Day 72
Pepper walked into the kitchen after work to find Tony sitting with his head flopped on the counter, his brown eyes staring blankly out into space. A half empty bottle of vodka sat next to his head. Pepper sighed and put the groceries in the refrigerator; she used those few precious moments to prepare herself for whatever conversation would take place next.
She reached for the bottle, and as she did so Tony grabbed it.
“Don’t,” his voice was broken and raspy as he spoke.
“Tony you have had enough,” Pepper warned, but didn’t take the bottle, not yet.
Tony uttered a hard cold laugh. It fell flat, and made Pepper feel sick.
“You have had enough,” Pepper repeated firmly and placed a hand on the bottle.
“I wish,” Tony said coldly, and turned his hollow gaze to Pepper; his deep brown eyes were worn and bloodshot.
“Tony you need to stop,” Pepper tightened her grip on the bottle, “Drinking isn’t going to solve any your problems, and it isn’t going to change what happened.”
Pepper never thought she would look back and actually miss the aftermath of New York.
“No, but it will help me feel better.”
Help him feel better, as in not feel at all.
“That’s not the way to do it,” Pepper sighed and attempted to take the bottle out of his hand, but he gripped it tight.
“Tony give me the bottle,” Pepper warned, “This thing was not even open when I left this morning.”
“A lot can happen in seven hours Pepper,” Tony grumbled coldly as he pulled the bottle from her hand, titled it and poured himself a drink. Pepper put her hand over the glass as he prepared to lift it to his lips.
“Don’t. Just don’t Tony. You need to stop.”
She didn’t know if she could mentally take this any more. She had tried hundreds of countless ways to help him, and to try to get him to stop. Each and every one of them had failed. The most success she had had was convincing him not drive and go out to bars. He had an inhuman intolerance to alcohol, but him driving drunk was still a very unsettling thought to her.
“I’m sorry,” Tony’s apology was half-assed at best. Right now he wasn’t sorry.
She looked him in the eyes, “Tony I don’t know if I can handle this anymore. You’re going to drink yourself to death, and I am not going to sit here and watch!”
“Then don’t.”
Pepper gaped. Irritation and indifference were ripe in his voice.
“You should go,” Tony removed her hand from the glass and drank. Pepper took a shocked step back.
“Tony I don’t want to-”
“Pepper please?” Tony’s voice was high and pleading, “You don’t want to see me like this, and I don’t want you to see me like this.”
“Tony?” Pepper wasn’t entirely sure she was hearing him right.
“I think we both just need some time.”
Pepper didn’t actually disagree with this statement.
“I need time to sort myself out,” Tony continued, “Alone time.”
Pepper just nodded, “Are you sure about this?”
Tony nodded.
Pepper sighed and picked her keys back up.
She pressed her lips against his cheek, the smell of alcohol masked every familiar scent on the man; she brushed his face with a lingering hand.
“I love you Tony. I will be back when you are ready,” Pepper spoke softly and head slowly for the door.
“Thank you Pepper.”
As an act of good faith she left her belongings behind.
The door clicked closed and he was alone. For the first time in a very long time he was not distressed about being alone; he was okay with it. He was grateful she was gone. He now had motivation to pick himself up off the floor.