Caught In A Web

twenty-four

Your heart was pounding. What had just happened? Tony's hands gripped the wheel with vivid anger while his speed matched it. Before you could register what was going on, Happy was on the line, and Tony was yelling.

"I want the owner contacted! I want whoever told the press about us to be sued!" Tony's voice was full of rage.

"I'm on it, boss," Happy said. "We saw the news—"

"The news?" You rasped. Your breathing was growing more rapid. Your palms were growing sticky, and it was getting harder for you to focus.

"—and began working. Romanoff, Wilson, Barnes, and Rogers are helping manage the situation."

"Good," Tony said. "I'm taking Y/N to the compound. The security is tighter there."

"How far out are you?"

"About 30 minutes."

"We'll handle the press. You two take care of yourselves."

Tony hung up and looked over at you. "Honey?" His hand reached over to hold yours, but you ripped yours away. You missed the hurt expression that took over Tony's face.

"Stop the car," you whispered.

"Honey—"

"Stop the car!"

Tony pulled the car over, and you quickly jumped out. You stumbled over to the tree line. Tony got out and followed you.

"Honey... Y/N," Tony called after you. "I am so sorry that that happened."

"I—We—" Your breathing was too fast like your lungs were trying to match your racing thoughts. "I wasn't—Not—This—"

"Sweetheart, I'm here," Tony came up and placed a hand on your back. "You need to breathe."

"I—I can't—"

"Yes, you can, honey." His hands went to your waist, and he gently turned you around to face him. Tony kept his hands on your waist, knowing that the state you were in would make your skin sticky. "Follow along with me. In... Out... In... come on, honey. In... out..."

You gave in and followed his breathing patterns. It took a minute for your heart rate to come down and your breathing to begin to even out. Tony kissed the top of your head as you continued the exercises.

"Tony..." you rasped.

"Yes, my dear?"

"What is going to happen?"

Tony sighed. He knew that you wanted the truth, so he was going to give it to you. "The press is going to dig into our relationship. They're going to research you and put articles out there. They'll say truths and lies and a mixture of them."

"That's what I thought... Tony... I..." You looked into his eyes earnestly. "I wanted this to be on our terms... I'm not ready for this..."

"I know, honey, I know. I will do my best to make this right."

"You can't take back what everyone will know."

Tony knew your statement was true, but he would do his best to ensure you were comfortable with this. He would protect you from the ridicule that he and whoever he was dating often faced. You were more than worth it to him. Great lengths be damned. Tony would buy out every news outlet that painted you in a bad light.

"We can make sure everyone knows the truth," Tony added.

"But will they believe it?"

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that we know the truth. Okay?"