That one night that Virginia Potts let herself off guard.
A.N.: It was supposed to be a long one-shot, but I guess I needed to split it. Today's episode is brought to you by letter "A", which stands for: 1) a lot of Wikipedia, 2) awesome amount of OneRepublic - Secrets and Hurts - Wonderful Life played (don't look into it that much, although they are inspiring), 3) awfully cold, rainy, windy weather (yes, I love the rain, but how much one can take?).
I own nothing.
Beautiful mistakes
and martinis
Pepper didn't know how long she had been standing there, pouring martinis into herself one after another (damn nostalgia). Frankly speaking, she didn't care.
She felt so fed up and down it seemed that the slightest blast of ocean air might just deprive her of last strengths, even if she was bravely holding onto the balustrade. Behind her, specifically in Stark mansion, another party was taking place, and Pepper couldn't afford to remember if there was even any reason for it, like celebrating Tony's new invention or his birthday. It seemed more like celebrating Tony's boredom.
How ironic it was for her to stand outside this noise and cry. Did she think that a turned down Tony Stark would wait for her? Prove his developing feelings for her? Oh, how silly she was to believe that. What seemed more idiotic in the first place was that she fell in love with her boss at all. Maybe it was just a game for him, flirting with girls here and there, but Tony hadn't hesitated to do it even in front of her, every time making it worse and worse for Pepper to bear. In her heart Pepper felt that this kind of behavior proved how he didn't mean what he said about superhero's girlfriend. How wrong she was when she thought her refusal would teach him a lesson and make him crave for her more.
Well, obviously it did not. The two girls he just brought upstairs were clearly an easy message to read.
She tried to stop this foolishness, talk herself out of this ridiculous crush, but somewhere deep inside she really hoped he changed for good. She thought they connected in a way for more than just friends. She thought-
Then her, quite hysterical, train of thoughts was interrupted by someone else entering the terrace.
"Pepper! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Tony said merrily and walked over to her side. "I have this uncomfortable misunderstanding and- Jesus, are you crying?" he asked when she looked at him finally. It was dark, but in the moonlight, magnified with ocean's reflection, he saw the bloodshot eyes and the tears. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she sniffed, wiping her cheeks. Him standing right in front of her was making things worse for her even. Pepper didn't find it comforting that he was there, instead of bed with two blondies. She gulped at once the rest of her drink, she had been holding.
"Don't you do this woman's 'nothing' nothing to me," he howled and touched her shoulder. Tony was startled as hell to see his personal assistant crying, because he simply never had the chance to see her like that before. There were no desperate, quick breaths. Just the overwhelming sadness.
Pepper made no reply and just rolled her eyes.
"Well?" Tony questioned and leaned a bit to her, his face close to hers.
Pepper waggled in her place, the pressure inside her to tell him winning over her usual need for them sticking to professional relation. Then, feeling the alcohol take advantage of her, she threw the glass in her hand into the ocean.
"I hope no hippie saw that." now nervous Tony tried a joke.
"This is wrong," she whispered before slowly closing the gap between them and placing a slight kiss on the side of his mouth. Pepper was about to step away and flee, when Tony caught her slim waist and held her tightly against himself. In the next second his lips were back on hers, kissing Pepper like there was no tomorrow, his mouth caressing hers with passion and lust. Pepper loved the way his goatee was scratching her skin, but broke the kiss anyway, trying not to lose her mind. And pants.
For now.
"How this can be wrong, when it feels so right?" Tony asked, eyes half closed, still holding Pepper. "How long do you wanna play cat and mouse more? Mmm? I want you, Pepper."
In response, Pepper moved her head slightly, pointing to the house, meaning the whole party, the blondies, and the girls at all.
Tony groaned, getting what she meant. "See? This is me, opening up to you again, thinking we're back on the right track and you bring up the most irrelevant thing."
"How's that irrelevant? If you weren't here, you would be screwing these girls right now without hesitation," Pepper snapped, trying to release herself from his strong grip.
"But I'm here, Pepper," Tony mumbled. "And I need you, not them. I told you there was a misunderstanding-"
Pepper sighed heavily. "You say that now," she interrupted him. "It's not me you want. It's the challenge I am to you."
"Potts-"
"It's okay, Tony." She nodded with her head and brought her face back to his. Somewhere inside her another barrier broke. "I know all of this. I don't have the power to reject you anymore. Just do what you want," she murmured, and Tony caught her lips again.
###
Tony knew Pepper got this wrong, she got him wrong, but feeling her soft tongue touch his he decided he would leave the explanations for himself later, when he'd show her she's the only important to him. Tony had to convince her she was his refuge. His last thought, about how his little plan of making her jealous finally worked, vanished quickly out of his mind as he felt strong arousal in his crotch, between their tightly adhered bodies. One of his hands found its way to her ponytail and in one moment released these bounded golden waves he loved so much. Like nothing before, he wanted to bring her inside, protect from cold wind that was surrounding them and discover every part of her pale-skinned body. But he just couldn't afford to pause the pleasure of feeling her sweet lips against his, now that they were in a situation he lusted for quite time. Therefore Tony pushed Pepper into the balustrade without breaking the kiss, his hand finding its way up her thigh, just under the hem of the pencil skirt. Then he felt Pepper's small hand push him slightly away, while the other one caught his palm. She pulled him back to the house after herself. Tony expected some kind of a smile on her face, but he was faced with one serious expression. They squeezed together through the dancing crowd, aiming for the stairs. As they both reached the first step Tony noticed Happy in the crowd and whistled with a free hand at him.
"Get them all out!" he shouted and without waiting for Happy's response he almost dragged Pepper upstairs. Tony could swear he saw a glint of disappointment on his driver's face, when they were halfway upstairs.
Next, another obstacle appeared in form of two figures Tony left there. He was unable to handle himself these annoying, imposing girls that had tricked their way with him to the bedroom. He tightened his grip on Pepper's hand, feeling like a complete idiot. Tony saw the grimace on her face and knew there had to be a complete chaos inside his girl's mind right now (what else to call her?, Tony thought. She wasn't his lover yet, nor only his assistant anymore). He also knew that one mistake could ruin his way with Pepper letting him love her. So he choose to act quickly.
"Girls, you know where the exit is, right?" he asked in a cheerful tone and pushed Pepper into his bedroom with playfully placed hand on her bum. "Chop, chop," he added, as he followed her inside, but saw that the confused girls haven't moved. Then he closed the milky glass doors with a slight thump.
"Sorry about that. This was the earlier problem," Tony said to Pepper, who's been standing in the middle of the room, fixing him with her eyes. If Tony could ever think of circumstances under he would fall in love, then Pepper, standing in the light of the moon with messy hair and a tangled up uniform, definitely did the charm.
"I don't wanna hear that really," she whispered and approached him, kicking her high heels off on the way.
Tony wanted, no, needed for them to take things slowly, let him do and enjoy the love-making. However, Pepper apparently had other plans that clearly involved him losing his pants right away. As their mouths found each other's again, her fingers started to search obsessively for his belt buckle. Tony's fingers found hers and paused her actions but did not pull her hand away.
"Pepper," he murmured into her ear, "will you let me love you tonight?"
"Yes," she moaned, feeling his tongue leave a wet trail on her neck.
"Will you not freak out in the morning?"
She answered with a muffled growl, coming from the bottom of her lungs. Tony took that as another "yes" and released her fingers on his belt. "Then suit yourself," he finally said and cupped her butt in both of his hands.
Somewhere far away first sounds of car engine's started.
###
The sound of piercing silence woke Pepper up. This sound, of no sounds really, unleashed the inevitable – the killer headache. As she risked a first blink of eyes, she noticed the time on the darkened windows - 5:03 AM.
It was a Saturday's early morning, and she had no else place to be, but Pepper felt enormously incongruous and disturbed at the moment anyway. How could she feel so regretful and joyful at once? How could she feel so painful with a naked Tony Stark, sleeping soundly on his stomach, by her side? Why only thing she could think about was how she could let herself go like that, when her beloved's face was buried in her neck, his hand possessively claiming her stomach?
How could they use no protection?
Pepper groaned quietly, remembering the passion of recent night that silenced last calls of reason. Although her lover was just inches away, she felt hot inside just at the memory.
Suddenly the need for more space took over her. For fresh air and a big cup of coffee, too.
Moving delicately Tony's hand and his thorax, pinning her breasts tightly, wasn't easy, but Pepper managed to stand up without waking the sleepyhead Tony was.
An uncontrolled smile slipped onto her face, as she looked around the room for her clothes. Her shoes, lying in the middle of the bedroom, reminding her of the first time against the wall; his shirt, barely hanging itself on the bathroom door's handle, bringing back the image of the third in the hot shower, after she started sneezing like crazy (go standing on the terrace on such a windy night); the still a little damp bedclothes evidencing something around the fifth, not just an hour ago.
Pepper completed all pieces of her clothing, and as she looked at herself in the bathroom's mirror a thought occurred her that she might had never been as red on her face as now. All because of her boss.
Yikes, right. Her boss. She gulped another bump, which appeared somewhere in her gullet. What has she done?
She exited the bathroom to take a careful look at this boss of hers. Tony hadn't moved an inch, still being on his stomach, hugging the pillows like they were Pepper. He looked so peaceful and... happy. Fulfilled even.
Somewhere down Pepper knew she was one of few, if not only, that have seen him like this. After all, he wasn't the first one leaving now, like he always used to, when he had done what he needed.
This thought, about his past conquests, gave her the feeling of failure more than before.
It took her a couple of minutes to track down a piece of paper and some pen in the bedroom. Another, though now kind of sad, smile forced its way to her lips, when she grabbed both items from a nightstand filled up with the strangest of, some finished, some not, electronic stuff and tools. All Tony.
Writing a letter of resignation against the wall, with her eyes continuously sneaking to deep in sleep Tony, was one of a hell achievement.
Dear Tony,
No.
Sir,
Even worse.
Mr Stark,
I, Virginia Potts, resign the position of Stark Industries CEO's Personal Assistant with immediate effect, due to my enormous lack of professionalism and required behavior. In accordance to the contract, notice period is nonexistent.
Sincerely,
Virginia Potts
For a moment or two of staring blankly at the words she just scribbled on the paper, Pepper considered adding a postscript saying "I'm sorry". Finally, she resisted the idea and placed the piece of paper on the nightstand, refusing to give it a second look.
Then she tiptoed with her shoes in a hand for exit, realizing how, for the first time, she was unable to face something. Something that was, in her opinion, certain. All at once, she couldn't bear the obvious. It was the end, she lost in this game.
Now Virginia Potts knew it was herself that she needed to clean up after, one last time.
###
If Tony could ever think of circumstances under he would feel rejected, then an empty bed and a short note on his nightstand definitely worked perfectly.
He woke up from the best night sleep he had in years and was about to get back cozy with his red-head, who apparently in her sleep traveled in the bed too far from his body. He reached with his hand for her without opening his eyes yet. As his fingers found nothing beside him, he felt his heart skip a beat.
He couldn't have imagined all of that.
Tony opened his eyes immediately and rose his head, looking around. A small hope got him that maybe she was downstairs or in the bathroom. But then he spotted the note on his nightstand, filled with her handwriting. Tony sat up and caught the paper right away.
Mr Stark... I resign... lack of professionalism...
Words she wrote were flashing before his eyes, crashing the images of them two, tangled up in each other. He growled and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Tony knew it could go like this and was too slow to prevent it, played it out totally wrong. He couldn't forgive himself for letting her believe he took advantage of her, when she was miserable and drunk. All he wanted was to show her his feelings, make her better. It turned out totally contrary to his intentions.
Of course she freaked out.
Right now Tony Stark was the biggest idiot he personally knew himself.
He crumpled the paper in his hand and headed downstairs to get himself a glass of water for his dry as chips tongue. One superficial look around the messy, post-party living room, and the lack of Pepper hit him even more.
Tony grabbed a whole bottle of water from the kitchen, and as he headed for the couch he commanded JARVIS to dial Pepper's number.
'The number you're calling is temporarily unavailable' sounded through his living room. How predictable.
A deep sigh escaped his mouth and he ruffled his hair. Now what?
"JARVIS, is she home at least?" Tony asked, shaking leftovers of salted peanuts off the couch.
"She is."
Then a sound of ringing phone interrupted his thoughts about rushing for Pepper's apartment at once. For one bit of a second Tony believed it might be Pepper calling back. It was not.
"Tony, our sources are telling us that there's gonna be a weapon exchange somewhere in Wakhan soon," Rhodey informed. Hearing no response from his friend he called out for him, "Tony? Tony!"
"Yeah, yeah," Tony only responded, thinking that those bastards couldn't have chosen worse time for their evil plans.
"What's up with you? You're going or what?" Rhodey asked impatiently.
"Going, I'm on my way," Tony sighed and headed for the basement, but not to get his car for. To suit up.
"And Tony? Remember, you do not know this from me," were Rhodey's last words before hanging up.
Tony had to use his all strengths to shift himself into the superhero mode. On his way out he told JARVIS to leave messages for Pepper everywhere he could that he needed to talk with her.
###
Well this is not good, Pepper thought, sitting on her bathroom floor, a couple of positive pregnancy tests and a tissue box companions in her woe.
Karma, or whatever it was, was being a total bitch.
This couldn't go like this. No, no, no, no. No. This couldn't go like this because she simply decided so.
Pepper decided she'd run as fast as possible anywhere. This wasn't her normal self, facing everything. This was her being scared as hell of what has she done, who has she become.
And now she couldn't do her 'run as fast as possible' thing, being all in a quite complicated relation with the toilet seat.
"I hate you, you goddamned martinis," she wailed, leaning against the wall. "No. I hate you, Stark," Pepper corrected herself and covered her eyes with a hand.
The same moment her Blackberry started buzzing on the cupboard beside her. Without looking at it she was sure it was JARVIS, sending her another message to contact him. He's been doing that for 6 days now. Tony for sure told him to. Why it wasn't Tony himself? Because he was playing a goddamned hero somewhere in a goddamned desert or in the mountains or whatever. She saw it on TV. There was no way he would be calling her right now, spanking some bad guys.
This made her feel like vomiting more.
Annoyed Pepper looked at the phone finally and was surprised to see it was Rhodey calling.
"I'm no longer his assistant, I don't know what he's doing or wherever he is," she greeted him in a mean voice.
"But I do. I'm actually calling about that leaving thing. JARVIS told me. What's going on Pepper?" Rhodey asked.
Pepper couldn't hold a sigh and a roll of her eyes. "Oh please. Don't tell me Tony hasn't told you yet, all proud and cocky."
Then she was surprised with his honest response. "Well, he did not, and from what I see he doesn't want to. Actually, there was a bit too little time to discuss with him anything for the past week, you know. He was quite busy."
"Was? What do you mean was?" Pepper squealed, feeling a nasty (and stupid) pinch in her chest.
"Well, he's on his way home just as we're talking. I'm really proud of that son of a bitch. Which brings me back to what has he done to you, Pepper? I'm sure that whatever it was he didn't mean it, you know that jerk too well."
"We had sex," Pepper blurted out, closing her eyes again. How do you not mean sex?
There was a moment of shocked silence on the Rhodey's side, before he shot his questions again. "Did he made you? Was he drunk and intrusive? I'm gonna kill him."
"No, no, Rhodey. He did not. He was... kind of perfect..."
"Then what's wrong?"
She heaved an another sigh. "It was a crazy, drunken mistake, Rhodey. And, please, can we finish the subject-"
"No, we can not. You were drunk with him before. Okay, maybe not that often, but it have happened, right? Then why now, what changed-" Rhodey interrupted her, just to be interrupted himself in a moment.
"Nothing changed, and if you want me to come back as his PA-"
"Pepper, pull yourself together! I'm not talking about the stupid job, I'm talking about your feelings. I've seen the look, I've seen the staring you've been giving to him. I think you're into him."
"Oh," Pepper gasped, "for the love of... This-this is ridiculous. And unprofessional," she screeched, stuttering her favorite word out. "I am not."
"Please don't leave, you're his everything. You're the reason he's still in one piece. Don't do this denial thing."
"I'm not," Pepper snorted, repeating herself. Irritation grew inside her.
"At least talk to him before you decide on anything. Really, really please."
"Rhodey... It's more complicated than that," she howled, holding up one of the tests. Damn pluses, double lines or whatever.
"You've been a part of our both lives for some time. You don't get to leave like this. Pleeaasee don't leave like this."
Pepper gave up hearing this worried tone of Rhodey's. "Okay, I'll talk to him." Another sigh.
"Thank you."
She ended the connection and stood up to brush her teeth. She'd give Tony Stark the conversation of his life.
###
Oh, this is just perfect. Six. Six lousy days.
In fact, seven almost, if you include the time for transportation. If not an energy refill and a couple of warmer meals at friend's of Rhodey unit, he would be in the middle of deep crap called nowhere. Tony really needed to find all of these Ten Ring's related terrorists before their tracks could be destroyed and before they would dissolve into the tricky mountains along with the trucks filled to the brim. Plus, being on mercy of Army's fleet to take him home, just because his batteries had run out, wasn't the best option he would choose. On the other hand Tony prevented quite a weapon delivery spread from happening, so they should give him a big credit for doing something what they couldn't and he didn't have to. Sure, he wasn't doing this legally really, but those were the times that politics brought to.
What troubled him more was the fact that apart from Stark Industries guns, which he was nearly sure to be leftovers, there were new kind of mines he couldn't recognize, and JARVIS described them as of Russian origin. It was very worrying, but not as important as him being at the edge of his power.
So there was no surprise when the first thing he thought about after landing in his garage was a long, hot bath and at least 10 hours of good sleep. Oh, and then he'd order a pizza or two. Awful coffee at the base gave Tony only one of a hell heartburn, and quick naps in the suit, which he couldn't take off without help of his robots or at least tools, added an awful neck pain to his trouble. At least Elliott's soldiers were much more supportive for Ironman with his help than Army's authorities.
With last gather of strengths Tony was bravely standing on the platform in his garage, eyes half-closed, as the robots went on with their task to peel the armor pieces off. Then JARVIS announced that the initial scan of the suit shows damages at the rate of 16%. Somehow Tony got through with a couple of bruises only.
The moment that last piece was taken off falling right away onto his face seemed sure, but then Tony felt something warm hold him up.
A heavy blink of eyes and he recognized this face right away.
Pepper.
"Oh, you smell terribly," she announced after one sniff and placed his arm around her, so he could stand up.
"What are you doing here? You left." Tony tried to look into her eyes and immediately moaned, walking being a definitely hard activity without the suit.
"I saw in the news that you're coming back," she answered quietly and Tony already knew she was lying. "You're really going over the top, you know." Pepper avoided his questioning stare.
"That's the story, when you choose to sacrifice for the nations," he answered, his voice sounding much cockier than he expected it to be. "It wasn't that bad. A couple of hours of sleep and I'll be good as new."
Pepper snorted incredulously only and made sure they had balance when they reached the elevator. While they were standing in its small room, Tony breathed in Pepper's scent as much imperceptibly as he could. This- This meant home, he thought and leaned into her more.
His eyelids kept falling down, but Tony couldn't miss the fact she was wearing a really sloppy ponytail, a pair of loose jeans and a t-shirt. So much unlike his professional Pepper. He liked it though.
When they finally got to the bathroom, she seated him on the chair, letting him work on the material suit himself, while she let the hot water pour into the bath. Tony threw the suit to the ground and forced himself to move to the bath, while Pepper automatically turned her head away from his totally naked body. She had seen him like this, but this time Tony knew it was different.
With a slight plop he sat in the warm water and felt circulation work back in his legs for the first time since quite long. As his muscles relaxed at last, his focus got again to Pepper, standing with her back to him, arms folded.
"I left you a message to call me."
"I know, JARVIS bombarded my e-mails and telephones," Pepper growled.
"Why did you leave, Pepper?" Tony asked, true sadness sounding in his tone.
"Isn't that what a woman's supposed to do in the morning?" she answered with a question and narrowed her eyes, as she turned to him.
"That was not like this. And you know this. You promised to not freak out."
"I made no such thing. I recall it well," Pepper said bitterly, something torturing her seriously. "It was a mistake, Mr Stark, and for that I'm sorry. I let myself off guard."
"Cut the 'Mr Stark' crap, Pepper. Is that what you came for here only? To tell me it was a mistake? You shouldn't have bothered," Tony snapped and tilted his head back, closing eyes.
Pepper remained silent for a long moment, staring at the wall before her, fighting with herself again as if to tell him. "I think I'm pregnant, Tony," she burst out and covered her eyes with a hand. Now it was Tony's turn to remain silent due to his shock. "I've spent my last 10 years on preventing such a thing, and yet this is me that I prevented it not. I always thought I am this better, aware person. That this cannot happen to me, not like this anyway. How ironic," Pepper snorted and lifted her head, rolling her eyes. "Apparently I'm no different that the others. I don't expect anything from you. I don't want that really. I just thought I should let you know," she mumbled out and left a speechless superhero in his bath.
#
Of course she was gone. Tony asked JARVIS to be sure, but he already knew Pepper told him what she wanted to and left. Without giving him any chance to react.
"What time is it?" he asked, leaning against the wall in his bedroom and rubbing his eyes tiredly. He walked out of the bathroom in such a rush he hadn't dried his hair at all, so little drops kept falling onto his nose.
"Quarter past ten, sir," JARVIS replied and unveiled one window, showing Tony sun shining at its best.
"Right," he murmured and hit his head against the cool surface of the wall, looking blankly through that window.
Man, a baby. Something he'd normally run away as soon as possible from. Not that he had to. As his assistant Pepper always made sure he was prepared for everything, condoms included into this.
Poor Pepper. And her nerves out of steel.
But now what? He never thought of himself as a father, someone to look up to. Neither he really planned it, knowing it might just be better that way. But it was when he was shortsighted, minding his only own pleasures, when he didn't know what he wanted from life.
Did he know now?
What does a father do anyway? Should he act like his one? No, that would be just cold, and he'd be easily back on the selfish note. Howard Stark never was the warmest, involved person, but Tony didn't know much about different ways of father upbringing a child. Of course, there was his mother that was spoiling him every time she could, but this important father-son relation was limited only to hours of austere studying quantum physics or constructing.
Suddenly Tony felt dazed, blackness taking control over his eyes. He didn't know what to think, he couldn't really think right now. He threw himself onto the bed, physically and mentally worn out.
#
It felt like he was asleep for 10 minutes only, when JARVIS woke Tony up to announce Rhodey at his doorstep.
"What?" dressed only in a pair of boxers Tony opened the doors and barked at his friend. He had to narrow his eyes to adjust himself to the simple function of sight. Somewhere deep he still was in the NREM stage of sleep.
"Happy birthday!" Rhodey cheered, sarcasm dripping his words.
"What? To who?" Tony asked, trying to get his mind working.
"To me, thank you very much for remembering," Rhodey answered and pushed through Tony into the living room. "Sweet baby Jesus, what the hell happened here?" he asked pointing at the remaining evidences of the party.
"I didn't have the time to call for some cleaning services," Tony said, yawning and walked after his friend, scratching his head.
Rhodey rose an eyebrow. "I'm not so sure that if you had the time you would know how to anyway. Where's Pepper?" he questioned innocently.
"Well... Um... she's not here."
"Right. Did you get enough sleep?"
"Mmm," Tony hesitated, counting the hours. "I think so."
"I can't believe I'm making you celebrate my own damn birthday." Rhodey shook his head. "Go, get yourself dressed. We're going out," he commanded.
And suddenly Tony haven't felt the greatest about the idea. He wanted to go and talk to Pepper. However he couldn't say no to Rhodey, he already screwed up.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Tony replied, putting on his best smile.
#
It was an awful idea to come with Rhodey. He had to think about so many things, sort them out, and currently he was stuck in a night club filled up with half naked girls and totally trashed military pals.
Tony was standing on the balcony in the middle of the club, with his arms leaning on the railing, looking down at the dancing crowd. Or at least trying, with all these flashing green and blue lights his tiredness could become an epilepsy.
This is not a place for someone who's got a woman pregnant and still haven't spoke his mind about that. He still didn't know what to think and regretted he didn't have a 'reset' button that would help him to clear his mind. Tony had already wasted a half of perfectly fine scotch drink, deciding it wasn't getting him anywhere near clear thinking and this 'reset' button he needed.
"Is it me, or you're all red over your face?" Rhodey asked, joining him on the balcony. He titled his head, gazing into Tony's face. "It's so shiny," he added in admiration, reaching with his hand for Tony's face. Tony dashed it away and rose an eyebrow.
"You're drunk," he laughed.
Rhodey nodded his head miserably. "Yeeeeah. It's new right? Me being drunk and you not? Why aren't you drunk?" Rhodey questioned, prolonging the vowels in a drunken way.
"I'm still on the fighting high, thank you very much," Tony replied, being partly honest, but avoiding the real reason.
His friend nodded once more, before he put a hand to his head and moaned, "I think I need to sit down."
"Do you need a ride home?" Tony asked and followed Rhodey to the couches, where a couple of girls were currently 'disarming' some officers. "I can drive you home," he declared and ordered the sparingly dressed waitress to bring some water.
"No, no," Rhodey refused and sat down, waving with his hand. "I'll be fine. I promised I'll..." he started, but was interrupted by sudden ninja attack of a nap.
"Just great," Tony muttered under his nose.
"Is your friend okay, Mr Stark?" the waitress, back with the glass of water, inquired.
"Yeah, yeah. I forgot he gets narcoleptic when he drinks vodka." Tony ruffled his hair and pointed at Rhodey with one hand. "It's a good sign though," he added, seeing her concerned look. "It means his body is regenerating, believe me."
Then her worried look became all too friendly, when she, listening intently, placed the glass on the table. "Oh, well. Is there anything I could get you then?" she asked and moved closer to Tony, invading his personal space. The space he needed so much right now. He tried a step back but was detained by the, covered with black, squishy material, wall.
Tony's persona was hanging at exact moment somewhere in the middle of who he used to be and who he was for the last couple of days. Was he scared of the second option? Was all of work on himself wasted? Was he in doubt? He did love Pepper, didn't he?
His mouth wouldn't let him speak a word, as the girl got so close that he could read her name on the badge pinned to her little shirt.
Hello Mariah.
TBC
Thank you for reading. :)