Bad news (Pepper)

[Ravager]

Rose walked threw the watchtower looking for Pepper she hadn't a clue where the woman would be at this time and hoped she would find her soon so she could get it done and over with. After some time she was able to find the Strawberry blonde in the computer lab that seemed to be full of other people. Rose walked over to the woman "Pepper can we go some place and talk theres something I need to tell you and I don't think it would be a good idea if others were to hear it." She said holding the small burnt bag behind her back not wanting Pepper to see it just yet.

[Pepper]

Pepper looked up, alarmed. This was the same woman who had had a knife to her neck and the same woman who had alternately saved her only a few minutes later. The look in the woman's single eye was frightened, troubled...painful. Very slowly and very sickly, Pepper's stomach rolled over. She looked around at the other people and then hoisted her purse onto her shoulder. She walked very slowly with Ravager, trying to keep her thoughts still.

Something wrong. Very wrong. Something in the woman's voice had told her. When discussing bad news people's voices always change. The news is given away by a tone in the voice. Bad news - car's been stolen, failed a test, etc - always carried a note of anger and energy, frustration, something that could be avoided and had happened or something that could be changed fast enough. Death always carried a note of resignation, sadness, an unwillingness to face the truth that baldly shone. And Pepper didn't want to listen to Ravager, because there was a resignation in her voice. Her family? Gwen? Pepper hadn't seen Gwen since she'd headed off to fight Trenton. And Tony. Tony had taken off on business. Neither of them were near her right now.

It couldn't be them, could it?

"Rose..." she said, fear trembling her voice, "Rose, what's happened?"

[Ravager]

"Tony went back to earth to buy something for you and called me to meet him at Tiffany's to help him plan this surprise for you and we were attacked by Darkseid. I tired to stop him but I couldn't and Tony tried to attack him but Darkseid attacked him before he could and Tony's dead..." Rose trailed off she held up the small burnt jewelry bag "This is all that's left and the burnt spot on the ground where he was standing." She said as she handed the bag with ring box in it to Pepper.

[Pepper]

The words came in a rush, as though Rose was struggling to get all of them out before they sat in her mouth and choked her. Pepper listened to them feeling an iron fist of dread growing in her stomach, and so when the words Tony's dead hit her ears they didn't come as much of a shock. Because her body was already reacting. Her knees wobbled under her and her eyes widened and her lips parted as though to say something - say anything. But nothing came out but an anguished, choked-off cry. "What?" Blood rushed to her face as her eyes filled with tears and she turned them, shining blue, to the burned bag Rose was holding out to her. It seemed very far away as the sounds around her fell to muted versions of themselves and her hand lifted of its own accord to take the bag and lift the ring box from it. As she lifted the ring from the box she finally lost control. "Oh my God," she half-choked, half sobbed, staring down at the sterling silver band inlaid with diamonds - the largest of which shimmered from its setting at the top of the band. Her body began to tremble all over and choked sobs issued from her throat as she struggled to stay on her feet.

Pepper Potts was not a woman to lose control easily. Even when Tony had been kidnapped by the Ten Rings before all of this started, she had held it together until she'd been able to get into a room alone with Rhodey. Then she'd screamed herself hoarse at him and Happy had come busting in to catch her as she collapsed. Happy had then handed her juice and tissues for the next hour as she cried herself out - and then she'd been fine until she learned he was still alive and returning to her. The process had repeated, only without her screaming at Rhodey because Rhodey had been off fetching him.

But nothing could have prepared her for this. She'd known. She'd known it was coming. I'd have this girlfriend who knew my true identity. She'd be a wreck. She'd always be worrying that I was gonna die...

But she didn't realize it had arrived.

"Tony," she sobbed softly.

She took the ring from the box and placed the box in her purse. Then, she put the ring on her finger.

And then she turned and slowly walked away, her heart broken, but something stirring in the back of her mind.