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

[efficacy]

"You looked?" she echoes on a tiny laugh, fondly amused and... oddly touched. "Why?" she asks softly, even though she tells herself not to, distantly realizing they're once more bridging the gap that had sprung in between them -- or one she'd tried to create, rather.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"...Why wouldn't I look?" His finger grazes hers accidentally as he leans a little closer to facilitate the conversation. And also to study her face. "Don't you ever... look?" For action figures, of course. Not... anything else. "I look for everybody's... stuff. But they make tons of Cap and Hulk -- what about the rest of us, right?"

[efficacy]

Her eyelids flutter the faintest bit at the touch of their fingers, gaze dipping down to their hands for a beat before flying back up to meet his, refocusing on the conversation.

"Not really," she confesses with a small smile. "I suppose I just never really thought of that. Or paid attention." She thinks about it for a moment, tipping her head. "They make Iron Man stuff, too. Come on. Kids love you."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He laughs once, a nervous bark of a thing. "They don't. I mean, they love the suit, but I've seen... you." He gestures with his other hand so as not to lose even the slim contact. "You're great with them. I'm garbage. And honestly... like I think it's garbage that there aren't more figures and shirts and stuff. For you. I mean, not for you, like just you in specific. I just mean because you're a woman and-- This is. Like Rhodey too, because she's black and... This is making me sound like that guy. Also I'm saying way too many words in general." His heart is pounding so fast right now.

[efficacy]

Pepper watches him with a small smile playing about her lips, a smile that grows a little the more nervous and rambling his explanation-turned-soliloquy becomes. The fact that he's so visibly aware of his spiraling only makes it more endearing, though she shouldn't think about it like that for a couple of reasons. She gives a tiny breath of laugh when he's done.

"Maybe just a little bit," Pepper agrees lightly, her free hand demonstrating by holding her thumb and forefinger a fraction apart. Dropping her hand, she exhales a small sigh. "Well, with any luck marketing will one day realize that we're all pulling our weight, here." It's probably too optimistic, though.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He hates it when she smiles at him like that, it makes him think about things he should absolutely never, ever think about. "Oh, no, they will. I just have to prove there's a market." Oops, yeah no he's been in talks about this for a while. "Which there totally is. Maybe an even bigger one than boring white dude superheroes." A slow smile curves his own lips at the dig, though he's anything but serious. Well, maybe a little.

[efficacy]

"Is that what you'll do?" She tries to pinch her lips together against the warm smile that simply doesn't seem to want to leave, but the attempt is useless. "Something tells me this is more than just an idle thought..."

[letmetakeaselfie]

Oh god, this is nerve-wracking. Why is this so nerve-wracking? It had been easy to talk to Rhodey about it. "I've been in... talks. For a while. About Black Widow, and War Machine, and... Rescue. Merchandise."

[efficacy]

Pepper watches him for a moment in silence, before giving a little hum, lips twitching with a warm smile. That was not what she'd been expecting, but perhaps she should have.

"Just when I think I have you pegged..." she trails off, shaking her head fondly. "You surprise me all over again, Mr. Stark."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"And that's... a good thing?" he guesses, a bit of color rising up his throat. His eyes dance from their hands up to her eyes and map down to her lips, remembering how she felt pressed against him.

[efficacy]

"More often than not, yes," Pepper says on a little chuckle, maybe a little teasingly, lips pulling into a warm smile. Their prolonged proximity is starting to take a toll; it would be so easy to inch a little closer, get lost in his gaze...

Until JARVIS breaks the silence to announce the arrival of their pizza. Saved by the bell?

[letmetakeaselfie]

He actually jumps a fraction at the sudden interruption, pulling himself away as if by some great effort to go get their pizza from the delivery person. "Could you grab me a coke?" he asks as he carts everything into the living room, intending to find them a movie or something silly for background noise. "I wonder if anyone thinks we're dead yet." Since they've been alone together, what... twelve hours? And not picking up their phones, besides.

[efficacy]

"Sure," Pepper acknowledges while rifling around for some napkins before grabbing their drinks; a can of Coke for him and a fresh bottle of water for herself. "I wouldn't be horribly surprised if a SHIELD tac team tries to come knocking before Doom ever even thinks about it," she jokes wryly as she takes a seat on the couch, setting down the drinks and napkins.

Has is really only been less than a full day? Privately, Pepper has to wonder how exactly they're going to survive the rest of this mission if they're already so... compromised.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Don't joke about that. Phil would do it." Tony isn't sure where to sit that would be considered 'safest.' He eyes the couch cushion next to her but that's how they got in trouble before, right? For a second, their drunken scene plays behind his eyes until he can bring himself to tear them away. He can sit on the far end of the couch but that's impractical and would probably look like he's trying to keep his distance. He ends up settling on the floor in front of the pizza, fishing a slice out of the box with one hand while he queues up his video library with the other.

[efficacy]

"He would, too. Just because he could," Pepper chuckles, pulling her legs underneath her, Indian style. She makes no comment or otherwise make note on his chosen spot, pulling out a slice for herself and taking a bite. Moaning a little at the taste, she shakes her head slowly. "Oh my god. No lie, I can't remember the last time I had pizza." She doesn't often allow herself foods like this-- with the exception of ice cream, maybe.

[letmetakeaselfie]

That sound travels right down his spine despite knowing it's for the pizza, and not him. He lays his head back against the couch next to her now without the danger of knocking her legs, stretching out one of his under the table and drawing the other one up, getting comfy. "How do we feel about Fight Club?" He hasn't watched that one in a while.

[efficacy]

"I've never seen it," she says casually around her pizza, nibbling her slice delicately and giving a small shrug. "So, sure."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He cranes his neck around to give her a funny look, made even funnier by the piece of pepperoni hanging from his lips. Tony hits play before he even flips back around, sighing softly. Of course she's never seen it. "I thought all single humans ate pizza like, at least once a week. Or is that just what I tell myself so it's less sad?" He's ashamed of everything he wants right now, and as such his tone comes out more whiny than jokey. He wants to go back to their post-nap haze where it had felt fine to be wrapped up in each other. More than fine. How does he get back there?

[efficacy]

Pepper's lips pull into an amused smirk at his look, and the errant pepperoni. "That's exactly what it is," she returns, eyes gleaming with fond mirth. She's blissfully unaware of the real source of his sudden case of pouting, hence she doesn't mind poking fun a little.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"There's nothing extra in this movie, so try to... pay attention." Not like Tomb Raider. Which had been distracting in its own way. "Not that you wouldn't. I mean, anyway. I know you're-- attentive in general." Unlike him.

[efficacy]

Pepper arches a brow down at him and his suggestion that comes across more as a critique to her, at least before he elaborates -- rather stiltedly and kind of awkwardly. Her lips twitch, but she hides it behind her half-eaten slice of pizza. "I'll do my utmost best to keep up," she promises, battling down a chuckle and taking a bite of cheesy goodness.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I didn't mean it... like that." He gives a breathy chuckle at his own expense, chewing somewhat noisily and already following along with Ed Norton's antics happily.

[efficacy]

Pepper finishes her slice and drinks some water in silence, taking advantage of her higher ground to discreetly watch Tony every now and then, never lingering long enough for it to be noticeable or sensed-- she hopes. The movie is okay so far, it's just not raising any great passions in her one way or another. But Tony seems to be enjoying it, and that's interesting enough for her. Some time passes before Pepper grabs one of the throw pillows and tips on her side on the couch, shoving the pillow under her head and curling up in a fetal position. "Is this one of your favorites?" she asks idly when there's a bit of a lull in the action.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He's hyper aware of her gaze, though he can't be sure if she's watching him or just the movie, and so he tries not to squirm. He's trying to keep tabs on her movements since he can't see her without turning around completely, but even this companionable silence is nice. He finishes his pizza and remembers his soda, popping the tab and drinking it intermittently. Her voice hadn't been expected, but it pricks his ears pleasantly and he lays his head back against the cushion so he can meet her eyes. He has to bite into his lip, warmth taking up his gaze at how downright cozy she looks. "It's pretty cool." Is it his favorite, though? "I guess it would make top... 6."

[efficacy]

"Top six is very specific," she comments with a smile, chuckling faintly. They talked some about movies yesterday, but they focused more on her favorites, she thinks.