Chapter Text
A sea of taxi cabs sits in an parking garage. Loud music is playing. Pepper can hear the sound of someone working, but is unable to locate where.
"Tony!" Pepper yells across the garage. No reply.
"Tony!" Pepper yells again. Still no reply. She considers for a moment.
"Stark!" Pepper shouts.
Pepper hears the sound of a wrench being dropped, then hears a cry of pain as Tony bumps his head against the bottom of one of the taxi's. She finally sees Tony stand up, then shut off the music. Tony storms over to Pepper and stares her down. His eyes are bloodshot, with dark bags underneath, and in desperate need of a clean shave.
"I told you to never call me that!" Tony shouts angerly.
"Then answer next time I call you." Pepper shoots back.
Tony looks like he's about to argue further, but bites back any further reply.
"Anyways, are you almost finished?" Pepper asks.
"Yeah. Finally got them all done." Tony says with noticeable exhaustion. He then walks over to a break station, and downs a whole pint of Black Coffee.
"Ugh." Pepper groans.
"Whatever." Tony shrugs.
"Well, anyways, thanks for pulling an all nighter."
"What, is it morning already?"
"11am to be exact. By the way, Happy New Years."
"1970, huh? Well, years already off to a bad start."
"Don't be like. Come on, let me buy you breakfast."
"Wow, was dating an employee your New Year's resolution?"
"Its not a date Tony. Just a friendly gesture."
"Whatever you say, Ms. Potts."
"Sure thing, Mr. St-"
"Don't." Tony says angerly.
An hour later, Tony and Pepper are sitting in a food court eating.
"Wow, Hot Dog on a Stick. You sure know how to show a guy a good time." Tony says sarcastically.
Pepper chuckles. They both eat their corndogs in silence for a moment.
"So, how are?" Pepper asks.
"Umm, good? Why?" Tony asks.
"Well, I know yesterday was the anniversary. I just, wanted to-"
"Oh, yeah. That. I'm fine. Don't worry." Tony says as he starts to eat his corndog more quickly.
"You sure? I just-"
"Pepper, no offense, but that's a little personal, don't you think?"
"No, of course. I just wanted to..."
Tony gives her a look.
"Sorry, forget I said any....thing"
Pepper notices that her breath has started to form a cloud. The temperature in the food court starts to drop drastically, and they both start to shiver. Pepper hears loud metal footsteps echoing through the Mall, and that seem to grow closer.
"What is-" Tony starts to say.
"STAAAAAARK!" A mechanical voice screams.
Pepper and Tony swing around, and on other side of the court stands someone. A tall white mechanical looking suit of armor, with a large cannon attached to its right arm. Everyone in the food court goes quiet and looks at the man.
"There you are."
The man aims his cannon at Tony.
"Pepper! Run!" Tony screams as he grabs Pepper and starts sprinting.
A stream of liquid nitrogen and ice spews out of the cannon, freezing every thing in its path. Giant ice spikes forming at the end. Several bystanders are trapped in the ice. Luckily, Tony and Pepper managed to get out of range in time. Tony takes off running with Pepper right behind.
"Who is that!? Do you know him?"
"I think so. But I don't know why-"
"You can't run from me!"
The man slams his cannon into the ground, and a sheet of ice coats the floor. Tony and Pepper slip, then slide into a nearby wall. Blizzard freezes the exits, leaving them trapped.
"Donnie! What happened to you?" Tony says.
"Don't call me that! Call me, Blizzard! Now, where is he?"
"Who?" Pepper asks hesitantly.
"HOWARD! WHERE IS HOWARD STARK?!" Blizzard screams.
"I don't know! He disappeared-" Tony began.
"YOU'RE LYING! I KNOW YOU'RE HIDING HIM! WHERE IS HE!?" Blizzard screams as he shoots icicles above Tony's head.
"Donnie, come on. What would Sandra say if she saw you right now?"
"Dunno. Stopped caring about her after she took the kids!" Blizzard yells.
Idiot, Pepper thinks as she glowers at Tony. Blizzard then points his cannon at Pepper.
"Tell me where he is, or I'll freeze her solid!"
"No! Please, Donnie, I have no idea where he is! He abandoned me just like he ruined you, ruined all of us! At this point, he's either dead or hiding somewhere in the Bahamas."
Blizzard goes silent for a moment. Then, he lowers his cannon.
"Well, if I can't kill Howard-"
Blizzard points the cannon at Tony's chest.
"I guess you'll have to do."