marienomad

Fandom: Iron Man
Genre: Angst, Drama
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Marvel Comics. This takes place after IM2. Thanks to nani1986 and arcanelegacy for the help.
Title: Because She Loves Him
Author: Marie Nomad
Summary: Pepper Potts loves Tony. She loves him so much that she's willing to break his heart just to save him.
Word Length: 750 words

Tears pooled in her eyes as she typed. Pepper loved Tony. That much was true. She loved his smile, his charm, how he was able to make people like him and yet still act like a jerk. He had grown over the past year from his trials and his triumphs. He had gone from a narcissistic playboy who worked hard and played even harder to a more mature playboy who wanted to save the world.

When they first became a couple, he swore off drinking and vowed to do right by her. He trusted her, talked to her about stuff. He became more attentive at meetings and even stopped being so fashionably late. She wanted to stay with him forever.

Gradually, the stress and strain of leading two lives started to get to him. He had to deal with other superheroes with real superpowers, military heroes, living legends long thought dead and even actual gods. Tony never said it out loud but he envied them. They had real super powers, they were more respected than he ever was.

Pepper tried to tell him that people did respect him and his intelligence. He wouldn't listen. At first, he needed a drink in the evening to get himself to sleep. Then, he needed a drink to get him started in the morning. After that, he needed a drink in the afternoon to keep going. Finally, he took a drink just before battle to 'fortify his nerves'.

She tried so hard to get him to stop. Earlier that day, she and Rhodey had to save Tony from a group of terrorists that shouldn't have given him any problems. They didn't have any special weapons or anything that the suit could not handle. The man within the suit just could not fight a simple battle.

She printed the document and folded the paper in an envelope. She started to cry. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to do this at all. She wanted to protect him but this was the only way to save his life. It was a gamble. If this would make him hate her, but open his eyes then it would be worth it.

Her heels clicked loudly on the floor as her heart pounded in her chest. All she wanted to do was throw away the paper. But she had to do it, because she loved him.

The closer she walked to the office, the more her stomach turned and her skin sweat. Her body was ordering her to just stop and go back. But she wouldn't, because she loved him.

Finally, after an eternity, she opened the door and saw Tony looking dazed. He had a glass of Scotch in his hand. "Hey, Peps, what's up?" he asked, trying to sound as sober as possible. But he couldn't fool her.

"Tony, please stop this."

"Stop what?"

"That. Please, stop. Get some help, please," Pepper pleaded as her throat tightened and her body shook.

"Why?"

"Why? WHY? YOU NEARLY DIED!" Pepper couldn't take her eyes off of the bandage on his head or the bruises on his hands.

Tony gazed at his glass as he swished the ice cubes around. "It's just part of the lifestyle."

"I just can't watch you throw your life away like this!" Pepper's voice hitched. "I can't let you go into battle so plastered that JARVIS had to fly you there! I can't keep on making sure that you don't accidentally blow up the wrong building because you were too drunk to care! I can't do this anymore! Please, don't make me quit. Don't make me leave. Just stop drinking. Please."

Tony glanced at her and then at the glass. "I'm sorry." He took the scotch and gulped it down. He took a deep breath and looked relaxed, almost pleased.

"So am I." Pepper put her letter of resignation on the desk. "I love you. Goodbye." She turned around smoothly and marched out. As she slowly walked through the hallways, she waited for Tony to call out for her. She waited for Tony to start begging for her to come back. She waited for him to change his mind. But nothing happened so she kept on walking away from the man that she loved.

Every day after that, a piece of her heart waited for the day when he would call out for her. A part of her will keep on waiting for him because she will always love him.

The End