🌟 HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! 🌟✨
🔥 Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurer… ⚔️ Buddyschlym! ⚔️ 🎉⚡️ Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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The sound of machinery and Tony's occasional mutterings filled the workshop as Seph walked into the kitchen, intent on brewing some much-needed coffee for both of them.
The day had been long, and with all the work on the Mark III suit, it didn't seem like it would end anytime soon.
"Guess I'm the coffee guy now," Seph muttered with a smirk as he grabbed the beans and started the process.
Meanwhile, back in the workshop, Tony heard the soft click of heels approaching. He glanced up from his holographic displays to see Pepper Potts entering, her usual composed expression betrayed by a hint of worry.
"Hey, Pep," Tony greeted casually, though his tone carried a touch of urgency. "Glad you're here."
"What is it now, Tony?" Pepper asked, folding her arms.
Tony motioned for her to come closer, gesturing at the table where a small, sleek device lay. "I need you to do something for me."
Pepper's brows furrowed. "What kind of 'something'?"
"I need you to head to my office," Tony began, his voice steady but serious. "Hack into the mainframe and pull the recent shipping manifests. Everything from the last six months."
Pepper's eyes widened in disbelief. "You want me to hack into your company's systems? Tony, are you hearing yourself?"
"I'm serious, Pep," Tony said, his tone firm. "I've got reason to believe that someone's been messing with our shipments. And by someone, I mean Obadiah."
Pepper shook her head, her worry now evident. "Tony, this is insane. You're asking me to break the law—your law. And for what? So you can play vigilante?"
Tony sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. I just need proof. Something to connect the dots."
"You're putting yourself in danger," Pepper argued. "You already are with that... thing."
She gestured to the suit hanging on the chains.
"That's exactly why I need you to do this," Tony countered. "If Obadiah's behind this, then he's not just betraying me—he's putting the entire company at risk. Hell, he's putting lives at risk."
Pepper hesitated, her arms tightening around herself. "And what happens if I get caught? If someone sees me?"
"You won't," Tony said confidently, holding up a small lock chip. "This will get you in and out without anyone knowing. It's foolproof. Trust me."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her hesitation lingering. "Tony…"
"Pep," Tony said, his voice softening. "I know I've screwed up a lot. And I know I'm asking a lot from you. But I need you to trust me on this. Please."
After a long moment, Pepper exhaled sharply and snatched the lock chip from his hand. "Fine. But if this goes sideways, you're explaining it to the board."
Tony grinned. "That's the spirit. Now go be my favorite corporate spy."
Pepper rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile as she turned to leave.
At the entrance to the workshop, Pepper bumped into Seph, who was carrying two mugs of steaming coffee. The impact nearly caused him to spill them, but he steadied himself just in time.
"Whoa, easy there," Seph said with a chuckle, though his smile faded as he noticed her tense expression. "You okay?"
Pepper blinked, her usual composure faltering. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... busy."
Seph wasn't convinced. "Pepper, I know that look. What's going on?"
"I can't talk about it," She said quickly, brushing past him.
Seph turned to watch her leave, his brows knitting together in concern. He stepped into the workshop and set the mugs down on the nearest table.
"Okay, what did you do this time?" Seph asked, his tone half-joking, half-serious.
Tony, who was leaning over the suit's armpiece, glanced up. "What makes you think I did something?"
"Because Pepper looked like she was about to either cry or murder someone," Seph shot back. "And since you're the only one here, I'm guessing it's your fault."
Tony shrugged, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "She's just running an errand for me. No big deal."
Seph crossed his arms, unimpressed. "What kind of errand?"
Tony hesitated for a split second before replying. "I asked her to pull some files from the mainframe. Shipping manifests, to be exact."
Seph's eyes narrowed. "And you didn't think to mention that she'd have to hack into the system to get them?"
Tony raised his hands defensively. "She's got the tools. She'll be fine."
Seph shook his head, a mix of frustration and worry crossing his face. "Tony, she's not some secret agent. She's your assistant. You're putting her at risk."
"I'm not putting her at risk," Tony argued. "I'm giving her a job to do. Besides, it's not like I could waltz in there myself."
Seph sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"
Tony smirked. "It's part of my charm."
Seph ignored the quip and paced the workshop, his mind racing. Pepper might have agreed to the errand, but that didn't mean she was equipped for the potential dangers.
"You're worried about her," Tony observed, leaning against the table.
"Of course I am," Seph said sharply. "She's my girlfriend, Tony. And unlike you, she doesn't have a suit of armor to protect her."
Tony's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Look, Seph, I get it. But she's the only one I trust to do this. And if she pulls it off, we'll finally have the evidence we need."
Seph exhaled slowly, his mind made up. "Fine. But I'm not just going to sit here and hope for the best."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "What are you gonna do? Fly over there and hold her hand?"
"Something like that," Seph said cryptically.
----
As Pepper arrived at Stark Industries headquarters, her heart pounded in her chest. The lock chip Tony had given her felt heavy in her pocket, a reminder of the task ahead.
Inside, the bustling office seemed oblivious to her presence, the employees focused on their own work. Pepper made her way to Tony's private office, doing her best to appear calm and collected.
Unbeknownst to her, Seph was watching from afar—not physically, but through his godlike senses.
With a subtle wave of his hand, he nudged the threads of fate, ensuring her path remained clear.
In the break room, two employees suddenly started arguing over who was supposed to refill the coffee machine, drawing the attention of nearby staff.
In the hallway, a delivery man accidentally bumped into Obadiah Stane, spilling papers everywhere and forcing the executive to stop and deal with the mess.
And in the security room, a power fluctuation caused the monitors to briefly go dark, giving Pepper the perfect window of opportunity to access the mainframe.
Inside the office, Pepper inserted the lock chip and held her breath as the system hummed to life. The files began downloading, the progress bar inching forward at an agonizingly slow pace.
"Come on," She whispered, her eyes darting to the door.
Finally, the download was completed, and she pulled the chip out just as the monitors in the security room flickered back on.
Pepper exited the building with her heart still racing. She had been cautious, but unbeknownst to her, Stane had spotted her movements on one of the backup security feeds.
As she stepped outside, relief washed over her momentarily when she saw Agent Phil Coulson waiting by his car, having arrived for a scheduled meeting.
Without hesitation, she approached him urgently.
"Agent Coulson, I need you to come with me," She said, her voice trembling. "I found something shocking in the files. We don't have much time."
----
Back in the workshop, Seph leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. Tony looked up from his work, noticing the faint smile on Seph's face.
"What's with the grin?" Tony asked.
"Just keeping an eye on things," Seph replied, his tone light but meaningful.
Tony smirked. "You really are the babysitter, aren't you?"
"Call me what you want," Seph said, a hint of pride in his voice. "As long as she's safe."
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