The Man with no Heart (Tony Stark) - ON HOLD

The morning after that

I hesitated in taking my shirt off, as Pepper got me a towel.

I just stared myself at the mirror, dealing with the strong feelings and emotions that I kept doubting were real.

But they were.

I was not hallucinating.

And I never felt that way before.

I was even... nervous, if that makes any sense.

I woke up when I noticed Pepper observing me, again, but quietly, holding a towel and a medical kit.

"Let me see those" she approached me

I turned to face her and leaned back to support my weight. I was exhausted.

I stared at her hesitating eyes as she leaned to take my shirt off, since I did not.

There were still marks all over. After the palladium poisoning that I brilliantly solved, thanks to my old man, I felt a lot better, but my chest was still filled with the purple crossed lines. I could not say it was that bad as before, but I felt nervous to show those to Pepper.

"It's ok, Tony"

I sadly smiled "Not that ok, really..." I whispered "Not the good looking fella you used to stare at"

She chuckled, sadly "I did not stare at you"

"Yes you did"

"No I did not... You were the one who... oh..." she gasped, watching the evident marks in my body.

The scratches I got after it were not important for her, anymore.  

She could only stare at the purple marks.

"I..." her hand softly raised to touch my chest "I-I don't understand... the arc reactor was killing you?" she asked, touching my new chest piece

"The palladium I used in it..."

"And this one? It is not hurting you anymore?" Her ocean eyes stared at me, worriedly

"I am perfectly fine, Pep. These will disappear, eventually"

She gulped "For how long?"

I took a deep breath "A good while before the Stark Expo..."

"What?!" her hands went to her hair, shocked "And you never... ever... thought of telling me?!"

"Pep..."

"No, you listen, Tony... this is serious, damn it..."

"Pep..." I tried to calm her down "You are exhausted, I am too... let's not argue right now..."

"No, Tony, I cannot stop thinking about this, you could have died!" she snapped "Worse! You were letting yourself die!"

"It is not like that..."

"And you never thought of telling me? What..."

"I tried to tell you!" I raised my voice, to finally calm her "I just... I could not. Did not have the guts to do that" I held her hand "Pep, I tried to fix it, ok? Don't say I was letting myself die. I did everything I could to fix it. And I ended up succeeding"

Pepper shocked her head "What if..."

"Shhh" I smiled, kissing her hand "Forget the what if's, Pep. I am here, now. And... I am still having a hard time believing you are here with me"

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She then leaned up to kiss my lips, embracing me in her amazingly comfortable and loving arms.

"Now, let me check those scratches" she made me sit down and did her usual wonderful work.