Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Marvel or Iron Man.
Author's Note: Huzzar! I've updated. Thank you to Arrows The Wolf, Abbey lee, Iron man fan2626, fantasia-49, BlueViking77, namaster, LouBlue and xXBrittanyXx for the reviews on the last chapter.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter and don't forget to leave a review at the end.
Happy reading,
Reeves3.
Chapter Four
"Oi Thunderbolt, if you're going to be living here when you're not in Neverland-,"
"Asgard," corrected Thor, his deep voice a threatening rumble.
"Gesundheit," said Tony. He continued to speak as though Thor hadn't interrupted him. "-then you need to stop breaking everything!"
It was the Tuesday morning after the charity ball where Thor had dropped by unexpectedly to announce there was a danger approaching. To whom it was coming to get or what said danger was Thor didn't know and couldn't give his Midgardian friends any more information. Natasha, Clint and Bruce had found this news a little unsettling but Tony wasn't too bothered – the trouble wasn't here yet and they would all face it together when it did show its ugly face – but right now he had more important things on his mind.
So far this morning Thor had managed to bend the refrigerator, crack the breakfast table, pull the faucet off the sink and he finished the box of Honey Nut Loops which wasn't really a big issue for everyone else but they were Tony's favourite cereal so he was annoyed about it.
"It is not my fault all your apparatus is so fragile," argued Thor. Tony glanced into the kitchen from their view in the living area and saw the broken pieces of table, the fridge bent in a perfect 90 degree angle and the fountain of water spraying from the gaping hole in the sink.
"Why couldn't you have had toast instead of my cereal?" Tony whined.
"Maybe Thor thought cereal would be easier to make. It creates less mess to clear up in the sink," said Clint smirking, from above. Tony glared up at him as the master archer leaned against the banister.
"Haven't you got a job to get to?"
Before Barton could reply JARVIS interrupted them. "Sir the contractor and a plumber are waiting for entrance into the Headquarters. They need a member's hand scan to open the door."
"I'll go," said Clint, he gave Tony a cool look. "I have a job to get too after all."
Clint took his leave and Thor sat down on the settee.
"I am deeply sorry for the disarray I have caused this beautiful dawn Man of Iron. I will be more careful," he said.
Tony sighed. "Its fine Thor, you didn't break anything that can't be fixed and we can always buy more Honey Nut Loops."
Thor nodded in acceptance. The door opened and two workers entered the room and Tony pointed them to the direction of the kitchen. He then picked up the nearby TV remote on the coffee table.
"Here, watch some TV," said Tony. He tossed the remote at the empty space next to Thor on the settee so the god could pick it up himself. JARVIS displayed the TV screen against the window and Thor picked up the remote and looked back and forth at it to the screen.
"I use this to -," he asked, slowly, not sure how to finish his question.
"You change the channel with it, lower and raise the volume, add subtitles, change the language...," said Tony. "Think you can handle it without breaking anything?"
Thor gave a confident nod and Tony smiled and pushed himself away from the settee. In a mirror's reflection he saw Thor lift the remote in the air.
"CHANGE THE CHANNEL!" The god of thunder roared at the remote before hurling it at the window. Luckily all the windows in the Avengers Headquarters were virtually indestructible so it was only the TV remote that shattered into a million pieces.
Tony just stood there biting his lip to fight the urge to shout. Instead he took a deep breath and carried on walking to his bedroom. Pepper sat in front of the chest of drawers, wrapped in a dressing gown, straightening her hair when Tony entered the room and crumpled up on the bed, grabbed a pillow and started to punch it.
"I take it Thor is still breaking things?" Pepper asked. The corners of her lips were slightly upturned as she watched Tony have a childish tantrum.
"I swear he's doing it on purpose," said Tony, rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling.
"No he isn't. He just doesn't know his own strength while he's here."
"Sure he doesn't," Tony muttered under his breath. He idly watched Pepper finish off straightening her hair before he asked. "What's on the to-do-list today?"
"I need to ring the airport so the Stark Jet will be ready for takeoff by lunchtime," said Pepper. She stood up and went over to the wardrobe and picked out her outfit for the day.
Tony's eyebrows knitted together. "What's the point?"
"I need to get back to work at Stark Industries, you know, that company you own and I run?" said Pepper. Tony rolled off the bed and went over to his bedside table draw where he pulled out the envelope he had brought last night at the charity auction. He waved it in front of Pepper.
"I think you're forgetting Miss Potts that in four days time we'll be spending the weekend at Canyon Ranch?" Tony said, grinning, mostly because of all the possibilities that weekend would bring.
"I remembered Tony but I have work to do and meetings to attend in LA first," said Pepper.
"But you can't go," said Tony. He had wanted to try and propose again sometime this week and if Pepper went back home that'd be a pretty hard thing to do, he decided.
"And why not?" asked Pepper. Her eyes gave him a warning look so Tony knew he was stepping into hot water here. He strummed his fingers on the envelope as he contemplated what he should say and decided to play it safe.
"What I mean is you can do that here, we have video links. There's no point going back just for a few days," said Tony. He tossed the envelope aside and stepped closer to Pepper where he undid the belt on the dressing gown. Pepper closed her eyes, smiling, and placed her hands on Tony's shoulders as he parted the front so his hands could rest on her bare hips while gently leaning across to press his forehead against hers.
"Tony..." she started.
"Pepper..." he said.
"Tony I really have to go..."
"No you don't," he said. Pepper sighed dramatically.
"Fine," she breathed. "But if I don't go, you'll have to instead." Pepper knew she had won him over then when she saw Tony's eyes show that fleeting second of horror at having to attend stuffy board room meetings when he could be playing with his gadgets here.
"Okay if you really have to go, you can," said Tony, pretending to cave in on their argument. Pepper smiled at him.
"I knew you'd see it my way," she said, leaning in and pressing her lips against his effectively silencing off his chuckle.
And so at quarter past two in the afternoon Tony arrived back at Stark Tower alone after having dropped Pepper off at the airport. Tony rode up in the elevator with the soft jazz music playing in the background and a newspaper spread out in front of him. His ears and eyes weren't concentrating on any of those two things because his mind was reeling as he thought about how to propose to Pepper.
He wasn't used to thinking about other people. Ever since he hired Pepper as his personal assistant fourteen years ago, he had forgotten every single one of her birthdays, he never remembered their anniversary of working together and he hardly ever did anything for her benefit. That had all changed when Yinsen had sacrificed himself for Tony to escape the cave in Afghanistan. The anniversaries of the past didn't seem to matter in Tony's mind anymore, all that did, was the little moments he had shared with Pepper, that he knew he would one day look back in his old age and think 'those were the greatest memories.'
When they became a couple, a year ago, he focused more on doing things for Pepper but old habits die hard and last night he realised was one of them. He hadn't planned the best proposal for her. It suited him more, being in public, mingling the best and brightest, fine dining and champagne. It was too much of a business scene for Pepper and he wanted something more close to her personal taste.
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open bringing Tony out of his reverie.
"Good afternoon sir," said JARVIS, after Tony had scanned his hand.
"Afternoon JARVIS," Tony replied, pushing open the door. The plumber and contractor had gone now and the kitchen had been restored. Thor was still sitting on the settee and watching reruns of Friends as Tony passed him by heading upstairs to the war room where Bruce was busy working.
The doctor glanced over his glasses when Tony sighed and slumped into his chair.
"I take it Pepper has gone back to Malibu?" Bruce asked. Tony just nodded slowly.
"You miss her already?" Bruce questioned slightly ludicrously. He knew Tony wasn't going to give him a straight answer but he couldn't help but ask. Just like he thought Tony didn't nod his head this time just shrugged his shoulders slightly with a small smile on his face and Bruce got his answer.
"And I take it last night you didn't propose?" Tony shook his head and Bruce rolled his eyes. "Are you going to give me actual words or did you lose your voice on the way back from the airport?"
"No I didn't propose," said Tony, sadly. "I was about to when Lord of the Storms showed up."
"Bet that annoyed you."
"At first it did but I've realised something. I don't think I had planned the best proposal for Pep. I think I want to try something simple."
"Like what?" Bruce asked, fearing the potential. With Tony, nothing was ever simple.
"I haven't thought about it yet, give me a few minutes and I'll think of something great." Tony turned around in his chair and brought up a screen on his desk where he started to write down ideas with a stylus. Bruce shook his head and carried on with his research.
However throughout the day Bruce would get interrupted every half an hour or so by Tony either idly spinning in his chair, tapping his stylus on his chin, growling in annoyance or sighing before he scrapped the idea he had been working on and began all over again. At half seven in the evening Bruce and Tony both heard Natasha and Clint come back from S.H.I.E.L.D announcing they had pizza with them.
"Good, I'm starved. Are you coming down Tony?" Bruce asked, walking towards the stairs.
"In a minute," Tony muttered, in a zombie like state, his eyes never leaving his screen.
"Everything alright?" Bruce asked, cautiously.
"Fine, fine," Tony muttered. "Save me some pizza, yeah?"
"Sure," said Bruce.
Tony didn't go down for any dinner, he continued to plan and then wipe clean the ideas because they weren't good enough, and it was five hours later until he realised that everyone had gone to bed. He shut down the holograms in the war room and in the darkness he went down two levels into the lounge. He went over to the kitchen and found four slices of cold pizza on the side still in the pizza box and popped the end of one in his mouth.
After devouring the slices of pizza Tony went to his bedroom and got ready for bed, all the while thinking of ideas but still nothing good came to mind. He took out his phone from his pocket and saw he had two missed calls from Pepper and a message that read...
'You must be busy working to answer my calls. JARVIS has informed me you're alright. I called to say goodnight and see you on Friday. Love Pep. Xxx.'
Tony smiled and put his phone on the bedside table before getting into bed.
"What is Pepper doing JARVIS?" he asked, sleepily.
"She is currently asleep on your side of the bed sir. Do you want me to wake her?" the A.I asked politely.
"No, that's all I wanted to know," replied Tony, his head rested on Pepper's pillow as he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.
Wednesday and Thursday passed by in a blur for Tony. It was the same routine each day. Wake up, have breakfast, yell at Thor if he broke something, shower, get changed, plan a proposal perfect for Pepper, eat something and then sleep.
However on Friday morning and Pepper was due back at in an hour Tony still hadn't thought of a way to propose. He was hunched over his desk writing like a maniac on the screen and was muttering to himself. Bruce kept picking up snippets of Tony's murmuring.
"-elephant takes us to the beach and we go scuba diving-,"
Bruce finally, after hearing enough extravagant and insane ideas, stood up and lifted Tony out of his chair and looked at him dead in the eyes.
"You're over thinking this way too much! Why don't you go have a picnic in Central Park with her?" he suggested. Tony stared at him for a few seconds without blinking and Bruce started to fear all these ideas had caused him to go mad until Tony snapped out of it and grinned.
"A picnic, yeah, I like it but what food should I take? Should I pick up some shawarma?" Bruce rolled his eyes.
"No, just no. There's a hamper in the kitchen fill it with everything Pepper likes,"
Tony nodded his head. "Alright let's just go down to the kitchen and see what we've got."
The two headed downstairs and passed by Thor who was still watching Friends. Tony hurriedly went to the bedroom and got the ring down from the top of the wardrobe before running back into the kitchen. Bruce got out the hamper and a blanket as Tony started to pile in food for instance sandwiches, cheese, potato salad, mini sausage rolls, two blueberry muffins and homemade lemonade.
"Do you think this will be enough or should I get some shawarma?"
"No! Enough with the shawarma! Now go pick up Pepper and good luck," said Bruce, pushing Tony out the room and towards the doors that led to the elevator. As they passed Thor he cheered at the TV and fist pumped into the air.
"He's her lobster," the god said, smiling happily. Tony and Bruce shared a bewildered look before Tony carried on alone towards the elevator with the picnic basket in his hand.
When he reached the ground floor he walked outside and found his car and placed the basket in the boot. After quick twenty minute drive with the top down so he could enjoy the cool wind against the boiling heat from the sun Tony arrived at LaGuardia Airport. He had just parked his car when the Stark Jet stopped in front of him at the aircraft stand. After quickly checking his appearance in the wing mirror, he leaned casually against the side of the car as Pepper stepped out the plane and down the steps. Her eyes were glued to her Blackberry so Tony had to press his car horn to get her to notice him and when she did, a wide smile spread across her face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, pleasantly surprised, walking towards him.
"Can't a boyfriend pick up his girlfriend at the airport anymore?" Tony asked, reaching for her out stretched hand and pulling her in for a small kiss.
"Of course, you can, I was just wasn't expecting to see you here. It's nice," said Pepper. Tony smiled and opened the car door for her and she slid in. He then turned to one of his hired staff who worked on the jet.
"Have Miss Pott's luggage delivered to Stark Tower please," said Tony.
The staff member gave a nod. "Right away sir."
Tony could feel Pepper's eyes on him as he walked around the front of the car and into the driver's seat.
"What are you up to?" she asked, giving him a sideways glance. Tony grinned and started to drive them out the airport.
"I'm taking you on a picnic," said Tony. Pepper's eyebrows rose in surprise, her hair was billowing around her face from the wind so she did her best to stop it from getting tangled.
"Really?" she asked.
"You are finding it hard to believe?" Tony asked.
"A little bit," Pepper admitted but still she smiled and Tony laughed. Eventually they reached Central Park and as busy as it was only a few people gave Tony and Pepper a second glance. After all why would the CEO and COO of Stark Industries be wondering around Central Park on Friday lunchtime? After strolling hand-in-hand to the centre of the park the pair found a nice area under the shade of a blossom tree. They laid out the blanket and sat down next to each other with the hamper full of food by their knees.
Tony could feel the ring burning a hole in his jacket pocket, all he wanted was for the ring to be on Pepper's finger and he got an idea as Pepper handed him the two glasses and the lemonade he had brought along. While Pepper was setting out the food, Tony turned to his side slightly and put a hand in his pocket ready to put the ring in Pepper's drink.
"Oh my god," exclaimed Pepper.
"What?" Tony asked, his hand darting out of his pocket as though he had been electrocuted.
"Steve?" The billionaire frowned at her.
"I'm Tony," he reminded. Pepper rolled her eyes at Tony and pointed behind him where Captain America was walking towards them. Tony turned his head and his jaw went slack. 'I just can't catch a break. First Thor now Capsicle,' he thought.
"Hey guys," Steve greeted. Pepper got up and the two greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek as Tony poured himself a glass of lemonade and drained it in one wishing it was something alcoholic.
"Hello Rogers," he muttered. "What are you doing here?"
"I've finished my tour and thought I would take a stroll around Central Park before heading-."
"No, I mean, why are you here? Why now? On this day? At this moment in time?" asked Tony complaining, his eyes glaring daggers at Steve.
"Tony, don't be rude," Pepper hissed.
"I can't help coincidence Stark but if it'll make you feel better, I'll go,"
Pepper looked at him preposterously. "Steve, don't be silly, we haven't seen you for nearly two months of course you can stay. Sit down, have a sandwich."
And so the ring was once more left hidden in Tony's pocket as Steve joined them for lunch, as they walked back to the car and on the ride back to Stark Tower. After JARVIS had scanned Steve's hand, Tony led Pepper inside leaving the Captain to bring up the rear.
"Congratulations!" Bruce cheered upon seeing Pepper and Tony walk into the room. Thor glanced around at the two of them and then Steve entered the room.
"What for?" asked Pepper, as Tony made frantic throat slicing actions to his neck out of her view. Bruce paled a bit.
"On...on the err success of rebuilding Stark Tower," Bruce finished, lamely. Pepper gave him an odd look but forgot about it when she went over to greet him and Thor like she had done with Steve. After Bruce had welcomed Steve back and chatted to him for a bit where he also learned the Captain had joined Pepper and Tony on their picnic, he made his way over to Tony.
"Bad luck, buddy," he said. Tony shrugged.
"Yeah well, what could I do about it?" Bruce nodded in understanding and Pepper approached them.
"Tony, have you packed your things? We're leaving tonight remember," said Pepper. Tony's face suddenly lit up like a child's on Christmas morning.
"I'll do it in a bit," he promised.
"Make sure you do," she said, giving him a lingering kiss on the cheek. She smiled at him and then went to go make herself a cup of tea.
"This is brilliant!" Tony cried, feeling giddy.
"What is?" asked Bruce.
"I completely forgot during all the planning this week. Pepper and I are away at the spa hotel this weekend. It's a perfect place to ask her. There will be no Avengers to interrupt me, no paperwork to sign, no calls to take and best off all no distractions."
Not while I'm writing Stark. ;)
Stay tuned because in the next chapter, we find out who has been spying on him.
I shall update when I can. Once again, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to review.
Reeves3.