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]

Pepper starts a little too, her shaky breath catching at the brief contact, mouth going dry. Swallowing, she strives to steady herself while Tony gets up, mostly back in control of her wits again by the time she pushes into sitting, taking his offered hand and pulling herself upright again with his help. "You okay?" she asks, pushing her bangs away from her eyes.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"What? I mean, yeah. I'm... fine. Are you?" He tacks on quickly, realizing he's still holding onto her hand and dropping it abruptly. "Ready to go again?" His eyes flash, but he's not about to back away from a challenge no matter how dangerous it is. Even if it might be a whole new kind of danger now.

[efficacy]

"Yeah. Completely," she responds, a few seconds too late to be entirely convincing, still reeling a little for... whatever that was, just now. But same as he, a challenge is not something she shies away from, and that question definitely counts. Falling back into stance, she nods with a small grin. "Always."

Again, she doesn't wait for him to make the first move. If anything, she comes at him with less restraint now, fainting to right in hopes of exploiting any gaps in his defense on the left.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I was hoping you'd say that."

He's back in it too, more intensely than before. Tony settles into his defences, knowing she'll go on the offense first. This is starting to become comfortable, familiar. Even without their suits they each had their own strategy. If he sees her as Rescue and not as Pepper he might just be able to win this thing.

Her hit gets in under his arm, grunting at the shot to his already bruised ribs. But he uses it to get a hold of her wrist so she won't be able to block him, his knee coming up into her solar plexus.

[efficacy]

She sees it coming but can't free her wrist from his grip in time, tensing up and grunting loudly as she takes the knee to the chest. She staggers a little at the force but his grip on her wrist actually works to steady her some. She pushes stubbornly through the hit to spring into a countering maneuver. Grabbing his wrist with the hand he's gripping, she pulls it forward hard while twisting her body sideways so she can ram her shoulder into his torso, putting all of her weight behind it; her leg snaps out simultaneously to land a kick to his calf right under the knee in effort to knock him off his feet and into the mat.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Okay, ow. No matter how slight Pepper may be, her shoulder is bony and she's a lot stronger than she looks. He lets out a pathetic sound of suffering, but when she goes to knock him over again he takes a page out of her book. Turning so he can fall flat on his back and absorb most of the impact, he hooks his leg around hers to drag her down with him.

[efficacy]

His leg hooks behind one knee successfully, pulling her off balance and literally sweeping her off her feet with a small yelp of surprise. She lands awkwardly, managing to twist so that she falls mostly next to him and not on top, one hip and buttock taking the brunt of the impact. Breathing hard, she tries to tugs her hand out of his grip, the side of her knee locking down one of his thighs as she struggles to recover from being downed and spring back into action.

If she thought this wasn't graceful before, it definitely isn't it now.

[letmetakeaselfie]

His vision swims as he blinks up at the ceiling, feeling her knee come down on his leg hard in an unforseen complication. The pain isn't acute, focusing more on catching his breath than assessing any injury. He's going to need an actual break if she wants to go again.

"Two to two?" he asks softly, turning his head to look at her. There's a strange urge that slides into his bones then, not to get away but to pull her closer. He doesn't move, but he feels the way it would feel anyway and is momentarily breathless all over again. Remembering himself, he stutters out the real question. "You okay?"

[efficacy]

Pepper lets the air out of her lungs in a whoosh, easing up the pressure of her knee and turning her body, rolling on her back next to him. Her cheeks are red from exertion and her chest heaves up and down as she catches her breath.

"I'm fine," she assures after a beat, wetting her lips. Two to two, though? She might need a break, too. "...Maybe in a moment."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Or the morning," he agrees, hand coming up to settle on his chest as he closes his eyes briefly with his face still turned towards her. Though he doesn't analyze it as such, it's basically a goofy show of trust. But seriously he is worn out. Maybe even enough to sleep on the first attempt though he knew from experience anything could happen once he got up.

Behind his eyelids, he still sees her, something that makes color rise to his cheeks for a whole new reason. God, she's beautiful. He really is slow, he realizes, blinking his eyes open to study her features as his breathing settles back down. He's actually attracted to her, that's why he feels so weird right now. Why does he have to be such an extreme social retard at times like these.

[efficacy]

Pepper huffs out a little of laugh at that, closing her own eyes for a beat. "Morning sounds good."

They have the suits, who needs sparring anyway. Not that it wasn't... fun, or something. It was definitely something, she thinks as she turns her head to look at him, feeling an odd sensation somewhere deep in her chest. A smile curves at her lips as she proposes, "I could teach you some basic yoga instead. Nice and calm and less painful on body and pride, too."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He laughs too, stilted and still breathy. "It's a date." Tony needs to stop saying things before thinking them through, though honestly what does he say that's comletely thought out. Not much.

"I don't see how that's supposed to help my pride any. Pretty sure I don't bend that way." His hand flops back down, knuckles brushing her arm in a way that could almost be determined as deliberate (but isn't.) He needs to get up before he can't anymore, but something about this is... nice. Maybe sleeping together (IN THE SAME BED!! omg) won't be as awkward as he initially thought.

[efficacy]

Pepper smiles at the choice of words, but says nothing about it.

"That's why you practice daily. And the basic stuff isn't anything insane, don't worry. Anyone can do it -- even you," she teases fondly. A chill goes through her skin at the quick brush of his knuckles, the fine hairs on her arm standing on end. She's anything but cold, though, swallowing a little. It's oddly nice laying like this next to him, but the situation is still laced with an awareness that charges up the air, like tasting an approaching storm.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He shakes his head against the mat at her comment, moving to leverage himself up until he's sitting before glancing back over. "I still don't think it's really my thing." Mostly he's just afraid of embarrassing himself in any extreme way in front of her. Which he's pretty sure is another red flag he's choosing to ignore.

"I'm gonna..." He points, vaguely. "Hit the showers. But you enjoy your. Weirdo meditation stuff." Slowly he gets himself up, wincing at the way his bones crack with the motion.

[efficacy]

Somehow she'd figured he'd be reluctant. Men had odd hang ups about yoga. But she might keep on trying anyway, later. She follows suit and struggles up on her feet, feeling certain muscles protesting already; she'd be sore tomorrow.

"Actually, I think I'm going to do the same thing." She'd already gotten in more than enough exercise while waiting on him, earlier. "Do you, um..." she trails off, suddenly awkward. She's sure the place has plenty of showers, but she doesn't want to be presumptuous. "Want to take the one in your room, or...?"

[letmetakeaselfie]

"...Oh." He should have pre-thought this one, too. But he's not used to having guests. Not that she technically is, but since he has no idea what the protocol is for a guest he has no idea how to ignore it. Recovering, he shakes his head. "No, no. You take that one. There's one in the locker room here." He jerks a thumb over his shoulder before he remembers that he threw his clothes all over the bedroom like a crazy person. Oh god, she's going to think he's some kind of gross slob. He can't exactly take it back now though so he just swallows and waits for her response.

[efficacy]

"Okay. If you're sure." She gives a small smile. "I'll... see you later then." She barely suppresses a visible wince. What a dumb thing to say. It's like the awkwardness they'd gotten rid of for a while is back, and Pepper chooses to retreat with a quick half-wave before anything else silly comes out of her mouth.

Once up in Tony's -- their -- room, she notes the clothes strewn around with some amusement. She tries to let them be, but her need for neatness forces her to locate the hamper to shove the clothes into it before proceeding with her shower, trying not to feel self-conscious as she undresses behind the closed bathroom door. She takes her time, letting the hot water soothe her muscles and ignoring the pleasant, kind of sandalwoodsy smell clinging faintly to the walls of the posh stall. And she very definitely tries not to think about being naked in the same space Tony has been similarly undressed, likely not so long ago too. Definitely not.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Tony looks around the locker room even though he knows he's alone, pulling off his gym clothes and inspecting already purpling marks around his ribs in the mirror on the way into the too-hot spray. He likes his showers just this side of skin-melting. He lets out an involuntary groan as the water hits his shoulders, closing his eyes and leaning against the tiles. There's a part of him that feels like he could just sleep right here. And he sure isn't thinking about Pepper upstairs in his shower -- definitely not.

He manages to gather enough energy to wash cursorily over himself and through his hair. He's too tired for anything more in depth but at least now he's not sweaty. He gets out and towels off just as lazily, still mostly dripping as he pulls on a fluffy white robe and grabs two water bottles out of a mini fridge in the doorway on his way out of the training room. It closes automatically behind him and he makes his way up to the room, determined not to be overly awkward this time around. Again, he knocks softly before coming in anyway. More of an announcement than a quest for permission.

[efficacy]

Pepper starts a bit at the knock, brushing her hair by the mirror in the bathroom. She's already dressed in her sleep clothes that consist of plaid pajama pants and a simple t-shirt, the moist air in the bathroom smelling faintly floral now. Setting her brush aside on the vanity, she gives herself one last look in the mirror before pushing open the bathroom door that had been slightly ajar anyway.

"Hi," she smiles as she steps out, skin still a bit pink and hair slightly damp from the shower, face scrubbed free of make up.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He can't help the faint smile that springs to his lips at the sight of her. Even if usually anyone in and around his stuff wouldn't inspire any of the sort of fondness he's feeling now. "Water," he says in indication, holding up one bottle for her inspection across the room before placing it on her side of the bed. Oh boy. He peels off the cap from his and takes a long, appreciative drink before making his way to his dresser to find some pajamas of his own. It feels late though it's only about midnight or so.

Without any true ceremony, he pulls his own Burberry plaid pants over his lower half under his robe, stripping it off as he goes back in for a shirt. He should find something more opaque than his usual wife beater so the arc reactor doesn't bother her, he thinks, finding a thick black ribbed tank top at the bottom of the drawer. "Hi," he greets properly as he brushes by her to take up the other sink, beginning to brush his teeth like she'd always been there.

[efficacy]

"Oh, thanks," she says, smile hitching a little. Her gaze is momentarily drawn to the bed as Tony sets down the water, feeling a nervous little quiver at the pit of her stomach. Oh boy, indeed. She averts her eyes bashfully when he goes to dress, even though nothing is visible. Still, she busies herself by going over to the sink and digging through her toiletry bag for her own toothbrush, though she glances up with a little smile when Tony brushes by.

She tries not to think too closely about how tomorrow is the day -- the press release would be issued and they'd be an "official" couple as far as everyone else knows.

"Did you have any plans for tomorrow?" she asks idly as she spreads toothpaste on her brush. Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"What are plans?" he asks, one eyebrow popping up before he starts brushing, effectively cutting off any speech. There's no point in acting like he's any less of a loser than he is when she's going to be privy to it all. Wait, why is she asking? "...Did you have plans?" he asks, garbled by toothpaste before he leans over to spit it out.

[efficacy]

"No, no," she's quick to assure with a slight shake of her head. "Just making sure I wasn't cramping your style or anything." A faint smile crosses her lips for a moment before she gets to brushing her teeth too, taking a minute before spitting out the foamy paste, one hand holding back her hair.

"Just as well, I guess," she points out. "We probably shouldn't brave going out at any rate. Unless we want to be, you know. Accosted with awkward questions." By the press, mainly. This would be a juicy story for the gossip columnists.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Cramping his style? He gives her a look as he rinses out his mouth and splashes some water on his face before going for his floss. "Good thinking. Don't people with new relationships stay in anyway?" Oh wow, was that too much? He's careful not to make eye contact after dropping that one, though if he tries to catch a look at her expression in the mirror it's purely incidental.

[efficacy]

She blushes bright red at that comment and the implication behind it, looking down bashfully as she keeps brushing her teeth for a moment longer. Clearing her throat a little and spitting, she turns on the faucet and rinses off her toothbrush first.

"They do, yes," she manages, making a quick work of rinsing her mouth so she can let her hair fall back down around her face and hopefully hide her reddened cheeks some. "Good point." She digs out her face cream jar and begins applying it, hoping the coolness of the stuff calms down her skin.