billionaires | #inbox

Her voice startles him awake, though he can't fully identify her in the last moments of sleep and it makes him thrash briefly before the moment catches up to him. The fear drains from his face, but he gives a slight shiver as he realizes the predicament they're in.

"...Hey," he issues super belatedly, sitting up and blinking the sleep from his eyes.

"Ugh," she mutters, not at him but at her general state of being right there; cold and sticky. That needs to be remedied pretty immediately, not that she's starting to actually wake up.

"I'm gonna go take a shower. You can come with me, if you wanna," she adds as she gets up from the couch, already beelining toward the bathroom, albeit not without a glance over her shoulder back at him, a smile curving at her lips.

Tony snorts at her evaluation, hopping up a second later once he realizes her game. "Hey! Wait up." He actually jogs to catch up to her, ignoring how his still persistent headache protests, and taps his hip against hers playfully. "Not cool."

"You snooze, you lose," she laughs as she steps through into the bathroom first, wasting little time turning on the shower so the water heats up as soon as possible. "Does your head still hurt?"

She hadn't missed the tightness around his eyes that spelled pain, trying to tamp down on the curling frisson of concern attempting to take root.

The question is met with confusion, wondering how she could possibly know. He'd been trying hard not to give anything away, but apparently he had anyway.

"It's nothing," he dismisses, though her calling attention to it makes it hurt more somehow and he has to rub at his temple to abate the pressure some.

"It's not nothing. Hop in," she prompts him in her no-nonsense manner once the water finally runs hot, herding him under the spray. She grabs the shampoo and squirts some on her palm before replacing the bottle, starting to wash his hair without asking if it's okay-- though the washing is actually a byproduct, here. She works up enough lather to allow her fingers to slide smoothly along his scalp before concentrating on specifics; fanning her fingers along the sides of his skull and rubbing her thumbs in circles over his temples, gently but firmly enough to smooth away the ache. Hopefully. "How's that?"

How could he say no to that? Not like she gives him a choice. Tony opens his mouth to protest again, but then her fingers are sliding against his scalp just the right way and a low groan leaves his lips instead. It's probably the best feeling he's ever had from someone touching him alone and all he can really do is close his eyes and hang his head in her hands to enjoy the treatment. "Please... don't ever stop doing that."

Pepper chuckles fondly, doing as she's told and continuing to rub circles against his temples, satisfied when the tension about his shoulders seems to ease some, the way he leans into her touch like a cat begging to be stroked. She's happy if this is making him feel better even marginally. "Is it helping any with the pain?"

"Uh... yeah," he says distractedly, but he doesn't sound convinced. The pressure is still building at his temples in a way he knows will spread again the second she stops touching him. Still, Tony can't find it in himself to complain when she's trying to help. "Thank you." It's whispered as a hand wraps comfortably around her waist and his eyes shut, content to just stay here under the showerhead with her as long as she wants to.

"Mm. So, that's a no," she counters softly with a tiny smile, but she doesn't stop her ministrations, as if she can banish Tony's discomfort by sheer willpower alone. "I'll get you some ice and an ibuprofen when we get out of here, okay?"

She's determined to try anything and everything, even if she is content to stay under the spray with him for a while longer. Leaning in, she presses her lips softly to his, an affectionate touch that lingers for longer than strictly necessary.

He stays silent, but it's answer enough that she's right. "Yes, dear," he agrees blandly, like he might any other day, but there's an underlying meaning to the words that's never been there before. Tony lets out a little rumble in approval for the kiss, pressing into the gentle touch without hesitation. "You take such good care of me, what would I do without you?"

"It's probably for the best not to speculate on that," she responds with a touch of her usual wry wit, though she doesn't fail to note the small difference in his glib agreement. The shampoo she'd rubbed into his hair is completely gone by now, and she combs her fingers through his hair now, slicking it back. "Ready?" To get out, she means.

Edited 2019-09-17 19:45 (UTC)

His eyes slowly blink open, then blink a few more times to clear the water. He leans into her and shakes his head.

"What about you?" he asks, wanting to do something for her while they're here. Though he's worried about messing up her hair somehow so instead he picks up a loofa, raising his brows while he slowly loads some soap on and presses just about as close as he can and reaches his arms around her, working the scratchy sponge over her back where he knows it feels nicest in his experience.

"I--" she begins a little uncertainly, but then Tony brings out the loofa and her words falter. Her eyelids flutter indicatively when he rubs the sponge over her skin, a tiny hum of pleasure escaping her. "Oh... that's nice," she sighs, her hands settling on his shoulders and eyes closing all the way.

Tony grins as bliss takes her over, enjoying the way their bodies press even as he tries to keep from becoming outwardly interested.

"Quid pro quo," he jokes, though he really did want to return the favor. She's always done so much for him, more than he feels he can ever repay.

"Hmmm," she huffs in a sigh of agreement, her head going a little fuzzy at how lovely it feels to be cared for like this. "No arguments here." There's a smile on her lips and tone both, her hands slipping along his slick skin and winding up at the nape on his neck, cracking her eyes open a fraction as her fingertips delve softly into the short hairs there.

His breathing quickens at the slide against his scalp, eyes lidding as he presses even closer, the faint stirring of interest brushing against her hip despite his best efforts.

"Sorry," he says automatically, so used to hiding any feelings for her beyond friendship that he slowly starts unwinding himself from her embrace. Everything is still so mixed up in his head and he has to take a minute as another bright burst of light explodes behind his eyes. "I... You wanted to get out?"

Pepper is hardly sorry when he brushes up against her hip. If anything, she might be tempted to try again after their first time was rather short-lived and rushed, but temptation is quickly replaced with concern when he begins pulling away.

"Don't be," she dismisses, a tiny frown on her face as she brushes a gentle hand over the side of his head, stroking his sodden hair. It seems like what little good her massage had done a while ago is good for nothing now, judging by the returned tightness around his eyes. "Yeah. Let's go." The sooner they do, the sooner she can get him that ice.

Tony obeys her, going quiet as he climbs out of the shower, going briefly blind as the white light grows in intensity. He hears the water turn off and feels the soft towel she envelops him in, but all of that is far away compared to the searing heat between his eyes.

"S-sorry, just. Give me a minute?" He staggers away from her towards the sink, blinking until he can blearily make out his own reflection. He's never felt so helpless before and it's hard to admit he needs help on a good day, let alone now.

If Pepper was concerned before, her worry is going off the charts now. And yet through that worry runs a parallel thread of minute annoyance and steely determination. She's officially had enough of Tony trying to brush this off, and it's evident in her brisk tone. Quickly, she runs a towel over herself and dries off the worst before throwing on a robe.

"Okay, come on. We're getting you out of here. You're going to lay down-- somewhere dark." This looks like a full-brown migraine now, and exposure to light probably isn't helping matters any. "I'm getting you ice and some meds. And I don't want to hear a single I'm fine from you."

She's already getting him his own robe, setting it over his shoulders as he hunches over the sink.

"Sorry, sorry," he mutters, head in his hand as he leans back to accept her offer of the robe against his goose-pimpled skin. Tony manages to grab onto it one-handed before it slips back off, loosely securing the tie at his waist. "I'm not..." Fine, obviously, but he just sighs, splashing some water on his face before cracking an eye open to locate her and reach out for her arm.

"Yes, ma'am," makes it past his lips, ready and willing to follow her instructions, finally.

"Shh," she soothes quietly, wrapping an arm around his middle and pressing a kiss to his cheek before starting to herd him out of the bathroom. "It's okay. Just stop being so stubborn and let me take care of you," she murmurs with a hint of wry fondness in her tone again. She marches him to bed, ushering him under the covers and stroking a soft hand over his hair in a gentle caress before turning on her heel to pull the heavy curtains over the windows to block out daylight. "Sit tight, okay. I'll get you something for the pain-- you want some ice, still?"

"Can't argue with that," he pushes out hazily, clinging to her as his vision whites out here and there. It's comforting, to just leave it in her hands now. It feels like magic when his back hits soft sheets and he immediately curls up on his side into a fetal position. "No, just... come back quick." He hates feeling this helpless, but he knows Pepper would never betray his trust, unlike so many others.

"I will," she promises, already on her way out of the room. She goes around gathering what she needs with damn near military efficiency, not a single movement wasted. It only takes her a few minutes before she returns, closing the door to the bedroom in her wake and plunging the room into not quite complete darkness, but it's a near thing. The curtains let just enough light through that when her eyes adjust to the dimness, she doesn't bump into anything with her bounty.

"Here. Two pills, take them both," Pepper urges in low, soft tone once perched on the edge of the bed, finding his hand with hers and slipping the smooth capsules on his palm. "I've got a bottle of water here if you want some. And some cold gel packs just in case." He said he didn't want ice, but the cold might help manage some pain before the medicine (hopefully) took effect.

He puts the pills on his tongue at her behest, fingers brushing hers as he reaches back out for the water bottle and downs as much as he can without moving. Just laying down in the dark feels incredible, but he knows what would make it even better, handing the bottle back to her and opening his arms out. "You're the best," he murmurs, ignoring the way his temples pound as he looks up at her, the whites of his eyes shining and his fingers sinking into her waistline. "But I just need you." Tony disappears into her arms the moment she gives in, head pressing into her shoulder and legs coiling around one of hers to lock them in, easily ignoring damp hair and any other degree of unpleasantness as long as he gets to be this close to her, a tiny sigh escaping his breath involuntarily.

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efficacy - 2020-04-27 14:59 (UTC) - Expand