"Good morning sunshine. How is my fiancé this today?" She smiled warmly, handing him a glass and two hangover pills.
"Shit… Aw God…" He slammed his hands over his eyes, turning his eyes into the pillow. What was he drinking last night? Pepper laughed softly, as he took the glass from her hand and threw the pills down with a huge gulp. She took the glass back, and he raised the covers over his eyes.
"Did I really do that?" It was all coming back to him. How could he have been so stupid?
"Uhuh."
"Can I stay under here?"
"No. C'mon, we have to talk Tony. You're my best friend, you know you can tell me anything right?"
Tony didn't move, only held the covers where they were. He didn't feel awkward around her, because, as he thanked the heavens for it, Pepper was the only person he wouldn't feel awkward around after drunkenly mock-proposing to her.
"Tony." She was getting impatient. He slowly pulled the covers down. His hair was flat against his head, a fringe forming on his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot, but the chocolate orbs looked brightly up at her. Her perfect eyebrows were risen, expectant.
"I honestly, have no idea, why…"
"It's alright, I understand, but Tony, what's wrong, really?" Tony swallowed, he didn't want to tell Pepper, he knew her to well. She'd become all emotional and run up and hit Steve and then Loki would ask questions and she wouldn't be able to help herself and he would be in a terrible state and he couldn't bear to see Loki like that, just because he had been so selfish and told Pepper before he told him. He had formulated a plan. He would get rid of Steve. He would do whatever he could. It'd be a clean break, at least it wouldn't be as bad than if he found out Steve had cheated on him, with his roommate.
"Look, Pepper. You know I would tell you anything, but please, let me figure this out on my own, okay? Please?" Pepper only looked at him, worried. But she found a strange strength in his voice, and decided to let it be, for now.
"Fine. Okay, but Tony of this gets any worse I'm calling your mom."
"Pepper" Tony protested, but she put her fingers over his lips, shushing him.
"Stop, now get up and get some breakfast. I made you a smoothies and some bacon. Best hangover cure, and you know it."
He sniffed the air, smelling the bacon. He didn't feel like eating, but he would, for her sake. She was always so worried. "Smells great." He shifted, leaning out from the bed and shoving his pants on.
"Who's Janice?"
"What?"
"Or is it Janice? No… it says James!"
"Oh god him… he thought I was gay and gave me his number… I think he wanted me to call him."
"You think? God you are so insensitive." She looked stern, but giggled when she saw the sudden look of shock on Tony's face, who had obviously taken it to heart. His expression quickly changed to annoyance, chucking a pillow at her. She squealed, running back against the wall and guarding her head with it as she caught it.
"Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting?" Loki looked into the bedroom from the door frame.
"Loki!" Tony shouted, as Loki quickly wheeled around. So it was true he thought, he felt a quick pang of something in his chest.
"No wait Loki! No no no! Don't worry we're not engaged. Could you imagine?"
"Gee, thanks Pepper" Loki looked genuinely hurt as he looked at her. She waved him off, catching up with Loki.
"Oh… so…"
"So nothing. I was drunk and a bit of an idiot. Lot on my mind. You hungry?"
"I didn't make enough for both of you." Pepper ran over to the fridge, looking for food. Tony knew she hadn't but he wanted a way out of having to eat it himself.
"No no, I had breakfast with Steve. He stayed the night… I hope you don't mind…" Loki looked up, relief in his eyes. From what? Tony thought.
"Oh. Whatever. Sure." Tony's voice was bland. Sure, why the fuck would he mind?
"I came to see if you were alive, I was worried after last night when you weren't at the flat. And if you wanted to get some coffee…" He fiddled with his fingers, not sure where to put himself.
"Nope, I'm fine. Um… you wanna hang around? There's something I need to talk to you about, coffee might be a good idea."
"I've got the paper if you want it?" Pepper piped in, plating up Tony's breakfast.
"How about I meet you back at the flat, you probably need a change anyway." Tony looked down at his clothes, they were all wrinkled and he smelled a bit. Where was his jacket?
"Did you get my jacket?"
"It's in the building, so I'll see you in fifteen minutes?"
"Yeah sure, is that okay?" He looked to Pepper, who was busy pouring out the smoothie.
"Yeah sure, now c'mon eat up." Tony's stomach churned. It wasn't just the lying alcohol in his stomach but the mix of fat frying and the tension between him and Loki was enough to make anyone queasy.
