CHAPTER 4

Wailing. Bloodcurdling, furious wailing.

Miss Priss Christine was not happy Pepper had nearly ripped out half of her hair. Hammar stood dumbly, his jaw open in utter belief.

"I'll kill you!" Christine screamed. Pepper looked surprised, but not concerned.

"No, you will not," Tony positioned Pepper behind her. "Quite frankly, you deserved that."

"Justin! She just pulled my freaking hair!" Christine spat. "I'll kill her. I'll kill her!" She slammed her fists into the ground like a child throwing a fit.

How immature. Tony thought. I wish I'd never slept with her. She wasn't even that good in bed.

Justin stepped forward to help Christine but she slapped at his head and snapped up. Her eyes glowed through tears of pain with pure fury.

"I'll have you murder, bitch," she snarled. Pepper turned a little pale.

"No, you won't," Tony decided to keep quiet, but he wouldn't let Christine make threats against his girlfriend. The room was silent for a second, except for Christine panting irately and a slow drip of water. The air seemed to thicken.

"C'mon, Christine," Hammar grabbed at her wrist but she smacked him again, flouncing out of the room.

"You see what you've done?" Hammar hissed, and made a motion to his buffoons guarding the door. "Ruff them up."

Tony met the first guard halfway, blocking a punch with the fist the size of a side of ham. The second tried to grab Tony but he sprung deftly out of the way. The second swung again, but Tony dodged and open hand slapped the guy's ear. The man clutched his ringing ear as the second stepped forward to grab Tony. He managed to catch the side of Tony's shirt, ripping it.

Whirling, Tony twisted the man's wrist and attempted to slap him but the other guard was quicker. He caught Tony's fist halfway and held him. Tony struggled as the other guard slammed his fist into Tony's gut.

The first ten punches weren't so bad, but after fifteen Tony began to cough and groan. Pepper leapt forward but the punching bag guard turned and slapped her across the face. She squealed and fell down, clutching her bleeding cheek.

Tony, growling with rage, tried to get his hands around the offending guard's neck but he punched him the nose. He heard a crack and his eyesight darkened for a moment. The guard holding him gave him a shove and he stumbled back, crashing into the cot and falling on his face.

Sticky blood rolled out of his nose and he coughed weakly. Pepper was weeping softly.

"Tony. Tony, I'm sorry," she sobbed.

"It's…okay…Pep…" he managed. He slid up, his world tipping crazily and the pain racketing his body. She slid closer and wound her arms around his neck. He held her close and cried, too.

His chest where the core touched burned with excruciating pain and he lost consciousness thinking about all the different ways he was dying.

That was intense, phew.

There is not much to say, but please R&R. I chose to go a bit more serious. Fluff to come.

Luv,

RomanceDoneWrite