Double Trouble//T. Stark

2.2

//HAVE AT IT.\\

"Mr. Stark would like to see the twins downstairs." J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice interrupts Pepper, who was telling the twins about the rest of the hearing.

Pepper nods her head, allowing Lucas and Lydia to head downstairs.

As they enter the room, Tony places something on his chest as he listens to J.A.R.V.I.S. speak.

"You are running out of both time and options."

Both Lydia and Lucas tilt their heads in confusion. Tony, still not noticing them, lets out a big sigh.

"Unfortunately, the device that's keeping you alive is also killing you."

"I'm sorry, what!?" Lydia blurts out, causing Tony to swivel in his chair.

Before Tony can say anything J.A.R.V.I.S speaks up again. "Miss. Potts is approaching. I recommend that you inform her-"

The AI is cut off when Tony says "Mute." He then turns to the twins and gives them a stern look. "Don't you dare say anything about this."

The twins don't answer because the door opens and an angry Pepper walks in.

Lydia grabs Lucas's hand and drags him over to a table away from the two. They sit in chairs side by side and lean in towards each other.

"He's dying!?" Lydia whispers.

She wipes a tear that's begun to fall and watches as Lucas's eyes tear up as well.

"Why wouldn't he tell us?" Lucas whispers back.

Lydia glances over at the two adults before looking back to her brother. "Maybe that's what he called us down here for?"

Lucas shakes his head. "Wouldn't he tell mom and Uncle Rhodey before us?" He asks.

Lydia shrugs, not sure of the answer. "Unless they already know."

"He said to say nothing to mom, remember?"

The two glance over at Tony and Pepper, the former now standing on a table taking down a piece of art from the wall.

"Maybe we got it wrong, maybe it was just out of context." Lydia looks back to her brother who's wiping a tear.

"Why would he tell us to shut up about it then?" Lucas asks.

Again, Lydia shrugs, unsure of the answer.

The two look back to the adults, who are now holding glasses of some sort of alcohol.

They catch the last bit of Tony's sentence, "it's you, it's always been you."

Lucas scoots closer so he can speaks more quietly to Lydia. "You think mom and dad love each other."

They watch as Pepper smiles and they both take a drink.

Lydia looks to Lucas. "Like friends or girlfriend and boyfriend?"

"The second."

Lydia giggles quietly. "I've never seen them kiss."

"Me neither," Lucas agrees, "but maybe they're keeping it a secret."

Lydia shrugs her shoulders then smiles. "I mean, it would be cute, and I would love for them to be girlfriend and boyfriend but I don't think they're dating."

Lucas nods his head in agreement. "Same, but I just thought I would ask."

The twins watch Pepper walk out of the room leaving Tony to set down his glass and walk over to them.