Caught In A Web

thirteen

You could sense Tony's nervousness as you sat across from him at the dinner table. You couldn't understand why though. You thought that this afternoon's activities went well. Maybe Tony didn't feel the same. Finally, after letting the awkwardness brew, you couldn't stand it any more and broke the silence.

"What's going on, Tony?" You questioned. "Did something happen today and I totally miss it?"

Tony sighed, not meeting your gaze. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

Your stomach dropped. As you swallowed, you placed your shaking hands in your lap, hidden from Tony's view. "What about?"

"Well, do you know who Pepper is?"

"Yes, Tony, I know who she is. She was your assistant, turned CEO, turned, uh, girlfriend."

He chuckled nervously. "That's a way to put it."

"She left the company when you two... uh, broke up, right?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah."

"So, what about her?"

"Well, Pepper, she reached out to me."

"Oh?" You felt like you were going to throw up and your hands were growing sticky.

"She wants to get together and talk."

"Mhmm," you hummed, sucking in your lips as you tried to stop the threatening spiral of emotions.

"I haven't responded to her yet. I wanted to run it by you first."

Slightly, your stomach lifted. "You did?"

"Well, yeah," Tony cleared his throat. "We are kinda—well, we are—"

"Dating?"

Tony snapped his fingers and pointed at you. "That's the word."

You let a small smile form as you looked at Tony. "So, do you want to meet up with Pepper?"

"I'm interested in hearing what she has to say."

Your stomach fell again. "Is... is there something that you're hoping that she says?"

Tony immediately understood what you were getting at. "Y/N, if you don't want me to meet up with her, I won't. I won't do anything that you aren't comfortable with."

"I... I want you to do whatever you feel like you need to do. Talk to her. Get some closure."

"Are you sure? I really don't—"

"I'm sure, Tony. I promise."

Tony didn't fully believe you, but he nodded anyway. He reached his hand across the table and beckoned for your hand. You wiped your hand on your pants before setting it in his. He gripped it, rubbing the back of your hand with his thumb.

"Thank you for understanding," he softly said.

"You're welcome," you replied.

~~~

The two of you stayed at the Compound for a two more days. You worked in the lab together and swung around on your new playground.

During the time there, Tony had reached out to Pepper and they had scheduled to meet when the two of you got back to the city. You were feeling fine about Tony meeting up with Pepper at first, but as you two returned to the city, you were struggling with it. You trusted Tony and believed that he wouldn't do anything that would put your relationship in jeopardy. But you didn't know much about Pepper, other than she was the one to break it off with Tony and leave her position as CEO of Stark Industries.