Iron Woman - (Fem Iron man X Pepper)

Chapter 14 - Iron Woman

I had turned out okay...a few cuts and bruises. But it was over.

Pepper was okay.

Rhodey was okay.

I just had to make a stupid statement.

I look at the TV as Pepper does my makeup to see Rhodey talking. "You've all received the official statement of what occurred at Stark Industries last night. There have been unconfirmed reports that a robotic prototype malfunctioned and caused damage to the arc reactor. Fortunately, a member of Y/N Stark's personal security staff..."

I then look down at the paper, "Iron woman.....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." I say.

"Here's your alibi." Agent Coulson hands me note cards.

"Okay?" I ask, looking at them.

"You were on your yacht.....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." I smile as she rips off a bandaid on my head.

"That's what happened." Coulson says.

"All right." I nod.

"Just read it, word for word." Coulson says as Pepper counties to cover my bruises.

"There's nothing about Stane here." I point.

"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?" I ask.

"This isn't my first rodeo, Miss Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. You've got 90 seconds."

"Agent Coulson? I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help." Pepper walks over to him.

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

"From the Strategic Homeland..."

"Just call us Shield." Cookson leaves.

"Right. Let's get this show on the road." Pepper picks up my blazer.

"You know, it's actually not that bad. Even I don't think I'm Iron Woman." I smile as bite onto the note cards as Pepper helps me put on my blazer.

"You're not Iron Woman."

"Am so." I chuckle.

"You're not."

"All right, suit yourself. You know, if I were Iron Woman, 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 woman I'd become. She'd be wildly conflicted, which would only make her more crazy about me. Tell me you never think about that night." I say.

"What night?"

"You know." I nod.

"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?" She pauses. "Thought so. Will that be all, Miss Stark?" She asks.

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

Rhodey nods at me as I step up to the podium, "And now, Miss Stark has prepared a statement. She will not be taking any questions."

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

Christine interrupts, "I'm sorry, Miss 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 say.

"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." I nod.

"Just stick to the cards." Rhodey whispers to me.

"Yeah, okay. Yeah.The truth is..." I stare at the cards and think. I am Y/N Stark and....... "I am the Iron Woman."

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Later that night I reach home....finally.

"Jarvis!" I yell.

"Welcome home, Ma'am." Jarvis' voice cuts out.

"I am the Iron Woman." I see a man in my living room. "You think you're the only superhero in the world? Miss Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet."

"Who the hell are you?" I ask.

The man steps into the light, "Nick Fury, Director of Shield."

"Ah." I nod.

"I'm here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative"