Chapter 50: C (66) Tony isn't Human Anymore?
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"If that isn't a sign, Tony…"
Tony cautioned, "Don't even mention it!" As he examined the skin, he could not find any indication that anything out of the norm had taken place. His arm continued to feel a faint tingle, but the feelings were becoming weaker with time.
Natasha's words were absorbed by Tony as she said, "There is more at work here than we realise." She moved her hand to reach for his hand and ran her fingertips over the area of his flesh where the shards had embedded themselves.
Tony swallowed his words and said, "Let's just not say anything further about this." He gave him a firm handshake. If we can get the remainder of the Stones done as quickly as possible, it will make us both pleased.
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"Tony?" Pepper joined him on the bed and laid down next to him. "What exactly is it? Since you informed me that one of the Stones had been destroyed, you have been unusually silent."
Tony was laying on his back and staring at the ceiling while he did so. "I was just thinking about... things," she said.
Pepper asked him with a reassuring smile and a hint of playful banter, "Isn't it a little risky you thinking about things?" "As you well know, you may discuss any topic with me."
Tony turned to face her, and the distance between their noses was almost imperceptible. "I can't keep on denying it, Pep."
"What are you denying?" Pepper straightened his back and looked at him from below. Tony, did anything interesting have place today?
He nodded. "People are often telling me that they believe I have a lot of power. What is the connection between Nat and I? It's a messy situation... We both perished due to the Infinity Stones... On the other hand, I believe that we took some of them or some element of them with us when we returned. Nat has abilities... She believes that I have them as well... Because of what took place today, regardless of how hard I tried to convince her otherwise, it is clear that I have supernatural abilities."
Pepper took an aggressive stance. "Just because you have superpowers does not mean that you have changed at all, Tony."
"But here's the point, Pep: I have no idea why I can't make use of them because I can't. Even though I don't want them, why, if I already have them, can't I just use them?" Tony sat up. "Finally, the shards of stone melted into my flesh, and the experience was completely painless. What exactly do I become as a result of these abilities? Are I still human? Still me?"
Pepper extended his hand and gently rubbed his face. "You still have the identity of Tony Stark. However, the gentleman I adore. Yet, this is the guy with whom I want to spend the rest of my life."
The pupils in Tony's eyes seemed to expand. "You… you want to?"
Pepper's lips began to pull into a grin. "Yes." She got in his face and mashed her lips on his, leaning forward. "I'm going to stand by your side till the very end."
"You… You're fantastic." The look on Tony's face was like a painting. He was astounded by Pepper's unwavering commitment to him as an employee.
She hushed, "Tony, you're the only one I have left." "If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't alter a thing."
He gave her a kiss. He was taken aback by the turn of events and inquired, "Does this imply that we are engaged?"
"If that's what you want us to be," she said with a grin.
"I don't think any of my ideas fall into the traditional category, do they?" He smiled as he pulled her in for another kiss before continuing.
Her question was, "What did you do the very first time?" "Well, I guess you could say that I just proposed to you in a roundabout kind of manner!"
Tony let out a giggle. "Do you really want to hear how I proposed to you the first time? I don't think so. Let's just say we weren't alone… In addition to that, there were quite a few more individuals present..." He recalled the News Conference that he'd organised in order to present Spider-Man as the next formal member of the Avengers team.
Instead, the young man had made the decision not to accept the offer, prompting Tony to improvise by proposing to Pepper in front of a crowd of reporters. Pepper had accepted the proposal. To be fair, he had anticipated that the young man would reject him.
Oh my goodness, if you must tell me, I beg you not to say that it was a press conference!
Tony reluctantly conceded, "Maybe," as he cringed slightly. Nonetheless, you did answer in the affirmative.
Pepper gave a helpless little shake of her head. "I can't believe I agreed to go through with it," you could remark.
"You adored me!" he said with a smile. He then said, in a more solemn tone, "Thank you, Pepper, for staying."
She said, "I couldn't ever leave you, Tony," over and over again. "And sure, I will marry you," the other said. When Tony looked down at her from above, she slipped down onto her back and remained there. "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find my engagement ring."
2016-08-27, Saturday the 27th of August
Currently on our way back to the Avengers Facility.
"Has Tony been in touch with you?" Natasha sat down next to Pepper while the latter reviewed the agreements that had been signed by the King of Wakanda and the Prince.
Pepper said in a low voice, "He did." "He said to me this morning that it's possible that you'll come speak to me."
Natasha grimaced in pain. It was important to her not to deceive Tony in any way.
Pepper made the observation that "He won't be angry." "He is aware that you care."
"Has he informed you about what took place after the Stone was destroyed?" Natasha said in a hushed tone.
Pepper nodded. "The prospect makes him anxious. He has a nervous tic." She positioned the contracts so that they were facing the vacant chair that was next her. "I know he doesn't want to acknowledge it to me, but I know him too well not to know when he is terrified." "I know he doesn't want to admit it to me, but I know when he is scared."
Natasha showed respect by lowering her head. "Has he filled you in on everything?"
About the two of you, Pepper confessed, "absolutely." "You and Tony both have special abilities. The fact that bits of the Stone are entering his hand through his flesh is giving him cause for concern that he is no longer human. But I don't care. For my purposes, he is still Tony. And despite everything, I shall always adore him."
Natasha broke into a reassuring grin. "You're a blessing for him to have."
"I know." Pepper sighed. "These abilities that he possesses... Even though he doesn't want them, he clearly requires them, right?"
Natasha nodded. "Yes, in my opinion. I am aware that he has them. I am able to feel them. I was able to see them in his heart. It is essential that we maintain our connection with one another. When they do, and I know that they will one day, whether it's soon or a few years from now, he'll need us, the two of us, to help him get through it because I know his abilities will be released at some point." She stopped speaking for a bit in order to gather her thoughts on the next sentence.
Pepper licked the inside of her bottom lip. "Do you have a hypothesis about the origin of these powers? Tony gave the impression that these are the Infinity Stones on their own."
"My theory is that they were extracted from the Soul Stone. That was my demise. Tony made use of all six... Tony has the abilities of the other five stones if I have the skills that the Soul Stone gives me. Because I was able to look deep into his soul, I am aware that the abilities he possesses will be... I am unsure of what these things mean for him." She took a moment to think about the appropriate response before continuing.
"Magnificent. I believe that he will be the strongest of all of us. Whatever it was that brought us back must have had a purpose in inflicting this suffering on us. I get the impression that we were not only sent back in time to thwart Thanos but also for something else..." Natasha's voice became softer.
Pepper took a few deep breaths as she took in all of the information. "Have you mentioned this to Tony yet?"
Natasha gave a little shake of the head. "No."
"Why are you telling me?"
"You, more than anybody else here at this time and place, are aware of the full scope of what took place to us. Tony is really fortunate to have someone he can communicate with. I don't. To be honest, no. And I've been around for a good deal longer than he has. That will take two years longer. Because of this, I've got a lot of time to reflect. I am aware that Tony is petrified of the prospect of losing you and of being unable to enjoy the life that he so desperately desires. He's already made that mistake once..." Natasha heaved a sigh and slumped back in her chair. "Sorry, I didn't want to make you feel worse…"
Pepper assuaged her fears by extending her hand to Natasha and taking hold of her hand in her own. "You haven't," she said to Natasha.
"No matter what happens, you can count on the fact that both Tony and I will be there for you every step of the way. No matter what happens in the future, if there is another reason for you to be here besides Thanos, I will figure out a way to remain not only by Tony's side but also by yours. This is my promise to you. Nat, I can give you my word on this."
Natasha's lips twitched into the beginnings of a grin. "Thank you, Pepper. Having support from people like you means a lot. Without you, I have no idea what Tony would do with himself."
Pepper let out a little chuckle. "Be even more of a walking catastrophe than he already is, in my opinion," she said.
Natasha displayed a smile. "I believe that you are correct in that assessment."
Pepper flashed a knowing grin, took up the papers that were sitting next her, and began to go through the terms of the agreements, all the while Natasha reclined in her seat to get some rest for the rest of the trip back home.
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