"Can the two of you just stop making out in the hallway? People are asking about you, Tony, you can't just disappear like that." Rhodey scolded the pair which was currently hiding in the darkened hallway of Rhodey's LA apartment. The reconciliation between them had started off slow, but Tony was pretty certain that Rhodey was going to cave in and apologize for stealing his suit.
At the moment, at least fifty people were roaming around Rhodey's apartment, drinking alcohol and making small talk. The reason why they were all gathered there had something to do with Rhodey's new promotion. Tony had no idea why people were asking about him, though and that made him irky. Oh, right, because I'm Iron Man, he thought.
"Look, we were offended the first time you brought it up, sourpatch, but calling out on us for kissing, once again, just asks for a re-match between Iron Man and whatever your suit's name is." Tony protested and wrapped his right arm around Pepper's middle, fingers tightening over her hip possessively. If it weren't for the simple fact that he and Rhodey still had a little bit of respect for one another, Tony admitted to himself that he would have placed a punch straight into his stomach.
Even though Tony's attention was directed towards his old buddy, he was completely aware of Pepper breathing next to him, tucked into his side. He could feel the soft brush of her breast against his ribcage and the result was probably going to make him regret thinking about it.
"Just tell them I left, buddy." He eyed Rhodey with a smirk. "Can I still call you that?"
Just when those words left his mouth, he felt Pepper pinch his side and he yelped.
"Potts, don't do that." He breathed out and gave her a look.
"Okay. This is definitely weird." Rhodey stated, hands folding over his chest. "What are you doing still latched together is beyond my comprehension. Spill out. Are you guys doing this or what?"
Pepper looked at Tony for a moment, watching as his face betrayed the clear look of happiness that came with mentioning their current affair, and nodded.
"Well, you'll be the first to know that Pepper and I are officially a… thing." Tony hesitated and bit his lower lip, blinking quickly before looking away, clearly flustered. Rhodey had to admit that he had seen Tony go through lots of situations before, but this time, he could swear that the man was purely and sickeningly in love with Pepper.
"Yes, um…" Pepper agreed and gave Rhodey a small smile, heart beating extremely fast in her chest. Even though they had been hiding in the most secluded part of Rhodey's apartment, making out for what had to be like fifteen minutes, she had to admit that the rush of someone seeing them act like that together was making her head spin.
Rhodey smiled back and stroked Pepper's bare arm, secretly thanking whatever deity got his two best friends together, because it was so long overdue.
"I'm happy for you two. It seems that Tony has finally gotten his head out of his ass and manned up." He snickered and felt Tony's fist playfully collide with his shoulder. "Take care of each other. You both deserve this…"
They were both lonely people and that's what made them fit together so well.
With one final smile, Rhodey walked away, leaving the couple alone in the dark. In that moment, Tony wrapped his other arm around Pepper and pressed her back against the wooden wall, breathing slowly against her cheek. He shuddered when she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his ear softly.
"Do you think it was weird?" He murmured and sighed slowly, nose nuzzling her collarbone.
"Well, we've definitely phased him." Pepper said, laughing a little but then stopped when she felt him hug her tighter air leaving her lungs as he did so.
She felt his warm lips brush hotly against the side of her neck, making it all that harder for her to breathe. She swallowed hard and let her own hands roam against his shoulders.
"Tony…" She breathed out, already feeling moist and needy for him.
"Pepper…" He whispered back, rough hands parting her legs slowly.
Sobering up a little, Pepper placed her hands over his chest and pushed him back a little.
"Tony, we're not teenagers. I can't do it like this." She exhaled breathlessly, head resting against the wall. She swallowed thickly and felt him pull back.
Tony placed his hands on her hipbones and looked into her eyes, nodding slowly.
"I know… It just feels like we've been at this foreplay thing for more than a decade." Tony explained and laughed a little.
Pepper's phone buzzed in her purse just when she was about to tell him that she shared the same feeling. Tony pulled away and scoffed when she fished it out of her purse.
"I thought I said this wasn't going to be business related—"
"Hello?" She answered, pulling away from Tony, who looked at her expectantly. She made her way over to one of the windows which was open and took in a breath. As always, business had to ruin this perfect little moment. Five minutes in, Pepper thanked whoever had called her and hung up, turning towards Tony with a look of frustration across her face.
"They called to see if I was going to attend the Paris annual meeting." She mumbled and brushed the hair out of her face. "I have to go."
"What?" Tony asked, suddenly feeling dumbfounded. "What do you mean you have to go?"
"The meeting starts tomorrow and I haven't packed anything." Pepper said and looked at him with a sad smile. "I'll be gone for one week."
"You—no. That's not… I'm not letting you go."
"Tony, it's just one week."
"I don't care about that. We just came back from New York this week. I thought you were going to help me with the house." He gave her his best puppy-eye impression, but she didn't fall for that. She never actually did.
"I know, but this is important for the company." Pepper tried to make him understand.
"I was actually looking forward to picking out a new bed for the bedroom, but now you're leaving?!" He scoffed and swallowed hard, feeling his chest constrict out of pure frustration. All of his plans had suddenly blown up. "I was going to make you dinner tomorrow and we could've watched some porn together… you know, it sets the mood—hey!"
Pepper glared at him and brushed past him.
"Okay, no porn! Pep, wait!" He begged. "Let me drive you back to your place."
Sighing in despair, Tony led Pepper out of the apartment and drove her to her apartment, dreading the next week.
A/N: Anticipation, right?