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Confessions

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He just watched her for a while. The curtain was pulled just right so that Tony could settle in the doorway, but he had always been taught not to lean as a child. She hadn't noticed him yet, at least from everything her posture gave away.

Pepper Potts sat in the stiff bed that had been propped up to a full sit, a book in her hand and tableside light turned on just enough to light the pages. She seemed fascinated with it, and he, likewise, simply watched her. It had been too close.

"It's okay to come in."

The sound of her voice took him by surprise, but Tony resisted the reflex to jump. Instead he took a step forward and tossed a noticeable glance to the sleeping bodyguard in the chair across the room.

"I'm going to have to have a few words with Happy tomorrow. He was supposed to call me."

Pepper closed the book, hoping the letter inside had gone unnoticed. Tony looked tired, and the last thing she wanted was another thing for him to worry about. She followed his eyes to Happy, giving a small smile, "He would have, stubborn man. But it was late and I was pretty insistent against it."

Hogan had struggled against sleep at first, but the quiet room, the dark lighting…eventually Pepper had heard the quiet snore that escaped.

"So he decided to sleep on the job?" Tony asked, keeping the tone low as he stepped closer to the bed.

"He was already exhausted," Pepper replied. "And refused to leave until he heard from you."

The reactor was hidden beneath the dark material of his shirt, long sleeved, and just loose enough. He looked…spruced. She glanced back up and met his gaze. What was it Happy had said? Tony had some things to take care of?

"And, knowing you, I'm sure you were off doing something extraordinarily heroic."

He didn't smile at that, taking her hand between his fingers. The man always had a way of mixing her emotions.

Tony never looked away, giving the sort of private smile she had only caught on a rare occasion, "I was afraid."

The confession was simple and piercing in the quiet room.

"So was I," Pepper admitted, but her fears were long from over. "They are going to keep coming after you."

"I never thought they would turn onto you," he apologized.

The very idea of his naivety seemed ridiculous, "You mean like Obadiah?"

Tony sat on the edge of the bed, correcting her with a tilt of the chin, "That was personal."

"It's always personal, just sometimes we don't always realize why."

Pepper hadn't noticed her fingers tighten around his.

"I'm not going to feel sorry for building that suit."

"I'm not trying to make you feel sorry," she raised a hand to his face. The skin was smooth and her palm just brushed the neatly trimmed hair on his chin. "But we both can't go into this blindly, and you have a habit of act first, think later."

"You're right," he agreed after a pause. Only then did Pepper realize how close he had leaned in. "Can't really argue with that."

Professional…

Or how brown his eyes were, but she couldn't look away. Tony closed the distance, lips pressing to her own in a way she had dreamed of many-a-night. Pepper could feel the round imprint press against her own chest, his hand in her hair, warm lips caressing…

It was over too quickly. Tony released the pressure first, forehead still pressed to Pepper with a sigh of relief and a chuckle, "You taste…" He breathed, and she felt his hand work into her hair more. "Like Pepper."

Her eyes opened wide and Pepper leaned away from him as much as she was able. He took the hint, backing away just enough for her to release a hand and let it cover her mouth.

"I can't believe you…" she hissed, suddenly very aware who she had just kissed. Also, of the sleeping man on the other side of the room. "you…"

Pepper looked back to Tony, but he only looked contentedly stunned, "Oh god, and I'm disgusting right now. I've been in the hospital all day, and I haven't even brushed my teeth."

Then he chuckled, and her eyes were still in panic, darting between Happy and the man who was practically sitting in her lap.

"This is not funny!"

"You're right," Tony stopped laughing, trying to give a more serious expression. There was no doubt he was pleased with himself. "Very not funny."

"What were you thinking?!" Pepper asked with narrowed eyes that had just begun to water.

He saw, and squeezed her hand gently enough for her to notice he still held one. Again, she found she couldn't look away, not yet when he began to plead with a single look.

"How I've wanted to do that for a very long time," Tony answered every bit serious. "And I almost lost the chance forever."

Professional had flown out the door.

"We can't…" As if the action would help, Pepper shook her head, trying to look down, but he would have none of it. Another hand held her chin up until she couldn't ignore him.

"Why?"

"You really don't understand, do you?"

"Explain it to me."

She clung to the hope of something to divert the conversation, be interrupted, anything. But Hogan was silent and there was something about a dim lit room that made even the worst sins feel the need for a confession. With a sigh, she let the feelings spew.

"You have no idea what it's like," Pepper started. "I've spent so long, trying to convince everyone else, trying to convince myself, that you hired me because I was the best, not because I was a pretty face. And if we, if anything…"

He resisted a laugh at her panicked explanation, but the smile was wide enough to give away his feeling on the matter.

Pepper was the epitome of confusion, "What are you smiling about?"

"Is that it?"

"Is that it?" she repeated, leaning back as far as she was able. "There's everything that comes with that…"

"I didn't hire you," he clarified before she could continue.

"I don't understand, but I was there, and the interview, and…"

"Who told you?" Tony interrupted.

She hadn't thought it mattered at the time. Pepper stuttered, "I don't…"

"Obi told you, didn't he? That you were accepted."

It was an excuse. Of course Tony never technically hired her. How often did she bring him the papers for approval? He was a name on a paper; an image of a company. Only recently had that stopped being enough for the man.

"Well, it doesn't change what people have said…" The whispers behind her back were hard enough to deal with, "…will say…"

He cut her off with another kiss, and she knew she should have expected it this time. Tony refused to let it go, but for once she was happy for that little inconvenience. This time, it all disappeared until there was only them. And if a moment was all she was going to have, she wanted it to linger as long as possible.

Tony was the first to pull away again, the smile more genuine than she had seen in a long time. "I'm Tony Stark," he remarked casually. "People are always going to talk. Can't I give them a reason, at least?"

"You always do this," Pepper whispered back. "I can't decide if this is a wonderful moment, or a horrible moment."

"Can I pick the former?" he teased.

"Tony…"

He sat back on the bed and like that, Pepper knew the moment was over. "I just want to be clear on one thing from now on, Ms. Potts."

"And what is that, Mr. Stark?" she answered, with a soft smile and teasing formality to match his own. She was tired, Pepper told herself. That was why she had caved so easily. Everything would be more clear in the morning.

"You're not allowed to leave me like you almost let happen here."

Her expression was nothing short of incredulous, "Like I…?"

"No," Tony shook his head, shushing her protest. "I won't have any arguing about it. We've already clarified that I am entirely helpless without you."

"I wouldn't call it helpless," Pepper corrected.

"I would," he admitted with earnestness. "It was a complete wreck today. And that was only one day."

"Part of a day."

"Even worse."

Pepper shook her head just slightly enough to make the point. It was ridiculous: the idea of her and him. Him…being in the room with her, the feel of his lips, of his hand, the look in his eyes when hers met them. "What are you doing, Tony Stark?"

"Waking up," he replied without pause.

Pepper knew better, "You look exhausted."

"Doesn't mean I'm leaving."

She was still awkwardly aware of the other man, "What about Harold?"

"He's still here?" Tony turned to the sleeping figure. "I guess I should send him home."

Tony didn't waste any time, getting down and circling the bed. On the way he rehearsed a slew of ideas for waking Hogan, but he did feel bad for the man and instead decided to take the standard route. Tony shuffled his arm, and a recite or two of his name finally got Hogan's attention.

"Eh?" The chauffeur responded groggy. Surprised at the new occupant in the room, he was on his feet in an instant. "Mr. Stark! I was going to…"

"I know. Don't worry about it," Tony replied calmly with a nod and motion to the door. "Time to go home, get some rest. Don't worry about the car today, I've got it handled."

Still, Hogan didn't move, looking from his boss to the patient. Pepper could tell the driver was having difficulty figuring out if that was a blessing or punishment. She decided to clear the confusion.

"What he's trying to say, Harold, is thank you."

"More or less," Tony agreed.

There weren't many options to follow the dismissal from the room. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Sir," Hogan gave a nod to Tony first, followed by Pepper. "Ms. Potts."

"Good night, Happy," she smiled and he gave one more nod before stepping past the curtain and heading down the hall.

Tony went to the newly unoccupied chair and pulled it closer to the bed.

Pepper just watched, "What are you doing?"

"You've been asking that a lot tonight, Potts," Tony responded with the familiar endearment. "But to answer your question, I'm sitting down."

With that, he did take a seat, settling comfortably with his elbows on the arm, hands folded and leg crossed. It didn't occur to Pepper that he wouldn't just…leave eventually.

"You should go home too. Get some sleep," she suggested.

"I can sleep later," he had no intentions of leaving, giving her his full attention. "What I'm interested in is what you were reading. Is it any good?"

It took Pepper a minute to realize what he was asking, and then remembered the book…and the letter.

"Oh," she looked down at the closed hardcover. "I don't really know yet."

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A.N.- I suppose I let you all go without any Tony/Pepper for a while, huh? I hope this made up for a bit and set things back on track!

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