"Hey you. What took you so long? This is Josh." Steve slid his arm around Loki's waist, smiling that winning smile at him, almost as though nothing had happened.
"Your coat?" A man in a black suit stood next to a stricken Tony, who stood numbly beside Pepper. "Sir?"
"What? Oh yeah sure." The man took his coat, giving it to a woman behind a large counter next to the shining bronze doors. Steve quickly glanced at Tony, whose stare was cold. He looked back to Loki whom was demanding his attention, Loki gave a look in Tony's direction too, who was still staring at Steve. He was confused, what is up with him? Ever since they started dating he's been like this. The amount of times… it's not worth mentioning, he thought. He shook his head, smiling at Steve again.
"C'mon, let's get a table." Pepper grabbed Tony, hooking her arm in his. The best thought that crammed into Tony's head all night was to get completely wasted and worry about everything when he woke up. He was set on it. At least he wouldn't be able to think anymore.
"Okay! Who wants what?" Tony boomed, everyone beaming up at him, he was always the first to pay, and the second, and then the third. In fact, he didn't recall anyone paying for a round until the fifth. And by then he was completely spent so he had no real way of telling he hadn't stopped.
"Um… three shots for those three, you choose they don't know, a G&T for me… Loki?"
"I'm fine, thanks. I'm not feeling up for it just yet."
"Aw c'mon, loosen up a bit!"
"No no no no! How about you Steve? Josh?"
"If it's no trouble, coke and vodka." Steve smiled at Tony, that same one from before, showing no recognition. Tony shivered with anger, the nerve of him! There was a tense moment as Tony glared him down, how could he do this to his friend?
"I'll have a shot too… I hear your good at choosing, so be my guest." Josh was Irish, it seemed. He coughed nervously, breaking the silence.
"Right, right." Tony walked away, heading towards the bar. The barman smiled, throwing a tumbler in the air and rolling it down his arm. Tony smiled, watching it fall into his hands again and pour into a triangular glass.
"Hey." 'James' red on his name tag. He was six feet at least, his hair brown, so thick, with chocolate brown eyes almost as deep as Tony's. Heavy built but not as big as Thor, or Steve for that matter…
"Hi." Tony put his best smile on, trying to dazzle him, impress him. What are you doing? He thought. How was he capable of flirting. Never mind the fact he was straight. The bartender handed over the drink to a red headed girl who had been trying to get his attention since she arrived. But James eye was caught on Tony. He smirked, his voice was so husky.
"What can I get you?" He spread his hands over the bar, leaning his head out. The blonde became fed up, not bothering to leave a tip due to the newly inflicted hurt from the ever-so-handsome James.
"Seems you have an admirer, well, had." Tony smirked back, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh, you know, can't please them all. Besides she's not really my type." He smiled. Tony knew where this was going, his head snapping back into reality just as he remembered what he was doing. He stumbled, grabbing hold of himself.
"James? Stop flirting with the customers, I need you out back for a second!"
"I get off at twelve. Here's my number." James scribbled it down on a serviette handing it to Tony before he could refuse. He wasn't going to call him… he felt bad now. Great. James sprinted to the back door, sliding under the arm of security into the office. Tony stared after him, serviette in hand, mouth slightly open, trying to get the words out but he was too late. James had disappeared.
"Mr Stark?"
"Um… two Alabama Slammers, one Purple Haze, a G&T, a coke and vodka, two Fireballs, and just keep me going with a few Tequila Slammers. I would like a few before heading back." Tony smiled, taking the first of his drinks and knocking it back as the bartender gave him a questioning look and threw the rest of the drinks together. Tony shot the next one, and then another. He could feel the alcohol swimming in his veins, burning the back of his neck. He felt completely the same.
"Will that be all?" The bartender hadn't bothered to bring the drinks to him, he sent them down to the table with another server and waited on Tony.
"Ehem maybe just give m-me another, one of those." He felt woozy, that was fast. Even for him. The bartender slid another one over, it glided down the silver table. He picked it up and knocked it down. "Send a… Tootsie Roll to the table, do you have a machine?"
"Yes, sir. Here we are." He handed over the card machine, Tony punched in the numbers wearily. "Send down a West Coast Cooler, the usual, for Loki too. He'll drink it sooner or later."
"Alright-y. Thank you Mr Stark." Tony smiled, it was the same place they started off every time. Usually working their way up through the clubs on the street before six am.
Tony let go of the bar, stumbling back to the table. Keep it together, you haven't had that much. He straightened himself up, walking steadily back to the group, who were all laughing and talking. He joined in a drunken debate with Thor. The man may be huge but he could never hold his drink, it was hilarious. Two shots and he was gone. His eyes spun back into his head, his booming voice getting ten decibel's louder with every shot. Pepper, she had had the one G&T for the last hour, and was barely affected by it. She was chatting animatedly with Natasha and Clint. Loki hadn't touched his drink, but Steve had. He was on his third, wheezing his laughter as Josh ran in the opposite direction to the bathroom. "OTHER WAY!" Josh waved a hand in appreciation, whizzing around and slamming into the wall. Loki rolled his eyes. Tony put a sloppy arm around Pepper, who gently tried to brush it off. She wasn't a fan of drunk Tony when she was still sober.
"What…?" Tony slurred, he couldn't think straight, but he felt a sudden urge of desire to just hug her. He threw his other arm around her, pulling her into an embrace. Natasha and Clint laughed as Pepper tried desperately to shove him off, but he was stronger than her. The couple went quiet as they watched them. Tony tried to kiss Pepper's neck, but he had gotten too close for comfort. He just wanted her, there and then. He couldn't even see what he was doing. Clint and Natasha were sniggering in the corner, thinking it was just a joke. Pepper sat up, hot and flustered as Tony let go of her and knelt down on his knees, smiling drunkenly up at her.
"Get up!" She hissed, what on earth was he doing? This was not a Tony she was familiar with. Tony just had to say something, anything. For this moment in time, he just felt a surge of emotion for his best friend. He couldn't control himself. He was completely drunk, and had no intelligible thoughts. This day had been so weird, why not make it weirder?
"Pepper…P-potts." He giggled, oh god, she thought. She smiled trying to pass it off. Everyone had stopped to listen. In the background the music blared, people were shouting and singing along to the music, the lights were whirring around the place, making Tony dizzier.
"Um… Hehe… EVERYBODY! Oops" He shouted by accident, what was he doing.
"Tony, shh… You've had a lot to drink, now get up before you make an absolute tit of yourself!" She whispered down to him, trying her best to pull her hands from his and get him standing again.
"Y-you're right, r-right. Aw Pep's I'm s-sorry. Am I embarrassing you? Ooopsies… But b-but, I just, I just gotta say this… okay? Is that okay? Are you sure? Okay? I'm gonna say it. P-Pepper Pawwts.." He wheezed laughter, the whole table had become lost in a fit of sniggering between Clint and Natasha. Loki stared, closing his eyes, wonderful. Thor sat back in his chair, eyes closed. He was already asleep. Steve glared at him. He couldn't be doing what he thinks he might be doing. He better not.
"I L-lo- LOVE you, so so much!"
"I love you too honey now c'mon, get up." Pepper laughed nervously, still trying to pull him up.
"Hey hey hey! I'm n-not finished. Ms Pootts? W-would, you like to merry me?" Tony looked up at her with half open eyes, still grinning cockily. There, he said it. Why did I say that? It doesn't matter, I did, that's what matters. Wait… But before Tony could try and think, Pepper had stood up, finally pulling him up with her. Everyone gasped. Steve looked away, knowing Tony was drunk but it still hurt. Natasha and Clint stared at Pepper mouths open. They didn't know whether to laugh or give out. Loki looked at Tony, feeling strangely odd. He hadn't been bothered by Tony's relationship with girls before, especially not Pepper's. They were friends… Did he really love her? He looked away, looking at the ground as Pepper sighed into her chest.
"O-KAY! I think you've had a little bit too much, maybe we should get back?"
"Hmm maybe that's a go-oo-od idea… we can discuss-ss this when we do…" Tony stumbled, falling into Clint as he helped keep him standing.
"I'll get a cab for you two." Natasha ran out and called one over for them, running back in just as Josh came back, almost in one piece.
"W-what'd I-I miss?" He plonked down into Tony's vacant chair, looking around him. Thor was still out of it, Steve and Loki were looking in opposite directions and Tony was between Pepper and Clint, stumbling his way to the cab.
"Thanks Natasha. I'll see you back there."
"I won't be back tonight, but I'll see you tomorrow okay? Good luck." She kissed Pepper on the cheek, putting an umbrella over the pair until they got into the back. She shut the door, walking back inside.
"I am gonna kill you." Pepper squeezed Tony's hand, who had slumped up against her. He felt a huge headache coming on as he realised what he had just done. But he couldn't process it properly, he was too tired. All he could manage was two words.
"I'm s-sorry." Pepper squeezed his hand again. There was something up with him, she would know. Just what was it? He hadn't been right for a while, missing classes, not joining them for note nights, get-togethers, take-ins. She knew it was just the drink, but what lay beneath hadn't been missed by her.
The cab driver helped her with him into her flat. She put him in her bed, and she slept in Natasha's. He'd need a good night's sleep before they could talk. She loved him so much, they were together since she could remember. But they weren't suited for anything more than friends…
