I know what you're thinking. Why am I starting yet another fic? Especially when it takes me forever to update the ones I have already up? The answer is simple: you can blame my too creative and obsessive brain, and Starkind for all the cheering and just being generally awesome after I mentioned this plot bunny. Seriously, if it wasn't for Starkind and her constant support, you wouldn't be seeing this any time soon.

So, yeah. Any comments or constructive criticism are more than welcome and very much appreciated. Enjoy!

I don't owe The Dark Knight trilogy, Iron Man or any of its characters, sadly.

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Chapter I: Arguing Pepper.

"Yeah, no."

Pepper Potts sighed one more time, looking away from her boss as she took a moment to regain her composure.

Looking back at him, she had to remind herself yet again she was here because she actually liked Tony, and wanted him to stay alive. It was very hard to remember that when he acted like this. Not to mention she had him to blame for her constant headaches. And she could already feel another one coming. "Tony-"

"I'm a big guy, Pep. I escaped from that god forsaken cave by myself and got help, didn't I? So, I don't need some over-muscled brainless macho following me around like a lost puppy. And that's the end of that." Tony dismissed without even taking his eyes away from his STARK pad.

"This isn't a game, Tony. The threats are getting more serious every time."

The firm tone in her voice made Tony lift his eyes to look at her. "You shouldn't worry too much, Pep. They had the chance to kill me and they blew it. Now they're just trying to intimidate me because their endless supply of weapons is about to be cut off." Pepper gave him a dubious look. "The reason behind the threats may be new, but this isn't even my first time, you know. They'll get bored with the whole "We're going to dismember you, limb by limb and put your head on a stick" at some point. Trust me.

"Besides, you have to admit some of those threats were pretty creative."

Pepper pinned Tony down with a hard glare, hands clenching tightly around the arms of her chair. "Stop that. Just- stop."

Tony opened his mouth to talk, but stopped at the sight of her quivering form. At this point he wasn't sure if it was anger or something else entirely what made her react that way.

"Do you think this is funny? That there's nothing wrong with the fact there are people out there that want you dead!? You were shot at just four days ago," Pepper reminded him. "You may have been uninjured, but Happy was shot. Do you find that funny?"

Tony averted his gaze, brow furrowed slightly as he glared down at his desk. Happy's injury hadn't been serious; just a shot to the shoulder, through-and-through. His life hadn't been in danger at any moment, but that didn't change the fact that that bullet had been meant for him.

"Security has intercepted half a dozen people that had somehow managed to infiltrate the company. That's without mentioning the several hacking attempts that have been thwarted." Pepper stopped to take a breath, gaze never leaving Tony's face. "You know I support your decision to change the direction of the company. It may be insane, but I do. But you need to start treating this seriously, Tony. For once in your life, you need to act like a damn adult."

"Do you want me to act like an adult? Fine! As an adult, I can tell you there isn't a damn thing I can do to stop this. Unless you want me to keep giving them the tools to kill people, in which case we should do another press conference and give them our number so we can negotiate a better deal."

"That's not what I mean and you know it." Pepper's furrowed brow relaxed as she sighed softly. "I told you before I'm with you on this, but I need you to try to understand what I'm telling you."

Tony leaned back in his chair, fingers tightening around his STARK pad. "Do you think I don't understand? I do. Perfectly. I understand this so well that I know locking myself at home, or curling into a ball on the floor and cry isn't going to help me. Just like neither would a bodyguard."

"You don't know-"

"I damn well do! It's my life on the line here. I think that gives me the right to decide what to do, and I don't need or want a damn bodyguard." That wasn't enough; he could already see the protest forming on her lips. "Or what? You think that just because you're going to put at risk the life of someone you don't know that makes it okay?"

The words made Pepper flinch, just like Tony had intended, but she didn't backdown. Without saying a word, she met his gaze steadily; assessing blue eyes meeting hard brown ones.

It was Tony who looked away first. The movement was seemingly casual, but Pepper knew better. She would have stopped working for Tony Stark within days of starting if she hadn't found out there was more to him than what he showed the world. Even more than what he believed of himself.

"It wasn't a request. I already got in touch with a security company and they've assigned you a security detail. You're meeting with your personal bodyguard tomorrow."

Tony blinked, watching Pepper reach for her smartphone on the desk before rising from the chair. "You do know I'm the boss, right?"

Pepper stopped at the door, hand on the knob. She took a deep breath, whispering without turning around, "You may not care if you get hurt- or killed, but there are people who do."

She left without another word, leaving Tony to blink at the closed door of his office.

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a/n: So, what do you think? Would you guys be interested in reading any more of this little fic? Let me know! Some of you may wonder why Iron Man would need a bodyguard, and the answer is, he isn't Iron Man yet, and wouldn't be for a little while. In this AU, Tony will work in creating the suit, but his main concern will be the company, contrary to what happened in IM, so the suit wouldn't be done quite so fast.

This is going to be kind of a series of snapshots of different moments between them rather than a serialized story. They would be posted in order and the fic as a whole will have some plot, just, the chapters wouldn't be continuous if that makes any sense. Anyway, Bruce will be making an appearance in the next chapter, naturally, and I can tell you right now the meeting between these two isn't going to be pretty. So wait for it!

As all of my fics, this is unbetaed and I'm not native speaker, so please feel free to point out any mistakes.

The title was taken from the song "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay.