Bring me to your house, Say sorry for the mess. (Hey, I don't mind.)

[letmetakeaselfie]

Tony is nervous. Tony is always nervous, but tonight is compounded by all his paranoid fear brought to life by none other than SHIELD's meddling. After chance (if you can really believe that) running into Steve Rogers on the street, Tony had refused to do anything less than become fast friends with the other man, hellbent on unwinding this insane tapestry they're all tied up in, even if he has to do it thread by thread. He had been shocked when it was so easy to get Steve to agree to come to dinner at his house with his cobbled together family, at least at first. The more he spends time with the other man, the more he understands just how lonely he is.

Without Pepper he would have lost his mind several times over by now (and that's just tonight.) He's dressed casually in a linen shirt and jeans, seeming unbothered by the way the reactor shines brightly through the thin fabric. JARVIS announces Steve's arrival and he nearly jumps out of his skin, running a hand through his already hopelessly unruly hair as his gaze flashes to Pepper for one last nudge in silent guidance. Swallowing his nerves, he goes to the door, assured that JARVIS had brought Steve up to the penthouse as per Tony's earlier instructions (that the AI had chided him for repeating too many times. I'm a machine, sir. I'm not capable of forgetting.) He doesn't think he is either, anymore.

"H-hey," he greets, a little wild-eyed and more than starstruck (still) though he tries desperately to rein that part in. "Uh. Come in." He steps back and gestures vaguely, almost vibrating for how much this is affecting him.

Comments

[valuedstrength]

Steve lights up not unlike an excited puppy. He doesn't really know what it is, but it sounds amazing. He feels like he's getting let in on something special which is an added bonus to all this.

"I don't know. It sounds like something that would be famous." He compliments earnestly. She's done a lot to bring his anxiety down so he feels comfortable giving those out now. "I've never had that before, but it sounds great, Ms. Potts. Thank you."

[letmetakeaselfie]

It really is cute, the wonder in Steve's eyes. But it causes a pang of hurt to lance through his chest, knowing he'll have to dash the other man's hope in the end. It steals his breath for a second, turning to Pepper in hopes of meeting her eyes; though that flush over her cheeks brings a wan smile to his lips despite himself. "Don't let her fool you. It's very famous in this house. Watch, we won't even have to call the boys for dinner."

[efficacy]

"Oh, please," Pepper says wryly and nudges Tony gently at the quip, but it's evidently nothing serious as she glances over with a small smile. She puts up a good front, her mind churning over similar concerns as Tony's; her expression wavers just a tiniest bit as she meets Tony's eyes, before turning over to Steve with a fuller smile again. "You're very welcome, in that case. But please, you can call me Pepper."

[valuedstrength]

Steve laughs fondly at the exchange. It's a beautiful image in his head; tugging at his heartstrings effectively. It's hard not to envy them for all his efforts to be a good man. He does his best to bury that bit of sadness as he responds.

"Okay, Pepper, but if we're on a first name basis, we're on a first name basis. I expect you to call me Steve." A beat barely passes before he caves somewhat. "Assuming you are comfortable, Pepper."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I'm not comfortable," Tony jokes, looking between them like something is going on. Even for how jealous he can be at times, it is wholly just him being goofy though. It's hard not to think of Steve as a kid even if he's really not so much younger than them. "Oh, and I expect you to call me Papa Stark." He fully expects to get elbowed for that one :)

[efficacy]

Pepper rolls her eyes at Tony and drives her elbow into his side as requested. :)) "Stop," she admonishes him, but it's not in her actually serious voice. Tony can tell the difference, for sure. To Steve she flashes a smile and nods. "That's a deal, Steve."

[valuedstrength]

He actually snorts at Tony's joke. It catches him off guard for a second since he can't remember another time he's done that. That leaves him time to properly appreciate that elbow. Inexplicably he thinks of dark curls and bowler hats before shaking the thought off and shrugging.

"Sorry, pal. Deal's struck. And good luck getting someone else to go for that. It makes you sound like someone's grandpa."