14432/Pepper's Homecoming

Pepper's Homecoming
Date of Scene:	07 June 2022
Location:	Penthouse - Stark Tower
Synopsis:	Pepper comes home after a 10 day business trip to figure out what mess Tony has made for her. Surprisingly, he hasn't. Other than speaking to her mother.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Pepper Potts

---

Iron Man has posed:
New York City in June.

Tourism is up, thanks to the passing of Memorial Day weekend, and the City is alive and electric. New graduates of the various high schools and universities are settling in to their new jobs, whether temporary or (hopefully) permanent, and the energy can even be felt in one of the largest corporations of New York City (perhaps arguably the country.. we won't go global. Yet.) It happens every year around this time.

Up in the Penthouse, all seems quiet except for the movement of robots; DUM-E is cleaning off the coffee table slowly and methodically, the treads tracking from coffee table to garbage, though there is some spillage. That's what the little cleaner bots are for, however, and the little roomba-style vacuum cleaners are trying their best. What is not touched, however, are the glasses at the bar, stacked neatly in the bar sink for the actual human housekeepers for when they come.

Tony, for his part, has spent the greater part of the week down in his workshop, and only emerges for sleep and the occasional phone conference that he doesn't want to take in the labs.

<<Sir, Ms Potts has indicated that she is on her way home from the airport. Shall I call for food?>>

Currently, Tony is in his lab, dark eyes intent upon the screen and the exploded view of his current project in the air around him. Music blares in the background, though the words JARVIS says does manage to break through his current attention sink. The man is dressed in a blue button down shirt that is, well, buttoned down half way, revealing a light colored t-shirt with a quirky meme off to the side. Through the thin, cotton fabric, that blue light shines. Jeans, sneakers finish the outfit; serves double duty. Easy enough to take official calls, or rather, the ones he wants dressed this way!

"What?" Tony starts to shut down, slowly, nodding, "Happy's gone to get her, right?"

<<Yes, sir. Mr Hogan has indicated his frustration with traffic in his usual erudite fashion, and will return shortly.>>

"Right, food then," He's got his timing, then, and he begins to make his way upstairs, the lights shutting down as he departs. "Surprise me."

<<Yes, sir.>>

Pepper Potts has posed:
Even on a private Stark Industries jet, a near cross-world flight is exhausting. Pepper's going to be feeling the jet lag any minute now and there was no rest gotten in the back of the limo in which Happy picked her up, because he was simply so excited to see her and drilled her about every inch of her trip while she was away. That means, she looks a little more ragged around the edges than usual when she steps through the penthouse doors, breathing a sigh of relief.

She's rolling a small carry on behind her, the wheels spinning quietly on the floor to a rhythmic click of her high heels against the marble in the foyer. She has a bigger bag, but Happy insisted on handling it for her and she's not complaining. She's still in her traveling suit -- a custom tailored blue and white seer sucker with a pencil skirt that is slit up the side to near her mid thigh. A white silk blouse compliments beneath and, exhausted or not, she still looks capable of commanding a board room any minute. She's just hoping she doesn't have to.

Peeking around the Penthouse curiously, she calls out, "...Tony?" There is some quiet hope behind her voice that he's actually come up to greet her and she won't have to drag him out of the workshop for her homecoming.

Iron Man has posed:
Believe it or not, Tony's actually managed to beat her home, well, upstairs, if only by a few minutes. Of course, he makes it look as if he's been up for HOURS, planted as he is behind the bar, pouring not only his scotch but a glass of wine for the returning Pepper.

Looking up from his spot, Happy is manhandling the other, larger suitcase into the bedroom before emerging once again.

"It really feels like there's more now than when you left," is good naturedly groused.

Tony shakes his head at Happy, though he's got a smile on his face, "Said by a man who never lives it up when going places. You, my friend, need to get out of the hotels more." He's crossing the room, the drinks in hand, and in a move, is ready to switch the wine with the bag, and give the small (in comparison) carry on to the Happy. "Welcome home, hun." At least he leads off with a drink and leaning in for a quick greeting kiss before, "What did you get me?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
Catching sight of him behind the bar, a smile brilliantly blooms across Pepper's lips. She's still tired, but the fact that he's actually home to greet her means more to her than she even first realized. It makes her feel wanted. Needed. Missed. She happily hands off her smaller bag, "Thank you, Happy." She mutters to the main, her patience far better now that she's at home in the Penthouse and not trapped in traffic in a car while being grilled about her time away.

She chuckles at Tony's question, leaning up and over to meet that kiss warmly before pulling back enough to grin even wider, "You mean beyond one of the most brilliant tech start ups in Tokyo? Because I did get you *that* and their work on AI integration software is almost as good as yours." Almost. "I might have also brought you back some Japanese whiskey, but that's for after dinner." She leans up to kiss him once more, this time rather longer, letting it linger. Letting her lips say just how much she missed him. Then she's pulling away to take her wine.

Iron Man has posed:
Happy looks amused, but there's just a hint of something else as he looks at the pair before shaking his head and taking his leave. "What? And leave you? Not a chance."

Once the door closes, the pair are alone again, and Tony's attention is firmly on, really hasn't left, the returning Pepper. His hands are at her waist, with his scotch still in hand, and the first kiss turns into the second. It's longer, a touch deeper, and has a more 'welcome back' quality than the initial quick peck.

Once broken, he doesn't move, but instead stays close, looking into those green eyes of hers, "Good. Don't want them creating some Mecha-Godzilla. Great movie, but really bad in practice."

How's that for romance?

With wine in hand, Tony looks away, if only briefly, to survey the Penthouse again, perhaps looking at it like she might? "DUM-E's been up on the cleaning. He might have missed the garbage a couple of times, so I have some really frustrated roombas. Other than that, the kids are good. JARVIS has been nagging me to get sleep, and.." He looks back at Pepper, "I'm glad you're home and it was successful. I bet it was a hard sell, but you wow'ed 'em with brilliance." And a check.. well, not really a physical check per se, but the promise of one.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"I promise they aren't going to make a mecha-Godzilla." Pepper whispers against his lips, her own mouth turning into a happy grin, still reluctant to really pull away from him. She barely said good bye to Happy, that's how much she missed Tony. They are definitely in the honeymoon stage of things, if that wasn't obvious to Happy before. She leans a hint closer against him for just a heartbeat longer, but then he's pulling away. Pepper forces herself to take in a deep breath, to remember herself. It'd be unprofessional to just drag him off to the bed here and now.

Therefore, she accepts her glass of wine with a thankful tilt of her head. She then moves to kick off her shoes and come around to fold neatly down into the comfort of the familiar, long couch where she's had so many late nights doing work. She looks back up to him, still smiling, "I'm glad I'm home too... and glad JARVIS somewhat took care of you. I was worried you wouldn't eat or sleep nearly the whole time I was gone. I'd come back to a collapsing husk of a man in the workshop. And it was... a challenge, but we managed. Sharing resources, labs, and the like, while we have access to all their brillant minds -- and patents -- is a win for both of us."

Iron Man has posed:
There. To see that smile and know that he'd helped it there is big for him, and in her own, his is reflected. It's the quiet banter, the warm comfort of her presence that makes all the difference in the world for him. While the 'honeymoon phase' is still very much active, their day to day interactions have remained stable, if not a little //more//. The soft teasing, the way he //looks// at her, and is attentive to her every movement..

As Pepper kicks off her shoes, a little robot sneaks out of its corner to take hold of the shoes and whisk them away to their spot with the others. The Penthouse is 'alive', after a fashion, and it's a 'thing' that Tony is so used to that he doesn't even blink an eye anymore. Tony follows her to the couch, taking a swallow of his scotch now, and sits on the couch beside her. "No. JARVIS told me that you left explicit orders. What they were, however, he wouldn't tell me." There's a theatric pause when he lifts the glass again for a sip, then, "How quickly they grow up and choose their favorite parent."

Tony is attentive, and as Pepper talks, he's moving and making room for her to lean on him. "Patents and minds. Don't care about hearts."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Why *thank you*." Pepper utters to the small robot, giving the thing a warm smile. She treats Tony's robots just like he does, as if they are a part of the family. The same way she talks to JARVIS. It's partially how she fits in so well with his life and always has -- she doesn't see the important things in his life as lesser, or not members of the family, even when they are machines.

Then she's looking back to him, shifting her body so she can kick her legs up over his lap, the familiar warmth of her taunt calves under those neat, still perfectly in tact stockings. How she got through a whole day of travel without a single run is the true miracle. One of Pepper Potts' many talents. She takes a deep sip of her wine, watching him over the edge of the glass with that drowsy, warm smile.

"Well, JARVIS and I have aligned goals -- keep Anthony Stark happy, healthy, and alive. A certain man named Tony Stark often operates against those goals, so we take the cooperation where we can find it." Pepper's still grinning, but she can't help but let a bit of that worry slip through to her eyes. She was genuinely nervous about leaving him alne all that time. "And I care very much about hearts *and* minds."

Iron Man has posed:
A sing-song chirrup sounds from the little 'bot, and anyone who anthropomorphizes the little guy would easily hear the computer noise as a 'you're welcome!' as a response. Couldn't be, right? Just happened to sound after Pepper's 'thank you' by chance.

"You're spoiling them," Tony notes as Pepper gets comfortable, her legs moving over his lap.

A warm hand rests atop, and he glances down quickly before he's meeting her eyes once more. It's not the fact that she's not got a run in those stockings that appeal, but rather, she's got great legs.. attached to a lovely body, and resting atop?

He's a lucky man.

"Uh huh," Tony returns. "Now you're sounding like my Board." He's teasing, and it's got that warm, affection sound to it. "JARVIS conveniently added that smoothie place you like. The stuff where they blend grass? That place, and they apparently are more than happy to deliver." After a first sip, that was relegated to 'It's Pepper's' quickly.

The scotch is finished with one last swallow before leaning forward to put the glass on the coffee table. Once done, Tony begins to rub her legs, down to her feet. "I only care about one or two of those. Everyone else?" He makes a soft, dismissive sound before,

"How'd the labs look. Anything to take away and maybe apply downstairs?" In the SI labs, not his.

"We got a new group of researchers in. At least I think that's what HR said." He shrugs lightly, dismissively, adding, "Could have been 'bleachers', because I want to build a gym downstairs."

Pepper Potts has posed:
The little chirp from the robot gets an earnest smile from Pepper, eyes flickering from Tony over to the little machine for just a moment. "Me spoil them? Tony, you've spoiled these robots since you built them. I'm just making certain they feel like a continued part of the family, because they ARE a part of the family, whether you admit it aloud or not. I know that's how you think of them. So, that makes them my family." This isn't Pepper just humoring him. She absolutely cares for all those little machines and has since she started working here. It's a way to feel a little less alone, sometimes.

"If you don't care about your health, and I know you often don't, then double the reason JARVIS and I need to gang up on you sometimes. I need all the help I can get keeping the man I love alive." Pepper pokes at his ribs gently, teasingly, but in every joke there is a core of truth. She really was worried about leaving him that long.

"One or two projects. I have the schematics uploaded to your private server for examination already. And god, Tony, if you don't know the difference between researchers and bleachers, I really SHOULD have come home faster." She shakes her head, taking a too-deep sip of wine for not having eaten in hours. She still needs it, thinking of the clean up she'll have to do. "I'll...handle it in the morning. But now... talk to me. How...how did you hold up? Really? How're you sleeping?"

Iron Man has posed:
It is true. Tony's talked to those little creations of his for as long as he can remember. From the beginning, they'd been his confidantes, his friends, his sounding boards. When he has them in his workshop downstairs, he's not truly alone; he can easily hold one-sided conversations with them and know that they have some modicum of understanding.

But JARVIS? That AI is special, and has a spot in that heart of his. One of the few unnamed throwbacks to his own history, his family's history. One he rarely looks back on.

Forward is the way!

Tony's rubbing her feet now, his attention more on her face; he's most definitely missed her.

"Of course I care." There's a pause before, "Mostly. I just have better things to do." Better than...

Right.

A soft chuckle rises from the man, and he shrugs a single shoulder, "Wasn't paying attention. Someone had to take some of those calls that JARVIS snuck through." Blame it on the AI, making him do work!

The words from Pepper gains a smile, the affection real behind dark eyes. It's only comparatively recently that he's actually //accepted// the fact that maybe she really could love him. Lots of soul searching in the moments of silence without her here. "I promise I will stay alive for as long as I can. I wouldn't want to deprive you of trying to keep me alive."

Tony shifts a little and beckons her to his side, using his finger to indicate that request that she spins around so she can lean instead.

"Holding up? Fine. Sleeping? Nothing a little self-medicating can't handle." A way to keep the nightmares at bay. Sleeping beside her has helped that some, actually. And without her?

He's coming to the realization that he doesn't //want// to be without her in his bed. "Don't believe anything JARVIS says, though. It wasn't that bad."

There's a touch of twisting, however, and he can't help but ask, "Miss me? You sound like you worried about me. I can actually function like a human being." A pause breaks the speech, however, and he adds, "Mostly. I did have to look up a couple of things, though." Well, JARVIS did.

Pepper Potts has posed:
At his beckoning, Pepper shifts her legs down so she can easier tuck against his side, under his arm. Curled up like this, Pep is half tempted to fall asleep. After all, it's well into the night Japan's time and she likely worked through most of the flight back. Her body now has no clue what time it is, but she does know she's safe, home, and he's comfortably warm. She turns her head, pressing a soft kiss against the side of his jawline before she tucks her nose and forehead into the crook of his neck.

"Of course I missed you. And did worry. I haven't been out of town this long in almost five years and, back then, you had at least a few others that were watching over you, didn't you? It wasn't *just* me." Truthfully, it's been just her, JARVIS, and Happy for a while. But she's let him lean on her so much that she worries about when she goes. She's also grown accustomed to the caretaking dance between them. She likes doing it. It makes her feel useful beyond just being book smart.

"Mm...you looked things up, or JARVIS did?" Pepper asks with a husky, tired laugh from her throat. She then finishes off her glass of wine, leaning forward just enough she can set the empty glass down before fully curling up on her side, pressed against him. Her body is getting that sleep heaviness to it as she sinks against him.

Iron Man has posed:
With Pepper moving around, there's warmth on warmth, contact with a man who, while gregarious in public, doesn't like to be touched by others. Unless it's by that redhead that finds her comfort there. Resting his arm protectively around her, he's pulling her in just a touch more before she's settled and truly there for the time.

It's late afternoon, NYC time, but for them, for schedules, it could easily be midnight.

"JARVIS, close the curtains," which is actually more 'darken the windows' that overlook the City. In the next moment, the room's light fades to a dim, restful pace, thanks to the helpful AI.

"Not just you?" Tony scoffs softly, "It's always been just you. I used to really annoy... what's her name off because I used to make her check with you first." Probably why she'd quit.. or was it let go? Who knows! But, she is right; he used to have an entire contingent for clothing, for his schedules, both personal and business. That's not to mention his travel retinue. While he still has some of that, Pepper's has been added to. Another bodyguard, another chef, another 'dresser' to help navigate the fashions for when she doesn't have the time. The benefits in dating, or rather, being Tony's //serious// partner can be measured in money as well as emotion and heart.

"I'll give him some of the credit," Tony jokes softly, off-handedly. "He's not like you, though. I can hear him rolling his eyes. If he had them."

Tony leans over to kiss the top of her head, leaving his face there. It's become a favorite position of his, and leaning down so he can whisper in her ear, all he says is, "Sleep." He'll carry her to bed, no question.

It's quiet, it's restful, and because he's an actual jerk and knows what it'll do, "And call your mother in the morning."

Oh no?

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Oh god, Sheila. I remember her. You drove her up a wall. She never got it right anyway." Pepper mutters drowsily into his throat. She knows she should get up off the couch, properly get out of these clothes. She could even possibly just nap before the evening, but she'd still be better off if she did it out of her traveling suit and underthings. But his body was so comfortable and warm. The feel of his cheek against her hair made her feel like the first time she could truly relax in days. He can practically feel her body melt down into the spaces he provides her.

Pepper is just about to let herself surrender to sleep, knowing he'll get her somewhere more comfortable, when that last sentence penetrates through her head. Her eyes blink open in shock, body stiffening a bit as she stares straight forward, "My *mother*?! What about my mother?!"

Iron Man has posed:
It's never been a secret that Tony is a jerk. If it had been possible, growing up he'd be the one dipping pigtails into inkwells. It's what he knows best, that is, negative attention is still attention, and it tends to be a lot faster than positive.

No one could say that Tony isn't a thrill-junkie.

The room is quiet, the lights are dimmed, Pepper's relaxing and drifting into that woozy, dozy stage, and..

Immediately her eyes shoot upon, and she's stiff in his arms. Tony has his arm around her, so at least he's not going to allow her to rise to a sitting position unchallenged.

"She called, JARVIS put it through. She says you don't call her enough." So, what that conversation must have been like to come out to that conclusion? "She's fine, your father's fine. Everyone's fine." There's a smirk at the end of it, so very playful. While she might have the goal to keep him alive, perhaps her life choices are being reconsidered?

Pepper Potts has posed:
"You...You talked to my *mother*?? How LONG did you talk to my mother? Oh god, what questions did she ask? You... Tony! That's my MOTHER!" Pepper sits up just enough she can swat at his leg, her head spinning with a hundred possibilities now. She's not certain if she's going to get lectured or asked about grandbabies, but it's going to be one of those things.

"Oh no... she didn't ask you about grandchildren yet, did she? If she did, I'm sorry...she's... " Pepper sighs, now quite a bit more awake than she was before, "She's my *mother*. She has... priorities." And babies from her too career oriented only child has always been a priority.

Iron Man has posed:
There is //always// cleanup when Pepper goes away on business trips. At least now it's not throwing entitled, self-important starlets who thought themselves Tony's new 'thing' out on their ears anymore. Instead? It's her mother. How things have evolved for the two!

Tony, however, isn't giving anything away. Nope. She'll have to call her mother and find out herself, and doesn't say it but says it all in one go. What does he do? He laughs, kisses the top of her head, and sits back in his seat finally, relaxing. The swat brings a barked laugh, and a soft 'oooo..', followed by, "You need to get in the ring with Happy more."

He shifts his position, pulling gently to have her rest and try to relax on him once more. "Welcome back?"

Pepper Potts has posed:
"You are lucky you're so handsome, Tony Stark. I might strangle you in your sleep otherwise." Pepper grumbles teasingly to him, but she doesn't push it tonight. If he wasn't panicking about giving her mother grandkids, it probably wasn't a big topic of conversation. She'd deal with it tomorrow, or maybe tonight. Either way, right now, she needed sleep.

She starts to sink heavily against him again, eyes drowsing shut as she quietly murmurs, "Should...get up... get out of this suit. Wake me in...five minutes. I'll get changed then. Just... going to shut my eyes for five minutes." She knows it's not likely he'll listen, but the timezones finally get the better of her and, within another minute or two, she's dead asleep on his shoulder.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony grins behind her head, through her hair, and presses a kiss against it. He knows he 'wins' lots of battles where she doesn't really back down, but gives him something of an indulgent smile. She understands the concept of 'pick your battles' a great deal more than he, and utilizes them to best advantage. Yet one more reason why he loves her.

But yes, either way, she does need sleep, and as she lies back against him again, he's there to give support and a warm body. "Right. Five minutes. Got it." He doesn't have anywhere to go, nowhere to be, no one to talk to.. and as she begins to fall into a more rhythmic breathing patter, Tony murmurs, "Hold all calls."

<<Yes, sir.>>

A flat hand gently caresses her face, and as he makes sure she's well and truly asleep, he follows up that other conversation,

"It's not such an outlandish idea."