Saving Her Sanity (Tony Stark x OC!Stephanie Richards)

Chapter 2: Unspoken Feelings

The moon seeped into the room through the curtains as Stephanie slowly woke up. She slowly turns onto her side as her right side ached from laying on her back. A groan escapes her as pain radiated through her. The brunette fully sits up as she holds her right side, just above her rib cage as she lets her legs hang off the side of the bed. Looking at her legs, she knew Tony had changed her clothes. She was wearing the same black tank top but she had sweatpants on. Making a mental note to thank him, she stands up but crumbles as the pain starts to become too much. Her breathing starts to become staggered as she tries to reach her inhaler but her vision starts to narrow. She vaguely hears JARVIS through the overhead speakers as footsteps come running into her room. A shadowy figure grabs her inhaler and kneels beside her, pulling her into a sitting position as the inhaler meets her lips. Taking two puffs, her vision slowly comes back to her as the face of her best friend comes into view. Tony looks at the female with worry as he holds her up. Stephanie's breathing starts to go back to normal as she sets a hand next to his arc reactor in his chest.

The male brings her closer as he cradles her to his chest before he picks her up bridal style and brings her out to the living room. Stephanie notices Pepper stand up from the couch and walk over to them as a comforting hand lays itself on her left shoulder. Tony sets her on the couch before he is pulled away by Pepper. They stand in her kitchen as harsh and quick whispers pass between the two as Stephanie grabs her cell off of the coffee table where she figured Steve had put it. She sends a text to both Steve and Nat so Pepper wouldn't have to ask. She gets responses from both immediately and she locks her phone, setting it back onto the coffee table.

"Ya'll can go to bed. Nat and Steve are on their way. I'll watch TV until they get here." Stephanie blankly stares at the TV screen as she watches Ghost Adventures. She could hear Tony sigh and feel the agitation radiating from Pepper.

"If you need anything before they get here--" Tony walks over to her and sets a hand on her shoulder before they both hear Pepper sigh.

"Tony, she'll be fine." Pepper sets a hand on Tony's back as Stephanie feels him tense up.

"Go, Tony. I'll be okay. I'll let JARVIS know if I need anything."

Stephanie watches as Tony nods and sighs before heading towards the elevator with Pepper. Once the elevator doors close, the brunette female scoffs before turning back to the TV. Soon the scent of oak and happy thoughts with the smell of fresh fallen rain and neutral thoughts invade her senses as both Steve and Nat step off of the elevator. The female spy immediately comes over and snuggles the living life out of Stephanie as the female laughs. Stephanie hugs Nat back as Steve sits down in the recliner, setting his bag and Nat's down next to it. The two females curl up together on the couch as they all watch Ghost Adventures. Steve soon raises the stool on the recliner and reclines back as he relaxes. Nat begins to play with Stephanie's hair before she breaks the comfortable silence.

"Let me guess... Panties started getting twisted?" Nat tilts her head to the side to look at Stephanie as she slightly nods.

"When don't they?" The psychic sighs as she slightly rubs her temple with her fingers before a hand stops her.

"Well, in all honesty, that relationship isn't going to last much longer. You didn't hear this from me, but they have been arguing more lately about minuscule things than they have in the past. Pepper can't survive in our world or at least choses not to." Nat finishes the French braid in Stephanie's hair before getting up and heading towards the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing three Pepsis. The spy hands one to Steve and Stephanie as she starts opening hers up as she sits. "What do you think, Steve?"