Meet Me In The Middle

Chapter 1

Frost/Iron

Chapter 1-

Desperation has reached a new low, Tony thought with sullen. He drank from his glass, yet again indulging in the fiery burn it made in his throat and the coldness it spread throughout his chest. He knew this was further damaging his liver and kidneys and the rest of his other organs, but he just didn't give a damn. Why should he when everything he cares about have been torn away from him?

He missed her- Pepper, his little strawberry blonde girlfriend who'd decided enough was enough, and broke up with him. No, broke up wasn't the proper word for it; more like she'd torn and ripped his heart apart with the fact that she'd been cheating on him with her personal assissant, Derek.

What kind of name even was 'Derek'? It's the name of a douchbag, who Pepper had said spends time with her and doesn't have the reputation of a playboy. What Tony doesn't get is that Pepper knows he has changed since they've been together. He remembers how only four and a half hours ago she had been in his lab, fidgeting anxiously and nervously stuttering under his gaze as she spoke her reasons why she was leaving him. The word playboy was thrown about. Like that was actually an excuse!

Tony, with unsteadiness, stumbled his way over to his bar and clanked loudly as he rummaged through his large drink selection, humming under his breath. His usual beverage was Whiskey, but it seems in the last hour he has drunk all of it. With an grunt, he picked out the Vodka and twisted the lid before gulping three times. Tony waited for the alcohol to take affect and he sighed in relief when he felt the pleasant numbness. Nothing was better than the feeling which alcohol brought to him.

He reminisced about the last few years of his life. He remembers Pepper always being there for him, making sure his business was in tip-top shape and made sure he had enough rest or food whenever he locked himself in his lab. She was his anchor in his dangerous, hectic life and he doesn't need to be a genius to understand she wanted a stable man. He was too reckless, stubborn and arrogant for her to be able to stand.

Maybe if he'd removed his suits earlier. Maybe if he had stopped himself from making the mistake of letting the press aware of his home address in Malibu she would still be here, next to him. She would be lecturing him on drinking too much and locking his Vodka away. He knew JARVIS would be on her side, despite being an AI Tony had created to obey him in the first place.

Or maybe if he hadn't let himself be captured she wouldn't feel like her life was in danger.

If he wasn't so intoxicated- if he hadn't let Pepper persuade him into destroying all of his suits- he would've heard the thud on the platform outside the penthouse suite. He would have also heard the echoes of two pairs of feet making their way into his tower and the clanking of metal. But he wasn't sober, and he was also fresh out of Iron Man suits. Damn Pepper and her smile, Tony thought to himself as he took another swing.

"Man of Iron!" Shouted a booming voice, startling the billionaire and making him choke on his drink. He spluttered the liquid out of his throat in surprise and grimaced as he punched his fist into his chest several times to clear his airways. Taken aback, the billionaire looked up and instantly frowned when he saw the familiar blonde God of Thunder.

"Hey, Barbie," Tony started, Vodka bottle hanging dangerously loose as he held up his hands in welcoming. "Next time you want to visit can you use the door? Thanks."

Thor frowned. "I did use the door. That one right there," he pointed out to the door which led to the platform outside.

Tony sighed. "The front door. I meant the front door. You know, the one people normally use to ring the doorbell? Ring any bells?"