Communication Center | Video to All, Action to Charles

[notbuiltforthis]

[Pepper clears her throat as she begins the video broadcast, dropping her gaze from somewhere off-screen (a map she had JJ display on the large television) to her device before she speaks.]

Does anyone know how many of these monsters there are? If we had some sort of estimate it will be easier to gauge when it will be safe for everyone.

[She

Comments

[touchmorewisdom]

audio

[Colette doesn't want to call via video and show either of them just how distraught she is. She has seen a lot of things, but monsters are past her mark and she is sure that even if she's safe in her apartment, most of her friends probably are not.]

Pepper? U-um... [She doesn't know what else to even say.]

[touchmorewisdom]

[Colette looks back quickly as Pepper runs towards where the commotion is happening and she notices the building coming down at them.]

Pepper!

[ironfail]

[Tony groans, covered in ruble and dust several stories above the ground, facedown in the hole created upon impact with the building. That smarted more than he'd expected it to.

Pepper's shouts, however, distract him from his self-pity. What was Pepper doing!? It wasn't like Tony didn't get thrown into buildings all the time.]

Pepper, leave! Get Colette out of here!

[notbuiltforthis]

[It isn't because of her, usually.]

You have to get out-

[The first cluster of brick hits the ground in front of her, and she lets out a weak scream as she realizes there is more debris falling.

Several larger pieces come down and Pepper disappears beneath them.]

Tony!

[touchmorewisdom]

[Colette makes a grab for Pepper but she can't get to her in time and screams behind both of her hands, tears coming to her eyes.]

Tony!! [She isn't sure what to do!]

[ironfail]

[Time stands still everywhere around him except for Pepper, gorgeous, wonderful Pepper, disappearing behind a wall of rubble, and Tony's pretty sure his heart stops even though he knows it's running like clockwork, careful preserved by the arc reactor. This isn't happening, it can't -

Time seems to resume suddenly, and Tony's blasting out of the building and straight into Loki's monster, hitting it with all he's got. It screeches and falls to the ground, shuddering once or twice before stilling. Tony doesn't take the time to check that it's really down, just lands by the pile of debris and starts pulling away pieces, murmuring Pepper's name under his breath on repeat.]

[notbuiltforthis]

[Pepper opens her eyes and gasps when she finally comprehends her situation. Stuck under a building. Her entire left side aches and as she coughs on the dust around her she realizes her left arm is trapped beneath her. Where were Tony? And Colette?

She tries to keep calm, but the tightness of the space she was lucky enough to find herself trapped in is wearing on her reserve.]

Tony! Tony! Get me out of here!

[touchmorewisdom]

[Colette doesn't know what she can do, and instead she takes a half step back, out of the way. She doesn't want to touch, something might fall more and hurt Pepper, so she leaves it to Tony. That doesn't change the fact she's crying and that she's just relieved Pepper is speaking.]

[ironfail]

Pepper! [Pepper's voice nearly startles him, and he just starts digging through rubble faster, trying not to crush her in the process. God, she's alive, she's alive, what had even just happened, how could have have almost killed her... He shifts the last of the debris reaching down for her hand.]

[notbuiltforthis]

[Pepper is sobbing by the time she can see him digging for her. When he reaches for her hand she takes it, only to use to pull herself up. She drops it an instant later and flings her arms around his neck with choked sob of his name.

She can't think straight enough to worry about anything else, just that she was actually safe and he was there.]

Tony...Don't ever do that to me again.

[touchmorewisdom]

[Colette is relieved but she also feels very awkward. She's intruding on something and she doesn't want to do so any longer. So, she starts to back up, wiping the tears from her face and taking a breath. They need privacy, she needs to get indoors somewhere safe.]

[ironfail]

[Tony's in shock for all of five seconds before carefully wrapping his arms around Pepper, holding her as closely as possible without crushing her. Again. Which would suck. That's pretty much the last thing he needed right now.] I promise dropping part of a building on you is not on my to do list ever again.

[Sorry, Colette, he'll get you home soon. Once they stomp all their feelings into submission and push them out of the way like Tony and Pepper are pros at doing.]

[notbuiltforthis]

[Pepper takes several deep breaths of her own to calm herself, finally pressing a kiss to his face guard before pulling back. There was still a fight going on in the city, and Colette was somewhere nearby, and she cannot allow herself to assume everything is perfect just because Tony dug her out and actually returned a hug.]

I appreciate that.

[She takes another deep breath and adjusts her shirt.]

Colette? I dropped your bag somewhere...

[touchmorewisdom]

[Colette shakes her head, waving her hands lightly in dismissal.] It's fine! Just as long as you're alright.

[She gives them both a nervous smile and looks in the direction of their destination.] We should probably get a move on. More will come.

[ironfail]

[Tony stares at Pepper for a moment longer. She doesn't seem too badly hurt, but it's hard to tell. The faster he gets her home, the better.]

I can fly the two of you back, it'll be quicker.

[notbuiltforthis]

Are you actually able to carry both of us and control your flight?

[She already hurts.]