An Assassin Never Tells

S I X T E E N

May 27th, 2010

Tony Stark made it out of the brawl without any major injuries. That didn't stop Pepper from fretting over him like crazy, but she somehow managed to keep her cool. That morning, Pepper was applying some makeup to Tony's face so he could go to a press conference without unwanted questions. Questions that could give away the fact that he was the man in the red and gold metal suit.

"Hm," Tony hummed, "'Iron Man.' That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it. I mean, it's not technically accurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy, but it's kind of evocative, the imagery, anyway."

Dad walked up and handed Tony some note cards, "Here's your alibi."

"Okay," Tony trailed off.

"You were on your yacht."

"Yeah."

"We have port papers that put you in Avalon all night and sworn statements from 50 of your guests."

"See, I was thinking maybe we should say it was just Pepper and me alone on the island."

"That's what happened."

"Alright."

"Just read it, word for word."

"There's nothing about Stane here."

"That's being handled. He's on vacation. Small aircraft have such a poor safety record."

"But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my... I mean, is that... That's kind of flimsy, don't you think?"

"This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. And besides, the bodyguard you have right here could've very well been the person in the suit. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. You've got...90 seconds."

"Agent Coulson," said Pepper, walking after dad, "I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help."

"That's what we do. You'll be hearing from us."

"From the Strategic Homeland..."

"Just call us S.H.I.E.L.D," and with that, dad left the building. We had said our goodbyes earlier that morning as not to reveal my cover to Tony.

"Right. Let's get this show on the road."

"You know, it's actually not that bad. Even I don't think I'm Iron Man."

"You're not Iron Man."

"Am so."

"You're not."

God, those two argued like toddlers all the time.

"Alright, suit yourself. You know, if I were Iron Man, I'd have this girlfriend who knew my true identity. She'd be a wreck, 'cause she'd always be worrying that I was going to die, yet so proud of the man I'd become. She'd be wildly conflicted, which would only make her crazier about me. Tell me you never think about that night."

"What night?"

I felt very out of place, but I think that they had forgotten I was there. I hadn't said anything since I entered.

"You know."

'But I don't, Stark. Don't gossip about your lives in some cryptic language. Spit it out. I wanna hear,' I thought.

"Are you talking about the night that we danced and went up on the roof, and then you went downstairs to get me a drink, and you left me there, by myself? Is that the night you're talking about? Thought so. Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"

Pepper took him down.

"Yes, that will be all, Miss Potts."

I followed Pepper to the back over to the t.v. where the press conference was being broadcasted and listened to Rhodes finish up his bit.

"And now, Mr. Stark has prepared a statement. He will not be taking any questions," finished Rhodes.

"Thank you. Been a while since I was in front of you. I figure I'll stick to the cards this time. There's been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and the rooftop-"

A rather rude reporter butted in, "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared, despite the fact that you-"

"I know that it's confusing. It is one thing to question the official story, and another thing entirely to make wild accusations, or insinuate that I'm a superhero."

"I never said you were a superhero."

"Didn't? Well, good, because that would be outlandish and fantastic. I'm just not the hero type. Clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely public."

Rhodes was getting nervous and whispered something in Tony's ear. Tony was nervous, and he was rambling. Pepper was nervous, and her emotions were out for the world to see, so she projected on me.

"Yeah, okay. Yeah," Tony turned back to address the crowd of eager reporters, "The truth is..."

Mr. Stark took a long pause, clearly mulling over a big decision. Picking and choosing his next words as if his life depended on them. But, to be honest, they did. But Pepper's life also depended on his choice of words. Happy's life depended on his choice of words. Everyone that he loved, their lives depended on what he said next. And if I had learned anything about Anthony Edward Stark in the time as I spent as his bodyguard of sorts, it would be that he lives life more on the edge than I thought. I knew what he would say next.

"I am Iron Man."

Those four words made my life and my job just a little bit harder.

A/N: OH MY GOD YOU GUYS!!!! Hi ok so I was having a super tough week and so I didn't get to write at all until today, so I didn't check in on here until today, and OH MY GOD OVER 700 READS I CAN'T EVEN YOU GUYS ARE TOO AMAZING!!! It truly means so much to me to open the site or the app and see all the new reads and the people adding this to their reading lists and I- 

All that to say, I love you guys and I am so grateful for the support! Thank y'all so so so very very very much!!! :) <3