Chapter 2: Whales and Love
Okay, so here's another one. I had the word "whale" stuck in my head this morning for some reason, so I had to get it out! Isn't that weird? I normally get songs stuck in my head, but this time, it was a word. I'm strange.
I don't own anything, as stated in the first chapter. Anyway, enjoy!
Whales and Love
The sand is warm under his feet, the soft wind mussing his dark hair as he saunters along. He watches the natural swell of the tide, the simple intricacy of it fascinating him.
Pepper walks along the beach beside him, her favorite jeans rolled up to a spot just under her knees. She is close to the water, the waves lapping at her ankles as she moves. Every once and a while, she bends to retrieve a shell that has caught her eye.
After a while, Pepper stops and looks out at the ocean, quiet, contemplating. All of a sudden, she raises her arm to point out into the waves. He follows her gaze to see three whales, breaching, their mottled gray color a stark contrast of the deep blue of the water around them.
"Gray whales," she says. "They're migrating, going north to their summer breeding grounds." Her eyes become slightly unfocused. "My dad and I used to go on a whale-watching trip every year. We would sit on an old boat for a week straight, doing nothing but staring at the waves, waiting, watching for the whales." Pepper laughs, remembering old memories. He moves to join her in the ankle-deep water, standing beside her and taking one of her hands into one of his.
"Sounds like he was a very kind person."
Pepper looks up at him. "Oh, yes. My mother used to say that he would give up the clothes on his back to someone if only they asked." She pauses. "He would like you, you know."
Tony smiles, warmth filling his body as he takes in her praise.
Pepper gasps dramatically. "Tony Stark, are you blushing?" She raises her small hand to rest it on his cheek.
He presses his own hand to hers, holding it in place. "Maybe," He says. Leaning forward, he presses a gentle kiss to her lips. He stares deep into her eyes, their color a perfect facsimile of the ocean beside them. The moment is so perfect, so right, that he can't help himself.
"I love you."
Pepper's eyes widen, and she grins. It's the first time he's said it out loud, and though she knows it's true, she hadn't expected it. "I love you too, Anthony Edward Stark."
After a few moments, they turn and make their way back to the mansion on the cliff, hand in hand, the setting sun casting beautiful colors across the water.