10010/More Than a Minor Concern

More Than a Minor Concern
Date of Scene:	12 November 2019
Location:	Pepper's Office - Stark Tower
Synopsis:	What was a conversation in concern between Steve and Pepper becomes a brief intervention once Tony arrives.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Captain America, Iron Man

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Pepper Potts has posed:
The message was a surprise. It wasn't often that Pepper was contacted directly by the members of the Avengers. It wasn't unheard of, simply unusual. She received the email first and responded by texting to the number he had offered. A few back and forth and she was able to schedule him in. She had offered to fit him in immediately but instead he took a slot that was open.

At the appointed time, Pepper was in her office at Stark Tower. She had a few papers in front of her, comparing some information there with what was on her screen and vice versa.

When Steve arrived, he would be allowed up and then offered entry by an intern working in the building.

Captain America has posed:
It's almost too cold for the motorcycle -- at least, to the broad swiping of society who prefers their cars. Steve, on the other hands, simply parks his Harley in the guest parking lot of Stark Tower and continues in, heedless of whether or not the wind cut through the warmer-lined leather gloves on his hands and the knitted stocking cat pulled down to his ears. He is pleased, however, that his shearling-lapel leather jacket overtop his thermal long-sleeve is comfortable.

Greeted at the front desk and escorted to the elevator, Steve then ascends to the floor housing Pepper's office. He watches his own reflection frown solemnly back at himself in the doors before they open. His steps in combat boots are barely heard on the flooring on his approach to her main office door. For Pepper, at least at first, Steve has a smile this side more friendly than professional and a polite greeting.

"Appreciate you taking the time to speak with me, Miss Potts. Won't take too long, I hope -- know you're busy."

Pepper Potts has posed:
As soon as the door opens, Pepper is rising to her feet, smoothing her pencil skirt into place around her hips. She moves around the desk, her suit pristine, white shirt crisp beneath. "Colonel Rogers." She extends her arm, hand out for a proper shake and greeting. She's smiling brightly, not the usual pasted on, though no less convincing, version used for business clients. "It is always a pleasure to see you. Please, sit. Would you like something to drink?"

There is a small bar area set up to the side with a tiny fridge. Not a single bit of liquor to be found there. It is a business office, after all. Bottles of water, sodas, coffee and even some tea options are available. Always with the formalities first before settling down to business. "And please, call me Pepper."

Captain America has posed:
The super-soldier returns the handshake with a respectful pressure and single pump of the woman's hand. "Steve, please. Thank you, Pepper. Decaf coffee'll chase the cold away from my ears," he says by way of her offer. His smile has grown in response to her own, social mirroring always sure to influence him in trusted circles. After removing his stocking cap, the Captain then makes his way to a seat and gets comfortable. As he begins peeling off his gloves, he glances over at Pepper.

"Mind if I ask you how Tony's been lately before I get into my personal concerns on matters?" For all his words sound utterly serious, his wheat-gold brows begin to quirk in sympathy at what he hazards will be a report perhaps not to the best.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Steve," she confirms as he offers the name. Her own handshake is firm and polite. None of those wishy washy half grab things some women do. Self assured and confident is what that says about her. At his request, she moves over toward the table.

Once there, she sets about getting his cup of coffee. The teal blue cup is placed in the dispenser then a K-cup of decaf follows. "Cream or sugar?" she asked while waiting the minute it would take for it to brew.

The question from him came before it was ready and she turned to face him, eyebrows raised slightly in surprise at the question before she relaxes back to a more neutral expression. "He has been dealing with some issues." A very carefully phrased response. "His leg injury seems to be healing well though." Despite his best efforts to the contrary, words she does not add though they run through her mind. "Is there something wrong?"

Captain America has posed:
"Just black, please," Steve replies as to doctoring up his coffee.

Her crafted reply earns her the very beginnings of a repressed smile and a look askance, down and off to one side, as if the Captain were attempting to either save face from his knowing slip. Still, he nods. Broad of chest, this rises and falls in a deep, deep sigh.

"I'll be blunt. Might need to stage an invervention for him, Pepper. His drinking has increased to a point where it's no longer just functional alcoholism. I get he's been dealing with some issues, yes," he echoes quietly, " -- but I came in to him assisting in a surgery 'nd smelling like he'd already been through a handle. One of our younger Avengers was in critical condition after dealing with an issue. Tony..."

It seems to be hurting Steve to even lodge this 'complaint', it being far more a worried tale than a true grousing. He rubs at one temple, eyes still downcast to one side. "He pulled some amazing miracle of tech out of his back pocket, but I could tell even the medical staff were concerned about him attempting to assist. Normally Tony can hold his own, but...he tripped 'nd nearly ate floor once the kid was stable...claimed he had gone 'four rounds with Jose Cuervo' while inputting information to the medical console."

Now he looks over at Pepper, his true-blue eyes full of unease. "I dunno that Tony knows how badly things could've gone if he'd fumbled because of his drinking. No -- I take that back: I bet he knows, but still..."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper turns back to the coffee pot, pulling the cup of steaming coffee out and carrying it over to offer to Steve. She makes sure there is a coaster on the nearby table for him to place it, since it is quite hot.

He hit things a little too on the head. The very issues she was referring to were his drinking. After finding him on the floor the other night, with his brace off. When she insisted on putting it back on, he almost hurt himself trying to walk. Even she had felt it was getting out of hand but that was at home, in privacy.

He was this way doing surgery on someone.

"Oh God," Pepper had to sit. Immediately. She took the chair next to Steve, hands gripping together tightly in her lap. She starts to speak then stops, closing her eyes a moment as she weighed what to do. She didn't want to betray Tony. Not in this or anything else. Yet, this was over the line.

"He may or may not. If he was too intoxicated, he may not have any memory of it. He is brilliant, we all know that. I think that is the only reason he has managed this long but performing surgery..." She shook her head, looking down at her hands which were clenched so tight her knuckles were white. She tried to force them to relax.

A slow breath in which is held a long moment before she raises her head, looking Steve in the eye as her jaw tightened and lips pressed a bit more tightly together. "I was planning on speaking to him soon myself. I agree that this has reached a point it can no longer be ignored."

Captain America has posed:
By how thin his lips pull, Steve's working through a moment of self-remonstration. He'd expected Pepper to know about the excessive drinking, but to see the supernaturally-composed woman need time to choose her words drives home the point to the senior Avenger that this has gone from beyond questionable territory to unquestionably-confirmed issue. A passing wish to have phrased it more delicately births and dies in a heartbeat.

He keeps his attention on Pepper and ignores the coffee set on the table for now, even if its curling steam smells absolutely wonderful. His stomach is twisted once on itself as is. "He's more likely to listen to you than to me," Steve admits. "'m...well, 'm not happy to be present, but if you want me at your back with this, I'll be there. I don't want to watch Tony hurt himself. Seen too many friends lose the fight to unhealthy coping mechanisms. The team needs him fully functional in times of crisis."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I've been worried enough about him endangering himself. That he is now endangering others in the field just makes it a dozen times worse than it was already. The young man is alright, I hope?" She asks, suddenly realizing that her concern for Tony overshadowed that of the man he worked on.

She doesn't rise to her feet. Her posture changes though, shifting. Her shoulders back, head up. The composed woman is back as she had been when he first entered. "I'm not sure which would be best, admittedly. Too many and he may be more defensive. Just me, he may not take it to heart."

She rises to her feet suddenly, moving over to the bar area and picking up a bottle of water. A glass is taken and a bit of ice removed from a bucket there, clinked into the glass until there are three total. Then pours the water over the ice before turning to return to her seat beside Steve. She could go behind the desk but she wanted to keep this more relaxed now, considering the topic.

Captain America has posed:
"The young man's recovered last I checked." Steve reaches out for the mug of decaf coffee finally with a forwards lean. He brings it to his lips, sips testingly, and then sips deeper of it. It truly is a good blend -- he's not sure why he's surprised, given the Stark Tower's propensity to host nothing less than the best and most comfortable.

He watches Pepper collect her bottle of water before glancing away, off towards the stretch of the city beyond the window in its glittering geometrically patterns of lights and low-lying sunlight beyond the skyscrapers..

"Dunno which way would be better either." This admission comes quieter yet, as if part of him hated to admit it. He glances back to the woman again, hands still curled about the mug held between his knees. "Figured he //would// listen to you -- you 'nd me, yes. Don't think it needs to go before other members of the team just yet. Now, say he doesn't listen to you 'nd me..."

Steve uncomfortably peters off into silence, his brows now heavily drawn together.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony doesn't generally do things like knocking and waiting. He rolls his knuckles backhanded on the door in a little rap-rap-rap-rap by point of warning before swinging the door open to Pepper's office.

And in Tony comes, with his usual shameless confidence. Tony is dressed immaculately today for the business meetings that he's been in. His suit is crisp black, perfectly tailored, the shirt under it a dark maroon, tie a slightly lighter deep maroon. He's wearing the leg brace, but at this point, for these meetings, it was partially strategic: it looks like Iron Man technology, and all of these meetings were tech based. The reminder of the Iron Man in the room was distracting in all the right ways. It distracted from the hangover, too, that morning. Since then that's abated, at least.

"Well hey," Tony says, surprised by the contents, smile immediate. Tony's very adaptive. "I thought I was walking in on a job interview. ....Or am I?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Tony." Pepper's response to him is immediate and a bit higher pitched than it should have been. "I wasn't expecting you." Immediately back to business, composed and any feeling of getting caught like a cat with the canary are gone. She rises to her feet, that automatic smoothing of her skirt as she did so.

"While I am certain the Colonel has a great many skills, he has not currently applied for positions within the company. Mores the pity." She motions toward the glass of water she put on the table, that she hasn't sipped from. "Water? Or would you like something else?" He knows she doesn't keep liquor in her office.

Captain America has posed:
Given his enhanced hearing, Steve's able to catch the footsteps just as they reach the door. He sits up all the straighter in his chair as he hears the knuckles make contact with the wooden door. At least with his back turned, he can dedicate a second or two to a scrunch of dismay on his face -- damn, no time to plot out a true battle plan.

Oh well, he suspects that's been most of his life since World War II.

Pepper's deft fielding of the question is followed by the Captain turning in his chair and lifting his coffee to Tony by way of greeting. "She's right, no applications submitted. Busy enough lately."

Iron Man has posed:
"In that case, if you're discussing something like a present for me of some kind, just carry on. I'm not even here," Tony says, voice lofty and self amused, with a gesture of one hand. His very Stark-smirk slips into play in his goatee, as he wanders towards her fridge to look through it. He does know there's no liquor, but that won't stop him from sighing at it as always. He snares an iced tea out of it with two fingers by the cap and turns back around, leaning against the edge of the mini-bar, and opens it with a quick twist. The leg brace is only crimping his style a tiny bit: he still manages a very relaxed stance, legs crossed at the ankle. He flips the cap of the iced tea out onto the bar's top with a little click of sound, and surveys the pair of them. Tony's a quick read of rooms. He's also impossible to ignore in a room; 'I'm not even here' flies right out the window as extremely unlikely!

"Well, don't be intimidated, Steve: submit away," Tony teases, smoothly. "I can vouch for his ability to be a team player, and non-poisonous coffee procurement."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Now the question is are they going to do this? Or is this going to be at another time? It's not like she can /ask/ right now with Tony in the room. At least he seems sober.

"Here. Sit." She goes to pick up her glass of water, taking it with her as she returned to the leather seat behind the desk. She makes sure her path takes her close enough to Tony to try to get a read on if she has been drinking yet or not. By sitting behind her desk again, it would allow Tony to sit next by Steve. Or not. Better in that position than behind the desk with the expanse of space between them.

She looks at Steve and there is the moment of what to do but then she just realizes now might be their best time. "Actually, Steve was telling me about something that happened recently. You helping rescue a young Avenger who was injured?" She's watching him very closely.

Captain America has posed:
"Don't forget my sterling expertise in theatre and fielding the public," Steve adds to the list with a point of his finger from around his coffee mug and a lift of his brows. The tilt of his head and slight smirk are utterly cynical. He takes a deep swig of the steaming drink, heedless of temperature, and sets it down.

The swallow to follow is a little forced once he thinks he reads Pepper's glance correctly. They're doing this, apparently, by the readiness of her posture. With a little sigh, he leans back in the comfortable seat and lightly slaps his palms on the arms of the chair. His nod is silent confirmation to Pepper's claim even as he glances to Tony almost expectantly.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony's meeting assortment has prevented the drinking, though that was about to change after stopping by. Tony's brows lift as Pepper positions, and there's that exchange of look. He follows it, but doesn't get defensive automatically. He was about to open his mouth to make a snarky guess about where this was going, but Pepper directs the conversation.

Tony moves to the spare chair and sits after a sweep of hand gets the cap for his iced tea. "Sure. Spider-Man was injured. Involved a neurotoxin," Tony agrees. "I rigged up a blood cleansing device, and an anti-venom."

His expression suddenly moves to abruptly serious, and loses color. "Wait. What happened? Didn't he go home, healthy?!" Tony demands, suddenly sharp with his concern. He's misreading this chat as a way to give him very different bad news. He digs for his mobile device, all of the smiles gone from his face.

Pepper Potts has posed:
That moment has the alarm bells going off. That he is unsure. That he has a doubt. Tony never doubts. Even when he is pulling something off the cuff, he doesn't doubt. It doesn't fit him. It's part of his charm, oddly enough, that extreme level of confidence.

"He's fine, Tony. From what Steve has told me." Steve now, not the Colonel. A more personable choice of names. More comfortable and less structured. A careful and calculated choice to move the conversation in the other direction. "However the situation was..." She tries to find the right word. "More dangerous for him than it should have been. Tony." She looks to him with concern now on her face.

"He could have been killed if you had made a mistake. You realize that, obviously. You endangered him. You have been endangering yourself. Things are getting out of hand and we're worried."

Captain America has posed:
"The kid's fine." Calmly, firmly, Steve echoes Pepper in his attempt to pull the focus back to them rather than the tech at hand. "Spoke with him recently, he's doing well. Wouldn't be a bad idea to schedule a check-in with him as is." Briefly, Avengers to-dos make an appearance in the Captain's thoughts.

He falls silent again, however, once the woman continues. The way he looks the genius-inventor seated nearby speaks volumes even if no further words leave his mouth. Somehow it's eloquent, the sympathetic consideration on his face, even if his jaw is slightly set.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony had started to swipe access on his device, but then stops, looking at Pepper. "Scared me there; that was cruel: he's a good kid," Tony answers, brows lowering together, as his agile mind moves to what this is actually about. He picks up quickly: there isn't explanation needed. "He would have been killed if I'd done nothing," Tony answers, sitting back, and rubbing one hand against his eye. His mouth moves with the tension in his jaw as he looks down and away for a moment.

"I know it's not optimal, the situation, there," Tony grants them. He fiddles with his mobile device now, putting the iced tea down, to spin it against his fingers. "He wasn't supposed to crash suddenly, and need me." Tony's gaze is down, dark eyes unhappy. He cares about the kid.

He clears his throat, though, and a smile springs back up. "But he's all right, and that's what counts." His gaze returns first to Steve, then Pepper: but there isn't a lot of shielding there, he isn't putting on a lot of bravado. Because Tony does know.

"I know what could have happened, Pep," Tony says, after meeting her gaze. "Had I been unavailable." Or unconscious. Tony may not be hearing or accepting that he endangered himself or Peter when he operates while drunk, by focusing on that it could make him unable to respond to an emergency, but he is getting the main message: he's created a problem with the alcoholism.

"Kid's all right, though," Tony says, perhaps mainly for himself. He didn't fail.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Tony, you did save him. There is no doubt that you are brilliant, no matter your condition." Pepper offers as she moves around that desk to the front. leaning back against the surface. Now she doesn't want that distance, having the desk separating them. She wants to be more approachable, closer.

"It's time, Tony. To leave it behind. Before someone gets hurt. Or worse."

She pauses a moment, a bite at her bottom lip then she opts to say it before she chickens out. Even though Steve is in the room to witness. "Remember, you're all I've got too."

Captain America has posed:
Despite his build, Steve is still in his chair. He doesn't fidget; instead, his hands don't move from their rested point above his belt, his fingers interlaced. His legs are still bent but for the unconscious lean of one knee to one side. He watches Tony's face, his mannerisms, with patient analysis.

Returning Tony's brief smile is nearly unconscious, though his doesn't linger long. His shift in attention to Pepper is accompanied by an encouraging nod not only for her -- it's deliberate enough for Tony to catch even before Steve looks back to him.

"Been a few times where I've been concerned about your safety, Tony, much less the team. We care about you and I know you care about us. I count you as a friend. I don't want to see you get hurt." He tries for a smile and finds one, even if it's half of one, and gone again soon enough. "If it's a matter of talking to somebody, I've got connections. 'm here for you, Tony."

Iron Man has posed:
A soft laugh surfaces when Pepper reminds them how brilliant Tony is. It isn't humble: that isn't it. But it does help buffer the other more negative things. Tony slips his mobile device away, pressing his palms together between his knees in a sort of teepee shape, bent forward. The body language reads that he's engaging with them: he's leaning in, not retreating away. He hooks a smile at Pepper that has a lot of mixed feelings on it: dark eyes have a serious depth. He did hear. He heard her statement about how he's all she has. But there's limits. His eyes brush towards Steve, and he clears his throat. Things are getting too 'real'.

"All right, so. Steve. Pep. I'm going to go ahead and leave this wildly uncomfortable intervention now," Tony declares with a quick little smile, putting his hands on the arms of the chair, and getting to his feet with a press of hands. Mostly due to the leg brace requiring that sort of move.

"But I have heard what you've said about my dumpster fire situation of drinking. It is under advisement," Tony says, all smooth charisma and smiles. It may read as a brush off, but both of them may see through it. He's uncomfortable and this is too much 'feels': but he's registered their words. They got through.

Pepper Potts has posed:
These are the moments that are hardest for Pepper. She understands them. She knows he withdraws when things are uncomfortable.

Her instincts scream at her to help, to comfort, to hold him through it. Yet, she stays where she is, knowing any of that would make things worse. She has to wait. To hold herself apart even as she feels that pain in her chest for him. Figuratively, she can't 'hand it to him'. She has to wait, for him to take what is there.

She can only hope he will.

She opens her mouth, about to say something then thinks better of it and changes mid stream. "I'll... This all came from a position of caring." She doesn't try to stop him. To call him back or ask him to stay. "Thank you for listening." And not just brushing it aside as them being worriers for no reason.

Captain America has posed:
From the chair beside the genius-inventor, Steve also rises to his feet. It's a slower process, less snappy, and gentled to enable him to simply exist rather than a weighty presence. His hands are in his pockets and the line of his shoulders level. He looks between Tony's dark eyes.

"Okay, Tony. Pepper's right: we're both worried about you and we care. We're here to talk with you if you want. Thank you for listening," he echoes with an earnesty having nothing to do with his star-spangled public persona.

Iron Man has posed:
"Yep. I know. You take care of me better than anybody," Tony says to Pepper evenly, honestly, without any pause. He then seems to take Steve in more, and shifts somewhat more brusque in tone, though it isn't from a position of shame: more from privacy. With all his public face, there's things he holds back tightly. "And you..." Tony quirks a puzzled little look at Steve, as if deciding exactly what compliment to lay on Steve. "Are here."

It's a throw-away, a joke, but also not a joke. Steve was there. And it matters, even if it's said with snark. It comes with a brief clap to Steve's muscular shoulder when Steve stands, a common move from Tony. It's a signal of friendliness. Tony's uncomfortable but not angry.

"Right. I am going to have a late lunch. Good luck on the interview thing. You certainly assisted Pepper today," Tony observes slyly, but starts to make his retreat: in a shameless, confident way. "Imagine how good he'd be at making copies," Tony loud-whispers at Pepper, before getting the hell out of the office.