Los Angeles

Keep him in it.

Tony thought hurriedly, half-listening to Pitch now. "They'll work things out," he replied, shrugging. "Tragedy's all around us. Happens all the time. What's one more thing gonna do? The majority of 'em haven't been kidnapped and held at gunpoint."

If it weren't for Pitch's own pride, he would have created an umbrella or parasol or some sort of hat to at least cast a comforting shadow for him to retreat to if he so needed it.
He felt cornered in the light, like a deer in headlights.


And that he was. No shadows, no escape. Well, no quick escape.

"That's just the joy of dreams... anything can happen..."

A small, short inhale, Pitch again looked to the skies, half anxiously, as if expecting the sun to burn a hole right through him.

He needed to leave this rooftop...

Another step backward, another glancing look to check for shadows that might give him some hand up in the situation.

He made a swift leap, using the assistance of the repulsors to make sure he made it.

One bound, two, three-

A squeal of metal on stone as he skidded to a halt on the opposite side of Pitch.

"Another joy: they're not real."

Pitch spun about, a quick look of- was it...?- fear flashing across his pointed expression, taking a couple stumbling steps away from Tony, back into harsher sunlight.

He cursed himself inwardly to any ring of hell he was bound to.

They're not real.

The Nightmare King tensed, and a sneer flooded his expressions, turning swiftly into a snarl of anger, golden eyes narrowing.
"Everything can be real..."

Tony grinned in triumph from behind the safety of his mask. Admittedly, it was starting to grow a little hot in the suit from the direct sunlight, but it was a small price to pay for discovering Pitch's weakness.

"They're only real if you believe in them." He shrugged, spreading his hands.

The Nightmare King felt a little tremble break out from his core, rattling his bones and making him feel so very weak.

That was the one truth every immortal like him knew- belief was their life source. Without it, they'd die. And with them, the one thing they brought.
Whether it be Wonder or Hope or Dream... or even Fear.... the entity dies and the thing itself dies with them.
Belief was the balancing factor.


This time, it was the Nightmare King's turn to be silent. His hands tightened to fists, and his melted golden eyes remaining locked uneasily on Stark.
A cornered mutt, that's what he was.
In his moment of weakness, he raised a hand to the place on his chest that he always did- the place where the locket of his daughter used to be.

((*Gets bowled over by Pitch feels* Ow.))

Tony followed the movement, a frown creasing his brows. If he repeated the movement, he had no doubt that it would hold an entirely different meaning to him.

His hand would be over the arc reactor, the thing stopping him from dying at that moment. He was strong because of it, but also vulnerable.

Grimacing, Tony pushed the thought away, calling on his impatient nature to cover his moment of hesitation. "So... what are you gonna do? How's this gonna end? Are we gonna fight, or just back off and go home?"

(( u ok. ))


A shuddering inhale, the Nightmare King seemed suddenly frail. Strangely broken, almost the shell of the man he had acted as.

The Fearling begged for a fight, for blood.
But something else entirely, another man inside of him, whispered calming and sensible words. This was not smart. This was not needed...


Another step back. Another hurt look.
And no reply.

He wanted to die. But he needed to live.
He wanted to fight, but his heart reminded him that perhaps peace was the best way to go.

((I don't think I can get up. ._.))

Tony felt a moment of regret. Had he hit a nerve? If he had, it was by accident.

He understood how everything worked but people. He wanted nothing more than to bolt, grab Pepper and get her to deal with this - she'd know what to say - but he stood his ground.

"Uh..." Tony swallowed, stumbling over his own tongue. "Did I say something?"

(( o. want me to come lie down there with you. The feels can hit us both. ))


The hand that rested delicately over the place in his chest seemed to quiver before balling into a fist.

A tender expression torn with pain crossed his face, and for a fraction of a minute, Pitch's golden eyes seemed to glow an olive green. Unnatural, even on his standards.
The Good General showed for just a minute, trying to grapple for control over the man's mind.

But he was pushed down as always, the shell of his body a vessel for the Fearlings that spat a reply with ferocious hatred.

"I will always be real!"

((Let's both cry over Pitch and his secret sweetness))

Tony raised his palms again, but this time the little circles on them were dark.

"Woah, never said you weren't real, buddy. You're very... solid, very 3D."

(( fucking father side of him goddamn it. -sobs-
and in other news Pitch is glad he retained his 3dness. ))


"I will always exist!"

Pitch's voice had raised to a shrill shriek, his lips curled in a snarl of anger.
"Fear will always exist!"

((*Clings to Cyn* He's such a sweetie really D: ))

Shit. He had said something wrong. Really wrong, judging by the switch in Pitch's attitude.

"Yeah, okay, yup, got that, sure." He backed off a little, cautiously aiming his hands at the ground. If he had to make an escape, he'd do it as soon as he could.

(( he really is. Poor man. oerivjuesposg.
"Glad you think so."
I THOUGHT WE WENT OVER THIS IN THE PMS, PITCH. NO. ))

What once was suave collection had turned instantly to shrill insanity.
There was the sound of shifting sands as the black nightmare material seeped up from Pitch's robes, forming to what appeared now to be an arrow.

His back arched a little as he pulled back on the weapon and fired toward Tony.
The fearlings had gone mad, raging and tumbling inside the shell of a man that was Pitch. And they'd forced him into a fit of insanity, eyes burning with pure hatred and undying madness.

((DON'T YOU DARE, PITCH. I SWEAR TO GOD, I WILL BRING THE GOD DAMN HULK INTO THIS IF I HAVE TO.))

Tony stumbled backwards, attempting to scramble out of the way, but his reactions were simply too slow. It slammed into the metal plates over his chest, forcing him over the edge.

Sheer panic gripped him as he fell. It didn't occur to him to throw out his arms and use the repulsors; he was too busy trying to wrap his head around the thought of ohholyshiti'mfallinghelpi'mgoingtodie.

"Mr. Stark!" JARVIS snapped, more harshly than Tony would usually allow. "Your heart rate has increased to dangerous levels for your condition, and we are swiftly losing altitude. If you are incapable of using the suit, I will have to switch it to auto-pilot."

Tony closed his eyes, quivering. "Do it," he mumbled weakly. Attempting to throw off the fear curling around him was proving useless at the moment.

(( "And I'll simply bring in Lo-"
-cups hands over his mouth- no sh. Phoenix, you might have to do that. ))


A look of smug pride crossed instantly over the Nightmare King's face, as he lunged to stand on the edge of the roof, to gaze downwards at Tony.

His thin-build body straightened in power, and he gave a loud laugh.
He had soon regained his old composure, but a sudden hunger for fear burned hot in his stomach as he tasted Tony's horror in the back of his throat.

The leftover sand from the arrow shifted rapidly into the shape of the mare again, and Pitch mounted quickly, gazing downward.

"And here, I hoped for a better match..."

((Bruce can keep Tony distracted with sparkly science stuff as well. This is seeming like a good idea.))

JARVIS took over. Manipulating the suit, the AI directed Tony back upwards, safely away from the ground. Meanwhile, it kept track of Tony carefully, and when it seemed that he was still trapped in his own mind, JARVIS decided to intervene further.

"Sir, I am going to contact Miss. Potts and have her speak to you. She may be able to calm you so you can concentrate. Is that alright?"

As the only reply JARVIS received was a vague affirmation, it went ahead and dialled Pepper's mobile. Meanwhile, it also moved throughout the sky, setting a punishing pace and path for Pitch to keep up with.

(( yeah that might work. Hulk prolly should go smash on Pitch, too. It'd do him good.
"What're you-"
SH, NOSEBERG. ))


Now, what a show!
It seemed Tony had recovered quickly enough, even though there was some sense of sudden difference about this. He was still being fed fear.

Was the man fleeing?


The thought filled the fearlings inside of Pitch with a desire for a hunt. Their hunt.

The Nightmare gave a screaming whinny and turned on a dime, galloping to the other edge of the building and leaping off.
Pitch leaned into her black neck, eyes locked on the flashy red suit as his dark steed bounded effortlessly through the air, sprinting to try and gain ground on the iron clad man.

Tony barely gave Pepper time to greet him before he gasped out her name. She paused. Tony was impatient, but he never sounded desperate.

"Tony?"

"Mr. Stark requires comfort," JARVIS chimed in. "If you wouldn't mind, Miss. Potts, please do your best to reassure him."

"I can't- Pepper, I was falling. I was gonna die, I couldn't-"

"Tony, shut up," she said firmly. Tony snapped his mouth shut. "You're okay, I promise. You'll be fine. You've got JARVIS, he won't let anything happen to you."

She was right, as always, but Tony was still reluctant to take control. He swallowed nervously, remaining silent.

(( You go Pepper. ))

Bloody coward-faced rat..!

Pitch was well getting tired of his game of chase, and he didn't let that go unknown.
Straightening and dropping the reins, he again seemed to fashion an arrow from Nightmare Sand, aiming it delicately toward the suit.

"Come now, Stark, you cannot run from fear!"

Another release of the arrow, the man gave an airy laugh.
Mortals were oh too fun.

((Pepper is a BAMF.))

JARVIS rolled to escape this one. This seemed to knock Tony out of the remainder of his fear-induced daze; he shook himself and flexed his fingers inside the gloves. They didn't move, of course, as JARVIS was in control, but the AI recognised it for what it was.

Tony Stark was back.

"Pepper, remind me to worship you when I see you next. You are a Goddess among humans."

"Don't think I'll forget that," she warned. "Go on, go do whatever it is you have to. Look after him, JARVIS."

"Naturally, Miss. Potts."

The call ended and JARVIS retreated. Tony slammed on the brakes, slowing to a hover by throwing his hands out in front of him.

(( Yeah she is. C: ))

Of course, Pitch had not seen a complete halt coming.
In an almost comical range of events, Onyx slammed on her own breaks, putting her head down and literally throwing Pitch from her back in the effort.

The Boogeyman catapulted over Tony and tumbled through the air, along with a string of curses, before catching himself on a cloud of Nightmare Sand that he managed to form below him.
Standing and shooting a glower up to Tony, he hissed in anger, cursing in every language he knew.

Tony couldn't help it: he laughed. He felt some of his lingering anxiety melting away at his merriment.

"How you doing?" he called, sniggering. Tony tried to stifle his giggles so he wouldn't end up accidentally rolling forwards; that would only make matters worse, as he'd end up falling - again.

(( fucking horses. ))


"Just fucking fine," Pitch spat up to the suited man, his golden eyes sharp with anger.

Onyx melted within the air and reappeared below him, though he seemed much less excited about riding her again; fucking animal couldn't even swerve away! He'd have to work with her on stuff of the sort; again.
"You think you're so high and mighty? And yet you were the one who nearly died!"

(( http://media.tumblr.com/fc1f0ebb3093e3cf7533e87e62fdd096/tumblr_inline_mlen3dkZ0s1qz4rgp.gif ))

"It wouldn't be the first time." Tony rolled his eyes. "I've almost died more times than I can care to remember."