Pepper heard Tony yelp from downstairs in his workshop. It was nearly ten o'clock, what could he possibly be getting into now?

Pepper was sitting in the living room of Stark Mansion with papers scattered over her lap and her phone in hand. She usually left at ten o'clock, that is if she wasn't feeling up to drinks that Tony always insisted.

Do I want to go and see what's down there? Pepper wondered. It was actually a question she found herself asking a lot. Pepper remembered Tony's weird behavior ever since he got back from being imprisoned in the cave... she should definitely go check on him.

Pushing the papers away and setting her phone on the coffee table, Pepper stood up hesitantly, her legs numb from sitting for so long. She walked off the uncomfortable feeling, and pretty impressively in heels, and started towards the stairs leading down to the garage.

"Jarvis, no you're not doing it right."

"Sir, you're making it more difficult."

"Ow! Geez, I thought this would be easier."

Pepper heard as she got closer to the stairs. She immediately started down the stairs, her mind not even able to come up with a guess for what insane contraption Tony was messing with now. Nothing she ever could imagine would be able to prepare her for what she saw when she reached the bottom of the steps.

Tony was standing on an elevated round platform. There were mechanical arms reaching out towards him, prodding at what seemed like a metal... suit on Tony's body that obviously wasn't coming off easily. Pepper felt her mouth drop open. What the hell was he doing? Not only this, but scattered all over the suit that completely incased Tony except for his head, there were small holes penetrating halfway through the material.

Pepper was so distracted with the sight of Tony that she didn't realize that there was glass shattered all over the floor until she stepped down from the stairs with a crunching noise. The entire glass wall that separated the stairwell from the garage was demolished, and not just that, but one of Tony's car's was smashed on the hood.

As soon as Pepper made noise by stepping on the glass, the mechanical arms that were snapping at Tony stopped, and Stark turned to face her with wide eyes, but not as near wide as Pepper's. She didn't even know what to say as she stared at him with a look of disbelief. They stayed like that for a while, Tony not saying anything probably because he knew he was caught.

"Let's face it..." Tony said, finally breaking the quick moment of silence. "This is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."

Maybe in other circumstances, Pepper would have been amused at the memory of the things she'd caught Tony doing, but right now all she could do was move closer to examine the uniform incasing Tony. Tony watched her trying to read her expressions it seemed.

"Are those bullet holes?" Pepper finally asked. Tony gave her a look as to say 'guilty-as-charged'.

"Alright, maybe it makes a close second." Tony admitted. Pepper just looked up at him like he was insane, which was probably entirely true. She'd never admit that she loved him for it, though.

"Sir," Jarvis interrupted. "I think I've got it now."

"Wait, no Jarvis I'm not..."

It was too late though. The metal arms twisted and undid different parts of the suit in one swift movement with Tony still standing unbalanced on one foot, leaning back. The pieces and parts of the suit fell off and clanked to the floor. Tony stumbled backwards, missing the edge of the platform and just barely catching himself on his feet as he jumped to the ground, Pepper grabbing his arm to help him regain his balance. Tony looked disapprovingly at the scattered parts of the suit all over the floor as he regained himself so Pepper could let go, a little unwillingly.

"Thanks, Potts. I still need to work out a few kinks, but what do you think?" he asked looking to her like he honestly wanted her opinion.

Pepper raised her eyebrows at him. "Yeah, it's great, Tony. But... uh, why?"

Tony stepped behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders to lead her out of the garage and upstairs.

"Come on, there's a lot I need to tell you, but not without drinks."

"Tony, this is so dangerous." Pepper said, sitting on the couch next to Tony. She sat there in disbelief, her drink untouched on the table and Tony starting on his third. He had explained his secret project he'd been working on, the flight to the Middle East, and more as Pepper sat and listened silently.

"Nothing I can't handle. Why, do you worry for me Miss Potts?" Tony asked her, raising his eyebrows expectantly at her. Pepper sighed. He had made flirty moves in the past countless time, always making small suggestions of him and Pepper getting together so it was normal. She never took them seriously, though, as much as she wanted to. He was Tony Stark and she'd just be a one night stand like all the rest. Plus she worked with him. For him to be exact.

But Pepper couldn't help but want it so bad sometimes.

"Of course I do, Tony." Pepper said, not playing around with his joking mood. This time it was Tony's turn to sigh. He put his drink down on the table and took Pepper's hand in each of his, sending tingles through her fingers and down her hands.

"Pepper, I'm serious about this." Stark said, looking into Pepper's eyes. She saw through his light brown irises that he was telling the truth. She'd gotten pretty good at reading Tony over the course of time she worked for him.

"Just... please be careful." Pepper whispered.

"Of course I'll be careful, I've got a worried PA to get home to." he winked at her. Pepper rolled her eyes, admitting to herself that she'd missed the cocky charm from Tony Stark when he was captive in the middle east. She had even cried every night of his disappearance, but he never had to know that.

"I need to go, Tony." Pepper said, looking over at the clock. She really had nothing better to do, and even if she did she'd never pick it over alone time with Tony, but that's exactly what she was afraid of. Staying after 10:30pm with Stark after having a few or more drinks didn't sound like a wise idea and she didn't trust herself to resist him.

Tony looked slightly disappointed, but he always did when Pepper left.

"And yes, I like it." Pepper told him as she stood. Tony looked at her with confusion.

"The suit, I like it." Pepper told him. Tony's face was wiped of confusion and replaced with a somewhat arrogant smile.

"I know you do."

"Good night, Mr. Stark."

"Good night, Ms. Potts."