Shadow of the Past (Captain America) // ✔️ //

Chapter 32: The Letter

Pepper Potts was the rational one, always thinking clearly and logically. She wasn't the one to overthink or freak out, except when it came to a certain brunette. Antonia could always drive the sane CEO up the wall, and most of the time, she only had to look at the Pepper to do that. Pepper didn't know what it was woman that did it. Maybe, it was the look in Antonia's eyes or the fact that the brunette was always up to something. Always.

However, not knowing where Antonia was was so much worse. Sure, Pepper had an understanding of where Antonia was, but that the limit of it. SHIELD and the Avengers told her very little, which didn't included how they were going to get her back, if they were going to get her back. They also didn't say what the hell happened to her. They told her barely anything, besides the fact they needed access to the Mark 7. At first, Pepper was against it, not liking that plan; however, after a long talk with Rhodes, she gave in, but she felt like she had betrayed Antonia by allowing it.

This was why when JARVIS alerted Pepper to Antonia's sudden appearance in the Tower, Pepper dropped everything and rushed out the door. She barely had time to tell her secretary to cancel her all of meetings before bolting out of Stark Industries. As most of the world thought Antonia was sunbathing on a beach, no one was knew that Antonia was missing. No one knew why Pepper was excited to see Antonia. No one knew her worries. No one had known why Pepper was acting like this.

However, Pepper didn't care how insane she sounded or looked as she called ahead to have the Stark Private Jet ready for take-off in a few minutes. The CEO wanted to be in New York as soon as possible. To settle her nerves, she needed to see Antonia for herself and make sure she was okay. If she was, Pepper was going to wring her neck for making her worry, as she had aged by ten years because of that woman. She wouldn't be surprised if there were gray hairs growing already.

*O*O*

When the town car arrived at the Tower, Pepper didn't waste a second before she dashed in. Her heels clicked loudly against the floor as she rushed through the lobby. The first place Pepper headed was the labs, knowing that it would be the first place that Antonia would be. However, just like searching for something and not finding it, Antonia wasn't in the first place she looked, and Pepper's irritation was growing.

Then when JARVIS informed her that Antonia had left the tower a few hours ago, Pepper almost had a heart attack right on the spot. How could Antonia disappear so fast after reappearing? And how could they let Antonia leave? How could the love sick Steve just let Antonia walk out of the tower? There was no way in hell that he would've let her, as he was like Pepper. He was worried sick about Antonia, so it didn't make sense that he would just let her go.

Then there was Bruce, a close friend. Did he just let Antonia leave to? Did anyone try to stop her? Pepper wasn't sure why she left and no one stopped her, but she was going to get some answers. She needed answers.

*O*O*

When Pepper located Steve and Bruce, they were in the lounge, sitting in a dead silence. Sitting on the couch with his back toward her, Steve was staring down, picking at something, and from the view from the doorway, Pepper couldn't see what he was picking at. However, she could tell from his tense shoulders that he was anything but happy. He was clearly upset about something, and Pepper could only guess that it was about Antonia.

Across from Steve stood Bruce, who was staring at Steve with an intense look on his face. Pepper couldn't quite read it, but she knew he was in deep thought. His stance was stoic as he leaned against the bar with his arm crossed his chest. With almost every piece of hair out of place, Bruce looked exhausted, though he hadn't moved an inch to sit on the stool next to him. He just stood there in deep though, eyeing Steve.