RP Log: aestark

[takingouttrash]

Tony: And I've noticed, Miss Potts, you've been socializing with my other lesser halves, or fifths... twentieths... and we've only had one date. *raises brows 'formidably'*

Pepper: My mun's trying to get a hold on my voice I'm right here, Mr. Stark.

Tony: Do you think I graduated MIT suma kum laude by waiting forever? You are, unfortunatley here is not the happening spot. I suggest we find a good there or means of correcting the here.

Pepper: I mean, that's why she's been throwing me at blind, lame, and dumb muses so she can practice. And no, I don't think so, not at seventeen. Let me know what and where I need to do, and I'll be on it. Just don't kill yourself in the process.

Tony: *frowns* I know that doesn't apply to the other Starks...wow. it sounds like I have a family. I know you don't act like this all the time. Not healthy for you. *finishes off his sixth scotch for the evening, setting it aside and lightly taking her wrist as he headed for the garage* Picking out the car might help things along.

Pepper: Okay, maybe *almost hisses* Stane? And you do, you know. Kind of. *frowns slightly* You do know the board of the directors will not take it kindly if the press gets even a hint that you've been pulled for drunk driving, don't you?
Well, yes, that's where you having such a varied choice comes in handy. What do you have in mind?

Tony: Please. He can't even fix his own segway. Sure he's been there as long as I can remember and he keeps a decent part of the company in check, but the man couldn't get the inspiration to pick his own wedgie unless I did it first. Figuratively, at least. I hope he's not watching me that close. The point is he's predictable. Then it's a good thing I don't value their opinions of me very much. My name is on the company. *enters the code to the garage* You think the R8 is getting overused? How about the Tesla?

Pepper: Doesn't mean... oh never mind. *bites her lip for a very brief moment* Tony... I don't want you locked up. You don't want to be locked up either. I think you can see that part. Just... be careful?
I've... no preference either way. My question was more along the lines of where to, but...

Tony: ...I'm supposed to let that go, right? Tesla. Good. *holds the door of the fancy red sports car for her* Scout's honor. You'll survive the trip and it will be arrest free.

You didn't say anything, so consider it a surprise. *closes the door after her, heading for the driver's seat*

Pepper: Might as well. It's all been practice that mun thought useful... and I got to see a movie off it. I think that version of you wanted me to see it only to be able to comment on red eyes or something. Thank you.

*chews on her knuckles and puts on the seat belt and makes a mental note to mark the route in case she has to return home on her own* Yes, Mr. Stark.

Tony: *squints* That's almost shallow. Practice makes perfect. Miss Potts. Not that you weren't great before but...you know. Perfection takes time. I'm working on it

*sits down in the seat, starting up the car calmly* JARVIS, we're going out. Don't wait up. *turns off the communications system for a moment before flicking it back on* Oh. And find something good on the XM Radio. *revs the engine, frowning at the Chuck Mangione music* Don't push it. *satisfied with the ACDC choice he speeds out of the garage and onto the road*

Pepper: Thank you, Mr. Stark. I'm doing my best not to disappoint. ... You've never been satisfied by anything but the best.

*gives a small smirk at the bickering with JARVIS, is unsurprised at the choice of music, then grabs the edge of her seat with both hands as the speed picks up* *raises her voice over the music but doesn't make a move to turn the volume down; but maybe talking, or trying, will distract her from being afraid?* So what prompted the change of pace? I mean, the dates? *because you are you and everybody knows you and how you are with girls...*

Tony: Everyone deserves the best. Obviously we rarely get it, but I'm lucky in more ways than one.

He drove on calmly unaffected by the volume of the music, his slight intoxication and her uncertainty and how she was trooping her way through it. Hell's Bells lowered ever so slightly but he still replied in a raised voice, "I guess you're going to have to be a little more specific than that," he teased maybe taking the opportunity to think of a clever answer. "Shit," he turned sharply yet smoothly to the right skillfully missing oncoming traffic, "That turn always gets me."


Pepper: *snorts* If one could collect people's envy for you and put it to useful work, it could easily replace the old arc reactor in powering up the plant. Not that I'm complaining.

She had to admit that if she kept her eyes off the road, and off the speedmeter, it wasn't so bad. Which left, say, him to look at.
Dangerous.
"Well, I mean-- Good god!" Oh look who was trying to fuse with her seat once that sharp turn was done! "You..." She swallowed and tried again to distract herself, though it was a bit harder just now. "I mean, I've always been here. And yet now something's changed, hasn't it?"

Tony: Fortunatley the arc reactor is doing a fine job. Harvesting envy would cause all kinds of uproar...damn humanitarians. *waits for a smile* Come oooon....

He hadn't noticed her attempt at fusion nor the swallowing...not this was all going well. The next turn he was braced for and the car glided smoothly into the left turn. "Well, I think change comes hand-in-hand with what has been going on the last couple of months." The station flicked to a Dido song and once again he was unamused. "I'd feel safer entrusting the radio to you, if you don't mind, Pepper."

Pepper: Hmm. You could patent it and have others take the fire. *yes, smile. Fine! Also, always looking after his best interest, right?*

She took a deep breath and tried to force herself to relax. She was scared of the speed... not just of the car, but of shifting and making things other than the comfortable... frustrating... established employer-assistant relationship. But in a way, well, in many ways, she wanted it. Just wasn't sure it was the best of ideas. Or a good idea at all. "Indeed change is. I... maybe didn't expect it would be... me." She choked a laugh and unglued one hand from the edge of the seat to fiddle with the radio controls. Blinking only for a second over them, she dialed a frequency she was more or less familiar with the music selection of. "Whoever thinks AC/DC followed by that makes sense needs a sanity check, I think." The station flickered and the new song was one of Suicidal Tendencies. "Is this better?"

Tony: That a girl. Not very sincere, but I'll take it.

"Agreed," he replied with a pause. "To the music selection, not your first question." He needed to get his question and answer priorities in order, if not for the media certainly for the people who deserved the responses. "What you were talking about is nonsense. You're a nice enough girl and though I'm sure the birthday presents you pick out are exceedingly more, well, you than anything I'd give you, consider it earned." He listened to the music for a moment before nodding along with it allowing the approval to show via the gas pedal, smirking, "It definitely works."

Pepper: Yes, sorry, if I recall correctly, one of the reasons you hired me was that I couldn't lie with any degree of success. I'm just... edgy?

She sighed and felt tempted to sag a little, feeling the new acceleration. It wasn't exactly easy to keep him both happy and safe, was it. Her lips quirked up slightly, wondering whether he was the only one taking on impossible tasks and such. "That dress was ridiculous." That's all she could come up with right then, too.

Tony: I get my daily dose of liars. Hell, I get my yearly dose of them in one board meeting.

Rather than slow down the car came to a gradual halt. It was a sports car... brakes were meant for definite stops and last-minute resorts. "Quite flattering on you, actually." He stepped out and around the car to open the door for her. The car was parked askew in a shopping strip nestled next to a park. "Most of the places are closed by now, I'm sure, but there's always window shopping. Nice hot tub place to check out. 24 hour coffee shop helps too."

Pepper: *nods* Yes. If I can do anything to help there...

She let out a breath as the car stopped and scrambled to unbuckle before he changed his mind and started again... hopefully. "Yes, but not the best choice among... everybody I work with. If... That will be hallways jokes fodder for months yet." That. And this. If they got a whiff of it.

She stepped out of the car and straightened out, surprisingly not shaky on her feet (for the moment), and the smile at the way he'd parked was honest, this time. "The advantages of middle-of-the-night parking, I guess." She tilted her chin up and had to add, honestly, "I think window shopping must be the last thing I expected you to-- unless you have something in particular in mind which you'll expect to show up promptly where you can use it." A beat, then, "hot tubs. That does seem an interesting object of observation." Yes, she was smiling. This seemed... not uncomfortable. Interesting, even. With his mind, it was bound to be interesting.
Just for her. Now that was a change.

Comments

[aestark.livejournal.com]

That won't be necessary. I find being difficult with their opinions only makes the meetings shorter and the members more aggravated.

"You shouldn't care what people say about you," for a moment it seemed like an inspirational speech was coming on but surely she knew better, "If I think it's flattering it has to mean something." He had many employees for he himself, but only a few he kept close to home...maybe he wouldn't venture to call them friends. No, by no means. Only Pepper. Still, there was that strange distance between them and lately the gap had been slowly closing. Maybe that tended to happen with a not-so secret life of vigilantism.

He waited for her before walking towards the strip mall. "Normally I'm not a big fan, but I know the shop happens to be open for 20 more minutes and the owner can be convinced to stay open a few minutes longer. I was hoping you could give an opinion on the selection since I'm going to get one installed tomorrow afternoon." There was that press conference...but those could always be covered up. He had been generous with the ones in he last few weeks- that attendance record justified an absence.

[takingouttrash]

... you enjoy that, don't you.

Quietly, "I still have to work with them, Tony. It's sometimes hard to get them to focus when they're trying to drag gossip out of me." Not when they're trying to be offensive, that she could deal with. Curious, now that was difficult. "It becomes unproductive. And you don't like that." Friends. Yes, they were that. Would closing that gap be good? Probably not. Professional?
Definitely not.

The smile on her lips stretched a little more. "I have this idea that you can convince any store owner into staying open as late as you wish. I don't know what it could be based on." You know, besides all that money. Or previous experience.
She walked easily be- oh. Beside him, not the usual half-step behind. "I'd be glad to see what you have in mind and oversee the works." Ha. Ha. As if with her around, he was going to be as much as late, let alone absent, anywhere right now.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

In healthy doses, of course.

Her quiet remarks slipped right past him. Normally with his selective hearing he would be able to pick out his name indicating he was meant to tune in but the only neon OPEN sign in the window of a store had his attention now. He opened the door, waiting for Pepper to enter before stepping in himself. "Daryl?" The bell chimed but no salesman or clerk responded. "It looks like we're going to have to help ourselves."

He walked past the first section of models with a slight, if any second glances. "Ugly color, that design wouldn't work at all, wouldn't hold as many people as I hoped," shooting down those were easy. As they reached the other end of the store he finally came to a halt to actually survey the models. His attention was caught by a complex model with additions (http://crave.cnet.com/i/bto/20070918/spa_325x257.jpg) and a plain alternative (http://www.kellisells.com/listman/listings/images/7_2.jpg) among a few other options. He leaned on the edge of a "lesser" option, fiddling with the buttons and letting his fingers dangle in to test the water while continuing to look his options over. "Okay. We'll say you were making the call...I need a vote of practicality, here." A pause. Who was he kidding? "You know what, no practicality. Whatever would impress you more. Which would you pick?"

[takingouttrash]

*blinks, moderation? That's an interesting novelty* Of course.

Oh that would be all right. She'd keep on managing that problem her own way.
Having to walk so close by him as he was holding the door made her feel like cringing - with the realization that she'd forgotten to wear deodorant. Again. She didn't cringe, no, however, she walked in with face down, avoiding looking at him. "Yes, of course."

She made herself relax again as they were waling among the displays, and hearing his familiar commentary certainly helped with that. It was familiar... pleasant, by now. Not that she went down to the workshop sometimes just so that she could listen to him working... but the thought had crossed her mind at times.

And then they stopped before the two models, and she leaned to look at the first one more closely, to figure out what some of the functions would be. His question registered only partially, just that he was asking which one and she blurted out her first thought, "the one that you can plug so JARVIS can run it at voice commands."
And then it hit her. He was asking which one she would pick.
She straightened up and stared for a moment, then tried to amend, "I mean... I... I'm impressed by both." She pursed her lips, then went on a bit more firmly, "are you really sure you want to get what I would choose? That's... You've never let anyone else decide for you." I don't think it would be right for anyone else to decide for you...

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Tony Stark was a man who prided himself on many talents, however his sense of smell fell within the ranks of the average man. As Pepper passed him he hadn't noticed any deviation from her normal smell...no, he wasn't looking for that at all

He raised his brows as she mentioned the model equipped with extra electronic accessories and a large screen. Of course he could plug it into JARVIS, that was her practicality talking. The other was much simpler, but he could definitely route the functions to the AI and add a few functions of his own. That might not go well with the warranty...but since when did he have concerns about such things? Suddenly, as if she had become aware of some other function, she changed her mind...became indecisive, even, and conservative.

"Surely you prefer one over the other. There's others to choose from too," he slumped forward slightly, enjoying the feel of the water he was testing until he realized a moment too late the sleeves of his shirt and jacket had been generously lapped by the water.

"Tony!" A cheerful voice rang out from the back of the store. A husky looking man with a receding hairline and eager eyes approached...a salesman obviously, "Knew you'd come back. Expected a call first, but obviously not your style. Make a decision yet?"

Tony had slipped the wet sleeve behind his back casually, continuing to lean on the nearest tub. "Actually we're making the final selection. Brought along Pepper for good judgment." He returned his attention to Pepper as if they had never been approached by the salesman, "Well, I would take it into deep consideration...you let me know when something I want to take up from storage into the house is ugly," he put a certain emphasis on the word that implied her honesty, "so why not try the same for an oversized tub?" He smiled thinly, sincere...but mostly curious.

[takingouttrash]

Probably not, but that sure didn't make his personal assi-- his exclusive secre-- Pepper any less self conscious.

She didn't become indecisive... per se. Rather, she became more concerned with the consequences. Not of which bathtub to buy, of course, considering that if he decided, he could buy off the entire store and alternate the selection by week, rotating the tubs in various bathrooms at his house - which she wouldn't suggest or even mention to him, thank you. No, the implications of her choosing for him. This far, she'd not been shy of giving her opinion freely, of the pros and cons of things and all that jazz, but the choice was always his.

He always knew what he wanted. And he always got what he wanted. And now he was asking her what she wanted for him... for his house. She half-smiled at the wet sleeve, thinking that whatever the conditioning devices on that choice, he seemed to like the result of them...

... and where that train of thought was going got curtailed by the appearance of ... Daryl, did he say? - which got her shut down to professional, the smile becoming her usual polite one, instead of the more confused (if, possibly, warmer) one from moments ago. "Good evening. Um. We just got in, I'll ..." Take another look around, she was going to say, but it didn't take more than a look to confirm what she already suspected - Tony had led her straight to the two best items on display. The only other one that caught her eye - maybe because it was in an area that was partly darkened and the water was glowing - seemed a bit too simple for his house. And she'd spent enough time there to have a feel for things that fit or didn't.

"Mr. Stark," she turned back to him and the two - indeed, oversized - tubs. She indicated the one with the plasma display. "I think this one would provide a bit more immediate amusement until all its functions have been tried and tested," she didn't add, and improved on, probably, "while the satisfaction of the other seems likely to be of a more steady variety." Translate, if you like it now, you'll probably keep on liking it. "The question is, which would you rather enjoy yourself in."

She leaned closer to look at the specifications of the simpler tub, and murmured quietly enough - she hoped - so that the store owner didn't hear. "The question is, how soon will you want a replacement."

Oh wait. She definitely hadn't meant to suggest him trying how he enjoyed himself in each of them now!

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Considering both options he managed to get a view of Daryl out of the corner of his eye. Though patient, he could tell the man was raising his brows towards Pepper as she surveyed his products over and was just as interested in hearing her opinion...he might be enjoying the sights as well. That was always a possibility. He kept an even face as she spoke to him under her breath. And here he would have been pleased to test them if he had told her to bring along her bathing suit. Probably would have ended up a better date.

"So," he turned towards Daryl, hand muffled in the pocket of his pants. "After consulting with my assistant on your selection I'm going to go with the Teuco over there," he nodded towards the tub sectioned off in a darkened area with glowing water. Simplistic: yes. Those were the best models to deal with it. She had lingered on it for a moment to show at least a hint of interest. Whether or not it fit into his decor was a distant thought. If it didn't work there was the option of changing the tub or changing the decor that surrounded it. He flicked out his wet sleeve casually to look at his damp watch, "Since you were closed ten minutes ago, let's finish the paperwork upon instillation." A little lightheaded and he felt his limbs were, well, loose. Nevertheless he left no gap of time for him nor Pepper to speak about his brief sway. "Go ahead and have it delivered tomorrow. I owe Miss Potts a cup of coffee."

[takingouttrash]

Pepper was about to comment on the choice, but her eyes widened and her lips thinned at the unsure standing up... and she almost reached to slip an arm around his waist to support him. She took a step closer, just in case, and turned to Daryl, reaching out to hand him a card with contact information, "please call me here to give you the address and make sure that security are warned about the precise time it'll be delivered? Thank you. I will be there to meet you or the crew and settle the details. And, good evening."

She looked at her boss and quietly started towards the exit. When they were outside, she asked quietly, "I don't suppose I'll be able to persuade you to let me drive back? Like, now?" She definitely didn't like how pale he looked. And it wasn't just the night-time lights either.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Once they had stepped out into the fresh (as fresh as the city air could be...perhaps crisp or cool air would have been a better choice of words) he sighed a breath of relief, quickly straightening himself to prove his motor skills weren't entirely shot.

"Absolutely not. You'll have to take me kicking and screaming," he replied bluntly, stubborn. He wasn't opposed to her driving for their own safety, but it seemed almost a waste of a night. Numb steps and faulty footing changed his gait slightly, "Well, more screaming than kicking. I think you'd call it flailing, actually."

If she insisted enough he might find he was willing to compromise.

[takingouttrash]

"For God's sake, Tony... What's the matter?" Now this wasn't funny at all. It wasn't like he hadn't gotten battered plenty enough recently. Not like she didn't have reasons to worry quickly.

She stepped up to him, ready to prop him up at any more serious miss-footing. Hesitating only a moment, she added, "lean on me, if you need to."

Her mind was working on overload. Coffee - or water - immediately from that coffee place he mentioned... Home immediately... or call for an ambulance?

Home. IF needed, she could have JARVIS call for a doctor. She swallowed and tried a course that could get his attention and possibly agreement for the idea.

"Flailing. At the idea of me getting you home and putting you to bed. I do hope you're not kicking that hard."

[aestark.livejournal.com]

And what was wrong? Fatigue, a possibility since he hadn't been generous with his sleep as of late. It could even be something as trivial as drinking on an empty stomach. As long as it wasn't the arc reactor he had nothing to worry about. Physically he had survived being held captive for three months, but more importantly he had survived spring break of 1987- this was nothing. But he wouldn't turn down Pepper's hospitality so easily. He has stopped as soon as she moved closer, slipping an arm around her waist before retracting his hand and lightly draping the arm across her shoulders instead. "Probably better support," he cleared his throat.

She was flustered. He hated it. She was the one maintaining order in his life; if that was thrown into turmoil then what was going to balance things out again? "Pepper," he repeated her name a few times to get her attention almost prepared to use Virgina if needed, "hey, it's going to be fine, okay?" No headache thus far, thankfully, just a nebulous feeling.

"I'll go quietly."

[takingouttrash]

She had been indecisive, that wasn't quite the same as flustered, thank you very much. ... and she'd meant his home.
... that didn't mean that she wasn't worried. A lot. Her only comment to his arm around her shoulders was her own tightly around his waist. Yes, his weight was greater than her own. Her determination to help didn't waver because of that.

They were standing in an empty parking lot, all alone - the lights in the tubs store had gone out and there'd been the noise of a car driving away from the other side of the building. And he was repeating her name as if he wasn't aware that her attention was focused on him and him alone. "Okay. I'm here, all right?" Oh yeah. Once the worry crystallized into actual fear, there was firmness again and determination.

"Let's blow out of here then." Contact. Breathe. Smile. Stay with me, Tony. I'm right here. Holding him closely, she didn't even look around to register where said coffee place was. She headed straight for the car. "Keys, please?"

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Her arm across his waist was surprisingly firm...probably a small gap of time to hit the gym during the week. Despite his haze he tried not to lean on her too much and make movement difficult for both of them. Lucky for them the parking lot and surrounding area looked vacated: the only help he needed or wanted right now was her own. It made him feel calm.

"Right," he fished around in his pockets for his set of keys. After a moment of shifting and clumsily maneuvering himself he had finally found them in the pocket of his coat, searching for her petite hands to deposit the keys in. His hand touched her own, teasing past the fingers to place the keys in her palm. He didn't have to turn a great deal to move towards the passenger side of the car with a parking job like that...he would take steps on his own if needed and made a great effort of doing so. "Barely remember this half of the car even existed..." he muttered mostly to himself.

[takingouttrash]

She wasn't supposed to be in control. That's what was so disconcerting for Pepper this evening. She was supposed to be the navigator, he was supposed to be in the captain's seat. At the rudder.

It wasn't that she couldn't do it; immediate tasks were, always, simple enough. It just wasn't supposed to be this way. She shook her head at that thought as she was unlocking the car and seating him. Yes, the unorthodox parking helped. It had been convenient for her coming out too, odd as it looked. Again, she realized how close to addicted she was to how what he did always could work out, if the rest of the world played along.

The way she did her best to play along. Because she'd go a long, long way to prevent the appearance of the hurt of failure in his eyes. Not letting him fall was just... important.

She walked around the car and got in to the driver's seat. Turning the key made the radio power up too and her hand rose to tune it a little down - just in case Tony was saying something she needed to hear. It was Meat Loaf, doing his take on a song first sung by Celine Dion. Duet with a girl she always forgot the name of, no matter how many times she looked it up. In a way, it had lyrics that could be tuned out. Nothing was there to come back to them. Was there. Well, at least nothing in the context of the song.

Now, Pepper Potts was a reasonable driver. She didn't get to do it all the time, what with cars waiting for her often enough to take her where she was expected to go; but she was still good enough at it. However, she wasn't prepared for this little monster.
Of course, all it took was one lurch on the gas, and one of the breaks, to realize how powerful engine + lightweight car had to be handled, but she still hissed under her breath a word she'd not care to repeat out loud - after all, she hadn't for a long, long time - and looked aside to the passenger seat. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark. It'll be smoother now." And it was; she was mostly the never-make-the-same-mistake-twice sort of person.

If not driving quite as fast as when he'd driven them here.

Good thing she was paying attention on the way here, right?

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Slouching down in the seat, defeat began to sink in just slightly. The thought might not have been immediate, but this did not come remotely close to the night he had planned. Sure he had placed the order for the hot tub, but coffee was, well, critical. Quite possibly for the first time he did not have a qualm about her lowering the music- as long as it wasn't Celine Dion herself he had no reason to complain.

The lurch caught him slightly off guard and he did his best to hide a wince. "I appreciate the ambition, but a little lighter." The seatbelt were surely effective, but reading up on the car's stats was enough for him...he did not need to feel it to believe it. "Just Tony. I'm really not in the mood for feeling like Miss Daisy right now," he muttered into his hands as he roughly massaged his palms over his face. The only thing to do now was roll with the punches. She was still driving him home. Tony did wonder and search for any sensation of disappointment.

[takingouttrash]

"No, I've got it. ... Tony. And if you think I'll ask you to come with me to a Martin Luther King, Jr. speech, you've got the wrong person." No, Pepper didn't like the slouch, nor the tone of his voice. She didn't like him sad, she didn't like him unwell, and she definitely didn't like it when he had reasons to criticize her, because, well, she was supposed to do what she was doing well, and disappointing him wasn't on the job description.

She concentrated on the driving for a moment, and then they were on an easier stretch (no more lurches, no); the music change to Led Zeppelin; and she glanced aside to see his face lit up only barely by the meager light available.
No, she had to do something, anything, to help. And since she couldn't quite think of anything helpful to say, she just reached to squeeze his hand lightly.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

"Mm," he was mildly amused by the retort, but didn't feel the normal freight train of anticipation and wit build up inside him that urged him to vocalize. He felt numb, and comfortably so. Tony kept his eyes instead on the road up ahead and the few globes of light from other cars they encountered. As the song changed his dark eyes flicked momentarily to the radio.

Hey, Hey, What Can I Do? It was an obscure choice...was it the time? 11:15, the power hour of B-Side ballads or something? The automatic DJ might have been programmed to play the entire collection throughout the night. Thinking and musing on such a matter eased his mind and made him realize the discomfort of slouching. He squirmed quietly in his seat to regain his poise, leaning his head back ready to emit a sigh before feeling a small bit of pressure on his left hand. The sigh died in the back of his mouth and he looked down at the petite hand, then up the pale arm, across the graceful shoulders, up the slender neck to the face of its owner. He smiled thinly, rolling his hand slightly to adjust the hold to be more comfortable. "Sorry. Your hands are tiny."

[takingouttrash]

A small smile flickered on her lips as she recalled how surprising his first asking 'How big are you hands?' had been. And how little she could have expected what followed. "No need to apologize, really. I hope you don't object." Why yes, this part was pure teasing.

Maybe she was trying to remind herself that driving wasn't the best time to be distracted by how pleasant his touch was (and he did, she didn't have problem remembering, know how to touch). It worked; she managed to keep her attention on the road, and she was actually enjoying how lightly and easily she could make this car obey. Yes, she could force her way when necessary (or, in Tony's case, bully), but she did occasionally enjoy things going easily.

Pepper took a small breath and added, "and I might need that hand in a bit, so don't get too comfortable with it." But she sure didn't make a move to pull it away after he did adjust his hold.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

"Not my place to," he averted his attentions back to the road, thumb moving across her knuckles in such a nonchalant movement it might not even be detectable. "I see your driving has improved. Might be better to keep a hold of it, Miss Potts."

He hummed along with the song as it played on the radio indeed in much better spirits than before. Maybe with better judgement he wouldn't still be holding her hand, but she was free to pull away at any time contrary to his suggestion. His hold was firm, but her small hand could slip away with great ease. The only thing that was keeping her in the touch currently was her own will.

[takingouttrash]

"I'm just... finally I got the way to do it, I guess."

Pepper did leave her hand in his hold just because she felt like she needed to. In reality, holding her hand probably didn't help all that much, she thought, but she still couldn't take it away till it was almost time to get the car parked properly and she really needed both hands to do that.

And when she did get him home safely, she was out of the driver's seat and by him, ready for him to lean on her again. She just wanted to make sure he went to bed. She thought she had an idea how to get him to fall to sleep peacefully too.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Lights continued to pass, songs alternated and though his mind was still wildly active he was content on sharing none of it with vocalization. When the car stopped and she was required to move her hand in order to get out he released with ease knowing that she'd be back. She reemerged on the other side of the car and the disoriented industrialist stumbled out of the car, leaning against his assistant a little more dependently.

"See? Not so bad," he was referring more to the driving, but she could possibly take it to mean his well-being...either one was fine with her, he assumed. As they approached the exit of the garage he edged away enough to lift the pin pad and type in a combination.

Invalid.

"Open the damn door," he rubbed his face. Jarvis replied with a shrewd formality and a dry you're welcome, Sir to the thank you that never quite made it past Tony's lips. From there they were on a path to the master bedroom. Well, normally he would take the delay through the living room to the bar, take the company into the lounge and see where it went from there. With the addition of a hot tub the possibilities were truly staggering.

[takingouttrash]

Quite regardless of what he normally would do, Pepper wasn't exactly the usual company, now was she. Besides, the new tub wasn't coming until tomorrow.

... and definitely no passing through the bar. Not tonight when he had already given her a scare. WAS giving her a scare.

Nope, directly to the master bedroom. With a few sotto voce requests to JARVIS - there was one man alone who had the right to command him, and she never tried to step over that - she set the ambiance in the room to decidedly bedtime.

And she tried for slightly astringent words, but her voice probably slightly belied that.

"Will you actually need help getting dressed for sleep, or can you manage that?" Yes, Pepper, you left yourself wide open for comments along the lines of sleeping totally unclothed - but then, even if so, how could she know? Besides, so phrased it was better than a direct 'do you need help with taking your clothes off'...

[aestark.livejournal.com]

He was attentive enough to know the lights around them were dimming to a hazy volume. Progressively the lights would dim to absolute darkness...he had made sure to program that into the settings to ease into the comforts of sleep. He started to remove his jacket quite slowly before stopping entirely as soon as he drew back his shoulders to shrug it off.

"I might need some help." If anything it would be easier for her to take the clothes as soon as they were off him to be properly pressed and he would find them in the wardrobe later. If she hadn't made the offer he very well might have been coaxed into plopping into bed (fully clothed for the first time) and only asking her to stay until he fell asleep. This was a one time offer, he understood, regardless of whether he would remember it later or not.

But he was betting he would.

[takingouttrash]

Well, I occasionally help him (partly) dress, how bad could this be?

Besides, there was something about him admitting - claiming? - to need her that could probably make her anything, anything in the world. Or at least try to do it. It was absurd probably and she shouldn't think about it...

Pepper was taking off the jacket and getting him to sit on the bed (supposedly, better than standing upright and swaying, right?) within moments. She leaned towards him, hair falling forward, and loosened the tie, then started gently but deftly to unbutton the shirt. One of the buttons clicked softly against the glow underneath.

"How are you holding up, hm?" She looked up at his face, at his eyes. Only a little more, and you can sleep...

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Oh. He was a night light. Cute.

The way the blue light fell across her face as she sat him down was more than intriguing. It brought out those freckles dotted across her face and over the bridge of her nose- sure it was discolored...more like a filter, but he couldn't help noticing and, well, maybe staring if it qualified. The snap of another button brought him back to reality aside from the softness of her face.

"Good. Yeah. Super."

His tie was gone (when had he missed that?) and her hair was flowing generously close. To assist he undid the cuff links on his sleeves clumsily catching an eyeful of her body in the process. Continuing the clumsy, yet effective, nonchalant charade he let his hand wander to find the dresser to place the cuff links. He looked up to look into her eyes once more.

"I kept you late again, didn't I?"

[takingouttrash]

'Super?' That impossible, exasperating, alarming, ... she ran out of words, man! She wanted to roll her eyes and sigh in exasperation, or shake him to tell her how he really was feeling, but suddenly she realized her shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.

Her hands were slipping along his body to take off the shirt with a tad more confidence because of the absurd-caused mirth - that is, until their eyes met and she couldn't look away and the laughter went away, her face melting away from it in an instant. Into... she had no idea what. But just for a moment as the blue eyes found the brown, there was a little jolt that left her completely still.

In a moment (or an hour?) she swallowed. "That's completely... fine." Had that been an actual attempt at an apology? She felt like blinking in incomprehension at the idea.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Tony's brow furrowed as he felt her start to shake. She certainly wasn't crying at a time like this...that was the last thing either of them needed. He squinted, trying to get a better look at her as she got him out of his shirt. When their eyes met he leaned back slightly...was she actually laughing? What was so damn funny? His mind tried to recall anything remotely humorous. He had only started to apologize and...

Oh. So not cool.

"Pssht," he turned his head to the side ungracefully, leaning back while managing to barely support himself on his arms stretched out behind him. "Of course it is." He allowed himself to fall back onto the bed and stare at the ceiling, legs slung over the side of the bed still touching the floor. He couldn't sulk- it wasn't possible without some productivity; he wriggled his foot loose of his shoes and kicked them off.

[takingouttrash]

Huh. She rarely saw him flinch away from her before. Or maybe, fall away from her? Disturbing.

"Super," she muttered softly under her breath. Well it was a ridiculous thing to say, after all!
Besides, she didn't feel like laughing anymore.

She tugged at his shirt sleeves and got them off - he could roll off it in a moment; and she saw he'd kicked off the shoes, and that left--

Well yes. Right now, Pepper Potts was blushing a bit (in the dark room, thankfully) at the awareness that what she was to do next was undo her boss's fly and take his trousers off. Talking about clichés.

Oh well. She'd offered to help. - and then a thought came to her, just as she was about to set about it in a quick, business-like manner, and her eyes widened.

"You're not ... commando underneath... right?"

How would that change something she wasn't sure - but she preferred knowing, at least?

[aestark.livejournal.com]

He hadn't picked up on the blush considering the ceiling was looking so damn interesting by this point, but the distinct change of tone in her voice was evident. He had always made it a habit of wearing briefs unless the occasion truly called for it. Tonight he had made the undisputed decision to wear some...no models, no interviews...just a night with Pepper. In other words there was no need to get out of his pants in a big hurry. There was no point in risking damages without need.

She, however, didn't know that. He knew how to get in pants himself- on the occasions she did help him get dressed it was only fussing with a jacket or helping him with a tie. Underneath the pants was a great mystery and he was willing to take full advantage of that. He lifted his head to look up at her over his chest.

"Very commando. Problem?" He lifted a formidable brow.

[takingouttrash]

That was marginally better, if he could employ that brow. She thought.

A trifle heartened by that, she mulled over his question for a moment, then took a deeper breath and stared at him with her brows knit together. She probably thought that was intimidating.

... well, in certain situations it probably was.

But the words were as much a tease as anything else. "Problem? Only if I'm going to be pestered later to evaluate the equipment underneath."

Oh wait. We all know she can't lie, right? Yes, it probably will be a problem (like, trying to keep her face hidden and prevent meeting his eyes for days), but hey, look who's putting up a brave front! ... trying, at least.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

"I expect a detailed full report on my desk by tomorrow morning," he said with a surprising amount of seriousness written on his face. Her professional and even demeanor cause him to grin internally, settling back before he shrugged his shoulders in a single slip of laughter. She hadn't caught that, had she?

Where was she going to start? He was almost positive he could have at least started her off with the loosening of his belt, undoing a button or even starting the zipper...but if he was going to be playing on being a temporary invalid he would have to let her help him out. Now all that was left to do was wait and the few seconds this stand-still had lasted was already killing him.

[takingouttrash]

"I wasn't aware you were that eager for detailed estimation." Yes, talk as if it's going to make it go away, Pepper. Very smart. Then her eyes narrowed. "You're enjoying this, aren't you." It wasn't even a question.

Her chin jutted forward in an 'all right then' tic and her hands started on the belt. Well, a bit unhappy as this part had made her, he hadn't been pretending he was feeling ill (or how else would he let HER drive?), so she was careful. Gentle, even. One could notice, however, that she was avoiding looking up to meet his eyes - which she felt like were following her tiniest move. And no, she wasn't usually self-conscious. But she was right now.

Then again, undoing a man's pants wasn't that difficult a task. The belt buckle clanked as she pushed it aside to undo the button, and then the zipper's sound came as she pushed that down.

... silence reigned for a moment as she realized just how 'commando' her boss WAS.

Then, in a voice laced with a bit more frostiness than she'd used throughout the evening, she remarked, "I'm sure jokes on me like this are very amusing, Mr. Stark."

What she wanted to do was take a pillow and smash right into that face that she was certain was smirking right now.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

"No comment." He found that to be his newest excuse lately. He had brought it home from the recent press conferences, no doubt. Tony kept his head tucked close to his shoulder to watch Pepper carefully from afar. She was avoiding establishing any kind of eye contact but she had to know he was waiting for a reaction. He was exhausted, his stomach had its share of aches and the light-head feeling was ever-present, but this was far too entertaining.

No harm, no foul. She didn't seem to be taking it well, but that didn't stop his smirk from spreading.

"Should be a relief for you," he inched himself back with his arms to finally do his part in helping her with the pants, laughing to himself. When his head found the pillow he let out a sigh of relief. Was that relaxation? Continuing to watch her, a small smile returned. "You're not mad. Don't try to be- it gives you wrinkles."

He vaguely remembered his mother saying something like that while rubbing some kind of cream on her face. Very vaguely.

[takingouttrash]

The sigh and the quiet words, "no, I'm not mad" slipped by her before she could stop them. What use was anything else anyway, since that was the truth.

Instead of trying to catch the words back, she straightened up against her slightly sagging shoulders and worked to arrange the covers and try to settle him more comfortably. She was going to ask him to see a doctor - tomorrow. Not now.

Now... more words slipped out, these without any bitterness, though maybe a slight teasing edge. Maybe. "And you don't want me to get wrinkles why? Because then you'd have to replace me with a brand new model?"

Maybe that was unfair. But maybe so was trying to get a laugh out of the embarrassment of somebody worried for you who was trying to help you, too!

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Tony's eyes lingered on her when she arranged the covers around and over him. "That's a terrible accusation," his smile had long dissipated into a face that lacked amusement entirely. She wasn't normally so morbid...at least not this long. Hell, he was going to live. She worried too much- if Miss Potts had one fault it would be that.

Although Tony didn't mind. It might have even been endearing.

The lights in the room had dimmed so low that the only way he was able to see her properly was through the muffled light of the reactor underneath his sheets. Subtly Tony brushed a hand across his chest to lower the sheets in order to let a greater amount of light shine over. His eyelids half-covered his dark eyes by now but he didn't look entirely at ease just yet. "So smile and we won't have to worry about any kind of replacing going on. You have a nice smile when you really mean it."

[takingouttrash]

Pepper swallowed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what possessed me to say that." Honestly, she was sorry.

She sat on the edge of the bed. 'Smile'. He never gave easy tasks, did he. Oh, right, the easy tasks were for the ordinary people... She sought in her mind something to smile at, right now.

And then she recalled the look on Daryl's face when Tony had pointed and entirely different bathtub for purchase, earlier. The... confusion. And it made her think of how Tony tended to do and say things sometimes just to get people berserk and then stay entertained by their reactions. Her lips quirked up on their own and her eyes crinkled.

Her gaze slipped from the glint of his half-closed eyes down to the glow of the chestpiece. Her mind brought up his unconscious habit of drumming his fingers over it. The smile widened. She never, ever knew another person with his gift to create the impossible - and to coax the people around him into accepting into their daily lives.

Yes, the smile was there for him. Not the bright-sunlight-before-the-cameras smile, no. This one was gentler, if tinged with a bit more irony. And a lot more honest.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

She was easy to forgive. After all, she forgave him so often that a sense of generosity had rubbed off on him despite a stubborn side of him that wanted to make her work for his forgiveness. But that was the old Tony- this Tony had, well, improved.

And...she actually had pulled it off. No, he hadn't been entirely surprised because he had seen that genuine smile before on the rare occasion. He had enjoyed it so greatly he vowed never to forget it and file away everything that provoked it in a special "folder" of sorts in the back of his mind. His fingers drummed quickly across the chest plate before he returned an honest, but tiring smile. "There we go." Damnit. He wasn't going to pass out just yet. Not a chance in hell when it felt like some medical drama unfolding and he was on his deathbed while the gorgeous woman in his life gave him one last true, reminiscent smile before he croaked.

"Since I've already kept you late you might as well stay the night."

[takingouttrash]

What, did he expect her to go away and leave him looking - and probably feeling - like something the non-present! cat dragged in? Oh, Tony...

Her chin dipped slightly as the smile deepened. "You make all those irresistible invitations, Mr. Stark. I'll think about it."

Semi-consciously, her hand reached to hold his (the one not drumming on the chestpiece, she wouldn't dream of stopping that) and, her voice now serious and tinged with concern, she finally asked. "How are you feeling? Do you expect trouble falling asleep?" The first, she almost needed to know and she hoped he'd tell her, in private. The second... she thought she had an idea how to help with.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

"They're irresistible. You're not supposed to think about them."

She had taken his hand again. He squeezed it lightly but made no effort to turn it over as he had before. It was a mixture of growing tiredness and, well, maybe he had liked her initiating something like that- he just couldn't admit that openly. "Like I said...super," One side of his lips curled up into a shameless grin, "but I think it's going to take some convincing for me to fall asleep."

He meant to sound formidable and stifled a yawn to do so. Pepper always had a plan and he could see the wheels were turning inside of her mind: everything was reflected in her eyes. What would she do? And could he really get her to stay?

[takingouttrash]

"I'm always supposed to think. So you can afford occasionally to-" not think "-focus on other things. To do."

Pepper almost snorted at herself. Yes, she should have expected him not answering, but she just bloody cared, and seeing him unwell and not being able to do anything about it...
... was like him refusing to be examined by doctors after Dubai and insisting to stick to paramedics.
Impossible man.

Instead of snorting, she just sighed. "Don't you dare pretend you're like this to make me do what will follow again. Right?" Correct?, a small voice in her mind prompted quietly, but she didn't pay attention.

"Once upon a time, back when I had to be babysitted," she waited a beat for his reaction, but yes, parents were still wary of leaving children on their very own back when she was a kid too, "one of the ladies who came was Indian. You know, with the dot and everything." She lifted her free hand to point between her eyebrows. "And when I couldn't fall asleep, she'd sing to me. Her English wasn't that good, you know; besides, it worked better than stories." She still remembered the melody that babysitter had used. She couldn't recall her name anymore, but she remembered talking how she was her Ayah for the evening, and the song. She didn't know how good the singing would be, but... "How does that sound to you as means to convince you?"

[aestark.livejournal.com]

She was thinking about Dubai and that catastrophe. It was certainly coincidental and he had promised her he would never go getting himself could (who would? He failed to know). These things did happen, however irritating, and in the future he would consider listening when she reminded him to consider sleep along with changing the clothes he had been wearing for three days.

Just consider. No promises.

"Correct," he replied having already fallen comfortably into the habit. Like hell she was going to get him to see any kind of doctor now, let alone back then. He didn't comment further, listening to her story and raising his brows to ensure her he was responsive and attentive. Not all the words sunk in, just enough to imagine a child version of his secretary laughing and playing and he wondered what excellent breeding had given him the assistant he had today. Singing was unorthodox...but it might work. Nobody had ever sang for him...danced, maybe, but the suggestion leaked into the realm of sweet

"Mhm," he had not sounded entirely interested as he had been hoping for more, but it would do. The laziness of his voice could easily be mistaken for a hint of deliriousness which was quite present as well.

[takingouttrash]

Yes, well, Pepper Potts, if nobody'd noticed yet, was a worrier. And while she knew Tony could, and would, push his body well beyond what most people thought of, even he had to have a limit. She really really didn't want him to slam against it. Pace himself... not that he ever would. Whenever he was doing something, he was giving it everything of himself.
Knowing that just didn't stop her worrying.

And she'd keep on reminding. Hopefully, he'd consider her reminders. Hopefully, he'd hear most of them. Sometimes she wasn't sure he heard at all, when he was too involved in what he was doing.

More? Tonight? Well, let's say that if he went and passed out during something more, neither of them would retain pleasant memories of the experience. Besides... she'd tried to go for a kiss. Once. They'd both realized it was a wrong move.
Right?

"Correct," she repeated quietly. "Relax, now." Then she closed her eyes for a moment to remember the Ayah's voice, and started singing. She wasn't trained; she hadn't sung this to anybody else, as a matter of fact, but her memory of the melody was strong, and it came out, soft but distinct, lulling-by. After a few moments, her other hand moved and her fingers started lightly, slowly caressing the back of his palm.

[aestark.livejournal.com]

Relax, now. He settled back further into the bed and allowed his head to lean off to the side, watching her, skeptical. She had her eyes closed and seemed to be bracing herself. He might have closed his eyes after her for all purposes of fairness but she had captured his attention too well.

The moment the voice emitted from her lips he knew this was something special and personal. It was not the requirement of an assistant to sing their bosses to sleep nor was the case with friends. The quality of her voice didn't matter- it was the sincerity along with the gentleness of her touch. No, he had never had anything quite like this. It seemed to be exactly what Tony needed.

"Peppe-," he had started off aimlessly before a peak in the notes brought him back to the realization she was still going. He cut himself off, and closed his eyes without a single complaint or sign of resistance. The heaviness of his head and empty aches in the pit of his stomach alleviated along with any signs of physical stress. His hand squeezed her own lightly once more before his knuckles and digits relaxed entirely. The other hand steadily drummed away on his chest piece but progressively slowed until the light was obscured from his fingers over the glow and the shadows drifted calmly with his breathing. Anthony Edward Stark had been soothed to sleep in under 3 minutes with no interjections.

[takingouttrash]

Pepper's eyes fluttered open when she heard his voice, but she caught him closing his and his face relaxing, so she continued the singing till she ran out of tune. Her fingers went on caressing his relaxed hand for a bit while she made sure he wasn't stirring and his breathing was even. Regular.
She watched him for a couple of minutes. His face was relaxed in sleep. No tension, no pain, no bad memories, no show. Just peace. On the other hand, she missed the fire in those dark eyes which could command or implore or inspire or beg...

She shook her head. Enough of that now. Gently, oh so gently she disengaged her fingers and adjusted the cover. She slipped her feet out of the shoes, picked them up and tiptoed out of the master bedroom, gathering up his clothes on the way. She started the dry-cleaning cycle, then walked back up and into the small guestroom that she'd occasionally crashed in during 'high party' or other 'high attendance' seasons. (Not that she'd moved in or anything, no. It was just the last bedroom to usually get occupied if there were people who were to stay overnight, so she'd naturally tended to choose it when it was needed.)

She closed the door tightly and only then whispered for Jarvis.

His voice sounded quiet, though far from whispering (she wondered if he could whisper...) and she sighed.

"Jarvis... please let him sleep in tomorrow? If something comes in for him before that - wake me up. If he wakes up before me - wake me up. If - if he seems to be having some sort of fit or something, wake me up. Please?"

"Will do, Miss Potts."

She was tempted to just curl in the bed as she was, but she'd have to be here in the same clothes tomorrow. So she took care they were on a hanger and would be presentable in the morning, and curled under the coverlet. She'd have hissed something in the direction of the boss, the frustration, the fear, the worry, the... rest of it. If only she could find words for it. Instead, she stared out into thin air for a while more until Jarvis completely dimmed the windows as well as the lights, and darkness and sleep swallowed her too.