A/N A/N: OMG I finally updated after months...apologies and namaste - it's hot, I'm the wicked witch of the West and I. Am. Not Ironman because I. Am. Melting. :)))
Y'all probably hate me for that reference whoops but on with the show (aha help me :)))))

Type: Tony X Pepper X dog!reader

Warnings: None just coot - D/B (Dog Breed)

Requests: Open

A/N: Set around the time when Tony's PTSD from the events of New York are still quite fresh (so I guess around the time of Iron Man 3) - This is a request for iamKhrfan123 - I hope you all enjoy 😄

If there are any spelling mistakes then apologies, namaste and goodnight :))))

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You had a pretty rough start in life being the runt of your litter and having nowhere else to turn to as your parents were strays, constantly evading countless dog catchers on the streets of the Big Apple. There were five of you but your siblings often disregarded your being there and you were always last to be fed.

Soon, you became weaker than your siblings because of your lack of feeding.

When you were all settling down for the night, some people terrorised you and your family. They shouted cruel words, chucked their drinks at you and laughed. Your mum and dad growled and barked at them to ward them away which worked - until you all saw the lights of what you learned to be one of the cars of the people that always tried to catch you. Your dad barked at you all to run and you did, but you couldn't keep up with your family. Whining, you managed to hide behind a bin for the rest of the chilly night, lost and alone.

* * * * *

Tony was tormented with horrific dreams of New York and losing Pepper. Tears snuck out from under his eyelids as thought about narrowly escaping the wormhole and then he was falling and falling and falling. Falling with no end. He murmured desperately in his sleep. Would he ever be able to sleep properly again? Or would he continue to be haunted by nightmares of the past and his fears of the present?

He just wanted it stop.

Even in the dream, he could still feel the tight, suffocating feeling in his chest as though someone was stealing all of his oxygen before he could inhale it himself.

Pepper was woken up by his frantic muttering and she glanced to Tony, worry on her face. In an effort to help, she tried to wake him up as he whimpered at the alarming images that flashed through his mind.

"Tony!" Pepper cried.

She gained no response.

"Tony! Tony!" She grabbed his arm and gently shook him.

However, cool, metal hands snatched Pepper away from comforting her lover and pinned her down on the bed. She yelped as she saw the cold iron mask of one of Tony's suits.

In an instant, Tony woke up at hearing that Pepper was in danger and he rapidly scrambled out of the bed in order to prevent the suit from harming her.

"Power down!" He exclaimed.

As the suit did as it's master had asked, Tony swung his hands at it, making sure that it collapsed into pieces, ensuring that it wouldn't harm Pepper. He collapsed to his knees, breathing quickly. He had almost been responsible for losing his own lover.

"I - I must have called it in my sleep - That - That's not supposed to happen..."

Pepper was facing away from him, catching her own breath after the scare she had just endured. This was becoming too much. Too much for her. Tony needed help.

"I'll recalibrate the sensors."

She didn't respond.

"Can we just - gah - just lemme catch my breath - "

As he spoke Pepper just stood up and began to walk away. She needed to calm down as did Tony.

"Where're you going? Don't go - "

"I'm going to sleep downstairs," She answered sullenly, walking away, "Tinker with that."

Tony sighed, collapsing back on the bed. Why was he like this? Why? He didn't ask for it but - he was only human - aliens, wormholes, potentially losing Pepper - it was a lot to take in all at once.

* * * * *

People had found you cowering behind he bins and they seemed nice. They didn't have the clothes that the people who you knew to be bad wore. Impulsively, you were quick to trust them.

You later regretted it though.

Whilst they nursed you back to health and got you as healthy as you could be (they found that you still grew to be shorter than was normal for your D/B), they did so for their own cruel purposes.

Dog fighting was never fun only sick.

They had picked you because you were small and would stand barely any chance against the other dogs. You would bark at your fellow canines to stop but all they growled back that it was survival of the fittest. Your new 'owners' never let you get too injured though and they would always nurse you back to some health before they put you in the ring again.

Weeks passed when suddenly more people came and took the cruel owners away. As for the rest of you canines, they took you to different centres across the city.

For once, there was a silver lining in your life, considering the place you went to was definitely good this time. The carers there looked after you and treated you well. You didn't have any fights, you were simply trained to be a helper rather than a fighter.

* * * * *

"Come on." Pepper beckoned him from the bottom of the stairs to Tony's workshop.

He looked up from the suit he was working on, "We're speaking again?"

"Tony, I never stopped speaking to you." She gave him a soft look.

Tony knew that but she had kind of avoided him for a majority of the day. She said that they just needed some time away from each other. He was happy to speak to her again but he did wonder if she felt the same. Admittedly, Tony was curious as to what Pepper had planned but he waited by the table. After seeing that he wouldn't move without some persuadion, she walked over and took his hands in hers.

"I'm sorry about last night."

"No, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to be harsh last night - I was just - scared. I needed to have some time alone." She spoke quietly, "Whatever, you're going through, I want to help you." She looked up to him with a sweet, concerned smile, "And I want to be there for you but - you need to stop tinkering for a while. Just for a while, just while we sort this out - together."

"You told me to tinker with it though."

"Tony."

"Sorry."

"I am taking you somewhere where you can find a better companion than a walking metal man."

"It's not a therapist is it?"

"Not just yet - but there will be one."

"But - "

"No 'buts', Tony, we're going to sort this out. I want you to feel safe again."

She pecked a kiss on his lips to help with her persuasion. With a sigh, Stark nodded. He wanted this to stop too and the first step was getting help. He still didn't know what this help was going to be but he would try for Pepper's and his sake. He needed to.

* * * * *

You had a lot of fun in your new, nicer home and you loved the people who looked after you. Some other people came in from time to time and took some of your friends away because they were being 're-homed'. You still didn't yet understand why anyone would want to leave this home though. It was the nicest one you had had.

You learnt new tricks, played games, ate well and slept like a puppy. To you, life was definitely luxurious now.

You were lying in your bed having a little 'dog nap' when you heard some people walk in. A man and a woman. From what you could smell, they appeared to be nice people but you could sense some fear in the man. He was unsettled. Not by you or your fellow canines but by something else, you could just tell.

* * * * *

Tony and Pepper were walking around the dog shelter calmly, enjoying all of the cute, furry faces they were seeing. This is not what Tony thought that Pepper would suggest but he wouldn't complain. A part of him had always wanted a dog but he simply never knew when he would have the time. This appeared to be a perfect excuse though. The woman who was guiding them around was speaking with them quietly.

"Is there a particular type of dog that you're after? Big, small?"

Pepper looked over to Tony with a smile, "Not specifically."

The lady nodded and then proceeded to lead them over to the set of kennels where you were lying. Each kennel was protected by glass and you wandered over to the front and sat down, patiently waiting to see the people up close.

The woman who was leading them around turned out to be your carer and when she brought the two people over to your kennel, your tail wagged happily and you barked a happy little bark as you stood up on your hindlegs, trying to get the attention of your carer. She smiled when she saw you, as did the two guests.

When you saw the man and the woman, your head tilted to the side curiously.

"This is Y/N. She's a D/B. Y/N is a rescue. She does have dwarfism, hence why she's a little shorter than you would expect, but she doesn't let that bring her down." Your carer smiled, reaching over the glass and giving you a little pat on the head.

"What was she rescued from, if you don't mind my asking?" Pepper queried.

"Not at all; she was saved from a gang who were running dog fighting rings which, as you know, are illegal."

"She doesn't appear to let that affect her too much either." She chuckled, "Isn't she sweet, Tony?"

Tony nodded. For once he genuinely didn't know what to say.

"You can pet her, if you would like. Just remember to let her sniff you first."

He stepped over to the glass and reached his hand down into the kennel. You got his scent pretty quickly and then he proceeded to give your head a little pat to which you happily obliged, wagging your tail excitedly. This brought a smile to his lips. He felt a sort of connection to you specifically, perhaps the two of you were just meant to be.

"I can show you some other dogs here if you like?"

Tony wasn't paying attention.

Pepper piped up with a smile, "I don't think that'll be necessary. I think he's already picked."

* * * * *

It was night again and Tony was hesitant to sleep now that Pepper had decided to join him in his room again. However, it was a little different this time.

This time, you were in his room too, lying comfortably in a newly bought dog bed, content in your new home.

Pepper was already fast asleep on her side of the bed but Tony was sat up in bed, wondering if he could go and tinker with his suits downstairs - but he also didn't want Pepper to get scared or hurt again. He knew he had to try and sleep. Tony was just nervous for understandable reasons.

Sensing this, you got up and padded over to your new owner, nudging his leg slightly, hoping this would encourage him to go to sleep.

"Yeah, you're right, Y/N. I know." He spoke softly to you.

Tony petted you for a moment, using you as reassurance. After all, you were there to comfort your owner so if you could do that then you knew you were doing as good job.

"Alright, you go back to your bed and I'll go to bed, sound like a deal?"

You gave a quiet yap of understanding and headed back to your bed, going round in a circle a couple of times before settling down. Tony did the same (without the circling of course), allowing his head to hit the pillow. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself to sleep.

Hours later, you heard your owner stirring. Padding over to the hurriedly, you jumped up, seeing Tony shaking his head slightly and notably moving uncomfortably in his sleep. Nightmares plagued his subconscious once again.

Tony was back in New York - the same scene that terrified him so playing over once again. Then Pepper was -

Pepper was safe next to him in the bed, awake and alive, gently stroking his face. And you were nudging him and whining for him to wake up.

"It's okay, Tony, you're okay." She spoke softly to him.

You gently laid yourself down beside him. Look after your owner was all you could think. And so you did, alongside your owner's partner.

"Are you okay?" He asked back softly.

Pepper nodded with a hint of a small smile, "All because of Y/N. She woke you up."

Tony looked down to you, who was nestled cutely by his side and you looked up to him, ears back, eyes wide, whining quietly. You could sense he was still unsettled. The billionaire smiled gently at you though, relieved you had woken him up so he wouldn't have to endure those events again.

"You're a good dog, Y/N, a very good dog."

This you promptly yapped happily at, wagging your tail in contentment.

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A/N: This has been half-done for a while, my bad for not finishing and publishing sooner :(
Idk why I was saying namaste a lot up there but now namago :))
Woo, bad joke, I know - i think I am dying from heat stroke, guess I will find out in the morning :))))