Tony was sure Pepper would be back in a day or two after she had blown off steam- give or take the traffic. And it really wasn't until the third day that Tony Stark began to wonder where his girlfriend was. So, Tony called her on her cell phone.
"Pepper, pick up." He urged. On the fourth ring a crackled sounded and he could hear her breath, "Pepper, good, you're there!"
"Tony-"
"Don't hang up!" Tony jumped to his feet, unsure of what to say.
"I'm not." She spoke coolly.
Tony stopped his pacing, "You're not?"
"No, Tony." Pepper sounded happy and Tony took this as a good sign.
"Well, when are you coming home?"
"I'm not." Oops.
"You're not?"
"No, Tony. I'm sending someone over to pick up my things. I'll be out of town, so they'll be staying with you for as long as it takes. I've got to go, Tony."
And she hung up. Tony clicked the phone off and threw it across the room where it hit the white wall beside the television, smashing into several pieces. She was sending a stranger to his home, the man who had no secret identity. Great.
Pepper Potts wasn't coming back home. Amazing.
Tony Stark was alone, again.
Spectacular.