causing the shrapnel to roam freely to his heart.

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Tony wakes up in the middle of a panic attack. Had his chest always been so tight? He can't breathe. It's getting harder by the minute as his hand roams around his chest, trying to find the Arc Reactor. His fingers reach it. He grabs at it, but, even with the reassurance that it's still there it's still nearly impossible to breathe.

Tony tries to breathe slowly, in and out, in and out, he thought. However, it almost feels like he's drowning, he can't get any air in nor out. In and out, in and out, in and out, he thought. He tried deep breaths.

His sight is all blurry. He can't see anything but darkness. and the faint blue light coming from his chest is not helping. All he can see is blobs so he keeps his eyes closed.

After what felt like hours, Tony's chest started to loosen back up. He started being able to breathe, to see. He hates panic attacks. But thankfully Pepper is on a business trip and Peter was back at his and May's apartment.

It was almost like Pepper could sense when Tony has panic attacks, or a bad day even from a remote location. Such as France. Which is where she is now. Tony's phone rings. It's an incoming call from Pepper. Tony answers and keeps it on speaker.

"Tony, hon, are you ok?" Pepper says in greeting.

"Pepps, how did you know?" Tony responds, not sarcastically. He's being vulnerable for once.

"I just knew. What was it? Panic attack? Nightmare? Bad day?" Pepper asks, gently, but kindly. And not condescendingly or pitifully, but instead with a soft caring tone.

"Try a combination of all three."

"Tony, do you want to talk about it?"

"Sure, I guess."

"Before you say anything, get the pen and pad of paper out of the drawer of my nightstand. I want you to doodle on the paper, pretending the paper is my hand."

"Ok," Tony gets the legal pad and pen out of Pepper's nightstand, "Got it."

"Ok, I want you to doodle on the paper while telling me about your nightmare. Whatever comes to mind."

"Ok," Tony starts doodling random shapes, "So," A sigh escapes Tony's lips, "Pete and I were wandering around the tower. When Obi comes up to us and tries to steal the Reactor. He uses the Sonic Taser on us and steal the reactor from my chest."

"Tony.."

"At that point I woke up. In a panic attack. Pep, please tell me you are coming home soon and this is your last trip for a while. Please."

"I come home tomorrow night. Like 6:30 or 7:30."

"Thank god. I don't think I could sleep anymore without you next to me. "

"I know, Tony, I know. One more day."

"I'll be counting down the minutes."

"I know you will. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Bye, Tony."

"Bye." The line goes dead and Tony gets up and goes down to the lab. He tinkers all night and into the next day. Pepper comes home to find him in his lab and drags him up to eat, shower, and finally into bed with her. There were no panic attacks or nightmares. Just peace.

*A/N: this was a short 775 word count not including a/ns*