Jeremy
Tony was way too reluctant to let you leave his side, even to use the damn bathroom, but the death stare got him to let you go. How much he loved keeping you at his side at these shindigs, showing you off, bragging about how lucky he was to have you, was incredibly flattering. You couldn’t remember a time when you were treated so well. You never had been, really, you thought as you washed your hands and stared at your radiant face in the mirror. No one had treated you so well before. You had a long list of douchebags you dated for some reason before Tony. You smile to yourself as you dry your hands, knowing that this was in the past, and although you and Tony had been together for about three months, things would be going well for a long time.
Sadly, as you walk out the bathroom, your confidence deflates at the sight of a familiar figure. Tall and thin, with a striking square jaw and piercing blue eyes that long ago looked upon you with love one day, and with spite and cruelty another day. It was an endless cycle that lasted about six months, and you don’t know how. You had blocked it from your mind for the past few weeks, but now it has barged in front of you, staring you down with something sinister in the eyes. He approaches you. You want to run away, but you’re frozen, bolted to the floor. You were just as afraid of him as you were before.
Jeremy looked at you with a wide, friendly smile now, as if you were old friends with no hard feelings at all. “Hey, (Y/N),” he said. “Long time no see.”
“Yeah,” you blurt, clenching fistfuls of your (f/c) dress at your sides.
“What brings you here?” he asks casually as he takes another dangerous step towards you.
He doesn’t sound threatening. Does he know about your new relationship? You had been on the side of covers of People and Us magazines, but never the biggest picture on the front page. You clear your throat and take a baby step back. He doesn’t move. “I could ask you the same thing,” you reply.
His eyes narrow and his lips tighten. Just like he would when you’d accidentally provoke him. You gulp. “I asked first,” he tells you sharply.
You grind your fingers together between the fabric of your dress. “I’m, uh, here with someone.”
He makes the same face that he made when you daringly broke up with him. His eyes widened and his mouth fell, but then he looked angry, slowly turning a pale shade of red. After you told him it was over, he had slapped you, and you ran away. You hadn’t seen him since. You step back when you notice that his hands clench into fists, veins popping out on the back of his hands.
“There you are,” a familiar voice calls. Your tense spine relaxes when you hear it. Tony has come to the rescue. You wonder if and how he sensed you being in danger, but now you’re safe. You smile at him and hold out your hand as he approaches you. He takes it and gives it a squeeze, as if to say that he’s got this, you’ll be fine. Then his hand slips from yours as he steps in front of you and looks at Jeremy. Jeremy looks back wide-eyed, intimidated. Tony glares at him, then looks at you. “This guy bothering you?” he asks quietly.
Jeremy takes a bold step closer to you both. You step back, but Tony stands his ground. “Can’t I talk to an old friend?”
“Friend, huh?” Tony retorts coolly. He looks at you, then cocks an eyebrow at him. “Looks to me like you’re bugging her.”
You know you’re protected by him, and you bravely tilt your head to the side and glare at him. His eyes angrily widen at you. You’re not as afraid as you would be if you were alone. He looks at Tony now and says, “Pretty sure we were together longer than she’s been with you.”
“Well, isn’t that special?” Tony scoffs.
Jeremy’s infuriated gaze is fixed on you. It was a familiar look, the same one he’d make before he’d hit you. It may be your imagination, but he seems a little closer. You stand up straight and say boldly, “Just fuck off, Jeremy.”
He turns redder. “Don’t you fucking talk to me like that, (Y/N).” He gets closer to you. Tony immediately steps in front of you, and before he can get too close, he holds out his arms and blocks him from moving. Jeremy’s angry eyes dart between you and Tony. You take deep breaths, trusting the invincible Iron Man to handle this.
“No need for any trouble,” he says acerbically. “How about you grant her request? Fuck off.”
Jeremy steps back, then tries to throw a punch. Tony skillfully deflects it. Your jaw drops and your hand darts up to cover it. Tony twists Jeremy’s arms. He grunts in pain and tries to pull away, but Tony doesn’t let him. “Come near her again,” he says. “I’ll fucking kick your ass.”
Jeremy glares at you. Your heart thumps as he opens his mouth. “You’re a fucking ugly cunt, (Y/N),” he spits. You may be imagining that he’s coming near you again, and you find yourself running away, hyperventilating. You don’t want to watch a fight. You know in your heart that Tony can and will kick his ass. He’s a professional ass-kicker. He’s without his armor, though. Jeremy isn’t the Chitauri or anything, but he hurt you, and maybe he could hurt him. You run past a few people until you find open doors towards a quiet balcony. The concrete fence stops you from falling off the edge. You look down at the lights below you and let the breeze caress you as you catch your breath. You put your elbows on the fence and lean forward so you can hold your face. You rub your cheeks as you remember how he slapped you, then below your temples where he’d hit you. You’re trying to block tears from ruining your makeup.
You don’t know how long you’re trying to calm down. It could have been a minute or an hour. Suddenly the feeling of warmth around your waist halts your concentration between the bad memories and the lights below you. You stand up straight and melt against the body behind you, leaning your head back to rest on his shoulders.
Tony kisses your ear and gently moves his arms closer together around you. “Don’t worry about him anymore, baby,” he whispers, his breath grazing the side of your face. “He’s taken care of.”
You don’t need to know how. You trust him. You tilt your head against his and let out a sigh. He kisses your head and lifts a hand to gently pull your hair back with his fingers. They slide down your neck when he’s done, then down your arm and to your waist again. You turn to face him before he can clasp his arms around you again. He puts his hands on the small of your back as you look up at him in relief.
“I love you,” you say.
He smiles, then lowers his head to press your lips against yours. Your hands go behind his head to keep him close, You know you have nothing to worry about when you’re with him.
He releases your lips and presses his forehead gently against yours. “I love you, too,” he replies.