A/N: based on the song "The Man That Can't Be Moved" by The Script. It's a good song.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel characters.
Tony Stark had really done it now. He had went on a mission. He had taken a stupid risk. The only reason he was alive was because Rhodey had come to his aid in the War Machine suit. Tony made him promise not to tell Pepper anything. She would kill him. But, of course, he didn't have to worry about Rhodey telling. Because Coulson was the one that spilled.
Pepper knew something had happened on that mission. Usually Tony gushed about how he had been so heroic. But he hadn't said a word about it yet. Finally she confronted him.
"Tony, what happened?" she asked. They were on a date at a fancy restaurant.
"What do you mean? Nothing happened," Tony told her. He avoided her eyes.
"Don't lie to me," she said.
"I'm not. I promise. Now, how about some champagne?" Tony asked her smiling. Pepper let it slide. For now.
"I need you to tell what happened on that mission," Pepper sat before Natasha Romanoff. The two had become friends even through everything they'd been through.
"How about I have Coulson tell you? He's got higher security clearance than me," Natasha suggested. Pepper nodded her agreement. Natasha left and only minutes later Agent Phil Coulson entered.
"I'm surprised he didn't tell you what went on," Coulson said.
"Well Tony doesn't exactly like telling me important things," Pepper told him. He nodded. He knew.
"I think it's better to let you watch," he said. He clicked a button on a remote and the TV started playing. Pepper watched in horror as Tony, in his Iron Man suit, was held still by two horrifyingly large and flying creatures. One of them ripped off his mask. Tony's face showed pure adrenaline and he looked like he was having the time of his life. But Pepper knew better. She saw the terror in his eyes. One of the creatures pulled out a needle filled with a blue liquid. It was literally an inch away from Tony's face when two tiny missiles appeared and killed both creatures. The War Machine appeared on the screen. He grabbed Tony and the two flew off into the distance. The screen went black.
"SHIELD agents went to get the needle. We've been running tests on it. It would have killed him the minute it got into his bloodstream," Coulson told her. Pepper forced a smile.
"Thank you," she said and walked away.
All the way home she debated what to do. Finally she made a decision. She marched down to Tony's lab and unlocked it. He was sitting around tinkering with something. He smiled when he saw her.
"Ah, my beautiful secretary! What do you want today?" he greeted her.
"You almost died and you wanted to hide it from me?" she asked. Tony's face immediately went solemn.
"I didn't want you to worry," he said.
"What if they came back? What if there were more of them? Did you think of that?" Pepper asked.
"Yeah. And me and Rhodey could have taken care of them. It's no big deal Pepper," Tony said.
"No big deal? Are you serious? Tony, I'm tired of you doing these stunts. This is going too far. I'm tired of worrying about you constantly. I quit. I'm serious. I quit," she said. Tony stared at her.
"Pepper wait! Pepper! Hey come on now! I'm sorry okay! Pepper!" he called after her. But she was already in the elevator. He followed her and as soon as he could got on the elevator and followed her. She couldn't be gone. He waited outside their door. She came marching out with her bags in hand.
"Goodbye Tony," she said and marched out.
"Please Pepper!" he called. She ignored him. He watched her go. He felt helpless. She was gone for real this time.
Pepper felt like crying. She threw her bags into a cab and gave it the one address she could think of. The café where she'd first seen Tony Stark. She dragged her stuff in behind her. She sat down at the same booth she had sat in when she saw him. She watched people pass by. She wasn't surprised when Rhodey came walking in. He slid into the seat across from her.
"He's sorry Pepper," he said.
"Then maybe he should find it in him to tell me when he almost dies," she said coldly.
"He called me. He was crying Pepper. Crying. And he begged me to talk to you. He knew this is where you'd be. He said this is where you first saw each other. He said this is where he first decided you were the most beautiful women he had met. And trust me he's met a lot of beautiful women," Rhodey told her.
"I'm not going back. I don't care if he comes in and offers me all his money. I'm not going back," Pepper said.
"All right. Whatever you say. But remember he's going to fall apart without you," Rhodey said and left. Pepper broke down and cried. Then she pulled out her laptop. Ignoring the emails she was getting from Tony, she bought a one way ticket to St Louis, Missouri. She could start over. Without Tony. Because she didn't need him. She cried. And cried. And cried. In four hours she would be away from here. Where everything reminded her of the man she loved.
A/N: there's more I promise. But oh my gosh I'm seriously crying right now. Please review!