3676/Behind the SHIELD...

Behind the SHIELD...
Date of Scene:	17 January 2018
Location:	Stark Tower - Garage
Synopsis:	Pepper finds Tony in the garage, and wants explanations for various things.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Pepper Potts

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Iron Man has posed:
Queries as to where Tony is with JARVIS get the reply that Tony is "out." A minor inquiry on details reveals that he took one of his insane cars somewhere. That can mean a variety of things, but actively hunting him generally doesn't gain results: best to just wait for him to show up.

And so it is the evening on Wednesday when JARVIS lets her know, per request for the update, that Tony has come back to the office and is parking in the garage. Would she like him to contact Tony about anything in particular?

"I do not see any items on his schedule this evening, but he may have plans I am not aware of," JARVIS supplies in his helpful tone.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"No, no... Just let him know I'm in his office waiting. And worried. No. Wait. Just... tell him the first part. Leave out the worried." Pepper explains softly, scooping up the last few things from her desk and standing smoothly. She double checks her computer display and swipes one hand over it to close the thing down, saving what little bit she was working on earlier. Meeting Tony and figuring out just where the HELL he went was more important than finishing this mid month report.

So, when Tony comes up to his office, he will find Pepper there waiting. She's in one of her bespoke suits today, as usual, this one just a few ivory shades lighter than white and hugging her body like a second skin. She's got an emerald silk camisole beneath for just a pop of color which matches her eyes. Her hair is tied loosely at the back of her neck, a few errant strands having fallen free over the day. She has a cup of coffee in her hand and some decaf tea waiting on his desk for him. A man with a heart condition shouldn't have caffeine this time of night.

Iron Man has posed:
"Of course," JARVIS says. And then, Pepper has time to wait in the office. ...AND continue to wait. No Tony. Perhaps something has happened. Finally though, JARVIS gets back to her on his own. The coffee is getting cold.

"Ms. Potts, I have conveyed your request, but he did not respond," JARVIS supplies to Pepper. He doesn't have a 'worried' mode, this is just factual.

Pepper Potts has posed:
A deeper sigh escapes her lips and she downs the rest of her coffee, "... Where IS he now, JARVIS? Just tell him I'm on my way. And tell me where he is." Pepper starts walking out of his office already because she knows he's not there and JARVIS can keep talking to her through all the various floors and corridors. So her sleek high heels carry her down the hallway, towards the elevator, determination in her almost stalking step.

Iron Man has posed:
"He has not moved. The garage, third section. I believe he is failing to answer because the volume of music is quite high," JARVIS supplies to Pepper, happy to assist as he can, as usual, so long as it isn't directly violating something Tony has required of the AI. Such as requiring the music to be turned way up.

Pepper Potts has posed:
"...Not...*moved*? JARVIS, get me there NOW!" Pepper half yelps, now sprinting down the hallway as fast as her shoes will take her. She stumbles into the lift, half breathless, and glares at the wall because waiting is too long. The moment the doors open again, she's running down the next hall towards the garage, down the stairs, and into the garage where half of her expects to see him passed out in the car.

Iron Man has posed:
In the private end of the garage, there's a funny little show going on. Rock music is turned up blisteringly high, and the hood of one of the cars is up. Tony's bent way over into it, so mostly what is visible is ass, in black jeans. There is a small robot near his left thigh on the floor, with a tray of tools like a tiny concerned helper. The robot notices her and pivots around. Tony adjusts out of the car and spins towards one of the benches, unaware of her entirely, and half-dances over to it. It's a manner of somebody enjoying themselves and assuming he is alone.

His forearms are dirty now, and he plucks some glasses off the workbench to shove on up the bridge of his nose with one finger, turning back to the car. His coat is flung over the door of the car, window rolled down, she he's just in a comfortable 'black sabbath' tee, jeans, black boots. He says something to the little robot, which is drowned by the music from afar, bending back over the car's engine.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The moment Pepper sees him bent over like that, she releases a breath of pure relief and stops for a rushed heartbeat or two on the edge of his garage. She doesn't need him seeing her quite so flustered as she's feeling this moment. So, she pauses on the edge of the room, taking the time to look over his form and maybe (quietly) enjoy that curve of his behind. Once she's finally more calm, she moves towards him, smiling.

"...You were out a long while. Care to... tell me where you were off to? I was getting worried." She admits quietly, trying to sound apologetic, not too controlling, but also earnestly concerned for him.

Iron Man has posed:
Well, Tony notices her belatedly when she has closed a good part of the distance. He doesn't startle, but he clearly wasn't aware of her before then. "What?" Tony asks loudly, and.... shamelessly half-dances on over to her, expression upbeat. Tony attempts to snare her hand to spin her over, playful, with no care about her expensive outfit. And making no effort to drop the music volume, obnoxiously, perhaps.

Pepper Potts has posed:
A little, warm laugh escapes her lips as he grabs her for a spin. She follows him into that spin, though then her mind catches up with the fact that he might be covered in grease and she's wearing ivory, "Tony, the suit!" She yelps -- she'll never be able to get grease out of this suit. Still, she's laughing and happy, her green eyes glimmering as she leans into his arm, half giving up the protest. "You're in a good mood.. I was... just worried..."

Iron Man has posed:
Tony ignores her protest but also doesn't get much on her other than her hand really, he keeps his other off out of the way, somewhat aware of her issue. And tugs out a pocketed device, cutting the music volume down to roughly half of where it was, so he doesn't need to shout. But the dancing stops too. He snares a rag from the robot helper and wipes his hands on it.

"Worried? Why? I'm not going to spontaneously combust," Tony assures her. "--Well, certainly not in a car engine," he amends.

Pepper Potts has posed:
And he even respected her suit? Pepper looks at him for a moment like he might have grown a second head. She gives his hand a warm, thankful squeeze and then legs it go so he can actually wipe the grease off. "I know you're not going to combust. You were just out a long while and JARVIS was quite... dodgy about exactly where you'd gone. Then, when he said you came home, you didn't move from the garage for a while and I was waiting in your office and... you... well..." Pepper huffs out quietly, giving a little shake to her head. "Never mind. I was simply over worried. It happens. I'm glad to see you in such a good mood. What IS the mood about?"

Iron Man has posed:
Tony listens to her, wiping his hands, and then moving forward and wiping off her hand on the rag too in a sort of overdone manner, with a sort of amused half-listening expression. Like he overdoes it, partially mocking how dirty he thinks she may believe she is.

"Yep, had adventures," Tony says without explaining himself. Hopefully she's not really going to pin him down over it. "Feeling good today. No um," Tony decides how to describe it, fluttering a hand near his chest. "...not hungover," Tony ends up with, with a kind of dismayed pause.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The amusement on her features deepens as he takes her hand and equally wipes it off almost over dramatically. She just smirks, watching him with a lofted brow. Just when he's finished and about to turn away, she murmurs. "Missed a spot. Ring finger, at the knuckle." Whether he did or not, Pepper is enjoying teasing him about it just as much as he teased her.

Then her smile turns a bit more curious, head tilting, making a few of those red locks fall across her cheek. "And are you going to tell me just what those adventure were? While I was stuck in the office, slaving away over keeping your business in line..." More worry flickers through her eyes at his chest comment, but she doesn't push that.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony looks back to her hand, grabbing it and makes a nausal sound as if he were going to spit polish her hand, but doesn't actually, just grins and hangs onto her. But does suddenly go for her face with the cloth of other hand, deliberately putting a smear on her if he can catch her with it.

"Ouch, guilt trip, apparently, is where I am now," Tony teases back. "I worked this morning. Then drove. Had some great Italian," he says, in a manner that suggests he doesn't think his day was that interesting. "What else... ah. Got a new fan. Maybe six. Funny little kid. Forget his name." Tony shrugs.

Pepper Potts has posed:
The smudge at her cheek gets a FULL yelp from Pepper and a slight swat of her hand, which only serves to get her hand even more messy. Pepper laughs through the annoyed glare that she's giving him, "You are in such trouble, Tony Stark." She grumbles in that tone of voice that says he really is not, but she had to say SOMETHING. She gives a little huff then, reaching over for a clean drop cloth, not the one in his hand, so she can actually attempt to clean herself off before she marks her suit. "And just where did you make these six fans? HOW did you make them? Come on, Tony. I know you are hiding something. Spill."

Iron Man has posed:
"No, the one fan was six years old. ...Pretty sure it was just the one kid," Tony laughs. "I didn't have the suit on. I'm always impressed when a kid knows more than just the suit." Oh, there's the ego, and the great mood source. Tony and his fame and attention got a big stroke, apparently.

"I /might/ have been generous. A little. But it was an accident. Won't happen again," Tony evades, and topic changes away from some philanthropy it sounds like he did. No doubt some idea came into his head about a good deed and he went and enjoyed it.

"Speaking of generous. I probably need to make sure Clint isn't dying, again. I didn't tell you about that, did I?" Tony says, mood slowly turning more serious, and he looks at the car engine, as if wanting something to frown at.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Hands now clean, Pepper folds her arms across her chest, standing stark still, shoulders back, her pose that no-nonsense gaze she so often gives him. "Tony Stark. Just what do you mean generous? Did you give a kid a car? Did you? He's Six! What did you do, Tony...?" She doesn't exactly sound like she's lecturing, but she certainly wants to know and he won't get away with dodging the subject.

Then the next bit comes up and Pepper blinks, her head tilting again. "...why is... Clint maybe dying...Again? What is going on? Tell me about generosity and then tell me about Clint."

Iron Man has posed:
"I wouldn't give a child a car," Tony says, surprised, perhaps, by her misjudge of his character. Hurt. SO HURT. ...Not really. "Well, he'd have to do a lot more than just recognize me," Tony adds, turning in to pivot and sitting partially against the front of the open car. "I got contacted by some Make-a-Wish people. It's really not a big deal, Pep," Tony says distactedly.

"As for Clint... he got his heart broken into lots of tiny pieces. We have, so far, failed to find the cure at the bottom of bottles of scotch."

Pepper Potts has posed:
As he comments about Make-a-Wish, Pepper's eyes soften just a bit more. She walks closer to him, daring to reach out and touch the small of his back, "I'm not going to lecture you... Just tell me what you did and how I can help? If we want to help a few Make-a-Wish kids? I've got your back on this, Tony. Really..." Pepper states, far softer than before, reassuring him gently.

Then he does answer about Clint and Pepper's brows furrow a bit more, "Ahh... he's a nice man, too. Is there anyone else, maybe, he has his eye on? We could all go out together..." Pepper has that considering, matchmaking look in her eyes already.

Iron Man has posed:
"I just did it on --Paul. That was the kid's name. Paul." Tony really did forget what it was, and grabs it out of his memory with a snap of fingers, derailing himself. He maintains the bluster, doesn't soften despite her reassurance or touch.

"I didn't ask. Seeing as he was devastated, that would have been a little awful, even for me, to suggest right off the bat. Also, she apparently defected out of SHIELD and I /think/ she shot him." Tony continues to explain, as of course he can't just leave it at that: Skye's gone rogue, it seems, though with secret agents, it's hard to ever really know what they're up to.