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]

Wait, did she just... He wasn't sure what he expected, but easy acquiescence wasn't even in the realm of possibilities. He nods, still gawking slightly, touching his hand to his tummy in the spot her hand vacates instantly. He shuts the door behind her and does his thing, the whole while his heart hammering at that very unlikely exchange. As he washes his hands, he stares in the mirror and wonders if she won't admit her agreement had been a joke the second he gets back out there.

Moving on stiff, but more cooperative limbs, Tony edges back into the living room looking very much like a deer caught in headlights. "...So." Moment of truth. Was she kidding? If she was, could he play it off gracefully at all? And if she's not, can he... oh, boy. He really needs to not ever talk.

[efficacy]

Unbeknownst to him, the entire time Tony's in the bathroom, Pepper fears and wonders about the same thing. Was he just joking? What if he was and she totally misread that and he just didn't want to tell her she got it all wrong? Oh, no. In her low-key freakout, she downs the nearly full glass of not-so-sparkling-now wine she'd had left in one go. And realizes that certainly wasn't the smartest thing to do. Liquid courage. More like liquid dumbness.

She sits up straighter on the couch when he arrives, legs tucked up underneath her and one hand grasping the top of the backrest. "So..." she echoes, feeling the flush of embarrassment creep up her throat. God, she's a mess. This is why she shouldn't drink. "W-we don't have to. I mean, if you don't want to, I get it."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He tilts his head like a lost puppy, which isn't so far off. Though he certainly hadn't premeditated what had just gone down -- the plan isn't without practicality. Bored and drunk and curious certainly factor in as well, however, and slowly he slides onto the cushion next to her. Not touching, but close enough to be very easily.

"I don't, uhm..." Tony takes a breath, tries to re-center himself. This is not at all how he pictured today going, but he isn't disappointed either. Not even close, really. "If you don't want to, I won't be offended." His eyes are clear as he meets hers, hands falling to his knees as he studies her face. The last thing he wants to do is take advantage, even if he's just as drunk as she is.

"Well," he interjects before she can respond, the slightest beginnings of a smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe a little."

[efficacy]

I don't. She doesn't understand why it hurts so much, why it feels like a rejection of more than a stupid, drunken joke that it had to have been. She opens her mouth to offer some bumbling apology for being so presumptuous, but just then he goes on and it isn't to turn her down, after all. Breathing a faint laugh at his joke, she shakes her head a little with a tiny smile that has an edge of relief in it.

"No, I mean. I think we should... give it a try. So there's no surprises if we ever have to act like that in public." That made sense, right? She wets her lips, swallowing. "Or just around... others."

Not like Tony had a habit of having a house full of guests though, as far as she knew. But it's not the point.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Right," he says, blissfully unaware of the heartache his misstep had caused. "I mean, it would only be... prudent." As prudent as drunken make-outs can be?? His heart is thumping fast, and he leans forward a little, unsure how to begin a kiss that's been prenegotiated.

[efficacy]

"Prudent," Pepper echoes with a faintest nod. Yes, they're just being prudent!! Unhanding the couch, she brings her palm to his shoulder, the other hovering for a second over the side of his face as if to cup his cheek; but then she changes her mind and sets it on his opposite shoulder, lips parting unconsciously as she mimics him, leaning slowly closer.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Very prudent. The prudentest." He draws in a tiny breath at the touch, but then smiles when her hand comes down on his other shoulder. A lance of pure want streaks through his middle and he has to hold his breath until it passes. A bit of awkwardness dropped, he reaches up to grip her elbow firmly to anchor himself in, though he's still too nervous to make first contact. Tony pushes in until their breaths mingle and until he has to cross his eyes to see her face, sure she can hear his heart pounding heavily next to the light whir of the reactor.

[efficacy]

"Most prudent," she corrects in a murmur without even thinking about it, eyelids fluttering as she leans in a little further still when Tony hesitates. Heart fluttering just as frantically as Tony's, she bites the bullet and touches her mouth to his gently, tentatively; pressing a lightest kiss over his bottom lip, eyes slipping shut at the contact.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Only Pepper Potts could make correcting his grammar hot. He makes a tiny, embarrassing sound as their lips connect at last, his eyes immediately closing too completely out of his control. His leg slides off the couch so that their thighs touch as he leans into her and opens his mouth in invitation. He's already breathing harshly through his nose, feeling tingly all over in a way that has nothing to do with the booze. His hand comes up, also without his permission, cupping her jaw as he softly deepens the kiss, tongue stroking hers tentatively.

[efficacy]

Pepper sighs into the contact, taking him up on his invitation with pleasure, her fingers tightening on his shoulders and grasping more firmly. She issues a soft little moan into the kiss as it deepens, returning the caresses of his tongue with no such tentativeness. One hand lets go of his shoulder and finds a new home at the back of his head, stroking his hair with shaking fingers as the soft kiss completely consumes her, turning more passionate by the moment.

[letmetakeaselfie]

All her little noises work their way under his skin as he tries desperately to keep up. Where he won at cards however, she is most definitely out-pacing him here. He's unsure whether to lean into her fingers or her mouth and ends up wrapping his newly freed hand around her waist to drag her even closer. He can't remember ever being so invested in a kiss before. His lungs are starting to burn, but he doesn't want to let go, the swipes of his tongue slowing and becoming more brief as he runs out of air.

[efficacy]

Her head's spinning, but she's sure it's the kiss and lack of air rather than the alcohol. Her front presses against his when he pulls her closer, fingers grasping strands of his hair almost desperately when her lungs begin to run out of breath. But she still can't stand to pull away from him. If anything, she kisses him more ferociously for those last few moments before the burning in her chest forces her to break away with a gasp, panting as her eyes flutter open, heavy-lidded and dilated.

"Oh," she utters, sounding vaguely taken aback by what just occurred, gaze flickering between his mouth and his eyes. "That was..."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He can feel her chest through their clothes, hoping the arc reactor isn't weird or off-putting for her. But then she's pulling back and he feels immediately bereft even as he works to pull oxygen back into his lungs. "What?" he asks dumbly, rubbing his nose against her face as he tries to gather his thoughts. Or manufacture any to have at all at the moment.

"Yeah, it was," he agrees, already working up to Round 2. Except that this is when the oxygen gets to his brain and reminds him that this is not what they do. Tony leans back a few more breadths, biting into his lip as his thumb works back and forth across her cheek, finding it impossible to break eye contact.

[efficacy]

Pepper's eyelids flutter at the gentle touch to her cheek, swallowing thickly and wetting her lips, gaze tracking down to his mouth again. She's having a hard time remembering how this got started, but she does know she doesn't want it to stop yet.

"Do you think we should... practice again?" She blinks twice, adding hastily, "To make sure."

[letmetakeaselfie]

Oh, god. He thought she'd never ask. Sparing no time for awkward banter this time, he leans in and captures her lips properly, tasting every inch of her mouth with expert ease. His hand palms her cheek more firmly as he leans against her now, pressing the full length of his front against hers as the kiss goes on. He absolutely cannot get enough of this, and even when he pulls back to breathe he stays close, temple resting against hers as he palms her spine. "What do you think?" he asks, licking his lips. "Sure yet?"

[efficacy]

Pepper grips his hair tightly at the hungry kiss, wrapping her opposite arm around Tony's shoulders and more or less clinging to him, their fronts smushed together tightly. Her skin feels warm and her head is spinning, sure that she's never been kissed this thoroughly before.

"Sure, I'm sure," she blurts when the kiss breaks, out of breath again, even though she has no freaking idea what she was originally supposed to be so sure of. Other than the fact that she's sure this was probably a bad idea even if it doesn't feel like one.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He nods, petting over her hair as her words tinge him with relief. "We're drunk," he spits out on a breathless little laugh, but he doesn't show signs of moving away any time soon. In fact, he leans in again, kissing her sweetly this time, briefly but nowhere near chaste. His lungs burn from it, but instead of backing off completely he continuously brushes his lips against hers as he slowly lets air back into his chest in between. His body is starting to show signs that it wants for more, but Tony just wants to kiss her until he passes out when he inevitably fucks up and not enough oxygen gets to his brain to keep him conscious. It's all very overwhelming.

[efficacy]

"Yeah, we..." she trails off when he kisses her all over again, her eyes closing at the sweet contact. She sighs when it winds down, her warm breath fanning against his lips, humming softly when he keeps brushing his mouth to hers. "We probably... should..." stop, but she can't seem to get the last word out, murmuring in between the gentle touches of their lips.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Probably," he agrees easily, like she had finished her sentence aloud. He rests his forehead against hers and tries to wrangle his emotions, unsure how he'd gotten so wrapped up in hindsight. But then he remembers that they still have the whole day ahead of them... He doesn't want to sober up or go to work or any of the usual things he'd be determined to do on a free day such as this. He remains close and waits to see if she has any more insight to offer.

[efficacy]

Grasping his shoulders again and leaning into the touch, Pepper licks her lips. She can still taste a lingering hint of vodka and Tony on her tongue. She has no more insights to offer just a sudden realization:

"I... think I need a little nap," she says slowly, perhaps unexpectedly. But really, she suddenly feels pretty drunk and she's not sure whether it's the alcohol or the kisses. Or both.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He likes the way that feels, her hands on him in general, but something about this... Well, everything about their precarious position on the couch is pleasant, but that's beside the point. Tony carefully pulls back enough to meet her eyes, not exactly sure how to transition here. She's saying one thing and doing another -- but asking to make out had turned out okay for him and so after a beat or two of uncertainty, he decides to just ask. "Do you want company?" For the nap. He could use one too, honestly, and it would pass even more time. Obviously that's what's important here.

[efficacy]

"...Sure. Why not?" she agrees rather easily after a beat of processing the question. "It's still your bed." Which is a convenient excuse, isn't it? She shouldn't downright admit that she'd quite like it if he did join her, after all. Her hands slip down from his shoulders as she tries to get off the couch somewhat gracefully (or not), reaching out to tug on his hand once she does.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He smiles, allowing himself to be led just as easily, trailing behind her without letting go of her hand. "Yeah, but I have others." He would still rather be in his with her at this moment, not that he's willing to say as much either. "Water," he reminds her, tugging her hand as he stops by the fridge for two water bottles. They'll need these.

[efficacy]

"Oh. Smart." Pepper taps the side of her nose playfully, laughing a little as she continues to tug him along after their brief stop. Once in the bedroom, she wastes no time waffling or being self-conscious. She's too sleepy and tipsy, respectively, for either. Instead she drags Tony up on the sinfully comfortable bed after her, flopping down on her side. Pepper barely gives him time to set aside the bottles before tugging gently on him again, pulling him next to her -- his front against her back -- and drawing his arm over her middle, pressing their joined hands against her chest as casually as anything. Closing her eyes, she snuggles her face into the pillows with a sigh.

"Mm. 'S good," she mumbles. He's nice and warm at her back, lulling her further.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He laughs, but then nods, managing to take a sip of his water before setting them on the side table and falling into the bed after her. Tony hooks an ankle around hers, happy to be close as he tucks his hand under his pillow and nuzzles into her throat from behind. Usually, he'd worry about the reactor, but she doesn't react to it at all and so he settles easily enough, wrapping her up the way he directs him to. It takes him no time at all to drift off this way, and he sleeps uninterrupted for a few hours, perfectly content and breathing even.

When he does wake, it's uncharacteristically slow, letting out sleepy little mumbles into her hair as he stretches without ever moving away from her. Though they have shifted some in the night, one of his arms wrapped securely and possessively around her middle as she'd turned towards him onto her back during their nap. Every limb he has available is clinging to her not unlike an octopus, his other hand idly cupping one breast as if in announcement that this too is his. The stirrings of an erection is confined against her hip, parts of his anatomy rousing merely from being close and warm.