Disclaimer: Do not own.
"No luck?" Tony called from his car. Rachel sighed and walked away from the large glass building she exited from and stepped into his parked car. He handed her a paper bag. She peeked in. Eight vanilla-stuffed canolis and a chocolate bar. He must have known she would have a shitty day.
"This is the eighth audition this week. I got called unimaginative and dull." She grumbled, taking a savage bite off of her first canoli. Ever since the Stark Expo was destroyed two months ago, she had been looking for a new job with no success. " I hang around Iron Man. I am not dull nor unimaginative. Assholes."
"They're clearly blind." He said dismissively, swerving around traffic. "You know you could always work for me."
"Oh, As what exactly? Your nanny?" She scoffed, biting into another canoli. "I wouldn't want to deprive Pepper of her job."
"Ha. Ha." He said sarcastically. Rachel stuck out her tongue. "Take Natalie's old job. Be my assistant."
Rachel paused, chewing slowly as she mulled over his offer. Be Tony's assistant while she looked for a job? She looked over at him. His dark glasses obscured his eyes.
"Thank you Tony, but I don't mix work with pleasure." She said, wiping the crumbs off of her cut out Red Sox jersey. Tony glanced over and smirked.
"I didn't know hanging out with me caused you pleasure. I didn't have to try this time." He boasted, his smirk growing wider. "I'm getting really good with women if all I have to do is think it."
Rachel laughed. "You're only good with Pepper."
"Tell that to the hundreds of women I've slept with. They'd disagree." He parked his car in the indoor garage. Rachel rolled her eyes and stepped out.
"Of course. In exchange for a day of fame and money, who would ever say you suck in bed?" She called over her shoulder as she entered the house.
"Good afternoon, Miss Lewis." Jarvis announced. The blue-haired woman smiled up at the ceiling.
"Afternoon Jarvis. How's my favorite AI doing?" She said as throwing herself on the couch. The TV automatically turned on.
"I'm doing very well Miss Lewis. Thank you for asking. What movie would you like to see today?"
" Blues Clues, stop flirting with Jarvis. Hate to break it to you, but he doesn't return your feelings." Tony said, plopping himself next to her. She pouted and kicked the closest leg to her.
"Sir, Miss Lewis is allowed to talk to me however she likes. I don't mind." the AI said. Rachel winked up at the ceiling.
"Thank you Jarvis. Can we please watched Pride and Prejudice?" She requested. She ignored Tony's groan. The movie began.
"I need to hang out with Rhodey more." He whispered. The blue-haired woman laughed and pushed his leg gently.
"Please. I'm the only one out of your friends that can keep up with your crazy schedule. Especially now that I'm unemployed." She grinned saucily at him. She reached for her bag of canolis. He snagged one. She gaped at him. "You little…you don't even like canolis."
He reached for another one, but his hand was smacked away. He glared at her. She glared back. "Back off, Tin man. They're mine."
Before things could get heated, Pepper walked into the room. They froze. She watching them warily. "Did I miss something?"
Tony sat up and faced the tv, his mouth in a tight straight line. Rachel looked at him for a second, before smiling up at her. "Not really. He was just eating my canolis. Would you like some?"
Pepper glanced at Tony and smiled back at her. "Thanks, but I have a lot of work to do. Tony." He turned to face her. "You have a meeting with the board on Friday and a meeting with the city of NY about your green energy idea tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll be there." He said. Both women stared at him. He looked back at them. "What? I said I will and I will." He snapped, before taking a canoli. The women shared a look.
"Well I'll be back in the office then." She said, before leaving. Rachel punched him in the arm. He yelped.
"What the hell is going on with you two?"She asked, leaning on her side to get a better view of him. "You guys were all sickly sweet and having sex in the weirdest places and now you're acting like exes…"
She gasped and sat up, slapping him again. He growled, "Can you stop that? I need that arm for superheroing."
"You guys broke up and you didn't tell me?" She hissed. She began to slap him repeatedly. "I'm-suppose-to-be-your-numero-uno-your-female-buddy-the-second-light-in-your-life-what-the-fuck-man!"
"We didn't break up! Now will you stop hitting me!" He shouted, grabbing her wrist. She froze, staring up at him with wide eyes. Tony inhaled sharply and placed his head on her shoulder. They were silent, listening to Elizabeth break Mr. Darcy's heart. "Ever since the Vanko incident, we've been distant and I don't know how to fix it."
"I keep avoiding her. I have these nightmares that I don't get to her in time. Or that some new villain will come and take her away from me. And I can't, Blue. I can't sleep. I've been working on my suits and the new green project and I don't…"
Rachel wrapped her arms around his back. "Tony, have you told any of this to Pepper?"
Tony gave a humorless laugh and looked at her for a second. "Babe, I don't talk about feelings. There's a reason why I'm called Iron Man."
She tapped him on the back of the head. "You're telling me. How's Pepper any different? You love us both, obviously in different ways, but you do. And you care about us so much. If you can bear your heart to me, why not her?"
Tony shook his head and pulled away. "Let's just continue watching the movie."
Rachel pulled his head back until their faces were inches apart. She could see the golden fleck scattered and hidden in his dark eyes. He looked startled. "Pepper Potts loves you. Don't you dare demean that love by not opening up. Show her you love her. Prove it."
She let go.
I've noticed that a lot of the chapters end in a "life lesson", but I give myself comfort in knowing that this story will get grittier and dark in the foreseeable future. So enjoy the heart-felt feelings while it last. haha. Thanks for reading.