YESSSSSS MICKEY ROURKE WON "BEST VILLAIN" IN THE SCREAM AWARDS! IVAN FOR THE WIN!
That is all.
~::~
Another gust of wind, surprisingly cool for this time of year, gusts across the roof, and Tony shivers against Ivan's back.
"Ivan."
A slight shift is the only indication that the Russian hears him.
"We can't stand up here all night. Eventually one of us is gonna have to move."
Vanko lets a long, weary sigh escape and turns, Tony's arms still around him. He realizes too late that turning was a bad idea; seeing the lost, pleading look on Stark's face derails any angry comebacks he has. He sighs again, lets one hand travel reluctantly upward, trailing briefly over the dim glow of the reactor, feeling the smaller man's pulse speed up, coming to rest with the tips of his fingers against the hero's cheek. Tony leans into the touch, pushing his cheek into Ivan's palm, his brown eyes never leaving the villain's hazel ones.
"What do you want from me?" Whiplash asks tiredly, and Stark looks confused.
"I want..." The billionaire stops, glances down, finally finishes, "I want... you to trust me."
The ex-con huffs and looks away. "Trusting is not something I do."
"Gee, really? I had no idea," Tony quips as the hand is withdrawn. He falters, fingers curling in the fabric of Vanko's shirt. "Please. Don't go."
Ivan frowns. "Just... need to think." He pushes away, prying the smaller man's hands free, and walks back to the stairs.
The hero waits until he hears the hatch shut before allowing himself to sink to his knees, a frustrated scream pulling at his throat as he fights to contain it. His hands ball into fists and he takes a slow breath, forcing the yell down. He waits, counting twenty beats before standing and turning toward the entrance.
The house is shockingly empty when he gets downstairs; he wonders just how long he and Ivan have been up on the roof. The only ones still around are Pepper and Yulia, sitting guiltily on the couch and watching him come down the stairs, the Bird perched on the redhead's shoulder.
"Where'd he go?" Tony asks tiredly, glancing around.
"The garage," Pepper says. "I think he changed the combination, too."
"Mother-" He walks over to the garage door and enters his combo and, sure enough, there's the quiet beep of rejection. He could override it, probably, but it would take a few minutes and he's sure Ivan would not appreciate the intrusion. He sighs and turns back to the sofa. "Where is everybody?"
"We told them the party had been moved to your yacht." Yulia waves toward the ocean below.
"I thought I sank my yacht like a year ago?" He grabs a bottle of what he hopes is alcohol off the counter and tries to take a swig, only to find it disappointingly empty.
"Eh, I figure it'll take them at least three hours to realize that," Pepper says with a shrug. "Which gives you some time, so sit down and talk."
"Talk about what?" Tony raises an eyebrow. "The fact that you two almost sabotaged my relationship by having sex in my car?"
Yulia goes red, but Pepper just stares him down. "The fact that you used the word 'relationship' just now, for starts."
"I did? What? No I didn't. So what if I did? I can say that word." He tosses the empty bottle in the recycling and shoves his hands in his pockets.
"Tony. Sit down."
Tony sits down.
"Look... we're both sorry that we got you in trouble-"
"We'll never do it again, I promise!" Yulia blurts. "It was just such a fucking awesome car-"
"He'll get over it; he can buy twenty new R8s if he feels like it," Miss Potts pats the brunette's arm. "And that's not what we need to talk abut right now." She turns back to her former boss. "What we need to talk about is the problem with your boyfriend."
"Stop calling him that; it weirds me out." Tony shifts uncomfortably.
"The problem with your boyfriend!" The Bird echoes, preening.
Stark glares, wishing he could set things on fire with his mind. "Did you seriously teach it to say that?"
Pep shrugs again, hiding a grin. "Maybe." She shakes the smile away and fixes him with a stern gaze. "So what the hell happened?"
He sighs heavily. "Well, I told you about him finding... you know, the evidence in the garage, and then that woman at the party..."
They both nod, Pepper having informed Yulia of the situation.
"Well... yeah." He runs a hand through his hair. "He went up on the roof to, I dunno, sulk, so I went up after him, to explain."
"Did he listen?" Yulia asks, reaching up to pet the Bird.
"Yeah, kind of. When he had no other choice. Anyway, I told him that it was you guys in the garage, and that the girl at the party was just... stupid, and he seemed to sort of believe me."
"Did you use... you know, the 'L' word?"
He blinks vaguely. "...Lesbian?"
"What? No! The other 'L' word!"
"...Lesbians?"
"You're really stuck on that, aren't you?" Pepper asks sardonically, and Yulia snorts.
Tony clasps his hands loosely. "He just... I dunno, he just seems like he's given up. Like he was set on leaving no matter what I said."
"But you don't want him to leave, do you?" Pepper leans forward a little, solemn.
"Of course not!" He replies without hesitation. "I want him to stay; isn't it obvious? I got him out of jail twice! I punched Hammer in the face for trying to take him! I fought for him, I want him to stay because- because I-"
He looks up and realizes that both women are watching him with what Pepper calls "awwww" smiles, the kind of smile she usually gets when watching "Up".
"What?" He snaps.
"Nothing," the redhead shakes her head. "I think you should go talk to him now." She stands, leaving the Bird on the arm of the couch, and she and Yulia walk toward the front door. "We'll head out; direct people toward their cars." She gives him a quick slug in the shoulder. "You can do it. You're Tony Stark, remember?"
"Myeah."
"Good luck!" Yulia calls over her shoulder.
Luck.
Yeah.
He needs some of that.