The sunset lights the panels of glass, making it a jeweled castle, and as Pepper walks towards the structure, she feels a little like Dorothy approaching Oz. It's a beautiful creation, and although it's been up only three months, Pepper is still struck by the gracefulness of the design; the natural fit of the greenhouse into the little hollow of the hill. Tony took architecture classes as a matter of course for an engineer and clearly some of it stayed with him when he drew up the plans.
She objected to the name of Eden at first; it seemed pretentious and slightly sacrilegious, but Tony told her she could change it if she wanted.
"The word means 'paradise,' I'd like to hope it will be, for you," he added softly.
So they compromised on 'Paradiso' which is Italian and pretty, and Tony commissioned the carved wooden sign that now hangs over the doors of the greenhouse. Pepper steps inside, still thrilled to do it, looking around her laboratory/haven/workshop.
The basic shape of the building is a long rectangle of thigh-high brick with two wide room-sized alcoves midway down. One of the alcoves houses the control panel for all of Paradiso's systems. The touch screen rises from the floor and shows all the pertinent data in streaming mode, while a smaller, swivel keyboard allows for programming and links to several weather stations, Moon Meadow Nursery and anyplace else Pepper would like.
The other alcove has a reading nook, complete with comfortable brown wicker loveseats with thick cushions and low green wooden bookcases built into the hip high brick walls of the greenhouse. Pepper keeps the hard copies of her reference books, gardening manuals and flower catalogs here under the Tiffany glass chandelier with lilies on it. It's a lovely little hideaway, with hanging spider plants and foxtail ferns, and a view behind it of the Pacific.
A sanctuary that Pepper loves.
The rest of the greenhouse is still sparse.
She has a long table of herbs in pots coming up nicely along a quarter of one wall—basil and oregano, thyme and mint, mostly. The rest of Paradiso is currently empty, the long wide areas lined with tanks and tables, waiting delivery and plantings, although there are four large tomato plants standing in a deep trough of rich soil close by. Pepper walks over to them breathing in the spicy scent of their leaves and stems, feeling ridiculously happy at the sight of them thriving.
Several of the tomatoes are visible; smooth globes turning from green to yellow, and a few from yellow into the more familiar red-orange of ripeness. Pepper has been keeping an eye on them, waiting for just the right time to transfer them from plant to the basket on her arm.
It's a momentous occasion; this first harvest of fruit. In the last three months, all through the construction of Paradiso, from the laying of the foundation all the way through the delicate work of the glaziers and solar experts, it's been a labor of love, and Pepper has been involved in every stage of it. So much so that Tony has admitted to being very slightly jealous.
"It's a building," Pepper reminds him with a smirk. 'Besides, you *told* me to invest my time in it."
"Yeah, but not at the expense of taking it away from your primary love interest, namely *me,*" he pouts, and adds, "I guess this is how you feel about my workshop, huh?"
"I have never," Pepper tells him with dignity, "considered your *garage* a rival."
"You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better," Tony assures her with a solemn nod. "We both know the truth though."
She laughs at the memory, and Pepper is honest enough to admit to herself that Tony may have a point. There have been times when she *has* resented the hold that the workshop in the garage has over this brilliant boss of hers, and a little tit for tat with the greenhouse is a nice feeling.
Pepper moves along the airy walkway, thinking about what to plant, and how much of it to start with, when she hears an odd combination of noises. One is familiar; a sound Pepper knows well from Tony's garage.
Gears. Specifically those belonging to Dummy. She moves down the main walkway of Paradiso, wondering what the robot is doing out here. He had been instrumental in moving some of the tables around, and had helped with loading bricks and concrete during the actual construction. Pepper had always had a soft spot for the robot, who despite having no discernable face always seemed a friendly, happy, if somewhat overly literal-minded sort of personality.
The other sound rises up again, and this one isn't unfamiliar as much as unexpected. An animal sound. Pepper quickens her stride and catches sight of Dummy, who swings his claw away from her and attempts to roll away.
"Hold it," Pepper orders, feeling confused. "What do you have?"
The robot freezes, and swivels, looking . . . guilty. Pepper advances, and peers around the robot, looking carefully for the source of the noise. Sure enough . . .
Clinging to the robot's extended arm, a fuzzy black and white kitten mews again, striving to pull itself out of the loose claw grip. Pepper cups her hands to take it, moving gently to keep it from struggling, and lifts it off the arm. She runs her two thumbs down the kitten's bony spine, noting how thin and young she is. "Oh! Um, where did you find this?"
With alacrity, Dummy rolls forward and towards the loading doors of the greenhouse, out onto the far lawn. He keeps rolling, past the manicured lawns and down the drive, and Pepper trots after him, trying to keep the kitten calm while at the same time, keep an eye on the 'bot.
After a quarter mile they reach the edge of the property, and Pepper knows they're near the security fence. She holds the kitten to her shoulder, and calls, somewhat breathlessly, "Slow down!"
Dummy does, rolling in a little circle, slightly agitated, and Pepper soon sees why: beyond the fence of the estate is a small, bloody mess of fur half in and out of a flattened shopping bag on the edge of the road. The light of the setting sun makes it particularly lurid, and Pepper's gorge rises as both pity and nausea well in her. "Ohh!"
Dummy lowers his head and rocks a little, gears whirring. Pepper reaches to where he is standing and gives a sigh, her hands still stroking the kitten. "Okay, I see. You did the right thing in saving this one."
The 'bot bounces on his hydraulics, clearly delighted to have done a good deed, and although his antics alarm the kitten, Pepper can't help but grin a bit, even as she unsnags the little animal from her big tee shirt. "Good boy, yes."
They make their way back to the greenhouse to find Tony wandering there, looking curious as they come in the doors. "Hey. Where did you go?"
Pepper holds out the wary kitten. "Guess what Dummy found."
Surprised, Tony eyes the little thing, then looks at Dummy, who rolls closer, lowering himself on his hydraulics. His arm comes up and lightly tugs on Tony's shirt.
Tony eyes the 'bot with amused compassion even as he takes the kitten from Pepper's fingers, cradling it gently. "Sorry champ, not up to me. You have to ask *mom* if you can keep it."
"Oh no, wait—" Pepper protests, not sure if she wants to be stuck in the position of being the Bad Parent to rolling collection of gears and computer chips. It's too late though, and Dummy lowers himself even more, nearly at Pepper's knees, his chirruping piteous and pleading.
Tony is petting the kitten, who is purring now, and looking startled about it, as if she didn't know she could. She raises a curious paw to his goatee, patting it lightly, and Pepper is charmed by the sight. "Damn it," she murmurs in exasperation.
Dummy swivels his arm from Tony to Pepper and back again as Pepper glares at Tony, who ignores her and continues to pet the kitten.
Finally, with a noisy exhalation, she sighs. "Oh all *right*—at least for tonight. But *you*--" and here she rounds on Dummy, pointing a finger at him, "are going to be in charge of her, got it? We can set up something in the game room I guess, and I'll see about getting a few supplies."
"You've *got* to take care of her," Tony murmurs in perfect imitation of the Warner Brothers cartoon. "And feed her, and let her share your bed; she's *your* responsibility . . ."
Dummy spins around happily, utterly thrilled these new duties, and Pepper gives in and laughs. Then she steps closer to Tony and gives him a milder glare. "Passing the buck was a rotten thing to do, Mr. Stark."
"Default mode," he admits sheepishly. "Besides, you're the better disciplinarian; I can vouch for that."
"Tony," Pepper blushes, not willing to meet his blissful smirk.
The kitten has closed her eyes and sounds like a little motorboat in the crook of his elbow, her small claws coming out to knead against his bare forearm.
Tony winces slightly, and Pepper laughs. "Hey, you asked for it, Marc Anthony. I'm going to go see if Jarvis has any suggestions or supplies for . . . what do we call her?"
"Let's find out. Hey Dummy, what's your kitten's name?"
Dummy reaches out his claw and lets the bottom pincer lightly stroke the kitten's head as he makes a long whirring sound. Tony looks at Pepper, bright-eyed. "There you go: her name's Rrrrrrr."
"Rrrrrrr is not a name," Pepper protests, but she's on the verge of laughing because Dummy clacks his claw, clearly proud of the selection.
"Rrrrrrr is a perfectly good name," Tony counters. "Sort of rolls off the tongue."
"Rrrrrrr is a *noise,*" Pepper argues, but senses it's a losing battle. Both the engineer and the robot seem perfectly content to call a cat after the sound of a gear.
"Think of her purring as the organic version," Tony teases. "Talk about a feat of engineering. Even now, scientists don't have a full explanation of how purring happens." He raises his voice. "Jarvis?"
"Sir?"
"What do you know about kittens?"
"I have access to a good deal of information, but the priorities include litter boxes, string and moist food, usually in that order."
"Good enough," Tony turns and puts Rrrrrrr into Pepper's basket. She hands it to Dummy, who takes it proudly. "I think we're going to need Pets R Us make a few deliveries."
000ooo000ooo000
Two hours later, after Rrrrrrr is settled into the Game Room with a watchful Dummy on box and kibble duty, Pepper tries to get ready to leave.
Tony as usual, tries to stop her. "Oh come on," he mopes, arms wrapping around her from behind. "You can't take off and leave me with a strange animal in the house. What if it attacks?"
Pepper, who has been trying to locate her car keys, shoots Tony a bemused look. "That kitten could fit inside your Iron Man helmet with room to *spare,* Tony."
"Size is no factor when it comes to danger," he intones, and moves to kiss Pepper's neck, lingering because he knows his mustache tickles her. She wriggles against him, slowly. "Please stay . . . you know how much I hate Sunday nights when you take off."
"Tony," Pepper sighs, "We talked about this. We have our weekends, and I'll be here if you're on a mission, but it's important that the rest of the time we have some space."
"I know," he sighs back, and lets his hands slide around her hips. Tony understands Pepper's point, but it's damned poor comfort for him when he watches her drive off each Sunday night and is left to rattle around in a house too large and empty without her. This realization is a painful one, but he's too proud to beg.
Hence the seduction.
Tony grinds against her gently, never rushing, touching her in slow caresses as they stand in the bedroom, the beautiful vista of the Pacific visible through the glass wall. Pepper gives a gasp as Tony slips his hand into her leggings and panties, warm palm cupping her fluffy vulva; she widens her stance the better to let him touch her.
Since being interrupted by Rhodey, she's been in a low state of arousal all evening, and having Tony play with her like this is eroding her willpower. Pepper hates to admit it, but it's just as hard for her to leave too. Going back to the city, to her modest, overly quiet condo to face reruns and cleaning out her fridge isn't much fun. Leaving Tony's bed, that lovely weekend haven of warmth and pleasure is hard, especially when he's made is clear how much he wants her to stay.
"You *want* me," he growls into her ear before licking it. "Oh my goodness, Potts, you're more lubed up than a new gearbox."
"Tony--" Pepper snorts, because she knows when he resorts to engineering, his own hydraulics are fully functional. "I'm not a car."
His hands are peeling down the leggings, tugging her underwear with it until both are around her knees. "But you have all the right lines and curves. So warm and slick," Tony whispers, "So primed for acceleration--"
Pepper groans; Tony is cupping one breast and slowly pressing the heel of his other hand between her thighs, the pressure perfect and unbearably sensual; she reaches behind her to let her fingers caress the thick ridge of his erection through his sweatpants. "Found the stick shift."
Tony laughs, but it's a sound heavy with lust, and makes her skin pebble up with pleasure. "Ohhhhdamn, yeah." He rocks against her hand happily. "Now, Testa Rossa mio, bed. Please. I'll check under your hood like you've never had. Promise."
"No," Pepper tells him, and spins, pushing Tony back against the glass of the window wall. She kisses him deeply, hands moving to tug his sweats down, and caresses his hot, turgid shaft at the same time. Tony pants, giving in to her hungry touches, aware of the quick glitter in her eyes, and the dangerous amusement in her smile.
This is the Pepper who gets things done, and Tony loves being the recipient of her kisses, her touches, her direct and slightly imperious lust. He lets his head fall back against the cool glass as she licks his mouth and toys with his cock, fingers stroking. "Here. On the window."
"Yes," he agrees, breathing hard, excited as hell. Pepper fishes in his pocket for the condom, knowing it would be there, and unwraps it, unrolling it onto him smoothly as she mouths his throat.
"My, my, Mr. Stark, you seem to have a prominent driveshaft--"
"Unnnngh," he groans, glancing down. "Come here; time for the test drive."
Pepper moves closer, and raises a knee against his hip; Tony hooks a forearm under it and pulls her against him while her hand guides him forward. He thrusts, sinking into the tight heat of Pepper's body, and his free arm snakes around her ass, "Ohhhyeahhhhh!"
She gives that lovely gasp and rocks against him, hands gripping his shoulders. It's awkward only for a moment, and then they thrust together, kissing hard, the thumping against the glass punctuated by the slick sounds of hard, sweet sex and their groans.
The angle hurts a little but Tony doesn't care because Pepper is clutching him, hair shaking loose, her eyes fluttering. After a few minutes of beautiful rhythm, she's close to coming, and he growls at her, "Do it, *do* it . . . wanna watch you come . . ."
Pepper reaches down between them, and lightly, quickly touches herself as Tony thrusts harder. Between her fingers and his pumping, her body tightens around his surging, glistening cock. Tony grunts, fighting off his own pleasure to watch hers, savoring the rise of pink across her face, the dazed look of passion as Pepper gives up his name. "OhhhTonyyyyy . . ."
That's all it takes; all he needs, and the raw heat surges through his stomach, fine tuned into white-hot bliss rocketing through his loins as he growls, coming hard in spasming pulses.
They sag against the smudged glass, wobbling a little, and Tony struggles to support them, but slowly, with a few giggles from Pepper, they end up sliding down the wall to the carpet. He's careful to grip the condom and peel it off, grateful when Pepper hands him a tissue from her fallen purse. "Will you look at that—I'm down a quart."
"At least," Pepper smirks, rolling her eyes. Like so many other things, Tony Stark is a bit of an overachiever, and tends to be generous, seminally. At first Pepper was embarrassed by his comments about it, but now it's just one of those private jokes they share. He knots the full condom and wraps it up, then shoots the package to the beside garbage can, making it.
Pepper laughs, stretching out on the carpet, bare-assed, tee-shirt rumpled. "Two points."
"Getting all the practice in helps," Tony points out, lying down beside her, and pulling her to him. "Oooooh, not getting up soon, in any sense of the word. The whole window thing? Kinky, Potts."
"Mmm, what can I say? I like a scenic drive," she replies, resting her head on his shoulder. He laughs at that, cozy and blissful for the moment, even if they are on the floor, half-dressed and about to fall asleep.
"Zoom, zoom," Tony tells her, and closes his eyes, knowing she's staying this time.