![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vr_trakowskiA ficlet, because it sprang on me. Many thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cincoflex for emergency betaing and reassurance! Iron Man, Tony/Pepper, rated US for Unabashedly Sentimental.
At first, he thought he’d dreamed it. Waking could be slow, when he’d been getting only a few hours of sleep, and sometimes he’d be in the shower before the memory--if it was one--would surface. Just a ghost of touch, a wishful thought.
But he dreamed it again, and again. Such a little thing, a hint of tenderness; something missing from his life for decades, and something he would have scorned before.
He could have asked Jarvis. He didn’t. He didn’t want to know, not for sure. As long as he didn’t, he could keep hoping that it was real.
And life went on. It was more convenient, having his PA on-site, as it were; for her too, though she wouldn’t admit it. Tony had insisted, after the second death threat, and Pepper had reluctantly acquiesced, and now the whole north wing’s second floor was hers--more space than her condo, and he tried to avoid calling her when she’d already said goodnight.
Not that he always succeeded...
Tony wanted to believe they were getting closer. Sharing the same house, large as it was, did give him glimpses into Ms. Potts’ personal life; what she wore while relaxing, for instance, and what she ate for breakfast. He had to admit that the kitchen was much better-stocked now that she was using it for more than just making him the occasional sandwich.
But they were both so busy, and he didn’t know how to broach the subject anyway. Any chance you’ve changed your mind about dating me didn’t sound quite right, and between Stark Industries and Iron Man he scarcely had time to breathe, falling into bed exhausted and waking what felt like mere minutes later, his ever-efficient assistant’s cheerful voice prodding him out of sleep as she waved coffee under his nose.
His ever-efficient assistant who wasn’t getting any more sleep than he was, Tony realized one night, when he got back from a late meeting and found her sound asleep in the kitchen. It was...cute, he had to admit; Pepper had clearly tried so hard to stay awake, but eventually sleep had won, and now she lay curled on the bench of the breakfast nook, one arm under her head, her elegant suit rumpled. She looked very uncomfortable and utterly adorable.
And whatever imp of unreason that usually got him into trouble prompted him, and he traded dream for reality, and leaned down to brush his lips over hers.
It was a private, oddly intense moment, over so quickly; he half-feared she would wake, and half-wished it. The feel of her skin burned on his own when he straightened, but she didn’t stir. So he laughed at himself, and shook her shoulder gently until she roused.
The dream shocked him awake at dawn, leaving him breathing hard and concentrating on the wrap of the sheets around him to anchor himself to reality. Tony had always had nightmares; Afghanistan had just made them more varied.
For a while he just lay still, watching the sky brighten outside the windows. Weariness dogged him, but sleep was fled for the moment; it felt good, just then, to stay in the little bubble of stasis, without urgency, without motivation. Tony let his mind drift, passing by schematics and coding to the open air above the sea, where there was only beauty and freedom.
The soft sound of his name brought him back. Pepper had come to wake him, and on that instant Tony shut his eyes, suddenly curious.
He heard her approach, smelled the coffee she carried, but he didn’t move. Footsteps rounded the end of the bed and came closer, and he waited, wondering, wishing...
She sighed, though out of what emotion he couldn’t tell. And the dream became real as something warm touched his lips, pressing gently; a touch so loving that his heart hurt.
His hand rose to cup her neck, and he returned the kiss, ignoring her flinch of shock, offering back what she had given him.
And then he opened his eyes.
Hers were wide, stunned--but past the alarm he saw hope; the same hope he’d been guarding.
So he pulled her down to him, and kissed her again. Pepper laughed, and held him close, and he knew he’d never wake alone again.
End.
cincoflex for emergency betaing and reassurance! Iron Man, Tony/Pepper, rated US for Unabashedly Sentimental. At first, he thought he’d dreamed it. Waking could be slow, when he’d been getting only a few hours of sleep, and sometimes he’d be in the shower before the memory--if it was one--would surface. Just a ghost of touch, a wishful thought.
But he dreamed it again, and again. Such a little thing, a hint of tenderness; something missing from his life for decades, and something he would have scorned before.
He could have asked Jarvis. He didn’t. He didn’t want to know, not for sure. As long as he didn’t, he could keep hoping that it was real.
And life went on. It was more convenient, having his PA on-site, as it were; for her too, though she wouldn’t admit it. Tony had insisted, after the second death threat, and Pepper had reluctantly acquiesced, and now the whole north wing’s second floor was hers--more space than her condo, and he tried to avoid calling her when she’d already said goodnight.
Not that he always succeeded...
Tony wanted to believe they were getting closer. Sharing the same house, large as it was, did give him glimpses into Ms. Potts’ personal life; what she wore while relaxing, for instance, and what she ate for breakfast. He had to admit that the kitchen was much better-stocked now that she was using it for more than just making him the occasional sandwich.
But they were both so busy, and he didn’t know how to broach the subject anyway. Any chance you’ve changed your mind about dating me didn’t sound quite right, and between Stark Industries and Iron Man he scarcely had time to breathe, falling into bed exhausted and waking what felt like mere minutes later, his ever-efficient assistant’s cheerful voice prodding him out of sleep as she waved coffee under his nose.
His ever-efficient assistant who wasn’t getting any more sleep than he was, Tony realized one night, when he got back from a late meeting and found her sound asleep in the kitchen. It was...cute, he had to admit; Pepper had clearly tried so hard to stay awake, but eventually sleep had won, and now she lay curled on the bench of the breakfast nook, one arm under her head, her elegant suit rumpled. She looked very uncomfortable and utterly adorable.
And whatever imp of unreason that usually got him into trouble prompted him, and he traded dream for reality, and leaned down to brush his lips over hers.
It was a private, oddly intense moment, over so quickly; he half-feared she would wake, and half-wished it. The feel of her skin burned on his own when he straightened, but she didn’t stir. So he laughed at himself, and shook her shoulder gently until she roused.
The dream shocked him awake at dawn, leaving him breathing hard and concentrating on the wrap of the sheets around him to anchor himself to reality. Tony had always had nightmares; Afghanistan had just made them more varied.
For a while he just lay still, watching the sky brighten outside the windows. Weariness dogged him, but sleep was fled for the moment; it felt good, just then, to stay in the little bubble of stasis, without urgency, without motivation. Tony let his mind drift, passing by schematics and coding to the open air above the sea, where there was only beauty and freedom.
The soft sound of his name brought him back. Pepper had come to wake him, and on that instant Tony shut his eyes, suddenly curious.
He heard her approach, smelled the coffee she carried, but he didn’t move. Footsteps rounded the end of the bed and came closer, and he waited, wondering, wishing...
She sighed, though out of what emotion he couldn’t tell. And the dream became real as something warm touched his lips, pressing gently; a touch so loving that his heart hurt.
His hand rose to cup her neck, and he returned the kiss, ignoring her flinch of shock, offering back what she had given him.
And then he opened his eyes.
Hers were wide, stunned--but past the alarm he saw hope; the same hope he’d been guarding.
So he pulled her down to him, and kissed her again. Pepper laughed, and held him close, and he knew he’d never wake alone again.
End.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-08-02 09:54 pm (UTC)comment - dawntime
Date: 2009-08-02 09:57 pm (UTC)[...a touch so loving that his heart hurt.]
Oh, that is just beautiful!
Thank you so much for sharing this. *squishes you*
no subject
Date: 2009-08-02 11:51 pm (UTC)Love it!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 01:00 am (UTC)Sorry, I'm slightly incoherent. So much love for this--I can see it happening just like that.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 01:30 am (UTC)I love you for reviewing--you are constant and generous. *hug*
Re: comment - dawntime
Date: 2009-08-03 01:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 07:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 10:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-03 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 12:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 02:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 02:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-04 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 08:49 pm (UTC)///
She sighed, though out of what emotion he couldn’t tell. And the dream became real as something warm touched his lips, pressing gently; a touch so loving that his heart hurt.
Wow, I love your writing! It’s really just incredible what you do with words. I was so utterly dragged right into this, beginning to end. Beautiful and poignant!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-08 03:20 am (UTC)