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vr_trakowskiI got ambushed by fluff today. Iron Man, Tony/Pepper, G. Last-minute beta by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cincoflex, all hail!
“What made you change your mind?” he asked eventually, when they were watching the stars from the deck. “Not now, I mean. Back then. I know you almost quit, the first month.”
Pepper chuckled, and lifted her hand slightly to let a bit of his reactor’s glow escape; they had to keep it covered to see the stars without interference. “Several times. You were a...challenge.”
“I was an ass,” Tony said comfortably, and turned his head to nuzzle her hair. “For which I have already apologized, so I won’t do it again. It’s not like you weren’t a challenge yourself, you know.”
“I tried,” Pepper agreed with amusement. “You needed somebody to shake you up a little.” She pressed her palm back down, and felt his arm tighten under her shoulders. The view from the chaise longue was excellent, and one of the benefits was that they had to snuggle close to both fit on it.
“So answer the question, Potts.” His voice was teasing, willing to let it go, but Pepper simply sighed in contentment.
“One incident. I was staying late to finish something up, and you brought company home--it must have been from a party.” She squinted at the sky, absently identifying Boötes. “It wasn’t the first time, so I was going to wait in the conservatory until you were settled in the living room, and then sneak out.”
The warmth of his hand covering hers where it lay on his chest might have been the apology he denied. Pepper smiled in the dark. “But the woman--I don’t know who it was--I guess she changed her mind. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but she wanted to leave.”
She stopped. “And?” Tony asked, puzzled when the silence continued.
Pepper pressed her nose against his shoulder. “I was listening, you know, to see if it was safe for me to leave. And all you said was ‘Okay, Hogan will take you home.’”
Tony was still waiting, and when he made a puzzled sound Pepper laughed. “You let her go, Tony. You didn’t try to argue or threaten or pressure her into staying, you didn’t even try to make her feel guilty.”
“Yeah, so?” He was beginning to be annoyed. “That’s what a gentleman does, or at least that’s what my dad told me. And if you make a crack about ‘gentlemen’--“
“Tony--“ Her hand slid out from under his to cover his mouth. Blue light spilled upward, highlighting the softness of her smile. “Yes. It’s what should happen, but unfortunately it doesn’t always. It’s just--that told me I could...trust you.”
He blinked, lips moving in a silent Oh against her fingers. Pepper tapped his nose gently and lowered her arm, covering the arc once more. “You proved you had a heart long before you got this.”
Tony was silent for a while, looking up into infinity, before he sighed. “Trade you,” he said at last.
Pepper laughed again, and rolled over until she was looking down at him. “Already have,” she replied.
The stars burned on, unwatched.
End.
cincoflex, all hail! “What made you change your mind?” he asked eventually, when they were watching the stars from the deck. “Not now, I mean. Back then. I know you almost quit, the first month.”
Pepper chuckled, and lifted her hand slightly to let a bit of his reactor’s glow escape; they had to keep it covered to see the stars without interference. “Several times. You were a...challenge.”
“I was an ass,” Tony said comfortably, and turned his head to nuzzle her hair. “For which I have already apologized, so I won’t do it again. It’s not like you weren’t a challenge yourself, you know.”
“I tried,” Pepper agreed with amusement. “You needed somebody to shake you up a little.” She pressed her palm back down, and felt his arm tighten under her shoulders. The view from the chaise longue was excellent, and one of the benefits was that they had to snuggle close to both fit on it.
“So answer the question, Potts.” His voice was teasing, willing to let it go, but Pepper simply sighed in contentment.
“One incident. I was staying late to finish something up, and you brought company home--it must have been from a party.” She squinted at the sky, absently identifying Boötes. “It wasn’t the first time, so I was going to wait in the conservatory until you were settled in the living room, and then sneak out.”
The warmth of his hand covering hers where it lay on his chest might have been the apology he denied. Pepper smiled in the dark. “But the woman--I don’t know who it was--I guess she changed her mind. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but she wanted to leave.”
She stopped. “And?” Tony asked, puzzled when the silence continued.
Pepper pressed her nose against his shoulder. “I was listening, you know, to see if it was safe for me to leave. And all you said was ‘Okay, Hogan will take you home.’”
Tony was still waiting, and when he made a puzzled sound Pepper laughed. “You let her go, Tony. You didn’t try to argue or threaten or pressure her into staying, you didn’t even try to make her feel guilty.”
“Yeah, so?” He was beginning to be annoyed. “That’s what a gentleman does, or at least that’s what my dad told me. And if you make a crack about ‘gentlemen’--“
“Tony--“ Her hand slid out from under his to cover his mouth. Blue light spilled upward, highlighting the softness of her smile. “Yes. It’s what should happen, but unfortunately it doesn’t always. It’s just--that told me I could...trust you.”
He blinked, lips moving in a silent Oh against her fingers. Pepper tapped his nose gently and lowered her arm, covering the arc once more. “You proved you had a heart long before you got this.”
Tony was silent for a while, looking up into infinity, before he sighed. “Trade you,” he said at last.
Pepper laughed again, and rolled over until she was looking down at him. “Already have,” she replied.
The stars burned on, unwatched.
End.
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no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 08:13 pm (UTC)really.
;)
faboo!
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Date: 2009-08-13 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 08:14 pm (UTC)Lovely!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 05:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 05:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-12 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-19 10:48 pm (UTC)He blinked, lips moving in a silent Oh against her fingers. Pepper tapped his nose gently and lowered her arm, covering the arc once more. “You proved you had a heart long before you got this.”
Oh. That was simply beautiful! *melts* The origin of Pepper’s trust plus a lovely tie into the movie. Not to mention snuggling and looking up at the stars. How much do I adore that image? Weee! Your fluff bunnies are great! I have zero issues with fluff bunnies when they lead to something this sweet and adorable. *grin*
no subject
Date: 2009-08-22 01:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-17 08:29 am (UTC)Good job.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-18 04:01 am (UTC)