Affairs of the Heart
Tony & Pepper, Ironman
June 9th 2018
Tony and Pepper have finally admitted to and acted on their feelings for one another. Their ensuing pursuit of happiness is filled with the twists and turns one would expect for a couple as prolific as they are. The in-between story we missed as they built their relationship together from IM2 to The Avengers.
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Ironman and/or Marvel. I just enjoy playing with them.
Chapter One
She would never have said that there was nothing between them. That kind of declaration would have been somewhere between a lie and denial. Regardless, it was hard to come to grips with her new reality. They had kissed on the roof of a building. Their very close friend had witnessed the moment. They were romantically involved in some way now. Employee and employer. Virginia "Pepper" Potts and Tony Stark.
"Get it together," she muttered under her breath. She tossed her book down onto her lap and let out a huff, leaning back into the cushions of her couch. She was one day into her three day self-imposed break from the craziness that is Stark Industries after everything that had occurred at the Expo and her subsequent resignation as CEO, but no matter what she did, concentration and relaxation seemed unachievable.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to him, to them. She had wanted just a little bit of space and time to get herself rebalanced and ready for whatever was to come with their changed relationship. Apparently, her new baseline was being constantly and annoyingly distracted by intrusive thoughts, something that was entirely new to someone as focused and professional as she had always been.
Of course, the fact that the object of her thoughts was obsessively texting her didn't help.
What are you doing?
A smirk was teasing at the corners of her mouth as she responded, The same thing I was doing the last three times you asked.
She was used to Tony being periodically needy, though he had really ramped it up since she had informed him of her need for a small amount of space. She might have found it flattering in another life, but they had already known each other for years. At best, he was mildly exasperating her right now.
It just doesn't sound like it's any fun. We could be having actual fun.
Knowing when to quit, she reached over to place her phone on the table next to her couch when it vibrated again. Rolling her eyes, she read the next text and promptly scowled, looking around at each of the windows in her apartment. Seeing nothing, she got up to walk over to the only window her curtains were pulled over and peeked through to find a metal mask staring back at her. Groaning in frustration, she unlocked it and pushed it open all the way as Tony effortlessly pulled off the screen.
"Really? It's been one day." She intoned dryly, moving out of the way as he awkwardly clambered into her apartment, leaving the screen on the roof outside. "Not even one day, actually."
"I prefer to think of your time away from work as just that – time away from work." He chirped happily, stepping out of his armor as it released him. "We should be enjoying your free time together in all the ways we can imagine. Nice outfit by the way. You should dress like that all the time," he tipped his head to her with a smirk.
She blushed as she looked down at her pyjama shorts and spaghetti strap tank top, bringing her arms up to cross over her chest self-consciously. "Listen Tony, I really just needed some time to get used to the idea of this..."
"Don't you think it would be easier to get used to us if we're actually around each other? Not in a strictly professional way either, like this," he said, gesturing between them. "Isn't this what normal couples do?"
"I know you're used to getting your way Tony, but in a relationship you actually have to take my feelings into account too." She reminded him with a sigh, trying to keep her frustration at bay. The truth was, even though she had said she wanted space, she wasn't all that sure about her conviction. She guessed that if she had been thinking about him, he might have been thinking about her too and he had less experience with romantic relationships than she did. "And we've really only been a couple for a day and a half or so."
"So... You don't want to hang out with me?" He pouted, moving to sit at one end of her couch.
"It's not-" Pepper blustered, throwing her hands in the air. "It's just slightly weird to go from being your employee to being your-"
"Girlfriend," he piped in.
"Girlfriend," she affirmed, feeling her heart beat a little faster at the moniker. "And I know you've been different for a while now when it comes to women but I guess I'm just scared," she admitted, joining him on the couch at the opposite end, pulling a throw pillow over her stomach to hold on to as she eyed him.
He shrugged. "I get it. I have a lot to prove. Let's start now!" He grinned, making himself comfortable. "No funny business, just hanging out."
Pepper sighed in defeat. It wasn't as though he was wrong, they had to start somewhere. Giving in to him might just reinforce his headstrong behaviour though. "Fine, but you're taking me on a real date the next time we do anything. We may have known each other for years but you're not getting off the hook that easily. And," she stood, tossing her pillow at him, "I'm going to get changed."
He knew better than to protest, so the grin stayed where it was on his face and he relented. "I don't think that's necessary, but I won't push. And it's you who's not getting off the hook so easily. You are about to find out what dating really is." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively as she walked away and she quickly hid the smile that was trying to break free.
She could only imagine.
AN: I haven't written anything in probably six years, but after seeing Avenger's Infinity War I have become obsessed with this pairing and it's given me an excuse to come back to something I love but haven't given myself the time to do. I always wonder how their relationship came together in between the movies so... I'm going to give it a shot! Best of luck to me!