14148/Homecoming, part deux

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Homecoming, part deux
Date of Scene: 23 February 2022
Location: Penthouse - Stark Tower
Synopsis: Just another day at Stark Industries...
Cast of Characters: Iron Man, Pepper Potts




Iron Man has posed:
The weekend is technically a day of rest, right? Of course it is, unless one is Tony Stark. The morning seems to be coming into its own, the sun rising over the City on the oceanside, the light glistening and gleaming off the buildings.

Within the penthouse of Stark Tower, Tony's suit jacket is off, the long sleeve button down shirt is off, as is the tie, leaving behind a t-shirt, his favorite: AC/DC. Through the thin cotton fabric, the blue light consistently shines. He has a cup of steaming hot coffee in hand, and he's walking the spot in front of the large window, looking out at the city beyond, his gaze is turned a little inward, however. He's either working, or, well.. working. There's no other mode, unless it's hard partying, which he actually hasn't done in a little while.

Maybe he's overdue? Or..

Pepper Potts has posed:
While it's been very strange waking up to Steve or Yelena in the penthouse and not at all going home to her little apartment in Chelsea at all (she often went back at least two or three nights a week), Pepper has gotten used to it. She's taken a few extra minutes before bracing for Yelena's company to sit up and do her morning emails in the very comfortable guest bedroom that has been her life since the threat on Tony's own life.

Now, however, she's braced for the world. She's not showered or ready to go down stairs yet, but coffee is needed first. It means that she has on her lovely satin robe, with her strawberry hair down in very faint waves that she normally straightens and hides. Her freckles are all visible, no make up in place yet, and this is how he'd see her every morning if they spent the rest of their lives together, but now... It's just a strange shock. This is the raw, honest Pepper. She stumbles as she realizes who is there, her eyes widening.

"...T-tony?"

Iron Man has posed:
To be fair, Tony //never// actually sees any of the one night stands 'the morning after'. He's up, out of bed and downstairs, the day already started. This, this is definitely not something seen every day, or even once/twice a year.

Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, Tony turns a half-turn with cup in hand and watches, his head canting. Brows rise, and a quirked half smile rises, "New business wear, Ms Potts?" He's teasing, and of course not making it easy on her because, well, Tony.

"I'm home, yes." He turns fully and starts a cross towards the coffee pot, his tones sounding a humored source of pride, "Actually made coffee, too."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Fortunately, she doesn't have coffee or she might just drop it right that moment. Pepper blinks at him, a strange mix of emotions flooding across her entire face. As he starts crossing to the coffee pot, she stumbles after him for a few heartbeats and then abruptly swats at his shoulder. She wants to hit and hug him at the same time and that's the easier thing to do, her hands still slightly trembling after. She tries to hide it by clutching her robe a bit tigether around her, arms folded across her chest.

"You didn't TELL ME!? You have someone who wants you dead and you send guards after ME?! You fly off to California and you don't even TELL ME?!" She rasps out, now very awake whether she's had coffee or not. There's a glimmer of moisture behind her eyes, tears she refuses to let herself cry, but they are there.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony doesn't take his eyes off of her; there's something behind those dark eyes, the smile hinting at something softer, something a little more personal.

When the swat lands, he actually laughs, though it's not dismissive, and he moves forward with the blow. "Wait, wait. Coffee first. I can see you could use a cup."

He stops short of the kitchenette, allowing her to move on, if so desired. Tony feels that he has to defend himself, though he's not raising his voice yet to the 'defensive' stance. "Look, I got the information literally hours before wheels up. I did what I could, which, by the way, was to make sure that you," he gestures with a flat, open hand towards the lovely, mussy Pepper, "were okay. I knew I would be. And, I was afraid you'd have //this// sort of reaction if I told you before I left."

Pepper Potts has posed:
There is a very strange mix of anger and pure relief on Pepper's features. No one else gets to see her like this, raw with emotions as much as she is just unprepared for the day. She generally keeps everything in strict, professional check, but it's been several days of drowning in worry, not her own home, other people, and not having him. It's been an unpleasant week.

She gives a little huff and stalks past him, shaking her head slowly as she moves into the kitchenette to pull down her usual mug and start filling it with coffee. Her hands are still slightly trembling, making the coffee shiver as she pours it. "Tony, I know you think you could survive anything, but you are still just human as well. If a sniper decides to take a shot at you while you're getting coffee, your head explodes just as easily as mine does. How...how am I supposed to be certain YOU are going to be okay when YOU are the one they want dead and you leave all your protection over here with ME?!" She stares back at him, moisture still clear in her eyes, tears she can't quite let herself shed.

Iron Man has posed:
So, not dead. This is good.

Tony turns his body so he's always facing front as Pepper passes him on the way to the coffee pot. He still has his coffee in hand, and now he drops his free hand into his pants pocket, and looks down, to the side, and then back up as she begins once more as she pours.

"You see, I know I can't. And someone next to me isn't gonna see it either. I need eyes, Pepper, and not on me. I need them tracking back long before they even think about seeing me." His tones are soft, "Which is why I hired a Black Widow. She's good, and she knows things that would take me precious time to figure out. And," Tony begins pacing, "I called Natasha on the way to the airport. She flew out with me, and, by the way, agrees with me."

Pepper Potts has posed:
As he says he called Natasha, Pepper sets her coffee mug down, tired of seeing the shaking in her hands on the surface of the mug. She stares back at him, pale green eyes a little too wide, too glassy, clearly exhausted and not entirely herself. She just stares at him. "Why didn't you TELL ME? Tell me that Natasha was there. That you had... more ways of being safe? I was locked up here like some princess in a tower and you're flying all over the country with an assassin on your tail and there was nothing I could *do*!" Pepper's voice breaks there, the tears behind her words making it crack. She presses her eyes tightly shut, trying to get control again.

"Tony... I almost lost you once. I... I can't do it again. I can't. I just... " She shakes her head slowly, scooping her coffee cup up again, slightly hunkered over it. She tries to walk past him without letting him see her eyes or those tears. She still hasn't really regained control and she needs air that isn't in this kitchen.

Iron Man has posed:
"And there wasn't a damned thing she could do to protect me if they we"re going to take the shot, Pepper. But I had someone," he tries to talk over her, trying to get her to understand all the things he's //not// saying. "It's okay," is all he can finish with.

As Pepper tries to pass him, Tony swings around, the coffee mug quickly placed on the edge of the counter as he tries to catch her with two arms, one on each upper arm. "I can't lose you. I'm okay with being a target. I've accepted that I walk around with a target on my back every day of my life. But not you."

Taking a step back, and his arms lower, his head shakes, "Not you. That's why I wanted the best next to you. Steve. A Widow, which, by the way, Natasha has a lot of respect for her ability."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Well, she tried to pass him. It didn't work. The moment Pepper feels his hands on her arms, she's stops dead still and looks back in Tony's direction. She stands there, so tense he can feel it through all her muscles. She draws in a deep breath, listening to his words. Her brows tighten a bit more, face threatening to crumple when she is trying her best to hold any edge of tears back. She's not really succeeding. He'll be able to see the glimmer.

"And what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and... take it? Know that you're fine with a target on YOUR back? That I'm supposed to just accept I can... will lose you again?? How can I do that? I can't, Tony... I can't. I can't lose you either and I don't know how to keep you and you're not even... you're just my boss... but I can't." Her voice cracks again, one of those tears finally cutting free down her cheek.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony just stands there, waiting for Pepper to take a deep breath, waiting for, well, who knows what. He can feel her tense under his hold, part of the reason why he lets go soon after to put a half-step between them. He doesn't drop his gaze at all, and when she begins to run out of steam, he does bring a hand up to forestall anything more,

"Wait, wait.. first, 'just'?" Tony shakes his head, "Pep, I've always had one. I mean, c'mon. We dealt in weapons for YEARS. I'm in the papers every day, much less every week, month.. and media? You field calls every hour about some actress or model that wants me to escort them to one red carpet or another. It's going to happen. In fact, I fully believe this is just the first time a Widow came in from the cold to actually //tell// me about it." Cavalier, he's trying calm nerves; whether he's succeeding or not, who knows?

"And you?" Tony shakes his head, finally reaching to retake now cold irish coffee. Doesn't matter; it's not going to go to waste regardless. "I'm super fine with one on me because it's not on YOU." He can see the tears, and they're hard to ignore. He walks and drains the mug, finally giving it to an oh-so-helpful robot that believes its job is to shadow and clean up his messes before he takes those few steps back, stopping right in front of her.

"Who would I talk to if I lost you? Happy? I'd have to break someone else in, and that would take ages. It'd be bad.. constantly comparing." He shakes his head, "Besides," and his voice cants low, "I like having you around. I don't pay you near enough for what you do, so it's more like.. volunteer work."

Pepper Potts has posed:
There is silence from her for several heartbeats. Pepper's just watching him, trying to get her emotions under control, even if it's a struggle. She reaches one hand up, almost going to touch him, but she stops herself. She rubs the back of her palm across her cheek instead and takes another shaking breath. "I know, I know...but you'd find someone else. There are always other assistants, Tony. There's... there's only one Tony Stark. And I know the target is always there, I just... I wish you'd be more careful."

She's run out of steam. She knows he's not really listening to her and this isn't an argument she's going to win. She's gone mostly numb now, pulling herself back into herself, back under control. She takes one more shaking breath and straightens her shoulders, forgetting her own coffee for now. A bittersweet smile pulls across her small mouth.

"Well. I... I'm glad you're home. I should... go get dressed. Ready for the work day. I take it I can go back to my apartment now? The worst is past?" She's all business now, putting those careful puzzle pieces and that wall back together. It's back to work, where she belongs.

Iron Man has posed:
"No," Tony shakes his head to underline it, "there isn't 'someone else'." It's a statement that emerges from him from deep inside; coming out as it will. This is the Tony Stark no one sees. It's him. Her. "You really think you can be replaced? C'mon, Pep. That's what the whole thing is about. It's you. How important you are, how much you're needed." He takes a deep breath, and he lets it out slowly, "There's only one Pepper Potts." He pauses, then, "Only one Virginia Potts." It's his fault she has her nickname..

He exhales in a sigh; for as much as he doesn't listen, he's not entirely sure she is. Whether he can hear him, understand him.. but there isn't anything else he can do or say. Not now. Instead? Tony nods and takes a half-step to the side. "Yelena will probably follow, only you won't see her." He chuckles, "Or, you can bring Happy, but that'll mean he'll want to stop for bagels."

Pepper Potts has posed:
As he says her full name, not her nick name, she stops. Pepper can't build her wall against that. She can't even remember the last time he used her real name. She stares across the space at him with glimmering, wet eyes, a faint hiccup comes behind her breath. Apparently, the tears aren't totally done. She's just trying to professionally make them done. It's not a winning strategy.

"...why did you take me out? The other night? Like you did all those women for... all those years? Why me? Because I don't know what this is any more but I am so scared to lose you and... and I don't know how to do this any more. This isn't just a job. It's not. You're not just a boss. I should maybe go somewhere else and this would all be more sane but... I can't. But I'm so scared..." Not just of the assassination matter. That's the least issue, it seems.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony drops a hand into his somewhat wrinkled suit pants; he's not quite up with the morning either, and he crosses back to the coffee pot. "One," he begins evenly, "I have never given any of my dates a ride in the helicopter." Actually, he's never really wined and dined any of his dates. Most of them have been party opportunities that he's brought home. Or, upstairs in a hotel suite. Or..

"Not one of my dates has ever successfully stayed.." and that's true, too. The walk of shame is real. JARVIS and Pepper are an amazing tag-team.

"And, I took you out because I thought it would be nice." Now, Tony might sound a little defensive. "I remembered the day, I knew you were working late, and I thought I'd surprise you." Brows rise and he cants his head slightly, "Too much?"

Tony waits, and there's one of those quick, there and gone, smiles, before she makes her pronouncement. He looks surprised, taken aback, hurt, then his shoulders drop, and he shakes his head. "I.." the earlier smile, the one that hints at a touch of charm is gone, and here he is again, and it's not a comfortable place for him to be. "Pepper, you take really good care of me. You do. I.." Her admission has him forgetting, neglecting his coffee, and he takes the steps to cross the distance between them. Once there, he's reaching out to give her a hug. "Nowhere is sane. Here, especially. But, you know what? We'll get through it."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pep just gives him a quiet glare, "You don't take your secretary to a Michelian starred restaurant dinner in a *helicopter* because she worked too late, Tony. That's what you do with a girlfriend." There. She said it. She wasn't entirely certain she was GOING to say it until it came out of her mouth, but she said it. She then goes dead silent and still, her mind panicking for fully other reasons.

But maybe he didn't really hear it. He's coming in to hug her, and that hug is nice. She remains stiff in it for a few heartbeats before forcing herself to breathe and her skinny arms to come up, wrapping tighter around him. Her head buries into his neck for a few moments, breath too shallow to just be calm. "I know... I know. And I'm not going anywhere, I promise. I just... I wish I understood what was going on. I wish I knew I could do more to protect you. I wish this all... the whole world... made more sense." She mutters into his throat.

Iron Man has posed:
"No, no I don't. I took Ms Pepper Potts on a flight in the helicopter, flew with her to DC, ate at a Michelin star restaurant, and sailed back on the yacht." Tony sounds both casual and not, trying to keep the 'explanation' light. "Never did that with a girlfriend." He shrugs with a single shoulder, "You deserve better?"

The stiffness when first held is almost a deterrent, the 'I don't want this' feeling until she begins to relax and wrap her arms around him. He's holding her, and gently begins to rock. As her head finds a spot under his chin, his hand rises to run his hand down the back of her hair. "You expect this to be normal?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
The hand in her hair helps. The way she fits so perfectly beneath his chin, almost entirely wrapped up in his warmth and his scent. His very alive, very Tony Stark presence, it's the first time she's felt safe in days. He can feel her sink deeper against him and the suddenly tightness of her arms against his back, her fingertips clinging to his shirt. She takes another shuddering breath against his throat.

"No, no... I ever expected it to be normal. I don't know what I expected it to be. A job. But... it's so much. *You* are so much more. And we're here now and I don't know... I don't have the answers. I always have the answers, Tony. That's my job. I'm the answers girl. I don't have the answers on his one..."

Iron Man has posed:
From her spot, Pepper might be able to hear, if not feel a soft, almost unvoiced chuckle. His hand moves, and it feels.. comfortable. Natural. Not a case of 'one night stand and gone'. "Since when? I thought I was the one with answers," he teases softly. "You know, genius inventor."

'So much more'. Tony rocks her gently still, and he can feel her hands holding on, and he lays his cheek on her head. "I'm more than a job," he agrees, but continues, "I'm a really bad career move on your part." Tony keeps his voice low and intimate, "You do get lots of perks, though. Vacation days you almost never use, long hours, and the unenviable position of making sure my suit jackets still fit."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Nah. You're a fine career move. You know how many outside offers I've gotten? How many people have tried to poach me?" Pepper asks with a cracking little laugh, still holding onto him for dear light, tighter than she's ever held him before, but it feels good. She can feel the faint pattern of his breath, very faintly hear the beat of his heart, and that constant, quietly reassuring hum of the reactor that she feels more than hears, but is definitely there. She's not letting go.

"If I wanted to, I could be making 25 million a year with at least two other Fortune 500s. It's a great career move, if... I'd leave. But I'm not going to. I ... I've them no. All no. Because I'm here... for the long run. Whatever this is."

Iron Man has posed:
"Poach you?" Tony's got a rhythmic rock, "Nah. You'd never be happy." The laugh, there it is, and he smiles as he holds her still. "You aren't worth $25 million, Ms Potts," he murmurs. "I'm fairly sure that you'd be amazing, but if you left?"

Tony sighs, the breath exiting slowly, "I'm glad you won't, though. Didn't." He doesn't feel like he's about to go anywhere, even as the morning progresses. The sun is climbing in the eastern sky, giving the city a glow.

"Should probably let you go home and get changed. I know I could use a shower." He wrinkles his nose, sniffs theatrically, and continues, "Definitely could use one."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Another crackled, almost drunk on relief little laugh escapes her lips as he says she should go home. Shower. Get changed. "Yes, yes... And to think, a part of me was just about to tell you to come back to bed. What was I thinking?" Pepper asks softly, pulled away just enough to look into his eyes.

Then, unless he stops her, she steps back fully. She brushes away the last few tear streaks on her cheeks and tries to smooth down her hair, taking a deep, steadying breath. She's finally, officially putting that professional wall back into place. Unless he does something again. She's ready to face the day. "I'm...glad you're home safe."

Iron Man has posed:
As she looks into his eyes, there's a hint of something soft, unscripted warmth, and he gives a light shrug, dancing that razor's edge. He doesn't want her to be embarrassed in the moment of brutal honesty. "I probably would have accepted," is whispered, his throat sounding a 'clearing' soon after. "Right.."

Tony frees Pepper from the embrace, giving her that moment to get herself a little more 'together'. As much as she can in robe, that is. He takes another half step back and looks out at the balcony, then back. "Right, uh.. thanks. Good to be home. If anyone calls, tell them I'm in meetings. I'll.. be downstairs." In the workshop.

Pepper Potts has posed:
There is just a heartbeat too long of silence, as he says he would have accepted. Pepper watches him, processing that, trying to find the right words. Instead, she finds the comfortable ones. She gives him a quiet nod, "Yes, well... I'll be in the shower and then... down stairs. Downstairs-downstairs. In the offices. Get some rest sometime, Tony. Please." She gives his shoulder one more squeeze and then scoops up her coffee, stepping back past him down towards the guest room where she's been staying. Just another day in the life of Stark Industries.