Just a single chapter this week, because I haven't completed the rest of this mini-arc.
Tony shoved his hands into his pockets as he watched Pepper and Demarcos talk.
She's an engaged woman, for god's sake! Stop flirting with her!
He clenched his jaw hard as Demarcos once again, picked up Pepper's hand and squeezed it tightly, like a lover would.
And stop touching my girl! You do not need to touch her to talk to her!
His rage was buzzing in his head so loudly, that he could hardly hear what they were saying, even though they were right next to him.
Do you have to sit so close to Pepper?! Come on, buddy! I'll bet if Tony Stark was here, you wouldn't be so friendly!
Then a devilish voice whispered in his head, "Ah but Tony Stark is here, isn't he?"
Tony shook his head slightly. Yes BUT I am is in disguise.
Why do you need to stay in disguise? You have been hiding in the background long enough... because of this, other men have decided to try and get with your girl... and by the looks of it, their attempts aren't unwelcome...
He looked at Demarcos, his nostrils flaring as he observed the handsome lothario leaning towards Pepper, too close for his liking, their knees touching, him still holding her hand.
Come off it, Pepper wouldn't...
Oh she wouldn't but you can't blame a girl for being tempted, can you, Stark? hissed the voice silkily. Thanks to her companions, Pepper hasn't needed you, the entire day. Does that feel good?
He swallowed hard and looked away from them.
You can turn away but you can't deny it. First Chad, handsome, debonair and smart, then Officer Handsome, a young Tom Cruise in Pepper's own words, talking to her for so long, a military man... the kind of man that takes care of his woman... who wouldn't leave her to go fight aliens in space... and come back a loser.
I am not a loser...
But you aren't a winner either, Stark. And ultimately, your girl had to come save your sorry ass. Because no one else would. Don't you think she must be tired of always having to save you and then fix you up? Again and again.
He looked at Pepper, who was patiently listening to Demarcos.
Pepper loves me.
She does. She really does. whispered the voice.
But don't you think an amazing woman like that, would want someone normal? Someone in their prime. Without a hole in their chest, scratched and scarred all over. Someone who didn't stay up all night with nightmares... and who had friends... real friends, not super-soldiers and spies. Someone who would be there for date nights and promised dinners.
At that, his heart thumped painfully as he remembered all the times he had stood Pepper up for urgent missions.
Look at Demarcos talking to her, complimenting her... a man of the world, smart and rich and handsome... everything you say you are... except that isn't true anymore, is it, Stark? You are just a tired old man rattling in a tin can, getting beaten up by aliens and watching the ones you swore to protect, die in front of you. Ask yourself, do you think someone like you, deserves a girl like Pepper?
Tony didn't know how to answer that and truth be told, didn't want to. He blinked hard to clear his head and then realized that both Pepper and Demarcos had stopped talking and were looking at him.
"What? I didn't say anything."
Pepper looked at him with concern in her blue eyes. She asked softly, "You have been pacing restlessly for the last five minutes and then stopped abruptly. Is something the matter?"
"Erm... welll... I... eh..."
"Hey, buddy." Demarcos said with a smile. "You look like you need to take a walk. Get me something to drink, will ya?"
Tony narrowed his eyes threateningly at him but he just grinned inanely and held out a dollar.
Pepper said to him gently, "Matteo, I-"
She was interrupted by the loud beat of "Talk Dirty To Me" suddenly playing from somewhere on Demarcos' person.
"Escusa, my phone. One moment." He picked up his phone and stood up.
The corners of Tony's mouth twitched as the Dellon CEO turned away from them, talking softly in a foreign tongue. Then he started talking louder and waved his hands about wildly.
An Adoite Center employee came on the stage and pointed politely towards the awning, so Demarcos stalked off the stage, still talking loudly.
Tony's grin widened on his face.
Park! You brilliant son of a bitch! I could kiss you!
Then he felt his hand being squeezed softly and turned to look into Pepper's brilliantly deep blue eyes, her face so close to him.
"Tony, honey, where the hell have you been all this while?" She whispered, her lips grazing his ear as she kept one eye on the attendant, who was walking around the stage, arranging chairs.
"I was around... here and there..."
Spying on you with Friday's help...
Pepper leaned on him slightly, sighing and he smiled with pleasure.
"I am so sorry, Tony, I couldn't spend any time with you today, thanks to all these..." She shook her head and gestured at Demarcos in the distance.
"Distractions?" He completed mischievously and then yelped as she pinched his arm lightly. Just then, some more people joined them on stage and Pepper wound her fingers in his.
"I am holding on to you, Stark. I am not letting you out of my sight this time." She whispered with a smile in her voice and he chuckled.
The staff member came towards them, carrying another table followed by another attendant, carrying two chairs. They set the table down, right next to theirs, followed by the chairs down. A placard was placed on the table, reading "Dellon Technologies".
Pepper sighed tiredly. "Of course, Matteo will sit right next to us."
Tony grinned to himself secretly.
Don't worry, Pep. If my plan has worked, which I am sure it has, we will finally be free of that flirtatious pest.
Out loud, he said, "Pepper, let's sit down. People are filing in."
They sat down and he turned inwards to adjust his fake beard surreptitiously.
Pepper gently swatted his hand on his face. "It looks fine, Tony, don't worry."
"It gets a bit itchy from time to time." He grumbled, scratching his jaw. "But I think it is very effective. No one has even the faintest idea of who I am."
"The long beard may disguise your face but it can't hide your beautiful brown eyes."
Tony thought hard for a moment. "But Pep, I don't think my eyes are that distinctive."
Pepper huffed and whispered, "Of course they are but you just cover them up all the time with those fancy sunglasses of yours. That's why no one can completely place you in this disguise. I bet if you wore sunglasses, the beard wouldn't work at all."
She had a playful half smile on her face and he smirked at her.
"Rocking the shades... that's the Tony Stark look, baby... the look that everyone loves..."
Pepper snorted. "Yes, Mr. Stark. Believe me, I am well aware of your look."
He looked around quickly and saw there was no one nearby. Tony tapped her nose.
"But. I know, Potts, with great certainty, that you prefer my... other signature look."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Are you talking about your Iron Man suit? Yes! I am mesmerized by the sight of you in your titanium alloy, hot-rod red suit. Sure!"
Tony laughed. "That ain't it. I am talking about my evening wear look, Potts. You know... black tie, Armani suit, dress shoes..."
For a moment, Pepper looked at him thoughtfully and then leaned closer, placing her hand on his arm.
She moistened her lips and whispered sultrily, "Truth be told, my favorite Stark look is something quite different. The look I love is you in Workshop mode... with your tight, sweaty undershirt and faded jeans... the look you get when you are busy tinkering away at your suit or your cars, your hair all disheveled and your hands stained with grease."
Tony stared at her, dumbfounded. "That's the look you love? Seriously?! But you are such a neat freak, I thought..."
"It is true that I am a fanatic for cleanliness but..." she purred softly, "when I see you all hot and sweaty, I just have the dirtiest thoughts, Stark... I just want to rip that greasy shirt off and have my wicked way with you, right there in the garage."
Tony swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very warm.
"Wow... erm... Pepper... I..."
Her blue eyes twinkled at him and he was thinking of an equally teasingly filthy retort when they heard a loud exclamation of "Merda!"
Pepper lifted her head and they turned towards the edge of the stage just as Demarcos came bounding up its stairs.
She squeezed his arm and whispered, "I know he's an ass but please bear with him for a little while longer, Tony."
He controlled his smirk. "Oh, don't worry, Pep... I will be the perfect gentleman."
Demarcos came towards them, looking extremely flustered.
"Virginia!" he exclaimed, reaching out for Pepper's hands and lightly pulling her to her feet.
"I came to say goodbye, my darling. I must leave urgently. The most horrible thing has happened!"
"Matteo, what is it?"
He shook his head in agitation and looked around wildly.
"I tell you quickly. I told you about my boat, si? The Bellisimo. Well, I just got a call from the Captain. Some US department of the environment and protecting it... protect the environment, oh! What is its name?"
"The EPA?"
"Yes! That's the name! The EPA! They have quarantined my bella yacht and have boarded it forcibly and are tearing my precious apart!" Then Demarcos started exclaiming loudly in a foreign tongue, waving his arms around.
"But Matteo," Pepper asked curiously, "Why?"
He huffed and whispered loudly, "Apparently they received an anonymous tip, that the Bellisimo has been leaking sewage into the Laguna bay! Toxic sewage! And it has been doing so, all the way from the Mediterranean! So it has left a trail of contamination in its wake! But! This is! I mean, it is ludicrous to even suggest to the extreme! And the agency! They aren't listening to my crew, they won't talk to my lawyer, they just want me there, right now! Else they are going to have me arrested! Me! This is an outrage! I am a respected man of industry! I should not be treated like this!"
Pepper gasped in shock. Just then Park came hesitantly towards them.
"Mr. Demarcos, sir, your car is outside waiting for you. Your driver asked me to call you."
"What!" He barked and the young man jumped. "So soon! I told him I need an hour! How dare he! I won't go!"
Park wrung his hands nervously, so Pepper said gently, "Matteo, it is going to be alright. You are innocent, you have nothing to fear. If you want my advice, go meet the EPA. Don't antagonize them, it will make things worse. Talk to them personally and see how this can be settled."
"Oh but that means I am going to have to drop out of this panel! How embarrassing!"
Tony cleared his throat and said smoothly, "Mr. Demarcos, I am sure Park here, can take your place at the panel. This will ensure that Dellon Tech is represented."
Demarcos stared at him blankly until Park said, "He means me, sir. I can speak for the company."
"Yeah... sure whatever."
Park's face lit up with joy and he grinned happily at Tony.
"Thank you, Mr. Demarcos. Ill get Melvin to be my partner!"
He scurried off happily while Demarcos took Pepper's hand and raised it to his lips.
He said theatrically, "Sweet lovely Virginia. I am so sorry we have to part so soon. I wanted to spend more time with you. But I fear I must leave to clear my name and save my divine yacht."
Tony suppressed his growling as the CEO kissed the back of Pepper's hand, lingering on her fingers. Pepper giggled and he let her hand go.
"I have your number. But here's my card. Do think of me, bella Virginia and call me."
Demarcos handed her his card and stood there, sighing softly as he gazed lovingly into her eyes.
"I am so reluctant to leave you... perhaps if I sort this thing out quickly with the EPA... I can return from Laguna Beach, in time for this conference to finish and have dinner with you... since Mr. Stark is not around, I do not want you to be alone."
But Tony's patience had worn thin and he smoothly stepped between the pair, taking Pepper's hand.
He said easily, "Don't you worry, Demarcos. I will take care of Miss Potts. And keep her company, especially since Mr. Stark is not around."
There was a spark of irritation in the Dellon CEO's eyes as he noticed Tony possessively tucking her hand in his arm. He opened his mouth to speak but Tony spoke quickly, "You run along now. Best not to keep the Government waiting."
Demarcos scowled at him, gave Pepper one last doe-eyed loving look and turned.
Tony watched him exit the hall with a sense of satisfaction. Then he heard a muffled giggle and looked at Pepper. She was shaking silently, her eyes dancing with laughter and her hand covering her mouth.
"What's so funny, Potts?"
"You, Tony, simply you."
"Now what do you mean?"
Pepper patted his arm gently. "Nothing. Come, lets take our seats. The discussion is about to start."
Tony's dark voice was inspired by Venom. Yes, I watched the movie and yes, I liked it :P
And I have written a smutty one-shot based on Pepper's favorite look of Tony's, called "The Mechanic".