REDONE ☾ Stark/Marvel

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Pepper was already nervous. From Tony's anxiety affecting her at home to the stress of work, Pepper wasn't sure how much longer she could take this weight on her shoulders. The only thing she could hope to do is help Tony get his PTSD under control.

She sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel a bit too tightly so that her knuckles were turning white. What she'd just done, she wasn't at all sure how Tony would react. Would he be angry? Would he be happy? Or would he just find it totally irrelevant and dismiss it? Pepper sighed and gathered herself. She knew she made the right decision, but it was up to Tony to actually try and make it better. Neither him, or Pepper could take his anxiety attacks anymore.

Looking over at the small creature beside her, Pepper couldn't help but feel she was looking at a young wild dog, or wolf no less. The puppy was light brown in colour, mottled with dark browns, greys and reds, and easily already over 15 pounds at just 3 months old. Pepper wondered just how large this puppy would grow to be.

"I guess we have to go in?" Pepper spoke to herself. The puppy in the passenger seat merely tilted her head to the side, watching Pepper with her piercing blue eyes. Pepper had already placed a leather collar around the small puppy's neck. It currently didn't have a name tag, as it was going to be up to Tony to actually name her.

Lifting her head, the puppy released a small howl, lowering her head afterwards and using her small tongue to lick her lips. Pepper took that as confirmation that they should go inside.

"Okay then. Let's go." Pepper spoke to herself and attached the leash she bought to the collar around the puppy's neck. The puppy stood on her chubby legs and wagged her small tail wildly. She was excited to finally see her new home. At 3 months old, her previous owners had abandoned her at the shelter only a few days after she was born, she doesn't even remember her own parents.

Pepper opened the door of the audi, and climbed out, the puppy climbing over the center console and jumping down. Stumbling on her own feet, the puppy fell to the concrete from the car and rolled to land on her side. She stood, shakily and shook out her fur and went right back to being the happy puppy she was, her tongue hanging from her mouth. Pepper laughed at the small creature.

Walking towards the front door, Pepper's heels clicked as the puppy tried to keep up with her. Jarvis opened the front door for Pepper.

"Welcome home Ms. Potts. Have you made a new friend?" He asked as Pepper bent down to pick up the small puppy. She immediately began to try and lick Pepper's face, earning a chuckle in return.

"Yes, and please don't tell Tony. I need to talk to him first." She ran her fingers through the soft fur and the puppy leaned into her hand.

"Of course." Jarvis replied.

"Where is Tony?" Pepper asked as she placed her bag down on the side table and walked into the house.

"He's in the garage downstairs." Pepper began to make her way to the stairs, but the puppy in her arms began to wiggle. Pepper quickly placed her down.

The puppy was overjoyed to see her new house. It was so big! So fancy! The puppy bounded around the room on her chubby little legs, sniffing everything and just looking around. The stairs looked to be an issue though. Glossy wood with spaces in between. They were holes begging to be fallen through by the puppy. She decided she'd always be carried up and down those stairs so she never fell through.

Pepper laughed at the puppy running around wildly, but whistled and patted her thigh.

"Come here!" She called, and the puppy went running right up to Pepper, sitting down at her feet. Pepper bent over once more and picked up the pup, chuckling.

Heading downstairs, Pepper came to the familiar garage Tony had turned into his workshop years ago. Tony, was busying himself tinkering away on a suit, while ACDC played in the background. When Pepper stepped onto the floor of the garage and off the stair, Tony shut off the music and turned around, ready to greet his girlfriend, only to see her holding a small puppy, it's tail wagging.

"You babysitting for someone?" Tony asked, pointing at the fluffy ball in Pepper's arms. She shook her head and placed the puppy on the ground.

"No, she is now yours." The puppy ran with it's chubby little body over to where Tony was standing and began sniffing his shoes and giving them the occasional lick. Tony shook his head.

"Nope, got lots to d-"

"I know you have actually nothing to do, and I bought her so she could keep you calm." Pepper crossed her arms. Tony looked down at the dog who had plopped on her butt and was looking up at him with her bright blue eyes. She was really not graceful.

"Calm? Why do I need to be calm I'm fine."

"Last night was not fine." Pepper spoke, her words meaning business. Tony sighed, knowing what she was referring to. Due to an anxiety driven nightmare, Tony had woken up in the middle of the night screaming.

"Yeah that was my fault. I admit it but, a dog? Really? What's that gonna' do?"

"Emotional support dogs provide comfort and support in forms of affection and companionship for an individual suffering from various mental and emotional conditions." Jarvis spoke up. Pepper nodded, agreeing with him.

"Emotional cond- What emotional conditions?"

""My diagnosis is that you have severe anxiety sir."

"Me? No." Tony scoffed.

"Yes, Tony. And this" Pepper pointed to the puppy "Is going to help you." Tony looked at the puppy as well to see she had fallen over and was now just laying on her back with her legs in the air as if waiting for a good belly scratching. Tony rolled his eyes and Pepper let out a laugh.

"So what's her name?" Tony was confused at Pepper's question.

"She doesn't have a name?" Pepper shook her head. He looked back down at the puppy who was still waiting for a belly scratch.

"Uh.. Okay how about... Polly?"

"Polly? Really?" Pepper looked unamused.

"Okay so not Polly... Rosa. Rosa it is. Jarvis can we get that on a dog tag please?"

"Right away sir."

Rosa was still awaiting her belly scratch, Tony looked down at her.

"No chance butterball."

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