OMG, one chapter only and 11 followers already... I'm really shocked... :-D Okay, here comes chapter 2. Hopefully, I won't disappoint you... :-)
Btw, I finished a pepperony video, coincidentally...:-) I you'd like to watch it, you'll find it on youtube with /watch?v=Ks4E-dShWbs behind .com..
But back to the story...
Chapter 2
When they reached the hotel, Tony paid the cab driver who drove away while shaking his head. They went to the entrance of the hotel, which was equipped with its very own huge and overly decorated Christmas tree. The entrance was guarded by a doorman, who frowned as the two scruffy figures approached the lobby. Pepper was in a belly top and a pair of leggings without shoes; Tony in a grubby tee and a hoodie sweater which was missing a sleeve on top of all, and both covered in soot and dirt. After noticing Tony's face that was bloody and bruised, the porter immediately moved towards them, effectively obstructing their passage further into the lobby.
What do these tramps want here? The porter thought, perplexed.
"Excuse me, Sir, but I don't think that I can admit you and your… company," he said politely but firmly.
"Well… David," Tony began as he read the porter's name on his badge. "Tell me: is Carl Steward still the hotel manager here?"
"Um, yes…why?" the man stammered, confused more than ever.
"Then please tell him that Tony Stark would like to move into the reserved suite, but unfortunately his usual clothes are not available. Maybe you didn't catch it, but my house had an unpleasant encounter with some air-to-ground missiles a couple of days ago. Here we go, chop-chop!"
He wagged his hand towards the reception, and indeed David moved at a hurried pace with a crimson-face. Pepper began walking towards the reception and Tony followed her. It seemed that she was increasingly having difficulty walking. Nevertheless, he thought he'd seen a weak smile on her face when he scolded the hotel servant.
Once at the front desk, the porter exchanged hushed words with the brunette receptionist before disappearing from the scene.
"Mr. Stark, Miss Potts, what an unexpected surprise!" The receptionist welcomed both, obviously startled and with a scared expression on her face, considering their run-down appearance.
"Hello Melissa, nice to be here again. We apologize for our attire, we… well, whatever." Tony gave her his most disarming smile to prevent having to explain himself further. "By the way, when does the hotel boutique open tomorrow morning? We need to replace our clothing, as you can see."
"Usually at 8 o'clock."
"Um, then we'd probably run late," Tony muttered to himself before turning to Melissa once more. "We have to be at the airport at 9, so…"
"Well, I think that's manageable, Mr. Stark. After all you're a regular guest," Melissa smiled back. "I can send somebody to your suite at 7; just give him a list of the things you need."
"That sounds fantastic! Oh, and I need a dinner for two to be brought to our room. I don't know about you but I'm starving," he smiled in Pepper's general direction who still stood motionless near him.
"Do you have a particular request, Mr. Stark, Miss Potts?"
"Tell the chef to surprise us."
"As you wish. Here is your keycard for the suite, Sir. A bellhop will take you there immediately. And uh… do you need medical assistance?"
"Nope, could be worse; just a few scratches. And, we don't need any escort, we know the way."
With that said, Tony walked towards the elevator, one arm around Pepper's waist, in his other hand the keycard. Surrounded by nothing but silence they rode the elevator to the top level of the hotel. The unusual lack of comment from Pepper worried Tony; she always had something to say to him. She had acted normal after she had finished off Killian with her bare hands, providing Tony with some relief. However, now, an hour later, Tony's worry began to slowly return to him.
Her body appeared to be unscathed, but he could just only imagine the way it looked inside of her. Damn, he thought, that shouldn't have happened at all. As soon as he had access to his lab and his databases again, he wouldn't rest until he found the way to neutralize the Extremis virus. He knew he owed her that much. The almost silent doors of the elevator opened soon. They set foot on the long hallway and made their way down the familiar corridor. Their suite was at the end of the hall; a hall which was adorned on either side with tall flower vases, releasing a subtle and welcoming scent. The scene was an extreme contrast to the environment they had been in just one hour ago. Instead of loud explosions and the sharp smell of burning chemicals, there was pleasant calmness and the aroma of roses and lilies.
As soon as they arrived at their door, Tony unlocked it and allowed Pepper to enter first. The suite consisted of a spacious living area with a comfortable sofa at its center. A flat TV on the wall and a writing desk completed the look of the room. A fully furnished kitchen was present, but Tony had never used it except for mixing drinks. The suite also had a well-spaced bathroom with a huge whirlpool tub as its central piece. The actual master bedroom sported a king-size bed. From the balcony, which was accessible from either the living room or the bedroom, and from all the available glass doors in the suite, a breathtaking view of the beach of the Atlantic Ocean was visible. Tony closed the door behind them and stood in place, not certain what to do while Pepper walked to the balcony's door and gazed outside to the sea.
"Hey Honey, how about a relaxing bath before dinner?" Tony broke the silence.
"Yeah sure, why not," Pepper answered without turning around.
Tony sighed despondently, but left for the bath room either way. Seconds later, Pepper heard the noise of the running water of the tub.
