Disclaimer: Iron Man is owned by Marvel and Disney
Off Limits
Acts against him come with his lifestyle, but Pepper Potts is strictly off limits.
In the beginning, he treats her like every other attractive female in his employment, that they'll eventually screw him. It takes about a few weeks to break him of this thought process, mostly. She manages to somewhat convince him she more interested in doing her job than him, though it doesn't stop him from flirting with her.
Everyone else is much harder to convince.
The interviewers question him, "joking" with him about how long it will be before she falls into bed with him. In the beginning he joins right along, confident that she'll fall for him, after all, who wouldn't? She's just playing hard to get.
With in a month, his demeanor has changed. Its small things she doubts anyone really notices. When they question him on her he visibly becomes uncomfortable, he knows where its headed and shifts slightly in his chair; his whole body seems to turn on the defensive. He's plastered on a fake smile brushing off the fact that she wont sleep with him, because apparently she would rather work and shakes his head as if he can't understand, then he leads the man off on another topic away from her.
Six months later he's far more vocal about his opinion with a man who wont fall for his trick.
"Don't talk about her like that." He snaps suddenly, his voice cold.
The man blinks at him in a moment of confusion, "I'm—I'm sorry?" he questions, visibly uncomfortable with the death glare he is now receiving.
"Don't talk about her like that, she works hard," he pauses for a moment to sip his scotch, while the man in front of him flounders. "In fact," Tony continues as he cradles the glass. "I think you owe her an apology."
The interviewer looks off on the side where Pepper is standing, several feet behind her boss off camera, looking just as confused as he is.
"uh," he stammers for a moment "I'm sorry Pe-"
"Miss Potts," Tony interrupts. The man turns to him, looking like a frightened animal. Pepper moves closer, assuming he is requesting her presence and at the sound of her stilettos he holds up a hand, signaling her to stop. "You don't get to call her Pepper."
The man swallows thickly, and then locks his eyes on her from across the floor "I'm sorry Miss Potts."
The interview is tense after that but he talks about her no more.
Two years later, he punches a man for some lewd comments about her at the opening of new hospital Stark Industries funded and they are evicted from the building.
She's furious with him while he's hardly apologetic as he holds an ice pack to his hand. "That was for an important PR stunt Tony, more bad press was the last thing we needed!"
"You're my assistant Pepper, no one gets to talk about you like that." Tony states, entirely engrossed in his hand. Pepper sighs and shakes her head in repose but she can't help the small smile.
After this event no one says a word on her spreading her legs for him. But ten years later once the start dating, the rumors fly again.
The press is rabid; while some support the relationship, others rip them apart. They talk venomously about a relationship they know nothing of, insisting it had only been a matter of time before she fell to his charm; insisting that she's stupid and the relationship wont last.
Now, Tony's back on the defense much to Pepper's cringe. This time it's different though, no one will say anything directly to him, they have learned over the years that he is very protective of her. Those that he does learn about are shown no mercy, and slink away with their tail between their legs.
The world slowly learns that Pepper Potts is off limits.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed. Reviews are loved!
