Oh my gosh I am sorry for the delay! I thought I had posted this chapter! Turns out I had only posted it on A03. My apologies to the delay for this last chapter but it is finally here.
Chapter 12
As the head of the Avengers, Tony had decided to call a Press conference to introduce Spider-Man as the newest member. The media had no idea what they had been called to the compound for and Pepper had believed Tony's story of offering Peter a place in the Avengers and wanting to introduce him to the world (without revealing his identity). However, Tony felt certain the kid would turn him down.
He watched as Happy led Peter into the Compound, having driven him from down the state so Tony could talk to him. Dressed smartly in a suit, with a handkerchief hanging out the pocket, Tony was ready for his big appearance in front of the press. Pepper had arrived earlier that morning and had quickly got herself busy in organising the press room for the upcoming announcement and was now busy with the reporters who had gathered.
Tony started to stroll towards Peter and Happy. "Oh, there they are. How was the ride up?" He directed the question at Happy.
"Good."
"Give me a minute with the kid."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. I gotta talk to the kid," confirmed Tony.
Happy eyed him. "I'll be close behind."
"How about a loose follow?" Tony compromised, enjoying the banter between himself and Happy.
Happy relented. "All right? Boundaries are good."
Tony placed his arms around Peter's shoulders, leading him towards the conference suite. "Sorry I took your suit. You had it coming. Actually, it turns out it was… the perfect touch-love moment that you needed. To urge you on, right? Wouldn't you think? Don't you think?" Tony asked. Taking the suit had been good motivation for Peter to find his inner Spider-Man, just like Tony had learned when he had been left without his suits during the Killian incident.
Peter was hesitant. "I guess…"
"Let's just say it was," interrupted Toy.
"Mr Stark," began Peter. "I really –"
But Tony spoke over him. "You screwed the pooch hard, bigtime. But then you did the right thing. Took the dog to the free clinic, you raised the hybrid puppies…" Tony shook his head. What was he trying to say? "All right, not my best analogy. I was wrong about you," he admitted.
Peter needed to hear that.
"I think, with a little more mentoring you could be a real asset to the team." Tony stopped Peter in front of a large wall.
"To the…? To the team?" Peter looked shocked, unsure of where Tony was intending on taking the conversation.
"Yeah. Anyway…" Tony pointed to the conference room doors. "There are about fifty reporters behind that door. Real ones, not bloggers." He tapped his watch twice and the wall in front of them slid open. "When you're ready, why don't you try that on?" Tony pointed towards a newly designed Spider-Man suit with red and black colouring giving it a real sophisticated look that had emerged from the wall. "And I'll introduce the world to the newest official member of the Avengers: Spider-Man."
Peter stumbled over his next words, unable to complete his sentence. "Can… can…?"
"Yeah, give that a look…" Tony eyed Peter as the boy stared stunned at the new suit that could be his. "After the press conference, Happy will show you to your room… your new quarters. Where's he between? He's next to the Vision?" Tony wasn't sure where Peter had been allocated a room.
"Yeah, Vision's not big on doors," confirmed Happy.
"It's fun," bopped Tony on his feet.
"Or walls," added Happy as an afterthought.
"You'll fit right in," smiled Tony. He was waiting for Peter's response but could already tell the boy wasn't as keen to be an Avenger anymore. As the kid turned to face him, the sombre but grateful expression on his face was enough proof to Tony to know he had been right.
"Thank you, Mr Stark, but I'm good."
"You're good? Good…? How are you good?" Tony feigned surprise.
"Well," explained Peter. "I mean, I'd rather just stay on the ground for a little while. Friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man." Peter shrugged trying to articulate what he wanted to say. "Somebody's got to look out for the little guy, right?"
Tony took off his glasses. He wasn't surprised. "You're turning me down? You better think about this." He had to give the kid one last chance before taking it as his final word on the subject. "Look at that. Look at me. Last chance. Yes or no?
Peter looked at the suit and then looked at Tony. "No."
"Okay." Tony was happy with the outcome. "It's kind of a springsteen-y working-class hero vibe that I dig. Happy will take you home. Yeah?" Tony needed to confirm it with Happy first.
"Yeah." Happy stepped forward, pointing his thumb over his shoulder as he addressed Peter. "Mind waiting in the car? I need a minute."
Peter held out his hand for Tony to shake. "Thank you, Mr Stark."
"Yes, Mr Parker, very well."
Peter turned and began to walk away before stopping and turning back to face Tony as he put the suit back into its hidden compartment. "That was a test, right? There's nobody back there?"
Oh, if only you knew. "Yes, you passed." It was easier to lie. "All right, skedaddle there young buck." He didn't want Pepper seeing the kid.
"Thank you, Mr Stark." Peter turned away again.
"Yeah, thank you!" Tony shouted after him, balancing precariously on the sides of his feet.
Happy walked in front of him, smiled. "Told you he's a good kid."
Tony waved his hands in front of his face, slightly smiling back. He had made a good choice in recruiting Peter after all. But as he bought his hands down to his sides, the press conference doors opened and he could hear the unmistakeable sound of reporters inside calling for Pepper as she walked out to them.
"Where's the kid?" asked Pepper horrified at not seeing him there with them.
"He left," admitted Happy.
Tony pulled a face, one that Pepper couldn't see.
"Everybody's waiting," vented Pepper.
Tony turned to face her, putting on his best gambler face. "You know what? He actually made a really mature choice." He indicated between himself and Happy. "It just surprised the heck out of us."
Pepper looked at Tony. "Did you screw this up?"
Tony immediately shifted the blame to Happy. "He told the kid to go wait in the car."
Pepper pounced on Happy, walking forward, looking annoyed. She had just spent the last few days arranging this press conference. "Are you kidding me? I have a room full of people in there waiting for some big announcement! What will I tell them?" She turned to Tony at the end.
"Think of something," shrugged Tony. "How about…erm…?" He pretended to think about it before turning to question Happy. "Hap, you still got that ring?"
Happy tried to look flustered. All in the plan Tony had concocted. "Do I….? I…" Happy made a show of looking through his pockets, trying to find it, though Tony knew it was there since Happy had shown him earlier before he had left the Compound to pick up Peter.
"The engagement ring?" prompted Tony. He was very well aware of Pepper's close proximity.
"Are you kidding?" Happy reached into his right pocket deeply and then drew out the red and gold ring Tony had specifically designed for Pepper. "I've been carrying this since 2008."
What the fuck.
Tony stood stunned and surprised by Happy's announcement. That hadn't been in the plan. "Okay," he finally managed. He hadn't seen Pepper's expression. Wasn't sure if he really wanted to but she was the first to speak properly after Happy's impromptu announcement.
"I think I can think of something better than that." Pepper's face and voice was soft as she looked at Tony.
"Well, it will buy us a little time," swallowed Tony.
She moved into kiss him tenderly on the lips, could feel her smiling against his.
"Like we need time," he muttered.
She drew away from him and he could see a bright smile across her features and her eyes shining with surprise and delight. She was happy. "I can't believe you have that in your pocket." She reached the door to the conference room.
"Want me to get the door for you, hon?" Tony took a few strides forward and grabbed the door as Pepper walked through.
"I got it," he heard her say.
Glancing back at Happy, he caught the ring as it was thrown at him, quickly tucking it into his pocket as he walked into the conference room.
Here we go…
As Pepper walked through the doors the shouting began again though this time including Tony's name.
"Mr Stark!"
"Miss Potts!"
"Pepper!"
"Tony!"
"What is the big announcement?"
Pepper had arranged the press conference for a big announcement. The press were expecting something big. She was thinking quickly though a part of her couldn't contain her excitement at the thought that Tony wanted to propose to her. She had known he wanted to marry her but for him to have a ring ready… She had to wipe the grin across her face, tried to ignore the happiness floating in her stomach.
A part of her wanted to grab Tony, kiss him deeply and do other unquestionable things with him. But she had to stay professional. But she wasn't sure she could think of something else to announce instead of Spider-Man joining the Avengers. Since he wasn't…
She moved to the podium, placing both hands upon it and looked out at the crowd. The thought briefly crossed her mind that Tony had always known Spider-Man wouldn't join the Avengers, would turn them down and he had really asked for the press conference to be arranged so he could propose to Pepper. It was a very Tony thing to do.
"Thank you all for coming today. I know the call was short notice and I hope we can reward you with an announcement that is unexpected by you all." Pepper turned to look at Tony. "I would like to invite Mr Tony Stark to the stand. Even I do not know what he intends to say."
Tony stepped forward, looking a bit nervous. As they passed one another, Tony whispered to her: "I thought you could think of something better than this?"
She smirked. "You planned this, Mr Stark… But we're not having our wedding in public…"
Then Tony was at the podium and Pepper was to the side of him. She watched him as his right hand fiddled with something in his pocket and he suddenly looked like a nervous school boy.
"I'm not here to discuss anything momentous for either the Avengers or Stark Industries," he began. "But rather I'd like to talk to you all about someone special who has made my life so much better ever since they walked in to it."
"I've been in the media eye ever since I was born. Grown up in it and you have all charted my life, watching me become a child prodigy to making various mistakes in my adolescence, from a playboy to a superhero…" Tony was trying to keep himself calm as he spoke.
Pepper watched, her heart beating fast in her chest. She knew what was coming.
"But there have only been three people who have ever stood by me. The first was Rhodey, the second was Happy Hogan and the third is Pepper Potts. Pepper became a part of my life by accident. Not many know the story of how she became my personal assistant. It wasn't the usual route – and no, she didn't sleep with me either. Pepper was already employed by Stark Industries in finance when she came across a miscalculation I had made. She spoke to her boss at the time who dismissed it, claiming I do not make mistakes. Pepper refused to believe she was the one who had made the mistake as her boss implied. She made her way to my office, determined to prove she was correct. She didn't have an appointment and Happy stopped her, however not to be deterred, she brought out pepper spray and used it against security. Overhearing the commotion, I was curious and went to see what was going on. I was very surprised to see a red-haired woman with pepper-spray in hand, threatening to use it again if she didn't get to show me the miscalculation I had made."
Pepper could well remember that day. She had thought she would be fired.
"I had a look at the accounts and I had made a mistake. I immediately knew Pepper was special. She had put her job on the line just to ensure the company didn't lose millions of dollars. It also showed me the company thought I was infallible, that I was incapable of making mistakes. They were wrong to assume so. Pepper was the only one to question me. Her boss was upset she had gone against orders. Word came to me he was about to fire her for misconduct. I stepped in and offered her the position of personal assistant which she accepted. Up until that day Pepper had always gone by her real name of Virginia. Afterwards she became known as Pepper Potts because you should never mess with a Virginia with a pepper-spray. Plus Pepper suited her better."
Tony looked back at her.
"But the point I am trying to make," he continued, "is that Pepper has been there for me for many years. I had a reputation, one which she ignored. I admired her for rebuffing my advances. I quickly learned she was not to be messed with and I grew to respect her. She became a friend and someone I could trust. I do not let just anyone into my life, they have to earn it and Pepper did. For ten years she managed my life, despite my best efforts to hinder her…" Tony bowed his head. "Then… Afghanistan happened."
Pepper was surprised Tony was mentioning this. He had never really mentioned what had happened to him in public before.
"I came back from there a changed person. All of you know what happened next, what I became because of my experiences. Pepper stood by me but I saw her differently. In Afghanistan… the thought of Pepper kept me strong. I wanted to see her again. I knew in Afghanistan that I loved her. I had never loved anyone before but I didn't know if she loved me."
Tony was rambling but Pepper could admire him for being so open. She wondered if the press had caught on yet what he was about to do.
"I made Pepper C.E.O because she had been running the company for me for years. She knew the job in and out and she knew what the best decisions for the company would be and Stark Industries has continued to skyrocket under her tenure. The aftermath of the Expo fiasco was when Pepper and I started to date. I loved her and I knew she loved me. I don't even know why I am going into so much detail…" Tony's mouth was running away from him.
"Pepper has been there for me through thick and thin. We've had our rough spots. But I love her and I always will. Everything I do is to protect her, to keep her safe. But she is more than just someone to protect: she is someone to love and cherish."
Tony was now facing her and Pepper could sense the moment was coming. It seemed every breath was being held in the room.
"She is my rock, my confidant, my love… Without her I wouldn't be who I am today," said Tony. And his hand inched towards his right pocket and then he was down on one knee.
Gasps came from the reporters as they saw the ring in his hand, as he held it between Pepper and himself.
"Pepper… will you marry me?"
She stood there, silent, looking at Tony's face, aware that ever reporter in the room was waiting for her answer. She could see Tony's eyes as he watched her, waiting for her answer. It seemed like forever before she answered but in reality it was only a few seconds. The moment itself seemed to stretch on forever.
And she smiled. "Yes. Yes."
Tony was smiling.
Cheers were erupting from the crowd of reporters as the cameras started to go off in their faces as Tony rose from his kneeling position and rushed towards Pepper. Their lips locked in a passionate embrace as they held one another before Tony slipped the red and gold ring onto her finger.
And as one they turned to face the press; Pepper holding her hand up so they could see the ring and Tony smiling broadly.
"We'll face everything together, right?" asked Tony, low enough for the press not to hear.
"Yes," answered Pepper. "Together."
And they would, through thick and thin. Though their break had torn them apart, it had ultimately brought them back together, stronger than ever before.
Together they could face anything.
THE END
I always wanted the story to end here. I think Tony did propose to Pepper at the press conference and I hope Infinity War confirms this... Personally, I think Tony knew Peter wouldn't accept his invitation to join the Avengers and set up a press conference just so he could propose to Pepper. Proposing in public is a very Tony thing to do I think which is why I opted for it to happen.
Hopefully I've fixed their relationship enough that Tony proposing to Pepper isn't so out of the blue like it was in Homecoming...
Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story! It has been one heck of a ride!
In the meantime, I will be solely concentrating on upon my AU I am currently posting. Please check it out!
the-writer1988
