The bags were thrown off the stairs in a huge mess, regardless of what they contained. A fear was in the air, a fear and pain that only one could feel. This was radiating off Tony Stark as he threw everything over the stair rail of his house. Anything and everything that belonged to Pepper. He tried to ignore Pepper yelling at him frantically, trying to get some sense into him, but Tony's sense had been made up. It shattered him at the very least, but there was nothing he could do.

"Please Tony," Pepper begged "We can sort this out, you don't have to do this".

Tony continued in a rush, his mind flashing before him. Nothing was more important at this point of time than Pepper's safety, even if that included her being a million miles away. She had to realize this was the way it had to be. This city wasn't safe for any of them anymore and he refused her to be caught in this nightmare.

"Theres nothing to sort out," he shouted as she grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around "Im not having you become like them"

He was now panting in frustration, breaking at the pain in Pepper's eyes, eyes lined with nights of tears and no sleep. She didn't deserve this pain, she didn't deserve this life.

"Tony, you can't send me away" tears were breaking into Pepper's eyes.

The tears shoved into Tony's heart, but he knew this was all for the right reasons. He grabbed the last shard of her clothing that still contained her scent before running down the stairs, her voice echoing around the room.

"You're not making this any easier for me Pepper".

"You're not thinking rationally thats why".

At the bottom Tony threw the clothes on the ground and stood right up in her face, their eyes locked together.

"This is dangerous Pepper, you have no idea how dangerous," Tony strained, trying to keep himself composed, but coming out bluntly "Do you think if there was any other way I wouldn't do that instead? Honey," his hand lightly stroking her cheek "I can't live without you!".

"Then don't send me away".

He couldn't say he didn't contemplate it. He did. Every night, racking his brains to maybe there was a way he could keep her by his side without a threat, but that was impossible. She was his hugest risk and her welfare always clouded over his selfish thoughts.

"You'll be much safer".

His eyes drifted behind Pepper as he saw Happy enter the room, his face serious or at least he was showing that facade. On top of Pepper's safety he also had Happy in his thoughts. The plan was Happy and Pepper leaveing together, he could protect her, as long as they were away from the harm. He trusted Happy with her complete safety. He bugged him that it wouldn't be his safety, but it was enough.

"You can't do this to me Tony!" she screamed hitting Tony's chest in frustration "YOU ARENT THINKING AT ALL ABOUT HAPPY AND I, ITS ALL YOURSELF! DO YOU THINK IM SO INCAPABLE OF PROTECTING MYSELF?"

It was as if fire flamed in her eyes, against her ginger hair revealing a wild, determined side of her. The fiery willpower that had bugged Tony about his choice.

He cupped her face and rested his forehead against hers.

"The car's ready for Miss Potts, Mr. Stark" Happy said lowly.

"You'll be safe Pepper please," Tony whispered "Maybe in time we'll find each other again. I know we will".

"Tell me its a dream Tony, just wake me up".

Tony refused to cry "Happy will keep you safe, I will keep you safe" he looked up at Happy and walked over to him "Protect my girl, never let her leave your sight" he croaked giving Happy a huge hug.

Happy hugged tightly back "With my life Tony".

He patted his back and watched as Happy gathered Pepper's gear and took it to the car. His life was falling apart around him. He was losing everyone he cared about or loved, but there was one more thing.

"Jarvis," Tony said, looking around the room "Follow them all the way".

"As you wish sir".

It was something he'd made up. It had scared him. His suits, his protection, Dum-E even, would be going with them. He'd had nothing but himself and his nightmares.

"You're giving everything Tony, you're exposed" Pepper croaked, watching as two of Tony's suits walked up to them. One was Heartbreaker, the other a threatening looking machine.

Tony completely ignored her "Jarvis, protect them with everything".

"Of course sir".

Tony walked over to Pepper pulling her close "Just stay alive for me" he whispered.

Pepper closed her eyes nodding. He hated feeling her pain. He had never expected something like this to happen where all his strength had to leave him.

"Be safe okay honey?," she said, tears escaping into her voice "YOU keep alive for me. I love you too much to let you go".

"I love you to Pepper" he whispered, pulling her into their last kiss. The bliss she gave him, the strength.

He didn't want it to end and it wouldn't have a Pepper didn't pull slightly away. She was now a tearful wreak that looked nothing like a strong woman he knew and loved.

"You know I will".

Pepper squeezed his hand tightly, before turning away and exciting the room in sobs enough to break the most hardest of hearts. He saw the rest of his suits fly past the window as the sound of a motor started and slowly got more distant.

From now he couldn't contact them, couldn't call his suits to his aid, couldn't tell Pepper goodnight. This was now his life. He broke down on the floor and huddled into himself.

"Sir?"

"Jarvis what are you still doing here" Tony barked in fright.

"I've left you some things up stairs you may need, I couldn't just let you go on your own".

Tony actually started to cry, he couldn't tell if relief or pain "Thank you Jarvis, now go, you've been a best friend".

"Pleasure to serve you sir" And with that everything went quite and Tony indeed knew he was alone and vunerable. His life was empty and from now on his life would be on run. Everyone was after him. Everyone wanted him dead and sending Happy and Pepper to a whole new side of the country hopefully would keep them safe enough, but as for him, sitting alone in the big room of a life he'd once lived, his life was a ticking timebomb. He'd have to fight to survive, have to hunt, have to live a life of security from something he hardly knew anything about. The threats he had been getting from everywhere, they were telling him something wasn't right and more and more were becoming against him, but why?

He lay huddled on the ground, not wanting to leave or move. Everyone was in danger. This was serious.

He forced himself up and touched his arc reactor. But he was Iron Man, hunted. And a whole new story and adventure was about to be uncovered. Whether that killed him or not.