So this was inspired by the amazing Iron Man 3 trailer! I was so blown away by the intesity of it all, so I couldn't help myself :)
'I have a lot of apologies to make…'
He felt responsible, he felt anguished over the fate of the thousands of people who fell at the hands of Loki. Each and every day his mind fought an everlasting battle. He felt responsible for the pain which he put Pepper through, responsible for the many thousands of lives which fell at the hands of Stark Industries. He may have changed and become a hero, but the internal struggle never ceased, it never eased up, now, more than ever, he hated himself. 'The merchant of death' He was so arrogant before, and now it had finally caught up with him.
'I can't sleep, and when I do I have nightmares…'
Seldom did he wake from his slumber with a clear mind or conscience, she knew this. She knew how hard he worked to push down the guilt and disgust he felt. She knew because she was there, every night when he woke in a cold sweat, screaming and thrashing. She knew because she cried when he couldn't see her, because watching him suffer killed her inside.
'Honestly, there are at least a hundred people who want me dead…'
He bowed his head in defeat; he had made enemies, hundreds of them in a few short years. Sure, he had enemies before, as the industrialist weaponeer. But this was different. This time the enemies wanted his life, not just his company or power. They wanted to see him fall. She would never let them, because Pepper Potts needed Tony Stark, and he needed her more than she could ever know.
He knew the time would come when his stupidity, his revelation of being Iron Man would come around and hit him when he was least expecting it. They would come after those he loved, and in the recent years that was the only thing that mattered to him.
'I just hope that I can protect the one thing I can't live without…'
Pepper, the woman who stood by him through his darkest hours. The woman who single-handedly brought his life back from the darkness simply by believing in him. She believed in him. When he was dying in the cave, her voice echoed through his mind. He realised then that she was the reason he needed to make it back home.
The next day he and Yinsen began developing the Iron Man armour, after that he vowed to take back the destruction he reaped on the world. He became Iron Man. He would protect the world for her; he would fight until his dying breath for her.
'Lesson number one, Heroes, they don't exist…'
Maybe he was right…but Tony would prove him wrong, after all, that's what heroes did. They beat the bad guy and they saved the day, and today would be no different. He owed it to the world, he owed it to himself.
'I am Iron Man'
Please let me know what you lovely folks thought of this, I would love some feedback! Whether it be about this piece or just to fangirl/fanboy with me about IM3 haha!