p • r • e • s • s • u • r • e

i m p a c t

His clothes torn and bleeding from at least four places, Tony lifted his head and blinked blearily. 

"There he is. Can you see me? Good. Four to go." 

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"Thanks, pal. I'm okay, just lost in thought. Thank you,"  he smiled, stroking the bot on his little claw. He whirred happily and rolled away. Tony watched him go. He knew JARVIS had a connection to the bots, but the dichotomy of his normal interface and his pal down here...that he could be so many people at once, it filled him with pride and appreciation. A sweet, innocent, rudimentary robot and his omniscient eye in the sky. Butterfingers's irritating and comedically-timed mishaps, YOU's precision and guiding hand, DUM-E's pure and simple compassion. 

It felt like JARVIS was waiting for an answer. After all, that was quite the statement he'd made. Eighty-seven percent?

Tony smiled sadly. 

"Buddy, you gotta stop hacking the government, they get mad." was all he said to the ceiling.

And then the guilt hit him like a freight train. 

He was exhausted, and he eyed the floor dangerously. 

Tony shrugged. 

Tony settled safely into his indestructibly low mindset. 

And Tony rolled himself off the couch and onto the ground. 

SCRRITCH-the reactor scratched against the flagstone floor and ground into his chest. Bone on metal made a sickening shearing sound and sent convulsions rippling his body. Shocks ricocheted around his bones, the faulty circuits frying his nerves as he howled, like a fire that spread over every exposed-

"...ony? Tony? Tony, wake the fuck up, goddammit. I swear to god I'll call an ambulance." Her voice was husky and low and saturated with peril. 

"Pep?"

"Tony. Oh my god Tony." She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yeah," she said, breathlessly. "Yeah, it's me. I'm here."

"What-"

"You must have fallen off the couch in your sleep."

Relief.

So JARVIS didn't tell her...thank fucking god

"Ah."

"I heard you screaming." The corners of her mouth fell just a little.

"Oh."

"Why didn't you tell me it hurt? Why haven't you gotten rid of it yet?"

"It doesn't, not really."

Her eyes widened. She slapped him.

"Asshole! Oh really, it doesn't hurt?"

"Well that did!"

"Why can't you just tell me the truth about this shit-you were screaming! I tho-I thought you were dying, Tony! Again!"

She stood, chest heaving. 

"Don't fucking lie to me! Not anymore, not again you can't-" she faltered, her countenance crumbling like cheese into her hand, where it stayed and muffled her little sobs. He shoved himself to his feet and stumbled stiffly over, wrapped his arms around her. She threw herself into him and shook like a leaf against his shoulder. Well, if that was how leaves shook. He hadn't much experience. 

"I'm sorry, honey," he said, rubbed his hand across her back the way he knew calmed her. 

"What happened?"  she croaked. "And done lie to me, don't you dare."

He nodded and sighed, tailoring the tone of his voice to one of admission.

"I messed with it and I shouldn't have. The situation isn't ideal-it wasn't meant to last as long as it has."

"But what does that mean exactly? Stop being so vague to dodge my questions."

"It means that I need some work down where the metal and the bone...connect. Or don't, in this case. Yinsen installed an artificial bumper but its worn down over the years from...chafing."

"...can you fix it?"

She pulled away and stared up at him, all pink-nosed and glass-eyed. 

"No. But I'll get some help," he promised. 

Pepper tucked her head back against his chest. 

"Damn right you will," she muttered. He chuckled, and she felt it through his shirt. "You're also making me pancakes."

"Of course."

She pecked him on the cheek and left him with arms wide and growing cold. 

"What-now?"'

"Yup. C'mon, chop chop!" She called. 

Tony smiled and tucked his hands into his pockets, took a breath and headed to the elevator. 

"JARV?"

"Sufficient amounts of all necessary ingredients are in the panty, the pan is preheating now."

"Thanks buddy. Don't know where I'd be without you."

"I dread to think, Sir. I dread to think."

The mirth dissipated as the doors slid shut, yet another wry smile dissolving into a troubling grimace. They always seemed to do that.