The Secret Asgardian (An Avengers Fanfiction)

Chapter 32: Feelings

32. Feelings

An hour later, the jet was speeding toward the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, heading to Diana’s coordinates. Rhodey put the autopilot on, but stayed in the pilot’s cabin anyway, just in case something went wrong. Thor stayed with him, and I wasn’t sure whether it was to keep Rhodey company, or because my uncle didn’t trust him. Either way, that meant that Stark, Diana and I were free to do we wanted though Diana was still asleep, despite the music that was playing in the background.

I had moved away from her so as not to disturb her, and ended up on the other side sat opposite Tony, arms and head resting against a handy wooden table which was fixed to the floor.

“I’m bored,” I whined suddenly, and Tony smiled in amusement.

“What do you want to do?”

“Anything. I can’t stand waiting around.”

“We’ll be there soon.”

“Soon isn’t fast enough.”

He laughed, and I rested my chin on my hands, elbows on the table. As I studied his handsome face, I couldn’t help but smile. His grin was infectious.

“How are you Tony?” I asked abruptly, and a dark look flashed in his eyes for a brief second before a wall fell behind them, blocking out any emotion.

“I’m good, thanks,” He replied with a casual smile.

I narrowed my eyes in thought as I watched him. We hadn’t really spoken about him and Pepper. Now seemed like a good enough opportunity, while we were relatively alone.

“How are you dealing with the Pepper … thing?”

“I’m … ok.”

“No, you’re not,” I said frankly, and I knew I was right when he sighed tiredly.

“You’re right, I’m not,” He admitted sadly, the smile gone.

I waited patiently, knowing he’d tell me. His eyes met mine, and I could see the lingering pain in them.

“I still don’t know how she could pick that guy over me. I thought – I thought she-” He stopped and frowned.

“You thought she loved you.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah, I guess I did. The thing is, I knew that it wasn’t going to work out from the start. We’re too different. Pepper – well, Pepper’s a dedicated workaholic, someone who’s always sensible and hardworking. She never fails to do the right thing. Basically, she’s good. And I’m … not.”

I couldn’t help a small smirk, “You can say that again.”

He didn’t say anything, and I sighed.

“Tony, you’re a good person. I know you are. You just don’t seem to realise how good you actually are. How many people in this world can say that they’ve saved millions of lives from an evil God’s tyrannical rein? How many people can claim that they are a superhero for Odin’s sake? You’ve done more for Earth then most humans ever will. You’re not afraid to throw yourself in the line of fire for someone else. That’s what makes you a good person. Because you’re willing to sacrifice everything to help ordinary people that you’ll probably never see again!” I told him sincerely, and something like hope flashed in his striking brown eyes.

“You really think I’m a good person?”

“Of course! How could I not, after all the times you’ve saved me? I probably owe you my life about three times already!”

He smiled reluctantly.

“I’m glad I have one fan.”

“One fan? Have you seen the way people look at you when you’re out and about? Especially women,” I said incredulously. How could he have not noticed the looks of adoration from everyone, not just women?

Suddenly Stark looked interested, and he grinned crookedly.

“Women, huh?”

“Yes, women. Practically every woman on Earth worships you and the ground you walk on,” I said honestly, rolling my eyes.

“How about you?”

I raised one eyebrow delicately, as if I wasn’t sure what he was implying.

“What do you mean, Tony?” I asked innocently.

“If every woman ‘worships’ me, do you?” Tony grinned devilishly, and somehow I knew that we weren’t going to revisit the Pepper-topic again, at least not in this conversation.

“I said ‘practically’ every woman,” I mumbled, feeling slightly uneasy.

He leaned forward slightly, smiling.

“Does that include you?”

“Maybe.”

It was so hard to concentrate when he was looking at me like that! I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his.

“Interesting…” He murmured, and I leaned forward unconsciously.

“What is?”

“You.”

Suddenly, the door to the pilot’s cabin opened, and I sat back quickly. Rhodey looked from Stark’s grinning face to my flushed one, and then he seemed to shrug it off.

“I came to say that we’re here. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything,” He said dryly.

“No.”

“Yes,” Tony said at the same time, and I shot him a glare, but he smiled back innocently. Rhodey rolled his eyes.

“Just get ready to move. Stark, you’d better suit up.”

“Are you just going to drop us in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?” I asked disbelievingly as one glance out of the window showed miles of sea all around us.

“Of course not,” Rhodey replied in amusement, “You’re going to use the sub.”

“The sub?”

“Stark’s own submarine,” He explained, and Tony shrugged nonchalantly, as if having a personal submarine was no big deal.

“Is it below?” He asked Rhodey, who nodded seriously.

So that’s why this jet was bigger than normal ones, I thought. It must have a second floor, below the main one that we were on now. Tony confirmed this when I asked him.

Tony disappeared to the other room again, and I woke Diana up, who looked at me groggily, before clutching her satchel of notes.

“What’s going on?” She asked tiredly, and I smiled, though I felt my nerves threatening to make me throw up.

“We’re here.”