Yes, Virginia, There Really Is An Iron Man: Chapter Thirty-Seven
TITLE: Yes, Virginia, There Really Is An Iron Man
AUTHOR: Quicksilvermad
SUMMARY: (Movie-verse) Pepper deals with Tony’s newfound lease on life and ends up making a mountain out of her molehill of emotion where her boss is concerned.
GENRE: Humor/Romance
RATING: PG13
PAIRING: Tony/Pepper
DISCLAIMER: Iron Man etc. belong to Marvel Comics et. al.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Tony woke up feeling like he’d been stretched on a rack the day before. His ribs ached, his jaw was tender and he still felt an uncomfortable stinging in his chest when he took a deep breath. It didn’t help at all that he was nervous about the board of director’s meeting. He’d asked Pepper if she was comfortable with his decision during their little horror movie night and she’d been apprehensive. Hell, so was he.
There was singing coming from the shower.
The lyrics were muffled, but it sounded a lot like Pepper was singing along to Journey’s “Midnight Train.” Not too well, but it was pretty damn cute. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked in on his girlfriend rinsing conditioner out of her hair.
“Strangers waiting... Up and down the bouleva-aaa-aard. Their shadows, searching in the nii-iii-iight...”
Tony yanked his pants and boxers off and snuck in behind her. “You kinda off key there, sweetheart.”
“JESUS!” Pepper actually screamed, grabbed a loofah from the shower caddy and chucked it at Tony’s face with speed usually reserved for the baseball field. Tony shrieked manfully, backed up against the opposite wall and watched Pepper’s naked body jiggle. He couldn’t help it. She was naked and he was a man. Journey played on in complete disregard of the moment.
“Don’t scare me like that!” Pepper shouted and jabbed a finger at his nose. Tony was too distracted by her other parts to really feel scolded at all. She kept on slapping his bare shoulder and all Tony could say was:
“You have this cute birthmark on your waist,” he trailed his finger below her navel.
“Tony!”
“What? You do. And those cute freckles on your shoulders...” he tugged her against him and kissed those freckles. Pepper fought it but eventually gave in to the smile that was threatening.
“The lost puppy face you make is cute,” Pepper admitted. She ran her hand over his lower back and frowned against his skin. “I don’t like seeing you hurting like this.”
Tony didn’t have anything to say to make her feel better. He tightened his embrace instead.
“That first night when I walked in on the robots trying to pull you out of the armor? I was so scared.”
Words were stuck in his throat and his hand cradled the back of her head. He pulled back just far enough to give her a sincere (if slightly cross-eyed) stare. “Can I say that I’m sorry for scaring you? Not just then-all the other times I’ve been a reason for you to be scared. Even just a few seconds ago when I snuck in here with you.”
“You can apologize all you want.”
“And you’ll believe me?”
Pepper leaned in and pressed her closed lips against his. She leaned away and caressed his cheek. “I believe you, Tony.”
He felt better. Much better than he had in a long time. “I don’t enjoy making you worry, you know?”
“I do.”
Tony returned her chaste kiss and reached behind her to shut off the water. “We’ve got a board of director’s meeting today to appoint the Stark Industries CEO replacement.”
Pepper grabbed two towels and wrapped one around her body. She threw the other at Tony.
“I’m surprised you remembered what it was for,” she teased.
“Well, it is an important decision.”
She caught the look he gave her just before he concentrated on wrapping the towel around his hips. “You’re thinking of appointing me?”
“You’re already overseeing the business Stane did. You know this company almost better than I do, and I’d feel better knowing that someone I can fully trust is running things.”
Pepper started running a comb through her hair to work out tangles and tried to think of calm words to express what she was feeling.
“The public won’t like this. Rather, they’ll see me in a position of power and assume I-”
“Not if we emphasize that you’re a business savvy, brilliant. strong woman who can run Stark Industries if anything happens to me. I read the press statements you made,” said Tony. He tried to find her eyes in the mirror, but she was busy putting on her eyeliner. “You saved the company.”
“Tony-”
“No, Pepper, if you hadn’t called that first press conference while I was... Gone... SI would be belly up and I would have come home to nothing or not come home at all. Stane would have bought everyone out and gained control, stolen all my ideas, and called off the search for me in the first place. Pepper, without you I would be dead.”
He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and collarbone and pulled her body against his. The ring of metal around the arc reactor dug against her spine, but Pepper felt numb. She had not considered the consequences of her actions the day she stepped behind the podium after Obadiah Stane and gave that off-the-cuff speech about the strength of Tony Stark’s mind and soul. Stane rebuked her for it as soon as she finished responding to questions from the reporters, but the next day’s stock report changed his mood.
“You’re right,” Pepper finally agreed.
“But you’re still scared, huh?”
She nodded at his reflection.
“I’m not,” he leaned in close and kissed the soft skin just below her jawline. “You’re the only one who can do this, Pep. You know why? Back when I was in that cave I could only think of one reason to work hard enough to escape and that was reason was you. Sounds corny, huh?”
Pepper shook her head and closed her eyes. “A little.”
“Corny means it’s true.”
She gave a short laugh and swiped at an escaping tear. Her eyeliner was ruined. “Okay, Tony.”
He turned her around and planted a brisk kiss on her mouth-pulling back from her with a wide grin that hadn’t been seen often enough lately. “Fantastic!” he exclaimed.
“It’s settled. Now go change into a suit and get out of here so I can get ready,” Pepper ordered.
As he trotted out of the bathroom suite in just a towel, Pepper shouted after him. “And wear a dark red tie with a white shirt today!”
*
New York was in the midst of a nasty traffic (thanks to some construction being done after two huge mutated “hulks” fought it out there) and the ride from the airport to Fifth Avenue was practically torturous. But Pepper was too busy looking over speech notes and possible “question/answer” index cards to notice everything crumbled around them.
She remained in this sort of daze through the first half of the meeting and made herself look busy by taking notes on other questions she might be asked. Pepper didn’t notice how long it took to get to the topic of a new CEO but felt Tony stand up from his chair beside hers.
“As a matter of fact, I do have someone in mind to serve as CEO of Stark Industries,” Tony smiled tightly at the man his father hired so many years ago. He vaguely remembered meeting him when he was a child-and, as a natural reflex since the betrayal of Obadiah Stane-Tony was slow to retain the trust he once had of his father’s old friends.
Pepper tensed in preparation for a preconceived reaction to Tony’s next declaration.
“I move that Virginia Potts be appointed CEO. Miss Potts is more than capable of handling the position on Chief Executive Officer. She has three business degrees and knows the company better than I do.”
A sort of strained quiet fell on the boardroom.
“While I realize this decision is controversial-”
“No, Mr. Stark,” a new voice spoke from the far left corner of the table from a brunette, in a suit Pepper also owned, wearing rectangular black-framed glasses, “I agree with your motion.”
Before the rest of the board of directors could say anything, the brunette stood up. “My name is Jennifer Walters, I’m a lawyer for SHIELD. We have done an extensive background check on, well, everyone in this room, and as far as SHIELD having further business relations with Stark Industries... Well, Miss Potts’ hands are by far the most capable.”
She eased back into her chair and motioned for Tony or Pepper to say something. Pepper nervously cleared her throat and stood up. “Gentlemen, I can understand if you have reservations about appointing me as Stark Industries CEO. However, in Mr. Stark’s absence during his ordeal in Afghanistan, you’ll remember that I was the one who fielded the press inquiries and kept the staff moral from falling apart.”
One of Howard Stark’s oldest friends-a man Tony had spent many holidays with after his parents were killed-nodded at her statement. “Miss Potts is right. We were falling until she stepped in and gave the press a statement. I second your motion, Tony.”
An hour later, Pepper Potts had new paperwork designating her rank in the company and her considerable pay raise. The room of stuffy old men dispersed and left Tony with Pepper and the mysterious Jennifer Walters.
“I’m not just here to offer SHIELD’s opinion on your company matters, Mr. Stark. Because of recent activity in the Avengers Initiative we feel you will be in need of a new PA. Mostly for your safety.”
Tony leaned his hip against the long desk and crossed his arms. “My safety?”
“We’re aware that you train with your driver, Harold Hogan, however... Colonel Fury wants to include Natasha Romanoff as part of your security detail,” Walters handed him a dossier on Romanoff and Tony flicked through the pages with a slight frown.
“Code name ‘Black Widow?’ What is this?”
Jennifer smiled but it never reached her dark brown eyes. “You’re aware of General Ross’ super soldier operative, correct?”
“Yeah huh.”
“We’re still searching for Steve Rogers, but in the mean time we’ve been trying to perfect our own.”
“Bruce Banner,” Pepper whispered.
Jennifer Walters’ smile finally reached her eyes. “Bruce is my cousin. In order to try and understand what went wrong with his attempts I conducted my own investigation of the lab accident and, well... Let’s just say I have learned to keep a lid on my own temper, shall we?”
Tony unabashedly stared at her. “What does this have to do with Ms. Romanoff?”
“That, I’m afraid, is still far above your security clearance. I can tell you that she’s more equipped to deal with the likes of Obadiah Stane than even I am.”
Pepper thought the file photo of the redhead gave the impression the woman was 95 pounds soaking wet and could do more damage to a credit card bill than another human being, but in this day and age one shouldn’t judge like that. After all, people often thought she couldn’t defend herself but after a few sessions in the gym with Happy and Tony, Pepper wasn’t exactly the first person you’d want to scuffle with. Perhaps upon meeting Natasha, Pepper would feel better about Tony’s well-being.
“And what of the base we saw in the eastern wasteland of the Wakhan Corridor? Can Colonel Fury confirm that it belongs to the Ten Rings?” Pepper asked.
Jennifer rifled through her briefcase again and produced a red envelope. “Indeed, it does, Miss Potts. In fact, SHIELD has been looking for this base of operations for some time now. Colonel Fury wants some reconnoissance done of the area-he thinks it’s where the Mandarin could be camping out.”
Pepper sat on the edge of the conference table and let Tony read the red dossier over her shoulder. “The ‘Mandarin’ being the leader of the Ten Rings, correct?”
“He is. And Colonel Fury’s Avengers Initiative is what could bring him down. We just need more members.”
“Besides me, you, and...” Tony trailed off deliberately and gave Jennifer the chance to fill him in on other members that SHIELD already recruited.
“Your friend Reed Richards and his little group and Black Widow. Colonel Fury was hoping you could help out with convincing General Ross to reduce the military scrutiny on Bruce. Fury thinks that Bruce will come around once he's got the General off his back and he's heard that I'm with SHIELD. Actually, General Ross was sighted at a bar a few blocks from here.”
Tony raised an eyebrow. “You want me to convince Ross to quit hunting the Hulk? That dude hates me right now for cutting off weapons production.”
“Put more faith in your persuasiveness, Mr. Stark. Just get him hooked and have him get in touch with Colonel Fury for further instructions. You two have a press statement to give, don’t you?” Jennifer scooped up all the files and started walking towards the door. “Natasha will be waiting for you in the press room and is flying back to California with you. She’s been set up in a home near your mansion in Malibu. Mr. Stark, I will accompany you to see General Ross and Ms. Romanoff will drive Miss Potts to the airport once she’s done with the press.”
Things blurred from then on. Pepper listened as Tony announced her as the new CEO, smiled softly at the gobsmacked crowd of reporters, and stepped up to the mic to say her piece before she had to face the questions. Tony reluctantly faded behind her with Jennifer Walters, and the slim woman with dark red hair moved closer to Pepper as they left.
*
“I’m sure many of you remember the last few times I held press conferences for the interest of Stark Industries and Tony himself. They were not pleasant, nor were they easy. None of us knew if he had survived the attack on the convoy or not and I knew that if I didn’t step forward and give that small bit of hope that one of the most brilliant minds of our time was still alive then Howard Stark’s original vision for Stark Industries would be lost. The accomplishments of Howard and Anthony Stark certainly brought the company to the place it is today and I have no intention of breaking free of a tradition that worked so well. Stark Industries is about growth of mind and culture-conservation and healthy living are more important than they ever were and I intend to continue promoting this in our United States.
“Mr. Stark has already introduced Intelli-Crops to many of our world’s impoverished nations and has been working on his own to remove illegally obtained weapons in terrorist factions. We are moving towards peace and plan on making this world a safer place for our children and the years that follow. As of this moment, I am pleased to announce that the Stark Industries research and development department is working on a cost efficient replacement for fossil fuels to bring us fully into the twenty-first century.”
Pepper finally paused. Her eyes had been roaming about the room and meeting the gaze of as many individual reporters as she could and they landed on a familiar face at the very back of the room. At least six yards away. Christine Everhart. With a strange feeling of bravery pooling into her gut, Pepper smiled softly and returned her eyes to the other reporters.
She could feel Natasha behind her-strong and protective just in case things got out of control.
“I’ll take any questions now.”
She spent almost a solid hour taking questions and was relieved when very few of them dealt with her relationship with Tony. Most were asking if she was planning a “green” overhaul of Stark Industries and seeing if they could sneak out some details on the alternative fuel source. Pepper caught Christine’s eye one last time before taking her final question and was surprised by the genuine smile on the woman’s face.
“One more question, then I’m afraid I have to catch a plane,” Pepper said and scanned the crowd before her for a hand she had not yet pointed to. She vaguely remembered the reporter’s face from earlier press conferences and was able to put a name with the face. “Connor Austen from the Daily Bugle.”
The young man stood and held a digital recorder aloft. “I was wondering, Miss Potts, if your new promotion to CEO had anything to do with the affair you are engaged in with Tony Stark?”
Pepper’s face hardened. She had been expecting it, dreading it, and preparing for it to be said, but it still hurt. Natasha started to move in and end the questioning but Pepper flattened her hand behind the podium in that universal “stop” position.
“My new position as CEO of Stark Industries happens to be due to the fact that I know this company better than any of the staff and I have its best interests in mind. It has nothing to do with my personal relationship with Mr. Stark. That’s the last question I’ll take today. I’d like to thank you all for coming here,” Pepper responded as quickly as possible and backed away from the mic. She did the usual “smile and wave” routine for still cameras and the video crews and allowed Ms. Romanoff to lead her into the lobby and out where the car idled by the curb.
Natasha opened the back door and smiled at Pepper. “I can already tell I’m going to like my new assignment,” she admitted. Her voice was deep and thinly tinted with a Russian accent.
The stress of the press conference seemed to ooze away as this woman smiled at her, and Pepper shook her hand impulsively before she slid into the back seat of the car. Natasha got settled in the driver’s seat and checked her mirrors before almost violently pulling out into traffic.
Pepper smothered a laugh as she was reminded of her own driving habits.
“Do you want to make any stops before we get to the airport, Miss Potts?”
“No, I’m fine. And call me Pepper, Ms. Romanoff.”
Natasha smiled into the rearview mirror. “Call me Natasha, Pepper.”
“I can already tell I’m going to like having you around, Natasha.”
They agreed on a classic rock station and sang along with the better songs all the way to the airport.
TBC
Back | Forward
AUTHOR: Quicksilvermad
SUMMARY: (Movie-verse) Pepper deals with Tony’s newfound lease on life and ends up making a mountain out of her molehill of emotion where her boss is concerned.
GENRE: Humor/Romance
RATING: PG13
PAIRING: Tony/Pepper
DISCLAIMER: Iron Man etc. belong to Marvel Comics et. al.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Tony woke up feeling like he’d been stretched on a rack the day before. His ribs ached, his jaw was tender and he still felt an uncomfortable stinging in his chest when he took a deep breath. It didn’t help at all that he was nervous about the board of director’s meeting. He’d asked Pepper if she was comfortable with his decision during their little horror movie night and she’d been apprehensive. Hell, so was he.
There was singing coming from the shower.
The lyrics were muffled, but it sounded a lot like Pepper was singing along to Journey’s “Midnight Train.” Not too well, but it was pretty damn cute. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked in on his girlfriend rinsing conditioner out of her hair.
“Strangers waiting... Up and down the bouleva-aaa-aard. Their shadows, searching in the nii-iii-iight...”
Tony yanked his pants and boxers off and snuck in behind her. “You kinda off key there, sweetheart.”
“JESUS!” Pepper actually screamed, grabbed a loofah from the shower caddy and chucked it at Tony’s face with speed usually reserved for the baseball field. Tony shrieked manfully, backed up against the opposite wall and watched Pepper’s naked body jiggle. He couldn’t help it. She was naked and he was a man. Journey played on in complete disregard of the moment.
“Don’t scare me like that!” Pepper shouted and jabbed a finger at his nose. Tony was too distracted by her other parts to really feel scolded at all. She kept on slapping his bare shoulder and all Tony could say was:
“You have this cute birthmark on your waist,” he trailed his finger below her navel.
“Tony!”
“What? You do. And those cute freckles on your shoulders...” he tugged her against him and kissed those freckles. Pepper fought it but eventually gave in to the smile that was threatening.
“The lost puppy face you make is cute,” Pepper admitted. She ran her hand over his lower back and frowned against his skin. “I don’t like seeing you hurting like this.”
Tony didn’t have anything to say to make her feel better. He tightened his embrace instead.
“That first night when I walked in on the robots trying to pull you out of the armor? I was so scared.”
Words were stuck in his throat and his hand cradled the back of her head. He pulled back just far enough to give her a sincere (if slightly cross-eyed) stare. “Can I say that I’m sorry for scaring you? Not just then-all the other times I’ve been a reason for you to be scared. Even just a few seconds ago when I snuck in here with you.”
“You can apologize all you want.”
“And you’ll believe me?”
Pepper leaned in and pressed her closed lips against his. She leaned away and caressed his cheek. “I believe you, Tony.”
He felt better. Much better than he had in a long time. “I don’t enjoy making you worry, you know?”
“I do.”
Tony returned her chaste kiss and reached behind her to shut off the water. “We’ve got a board of director’s meeting today to appoint the Stark Industries CEO replacement.”
Pepper grabbed two towels and wrapped one around her body. She threw the other at Tony.
“I’m surprised you remembered what it was for,” she teased.
“Well, it is an important decision.”
She caught the look he gave her just before he concentrated on wrapping the towel around his hips. “You’re thinking of appointing me?”
“You’re already overseeing the business Stane did. You know this company almost better than I do, and I’d feel better knowing that someone I can fully trust is running things.”
Pepper started running a comb through her hair to work out tangles and tried to think of calm words to express what she was feeling.
“The public won’t like this. Rather, they’ll see me in a position of power and assume I-”
“Not if we emphasize that you’re a business savvy, brilliant. strong woman who can run Stark Industries if anything happens to me. I read the press statements you made,” said Tony. He tried to find her eyes in the mirror, but she was busy putting on her eyeliner. “You saved the company.”
“Tony-”
“No, Pepper, if you hadn’t called that first press conference while I was... Gone... SI would be belly up and I would have come home to nothing or not come home at all. Stane would have bought everyone out and gained control, stolen all my ideas, and called off the search for me in the first place. Pepper, without you I would be dead.”
He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and collarbone and pulled her body against his. The ring of metal around the arc reactor dug against her spine, but Pepper felt numb. She had not considered the consequences of her actions the day she stepped behind the podium after Obadiah Stane and gave that off-the-cuff speech about the strength of Tony Stark’s mind and soul. Stane rebuked her for it as soon as she finished responding to questions from the reporters, but the next day’s stock report changed his mood.
“You’re right,” Pepper finally agreed.
“But you’re still scared, huh?”
She nodded at his reflection.
“I’m not,” he leaned in close and kissed the soft skin just below her jawline. “You’re the only one who can do this, Pep. You know why? Back when I was in that cave I could only think of one reason to work hard enough to escape and that was reason was you. Sounds corny, huh?”
Pepper shook her head and closed her eyes. “A little.”
“Corny means it’s true.”
She gave a short laugh and swiped at an escaping tear. Her eyeliner was ruined. “Okay, Tony.”
He turned her around and planted a brisk kiss on her mouth-pulling back from her with a wide grin that hadn’t been seen often enough lately. “Fantastic!” he exclaimed.
“It’s settled. Now go change into a suit and get out of here so I can get ready,” Pepper ordered.
As he trotted out of the bathroom suite in just a towel, Pepper shouted after him. “And wear a dark red tie with a white shirt today!”
*
New York was in the midst of a nasty traffic (thanks to some construction being done after two huge mutated “hulks” fought it out there) and the ride from the airport to Fifth Avenue was practically torturous. But Pepper was too busy looking over speech notes and possible “question/answer” index cards to notice everything crumbled around them.
She remained in this sort of daze through the first half of the meeting and made herself look busy by taking notes on other questions she might be asked. Pepper didn’t notice how long it took to get to the topic of a new CEO but felt Tony stand up from his chair beside hers.
“As a matter of fact, I do have someone in mind to serve as CEO of Stark Industries,” Tony smiled tightly at the man his father hired so many years ago. He vaguely remembered meeting him when he was a child-and, as a natural reflex since the betrayal of Obadiah Stane-Tony was slow to retain the trust he once had of his father’s old friends.
Pepper tensed in preparation for a preconceived reaction to Tony’s next declaration.
“I move that Virginia Potts be appointed CEO. Miss Potts is more than capable of handling the position on Chief Executive Officer. She has three business degrees and knows the company better than I do.”
A sort of strained quiet fell on the boardroom.
“While I realize this decision is controversial-”
“No, Mr. Stark,” a new voice spoke from the far left corner of the table from a brunette, in a suit Pepper also owned, wearing rectangular black-framed glasses, “I agree with your motion.”
Before the rest of the board of directors could say anything, the brunette stood up. “My name is Jennifer Walters, I’m a lawyer for SHIELD. We have done an extensive background check on, well, everyone in this room, and as far as SHIELD having further business relations with Stark Industries... Well, Miss Potts’ hands are by far the most capable.”
She eased back into her chair and motioned for Tony or Pepper to say something. Pepper nervously cleared her throat and stood up. “Gentlemen, I can understand if you have reservations about appointing me as Stark Industries CEO. However, in Mr. Stark’s absence during his ordeal in Afghanistan, you’ll remember that I was the one who fielded the press inquiries and kept the staff moral from falling apart.”
One of Howard Stark’s oldest friends-a man Tony had spent many holidays with after his parents were killed-nodded at her statement. “Miss Potts is right. We were falling until she stepped in and gave the press a statement. I second your motion, Tony.”
An hour later, Pepper Potts had new paperwork designating her rank in the company and her considerable pay raise. The room of stuffy old men dispersed and left Tony with Pepper and the mysterious Jennifer Walters.
“I’m not just here to offer SHIELD’s opinion on your company matters, Mr. Stark. Because of recent activity in the Avengers Initiative we feel you will be in need of a new PA. Mostly for your safety.”
Tony leaned his hip against the long desk and crossed his arms. “My safety?”
“We’re aware that you train with your driver, Harold Hogan, however... Colonel Fury wants to include Natasha Romanoff as part of your security detail,” Walters handed him a dossier on Romanoff and Tony flicked through the pages with a slight frown.
“Code name ‘Black Widow?’ What is this?”
Jennifer smiled but it never reached her dark brown eyes. “You’re aware of General Ross’ super soldier operative, correct?”
“Yeah huh.”
“We’re still searching for Steve Rogers, but in the mean time we’ve been trying to perfect our own.”
“Bruce Banner,” Pepper whispered.
Jennifer Walters’ smile finally reached her eyes. “Bruce is my cousin. In order to try and understand what went wrong with his attempts I conducted my own investigation of the lab accident and, well... Let’s just say I have learned to keep a lid on my own temper, shall we?”
Tony unabashedly stared at her. “What does this have to do with Ms. Romanoff?”
“That, I’m afraid, is still far above your security clearance. I can tell you that she’s more equipped to deal with the likes of Obadiah Stane than even I am.”
Pepper thought the file photo of the redhead gave the impression the woman was 95 pounds soaking wet and could do more damage to a credit card bill than another human being, but in this day and age one shouldn’t judge like that. After all, people often thought she couldn’t defend herself but after a few sessions in the gym with Happy and Tony, Pepper wasn’t exactly the first person you’d want to scuffle with. Perhaps upon meeting Natasha, Pepper would feel better about Tony’s well-being.
“And what of the base we saw in the eastern wasteland of the Wakhan Corridor? Can Colonel Fury confirm that it belongs to the Ten Rings?” Pepper asked.
Jennifer rifled through her briefcase again and produced a red envelope. “Indeed, it does, Miss Potts. In fact, SHIELD has been looking for this base of operations for some time now. Colonel Fury wants some reconnoissance done of the area-he thinks it’s where the Mandarin could be camping out.”
Pepper sat on the edge of the conference table and let Tony read the red dossier over her shoulder. “The ‘Mandarin’ being the leader of the Ten Rings, correct?”
“He is. And Colonel Fury’s Avengers Initiative is what could bring him down. We just need more members.”
“Besides me, you, and...” Tony trailed off deliberately and gave Jennifer the chance to fill him in on other members that SHIELD already recruited.
“Your friend Reed Richards and his little group and Black Widow. Colonel Fury was hoping you could help out with convincing General Ross to reduce the military scrutiny on Bruce. Fury thinks that Bruce will come around once he's got the General off his back and he's heard that I'm with SHIELD. Actually, General Ross was sighted at a bar a few blocks from here.”
Tony raised an eyebrow. “You want me to convince Ross to quit hunting the Hulk? That dude hates me right now for cutting off weapons production.”
“Put more faith in your persuasiveness, Mr. Stark. Just get him hooked and have him get in touch with Colonel Fury for further instructions. You two have a press statement to give, don’t you?” Jennifer scooped up all the files and started walking towards the door. “Natasha will be waiting for you in the press room and is flying back to California with you. She’s been set up in a home near your mansion in Malibu. Mr. Stark, I will accompany you to see General Ross and Ms. Romanoff will drive Miss Potts to the airport once she’s done with the press.”
Things blurred from then on. Pepper listened as Tony announced her as the new CEO, smiled softly at the gobsmacked crowd of reporters, and stepped up to the mic to say her piece before she had to face the questions. Tony reluctantly faded behind her with Jennifer Walters, and the slim woman with dark red hair moved closer to Pepper as they left.
*
“I’m sure many of you remember the last few times I held press conferences for the interest of Stark Industries and Tony himself. They were not pleasant, nor were they easy. None of us knew if he had survived the attack on the convoy or not and I knew that if I didn’t step forward and give that small bit of hope that one of the most brilliant minds of our time was still alive then Howard Stark’s original vision for Stark Industries would be lost. The accomplishments of Howard and Anthony Stark certainly brought the company to the place it is today and I have no intention of breaking free of a tradition that worked so well. Stark Industries is about growth of mind and culture-conservation and healthy living are more important than they ever were and I intend to continue promoting this in our United States.
“Mr. Stark has already introduced Intelli-Crops to many of our world’s impoverished nations and has been working on his own to remove illegally obtained weapons in terrorist factions. We are moving towards peace and plan on making this world a safer place for our children and the years that follow. As of this moment, I am pleased to announce that the Stark Industries research and development department is working on a cost efficient replacement for fossil fuels to bring us fully into the twenty-first century.”
Pepper finally paused. Her eyes had been roaming about the room and meeting the gaze of as many individual reporters as she could and they landed on a familiar face at the very back of the room. At least six yards away. Christine Everhart. With a strange feeling of bravery pooling into her gut, Pepper smiled softly and returned her eyes to the other reporters.
She could feel Natasha behind her-strong and protective just in case things got out of control.
“I’ll take any questions now.”
She spent almost a solid hour taking questions and was relieved when very few of them dealt with her relationship with Tony. Most were asking if she was planning a “green” overhaul of Stark Industries and seeing if they could sneak out some details on the alternative fuel source. Pepper caught Christine’s eye one last time before taking her final question and was surprised by the genuine smile on the woman’s face.
“One more question, then I’m afraid I have to catch a plane,” Pepper said and scanned the crowd before her for a hand she had not yet pointed to. She vaguely remembered the reporter’s face from earlier press conferences and was able to put a name with the face. “Connor Austen from the Daily Bugle.”
The young man stood and held a digital recorder aloft. “I was wondering, Miss Potts, if your new promotion to CEO had anything to do with the affair you are engaged in with Tony Stark?”
Pepper’s face hardened. She had been expecting it, dreading it, and preparing for it to be said, but it still hurt. Natasha started to move in and end the questioning but Pepper flattened her hand behind the podium in that universal “stop” position.
“My new position as CEO of Stark Industries happens to be due to the fact that I know this company better than any of the staff and I have its best interests in mind. It has nothing to do with my personal relationship with Mr. Stark. That’s the last question I’ll take today. I’d like to thank you all for coming here,” Pepper responded as quickly as possible and backed away from the mic. She did the usual “smile and wave” routine for still cameras and the video crews and allowed Ms. Romanoff to lead her into the lobby and out where the car idled by the curb.
Natasha opened the back door and smiled at Pepper. “I can already tell I’m going to like my new assignment,” she admitted. Her voice was deep and thinly tinted with a Russian accent.
The stress of the press conference seemed to ooze away as this woman smiled at her, and Pepper shook her hand impulsively before she slid into the back seat of the car. Natasha got settled in the driver’s seat and checked her mirrors before almost violently pulling out into traffic.
Pepper smothered a laugh as she was reminded of her own driving habits.
“Do you want to make any stops before we get to the airport, Miss Potts?”
“No, I’m fine. And call me Pepper, Ms. Romanoff.”
Natasha smiled into the rearview mirror. “Call me Natasha, Pepper.”
“I can already tell I’m going to like having you around, Natasha.”
They agreed on a classic rock station and sang along with the better songs all the way to the airport.
TBC
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