First, I'd like to summarize this one cuz there's a little explaining to do.

Summary: Pepper reflects on how Gene had hurt her when he had betrayed her and her friends and she realizes a few things along the way. Songfic.

Song-According To You by Oranthi

According to you I'm stupid, I'm useless
I can't do anything right
According to you I'm difficult, hard to please
Forever changing my mind
I'm a mess in a dress, can't show up on time
Even if it would save my life
According to you, according to you

Pepper thought as the cab drove on in silence down the streets of the city, winding its way towards Tony's mysterious meeting spot. She thought of their previous conversation about Gene and how he had betrayed them and hurt them all. Pepper thought about all the times it had just been her and Gene, hanging out, having a good time.

A good time, up until Pepper would make a small mistake and Gene would talk down to her.

Flashback!

"But I just don't know. I don't want Tony to find the last ring. The last few have been so dangerous, I don't want him to get hurt…" Pepper said, letting her worries seep into her voice, making it amplify her worry. Gene clenched his fists as they rested on his lap.

"Don't be stupid, Pepper. We have to find the fifth ring." Gene said, trying to conceal his anger.

"But Gene, aren't you concerned about one of us getting hurt?" Pepper asked.

"Pepper, this is why you aren't making decisions for us. There is no reason to not find the fifth ring, so just save it." Gene spat. Pepper grabbed her bag and stood from the booth at the diner.

"Look, I have to go." Pepper walked out.

Flashback end.

Pepper remembered how Tony had dealt with her concern later that day. He had been so kind and delicate about it and he hadn't called her stupid. Yet I am, for not realizing the difference between the two sooner.

But according to him I'm beautiful, incredible
He can't get me out of his head
According to him I'm funny, irresistible
Everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite, I don't feel like stopping it
So baby tell me what I got to lose
He's into me for everything I'm not
According to you

Pepper reflected on the differences she noticed between how Gene treated her and how Tony treated her.

Flashback (again)!

Tony and Pepper sat on the roof of the school in silence until Pepper spoke up.

"Tony, do you think I'm stupid?" She asked, hearing the word in Gene's voice echoing in her head. Tony looked up from his phone with a quizzical look on his face.

"What? No way! What stupid idiot would tell you that? You, Pepper," He stood and walked over to her, "are the smartest, most capable, prettiest girl I've ever met." Pepper smiled and let out a giggle.

"I didn't say anything about pretty," She commented. Tony sat next to Pepper with a blush, looking back to his phone.

"O-oh, you didn't…"

Flashback end.

That was still able to make Pepper smile. But with the smile came all her overwhelming feelings of how, once again, she had took the abuse from Gene and had tried so hard to accept his harsh words when in reality she had no reason in the world to give him a chance at all in the first place. So stupid, Pepper thought.

According to you I'm boring, I'm moody
And you can't take me any place
According to you I suck at telling jokes
'Cause I always give it away
I'm the girl with the worst attention span
You're the boy who puts up with that
According to you, according to you
But according to him I'm beautiful, incredible
He can't get me out of his head
According to him I'm funny, irresistible
Everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite, I don't feel like stopping it
So baby tell me what I got to lose
He's into me for everything I'm not
According to you
I need to feel appreciated
Like I'm not hated, oh no
Why can't you see me through his eyes?
It's too bad, you're making me dizzy

"You know, Gene hurt me too." Pepper said. Tony lifted his head and looked at her with a quizzical look.

"It felt like we were good friends. I felt like he would always be friends and I hadn't known why I hadn't trusted him before. But then there was always those times where I made the simplest mistake and he criticized me for it. But you…you never did that. You'd never do that. And I was stupid for not realizing it sooner. I-I'm so sorry, Tony…" Tony sighed.

"No, Pepper, don't blame yourself. I should have listened to you in the beginning when you doubted him because you were right all along. So if anyone is the stupid one, it's me." Tony said. Pepper looked down to her feet.

"But I could have tried harder to stop you from trusting him. I feel so dumb, like its all my fault," Pepper said. There was a moment of silence.

"Hey, you know what always cheers me up when I'm sad?" Tony asked. Pepper looked up to him curiously.

"No, what?"

"A good laugh." Tony explained. Pepper held her gaze and waited for what Tony had to say next.

"Knock knock," He began. Pepper raised an eyebrow. "Who's there?"

"The smartest girl in the whole city." Tony said with a smile as he poked her cheek.

Pepper chuckled at Tony's dumb joke, which really wasn't even a joke at all, but really she was laughing at how goofy he was when he tried to make her laugh-which he always ended up succeeding in. He smiled and chuckled the more he watched her laugh.

A few short moments later their laughter died down and while Pepper wiped away a tear formed from laughter as they exited the cab, Tony of course paying the cab driver, and Pepper pushed Tony playfully on the shoulder.

"Dangit, Tony being so good to me!" She said with a smile. Tony shrugged.

"Afraid I can't do that, miss." Tony said in a super hero-type way and hands on his hips. Pepper giggled more and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Well stop. I don't deserve it or you, you're too good to me."

"If anything, it's me who's not nearly good enough for you. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you." Pepper smiled up at him, letting her head remain on his shoulder.

But according to me you're stupid, you're useless
You can't do anything right
But according to him I'm beautiful, incredible
He can't get me out of his head
According to him I'm funny, irresistible
Everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite, I don't feel like stopping it
Baby tell me what I got to lose
He's into me for everything I'm not
According to you, you
According to you, you
According to you I'm stupid, I'm useless
I can't do anything right

So, one-shot number two! Hopefully more are coming up…review!