14165/Late Night Wake Up Call

Late Night Wake Up Call
Date of Scene:	02 March 2022
Location:	Penthouse - Stark Tower
Synopsis:	Tony catches Pepper deeply asleep on the couch and, upon waking her, does his best to work the knots of the day out of her back. Pepper is too tired to realize she shouldn't be doing this with her boss. She dares even let herself enjoy it.
Cast of Characters:	Pepper Potts, Iron Man

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Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper had hopes he'd come up from the workshop. Maybe they'd even share a dinner tonight. But, when it got to after 8 at night, she snuck down into the workshop just to drop him off a bowl of noodles and another cup of coffee before letting him be. She knows how he gets. At least he's home and safe, she can't entirely complain knowing that much. She just thought he'd come up before it got horribly late.

And, as the night went on, her hope faded more. She's been working on finishing the audit results of the end of Q4 all night. It's a hard job with a company this large and, while she does have a decent accounting department, catching some vary detailed but very important accounting errors is what turned his head about her in the first place. So, she always does them herself. And was doing that until about 1 am, when the early morning hours and stress of everything finally got to her. She's now curled up on her side, on his big couch. She's still in her stockings, skirt, and silk shirt from the day. Her high heels and suit jacket have been abandoned. She's not shivering, but she's definitely curled into herself enough that says she's probably a little cold. Her hair is spilled out and free across her face. She's using one of his t-shirts as a pillow, curled under her head. It's more comfortable than the stiff leather arm cushions.

Iron Man has posed:
It's not a comfortable living area, if it can be called 'living' area. It does have those couches, chairs, and the fireplace, but n terms of decor and comfort? It's his bedroom and workshops that actually show the man's sense of style and decor. And that is 'geek tech cool'. Robots, Iron Man prototypes, and tools, from the fine to the demolition.

Tony's been doing a lot of work in the labs lately

Iron Man has posed:
once he's got something in his head, it progresses from his brain to prototype within months. Then, testing, tweaking and production in six months. It's one reason why he's been so successful

Iron Man has posed:
why SI has been so successful at R&D to roll-out. The fruit tray, the noodles have been eaten, long ago, and finally, he's dragging himself tiredly up the stairs, ready to crash.

It's on the cross towards his room, however, that he catches the form and figure of Pepper, curled up there on the couch. It's not something he's used to, and he slows to a stop to simply watch her for a few moments before he says quietly, "Pep?" He's not trying to wake her up

Iron Man has posed:
just a check to see if she IS awake. The breathing is even, and he looks around quickly, checking the time, before he changes his path to head towards her. In those few steps, there are a thousand and one thoughts, each flickering and vying for dominance on his tired face. The one that comes to rest, however, is the fatigued but softened features.

"You know this is ruining my reputation, right?" is whispered. "Never had anyone stay for more than a night." He's joking, mostly, and certainly doesn't expect an answer.

"JARVIS, turn up the fireplace, please."

At the request, the more subtle flames grow, still easily contained. Still not really warm enough..

Should get a blanket.. or something.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The first call of her name across the too-quiet apartment doesn't bring her back to wakefulness. She's probably been asleep a good hour by now, deep enough that it's going to take more than a quiet whisper on the air to rouse her. She definitely is cold, her stockings not made for sleeping. Nor was this couch. But once he is a little closer to her, there is something itching in the back of her head that she's not alone any more.

Then he's asking JARVIS to turn up the fire place, and something between his voice and the brighter light in the room is enough to make her properly stir. She rolls over onto her back, giving a bit of a noticable shiver as her shoulders hit a part of the couch that was cold from her not touching it previously. Green eyes half flutter open and that's when she realizes she was so very asleep. "Oh... dammit..." She breathes out raggedly, jerking herself up into sitting. And then straight back. Oh no, too fast, dizzy. She is not a woman made to sleep curled in a ball on the couch.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony's turning around to get a blanket as he catches her stirring. Stopping in his tracks again, she's turning onto her back, and with the unconsious shiver, he's making his way back over in her direction.

"Hey," he says quietly, and she's bolting up to a sitting position before she.... is back down. Tony doesn't increase his speed, but he does increase his stride, repeating, "Hey," and adding, "you okay? You fell asleep on the couch.."

When he reaches her side, or rather, the arm of the couch, he's got a mixture of a concerned and amused expression on his face. "I don't pay you to sleep, Pep." He's teasing, of couse. "Time for bed. You're not allowed to keep my hours."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"If *you* are keeping your hours, *someone* has to keep up with you." Pepper rasps gently, a drowsy, amused smile on her features as she tries to rub some of the sleep out of her eyes. It gives her a little bit of a racoon eye, as she still hasn't even taken her make up off. She normally has herself a bit more put together, but working more and more from the penthouse means she's letting herself drown more often in work and not the very careful balance she had before.

"'mfine. I was trying to finish Q4 balances. I think I did. I was just going over the last numbers..." Sure enough, if he'd recover her fallen tablet from the floor, she has all the numbers perfectly balanced, profit reports all clear, and everything the board is going to want by Monday morning. "But no. I'm not okay. Your couch is an *awful* sleeping couch. My back may never recover." She grumbles teasingly, reaching a hand for him to help her up.

Iron Man has posed:
Missed opportunities that will play in a head over and over in years to come. Not moving a bit of mussed hair, a touch, but Tony does offer a hand for her to rise, to gain her feet.

"Let's face it Potts, no one can keep up," he deadpans. "If you can tell me when or where, I'll actually drink one of those protein drink things." He smiles again, though it's there and gone quickly. "And I'll let the Board know how dedicated you are to the numbers." There's a pause before, "No, you'll let them know. I hate meetings."

Once Pepper does gain her feet, Tony twirls a finger in a silent gesture to 'turn around', back facing him. If she allows, he'll lay hands on her shoulders to knead, thumbs digging in by her shoulderblades. "It might. But any disability, I'll have to sign off on. So..."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper does accept the help up, her back and shoulders cracking in more than one place. "Didn't you eat your dinner I brought you? At least tell me you ate dinner!" She huffs teasingly, but then she just lets her head dip forward and rest on his shoulder for a moment. She's still so tired. And he smells good. Or, correction, he smells like Tony after a day in the workshop. It's a comforting smell to her. "Yes, you are right, I will be the one telling the board. So, better that this gets finished..."

But then he's twirling his finger like that. Pepper is just tired enough and just confused enough to obey without question, having no clue what he's about to start doing. His heavy hands on her shoulders was NOT the reaction she thought she was going to get. "Oh... oh. That... yes. I mean... just to be safe. This would count as a worker's comp case, you know? I'd file the paper work." She's teasing him, her voice husky and low as she practically melts under his hands.

Iron Man has posed:
"I'll just make sure you have a more comfortable chair. Besides, you wouldn't know what to do with your time off," Tony murmurs, his fingers digging into the muscles in her back. He catches a knot, and pushes on it, with a 'there?' before he starts the massaging until it's a little softer, a little more pliable under his fingers.

"You wouldn't be able to rest, thinking that I'm not eating right." That bit sounds a tease, and he leans in, "For the record, I did eat."

Pepper Potts has posed:
The sounds that escapes her throat when he hits that knot and starts working through it is not a sound Pepper has *ever* made around her boss before. It's not a sound that an employee makes about a boss, but more so very close friends. Probably lovers. It's all enjoyment and desperately needed relaxation as she melts into his arms. "You... are going to put me right back to sleep right here under your hands, you know? This is dangerous..." She teases him throatily, pale eyes fully shut now. She's leaned as deeply into his hands as she can possible go.

"...And I'm glad you ate. Proud of you. Keep this up, and I'll start thinking you don't need me." She whispers drowsily, half drunk with exhaustion and relaxation. She's not really thinking of the things coming out of her mouth.

Iron Man has posed:
That particular sound is one that Tony's heard more times than can be counted - the groan/moan of pleasure that slips from the throat unbidden. A hint of a smile creeps on his face, and the knot is worked until it's pliable under those fingers. "Dangerous? Nah," his voice is soft in the large room. Just for them. "Can pretend this isn't happening," he continues.

There's the pause as his hand moves down her spine, kneeding the muscles there. "You know this is easier lying down." There's a pause before adding, "Naked. All the good masseuses do it."

Tony shakes his head, though pretty sure he can't see it, Feel it, maybe. "Nah. I'll find something else for you to do."

Pepper Potts has posed:
The commentary about her being naked gets her green eyes to peek back open. Pepper flickers a look back to him with a gentle smirk across her lips, "...Don't push your luck, Mister. As is... I should walk away. This... This is going to be very awkward tomorrow morning. I'll have to look you in the eyes again, you know? We have to *work* together." And then his fingertips are at the base of her spine and that groan escapes her lips once more. She desperately needs that deep kind of massage, but his hands are doing pretty well.

"But... I think you do make a point about the laying down. You can get... that much from me. Come on, there is a proper bed and if you keep this up I'll be asleep again in five minutes..." With that, Pepper tugs him back towards the guest room. She *doesn't* get naked for him, but she does slip out of her shoes and crawls into the bed where she can properly offer him her back. True to her word, she'll be asleep within a few minutes of him continuing his work, happily breathing slow and deep, completely trusting beneath his touch. In the morning, she might wonder if this all was a dream. But for tonight, she'll enjoy it.