Helllooooo! LOL!
Oh my gosh, I've missed writing and talking to you guys! While my time away was terrific, I always am happy to be able to get back in front of my fics. What can I say? Writing is my lifeblood. Without it, I feel like I'm going to wither away.
Here's another kinda long chapter to kick things back up again! It's more Tony and Pepper back-and-forth, of both kinds- The goofy banter, but also the complicated "what is this, and what are we doing with it?" will they/won't they stuff, too! Enjoy! Plenty more to come! Thanks in advance for reading and reviewing! :D
"You could have got the double chocolate cheesecake, too,Pep. There was plenty to go around," Tony assured her as he took another giant lick off the side of his cone. He and Pepper had left the ice cream shop and found a bench to sit on on the boardwalk, facing the ocean.
Pepper scoffed. "And give you satisfaction? Please," she replied, licking her own ice cream cone. "Plus, the butter pecan is delicious, I'll have you know, so the joke's on you," she said smugly.
Tony smiled at her and chuckled. And Pepper couldn't help but smile back. Tony offered her some of his. "Here. Have a lick," he said, offering.
Pepper gave him a cautious look, and then slowly made a swipe with her tongue, from the top of the cone to the top of the scoop. She didn't want to make it look overtly sexual, but none-the-less, Tony's eyes followed the tip of her tongue the whole way, and he found he was practically drooling by the time she was finished. And it didn't help that she moaned with approval directly after. "Oh, that is good," she purred.
Tony brought himself out of his daze and grinned. "Well, that was..." he stammered, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Well worth the whole ordeal right there," he finished.
Pepper giggled. "What was? I was just doing what you insisted I do," she defended, innocently licking her own cone now.
"Yep. Sure," he said patronizingly, and patting her shoulder. "You were just following orders. Like a good little assistant," he teased, still a bit dazed by her actions. Pepper giggled again, smiling knowingly.
"Here," she said after a moment, pointing her cone in his direction. "Your turn. Just to make it fair," she explained.
Tony stopped licking his ice cream, and gave her a curious look. Then, he slowly bent over and licked her cone, working the ice cream in his mouth for a moment before making his judgement. "Hey, that is delicious!" he cooed with delight. "Okay, Potts. We're trading. Here," he said, handing her his while taking hers out of her hand.
"Tony?! Are you actually going to commandeer my ice cream cone?" Pepper said in shock, and giggling.
"Yep. Like I said, we're trading. This one's better, and I want it," he said plainly, taking a giant bite out of the side of Pepper's cone, and trying not to grin.
Pepper looked at his cone he'd handed her and back to hers and scoffed. "Tony?!" she said again, in protest.
"Better get to it, Pep. Or it's gonna melt," he warned.
Pepper pursed her lips, slowly surrendering and licking the chocolate ice cream from around the rim of the cone. But, despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but moan with approval again. "Okay, fine," she said, with fake exasperation. "We'll trade. But just this once!" she warned back.
Tony grinned and chuckled. He winked at her, and then sat against the back of the bench, stretching his legs out in front of him, and folding his arms, munching the rest of Pepper's butter pecan ice cream cone quite contentedly. She just watched him out of the corner of her eye for a moment as she worked to finish his, smiling to herself, before shifting her gaze out to the water, and secretly hoping the moment would never end.
They felt so comfortable together, even in the silent moments. The only time it was awkward was when the sexual tension between them suddenly got ratcheted back up, and they became self-conscious with each other. But to any outsider looking in on this moment, they appeared as comfortable and relaxed as any long-time married couple in the world, and could be easily mistaken as such.
Soon, they finish their ice cream, and cleaned themselves up. Tony then looked at his watch, and stood up off the bench. "Well," he said, chucking a wadded up napkin in the trash can next to him. "I'm afraid it's about that time, Potts," he said, offering her his hand. She took it and rose up next to him, sighing.
Tony frowned. "What's the matter?" he asked.
Pepper just smiled at him forlornly. "It's been a lovely day," she said. "I almost wish we didn't have to go."
Tony gave her an understanding nod. "I know," he said in agreement. He offered her his arm and she took it. They began to make their way back down the boardwalk toward the parking area, this time the both of them quiet and lost in thought again, as they'd been before they'd stopped for ice cream.
When they reached the car, Tony opened the door for her, and she gave him a gentle nod in acknowledgement of the gesture before climbing into the passenger's seat. He closed it behind her, and took a deep breath before making his way reluctantly to the driver's side. The distraction had been fun, but it was just a distraction. And, as they always did, it had to come to an end, and they had to go back to the mansion and await their new vehicles to be delivered. And then Pepper would drive off for home, and he'd be left alone to think about how great it had been to spend the day with her. And then he'd start feeling lonely. And then he'd start getting depressed. And then, it would be time for another dose of distraction. Like an addict,he thought. The women, the booze, the parties, spending his billions on complete frivolity, even working in the shop until all hours of the night- he'd do anything to keep his mind off the pain of having to spend time in his own skin. God, am I THAT dependent? Do I honestly have to be occupied with something every minute of every day just to feel NORMAL?, he thought.
He'd started the car, and pulled out of the parking lot without a word, Pepper noticing the pensive frown on his face. "Penny for your thoughts?" she asked softly, with concern.
Tony flicked his eyes to her, and then smiled sheepishly. "What? Oh, just...it's nothing, Pep," he assured. He straightened up in his seat, and smirked. "You know you're pretty good company to have around on an office supply excursion," he quipped.
Pepper chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment, I guess? Though I'd hardly call two new luxury vehicles paid for in cash office supplies," she teased.
Tony shrugged. "Meh. All necessary for the job," he argued.
"Well, mine is arguable. Yours, on the other hand," she teased.
They chuckled, but soon fell back into thoughtful silence, which lasted until Tony pulled the Tesla into the shop at the mansion. He, of course, assisted Pepper out of the passenger's seat, and she thanked him softly. She noticed Tony's mood brighten, though, as they made their way to the stairs. He had a giddiness in his step, and jogged up the stairs jauntily. As he reached the top step, with Pepper carrying her new laptop and phone right behind him, JARVIS announced that the transport truck from the Audi dealership was coming up the drive.
"Perfect!" Tony chirped, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Come home to Papa, beautiful," he bellowed.
Pepper chuckled. "Why do I get the feeling that not only cars, but women the world over have heard you utter that same line?" she joked, smirking, as she set her new gadgets down on the coffee table for the time being.
But Tony just chuckled at her, for the truck was now slowly pulling into the circular driveway to be able to unload Tony's, and then Pepper's, new ride, and he was much too preoccupied with it to retort with a witty comeback. Tony was practically vibrating with anticipation, wiggling and fidgeting like a little kid on Christmas morning, as they both watched from the front doorway. Pepper hid an amused smile behind her hand, and snickered.
The driver of the transport truck successfully pull the truck in to an acceptable spot, climbed out, and then got in the R8 to start it up so he could back it off the trailer. As soon as he punched the ignition button, and the massive rear-mounted V10 roared to life, Tony growled with delight. "Oh my God, have you ever heard anything more sexy in your life?!" he asked.
Pepper just rolled her eyes and smirked, shaking her head. Tony just grinned, and watched hungrily as the driver backed the roaring beast off the trailer and into the driveway. He cut the engine, and stepped out of the car to walk back over to the trailer so they could unload Pepper's car next. Tony grabbed Pepper's hand. "C'mon, Potts," he said, dragging her to the R8. "At least sit in this gorgeous creature with me, just for a minute," he begged.
Pepper tried to protest, but Tony was deaf to her objections, so she just followed, plunking down in the passenger's seat as she was told. She watched the driver back her car off the trailer, and Tony walk over to him to sign off on the delivery, then thanked him and bid him farewell with a large bill for a tip. "Wonder how much that one was," she mused to herself, as she saw the driver's face light up as he thanked Tony before climbing back in the truck and driving away.
She settled back in her seat as Tony opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat, closing the door behind him. He looked around eagerly. "My God, isn't she stunning," he asked rhetorically.
"Better be for a hundred grand," Pepper quipped under her breath, but she was sure Tony didn't hear her. The expression on his face was one of complete euphoria, and he pumped his eyebrows at her before jabbing the ignition button. Immediately the engine growled, and Tony gunned the accelerator a few times, the rumble of it in the back vibrating them both in their seats. Tony grunted and growled with excitement. "Tell me that's not the sexiest sound in the world," he pleaded.
But Pepper just smirked at him and said nothing. Tony kept his eyes trained on her, but jutted out his chin and gritted his teeth, snarling each time his foot pressed the gas peddle, the car responding with menacing, guttural growls each time. "Ohhhhyeeeeahhhh!" Tony exclaimed on the last one. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"
Pepper just rolled her eyes, and shook her head with a smirk. "Okay. Time for me to leave you and your new best friend alone together," she replied, popping open the handle on the door, and moving to climb out.
"Wait," Tony said, frowning at her for not continuing to indulge him. He cut the engine, and popped his door handle as well, climbing out to stop her. He raced around to her side, but Pepper was already out, and walking back to the house.
"Pep, wait," he tried again, following behind her helplessly as she walked inside the house and into the living room. "Okay, I get it. It's not your thing. But don't..." he stammered, as Pepper got her computer and her phone off the coffee table and swiveled back around to exit the way she came, seemingly like she was ignoring him. "Don't...don't just leave," he said desperately, as she walked back outside and made her way to her own new car. Tony had stopped in his tracks, with a look of confused frustration, and a twinge of hurt, on his face, getting ready for her to officially blow him off and drive away.
Pepper carefully put her new things in the passenger seat, and calmly walked back over to where he stood. He was a huffing and frowning, and clearly confused by what had just happened.
"Really?" he asked, with annoyance. "You knew I was excited about this car being delivered, but you're going to throw a wet blanket on everything, and storm outta here?! I mean, come on, Pep! Seriously?! I know cars aren't your thing. Okay? But would it be too much to ask for you to, just this one time..."
Pepper gingerly leaned in and planted a very chaste, but very sincere kiss on his cheek, and gave him a warm smile. Tony stopped jabbering and turned to look at her, instantly searching her eyes for its meaning, as she slowly stepped back and smiled pleasantly again.
"Today was wonderful, Tony," she said genuinely, folding her hands in front of her. "I enjoyed it very much."
"But?" he said, cocking an eyebrow and waiting anxiously for the rest of her statement.
Pepper just kept smiling. "There are no 'buts'. I'm not 'storming outta here', as you put it. I just realized I should probably leave you to your very shiny, and very expensive new toy, which you are clearly excited about, and get home to get myself organized for tomorrow. You know we still have the rest of the shipping mandates to get signed and submitted, and with today being a bust on that, it's double the stack for in the morning," she explained. "Duty calls, Mr. Stark," she said. "And that is the reason for all of this, isn't it?"
Tony just stayed silent, and then slowly nodded. "Yeah," he said softly, and giving her a polite, albeit embarrassed smile. "Yeah, it is," he agreed, relenting.
"So?" she said, smiling knowingly. "Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"
Tony relaxed a little more, and nodded again, smiling. "That'll be all, Ms. Potts," he replied. "As long as you promise we're still good. And today was a good time? For the both of us, I mean?" he asked hopefully.
Pepper smiled and nodded. "I promise," she said, holding up her hand to swear on it. "We're just fine, and the day was very enjoyable. I appreciate everything you've done for me. Your generosity is very much appreciated."
And back into our professional boxes we go, he thought sadly. "You're welcome, Ms. Potts," Tony said softly, and smiling, surrendering to her pushing him away again, as he had so many times before.
Pepper stepped back, and turned to go. She took a deep breath. "So? 9 am, tomorrow?" she asked expectantly.
Tony nodded, and Pepper then nodded in agreement. She gave him a small wave, and Tony waved back as she turned to get into her car. He watched wistfully as she got in, and pulled away from the house. He just stood there, stone still, his eyes trained on her tail lights until he couldn't see them anymore, before he even moved a muscle, which took the form of a deep, heavy sigh. You're a fool, he thought to himself. What made you think this day would end any other way?
It wasn't that he expected a hook up, or even a kiss after such a great day together (though the appreciative, yet chaste, kiss on the cheek was a nice touch). But he wanted them to at least end it all on a more casual note. The fact that Pepper quickly sought to throw back on her consummate professional mask immediately, and push them back into their respective corners so abruptly before she left only served to confuse him, and, truth be told, it made him feel a bit resentful for having to still think of her in a professional manner at all. As it had before, the ridiculous thought of firing her so he'd have an excuse to be able to date her without the prying eyes of the company executives monitoring them once again crossed his mind. Don't be an idiot, he told himself. Pepper takes pride in being self-sustaining, for one. And she loves her job. Take that away, and you might as well kiss her goodbye for good. Still, the familiar stab of their relationship's double edged sword felt no less painful in this instance than it had in the past. He knew that if he expected to be able to keep her in his life at all, he'd just have to do it in this capacity. And nothing more. We just aren't meant to be, he thought sadly. Wrong place, wrong time, wrong set of circumstances, Pal. Tough luck. She'll just have to be the one that got away.
Tony took another deep breath in acceptance of the resolution he'd reached, and turned around to focus on the issue of moving the Lamborghini, which was still parked in the driveway from the night before, back into the shop in a way that would allow the new kid in the crib, the R8, to have a home as well. "Well, isn't this a bother," Tony quipped to himself sarcastically, smirking.
