Sorry it's been so long. Seems like forever ago doesn't it?

Ok, well this one I'm dedicating to WarriorPrincess122, for inspiring me and 'cuz I said I would. Sorry it's not a long one, but it's something to keep you going. Leave me a review just to say hi. It's been a while.

Love you all, you awesome people!

The mission was a simple one.

Seek and destroy.

The Metallica song blared through the internal speakers of the Iron Man suit the spurring me on. Not that I needed much spurring on.

This was my responsibilty. I was following this thing through right to the bitter end, no matter how difficult it would be or how much Pepper, or anyone else, hated it.

Even if it killed me.

And that really wasn't that unlikely.

I decided not to dwell on that thought.

I'd never been to North Korea.

Apparently I had some pretty big fans there. Well, fans of my weapons.

I thought it was about time I payed them a little visit. You never know, we might just get on like a house on fire.

Might even be a few fireworks at the end of the night.

You know, if the relationship was that... explosive.

"Hey Jarvis what's the night life like in Pyongyang?"

"Planning on a night on the town are we, sir ?"

I smiled. "Do you think the language barrier would get in the way too much?"

"In the way of what exactly ,sir?"

"You're answering my questions with questions. Not helping. You know what just forget it, just turn up the music Jarvis."

Running,

On our way,

Hiding,

You will be,

Dying,

A thousand deaths.

Searching,

Seek and destroy.

Searching,

Seek and destroy.

The music faded away.

"You have an incoming call sir," Jarvis informed me, "From Miss Potts."

Pepper.

"Put her through," I said, wondering if I would regret it.

Probably.

"Tony, where are you?" She sounded calm but I could pick up on the underlying frustration.

"Me ? I'm uh..." I trailed off, trying to make sense of what Jarvis had just flashed up on the HUD.

You've got to be kidding me.

"You have two F22 Raptors closing in on you, sir," Jarvis told me, reiterating what I'd just read on the screen.

"No shit," I muttered although I wasn't sure I quite believed it. Seriously, what were the chances? Deja vu or what?

I heard Pepper's voice, but my mind wasn't able to process what she'd said. I was too busy trying to figure out some kind of strategy. Last time those things nearly took me out.

Mind you this time I didn't have to worry about what damage I caused. If they were after me they had to be the bad guys right? Everyone knew what Ironman stood for by now,surely?

"Tony!" She'd raised her voice, yeah, she was pissed.

"Huh?"

"You need to be here, now."

"Yeah well that might be... slightly impossible." I mumbled. "Jarvis can you I.D those jets?"

I knew they were getting close now but I needed to know that these things were actually against me, before blowing them out of the sky. That was if they didn't blow me out of the sky first.

"I.D what? Tony what are you doing? What do you mean by 'slightly impossible'?"

I chose to ignore her. Explaning was probably not a good idea. I remembered what someone had told me once, before a press conference I think-If in doubt keep your mouth shut. I'm not sure it had the desired effect at the time because most of the time I wasn't 'in doubt'.

Just contraversial.

"I'm afraid I can't I.D those planes sir, but I can tell you that they have most definatly been purchased illegally," Jarvis told me. That was about as much as I'd suspected.

"Tony, what's going on? Where are you?"

I ignored her again.

"I've just had a very irrate Miss Edwards on the phone."

Maria?

That caught my full attention.

Probably why she said it.

"She's not happy Tony."

"Is she ever ?" I commented. I couldn't help but smile just thinking about her getting all worked up.

"Tony, this isn't a joke." Obviously she could hear the smile in my voice."This will be the third meeting you've canceled this week."

"Yes." Well what was I supposed to say to that? I had more important things on my mind at the moment like trying to stay alive.

And Maria.

"Well Tony, I just hope for your sake that you have a good excuse."

"How about saving the world? Is that a good enough excuse?" Never mind fighting off two F22's.

There was a brief pause as she registered what I'd just said.

"Saving the world? Tony, please tell me you're not-"

"Sorry Pepper. Gotta go."

Strangely enough I suddenly felt a huge sense of relief that I was here being targeted by two fighter jets rather than back in California in a meeting with Maria. How I was going to explain to her about having less than half the CGI work done I still hadn't figured out.

'I've been busy' probably wouldn't cut it.

She was really viscous when she wanted to be. Fighting off two jets had to be easier.

I hadn't intended to miss the meeting (again). In truth it had complelty slipped my mind. But actually this was all working out quite nicely.

Until next time I had to see her.

Ouch.

It hurt just thinking about it.

I ended the call wondering which of the following three would be the most difficult; dealing with Pepper, dealing with the two F22's closing in for the kill or dealing with Maria.

I was betting on the third, but between the first and third it was a close call.

The second?

No chance.