Yep – this one is for the week I made you wait.
This chapter is dedicated to my newest and latest reviewers:
Dingaling11 and Belle97 (thank you for leaving me two reviews and thanks for the encouragement. Hope you like this latest chapter!)
Some of these words are taken directly from the Ironman movie – once again, neither movie nor characters within belong to me. I don't make any money from this.
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Pepper still felt stunned but couldn't deny the elation coursing through her body.
"Did you hear me, Pepper? We found him! We got Tony and he's all right. We'll be there in three hours." She could hear the relief in his voice – Rhodey had been as uncertain as her, and she could tell he was overjoyed at having found his friend again.
"I- Thank you Rhodey. I'll organise everything on this end." The tears were running freely down her face, but her smile was wide as she tore off her shoes to run down into the workshop.
"You! Butterfingers! Jarvis! Dummy! They found him, they got Tony and he's okay!" The machines whirred around her excitedly whilst she was still on her emotional high. Everything would be alright now.
Rubbing her eyes, she decided she needed everything perfect for when Tony returned. And most importantly, he could never find out she'd slept in either the workshop or the bedroom.
Her eyes widened in a panic. She'd forgotten.
"Jarvis – the bedroom. Please have the room cleaned top to bottom and all his clothes washed and hung back up."
The artificial intelligence paused before replying, obviously somewhat amused at her.
"It is being done as we speak."
"Good, good... Oh, and have them gather my clothes and send them back to my apartment. And oh god."
Frantically, Pepper closed the car doors, grabbed the pillow and duvet she'd used to bring it upstairs with her for the cleaners to wash. Then she ran into the shower to pull out her personal cosmetics, shampoos, shower gels and tooth brush. With one last sweep, she deemed it safe, before running into Tony's bedroom which already had their three cleaners in it, gathering clothes in bundles.
She greeted them hastily whilst grabbing the photograph she'd left on the floor by the window. Then she ran down again, dumped it all in a pile to take to her apartment.
"Jarvis, hide all the things I worked on. I know you have to tell Tony if he asks, but no hinting! I still have that high pitched squealing youtube video that sets you on edge if you don't comply!"
Oh dear, threatening and blackmailing an artificial entity. She'd lost her marbles.
Then she blinked and rushed into the kitchen to grab items from the fridge and her favourite mug. She'd really started living her, without noticing. Oh dear. She was bound to miss something.
Happy was parked outside already, awaiting her, but if he was confused as to why she ran towards him barefooted, arms filled with paraphernalia, he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. She skidded slightly, before catching herself and dumping it in the boot of the car.
"Not a word, Happy. This will remain secret, clear?" The chauffeur nodded quietly, obviously amused at seeing his current boss with hair floating everywhere, cheeks flushed, tear tracks on her face, an absurdly wide smile on her lips and clothes askew.
She barely noticed as she ran back in to grab her shoes and grab the one suit she had done for him about a month ago, though she'd asked them to make it much tighter, anticipating that he would have probably lost weight during his captivity as well as one suit which was his usual size. With one shoe on and hobbling towards the car whilst trying to put the other one on whilst keeping up her pace she realised how silly she was.
Tony would not be here for another two and a half hours.
She paused to put her shoes properly, put his two suits in the trunk on top of her things whilst she moved towards Happy.
"They found Tony, Happy. He's coming back. Rhodey is bringing him in." Her smile was wide and her eyes sparkled as she hugged the bodyguard slash chauffeur.
He grinned, though his eyes shone suspiciously. "And here I thought you'd just gone mental."
Pepper snorted, easily amused now that she felt a huge weight had been lifted from her.
"But keep it on the down low for the moment. We're giving Tony time to recover before we throw him to the sharks."
"Tony? On the down low? We talking about the same Tony here? Cause as far as I know he does not do quiet and stealthy."
Pepper laughed. Happy was right. He'd probably be holding a press conference or something similarly stupid within the next few hours.
"Anyway, I need to sort things out at Stark Industries over the next week. I suspect Tony will throw all our plans overboard anyway."
Happy nodded and quickly drove her to the huge appreciated the time this gave her to clean herself up and sort out hair and clothes so she'd at least be semi-presentable. Her hair was still not lying flat, but it would be sufficient for now.
Before going upstairs she asked Happy for a favour and he drove off to Anthony's tailor.
Pepper hastily greeted the receptionists as she moved to the back lift that would take her directly to Tony's office.
Within moments she dropped her purse and jacket over her seat as she moved into his office to dust the room, open the blinds and clear off any paperwork she hadn't had time to deal with yet.
It only took her twenty minutes, which must be some kind of record before she moved onto her own desk.
She quickly flipped through her diary and phoned up clients and partners to postpone business meetings for the next week. Whilst speaking in Japanese on the phone, she sorted quickly through her emails and flipped through her inbox for any urgent paperwork.
After another hour she was done and she dashed towards the elevator. She would only barely make it to the airport with 15 minutes to spare.
Happy was waiting for her down at reception and took only one glance at her before moving towards the car's driver seat.
Pepper realised she would not have enough time to drop off her things but she'd simply have to make sure that the boot of the car remained untouched for now.
"Happy, did you manage to get what I asked for?"
"Yep. Two boxers, one with a tighter waistline than he used to have. And warm, comfortable socks and two different pairs of shoes as per your specs, Miss Potts. I also got the water, lemons and limes and the squeezer you requested." Happy sounded rather puzzled over the last items.
Over the last three months she'd researched a bit – okay, Jarvis researched and presented her with the consolidated findings each time. Anyway, she knew he would have been walking on burning hot sand for hours if not days. His feet would probably be either sensitive or hardened from the walking – two different pairs of shoes depending on how he felt.
Squeezing the lemons and limes into the water jug she explained.
"Adding lemons and limes to water actually hydrates you – once you've become dehydrated your body will literally just flush the water through your system rather than absorbing it. Adding lime and lemon to it, allows your body to rehydrate. Plus, lemons take carcinogens out of your body – the chemicals that cause cancer."
Happy looked at her surprised as she sealed the water bottle after adding ice cubes to it and put it into the fridge.
"Oh, and please stop at that burger place he loves – the one that makes these gigantic cheese burgers; Beanie's Burger Bar I think it was."
Happy grinned as he quickly pulled off the motorway at the next exit down a very familiar route to the aforementioned bar slash restaurant.
Pepper jumped out the back as soon as they pulled to a stop and walked in quickly.
"Ah, Ms. Potts. It's been a long time." Beanie was a nice, portly, elderly man who had quickly taken a liking to Tony and her. She understood the question in his eyes and simply gave a sharp nod to indicate that Tony was back.
"One gigantic cheeseburger coming up – with extra large fries." Beanie disappeared into the kitchen whilst she took a seat on the bar stool. The place was empty so she relaxed slightly.
"Thanks Beanie. He's coming back and he's fine. I thought he'd appreciate having his favourite here. Could you also throw in a salad separately? I am not sure how well he'll stomach everything."
He just nodded as he quickly waved his hand at his kitchen helper who proceeded to prepare the salad.
She was back out in 10 minutes though she'd estimated less time for it she also hadn't expected the place to be empty. It meant Beanie had to heat up the grill before anything else.
Quickly ducking back into the backseat, she put the food into the cabinet at the side to keep it hot until they were at the airport. Right, Pepper, have you forgotten anything? Running through the mental checklists she had compiled she thought she'd done everything except for dropping by her own apartment. She'd even put her phone on silent, a relief she hadn't had in months.
She busied herself fussing and stressing when they arrived at the airport. She pushed her hair down before messily pulling it into a bun, deciding it would do. Her cheeks seemed permanently blushed now and her eyes were decidedly shiny and red. And even she could see the dark circles under her eyes and the crinkles in her blouse. Deciding that there was nothing for it now, she stepped out of the car, anxiously waiting for her boss and friend to return.
When she saw the aircraft approaching her heart sped up and her hands started to get clammy and sweaty. Her mind kept repeating 'Tony, Tony, Tony'.
The moment she saw him step out into the sunlight nothing could have stopped her smile from breaking out. She noticed the bandage around his arm as well as the way he was leaning on Rhodey. He seemed pretty banged up but nothing that couldn't wait. She stepped up to the bottom of the airplane as he let go of Rhodey and walked closer to her. He had lost quite a bit of weight, she noticed.
His eyes – she could tell he'd changed. She wasn't sure in what way, but she could see the loneliness and sadness in them. Biting her bottom lip, she looked up as he came to a stop in front of her.
"Your eyes are red. Tears for your long lost boss?"
She couldn't suppress the grin as she tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Tears of joy." That much was true. "I hate job hunting."
She saw the answering glint in his eyes, before he brushed by her, shoulders touching.
"Yeah, well, Vacation's over."
A giggle escaped her in her joy and at the idea that the last three months had been a vacation.
She moved to the trunk and took the tighter suit out along with the corresponding underwear and both pairs of shoes.
Then she joined him in the car and handed him the clothes whilst addressing their chauffeur.
"Happy – to the hospital please."
"Woah, no – not happening, Pep." Tony interjected. "I've been in captivity for three months; there are two places I wanna go. One, an American cheeseburger and secondly, I want to call a press conference."
She scanned him again with her eyes, but she then thought the medics would have told her if he needed any further work done on him.
"Okay to the hospital. And that's your new suit, it should hopefully fit you better then what you're wearing right now. As for the cheeseburger" she opened the cabinet and presented him with the double extra large cheeseburger and the fries.
He stared at her momentarily, before shaking his head with a smirk.
"You know, some people would think this is creepy. I think this definitely comes under the stalker category" he said, holding up his tighter boxershorts – which Tony thought might actually fit perfectly and how weird was that – and the perfect cheeseburger on the other.
Pepper laughed. "Tony, I know your social security number and probably more of your pin codes than you do."
Mouth half full of cheese burger he gesticulated with his left hand.
"I reiterate – stalker!"
Grinning widely at the happy feeling blooming in her chest, she replied "You wish, Tony. If that were the case than you're paying me to stalk you. Didn't know you needed to start paying to get your ego boosts?"
Tony's eyes sparkled and she saw the tense lines in his shoulders slowly relaxing.
"The girls in Afghanistan are a bit harder to sway – especially when I don't speak their language. Charm can only get you so far, you know."
Pepper laughed.
"Happy – home please. I think Mr. Stark needs a shower."
She playfully waved a hand in front of her face, whilst glancing at Tony.
He rolled his eyes. "But after that – press conference."
"Okay.", she acquiesced, though she wondered what he wanted to discuss so urgently.
"You know, Miss Potts, you could help me in the shower..." Tony winked at her, though there was none of his usual jest in his eyes and that caused her to pause just long enough for Tony's eyes to widen and his head to turn to her fully.
"Oh no – don't get any ideas!" Pepper had blushed, realising what impression she'd given by pausing.
Tony's voice was husky and low as he replied, his eyes sweeping over her form.
"Oh, I think it's eight years too late for that."
Momentarily breathless at the fire she saw in his eyes, she hesitated before replying.
"I think Happy will be happy to help you if you require any medical assistance in the bathroom." A smirk was now on her lips as Tony grimaced.
"Ewww, Pepper!" He yelled outraged whilst she laughed, though she could see the smile on his lips.
"Also, I think Dummy, Butterfingers and You need to see you as well before you hold the press conference."
Tony nodded. They arrived at the mansion only minutes afterwards and Pepper took his clothes from him whilst Happy helped him out of the car.
"Welcome home sir!" There was clear relief and warmth in Jarvis' voice. "We have missed you."
Tony's lips twisted into a smile. "Thanks Jarvis. Now, is the bathroom ready?"
"Of course, sir. After all, it hasn't been in use since you were gone." She threw a dark glare at the ceiling at Jarvis' tone of voice and her eyes warned Happy to keep his mouth shut as well.
Luckily, Tony just blinked momentarily before shrugging it off and moving away to the bathroom.
She followed him in and put his clothes to the side and the two pairs of shoes on the floor.
"If you do need any help, Tony, you can call for us – we'll help." Her tone of voice was serious and her eyes held his but she could tell by the glint in his eyes that he wouldn't respond with the same sentiment.
"Why, is that an offer, Miss Potts?" She rolled her eyes good-naturedly before leaving the bathroom.
The maids were just returning with the clean laundry, luckily, as she checked on the progress of Tony's bedroom.
"Thank you, Marta. And sorry for the short notice."
Marta smiled at her and shrugged. "It's not a problem, Virginia. It's just lucky today was a cleaning day anyway. By the way, we binned the takeout food you left on the coffee table."
Pepper's eyes widened and she paled at the oversight.
"Oh god, thank you. I wouldn't want to imagine the inferences Tony would make if he knew I practically lived here for the last few months."
The elderly lady just patted her on her arm and left her behind, speechless when she said "Ah, but the real problem is that he wouldn't be wrong, isn't it?"
Pepper shook her head and tried to get her head back in gear as she pulled out her phone to call yet another press conference.
"Hi, Mike, how are you?" She listened to him for a moment, before interrupting. "Mhm. I don't know if you've heard, but Tony's back. He wants a press conference inside the Atrium of Stark Industries. Could you get everyone there for 4 p.m.?" She nodded and hummed agreeing noises at his question before ending the call.
Mark was fantastic at his job – PR – but he was so chatty it was incredible.
Time to call another, more vicious shark. With a shudder she dialled Obadiah Stane's number.
"Ah, Potts. Would you like me to take over from you as CEO?"
Unbidden, a satisfied smirk adorned her lips as she replied to the most annoying pest that had bugged her over the last months.
"No, actually. I wanted to be the first to tell you the good news that Tony has returned."
She heard his indrawn breath and the pause before he replied how good that was and how he'd come by before hanging up. Slightly confused she stared at her phone. Was he upset that Tony was back? Or simply surprised?
But then Tony came out of the bathroom with damp hair and a surprisingly perfectly fitted suit.
"Should I find it weird that the boxers fit me perfectly? Have you taken stalking to a new level, Pep?" Tony did look slightly confused and creeped out.
Pepper grinned, forgetting about the annoying phone call, knowing her next sentence would provoke an amusing reaction from Tony.
"Nah – it wasn't me who got those for you. It was Happy."
True to her thoughts, Tony shuddered, before looking back at Happy. "Eww. I mean, no offense man, but I am strictly a boobs-man myself. No harm, no foul, right?" He grinned at his chauffeur who just rolled his eyes and helped him to the couch.
"Actually, Pepper – any idea why your hairbrush is in my private bathroom?" Pepper froze and forgot to breathe. Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. Holy god damn... She felt like the proverbial rabbit in front of the wolf about to devour her whole.
Luckily, Lucille entered – one of the other maids - and went right up to Mr. Stark.
"Ah, that's where the hairbrush went. Sorry Mr. Stark. I mislaid it whilst cleaning." She snapped it out of his hand and walked back out of the room. As soon as her back was turned to Tony she mouthed Jarvis at her and winked.
Pepper sighed in relief. Disaster momentarily averted. Tony still gave her a momentary stare, gaze confused and surprised and she wasn't sure if the charade had actually convinced him, but then he seemed to shake it off and they went down to the workshop.
The robots swarmed him and showed their affection to which she saw Tony laughingly kneeling down. They had really missed him and they were one of the only ones that he willingly received all types of affection from. Though the wonder in his eyes took her aback when Dummy moved over to greet her and You and Butterfingers joined in with their own whirrs of affection and Butterfingers once again started to go for her hair.
She stepped back after giving each a small pat though, but Tony's eyes were still focussed on her and the adoration that had appeared in them made her eyes drop to the floor; he'd guessed a small part of what she'd done already. How long could she expect to keep the rest from him? Her eyes met his again and she smiled slightly, trying to pretend everything was as it had been before Afghanistan.
"So – what's the press conference for, Mr. Stark?"
This brought a grim smile to his lips and she didn't like it. It spoke of the horrors he'd seen and his eyes had darkened and she did not recognise the look he gave her. It was new, but she catalogued it just like everything else from his new weight, to the way he now walked as she'd always done. She called it her mental Tony Compendium: it contained his quirks, likes and dislikes and all the things she needed to know to anticipate his moves.
"Potts, I– When I was in captivity I met this guy. His name was Yinsen. It was my weapons that killed his family and yet he helped me for three months and died for me." His eyes were dark with shadows of memories flitting through them, as he rubbed his chin.
"I am going to move Starks Industries in a new direction. No more weapons. No more destruction. I-I'm not sure what direction we are going to take, but I want to do something to help people. Not cause more deaths. And I don't know if Obadiah or Rhodey will understand that." He looked at her, conviction and strength in his very posture. His eyes sought out hers, trying to reassure himself which side she was on, that someone was in his corner.
She unwillingly thought back to all those months ago, when Jarvis had told her what Tony really thought of her, why he'd handed her the firm and a soft smile touched her lips as she lightly swatted his arm.
"For a genius, you can be surprisingly dim at times, Mr. Stark. Rhodey and I will be on your side, of course we will be; though you might want to chat to Rhodey before you tell the press. He got himself suspended for you, to keep looking. It would not be a kind way of repaying him if you know tell strangers before you tell him." Pepper sighed slightly, unsure how to talk about Obadiah but also realising that Tony needed to know, above all else. Whilst he would be upset, telling him later would not soften the blow nor would it be of any help to him whatsoever and it would only cause him to distrust her as well.
"As for Mr. Stane – I am not sure if you can trust him to do what's good for you or the company. He likes the weapons market. Do you remember the private meeting minutes I wrote up for you. The first general meeting we had after your capture – he tried to become CEO then and he outlined a plan. Tony- most of that plan involved ideas you had either rejected outright or taken off the table entirely. I don't know why, but I cannot trust him again."
Her blue eyes sought out his brown ones, trying to convince him of the truth in her words. She didn't want to mention her own troubles she'd had with the man over the previous months. It wouldn't do anything but prove that she had a vendetta and that was not what she was trying to say. Then it dawned on her, that there was a much more realistic way of convincing him.
"Jarvis, could you please replay the footage up until Ryan finishes talking?"
The video was up on the screen and started playing before she'd even finished talk. She remained quiet whilst Tony watched, eyes flitting about the place as he absorbed each person's reaction. She left him in silence to contemplate what he'd seen before watching curiously as he turned back to her.
"Well, I'm glad I wrote that document a while back to make you CEO in my absence." His smile was entirely charming and she knew him well enough to see right through that.
"Tony" There was a warning in her tone, but like so many other things he ignored it proficiently.
"Pepper" He shot back in the same tone of voice and she barely resisted the eyeroll.
"You know, when I found out about that document at the meeting in front of everyone else I was fantasizing about throwing stiletto heels at your head."
"Ooh, you were fantasizing about me?"
She groaned. She'd literally handed him that one on a silver platter.
"No, Mr. Stark, contrary to popular belief you are not irresistible."
"Call me Tony again – I liked that much better, more personal, you know. Also are the current bets still that you are lesbian and that is why you don't fancy me?"
That did cause Pepper to laugh. The office gossip was always more interesting to Tony than her though once he'd told her about the wager's made on her sexuality she'd been intrigued herself.
"I actually think they currently favour me being asexual."
With one step Tony was right in her personal space again as he looked down at her, tucking one of her loose strands back behind her hair as she held her breath, breathing in the man in front of her, eyes dilated as she held his gaze.
"Now that would be a real shame."
Against her will she inhaled sharply, eyes widening. Tony must have noticed her deer caught in the headlights look as he simply gave her a wry smile and stepped back slightly, just enough to give her room to breathe again.
"Well, consider me forewarned, Ms. Potts."
"I- You- What?" Completely puzzled, she stared at him, heart still beating erratically.
He raised his eyebrows , obviously amused at her obliviousness.
"Obadiah Stane – consider me forewarned."
"Oh... Oh! Yes. Erm, I believe we should now be getting ready for your press conference."
He outright grinned at her now, enjoying seeing her flustered and having lost her composure.
She quickly moved up the stairs to rejoin happy who was happily munching a sandwich on the couch, watching the news.
"Everything alright, Pepper?"
Even Happy had noticed she was quite flustered – she could see it in his raised eyebrows and the only half suppressed grin.
"Yes, Happy, very funny. Everything's alright. We're going back to Stark Industries for a press conference. Be prepared for a riot afterwards."
Happy paused momentarily, but then tried to ease her tenseness.
"Aren't I always?"
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The car ride over to Stark Industries was quiet as Tony was either contemplating the impending press conference, his phone call with Rhodey or seeing Obadiah Stane again. She wasn't entirely sure which was preferential.
The phone call with Rhodey seemed to have gone over relatively well with the exception that Rhodey still thought Tony simply needed some time to change his mind.
He hadn't listened to Tony or looked him in the eyes when he was talking now, his passion for this new goal was more than evident.
Mr. Stark – because that was who he was at this moment – put on his sunglasses before stepping out of the car. The predicted flashes of camera blinded even her though she was still in the car.
Instead of walking on, Tony held the door open and held out a hand for her. She squared her shoulders as she stepped out, letting go of his hand once she was on safe ground. The clipboard was instantly pressed tightly against her chest with her left hand – it was a sort of safety mechanism, a defence as she always felt terribly vulnerable in front of these sharks. Usually they were not that keen on taking pictures of her, but standing next to the returning hero had its perks as well as its disadvantages. This was definitely one of the disadvantages.
They expertly ignored the questions the press threw at them as they walked into the great entrance of Stark Industries.
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Press conference and more flirting next time. What do you think?
