let's perform my favorite little scene ⋆

[letmetakeaselfie]

Tony had gone through a rough patch following Ultron, but Pepper had been there with him for all of it like always. She was always so good to him, and he's trying to be more engaged and take cues; and not give her any more reason to worry. So when she comes to him in the lab, he whirls around immediately, focused entirely on her. Usually he would at least take a moment to finish up whatever he was working on, but he can't let things continue to degrade. He needs to be a part of their solution.

And when he catches the look on her face he's glad he got his head out of his ass in record time. "Pepper, what is it?" A second later it sinks in that something is wrong. He's popping up out of his seat and going to her without being asked, but what comes next is the last thing he could have possibly expected. Pregnant? It doesn't make sense. He floats away for a second before forcing himself back into the moment.

"Are you sure?" he asks, then grimaces, realizing it was dumb. He shakes his head as if he could etch-a-sketch what he just said. Of course she is or she wouldn't come to him with this. He reaches out for her arms, uncertain but knowing they should be close for this. He can't be a father, he's going to let her down. She already takes care of him, won't this just be twice as much on her plate? Breathing in shallowly through his nose, he rubs his thumbs against her elbows and tries not to look absolutely terrified.

always let it get to my head ⋆

[letmetakeaselfie]

Tony feels bad that he can't talk to Pepper anymore about this, and perhaps uncharacteristically he ends up picking up his phone and dialing the first person he thinks of. There aren't a lot of people he feels comfortable talking about anything personal with, but the facts are these. Bruce is gone, and Rhodey is almost too close in a way. He's not sure he's ready to tell him, and he feels almost like he broke some sort of truce with his best friend though this pregnancy was anything but planned.

"...Hey. Sorry. Are you busy?" Who picks up the phone with an apology? Oh lord, now Steve will definitely know something is off.