The mornings in Calot were still strange to her.
Pepper Potts had been to so of the most luxurious places on Earth—private islands, New York penthouses, royal estates in Europe. But none of them quite compared to waking up to the sound of cathedral bells echoing across white stone walls, or stepping onto a balcony that overlooked a city built not by corporations or governnts, but by legend.
Calot had a rhythm of its own: the endless chaos of a the park and the military precision of a fortress. And sohow, impossibly, it worked.
Honestly, it felt far more like a the park than a real city… because where else could you find a city without cars? Without electricity? Calot was a mysterious place, as much fantasy as it was legend.
Yet sohow, it worked.
People lived here. People enjoyed the simpler life that ca about in this strange place—a life centered around the here and now, grounded in the real world rather than the digital.
Though the strange magical nature of the city didn't hurt—it definitely made things a lot easier. Not that she had to be without modern conveniences for long.
Tony… he quickly had to bring this place back into the twenty-first century. Or at least the suite they were given to stay in.
What a place. She honestly hadn't fully believed Tony's claims of being close personal friends with none other than King Arthuria of Albion—and still didn't, since they hadn't yet t the fad king of knights. But the room they were given… it was stunning.
She was no stranger to the best of the best; Tony Stark never accepted anything else. And she had always followed him around as his secretary, though now… she didn't follow him around due to work, but more as… equals?
Or maybe a caretaker. Because Tony was as much of a manchild as always.
And Tony Stark?
He was late to breakfast.
Again.
Pepper took a slow sip from her tea—Albion-grown, of course. So miraculous new black blend that had started appearing in markets after Arthuria's reforms. Who would've imagined? Tea grown on British soil? The world really was crazy.
She tried to enjoy the quiet. But her thoughts wouldn't let her.
Tony had been here for weeks now. What started as a short diplomatic visit had beco sothing... else. Sothing aimless. Sothing evasive.
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
When he finally did show up—barefoot, tousled hair, Stark Industries hoodie thrown on over an absurdly expensive T-shirt—he gave her that sa lopsided grin he always did when he knew she was already annoyed.
"Morning, Pepper," he said, quickly downing a cup of tea without bothering to even taste it.
"Tony," Pepper sighed. "Did you spend all night working again?"
He threw himself into his seat and quickly grabbed a muffin, taking a bite. "Not all night. But really, I still can't figure it out… this magic… how does it work?"
Pepper sighed, because pretty much since they arrived, he'd beco obsessed with figuring out how the so-called magic worked.
Sure, the first week they did vacation things—going out on dates, seeing shows and fights, walking around the amazing city.
Thanks to Tony's identity, they'd even been given a guided tour of the castle itself and allowed to see the Round Table. Tony had been less than impressed that he hadn't been allowed to sit there. Or on the throne.
But after that? He'd pretty much turned the wing of the building they'd been given into a lab. He set up a small arc reactor, so now the entire place had electricity—and since then, he just kept going.
Building and ordering more machines. Spending more and more ti trying to figure out how Calot worked. How magic worked.
"So, no luck figuring out why all your proud machines couldn't put a nail in the walls, but a hamr and nail bought here in the city could?" she asked, knowing that particular mystery was still driving him nuts.
Tony groaned. "It makes no sense. I used titanium drill heads. Titanium, Pepper! The walls didn't even get a dent! But an iron nail and hamr made by so random guy in the city? Worked just fine! It makes no sense!"
She arched an eyebrow. "Maybe you should ask the wall nicely next ti."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure I just had to put the Stark charm to use and the wall would flirt right back."
He reached for another muffin, then stopped, looking thoughtful. "You know, I think the wall might actually be enchanted. That, or Arthuria's trolling ."
That got a small smile out of her.
"Tony," she said, gently but firmly, "you can't keep hiding from the world here."
He froze, muffin halfway to his mouth. Pepper didn't stop.
"Just this past week, I've had three U.S. senators call . And not staffers. Them, personally. And yes, the President too. They're all asking if you're coming back, or if you've decided to defect. Do you have any idea how that sounds, Tony?"
He leaned back, rubbing his temples. "God, I hate politicians."
"That's not the point."
"I know," he said, quieter. "I know. But I needed to breathe. The last year's been... a lot."
Pepper sat across from him, arms folded. "Then say that. Don't just vanish. You ghosted an entire country. You promised Rhodey you'd be back in a week. You left Happy managing two lawsuits. And your board is scheming against you again."
Tony had the grace to look sheepish. "Okay, point made. But in my defense, they keep trying to steal my tech."
"They're not wrong to worry. You did sell Albion a few arc reactors."
"That was different. I wasn't being blackmailed by committee. And Arthuria asked nicely."
"And gave you diplomatic immunity."
"That too." He flashed that grin again. "Co on, Pep. Be honest. You're enjoying this. No press, no boardroom fights, no paparazzi. Just enchanted courtyards and gooseberry wine and occasional dragon sightings."
She rolled her eyes. "Only dragon sighting so far was you playing around with a large holographic projector."
"The people loved it!" Tony defended himself.
She didn't disagree.
Because truth be told, part of her was enjoying it. Calot was strange, yes—but peaceful. Unburdened in a way the real world hadn't been in decades. Even the air felt cleaner. The people were happier. The food was better.
And the terrifying thing?
Tony was better here.
He slept. He laughed more. He wasn't spiraling or drinking himself into the floor. Sure, he still worked too much, but he seed more focused. Driven. And he didn't flirt with as many girls—almost like he rembered they were supposed to be a thing.
And yet, the way he chased magic was starting to look less like science and more like obsession.
"Tony," she said softly, "you're not going to crack it."
"Hey, not yet. But give ti—"
"No. I an… maybe you're not supposed to. Maybe it's not ant to be understood the way you want it to be."
"But I'm close. Arthuria explained it to , and it almost made sense. Magic… it's just science using pure energy. I just can't figure out how to feel the energy. How to move it without machines!"
He was repeating the sa words he always said when she asked him to stop.
Pepper gave him a flat look. "Tony, you're a genius, not a mystic. Maybe magic isn't for you. You are one of the best when it cos to technology. Isn't that enough?"
"One of the best? I am the best!"
"Sure, sure. But maybe you should give it up… Honestly, I'm surprised we haven't been kicked out yet, turning this place into your private lab."
Tony grinned. "Oh co on, they love . Besides, I'm improving the place. You saw the coffee machine I set up—the guards practically bowed to it."
Pepper leaned back in her chair, giving him that look. The one that said she both adored him and was seriously considering tossing his tools into the moat.
"Tony… they were dragging it off. To throw it out. Because throwing up a machine like that really breaks the whole feel of a city without electricity."
"Okay, maybe that was a bad placent. But really, they are living in the past here."
"Which is the entire idea behind the city—a simple life, but a happy one."
"Oh co on, Pepper. Everyone is using phones and stuff. Plenty of people have power here, so what's the harm?"
"They're at least doing it in their hos, not in soone else's."
"Maybe we should buy the place. It's nice here. No people coming to knock on my door to serve a lawsuit."
"Firstly, if you did buy a place here, it might start a war between the U.S. and Albion. And secondly, the reason they aren't serving lawsuits is because you're hiding in a foreign nation. They're all just waiting for you at ho."
"Don't remind . You're not making want to return any more like that." He huffed and waved her off.
Pepper took another sip of her tea. "You can't stay here forever, Tony."
He leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ornately carved ceiling. "I know. But I want to at least et Arthuria again. I have questions, and she… she's the only person I know who can answer them."
She sighed, setting her cup down. "You've been trying for weeks. She clearly isn't interested in eting you."
"Nahh, she isn't ho is all. Dear King of Knights is off causing trouble."
"What do you an?"
"France. I'm sure she's in France. With everything happening there right now? She's gotta be there."
"That's impossible, Tony," Pepper disagreed. "She is… a troubleso person. Should she go there in secret? It would cause major international problems. Could even start a war."
Tony just snorted. "Really? War? They keep saying it, but will they dare? We all saw what happened the last ti she attacked. Until they figure out how to stop that, they won't do anything."
Pepper didn't answer. She just looked at him. Really looked—at the tousled hair, the half-finished smile, the brilliant mind spinning three steps ahead of sanity.
He was right.
And that was what worried her.
While he had once claid to have privatized world peace, Arthuria had done the sa. A weapon none could defend against—it could stop anything from starting a war.
Much like nuclear weapons once did.
Yet the world clearly wasn't at peace. Albion—Calot—was. She had seen that. But outside of here? Everyone was on edge.
Arica wasn't used to not being at the top. They didn't like it. And they wanted to do whatever it took to reclaim that place.
And that… that scared her.
Because she had seen it. She had seen Arthuria's two strikes—how an entire fleet vanished in a flash of light.
How could anyone defend against that?
And even if Arica did get weapons that powerful… she didn't know if that would be a good thing.
That kind of power… she didn't trust any of those politicians or generals with it.
"Just rember, we can't continue to hide here forever, Tony. Eventually, we have to return ho. And when that happens, a lot of people will have a lot of questions for you… so be ready for that."
"I know… But hey, I've got the world's best secretary. I'm sure she can handle all that for ." He flashed her a cocky grin.
"Don't make want to quit," she threatened.
"Please. If you did, Stark Industries would fall in a week. Could you really stand to watch that happen?"
"At least you're smart enough to realize that."
"Hey, I'm the smartest person alive. So naturally I can see how great you are."
Pepper sighed. She really couldn't stay mad at him.
He was so infuriating… and yet, he did have his good side.
So, been awhile since I checked up with Tony, like never really. He has been fucking around, and I imagine him still trying to make magecraft work.
You can't just tell a guy like Tony Stark about magic and not expect him to try to figure it out.
A few chapters away from Arthuria now, wanna catch up with the rest of the world, before finishing up France, and then… seeing what Mr Fantastic is doing with that glowing blue cube…
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