Wrote it at 9:30 at night when I promised myself to go to bed at 9. Not beta'd and possibly full of grammar mistakes my lazy brain didn't catch. It's just a fluffy little Pepperony fic to send you all off to bed with.
Disclaimer: Don't own, Don't sue.
Developments
"You are quite possibly the most impossible person I've ever met!"
Pepper dragged Tony into the coatroom at Los Angeles Hilton by his tie after the most embarrassing moment of her life so far. It was potentially career ruining but she knew she couldn't blame it all on him. She wasn't even sure why she'd agreed to go as his "date" to this thing anyways. She should have known better.
-
It had been a crazy spur of the moment decision made about a week ago when Tony had announced that the annual Inventor's Ball was coming and he, of all people, didn't have a date.
Pepper had been incredulous. "You don't have a date? You're the only person I know who could go to the supermarket and end up having a one night stand and yet you can't find a date a week in advance?"
Tony shrugged, shoveling another spoonful of cereal, Fruit Loops, into his mouth, the light from his arc reactor reflecting off the spoon, and then chewed before responding "But you see there's a huge difference between having a random hookup and finding a respectable girl to take to a ball."
"You've dated respectable girls before; a few at least. Why not call one of them up and ask her if she wants to go? I mean, what girl doesn't want to be invited to a ball?" Pepper wiped up the milk he'd spilled on the counter with a sponge looked up at him, then wished she hadn't.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He had that look on his face, the one that meant an idea was blooming behind his deep brown eyes. He was usually using it when she entered his workshop after he'd secluded himself down there for at least six hours, and she got worried that he'd die from lack of food, water, and sunlight. It was also usually focused on a piece of machinery he was working on or a blueprint he was looking at so Pepper was reasonably taken aback when it was directed at her.
"Would you be my date?" He asked eyes boring into her baby blues. She looked away suddenly, afraid of the electricity that had been coursing between the two of them.
"Fine, but this is just a pity date. To think, the infamous Tony Stark, billionaire playboy, can't find a date." Shaking her head she went back to scrubbing the pots in the sink and didn't see the victorious
smile that spread across his lips. If she had she probably would have changed her mind right then and there. Because Pepper Potts knew that look; Tony Stark had developed a plan.
-
"Wow, Potts, you clean up good." Tony admiringly ogled his assistant as he helped her into the limo. Of course he knew that already. He'd seen her dressed up before, but this was different; now she was dressed up because he'd asked her to, her beauty was a part of him and he secretly wished that she dressed to impress, just a little even, for him.
"Thanks," she grinned at him, but there was a little nervousness in her eyes. She'd trailed behind him while photographers took photos before, and stood next to him at press conferences but they'd never been associated like this. What will people say? She thought, sudden doubt crowding her mind, thinking of that night, the totally not harmless night. She didn't want that image; sure she could hold her own on a red carpet and had done so before, but not with him. He could read those thoughts on her face and put his hand over hers.
"It'll be fine Pep, just smile and wave and stay attached to my arm and I promise I won't stop for any interviews." When she regained composure he moved his hand away though she could still feel where he'd touched her.
"Thank you," he added, as they got out of the limo, her silver floor length gown shimmering as the flashbulbs picked up speed. They were asking questions but he just smiled and kept walking. He was in his element and his being calm made her so as well.
"Come on," she said, feeling generous and tugged on his arm "We can stop for one interview; it'll help your PR." He looked surprised for a hot second then nodded and led her, grinning, over to the closest reporter.
The reporter was male had a very fake smile and news anchor hair. "We're here with Tony Stark, worldwide leader in weapons and technology advancements, and his lovely assistant Pepper Potts. Tell us Pepper, why did you finally agree to go on a date with Tony?"
Her response shocked even her, "Oh, he had to fairly beg me." She said blithely then grinned like an idiot at Tony while her mind was whirring, asking the same question over and over again, why the hell did I do that?
And worse, Tony was going for it. "Ms. Potts agreed to be my date only after I told her that no one else suitable could be found." But he didn't sound like he was joking, and when Pepper averted her gaze from the reporter's pearly whites, which were practically blinding her, she found that Tony wasn't looking at the camera, he was staring straight at her with the strangest look she'd ever seen him give her, it was partly that "idea" look but also something new and heart-stopping.
"Well…" the reporter started to ask his next question but stopped abruptly as Tony bent down, sliding his arm around Pepper's waist, and kissed her firmly on the mouth.
The two parts of Pepper brain, which in her head, and only in her head, she called the "Rational" part and the "Completely-In-Love-with-Tony-Stark" part were saying two completely different things. The rational part was thinking about how the hell she was going to clean up this mess, and what they'd have to shell out to get them not to post this photo in any newspaper or on any TV show anywhere the next day. The other part, which was sadly stronger at that moment in time, was directing her arms to lift themselves up and weave her fingers into Tony's hair, deepening the kiss.
When they broke it, prompted by the reporter's uncomfortable cough after what had been far too long for an innocent peck Pepper smiled apologetically and dragged Tony the 50 feet into the building and then into the coatroom. If she had bothered to turn around and look at his face she would have seen that he had that self same victorious smile on again.
-
The coatroom was only lit by a small bulb and Pepper hoped the shadows were hiding the tears that were unwillingly pricking up in her eyes.
"You are quite possibly the most impossible person I've ever met!"
"Not the first time you've said that to me." He stated, matter-of-factly, even joking a little, but when she turned to glare at him instead she found herself in his arms again. "Sorry Pepper. I don't know what came over me, okay?"
"Okay," she pulled back because she wasn't sure if she wouldn't repeat the events of the minute before being in close proximity to him for too long "maybe we can turn this into an "Angelina kissing her brother" type of thing. It was an accident, sure we've got affection for each other, but it's strictly professional."
"Stop it," he turned away this time, sounding angry.
"Well we have to do something!" she grabbed his shoulder and turned him back around "Otherwise people are going to start calling us Pepperony, God, It'll be worse than Beniffer and Brangelina put together."
"What if I want them too?" his glare was becoming that other expression again and it halted her train of thought abruptly. He continued, "what if I didn't actually try to find someone else to come to this ball with me? What if it's true, I couldn't find anyone else suitable…that you're the only one who is suitable? And anyways, Pepperony beats Brangelina or Beniffer by a mile. "
She was silent trying to get her brain to work again, to connect the dots and understand what he was actually trying to say. As he gazed into her blank stare the wry smile that had crept back on to his face fled.
"Look," he turned his face to the ceiling, resigned, "this was a mistake. I'll go out there, buy the reporter off then take you home. I'm sorry." He turned away just as the wheels in her brain turned enough to realize that the "Completely-In-Love-with-Tony-Stark" part wasn't also completely crazy.
"Oh no you don't," she whispered just as he was turning away, and when he turned back, with his signature questioning look making his features look even more attractive than usual she crossed the space between them and caught him in a passionate kiss. This time they weren't interrupted.
-
Later that night, in the living room he was stroking her arm, coaxing her gently to sleep as the aftermath of too many vodka martinis. Pepper was still freaking out a little, wondering what the press (who they hadn't bought off after all) and more importantly her mother, would say, but Tony knew, that in time, she'd come around .
"All part of the plan," he whispered into her ear as she drifted off, and placed a delicate feather light kiss on her cheek.
-
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Peace, Love,
Glitzy