Tony was out. Again. Out there, being all he could be. The man with the light up chest. And they were here (again) waiting for him to come back. Pepper sets the glasses down, and lets herself sink into the couch, flicking the t.v. onto a news station. James takes up the spot next to her, glancing at the television and pouring scotch into her glass until she motions for him to stop.
"When did he leave?"
"About an hour ago. Reporters will be all over it in a few minutes."
She turns the volume up and they drink in silence for a moment, Pepper watching the white text crawl at the bottom of the screen while Rhodey drinks and checks the news feeds on his I-Phone. War never takes a day off but technically it isn't the day and sleep means nothing when your best friend is a superhero. Beside him Pepper stiffens
"Breaking story in south Japan."
"Have a drink." He leans forward, handing her her glass, watching how she clutches it between her two hands though her face stays neutral. The news anchor tells them they're switching to a live feed of Iron Man racing beside a bomb veering off course from a test facility. Touch activated spikes ricochet off his chest when he attempts to do it manually, the sparks visible from the helicopter camera. Pepper takes a larger gulp from her glass.
"Come on Tony."
He does it. Wires protrude from his palm and somehow manage to permeate the bombs safety mechanisms to reroute it back on course.
"Iron Man once again saves the day." The camera refocuses in on the anchorperson, "In other news-"
Pepper changes the channel to another station. Her glass is empty.
"Thanks for coming over James. I know it's silly, but." She shrugs, smiling weakly
"Listen it's no problem at all. You want another drink?"
She nods.
~*~
An hour later James is at the piano, toying with the keys while Pepper leans her back against his
"Are you in love with him?" He asks
She smiles, "Are you?"
He chuckles, playing the opening chords to Funny Valentine, "Maybe."
"We should fall for each other." She sits beside him, turning her forehead onto his shoulder, "We'd never have to feel like this again."
"Yeah…that'd be nice." he begins to hum
"But we'd miss it, miss him."
"That we would."
"He's one of a kind."
James stops playing, taking her face in his hands and pressing his lips to hers, rubbing his thumbs over the tears on her cheeks, "So are you."
"What's going on in here?" the sound of his voice makes them laugh, pulling away slowly from one another. James starts to play again, "Should I be leaving? Let you finish your little mid nighta tete-a-tete. It's no problem you know I've just been out saving man kind from promised destruction, but it's cool, I'll get a gelato, come back later."
"Get your ass in here, Tony."
"Rhodey! Language there's a female facsimile in our midst. You better be careful Potts, this guy right here? Bad influence. He'll have you making out behind the bleachers and hanging out with the air traffic control kids and you know how they are," he mimes a barrage of illicit activities, earning a laugh from James.
Pepper gathers up her coat, "I was just leaving."
James stands, shutting the lid on the piano keys "Yeah me too."
Tony holds out his arms, "What? What did I say?"
Pepper pecks his cheek, "Goodnight."
Tony grabs James's arm, lowering his voice, "Really, buddy, tell me what I did."
James bites his lower lip as if thinking about it then places both hands on either side of his friend's neck and kisses him soundly on the mouth, giving his chest a soft punch, "Nothing, Tony, don't change a hair for me."
Tony watches his friends leave, shock and amusement dancing in his eyes, "Whatever happened to handshakes anyways." he mutters, shaking his head .