Hey people! Before I begin let me just say there are spoilers for Iron Man 2, and I won't be able to update very often because I've got exams coming up. A big apology for the scene cuts because even though I've seen it twice, I can't really remember all of the scenes. Oh yeah, and I obviously don't own the Iron Man franchise, I'm just here to mess around with the characters we all love so much. That's all, and please do enjoy!

The high pitched purr of the race car engine was loud in Tony's ears, even with the helmet on. The wheels squealed as he sharply rounded the bend of the track, the noise covering the alarmed screams from the crowd that were running away. As he accelerated forward again, his hands gripped the steering wheel tighter and his eyes widened in shock.

There was a man standing right in the way! Did he have a death wish or something?! But instantly that thought was replaced with a thrill of terror. The man was bare-chested because he was wearing some sort of metal harness over his torso, a circle of suspiciously familiar light protruding from the middle of the mechanism. Two whips that crackled and spat like violent lightning dragged down from his arms.

He wouldn't be able to turn in time! He was driving straight at him, and Tony didn't have even a split second to get out of the way-

The man drew back one arm and then brought the whip smashing down just as the front of the race car skimmed past him. There was a brilliant flash of copper sparks and suddenly the front of the car was cleaved off from the rest of it, the whips slicing through it like a knife through butter. The rear of the car where Tony was still sat paralysed in flipped up into the air, and all he could see was a blur of sound and colour as the ground rushed up to meet him.

The impact was very painful and for a moment Tony blacked out as his vehicle clattered and rolled to a screeching halt. When Tony opened his eyes again, he was upside down and crushed against the asphalt track, shreds of metal littering the ground before him. With a grunt, he clumsily wrenched off his helmet and stared ahead.

The world was on its head, but Tony could see the man with the super-charged whips walking, almost strolling casually, up to him. There was a confusion of screams from the crowd as people rushed away from the scene or ran over to see what was going on.

Tony felt a painful throb in the back of his head from where he'd landed and he cursed at the ache. It took a second or two for him to refocus. He had to get out of the wreckage of his car, before those whips came down and sliced him in two.

He clambered out and darted behind the burning remains of another car this guy had destroyed. But it was only a matter of time before the man (whoever the hell he was) found him and attacked again.

Come on Pepper Tony thought, willing his new CEO to use her bright mind, hoping she'd come up with the same idea as him. Hurry up, Pep, I need my Mark IV armour!

Tony glanced up and with a jolt of fear saw a whip hissing through the air towards him-

Some time later…

"Palladium in the chest," Vanko called back, his voice echoing off the cold metal walls, his accent adding a sinister poison to his words. "Painful way to die."

Tony paused at the door, and tilted his head back. Did he say what I thought he said? But how…? Who is this guy and what does he want with me?

Tony opened his mouth to say something, then decided against it and walked out of the holding cell. The door slammed shut and rang with a deep boom, the final note of confinement. But that didn't stop Vanko from letting out a blood-curdling chuckle, his metallic teeth glinting in the dim light.

Pepper was waiting for Tony outside, fretfully smoothing down her black dress with little white polka dots. It had been torn in parts after Vanko's attack and she looked quite stressed up, but she still managed to look pretty. Pretty and angry and relieved all at once.

"Tony, what's going on here?" she asked, her cheeks flushed red.

"I don't really know at the moment, Pepper," Tony answered, ignoring the Monaco police swarming around him. "But I'm gonna find out. This guy made an arc reactor, he stole my technology."

"This is bad" Pepper groaned.

"This is very bad," nodded Tony, eyes darker than usual. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I told everyone, I promised, that no one could match the technology I use for my suit for another decade. And now I have someone who used it against me mere minutes ago. Senator Stern's gonna have a real good time gloating and rubbing this in my face." He clenched a fist. "'Hand over the Iron Man weapon.' Well he can stick that up his ass, regardless of what happened today."

"It doesn't matter Tony," said Pepper, but she sounded a little doubtful. "This is just another mess we're going to have to sort out."

"Is it too big to sort out?" Tony asked, suddenly looking tired.

"Come on, your plane's waiting" Pepper said with a slight smile.

Tony had only taken one step down the shadowed corridor when it happened. He felt a sudden wave of nausea overcome him and he swayed on the spot. He uttered a small "whoa" before he righted himself.

"Tony, are you alright?" Pepper asked, a concerned frown on her face. "Do you want the medics to look you over?"

"No, no, it's fine" Tony replied, but knew he was wrong. He found it difficult to stay upright because the world around him kept shifting, as if he was out at sea in a storm, shadows and light swaying and blurring before him. The faces of the people surrounding him were pale spheres with indistinct features, and darkness was ringing his vision.

"Tony!" he heard Pepper cry, but her voice sounded muffled as if underwater, the babble of alarmed French from the police like a rushing moan.

"Just let me sit down a sec…" Tony murmured, his voice slurred. He felt a twinge in the back of his head, the same ache he'd felt from the race track. He gingerly put a hand there, wincing at the tender pain. He withdrew his hand and glossy red on his fingers swam into focus.

"Not good" he moaned, before he was swallowed by the shadows and collapsed to the ground.

Gasp! What's gonna happen to Tony? Well, from the summary you can kinda guess, but ah well. Hope you enjoyed it so far!