✵ 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

pepper & tony

[efficacy]

For all that she prefers a more monochromatic wardrobe for the office, Pepper's event wear has more color to it. For tonight she's picked a knee-length dress in pale yellow that complements Tony's own outfit, her hair piled on top of her head in a loose chignon.

"Not every dress I own was a gift from you," she quips lightly without pausing in her task, adjusting the straps as Tony steps over to zip her up. She leans back against his chest as he wraps his arms around her, lifting a hand up to his face and turning her head so their cheeks are touching. Sighing, she enjoys their closeness for a moment, thankful that he's here; that he's better, that they're finally moving onto the next chapter in their lives.

Her happiness colors the small laugh she breathes out at his comment about sending everyone home. "What, on your birthday? I'd never hear the end of it. All your adoring fans would be so very disappointed."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Is that a yes?" he teases, nuzzling against her unabashedly. God, his birthday. He's glad he has something else planned for tonight because for once all the focus being on him would just be too overwhelming. Not that he'd really had any affairs like this since Afghanistan, but he didn't cease to be him. He still fed on attention; still enjoyed his public. But he'd narrowly escaped death just a few days before turning 40, shit had gotten real. "I like it. And I recognize it, which means I probably liked it then too."

Sometimes he acts a little autistic though, whatever. Pepper's used to it. He kisses her ear and holds a little too tightly to be casual any more. "I'm an old man now. Are you sure you still like me?" There's an edge to it that makes it sound almost serious. He knows Pepper's feelings haven't changed, but even he needs reassurance sometimes. Especially after so much excitement.

[efficacy]

"Alright, you may have gotten it for my birthday four years ago," Pepper relents with similar playfulness, chuckling. While Tony is often eager to buy her gifts, the success rate of pleasing her with them is 99% higher when she picks those presents out for herself. It's been a very working system, so far. "And you did like it, though I seem to recall you liked it better on the floor."

It had been a very good birthday. Laying a hand over his arm across her waist, Pepper pulls her head back enough to catch his eyes, smiling softly. She knows turning 40 is a sore spot for him.

"Always, Tony." Leaning back in, she kisses the corner of his mouth, quirking a more teasing smile. "Besides, those grey hairs at your temples are sexy. Very distinguished."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I knew it," he exclaims, pushing his nose against her throat. She picked it out, he knows that without asking. Idly, he smooths out the fabric he disturbed around her waist with his hold. "And I'm sure I will like it that way again... tonight." His voice goes a little husky, nipping playfully at her earlobe. He intends on having a good birthday himself, after all.

Tony pulls back a little to lean into her kiss, though it's too brief to return. He lets out a mild noise in protest. "Distinguished isn't a real thing. It's just what people say to old guys to make them feel like they're not obselete."

[efficacy]

Pepper laughs lowly, grinning even as she squirms a little against him at the nip to her lobe. "Looking forward to it already," she murmurs back. It is his birthday, after all.

"Oh yes, that's clearly why George Clooney has to fend women off left and right. Hmm, should've invited him," she remarks with an appreciative hum, zero percent serious. He just makes it so easy to tease him.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"We could always..." His hand trails down over her thigh, gripping suggestively. He doesn't actually expect Pepper will go for a quickie before they hit the party, but as always it's worth a shot. It's his birthday! And a big gross number at that.

The tease however gets an exasperated sigh, even while he gives a low chuckle, making sure to direct the sound against her ear. "I might have already. Should we invite him back here to join us?"

[efficacy]

Humming in amusement, she covers his hand on her thigh with her own and squeezes it. A part of her is a little tempted, but her pragmatism prevails. "Or, we could always wait until tonight. I promise you a private after-party."

Provided he doesn't end up drinking way too much at the actual party and render himself more or less useless.

"Did you just suggest a threesome with George Clooney?" she laughs, grinning as she tips her head back a bit carefully so as not to mess up her hair. "I'd say you're not just turning into an old man, but a dirty old man -- but you've always been that, so."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Is that a private party with or without George?" he asks, nosing in against her throat, breathing deliberately thready. He might be a dirty old man, but she'd never had an honest protest for it before. "Because I'm starting to feel like we're going behind his back. He's going to feel so left out..." She smells so good, like better than should be allowed, ever. The way his body is beginning to react means they should break apart now; use it as a cue to make their grand entrance, but naturally it makes him tighten his grip around her middle.

[efficacy]

She can't help her small giggle at the silly banter, even as she tips her head to the side to expose more of the pale column of her neck to him, pulse leaping at his hot breath against her skin. She's not in full control of how she's started to sway in his embrace just the slightest bit, body pushing against him like a cat seeking pets.

"I'm sure he'll get over it eventually. Brangelina would probably be happy to step in." She sighs, enjoying this a little too much for having just denied the quickie option. "We should get going, Tony."

[letmetakeaselfie]

It's always maddening how perfectly they fit together. He actually lets out a sigh when she denies him, shaking his head so his nose brushes against her pulse-point. He knows this is partially a ploy to keep him sober enough to pick up where they left off, later, and another part because she doesn't want to mess up her hair. Always thinking ahead, that Pepper. But it still stings, and he still wants her -- desperately.

"They'll wait for us. I'm usually way later than this." Which really ought to be tacky at a certain point, to your own party. But he'd always made sure it was interesting enough for people to stick around. And if anyone leaves this shindig before the finale they're going to feel mighty foolish, that's for sure.

[efficacy]

The scent of his cologne and the warm, firm frame of him against her back are starting to erode her willpower. It would be easy to lift up her skirt and brace her hands on top of the vanity, warn Tony not to wrinkle her dress... biting her lip, Pepper pushes the mental image aside, no matter how delicious. She refuses to make an appearance with a post-sex flush on her face, and the wait will make the reward that much sweeter at the end of the night.

"Oh, I'm aware," she manages dryly with a small smirk, only a little belatedly. "But seeing as how it's a party in your honor and it's rude to keep the guests waiting, I think you should try to make an appearance on time tonight. Don't you?"

Her tone is sweet and airy, but the precise way she's delivering her argument means she won't be swayed no matter what.

[letmetakeaselfie]

If he were aware of what that pause contained, he'd be even more reluctant to detangle himself from her. As it is, it's already physically difficult, like pulling off a limb as he slowly pushes himself back and away.

"Do I need to powder my nose?" he asks only semi jokingly, lifting an eyebrow and glancing towards the hall. This is his moment; he lets out a long puffing breath.

[efficacy]

Pepper hums under her breath as she turns around, fond and amused all at once. She straightens his lapels and smooths out the shoulders, not even the tiniest sign of rumpled fabric escaping her critical eye. She nods decisively when she deems he passes her scrutiny.

"Front page perfect," she announces, quirking a warm smile.

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.

[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.