Darcy
Darcy had seen Tony having nightmares so many times, that she knew what to do. When he was pressing his chest and breathing oddly, the worst thing to do was to wake him up. Because then he would leave to his workshop and avoid sleeping at all as long as he could. And he was quite good at staying awake. But not staying sane when staying up. And stressed, over-caffeinated (she didn't want to think other substances he used) head designer was a pain in the ass to work and live with. Even for Darcy who was an expert with a weird difficult (crazy) scientist and who had learned to know and love Tony's many different states of mind.
Bruce had taught her the trick. When Tony had this oh no my chest hurts (well, it hurts because you press it yourself, genius!) I've lost my arc reactor and I'm going to die nightmare, Darcy should not try to drag his hands away, but press his chest on both sides of the scarred area, which would ease the pressure in the middle. So that's what she did. It eased him a bit.
- P- Pepper?
That her husband called yearningly for his ex at sleep would have bothered her if she hadn't yearned for Pepper, too. And she was a bit mad at him that they had broken up before she had had them both in bed with her.
- Pepper is not here, she's with Phil.
She tried to stop him from going back to the same position and held his wrists. His breathing was even more difficult.
- Tony, are you all right? She continued.
The best thing about sleeping Tony was that it was totally possible to have a serious conversation with him. And he was more straightforward with his answers when asleep. It would be easy to get him to reveal serious secrets at this state. But when Darcy had found more about Tony, she knew she didn't want to know it all. Like she remembered him saying "You are mine like Pepper is mine and Jarvis is mine, and You and Dummy are mine." and some disturbing details he told Obie had said him.
- Did I get the time machine work, didn't I?
- No, Tony, you're dreaming.
Once before, when she had said the same thing he had answered "Good" and then fallen into a deeper level of sleep. Tonight wasn't that night. He was shaking a little and evidently not sleeping well. Darcy held him tight and then tried to soothe him by moving her hands slowly and gently on his body.
- Everything is fine, Tony, everything is fine, she whispered.
Finally, he relaxed but turned away from her.
- Pepper, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.
No, not this, not again! She hated this I'm sorry Pepper, I'm a doormat, I'm not good enough for you version of Tony. She hadn't fallen in love with a man who hated himself. She felt deceived. She hated Pepper for making him feel that way even though her rational part knew it really wasn't her fault.
- Tony… She wanted to say she was sorry he had to go through whatever he was going through.
- I will change. I stop making suits. I will be better.
- No, you don't. Don't say that. You don't want to stop making them. I don't want you to stop making them.
She said it too loud! He was waking up.
- And you're perfect the way you are, she tried to soothe him back to sleep.
Then she relaxed her body next to him closed her eyes. She was quite good at pretending to be asleep. She could feel his open eyes on her face.
- You are absolutely perfect too, he whispered, and then continued even quieter: - I wholeheartedly support your career at SHIELD.
Her eyes jerked open quicker she could realize. She was busted now, but…
- Really?
Was this too good to be true? Her work at SHIELD had been the first real, serious fight between them. They both had been really nasty to each other. Of course, it had ended with him sulking and her doing what she wanted. And then the issue was just not talked about.
On the other hand, in the long run, nothing with Tony had ever been too good to be true but even better she could have ever thought possible. Yet she had to ask: - Why?
- I've just given it a second thought. I need to make a suit for you. Several suits.
- So you admit being wrong? She teased. She hadn't forgiven him.
He looked aside. Then he looked at her. She could see him well in the moonlight.
- I admit loving you more than anything, is that enough?
Oh, that was definitely too much and too sweet.
- More than your work? And Pepper? She had to add. Not that she felt insecure, but just for teasing. And it changed his mood a bit for safer, snakier ground.
- So who's getting demanding now?
She loved the smile in his voice. His hands were behind her neck and on her lower back.
- I'm Mrs. Stark, I can't be too demanding, I can get anything and everything I want, she echoed back his old words.
She drew him closer with a force that showed who was going to be the boss tonight. Or this morning.
He gave her a french kiss for an answer.
- I want you to have everything you want, he whispered kissing her neck. - Anything you want, my brilliant, brave, beautiful, loving, caring… His kisses went down on her skin. -…wife.
She screamed when he pressed a certain spot with his tongue.