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 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.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He hums in acknowledgment, watching Marla and the Narrator fight. Is that what real love is like? He finds himself wondering when he watches movies like these. Not that Fight Club is really like many other movies. "Favorite of all time: Terminator 2." He's predictable like that. Tony smiles softly at her, finding it hard to turn his head back this time. "Comfy?"

[efficacy]

Pepper's lips twitch fondly. Yeah, that was predictable. "Who would have ever guessed that..." she teases, smile deepening. She tries to pay attention to the movie, but it's just not holding her interest as much as their conversation (and Tony himself) does. "Mmhmm. You have a very comfy couch."

[letmetakeaselfie]

She has to stop smiling like that. Pepper is the only person who actually listens when he talks, unless it's Bruce but that's about science stuff. He hates to talk with Tony about stuff like this, and even Rhodey gets tired after the second hour on the phone. Maybe it's just because this is new, but Tony is so completely captivated by her, and he sees it echoed in her gaze. It's intoxicating. So much so that he keeps losing his train of thought.

"You look..." Adorable. Gorgeous. Like I want to kiss you again. He doesn't voice any of these aloud, as desperately as he wants to. "Comfy."

[efficacy]

"Yes, I... am," she agrees though they're repeating themselves now, feeling ridiculously like a giddy high school girl talking to the coolest boy on campus. Silly, it's so silly. Why must he have such gorgeous eyes? And... face in general. She realizes the danger that lies herein, but she can't bring herself to move away or break their eye contact, either.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He bites into his lip to keep from grinning all over again, wishing there were some instantaneous way to bridge their gap. As if that would somehow make it a good idea. He's the one who ends up forcing himself to turn, though of course it's the terrible Brad Pitt sex scene. What else would it be? "This part always freaks me out," he murmurs, feeling awkward and out of place in a way he never has before, yet another flush eating up his throat.

[efficacy]

"...Ew," Pepper issues quietly at the scene before she can edit herself, wincing a little. It's probably not the reaction most women have for anything Brad Pitt related, but really. And yes, it's also a little awkward to watch scenes of this nature with Tony, biting into her lip and hoping it ends soon.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"It's supposed to be... alarming," he explains, pointing at the screen as he turns his head once more to catch her gaze. He's caught smiling all over again at her little exclamation, nodding his agreement easily enough. It is kind of a gross scene. "Plus it establishes... a thing. I don't want to give it away. Unless you've figured it out already."

[efficacy]

"Maybe. This guy Tyler doesn't really exist, or something weird like that," she muses idly. "I think that's my theory for now. Oh god, that's so gross. That's so wrong," she grimaces at the scene where the guys go looting for human fat at the liposuction clinic.