A Hero's Journey

Birthday Party

Ghost was currently leaning back in a chair with his eyes closed, breathing out simply while listening to the news broadcast. He started humming to lyrics to country songs under his breath while the news broadcast aired.

Senator Samuel Sterns speaks to the camera (the voice was the same as the hearing), "It's just unbelievable. It proves that the genie is out of the bottle and this man has no idea what he's doing. He thinks of the Iron Man weapon as a toy." He said, and Ghost could hear steps enter the room.

He tried to keep his footsteps quiet, but he failed. Tony wasn't trained in the art of stealth at all.

Sterns continued, "I was at a hearing where Mister STark, in fact, was adamant that these suits can't exist anywhere else, don't exist anywhere else, never will exist anywhere else, at least for five to ten years and here we are in Monaco realizing, 'Uh-oh. These suits exist now.'"

Tony cuts it off by saying, "Mute." And the sound stops, Ghost huffing in amusement. He stepped forward. "He should be giving me a medal. That's the truth." Tony remarks and based on the sound of the seat, he sits down and puts something on the table.

"What is that?" Pepper questions.

Tony answers, "This is your in-flight meal." There's a second of pause, and the white figure can only guess that it looks horrible.

"Did you just make that?" He heard Pepper ask.

"Yeah." Tony replies. "Where do you think I've been for three hours?" He questions her.

Ghost has to hold back a laugh. These two needed this moment, even if it would backfire.

Pepper takes a breath. "Tony." Pepper speaks. "What are you not telling me?" She questions, and Ghosts good mood goes down the drain.

There's a very long second of silence, of which Ghost can feel Tony's resolve draining away. He knows his would. "I don't want to go home." Tony states. "At all." He adds. Tony then rambles, "Let's cancel my birthday party and... we're in Europe. Let's go to Venice, Cipriani. Remember?"

Pepper's voice is filled with humor when she replies, "Oh, yes."

Tony follows up by remarking, "It's a great place to-to..." Tony pauses, and he knows exactly what he was gonna say. "Be healthy." He finishes.

"I don't think this is the right time. We're in kind of a mess." Pepper says, not getting it. Why would she? She hasn't been given any indication about it at all.

"Yeah, but maybe that's why it's the best time. 'Cause then we-" Tony gets cut off by Pepper.

"Well, I think as the CEO, I need to show up." Pepper retorts.

"As CEO, you are entitled to a leave." Tony fires back.

"A leave?" Pepper questions.

"A company retreat." Tony fixes.

Pepper sounds incredulous as she asks, "A retreat? During a time like this?"

"Just a ride." Tony defends. "Well, I'm just saying, to recharge our batteries and figure it all out."

"Not everyone runs on batteries, Tony." Pepper replies.

Ghost groans. "Jesus H. Christ, shut up, I'm trying to sleep." He speaks, and Pepper chuckles while Tony rolls his eyes.

They don't say another word, letting the assassin sleep in peace. He's had a very long few weeks.

Plus, he just had a feeling the next few weeks were going to be busy as hell.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ghost walked up from the garage, needing to get some food for him because it had been awhile since him and Tony had started working, and they hadn't eaten once.