Even the most patient people have their tipping points. Tony going back on his word - and his kiss - was Pepper's. After she leaves Stark Industries for good, just how far is the Man of Iron willing to go to get her back?

This will be a multi-chap. AU.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Tony Stark felt like an asshole.

Not that that was anything new, really. In fact, he was quite used to the feeling. He might have even gone as far as to say if he didn't feel like an asshole, he didn't quite feel like himself. But this...this was a new sort of self-loathing. And for a good reason.

Usually Tony didn't get too caught up in how he treated women. He would wine them and dine them if they wanted, but what happened at the end of the night was ultimately always his primary objective. After that was achieved...he didn't really care what happened to them. That's what he had staff for. They escorted the girl out and away, and Tony ignored their calls for a while, and eventually they got the hint.

But this...this wasn't just any girl he had hurt this time. It was Pepper. His Pepper. His Pepper who was always there, and never not, and always took care of him. His Pepper who was never just any girl to him, no matter how he flirted with her. His Pepper who had seen him at his best and standing on a pedestal, and at his worst and turning blue from a bad combination of drugs and alcohol. She stood by him. She never left his side once.

Until now.

Not that Tony could really blame her. He had outdone himself. He led her on, and then he broke her heart. He kicked himself every day for that too. But the fact of it was that he knew that the second he actually got together with Pepper...everything was going to change. He would be, in essence, settling down. Or at least as far as he was concerned. Monogamy alone would be new. He had done what he had done because he wanted to put off their relationship until later. Not postpone it all together. He kept running it over and over in his head...

Tony rapped lightly on her office door the next morning. He listened to her light, cheerful voice tell him to come in, and then he paused. She sounded so happy. But his mind was made up. He took a deep breath and wrapped his hand securely around the sleek metal handle, opening the door.

"Tony," Pepper's face broke into a dazzling smile when she laid eyes on him. "Hey."

"Hey, Pep," Tony rubbed the back of his head."Listen...I've been doing some thinking."

Something in Pepper's face steeled itself. She didn't like the way this sounded. She crossed her legs and her arms. "Okay..."

"That...kiss...last night..I know you said it wasn't weird but...it was, you know? It was a mistake." Tony accidentally looked into her eyes.

Bad idea.

Pepper's blue eyes were already clouded over with obvious hurt and sadness. She swallowed and looked away.

"I don't think we should make anything of it," Tony continued. "I mean I know you...feel that way...but I just...don't." He shrugged, like it meant nothing to him. He didn't look at her eyes again.

Pepper tapped her index finger lightly on her desk, processing. Finally, she nodded once, and turned back to her computer, resuming typing. Her posture had gone ramrod straight. She seemed intent in her work. The wall of professionalism that he had spent years breaking down was back up, just like that. "Will that be all, Mr. Stark?" she asked after a moment when he was still standing there.

Tony nodded. "That will be all, Ms. Potts," he replied, doing his best to sound nonchalant. He watched her type furiously for a moment more, and then left, shutting the door softly behind him.

The next few days hadn't gone well after that. She stayed on, kept him running on time, got him to sign paperwork, but he didn't see her at all. She kept her distance - actually operating within the realms of a real PA (she wanted her old job back after the job of CEO had practically killed her). He got brief, business like texts and emails from her. A couple of times she got JARVIS to remind of things.

But Tony was left on his own for things like meals and entertainment. Pepper used to take care of those things for him too. He didn't realize what a large part of his life she had actually become until he was already pushing her away.

Which is what got Tony here, staring at his computer screen, rereading her letter for the thousandth time. He practically had her words memorized.

Dear Mr. Stark,

It is my regretful duty to inform you that I am offically resigning from Stark Industries, effective immediately. While you and your company have been very kind to me over the decade that I have worked there, I believe it is time for me to expand my professional horizons.

I have already arranged for another woman to replace me, in lieu of my being there. She is a professional, energetic, well-organized woman named Susan. I believe she is a better fit at this time for the companies needs, and I am certain that you two will get along very well.

I have already cleaned out my office; any and all of my personal belongings have been removed, and I have scanned in all technology and equipment belonging to Stark Industries. If there is any problem in this aspect, send me an email, and I will come back up to sort it out.

Thank you very much for all the opportunities that your company has provided me with over the years, along with a wealth of invaluable experience. I have grown fond of watching the company adapt and shift to the changing times, and I am certain it will continue to do this in my absence.

Best of luck to you, both personally and professionally - although I am sure this is not needed.

Sincerely,

Virginia Potts

To say it felt like a slap in the face to Tony would have been an understatement. He knew that if anyone else was reading it, they would think it was a great resignation letter. It was well thought out but concise, nice but professional, it complimented the company and cemented that she was leaving. All at once. But as it stood, he wasn't anyone else. And when Tony read it, he missed the warmth that he could usually even find in her words.

It didn't sound like his Pepper. It sounded like a mock-up of his Pepper.

Tony stood slowly and drained the rest of the scotch in his glass and then made his way to the elevator. He had to see for himself. He pressed the button for the floor her office was on, and impatiently waited for the car to take him up.

Tony found himself grasping the smooth metal handle, just as he had that day. It occurred to him somewhere that that might have been the last time he saw her. He tried to remember what she was wearing. How her hair was fixed. But he couldn't.

Tony turned it and stepped inside slowly, not wanting to believe what he saw. Pepper didn't lie in her letter. Everything was gone.

He had spent enough time in that room over the last ten years that Pepper had worked there that Tony knew where everything was - well, where everything used to be. The light blue walls had a slightly larger patch on the left wall where she had a print of Monet's Water Lilies hanging. She had a bedazzled green pencil cup on her desk (which she always passionately attested was a gift from a dear friend). Her blazer usually hung over the back of her desk chair casually as she typed. She had a picture of them on her desk - a couple of them, actually. One from the early years, one from somewhere in between one that was post-him becoming Iron Man. They were always lined up and the glass was lint free...

And now it was all gone.

Tony took a deep breath as he took in all that was left: an industrial book case, a long desk, a computer, and a rolling chair.

Not one thing was left of Pepper, and it was all Tony's fault.

Tony walked over and sat in the chair, feeling more alone than ever.

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