Without you (Tony Stark - Pepperony)

Chapter 1 - Prologue

"Pepper let me go!" Tony complained, whining much like a child who didn't like the toy he was given on his birthday and opted to, in essence, 'throw his bottle from the pram.' Except the bottle he threw out was on of scotch. The finest kind. "The party was just getting started in there!" the grown man pulled childishly at his arm, trying to free it from Pepper's hold as she dragged him out and towards the car.

This was the norm for Pepper. Always having to deal with her boss, the infamous Tony Stark who recently decided his next venture was to be a superhero of all things. Tending to Tony's every need, practically baby sitting him was NOT in Pepper's job description. She often asked herself why she didn't just pack it in all together and leave Stark Industries. It would be so easy to just walk out the doors for good. But as much as she could deny it, Tony was too important to her to leave. "The party ended two hours ago Tony!" To say Tony could act like the most difficult to handle child was an understatement.

"Really? Well that was a drag," he smirked with dissappointment in his expression. Intoxicated and most definitely not wanting the night to end. "When does the after party start?" Tony saw how his words were annoying Pepper but he couldn't help teasing her.

"There is no after party," Pepper sounded much like a mother than an assitant, keeping her voice calm yet stern. Drunk Tony was the worst side of him. You'd think he'd kick the habit and give up the bottle but no. Especially when there was a party involved.

Tony look appalled, as if Pepper had just uttered the worst thing imaginable, "Well there should be!"

But Pepper was not having any of it. Why was it always down to her to look after Tony when he was like this? Well nobody else could keep him under control like she could. "Do you not realise how much alcohol you've consumed in the last hour alone?!" He always had a knack of making her yell at him when she didn't want to.

"Hello, highly functioning alcoholic genius here!" Tony wore that signature boyish grin, waving his hand. Didn't Pepper know him by now? He could handle alcohol better than most people and he could get away with drinking so much too. "It's not as if my arm is suddenly going to catch on fire all because I drank a little too much."

"Get in, Now. Tony," Pepper had had enough, this always happened after nearly every party Tony came back from. Before her boss could utter his two cents worth of words, she manouvered him into the car with her hands on his back.

However she didn't realise the mistake she made. Tony, with a cheeky and quite flirty smirk, leant into Pepper's touch on his back. "Hmm.. I always knew you liked me.."

"What?" her eyes widened, removing her hands from in contact with Tony's clothes. Pepper knew she was surely not going to hear the end of it now took control of the steering wheel. "I don't-"

But it was too late, Tony was going to have his chance for fun now. "Don't try to deny it Pep, give in to the feeling."

Pepper would be lying if she said she didn't have a small blush creep up on her cheeks at that. But she didn't love him though. Did she? "What have I said about calling me that?" she remarked in all seriousness, looking in the car mirror to see Tony sprawled across the backseat. He was going to be in for a really bad hangover in the morning. "You're drunk. Anthony." Two could play at this game.

"And you're Miss Grumpy!" Tony pouted, he was actually quite cute when he did that, and his big puppy eyes when he was upset. "Hey I don't like that name!"

"It's your name Anthony Edward Stark."

"Actually my name is To-.. Pepper watch out!" Tony suddenly took Pepper completely by surprise when he leaned over her, pulling her towards him, whisperin in her ear, "I've got you..." She never even had a chance to question her boss' seemingly eccentric behaviour, before she was unexpectedly pushed back against her seat. Tony's arms around her as the car flipped over, crashing into a nearby building.

A scream was blocked in Pepper's throat as the collision literally took her breath away.She didn't seem to be in any pain, well any physical pain anyway. She had hope that help would come soon, "Tony.." she whispered to the man who was still over her, her heart pounding in her chest, But she couldn't see his face. Nor did she get a response. With the worst thought running through her mind, Pepper weakly shook Tony's limp body resulting in no reaction at all. This was bad. She shook him again, and again and again. But it remained. The other car had or whatever it was that caused had appeared out of nowhere. There was no way she could have seen it coming. But Tony did. Pepper was unharmed more or less however the same couldn't be said for Tony. He had protected her, risking his own safety in the process.

In the small space she had to move and with the blood dripping from a cut on her forehead, Pepper tried to overcome the shock of the impact to gently lift her boss from off of her. Only to have her suspicions confirmed, seeing him unconcious with his head tilted back. "Tony please stop," tears welled in the poor woman's eyes. "If this is a joke I don't like it," but Pepper knew he wasn't pulling a prank on her this time, making her all the more desperate. His face was bloodied and almost unrecognisable if it wasn't for the shining light of the arc reactor or the fact that Pepper knew it was Tony in the car with her. But the arc reactor was quickly dimming, the intensity of it's light rapidly fading away. Pepper couldn't lose him. Not like this! "TONY!" she screamed as loud as she possibly could, letting Tony's body rest limp on her again.

He was virtually lifeless. Barely breathing.

((Author's Note: Hey everyone! So this is the first chapter to this new idea that I'm very excited about.

There is a lot planned for this story

I would love to know your thoughts so far in the comments

thank you :) ))