He made some bad investments.

[letmetakeaselfie]

After working with her at the Battle of New York, Tony had come to respect Rescue -- and the woman behind the suit, of course. But to say they were friends was a gross overshot. Pepper and he could get along. They both had tough shells and were ready equipped with all sorts of sarcasm and wit to deflect any unwanted attention. Because they were essentially Iron Man and Iron Woman, however, the press had their own ideas about the relationship between the pair.

Nick had phoned earlier to tell them about a recent threat, and words came out of his mouth that Tony was pretty sure he misheard. So he made the other man repeat them like, three times. But they didn't change. SHIELD wanted Rescue and Iron Man to shack up, publically. "Officially" so that when the bad guys came they'd have two heroes to contend with, but also so they'd think they were each other's weakness. Since they were only teammates, what could be the harm?

Before he knew it, a press release was set for the morning and Pepper Potts was on her way over to the Tower to move in. He had about a thousand rooms in the place, but if Dr. Doom did find his way inside they should be together just in case. It's all very -- sudden for a man who's never even had a girlfriend. And he still doesn't, but he has to convince the world he does. #Awkward.

"Welcome to Stark Tower, Ms. Potts. And please..."

"Wipe your feet," Tony interrupts JARVIS and his big, sweeping introduction, lifting his eyebrows as he watches her arrival. Should he help her with her stuff...? Probably. After a beat's hesitation, he moves to grab the larger of her two bags.

"Enjoy your stay," JARVIS corrects steadfastly, much to Tony's chagrin. But he offers up a meek little smile for her all the same.

Comments

[letmetakeaselfie]

Oh god, their phones. "...Can we just turn them off today?" he asks between bites, a near-whining tone on his lips before he licks them free of any traces of his breakfast. He realizes a beat later that asking was like asking Pepper to truly play house with him. No outside distractions, nothing to save themselves from the full brunt of suddenly spending all day together. He finds his breath quickening at the prospect, his heart picking up a little bit of speed. He really, really doesn't want the lectures and the jeers when he could be-- actually enjoying himself, he realizes. He enjoys spending time with Pepper Potts off the field. Is that so outlandish?

[efficacy]

"It could be for the best," Pepper agrees at length, biting her lip briefly. "I doubt neither one of us wants to deal with all that, and besides. Aren't we supposed to be happily wrapped up in each other? Turning off our phones would... make sense. Right?"

It's a totally legitimate reason, as far as their cover goes. So why does it feel like such an excuse, butterflies tickling at her belly at the thought of spending the whole day with Tony.

[letmetakeaselfie]

A stupid smile spreads over his lips at that, nodding without any true hesitation at her justification. Happy might show up here if his phone went unanswered for too long, but he's willing to take the risk. He also finds gossiping with Rhodey about Pepper less appealing than he normally might. No one else really calls him, though.

"Well, then. What's first on our agenda, honey?" They were up, they had breakfast. He would usually be halfway through a brand new scientific breakthrough by now, but even that feels to Tony like it could wait. He didn't postpone his work for -- anyone, really. But this seems important somehow, like they're on the cusp of something. He knew many women had complained he was too ~intense~ when he did anything close to dating, so he looks away sharply once he actually realizes he's been staring at her this whole time.

[efficacy]

Something twinges deep in her chest at the smile he gives her, endeared by his almost puppy-like eagerness. This is such a drastically different side of him than the one everyone sees outside of this building that she can't help the temptation to see more of it.

She actually doesn't know what's next; she'd half-expected him to disappear down to the workshop for a while. But then her lips curl into a feline smirk, and she responds maybe just a hint gleefully, "Why, breakfast dishes, of course -- sweetheart."

[letmetakeaselfie]

His face falls instantly. He's not even sure what he'd been hoping for, but it definitely wasn't that. Then again, it would go quick like it had last night. And it had been strangely... fun, just washing dishes with her. How ridiculous it even sounds. But Tony gets his game face back on and nods, starting to gather up their bowls and the pan and silverware. He's still drinking his coffee so he leaves that out and rolls up his sleeves. "Your turn to dry, dearest," he reminds her. Let's do this.

[efficacy]

Welcome to the Pepper Potts ethics of work first, play later. Or something like that. She arches a brow slightly at the another petname, smiling as she pushes up her own sleeves and grabs the dish towel. "Sure thing, pookie."

[letmetakeaselfie]

Pookie. He bites the inside of his lip against an even zanier smile, getting the water heated up. "I wonder if now would be a weird time to mention I have a dishwasher." He's still clearly all about this though. He starts to whistle as he pours soap into the sponge. People probably think of him as distinctly not a morning person, but he's always been an early riser. And last night he had rested better than he has in probably years.

[efficacy]

She'd obviously noticed, but it's just a few items so might as well do this the old fashioned way. Besides: "Oh no, you're not weaseling out of your turn to wash," Pepper returns right on the heels of this statement, pointing a finger, but it's all in good humor. Her lips curve a little at his whistling, finding this bit of silly domesticity oddly appealing.

[billionaires]

"I'm washing, baby. I'm washing." He lets the mock-defensiveness wash over her as he gets to work on the little things first, letting the pan soak in the soapy water. "Don't order me around too much, boo-bear. I might like it." Just saying. He ducks his head, immediately abashed by that statement once he connects it to what happened earlier this morning.

[efficacy]

Boo-bear. Why does that sound so cute?? Boo-bear and pookie, good god. Biting her lip against a giggle, she snorts instead. "Maybe you need someone to order you around a bit, snookums."

Her tone is wry, but her cheeks pink just a little at the implications that only occur to her after the fact, focusing on drying the first bowl Tony hands over and trying to ignore the way their fingers brush.

[billionaires]

It's like a static charge, zipping through such a simple contact. He looks at her like she did it on purpose for a second before doubling down on his task. "Getting me on track is a fulltime job, pumpkin. Are you sure you're up for it?"

[efficacy]

It's a challenge as much as a tease, and she can never turn down either. Glancing at him under her lashes, she gives a small, crooked smirk. "Please. I think I could handle you and your track, love muffin."

[billionaires]

Love muffin. He has to laugh at that one, handing over the second bowl. Because he's not looking their arms press and he has to take a sharp inhale to feel steady again. What is that? And why can he only think about getting more of the same? "Then you'd be the only one who ever could." It lacks some of the joke as though he'd forgotten to carry it over. But really, she would be. There's no real point mincing words over it.

[efficacy]

Her lips pull into a smile when he laughs; she can't help but be gratified at making him laugh. Which sounds... a little mushy, but she can deal with that. The press of their arms is warm and familiar by now, which is slightly alarming but nowhere nearly as much as how nice it feels and how much she'd like to feel it again.

"Hmm. And how many have tried?" she asks to distract herself with genuine curiosity rather than (just) teasing him.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I lost count of how many assistants I've had over the years." Until he'd eventually given up and just become Howard Hughes. "But you know I've never... You know." Had a real girlfriend or anything. He shrugs a shoulder and gets to work scrubbing the pan.

[efficacy]

"Maybe that's the problem, then." She shrugs too, their arms brushing again at the movement. She puts away the second bowl while he starts on the pan. "A girlfriend might whip you into shape more effectively than an employee fearing for their job. Or you just never came across the right kind of assistant."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He huffs out a ghost of a laugh, nodding as he turns the pan over and over again. It's probably been clean for a good ten seconds but he's still checking it. "Yeah... You're right. I was too much of a jerk back then to get either or, anyway."

[efficacy]

"Well..." she begins softly, hands braced on the edge of the sink as she watches Tony turn the pan around -- it's strangely hypnotic, almost, only now realizing how appealing she finds his hands. Wetting her lips idly, she notes equally softly, "It's not too late yet for either of those."

You know... for real. Since this isn't. Real. And she needs to keep that in mind, no matter the moments in between when this makebelieve feels anything but fake.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Kind of is," he protests, looking a little resigned as he finally hands over the piece of cookery. He doesn't leave the house, his only socialization is with... well, her. And the other Avengers but he sure isn't attracted to them.

Wait -- what? He swallows, his throat suddenly dry as the turn towards her highlights just how close they are. How easy it would be to...

"Do you want to watch a movie? I let my Netflix queue get out of control again." How that's supposed to help dispel this awkward tension he really doesn't know.

[efficacy]

Pepper turns her head toward him with a frown that's not so much displeased as it is sad. She wants to protest, to champion the fact that there's someone out there for him too, but words get robbed from her when she realizes the twinge in her gut at the thought is some kind of proprietary jealousy. She scolds herself. Just because they slept in the same bed last night and woke up cuddling while in this fake relationship doesn't mean he is hers, or anything so stupid as that. Why would he even want her?

They really are close. Her lids droop a little as her gaze dips from his eyes down to his mouth, startling even herself. Blood rushes to her cheeks and she tears her eyes away, turning her head as she focuses on drying the pan. "Y-es," she starts a little shakily at first, wetting her dry lips with her tongue. "A movie would be nice, actually. Unless it's something about a lot of things blowing up. I think we get enough of that at work."

[letmetakeaselfie]

She turns away quickly and he takes it as a hint that he's standing too close, taking a shuffling step away from her now that his task is done. He borrows the towel back when she's done to wipe off his hands before tossing it back down and going to pour himself more coffee now that his is cold. The effect of being away from her is instantaneous, like he can breathe again. But it wasn't stifling so much as -- exciting. He finds he misses it already.

"I think we can find a way to hook that up." He's not really feeling much like watching things blow up, either, which would usually be a hint that he's sick or something.

[efficacy]

"Great," she comments, desperate to move past that moment, opening the fridge and taking out a bottle of water for herself. "I think I'm in the mood for some kind of fun adventure. How do you feel about Indiana Jones? Unless you have something that fits the bill on your queue."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He swivels his head lazily to look at her, considering her suggestion with apparent delicacy. "Have you seen the new one?"

[efficacy]

Pepper can't help the minute wince that crosses her expression at the question. They will either totally agree or entirely disgaree about this. "Yeah, but I didn't think it was that great? I mean, it was fine until the last half hour or so. What was that ending?" Aliens in an Indiana Jones movie? Come on, son.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Come on, how else were they supposed to end it? With more Nazis?" But he can't really defend the honor of something starring Shia LeBeouf so he finds himself crumbling not a second later, a throaty chuckle leaving his lips. "Okay, it was bad. But like, satisfyingly so."