Darcy Soup

Disclaimer: Don't Own, Don't Sue

Thanks again for the reviews and favorites and follows. I am sorry for not updating recently. I'm in my second year of college and I am dying with o-chem. I have a lot of prompts lined up though, but if you have any suggestions, feel free to send me a PM and I'll be happy to write you something :) Any pairing is cool too!

P.S. I love Pepper. I really do.

Chapter 3: Touch Me, Please (Tony x Darcy x Pepper)

People didn't understand. There were whispers of course, whispers of women and bastard children and whores. But that was normal. In fact, the absence of rumors about Tony's latest exploits would have rung a few warning bells, because that was just….Tony.

People sympathized. People pitied Pepper when they saw the dark red soul mark scrawled across her collarbone, the words "Call me Tony" seemed like a brand to them, a metaphorical cell in which Pepper was locked into.

But they didn't understand. And Pepper didn't even try to correct them.

(They didn't see her stroke her upper arm during their conversations, where another soul mark with loopy writing "Wow. You're gorgeous" across her skin.)

She loved Tony, truly with all her heart, but she needed Darcy. If Tony was fire, hot and passionate and burning like the thrusters on his suit then Darcy was the ice that cooled her down.

She cooled Tony too.

Pepper's bare feet patted softly on the carpeted floor as she entered the lower levels, where Tony's workshop was. Despite being early morning, the lights highlighting the room were lit, as if someone had previously walked by. Pepper walked down the hall, toward the entrance of Tony's workshop.

Tony was on the couch. And so was Darcy. Darcy had him enveloped in her arms, lips moving against his hair as if in a prayer. Pepper could see Tony's shoulders shake, large uncontrollable heaves that made Pepper's heart ache.

"Sir had another nightmare," JARVIS spoke, as softly as his voice was programed to be.

Pepper didn't need to be told, because she already knew. She gripped the glass with one hand, laying her forehead on the cool surface.

Tony needed someone to hold him, but Pepper couldn't do that. Not after what Extremis done to her. She couldn't touch anyone now, not without the all consuming fear that she would hurt someone, someone she loved. Stay away Tony! No, don't touch me! I'll hurt you! Tony, please!

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, and watched the couple beyond the glass again. Darcy was petting his hair now, hands occasionally drifting down to the back of his neck, where Pepper knew had his soul bond.

"Hey there. What's your name?"

"You touch me again, and I'll taser you faster than you can scream tacos."

Darcy could hold him. Darcy could comfort him and pet him and make him feel safe and secure. Pepper couldn't.

She loved Tony but she needed Darcy.

"Would you want me to open the doors, Miss Potts?"

"No JARVIS," she said, her breath warming the glass.

She watched the pair through the glass door, wondering when everything went wrong.