billionaires | #inbox

"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.

Pepper takes the bottle from him when he's done, already set aside the gel packs and other paraphernalia she'd brought with her. She doesn't bother taking the time to change into pjs or anything, easily capitulating at Tony's words and slipping under the covers with him in her robe. Folding him into her embrace, she drops a kiss to his hair and holds him as close as she can.

"It's okay, honey." The softly murmured endearment trips from her lips with startling ease, feeling odd on her tongue only for a short moment. "I'm here." Lightly stroking his hair with one hand, she lets her fingers comb through the damp strands for a moment before sliding softly down to his nape, kneading and smoothing gently alongside the vertebrae and around the bottom of his skull with her fingertips in effort to release any tension there.

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