A/N: So, this just kind of popped into my brain. I'm thinking that it will be multi-chapter, but let me know what you think. Read and review please, ideas and criticism are always welcome.

The fist slamming into her cheek forced a sob out of her throat. At the sound of her sob, Pepper's ex-boyfriend, Kyle, slapped her again. Blood dripped into her eyes from where Kyle's ring had cut into her forehead when he punched her. Thinking back to the self-defense moves Natasha had taught her, Pepper brought her knee up, catching Kyle in the stomach, missing his groin because of his position as he hovered over her.

Kyle growled in anger, but the kick had to desired effect and Kyle loosened his grip on her wrists enough that Pepper could free one hand, using it to send a punch to his face, terror adding strength to the hit and making a satisfying crunch. Kyle roared in anger and Pepper was able to throw herself to her feet, getting up quickly and locking herself in her bedroom as she grabbed for the phone beside her bed. Dialing 911, she put the phone to her ear, cursing and sobbing when the operator said all the lines were busy. Pepper hit the speed dial number one and prayed for an answer. "Hey, baby, what's up?"

Pepper sobbed as Kyle started banging on the door. "Open up, Ginny, I just want to talk."

It took all Pepper had not to start screaming as the door rattled on the hinges. "Tony, you need to help me, he's crazy! Help!"

The door was busted open and Kyle towered in front of her, his wide frame filling the doorway. "I told you to open the door, Ginny. You know I get angry when you don't listen to me."

Pepper screamed and Kyle was next to her in the next heartbeat, ripping the phone from her grasp as he heard Tony calling her name on the other end and pegging it to the other side of the room where it shattered against the wall. Yanking her by her hair, Kyle threw Pepper into the opposite wall making her scream again, this time in pain, as there was a sickly snap and the wrist she had used to try to brace herself began to throb and stabbing pains were sent up her arm. Sinking to the floor, Pepper took a kick to the stomach so hard that she thought she might vomit.

Kyle towered over her, anger and violence in his dark eyes. "You never listened to me, Ginny? Why is that? Were you too busy thinking about that stupid shit they call Tony Stark? Were you cheating on my, Ginny? Cheating on me with that dumb son of a bitch?"

Pepper couldn't take it anymore, staring at him with a fire in her eyes. "He is ten times the man you'll ever be. In more ways than one."

Kyle shouted in rage and sent another kick to her abdomen, another snap sounding and Pepper sobbed. Kyle leaned down, getting into her face. "Maybe I need to show you just how wrong you are."

Leaning back slightly, Kyle punched Pepper again, seemingly just for kicks, and began to loosen his belt. Terror clouded Pepper's thoughts and she tried to scoot away from him, but Kyle stopped her movement with another kick, this one to the head, making black dots dance across her vision, but Pepper was nothing if not determined, and she brought her leg up for a kick of her own, hitting the correct spot this time, her high-heeled foot connecting with his crotch, making him grab for the aforementioned area as he fell to his knees. Pepper used her good hand to get herself to her feet, making a run for the living room in her apartment.

A hand wrapped around her ankle, causing her to fall to the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of her. Pepper gasped for breath as she was rolled over, Kyle's furious face coming into her line of vision. Kyle straddled her, his hands wrapping around her neck. "You shouldn't have done that, Ginny. Now I have to punish you."

Pepper's air was cut off further and she choked, using her unbroken hand to push at his face in a wild attempt to get him off her, but it was no use. The world went grey around the edges and Pepper was on the edge of oblivion when she heard the familiar sound of one of the thrusters on Tony's suits powering up. Pepper turned her head as far as it would go and got a brief glimpse of Iron Man before her face was yanked back into its former position with Kyle being the only thing she could see. A moment later, Kyle's weight was gone and there was air in her lungs, beautiful, life-giving air.

The blackness that she had previously longed for faded and Pepper could see Kyle in a crumpled heap on the floor. There was the whirring of machinery and then Tony's hands were on her, helping her off the place on the floor and pulling her to him. Pepper's control dissolved and she was soon a sobbing heap in Tony's arms. The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was Tony's reassuring words in her ear, telling her that she was fine because he was there, just like he always would be.