Okay, so this isn't some masterpiece or anything, just a little idea I had while working on another fic, and I felt like writing it down. It's kind of silly, but also sweet. A quick write and not well edited, so be kind.
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French Fries
By ZionAngel
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Part of her hated that he wanted a press conference. She had to organize it, call the Stark factory to tell them to set up the conference room, call every reporter and news agency in her contacts list. She couldn't talk to him.
Part of her was relieved that he wanted a press conference. She didn't have to talk to him, say too much or too little, or say nothing at all in a painful and awkward silence.
She reluctantly pulled out her Blackberry as Happy began driving across the tarmac toward the main gates, and out to find that cheeseburger. She scrolled down to the contact group labeled "News Media" and selected CNN, the first on the list. She had a hard time deciding which ear to hold the phone up to; if she used her right ear, she would not be able to see Tony; if she used her left ear, she would. She chose the left.
She focused on each ring of the phone, letting it center her mind on the task at hand, willing everything that should have been said and done, every emotion that should have been expressed, to fall away. She willed herself to forget that she had not told him she loved him, that she had not wrapped her arms around him, or even so much as been honest enough to tell him she had missed him. She wasn't certain if the rings were helping her, and a man on the other end answered before she could find out. As she spoke to him, and several more after, she tried simply to push away her self-loathing for not doing what she had sworn to herself she would do.
She had called seven news agencies, and had begun dialing the main office of the Stark Industries headquarters complex to tell them to set up the conference room when he spotted a Burger King down the road. When he asked if she wanted anything, she only replied curtly that she couldn't eat and call reporters at the same time. She was on the phone with the receptionist before she had time to think that she sounded more angry than she had intended.
She made it through three more reporters as Happy ordered at the drive-through, paid, picked up the food and continued on their way. She had moved on to the local media outlets, and called two TV stations. As she lowered her Blackberry down to her lap to search out the number of a third, something on the right side of her vision caught her eye. She turned her head automatically, not paying much attention, only to find his hand, holding a single French fry across the seat to her. She looked up at him, and found him facing forward, his eyes only slightly turned in her direction. Shocked and bewildered, she reached over and cautiously took it from him.
She ate it slowly, trying to comprehend the small but completely unexpected action. She found no answers by the time she swallowed, and was forced to return to her preparations confused.
He did the same thing three calls later, still only looking at her out of the corner of his eye. Again she ate, none the wiser when she was through.
And after another two calls, he offered a third fry - the last one in the box, she noticed. She stared at his face as she took this one. He still would not turn his eyes to her, but she saw a faint, almost imperceptible smile tug at his lips - not a smirk, but a real smile. She felt a very similar grin form on her face as well.
As she ate his last fry, Pepper Potts couldn't help but wonder if this was Tony Stark's way of telling her that he had missed her.