E/d note: You can skip this chapter. It's basically a re-telling of the moment Tony landed and finally reunited with Pepper and Happy.
'Inner dialogue/thoughts'
"Normal dialogue"
[System]
[Diary entries]
(Word Count: 1,137)
~ The following afternoon with Virginia Potts, at Edwards Air Force Base ~
Although Pepper had been told that Tony would be returning a few days ago, he still needed to go through some procedures before he was actually allowed to return. It had taken the military medics at least 24hrs of close observations and initial tests before they indicated that Tony was well enough to return to his home.
Pepper stood silently nearby the runway which had been declared for the plane that Tony was travelling in. In her hands was a paper bag that contained a cheeseburger. As she waited, Pepper was lost in her thoughts. 'I should remind myself to give my thanks once again later to Luke for bringing up the welcome back gift.'
Three months. It had been three months since Tony's convoy had been attacked which resulted in his kidnapping. Throughout this period, Pepper had been through a myriad of emotions such as anxiety, sadness and disappointment. If not for the café and her friends who worked within, she was certain that her life would have been a downward spiral.
It is not that Pepper is a weak person. On the contrary, she prides herself in her strong resolve and resilience. However, on the day she first got the news, there was a moment where she realized something about herself that she never thought she knew of during Luke's performance.
She knew that the whole world did not think of Tony as a good person but as someone who was selfish, egotistical, and arrogant, which he had every right to be. Tony's brilliance in his field of work was unmatched by any other, and even their closest competitor could not come close to reaching the achievements that Tony had made.
However, as Pepper worked as his personal assistant, she knew more than what the world did. Which was why even though Tony was more like a child who had not grown up, she was more than relieved and thankful that he had returned safely. She could not begin to imagine the kind of suffering that Tony had been put through during his time as a captive.
"You know, you could sit and wait in the car." A voice had pulled her out of her daze.
Turning around, she met the gaze of Harold Hogan. "It's alright, Happy. Tony has been kidnapped for more than three months now, waiting out here for him is the least I could do as his personal assistant."
Happy scoffed, "Maybe don't try to sound calm and collected when your eyes are still puffy and red from crying in the car while on the drive here earlier." At his quip, Pepper could only send a mock glare towards Happy.
Time passed by slowly for Pepper and Happy as they waited, until finally they could see the outline of a plane preparing to land in the distance. They both made a final check on their appearances before preparing themselves mentally to see their boss, while Pepper simultaneously hid the paper bag behind her back.
A few moments later, the cabin door of the military plane opened, and Pepper was surprised to see that Tony was not how she had expected him to be. She had imagined that Tony would be covered in bandages all around his body to cover the physical torture that she had thought he had been put through.
However, although supported by James Rhodes, who was the one who had informed her personally a few days ago, Tony looked to be doing fine. He was dressed in a black suit, with the only visual confirmation to any injury he suffered being the hanging cast on his right arm.
As Tony slowly made his way towards Pepper, he rejected the military medics who were at the ready and noticed something peculiar about Pepper.
"Hmm, your eyes are red. Few tears for your long-lost boss?" Tony commented as he stood before her.
With a smile, Pepper replied in an equal manner, "Tears of joy. I hate job hunting."
"Yeah, well vacation's over."
'He's still the same. Even though he must've been through so much these past months, he still remains what made him Tony Stark.' Hearing his response, Pepper inwardly sighed in relief.
"Already having me work on your first day back? Here I thought you deserved this welcome home gift." Pepper teased.
"Gift?" Tony questioned.
At that point, Pepper finally brought forward the gift she had been hiding. "Here."
"What's this?"
"Just something I thought you would like."
As Tony opened the paper bag, he was surprised to see two wrapped cheeseburgers within. "Cheeseburgers? How did you know?"
"Working as your PA for however long it was that I have, does have its own benefits. But I can't take credit for this. I was all over the place trying to ready everything for your return that Luke had to remind me to get you something."
"Luke? The owner of the café you keep going to?"
"That's the one. Honestly if it weren't for him and my friends working at the café, I would've probably gone insane by now." Pepper ended.
Tony silently compartmentalized the new information he had just received as he walked while unwrapping the first cheeseburger. 'I should pay a visit to them some time, give my thanks personally for taking care of Pepper while I was gone.'
As they made their way into the car, Happy asked for their first destination.
"Take us to the hospital please, Hap-" Pepper was cut off by Tony before she could finish.
"No." Tony denied in a matter-of-fact tone.
Unsurprised by his answer, Pepper still tried to argue to get Tony go through a thorough medical check. "Tony, you have to the hospital and the doctor has to look at you." / "I don't have to do anything." As she spoke, Tony spoke over her to show how serious he was.
Seeing as he got her attention, Tony stared into her eyes as he made known his decision, "I've been in captivity for three months, and there's only one thing I want to do."
"That's enough of that."
"It's not what you think, I want you to call for a press conference now."
"Call for a press conference? What on earth for?"
"Yeah, Hogan, drive. Straight to HQ." Tony concluded, disregarding Pepper's insistence.
As Tony had the final say, Pepper inwardly thought once again, this time a tinge of annoyance present within her, 'Yeah, he's still the same.'
- End of Chapter 70 -
Next time in C71 - The seventh Entry.
'Obadiah Stane. He's the man that took Tony off the stage in that press conference.' Instead, her hatred had been redirected to Stane. As Wanda read the entry, the only emotions that she felt were annoyance and envy for Luke.
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[Author's Note]