✵ the conversation stopped and i looked down at the ring ✵

[letmetakeaselfie]

This has the makings of every Tony Stark party to date, plus a few. It's loud, dark; and so totally nineties. It's his era, he can't help himself. Big yellow sunglasses accompany his light-colored suit, hair slicked back and a smile glued on his face. He's ready to make this an affair no one will ever forget.

Before making his way out, he stops to see her, hanging in the doorway as she pulls on her dress. "Did I get you that?" he asks, slowly slipping into the room to help her zip. It's been a few days since he's seen her -- they've barely spoken. Sometimes he gets up long before her and is in the lab long after she gets home. Though they sleep in the same bed, it's as if they lead entirely separate lives at times. He owes her so much more, this week especially, and this is his grand occasion to make up all his misgivings.

He smiles softly, thinking of their night under the stars. Eating diner burgers and garlic fries and looking over their life together. It was impossible to look forward so they had looked back, enjoyed the past for what it was. Though he had never accepted there wouldn't be a future for them, he had had to entertain the possibility that his father would let him down one last time. Fortunately for everyone, Howard had come through, and just in the nick of time.

Tony's forty today and it feels ancient. He's known Pepper for well over half his life and here they are. Once her dress is secure, he pulls her into his arms from behind, hands winding possessively around her waist. "I can tell everyone to go home." Maybe he really should have listened -- made this an intimate affair. But the wedding would be small -- quaint and New England in every way. The engagement had to be big. West Coast big. He sighs against the side of her face, unable to keep from grinning.

--

He is very, very drunk when he gets up on stage, but no one here expects anything less. He has a glass of champagne and he calls Pepper out of the crowd. This is it; their moment. The one his family's been pushing him for since the moment they'd met. "Damn," he says into the mic as she stands, whistling lowly and shaking his head. "What took me so long?"

It gets laughter, of course, but then it's quiet like a library. The New Haven library where they first met, even. No music, no nothing. When Pepper joins him , a walk that seems to take forever, he doesn't hesitate to get down on one knee, his glass left on the podium as he pulls a box out of his pocket.

"I know you wanted to keep this small, so naturally I did the exact opposite." He drops the microphone so he can pry open the box, a giant but tasteful vintage stone shining up at her. Tony swallows back his nerves, playing up the cheese for the crowd, tipping his head with a lopsided smile. "Now that I'm not dying, what do you say?"

Comments

[letmetakeaselfie]

Ugh. The most offended look ever is being shot Steve's way. But it's short-lived as he receives that cheek-kiss, eyelashes fluttering just for a second and yet in such a telling way. "Then mission accomplished. On all counts." We're all winners etc etc let's raise the roof. But then he's lifting a brow for them both. "Like anyone else could put up with me." If there's one thing Tony knows (and ignores) it's his own limitations.

[efficacy]

"We'll see about upgrading you in another ten years or so," she grins unabashedly, knowing he'd get hung up on the qualifier. Interlacing their fingers, she squeezes his hand and gives a humming chuckle at his conclusion. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." A beat, then; "Ready to party?"

[efficacy]

Pepper smiles softly, nodding once in silence. It doesn't surprise her that Steve knows exactly what she means.

"Thank you. You and Peggy have always been so kind and supportive since day one." Of her, as well as the relationship between her and Tony. She blinks, swallowing back sudden tears of emotion. She wouldn't be the person she is today without Peggy's -- Steve's too, but especially Peggy's -- guidance along the years. It hurts Pepper to think Peggy can't be here to celebrate this with them, that she won't be there at the wedding ceremony either. "I just wish she could be here with us to see this with her own eyes."

[valuedstrength]

Steve can only stare at him in astonishment. He's been hanging out with Tony since he kicked Maria in the ribs. He knows damn well how old he is compared to the party goers. "Right." Keep living the lie. "Two-thirds."

[efficacy]

Pepper still isn't sure who Natasha Romanoff actually is. How much of her is real, the actual person underneath all the aliases and the mask of Black Widow. She wonders if even those closest to the spy know. She'd like to be able to say she can trust Natasha if only because she's Peggy's recruit, but Pepper's pragmatic enough to understand the need for the ruthless people in an organization like SHIELD; the people willing to go the extra mile and dabble in the gray areas of morality to get the job done. But Pepper can set aside her wariness for today, at least, in attempt to forge a better understanding between them.

"Thank you... Natasha," Pepper adds, smiling more genuinely now. "I appreciate it." Her expression shifts into something gently amused a moment later. "You know, if you ever want a break from SHIELD, you should give me a call. I could put your efficiency into good use at SI."

[valuedstrength]

Steve laughs at her initial response. His expression softens greatly at that little exchange. They're so cute. His heart really can't take this. He has to look away for a second. Somehow he manages to survive yet another session of Pepper and Tony's love being the cutest thing ever. He resumes eye contact with them both. It is of course to say something gushy and embarrassing.

"That's why it's called finding the right partner." He points out gently for the hundredth time. Don't worry. Steve finds his sense of humor a second later. "Not 'God I hope they don't kill each other before they get down the aisle.'"

[efficacy]

Pepper would be sorry to inflict their gross lovey-doveyness on Steve, but they did just get engaged. It's a little hard to suppress it.

It's Pepper's turn to laugh now. "Don't be so hasty, there's still the actual wedding planning to get through." Who's to say there isn't a small bridezilla inside of her? She doubts it, but they just don't know yet.

[letmetakeaselfie]

That gets a look from Tony, incredulous and enamored. "If anyone's doing the killing, it's you." He brushes some bangs out of her eyes and kisses the corner of her mouth before settling back at her side, ear resting against her shoulder. He definitely feels no such inclination to tone it down for his uncle; he's too happy to notice how sickening they're being. "That part's whatever you want, though, I mean it. Connecticut in the Fall, right? Like we said."

His gaze flicks over to Steve, as if calculating. Now is already Summer... "Not-- not that it needs to be this Fall. That wouldn't give us much time to..." Oops. Yeah he's leaving that one, trailing off nervously.

[valuedstrength]

Steve shatters as much as he'll ever allow himself to in public in regards to his wife's condition. His eyes well up with tears. It takes a lot of willpower to keep his voice steady as he reaches out to touch Pepper's shoulder reassuringly. "I know. I wish she could be here too."

He always notices her absence. Days like today it's nearly unbearable because he knows what she would do. She'd hold her head up high and make sure the couple got their due. Peggy would be so proud of them and no illness would rob her of that later. He wishes not for the first time she had gotten the serum instead even knowing logically that had a whole different set of serious problems. The fact her husband would have never made it to thirty for example.

He forces a smile and tries to sound okay. "She'll have this for a little while. You'll both make her very happy."

after the party

[letmetakeaselfie]

The last of their guests are finally headed home, and Steve on his way to bed, and Tony couldn't feel more relieved. It's late, sure, and he's had a little too much to drink, naturally, but it's actually incredibly nice not to have to talk to anyone else but Pepper for the night. He knows he'd brought it on himself, but being that social and polite (by his standards) for that long was absolutely exhausting, even for him.

Tony grabs her hand and allows her to pull him back upstairs to their room, stifling a yawn behind his free hand. "Alright, scale from O.J. to Gotti. How in trouble am I?"

[efficacy]

Pepper had been ready to retire at least a few hours ago, but that would have been in bad form. So when the last guests are finally out of their house, she wastes little time dragging Tony upstairs. Lucky for him, any annoyance at being blindsided with an engagement tonight has long since fizzled out.

"Martha Stewart," she replies cheekily. "Thank your lucky stars that the ring is very pretty." Smirking, she tugs him into the master bedroom. "Tired already? You have gotten old."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He snorts at the assessment, grabbing the door and closing it behind them. "I wouldn't mind being stuck at Camp Cupcake for a night..." But instead of anything else smart he could think of to snipe back, Tony uses his leverage to turn her, puling her in flush against him. And then he's kissing her, slow and thorough, letting his lips do the speaking for him. He'd rather be here than anywhere else in the world, just like it had been since the moment he'd seen her.

[valuedstrength]

"Did we ever really have a doubt?" Steve asks evenly. Really who wouldn't want to kill Tony if they dated much less married him? Steve raises a brow at the rest of that. "Am I missing something? The idea sounds great by the way." The Fall wedding part. Not the what are you talking about part.

[efficacy]

"Uh-huh," she humors him as always, letting out a surprised little oh! when he suddenly pulls her in, her free hand finding his shoulder. Her eyes slip shut a beat after his lips cover hers, tilting her head and responding without hesitation, sighing into his mouth at the loving affection the slow kiss seems to be suffused with. Her hand slides along his shoulder to cup the side of his face, leaning her forehead against his with a happy smile when the contact gradually winds to an end.

"Well. What brought this on?" she teases gently in a low murmur, as if she doesn't know.

[letmetakeaselfie]

His look turns mildly incredulous, though the affection never leaves his features. "What, I can't kiss my new fiancée? Am I not attractive to you anymore? Are we going to be one of those married couples?" A little zing goes through his middle at the thought, lips twitching up. They're going to be a married couple. It's surreal and awesome all at the same time.

[efficacy]

Pepper laughs, eyes sparkling with mirth and happiness as she wraps both arms tightly around his neck.

"Well, you know what they say-- when the spark is gone, it's gone," she teases on through a grin, battling more giggles as the word settles in warmly. Married. The ring's been on her finger all night, but it's not until now that they're alone that the meaning of it really sinks in.

motherfucking chinstrap

[letmetakeaselfie]

He leans into her, radiating just as much happiness and love. "Not in trouble then?" he asks, kissing her cheek gently as his hands catch at her waist.

judgy shake of head!!

[efficacy]

She hums, playfully pensive, before finally declaring, "I might need another kiss to be one hundred percent sure."

theyre so cute in that scene but its so bad

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Another kiss, huh." He works his jaw as if he's mulling it over, but then suddenly uses his hold to dip her like a black and white movie and kiss her deeply at the low point.

i knowww why oh why

[efficacy]

Pepper's grip on him tightens, her surprised squeak smothered by his mouth. Blood rushes to her head, but all she can do is smile into the kiss, returning every slide of lips and tongue. "Forgiven," she hums happily, tugging gently at his bottom lip with her teeth.

tony terrible decisions stark is why

[letmetakeaselfie]

His own grin is triumphant as he smoothly pulls her back upright without breaking the kiss, tongue running covetously over her lip as if in gratitude for the tug. "If only I could win every argument this way," he manages, breathing thready though he doesn't let it stop him from kissing her all over again, nudging her deeper into the room.

i hope pep forced him to shave it off in time for aou

[efficacy]

Pepper snorts a slight laugh at that. "Yeah, I wouldn't advise you to try," she retorts against his mouth, slightly muffled, before taking it up a notch and kissing back hungrily, backing up and pulling him along as he nudges her. They might hit something other than the bed but that'll probably work too tbh.

this is my hc and no one can take it from me

[letmetakeaselfie]

"When have you ever known me to do what's advised?" he challenges, hissing as his hips bump hers, the unyielding vanity catching her just in time.

yes excellent "do it or i will!!!"

[efficacy]

"Never, but you can occasionally work out what's good for you," she snarks back, breathing out a ragged little exhalation as her butt hits the edge of the vanity, one hand flying back to brace against the top of it as she bucks brazenly back into him; hooking a leg behind his knee, her hips rub against his in a kind of swiveling shimmy that leaves little room for ambiguity.

we should thread that tbh

[letmetakeaselfie]

He lets out a cry against her ear, which quickly turns into a whimper at the way she writhes against him. Tony couldn't be more grateful that she seems as wound up as he is, hand running down over her thigh in an obvious rejoinder. The truth was they were never going to be one of 'those' married couples. They were always going to be disgusting to anyone who encountered them because if the spark is still this fresh after 20 some odd years, it's not going out.

"I'll give you that," he lets out breathlessly, moving in and hand closing over hers for support. Which brings him to another cause. "What about the ring? Do you hate it? Is it too much?" Before he can go on forever he kisses her, hard, eyelashes fluttering against her skin for how close they are now.