Spotlight

The paparazzi are easily the worst part of her job. They swarm in a tight circle, a sea of flashing lights and constant noise, questions flying from every direction. Happy walks on her left, trying to part the crowd, while Tony walks on her right acting as a buffer between her and the others.

"Come on Tony, give us a smooch!" one prods, shoving a camera in their faces. Tony growls in frustration using his shoulder to block the camera as they pass, Pepper catches the small, satisfied smirk Tony gives when the man stumbles slightly at the push.

"What are your feelings on the cheating scandal, Miss. Potts?" Pepper resumes staring straight ahead knowing if she cracks and answers one question, it will open the floodgates for more. Happy reaches back taking her by the wrist and pulling her through a small break in the crowed, the gap is closed quickly and the stream of questions continued.

"Any word on the health care plan you have in place for Africa?"

One turns to Tony when he sees she's is not rising to the bait, "Mr. Stark, what are your plans for the terrorist threats from the Middle East?" The death grip Pepper keeps on his hand stops any response he might give, he's far more focused on the stress she feels at being in the spot light as these people try to worm their way into every crack in her life. While Pepper is still adjusting to attention being thrown her way as well as Tony's this is all nothing new to him, born in the spotlight he's always had a camera shoved in face.

Blinded by the lights Pepper stumbles behind Happy tripping on a crack, a high heel giving out at a rather inappropriate question; and she knows there will be full-paged article out tomorrow on how she simply collapsed at the question. "Any plans on marriage?"

The crowd gives a gasp, jumping back slightly in surprise before closing in tight again, questions fly all at once, while she sits awkwardly on the ground caught between Happy and Tony.

"Miss Potts are you alright?" One asks as she pulls her hands away from both men to remove her shoes.

"Are you aright?" Tony asks quickly squatting down beside her, his back to cameras while Happy stands in front of them trying to keep the cameras back.

"Is anything broken?" Another calls out.

"I'm fine," Pepper responds quickly to Tony, trying to drown out the crowd, pulling her purse off her shoulder.

"Pick her up Mr. Stark!" A man shouts from the back, camera at the ready.

Pepper growls in the back of her throat in irritation, shaking in anger while digging through her purse, she's not some damsel in distress that's in need of rescuing. Fishing a small bag from her purse, Pepper removes the ballet flats kept inside as Tony disappears from her side, turning on the crowd.

"Back off!" Tony shouts and group responds in kind moving away from Tony and as a result her.

Broken heels shoved in her purse Happy helps her stand while Tony deals with the crowd; she hobbles a little on a twisted ankle but she'll be damned if she lets Tony carry her to the car. "Tony," She calls trying not to lean too much on Happy as she stands.

Tony remains oblivious, ranting at the crowd in front of him who now have all their attention focused on him, cameras flashing and clearly too afraid to follow after her. Chest all puffed out he huffs and puffs about lawyers and lawsuits, informing them all pointblank he's suing every last one of them.

"Would you go get him," Pepper pleads with Happy once he's gotten her to the car. Watching in horror when Tony grabs something from one of cameramen chucking it across the space and letting it skip along the ground, shattering into pieces.

Happy jogs off after him while Pepper slides into the back of the car watching as he struggles to ring Tony back in and get him to the car. Tony walks with his shoulders set, feathers clearly ruffled as he mutters to himself and Happy, shouting and gesturing over his shoulder occasionally at the stunned crowd.

Sliding into the back seat Tony slams the door while Pepper shakes her head, rolling her ankle.

"You, all right?" he asks after a moment once the car starts moving, his voice rough with agitation.

"Fine," Pepper, sighs with a slight snap, rubbing her ankle.

"You're mad," Tony observes.

"I just wish you wouldn't do that."

"They were crowding you."

Pepper glances up at him "I don't need a knight in shining armor Tony."

"Well you're in luck," he grins, trying to lighten her mood. "Because you've got a superhero in gold titanium alloy."

Pepper's shoulders slump, unamused by the joke "I don't need you to save me Tony."

Tony sighs leaning over to grab her foot, gently messaging her ankle for her, "You can't just expect me to let people do stuff like that to you."

"As your CEO I need to be able to fight my own battles." She tries to remind him.

"Seems a little hypocritical of you," Tony snorts, rolling her ankle slowly.

"I'm sorry?" Pepper scuffs looking confused.

"Shield," Tony tells her like it should be obvious. "You refused to talk to anyone but Captain Eye-patch and then ripped him a new one."

"That's completely different," Pepper shakes her head. "We were attacked by a terrorist and almost killed. They left you to deal with everything, I think I had a right to be pissed."

Tony chuckles as she begins to get all worked up again just talking about it, "I know Honey, but I'm a superhero, and my girlfriend is raising hell with a whole organization." He teases with a smirk.

"I wasn't that bad," Pepper argues shaking her head.

"It was hot," Tony, grins, leaning in for a kiss while Pepper rolls her eyes, moving so his kiss lands on her cheek. "We're just protective," he whispers in her ear, "there's nothing wrong with that."

Unable to stay mad, Pepper finally smiles a little in response, melting back into the seat and accepting the kiss.