To Infinity and Beyond ||Tony Stark|Iron Man||

When You Can't Sleep at Night

*Tony's POV*

"Tony!" Pepper screams. I'm laying in the crushed ground. Numb. Hurt. Lifeless. I gather up the strength to get up. Even in my suit it takes awhile. I look around for Pepper, Obadiah, anyone. All I know is that Obadiah has gone insane and Pepper needs my help, but when I finally see how insane he has become and how much Pepper needed me regret awakes over me. Obadiah, the man I trusted with everything is standing in a silver robotic suit 3x bigger than my own. So it was him all along. Obadiah, looks at his hands. And Pepper. Oh, Pepper. Her head is smashed in the ground, bruises all over her body, blood stained in her blonde hair. I run over to her as fast as my legs could take me. I kneel down next to her and hold her in my arms. While cradling her I only had one thought, she isn't going to make it. She opened her eyes. "Tony..." She whispered. 

"Hey Pep." I reply quietly. I stroke her blonde hair, brushing it away from her bright, beautiful eyes.  

"Tony, I'm so cold." Pepper says weakly. I pull her softly to my chest. 

"It's okay I'm here." She silently sobs into my shoulder. A tear escapes the barricades in my eyes and I quickly wipe it away. I look down at the woman I've been in love with for 3 years slowly die in my arms. 

"Pepper there's something I need to tell you." I whisper. Pepper looks up at me, looking beautiful as ever. 

"I love you." I tell her softly, cupping her cheek with my hand. Wiping off blood and tears. Her eyes water as she places her hand on mine. 

"I love you too." She whispers, through the tears. Without thinking, I place my lips on hers softly. It was quick yes, but it was the best kiss I've ever felt on these lips in my entire life. I smile down at her. Her eyes start to droop.  

"No baby. You gotta stay awake." I warn her. 

"But I'm so tired." She says, barely audible. I watch, unable to do anything, while her eyes closed slowly covering her crystal, clear blue orbs. A lump rose in my throat as I looked at Pepper, she had the most beautiful smile on her face. The wind blew through her blonde hair, she looked Angel like.  

"I love you." I whisper. 

"Such a same." I hear Obadiah's menacing voice echo through the rubble. I look up from the angel laying lifeless in my arms, to see the monster that killed her. 

"It's your fault, she never had to be pulled into this." He chuckles. 

"You never had to kill her." I growl. I stand up, facing the man I trusted my life with.  

"Sacrifices had to be made." He states walking towards me. 

"I'm going to kill you." I threaten him. 

"Do you even know how?" He chuckles. 

"I'll start with ripping your head off." I state lunging towards him, while flipping my mask down.  

"Good luck Tin man."

***

I shoot up, panting and sweating bullets. It was just a dream Stark, just a dream. Except I know that it wasn't, that wasn't a dream, it was memories. Memories from 3 years ago. 3 years ago Obadiah killed Pepper, 3 years ago I killed Obadiah, 3 years ago I stopped being Iron Man, and 3 years ago I stopped living. I couldn't live without her, I couldn't live without Pepper. Sure I go out, I get drunk, I sleep with a girl and forget about her the next day, but that isn't me. I stay right her a soul without a body. A body without a soul. I have the same nightmare every night. I go to the same place everyday, that parking lot, in that parking lot I lost my first love and my life. I stand up and go to the bathroom. I look in the mirror, damn I look like shit. Blood-shot eyes with bags underneath, a tear stained face, and a mess thats called hair. I look at myself and don't recognize the face in the mirror. I look older, I need to shave, I have to go out. This is the first time I've looked at myself in a while. And as I stare at this stranger I realize that I can't hide anymore. The world needs Tony Stark, the world needs Iron Man. I need to live the reat of my life, stop living in the past, have fun, find the love of my life. The first thing I have to do is call Rhodey, I haven't talked to him in a year. I pick up the phone and see over 100 missed calls and over 300 text messages. I dial Rhodey's number that I somehow remember. 

*Ring* 

*Ring* 

*Ring* 

"Tony?" Rhodey asks. God, it's been forever since I've heard his voice. 

"Hey, Rhodey." 

"God, Tony! It's been forever." 

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry Bud." 

"It's alright. I'm just glad you're alright. I've been really worried about you." 

"I'm fine Rhode. Hey, can you come over?" 

"Of course Tony, but I have to bring a girl." 

"Awww, Rhodey's got a girlfriend!" 

"No, Tony. Her name is Alli she's my best friend. Anyways she's more of a Tony Stark kinda girl." 

"Oh, I see." 

"No, Tony you don't. You can't hurt her you got it. Fall in love with her that's fine, be friends cool. But you can't just use her as one of your little toys Tony." 

"Rhodey, I'm a changed man I would never." 

"You got that right Stark. I'll be over soon." 

"Bye Rhode." 

I hung up. Alli, hmm this might be the chance I wanted. An actual relationship. I got dressed, did my hair, and shaved. Good Ol' Tony Stark looked like himself again. I sat on the couch waiting Rhodey and Alli. The elevator doors opened shocking me. It's been forever since someone has used the elevator. Rhodey walked out I ran over to him and hugged him. I looked back and even if I wasn't a changed man just the sight of Alli would have changed me on the spot. 

"Hi, Mr. Stark. Rhodey's told me a lot about you." She said simply. She was wearing this. So she was a Tony Stark fan. 

"Please call me Tony." I said. 

"Well then, nice to meet you Tony. I'm Alli Frost." She said with a smile on my face. 

"The pleasure is mine Alli. So you're an Iron Man fan?" I asked. She looked down at her shirt, then at me and smiled. I really love that smile. 

"I'm more of a Tony Stark fan."