Forever Your Sixth Nightmare

I remember being a PA, once. The line between work and personal life faded a long time ago. Current COO (former CEO) of Stark Resilient, rebuilding an empire. ~The Visionary To My Ratio ~The Son I've Never Had

[starkked]

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[icanspelllamborghini]

-She purses her lips in disapproval of his answer, though a small smile still lingers on them.-

You do realize if you keep going on like this, I will have to slip some sedatives in your morning coffee at some point?

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He gives her a mock pout though having noted her disapproving look.*

But that’s not mannerly! Look, I’m fine Pepper, I know what my limits are.

[icanspelllamborghini]

-She can't stop a laugh from slipping past her lips at the mention of 'mannerly'.-

Mannerly, hmm? I had no idea the word was in your dictionary.

-She finishes the remark off with a slightly playful grin before simmering it down into a more serious look.-

Okay. Just don't push yourself too hard, promise?

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He grins, wrapping his arms around Pepper he leans in and gives her a soft kiss on her lips.*

[icanspelllamborghini]

-Her lips form a smile even before he kisses her, but continue upward into a wide grin as he envelops her in an embrace and kisses her.-

Hmm…that’s much better.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*Keeping his arms wrapped around her, he pulls back slightly and returns the smile.*

Yeah, much better.

So how’ve you been, Pep?

[icanspelllamborghini]

Aside from the nightmares, pretty good. The airconditioning needs looking at, though. It’s been acting weird since this sudden heat.

-Leaning back a little, she tips her head to the side to get a better look at him.-

You look tired. Are you sure you’ve slept enough lately?

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

I’ll check out the AC later on tonight then, see what’s wrong with it.

*Following her example, he cants his head as she does, an amused smile on his face.*

Today? Haven’t slept enough in a while but I’m used to it, it’s really nothing to worry about.

[icanspelllamborghini]

-She purses her lips in disapproval of his answer, though a small smile still lingers on them.-

You do realize if you keep going on like this, I will have to slip some sedatives in your morning coffee at some point?

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He grins, wrapping his arms around Pepper he leans in and gives her a soft kiss on her lips.*

[icanspelllamborghini]

-Her lips form a smile even before he kisses her, but continue upward into a wide grin as he envelops her in an embrace and kisses her.-

Hmm…that’s much better.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*Keeping his arms wrapped around her, he pulls back slightly and returns the smile.*

Yeah, much better.

So how’ve you been, Pep?

[icanspelllamborghini]

Aside from the nightmares, pretty good. The airconditioning needs looking at, though. It's been acting weird since this sudden heat.

-Leaning back a little, she tips her head to the side to get a better look at him.-

You look tired. Are you sure you've slept enough lately?

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He chuckles too.* Yeah I’m fine, nothing I can’t handle, *his smiles turns to a frown*, what about you?

[icanspelllamborghini]

Well, I feel fine, though I can’t help but think I’m missing something here. Hmm…

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

Oh? Like what? You in my arms? My lips on yours? Or…

[icanspelllamborghini]

You know me too well.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He grins, wrapping his arms around Pepper he leans in and gives her a soft kiss on her lips.*

[icanspelllamborghini]

-Her lips form a smile even before he kisses her, but continue upward into a wide grin as he envelops her in an embrace and kisses her.-

Hmm...that's much better.

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He chuckles too.* Yeah I’m fine, nothing I can’t handle, *his smiles turns to a frown*, what about you?

[icanspelllamborghini]

Well, I feel fine, though I can’t help but think I’m missing something here. Hmm…

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

Oh? Like what? You in my arms? My lips on yours? Or…

[icanspelllamborghini]

You know me too well.

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

Hm.

[icanspelllamborghini]

#Yeah I have similar nightmares #but with more than one….person..in it

Why didn’t you tell me? Not that there’s much I can do about it, but…well, a shared burden?

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

I don’t…know. Just didn’t want to worry you.

[icanspelllamborghini]

Tony. You know I always worry…

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

And I just don’t want to further worry you, I’d rather have you not start getting grey hair.

[icanspelllamborghini]

Gingers don’t get grey hair very often -produces a humorless laugh-. Are you okay, though?

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

*He chuckles too.* Yeah I’m fine, nothing I can’t handle, *his smiles turns to a frown*, what about you?

[icanspelllamborghini]

Well, I feel fine, though I can't help but think I'm missing something here. Hmm...

[liesmiths-deactivated20140820]

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

Hm.

[icanspelllamborghini]

#Yeah I have similar nightmares #but with more than one….person..in it

Why didn’t you tell me? Not that there’s much I can do about it, but…well, a shared burden?

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

I don’t…know. Just didn’t want to worry you.

[icanspelllamborghini]

Tony. You know I always worry…

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

And I just don’t want to further worry you, I’d rather have you not start getting grey hair.

[icanspelllamborghini]

Gingers don't get grey hair very often -produces a humorless laugh-. Are you okay, though?

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

I dreamt that he was back, and harassing Damian. I swear, if he ever does something to Damian, I will use the 1616 suit for other purposes than rescuing.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

Hm.

[icanspelllamborghini]

#Yeah I have similar nightmares #but with more than one….person..in it

Why didn’t you tell me? Not that there’s much I can do about it, but…well, a shared burden?

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

I don’t…know. Just didn’t want to worry you.

[icanspelllamborghini]

Tony. You know I always worry...

[raywantssuperpowers]

Ugh. I can’t. I can’t.

LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE.

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

I dreamt that he was back, and harassing Damian. I swear, if he ever does something to Damian, I will use the 1616 suit for other purposes than rescuing.

[bleedingedgefuturist-blog]

Hm.

[icanspelllamborghini]

#Yeah I have similar nightmares #but with more than one....person..in it

Why didn't you tell me? Not that there's much I can do about it, but...well, a shared burden?

[icanspelllamborghini]

I had the worst dream.

I dreamt that he was back, and harassing Damian. I swear, if he ever does something to Damian, I will use the 1616 suit for other purposes than rescuing.

[damianfuckingstark]

*He couldn’t tell her. He just couldn’t. The anger and disappointment in Tony had been enough to hit him to his core. Damian wasn’t sure he could handle the same reaction in Pepper. Would she think the same as Tony? Right then… he didn’t want to find out. Instead he took another deep breath, forcing himself to sit upright once again*

Nothing. I… nothing. I will be coming home soon I think. I… I have been gone for too long.

[icanspelllamborghini]

~They had known each other for…how long, now? Not nearly enough in her opinion, or at least, not nearly well enough. Though they’d grown substantially closer over the past few months, Pepper still couldn’t quite get the hang of reading him as well as she would like to. He was hiding something from her, that much she knew. But she hadn’t the foggiest what it was he was hiding from her. Eventually, she simply sighed and nodded to herself. If he didn’t want to talk about it, she would respect that. If anything she’d learned, it was to give him space. If it was urgent enough to come to her about, he would, eventually.~

You have, and you’re sorely missed, too. Just be safe, okay? If you need for someone to pick you up, just say the word and I will make arrangements for you.

[damianfuckingstark]

I miss you too.

*Helios crawled up onto his lap, mewling softly. It seemed all four of the kittens knew something was terribly wrong, but they only had Damian to look to now. Rubbing his fingers along the underside of the ragdoll’s chin, he sniffled softly*

I… I will be bringing four new additions. I… they have no where else to go now.

[icanspelllamborghini]

~The soft sound of a kitten-mewl emerging from the other side of the phone caused Pepper's lips to involuntarily twitch into a smile. She'd always been rather fond of animals, but she'd never really found the time to have an awful lot of pets of her own, mainly due to her job.

Her smile faded at the cracking of Damian's voice on the other side of the line.~

I'll make sure everything's arranged to accommodate them. ...What...exactly do you mean they have no where else to go?

~She knew prying was wrong, but she couldn't help but worry about it. All of it.~

[damianfuckingstark]

*Damian was quiet for a long moment, continuing to stare at the wall. When was the last time he’d even seen Pepper? Hell, when was the last time he’d been civil with Tony? Closing his eyes, a soft, shaky sigh made it past his lips*

I would rather be alone right now. I… Things are not…

*He pulled in a deep breath, eyes burning as he felt the tears building up. Things were never meant to end up like this.*

I do not… I do not want to lose you and Baba.

[icanspelllamborghini]

~Pepper closed her eyes as well, her breath calmer now, her mind focused on her surroundings in the short silence that Damian left between them. The ticking of the clock, the soft hum of her laptop as it was running updates somewhere on the far end of her home office desk, the distant sound of cars passing by outside…and then Damian’s voice broke through the silence, so her focus shifted to that again.~

I understand. I just want you to be okay.

~His next remark brought the frown right back to her face, however. She could hear the tears through his voice, and this concerned her a great deal.~

You’re not going to lose us. Why would you think that? …Damian, what’s going on?

[damianfuckingstark]

*He couldn’t tell her. He just couldn’t. The anger and disappointment in Tony had been enough to hit him to his core. Damian wasn’t sure he could handle the same reaction in Pepper. Would she think the same as Tony? Right then… he didn’t want to find out. Instead he took another deep breath, forcing himself to sit upright once again*

Nothing. I… nothing. I will be coming home soon I think. I… I have been gone for too long.

[icanspelllamborghini]

~They had known each other for...how long, now? Not nearly enough in her opinion, or at least, not nearly well enough. Though they'd grown substantially closer over the past few months, Pepper still couldn't quite get the hang of reading him as well as she would like to. He was hiding something from her, that much she knew. But she hadn't the foggiest what it was he was hiding from her. Eventually, she simply sighed and nodded to herself. If he didn't want to talk about it, she would respect that. If anything she'd learned, it was to give him space. If it was urgent enough to come to her about, he would, eventually.~

You have, and you're sorely missed, too. Just be safe, okay? If you need for someone to pick you up, just say the word and I will make arrangements for you.

[damianfuckingstark]

*At the first sound of Pepper’s voice, his shoulders started to relax, though his voice remained tight* No. No I am not. *What could he tell her? About his nightmares? About Jonathan? Tony? All of it seemed to tumble together and it was making his chest clench*

I… the reason I called the other day is not exactly what is wrong with today. I… I was calling to ask about the therapist you saw after… well, after the incident.

*licking his lips, Damian slowly sunk over onto his side on the couch, staring at the wall ahead of him as he continued*

I… I need to see someone. I have been having nightmares about him. Bullseye.

[icanspelllamborghini]

…I see. 

~The answer ignited the urge for Pepper to pace across the room, and so she did. She stepped out of her heels and paced up and down her apartment bare-footed while trying to formulate a good answer.~

Well, I’ve been seeing a S.H.I.E.L.D.-affiliated therapist who specializes in professional trauma and, well…situations like this. I’m pretty sure I could make an appointment for you as early as tomorrow. In the meantime, though…do you want some company? 

~A short silence fell as Pepper stepped into her shoes again and let herself sink into the large comfortable couch in her living room area.~

You sound exhausted.

…You shouldn’t be alone right now.

[damianfuckingstark]

*Damian was quiet for a long moment, continuing to stare at the wall. When was the last time he’d even seen Pepper? Hell, when was the last time he’d been civil with Tony? Closing his eyes, a soft, shaky sigh made it past his lips*

I would rather be alone right now. I… Things are not…

*He pulled in a deep breath, eyes burning as he felt the tears building up. Things were never meant to end up like this.*

I do not… I do not want to lose you and Baba.

[icanspelllamborghini]

~Pepper closed her eyes as well, her breath calmer now, her mind focused on her surroundings in the short silence that Damian left between them. The ticking of the clock, the soft hum of her laptop as it was running updates somewhere on the far end of her home office desk, the distant sound of cars passing by outside...and then Damian's voice broke through the silence, so her focus shifted to that again.~

I understand. I just want you to be okay.

~His next remark brought the frown right back to her face, however. She could hear the tears through his voice, and this concerned her a great deal.~

You're not going to lose us. Why would you think that? ...Damian, what's going on?

[icanspelllamborghini]

damianfuckingstark replied to your post: [Voicemail] *His voice seemed breathless, almost hurried* Ah, hey Pepper. Um, I was wondering if I could ask you about something. I have been having trouble—*the message seemed to garble a bit, Damian seeming to speak to someone on his end, sounding as though he said something along the lines of “Go back to bed, Beloved”*—Uh, trouble sleeping. I just… I need someone to talk to. Um… bye.

*Damian stared at his phone as it rang, not looking at the name. He wasn’t in much of a mood to talk to anyone, but something nagged at him that this was important. Reaching over, he grabbed the phone, answering it on the last ring* … Hello.

~Pepper’s mood had already sunk so far she was about to hang up the phone and track Damian to see if he was okay, when a familiar voice sounded through the phone. She uttered a nigh-on soundless sigh of relief, though she could tell by the tone of his voice that the situation was far from swell.~

Damian? It’s Pepper. I got your voicemail…I—-are you okay?

[damianfuckingstark]

*At the first sound of Pepper’s voice, his shoulders started to relax, though his voice remained tight* No. No I am not. *What could he tell her? About his nightmares? About Jonathan? Tony? All of it seemed to tumble together and it was making his chest clench*

I… the reason I called the other day is not exactly what is wrong with today. I… I was calling to ask about the therapist you saw after… well, after the incident.

*licking his lips, Damian slowly sunk over onto his side on the couch, staring at the wall ahead of him as he continued*

I… I need to see someone. I have been having nightmares about him. Bullseye.

[icanspelllamborghini]

...I see. 

~The answer ignited the urge for Pepper to pace across the room, and so she did. She stepped out of her heels and paced up and down her apartment bare-footed while trying to formulate a good answer.~

Well, I've been seeing a S.H.I.E.L.D.-affiliated therapist who specializes in professional trauma and, well...situations like this. I'm pretty sure I could make an appointment for you as early as tomorrow. In the meantime, though...do you want some company? 

~A short silence fell as Pepper stepped into her shoes again and let herself sink into the large comfortable couch in her living room area.~

You sound exhausted.

...You shouldn't be alone right now.