ptsd is just spicy nostalgia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
billionaires) wrote2018-08-22 10:09 pm
billionaires) wrote2018-08-22 10:09 pm
#inbox
Prompts, starters, etc. Anything goes!
Canon point default to after/during Homecoming but feel free to request others.
[ linking part 1 for easy access. ]
It's been a few months since the beatdown, and things have more or less gone back to normal. Their version of it anyway. Save for a few small details, that is. They now sleep in the same room, six nights out of seven, it's reasonable with how often Eduardo checks in on them. Though maybe it all stems back to that one night they stayed together when he had his concussion, he tries not to think about it. Especially when analyzing it might mean it stops.
Professionally, things have gone really well for them, too. Pepper seems to be making progress with Nadine and Eduardo is eternally indebted to him for figuring out that whole ear problem. What's more than that is ever since, Tony seems to have a new lease on life and while he's still frustrated by being under Stane's thumb, he finally sees a way out. A way forward.
His sunny outlook isn't all that's different about him, however. The visions didn't stop with the concussion's passing, something he still hasn't quite worked up to telling Pepper. They're doing so well and he's afraid she'll think it's medical and force him back to the doctor's. But he knows what he's seeing is real — Eduardo's son was only the beginning. He's no longer scamming his clients, but really helping them. When he takes their money, he feels secure in the knowledge that he's earned it for the first time in his life.
Tony bids his last customer of the day goodbye and starts poking around the house to see if Pepper's home, he thinks he heard her car pull up an hour or so ago, but she could have easily left again without his notice. Sure enough, though, he finds her in what's now more a "guest room" than hers, though she still has all of her office in here for the most part. He sneaks up on her while she's still deep in the numbers and leans over her shoulder to impulsively kiss her cheek. It's warm and familiar, though it's not a gesture he's ever extended to her before. It felt natural and so he went for it, but now his throat flushes a little from the move, hoping she won't find it offputting.
"I was thinking about ordering something for dinner. You in? Thought I could save you the trouble." Of slaving over the stove, he means, not like he wouldn't help her with the cooking if she asked, too, but this way they can just chill for a change.
It's been a few months since the beatdown, and things have more or less gone back to normal. Their version of it anyway. Save for a few small details, that is. They now sleep in the same room, six nights out of seven, it's reasonable with how often Eduardo checks in on them. Though maybe it all stems back to that one night they stayed together when he had his concussion, he tries not to think about it. Especially when analyzing it might mean it stops.
Professionally, things have gone really well for them, too. Pepper seems to be making progress with Nadine and Eduardo is eternally indebted to him for figuring out that whole ear problem. What's more than that is ever since, Tony seems to have a new lease on life and while he's still frustrated by being under Stane's thumb, he finally sees a way out. A way forward.
His sunny outlook isn't all that's different about him, however. The visions didn't stop with the concussion's passing, something he still hasn't quite worked up to telling Pepper. They're doing so well and he's afraid she'll think it's medical and force him back to the doctor's. But he knows what he's seeing is real — Eduardo's son was only the beginning. He's no longer scamming his clients, but really helping them. When he takes their money, he feels secure in the knowledge that he's earned it for the first time in his life.
Tony bids his last customer of the day goodbye and starts poking around the house to see if Pepper's home, he thinks he heard her car pull up an hour or so ago, but she could have easily left again without his notice. Sure enough, though, he finds her in what's now more a "guest room" than hers, though she still has all of her office in here for the most part. He sneaks up on her while she's still deep in the numbers and leans over her shoulder to impulsively kiss her cheek. It's warm and familiar, though it's not a gesture he's ever extended to her before. It felt natural and so he went for it, but now his throat flushes a little from the move, hoping she won't find it offputting.
"I was thinking about ordering something for dinner. You in? Thought I could save you the trouble." Of slaving over the stove, he means, not like he wouldn't help her with the cooking if she asked, too, but this way they can just chill for a change.
The fallout from the fall of HYDRA is insane in every sense of the word. Steve wakes up to find out every intelligence agency in the world wants to hold him accountable. What they think he's responsible for varies. Some are upset he left a huge mess in the river. Never mind said mess was going to kill all of them if it stayed in the air and everyone on board was a Nazi. He should have... what? Taken it over and politely asked for them not to kill millions?
Others are upset about the intelligence which he gets to an extent. It did compromise some people. On the other hand, said people were already compromised by Neo-Nazis. Everyone knowing where they were made it easy for them not to get snatched by said Neo-Nazis in the chaos with no one any wiser to what's going on.
Steve himself has many bones to pick. He knows they're not going to listen. He can't play the nice old man for this. He's angry down to his bones at the way he and so many others were used and abused by HYDRA and SHIELD respectively. Rather than confront people who would never understand how he feels, Steve withdraws from the world.
He quietly tracks Bucky; sometimes with Sam and others without. He stays off the grid with Nat's help and enough backpay from the Army to keep him going for the rest of his life if he was careful. When Nat passes along that the Avengers need him, the scepter is gone, he can't say he's surprised. He passes back a firm no. Steve's had enough drama to last a lifetime. It was his time with the Avengers that lowered his guard enough to shack up with SHIELD to begin with.
He resents them for that. It's unfair and unpleasant, but that is how Steve feels. There's no taking it back now. Steve knows that won't be the end of it by a long shot. He still continues to Romania, pursuing a new lead, none the wiser that he'll be caught up with any time soon. He blends into the hostel he's staying at with a surprising amount of ease, but no surprise there. He doesn't look too much like Cap with the longer hair, beard, and goodwill clothing. He looks like just another guy flopping from place to place and in some ways? He really is just that.
Others are upset about the intelligence which he gets to an extent. It did compromise some people. On the other hand, said people were already compromised by Neo-Nazis. Everyone knowing where they were made it easy for them not to get snatched by said Neo-Nazis in the chaos with no one any wiser to what's going on.
Steve himself has many bones to pick. He knows they're not going to listen. He can't play the nice old man for this. He's angry down to his bones at the way he and so many others were used and abused by HYDRA and SHIELD respectively. Rather than confront people who would never understand how he feels, Steve withdraws from the world.
He quietly tracks Bucky; sometimes with Sam and others without. He stays off the grid with Nat's help and enough backpay from the Army to keep him going for the rest of his life if he was careful. When Nat passes along that the Avengers need him, the scepter is gone, he can't say he's surprised. He passes back a firm no. Steve's had enough drama to last a lifetime. It was his time with the Avengers that lowered his guard enough to shack up with SHIELD to begin with.
He resents them for that. It's unfair and unpleasant, but that is how Steve feels. There's no taking it back now. Steve knows that won't be the end of it by a long shot. He still continues to Romania, pursuing a new lead, none the wiser that he'll be caught up with any time soon. He blends into the hostel he's staying at with a surprising amount of ease, but no surprise there. He doesn't look too much like Cap with the longer hair, beard, and goodwill clothing. He looks like just another guy flopping from place to place and in some ways? He really is just that.
Pepper doesn't hear Tony enter the room, too preoccupied with the books; staring down at the pages with a slight frown of concentration, tapping the end of her ballpoint pen distractedly against her bottom lip and chin. She jumps just a little in surprise at the kiss to her cheek, startled out of her tunnel vision and sitting up straight, blinking up at Tony a few times. The spot he'd kissed tingles, a hint of color dusting her cheekbones.
That was new-- another thing they didn't used to do, but now (apparently) did. She's noticed the change in Tony, these past couple of months. Of course she has. And it isn't just the fact that they share a room and a bed now, if only to keep up more appearances with Eduardo stopping by so often. It's something deeper, something Pepper can't quite put her finger on. She hasn't pressed Tony about it yet, remembering how forthcoming he'd been about the details when that meathead had beat him up, but she knows he knows she suspects something is up.
It's not that it's bad, really; it seems to Pepper as if Tony has shed some invisible weight off his shoulders-- he's happier, that's the only conclusion that feels even halfway correct to her. And though he hadn't been drinking as heavily as he used to back in their Vegas days in a long while now, he'd cut back on that even more, too. All in all, she should be satisfied, and she is -- but she also knows there's a reason to it all, and he has not yet come forth with it to her. Try as she might to let it go, she still can't help but wonder why, when they already share everything else with each other.
"Uh... sure. Sounds nice." She recovers after a brief moment, shaking her head a little as if to clear it as she starts to stow everything away onto their proper places. "Not pizza though. How about Thai or Nepalese? Indian?"
That was new-- another thing they didn't used to do, but now (apparently) did. She's noticed the change in Tony, these past couple of months. Of course she has. And it isn't just the fact that they share a room and a bed now, if only to keep up more appearances with Eduardo stopping by so often. It's something deeper, something Pepper can't quite put her finger on. She hasn't pressed Tony about it yet, remembering how forthcoming he'd been about the details when that meathead had beat him up, but she knows he knows she suspects something is up.
It's not that it's bad, really; it seems to Pepper as if Tony has shed some invisible weight off his shoulders-- he's happier, that's the only conclusion that feels even halfway correct to her. And though he hadn't been drinking as heavily as he used to back in their Vegas days in a long while now, he'd cut back on that even more, too. All in all, she should be satisfied, and she is -- but she also knows there's a reason to it all, and he has not yet come forth with it to her. Try as she might to let it go, she still can't help but wonder why, when they already share everything else with each other.
"Uh... sure. Sounds nice." She recovers after a brief moment, shaking her head a little as if to clear it as she starts to stow everything away onto their proper places. "Not pizza though. How about Thai or Nepalese? Indian?"
The little jump has him shifting backward out of reach - okay, too far. He won't do that again.
"Ohh," he says, unable to mask his interest when she brings up his favorite, leaning on her desk now to stay in her orbit. "Indian."
Reluctantly, he straightens up, pointing to her as he slowly backs out of the room.
"You want your usual?" Of course, he knows her order. For every restaurant she just listed and more.
"Ohh," he says, unable to mask his interest when she brings up his favorite, leaning on her desk now to stay in her orbit. "Indian."
Reluctantly, he straightens up, pointing to her as he slowly backs out of the room.
"You want your usual?" Of course, he knows her order. For every restaurant she just listed and more.
Since the first "Incident" Tony has allowed Cap his space. It isn't exactly what he wanted to do, but Pepper kept insisting he would come around - to no avail, it turned out. And by the time the news caught up to him about the fall of SHIELD and everything else, Steve was in the wind. The problem is there's some other shit going on that's super Assemble-worthy and without Steve, Tony doesn't think they have a chance. It's a good thing he's good at finding people, the only trouble is he doesn't think the other man will appreciate being found. At least, not by him.
Tony is less adept at blending in, the nondescript flannel + hoodie combo would be fine if not for the designer sunglasses, but it's obvious he tried anyway. If he didn't have a presence the size of Tokyo in a 5'9 shell, he might've had a chance. The point isn't hiding out for him anyway, it's sneaking past enough people until he can get to the one person he's looking for and - Bing-o.
"Woahhh, I'm digging the beard, Cap. You can only come back if that's your plus-one." A joke, and not even a good one, as an opener. Classic Tony. Thankfully, he really doesn't have the luxury to dick around for long. "What I meant was: you look good. Come home, please?"
Tony is less adept at blending in, the nondescript flannel + hoodie combo would be fine if not for the designer sunglasses, but it's obvious he tried anyway. If he didn't have a presence the size of Tokyo in a 5'9 shell, he might've had a chance. The point isn't hiding out for him anyway, it's sneaking past enough people until he can get to the one person he's looking for and - Bing-o.
"Woahhh, I'm digging the beard, Cap. You can only come back if that's your plus-one." A joke, and not even a good one, as an opener. Classic Tony. Thankfully, he really doesn't have the luxury to dick around for long. "What I meant was: you look good. Come home, please?"
"Yes-- please," Pepper nods in the midst of meticulously replacing every pen, paper and book, blowing out a breath and ruffling her bangs our of her eyes. "And remind them not to skimp on the naan, this time."
She had a Complaint, last time... Tony leaves, and Pepper takes a few more moments to tidy up. Compulsive maybe, but she can't stand to leave her desk in anything but tip top shape. Finishing, she smiles slightly to herself; out of satisfaction from completing this simple task, but also in anticipation. It's been a while since they last ordered in and just spent time together, nice and simple. Maybe it's also a chance to get to the bottom of some of the things that have been bothering her, lately.
Pepper beelines for the fridge while Tony wraps up their order, studying their options. She already has a bottle of water in one hand when she calls over her shoulder once Tony's off the phone, "Wanna share a beer?" She rarely drinks a whole one by herself, so.
She had a Complaint, last time... Tony leaves, and Pepper takes a few more moments to tidy up. Compulsive maybe, but she can't stand to leave her desk in anything but tip top shape. Finishing, she smiles slightly to herself; out of satisfaction from completing this simple task, but also in anticipation. It's been a while since they last ordered in and just spent time together, nice and simple. Maybe it's also a chance to get to the bottom of some of the things that have been bothering her, lately.
Pepper beelines for the fridge while Tony wraps up their order, studying their options. She already has a bottle of water in one hand when she calls over her shoulder once Tony's off the phone, "Wanna share a beer?" She rarely drinks a whole one by herself, so.
His first impulse is to dump coffee on him in the communal kitchen area. That has nothing to do with Tony really. That's always Steve's first reaction to being made. As he glances at Tony with the thought clearly playing through his head as he looks down at his black coffee and to Tony. The impulse is shoved down along with every nasty comment that comes from the mention of home. As far as Steve is concerned he doesn't have one. The suggestion is insensitive to say the least.
Somehow Steve bites his tongue and answers flatly after a very long delay, "I already gave Nat my answer." So just go.
Somehow Steve bites his tongue and answers flatly after a very long delay, "I already gave Nat my answer." So just go.
When she takes a moment to follow, he knows exactly why and it makes him smile. They're such opposites in so many ways, but he loves these quirks she has that if anyone else did them might be annoying. He finds himself smiling all the way through his phone call, haing some nonsense smalltalk with their usual Indian restaurant before setting them up for delivery.
"What? Oh... yeah. Sure." He pushes a hand back through his hair and messes it up even more than it was already, all without noticing of course. "Sounds good."
"What? Oh... yeah. Sure." He pushes a hand back through his hair and messes it up even more than it was already, all without noticing of course. "Sounds good."
Yep, he looks pissed. Tony isn't even completely sure why, but it doesn't matter. He looks at that coffee and back up at the man's face, forcing himself to stand his ground even if he's really not into acquiring third-degree burns today.
"You did? I mean, I knew that." He still sounds manic, but slowly coming down and he swallows, biting into the inside of his lips while he thinks. "Did she say pretty please, though? With a cherry on top - five cherries. A whole boatload of Maraschino. I'll buy you the factory."
Slow down, slow down. He blinks, squeezing his eyes together like that can restart him and when he opens his eyes Steve is still there, at least. And hasn't doused him with hot coffee. See, they're getting on like a house on fire. ...Okay, bad metaphor considering their track records.
"What are you looking for all the way out here?" Softer, curiosity openly mingling with concern. Let me help you.
"You did? I mean, I knew that." He still sounds manic, but slowly coming down and he swallows, biting into the inside of his lips while he thinks. "Did she say pretty please, though? With a cherry on top - five cherries. A whole boatload of Maraschino. I'll buy you the factory."
Slow down, slow down. He blinks, squeezing his eyes together like that can restart him and when he opens his eyes Steve is still there, at least. And hasn't doused him with hot coffee. See, they're getting on like a house on fire. ...Okay, bad metaphor considering their track records.
"What are you looking for all the way out here?" Softer, curiosity openly mingling with concern. Let me help you.
Pulling out a few bottles of water and a beer, Pepper totes them along with two glasses to the table, smirking a little at the way Tony's hair sticks up messily when he runs his fingers through it-- a habit he'd had for as long as she'd known him.
"So," she starts as she slowly pours half of the beer into one of the glasses. "How was your day?" A banal question, perhaps, and one quite suited to the charade they still keep up, but she is genuinely curious.
"So," she starts as she slowly pours half of the beer into one of the glasses. "How was your day?" A banal question, perhaps, and one quite suited to the charade they still keep up, but she is genuinely curious.
"My day?" he asks like he doesn't understand the question, even as he sits down next to her instead of across as had become his custom lately. He can see her face better from the corner nearest her, and though he wouldn't, he could reach out and touch her so easily. It's a comforting thought, one that he tries (and fails) not to analyze. "It was good, I think. I mean, boring, but in a good way. Nothing to report."
He swallows to get himself to stop rambling, watching her pour the beer and suddenly feeling very thirsty for it.
"Uh - sorry, you?" His gaze flickers up to meet hers, all of his rapt focus on her alone.
He swallows to get himself to stop rambling, watching her pour the beer and suddenly feeling very thirsty for it.
"Uh - sorry, you?" His gaze flickers up to meet hers, all of his rapt focus on her alone.
That tower is mocking him. It's pretty much been begging for a writer to hit it up since forever. It's big and ugly. Who wouldn't have wanted to put a little something on it? None have ever dared. It's owned by Tony Stark. The guy has to have crazy security, right? Except he sold the place. The new guy has yet to move in, but there's no way the old security stuff will still be around, Miles reasons.
He sees an opportunity that only Spider-Man can seize on. Miles does everything he can to ensure it comes to fruition. He makes about a dozen name tags before the right one is done. He watches the place for a week in hopes of mapping out the best route to the tower, giving him the right opening to go invisible just as he hits the building.
Finally the moment comes. It's exactly as planned which really should have been the tell. He gets in close, jumps the rest while invisible, and lands silently. He slaps the label on a second later and no alarms blare. It's perfectly quiet save for Miles.
"Yessss!" He hisses as quietly as he can. Miles pulls out his phone barely a beat later. What's the point of doing this if not for proof he did it? His gofundme for web fluid was gonna go through the roof if he offered this photo as a prize. He really is a genius.
He sees an opportunity that only Spider-Man can seize on. Miles does everything he can to ensure it comes to fruition. He makes about a dozen name tags before the right one is done. He watches the place for a week in hopes of mapping out the best route to the tower, giving him the right opening to go invisible just as he hits the building.
Finally the moment comes. It's exactly as planned which really should have been the tell. He gets in close, jumps the rest while invisible, and lands silently. He slaps the label on a second later and no alarms blare. It's perfectly quiet save for Miles.
"Yessss!" He hisses as quietly as he can. Miles pulls out his phone barely a beat later. What's the point of doing this if not for proof he did it? His gofundme for web fluid was gonna go through the roof if he offered this photo as a prize. He really is a genius.
Pepper glances over at him briefly mid-pour, arching a brow at his rambling and smiling a little in amusement.
"That's... good, then." The tiny, hesitant pause is unintended, but it slips there regardless of her intentions. No news is good news, right? And still, Pepper can't shake this feeling she keeps having that something is going on Tony hasn't yet shared with her. She slides the glass over to him with a small smile before pouring the rest of the beer into her own glass.
"Much the same, really," she says with a shrug when he turns the tables on her. "Nothing to report." Again, she gives him that brief, tiny smile, idly tapping her fingers against her glass with no obvious intention to drink from it just yet. Instead she simply watches him in silence for a moment, a somewhat pensive look in her eyes-- silence that stretches on and toes the line of being vaguely awkward, though they rarely used to have such between them.
"That's... good, then." The tiny, hesitant pause is unintended, but it slips there regardless of her intentions. No news is good news, right? And still, Pepper can't shake this feeling she keeps having that something is going on Tony hasn't yet shared with her. She slides the glass over to him with a small smile before pouring the rest of the beer into her own glass.
"Much the same, really," she says with a shrug when he turns the tables on her. "Nothing to report." Again, she gives him that brief, tiny smile, idly tapping her fingers against her glass with no obvious intention to drink from it just yet. Instead she simply watches him in silence for a moment, a somewhat pensive look in her eyes-- silence that stretches on and toes the line of being vaguely awkward, though they rarely used to have such between them.
That little smile has him ducking his head, though the Tony Stark that the world knew never had a bashful moment in his life. Pepper knows a much different side of him than they do, even Obadiah. His fingers brush hers as she hands him the glass but then he too holds it without drinking so he can watch her watching him.
"Good, that's... yeah. Good." His head bobs into a little nod and he tries not to smile goofily at her but that ship sailed, honestly. He feels giddy for no particular reason, but also sees no reason to hide it from her when they're already getting along so well lately. Ever since he stopped focusing so much on himself and started focusing on their life together. But the smile falters a little because if he succeeds, they won't have a life together anymore.
"Good, that's... yeah. Good." His head bobs into a little nod and he tries not to smile goofily at her but that ship sailed, honestly. He feels giddy for no particular reason, but also sees no reason to hide it from her when they're already getting along so well lately. Ever since he stopped focusing so much on himself and started focusing on their life together. But the smile falters a little because if he succeeds, they won't have a life together anymore.
It wouldn't surprise anyone to know that Tony Stark has a hard time letting go. Yes, the tower was sold and bought, but the transition team hasn't taken it over yet and he's bidding a final farewell to a place he knew his whole life. To a place most people in Manhattan have known their entire lives and then some. He hears a noise outside the window just as he'd lifted a portrait of his father from the wall. There are a thousand just like it in storage, but he wonders if it wasn't left behind on purpose anyway. He turns to see a blurring figure, his heart catching in his throat. Ghosts aren't real, you dumb fuck, he tells himself, but that won't stop him from dropping the picture carelessly and making his way to the roof. He had somehow convinced Happy to wait for him in the car on the street, and he knows he's watching the latest Downtown Abbey on his phone by now so he has a few minutes at least to scope things out for himself. All the nothing he's sure to find anyway.
But when he makes his way out onto the rooftop patio, there's unmistakably someone there. Even without getting up close, he can tell that suit is advanced. And he also knows he didn't make it. Moving on quick, silent feet, Tony gets into the frame of Miles' selfie and throws up a peace sign. What? It's not a picture of the tower without him.
But when he makes his way out onto the rooftop patio, there's unmistakably someone there. Even without getting up close, he can tell that suit is advanced. And he also knows he didn't make it. Moving on quick, silent feet, Tony gets into the frame of Miles' selfie and throws up a peace sign. What? It's not a picture of the tower without him.
She can't help but respond with a softest of laughs at that goofy smile, looking down at her glass for a moment to steady the erratic fluttering in her chest. A rush of intense fondness squeezes at her heart at the earnestness on Tony's face, but it's followed by a strange prick of wistfulness, too. This strange holding pattern they were in -- professionally and, yes, more personally -- couldn't go on forever. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't a little worried how that pattern would come to break, because eventually it would. Somehow.
"Is everything okay, Tony?" she asks quietly out of the blue as she glances back at him, mostly evenly but not without a faintest hint of a concern leaking into her tone. Instantly, she feels self-conscious about the abrupt question, hurrying to elaborate with some hesitation, "Lately... it just feels like maybe there's something you haven't told me."
"Is everything okay, Tony?" she asks quietly out of the blue as she glances back at him, mostly evenly but not without a faintest hint of a concern leaking into her tone. Instantly, she feels self-conscious about the abrupt question, hurrying to elaborate with some hesitation, "Lately... it just feels like maybe there's something you haven't told me."
Miles is a smart kid. He pays attention. He's creative! But, he also tends to disappear into his own head. That moment where he's getting the perfect shot definitely was a disappearing moment. It certainly doesn't help that Iron Man doesn't set off his spider sense. He does make Miles almost drop his phone and give him a heart attack. Tony isn't the only superhero who gets serious anxiety sometimes.
"Mr. Iron Man! Hi! Please don't attack me with lasers or robots. Or call the cops." That anxiety ramps up. There's no way his dad won't look at this art style and put two and two together. "Especially the cops. I can take it off, I swear!"
"Mr. Iron Man! Hi! Please don't attack me with lasers or robots. Or call the cops." That anxiety ramps up. There's no way his dad won't look at this art style and put two and two together. "Especially the cops. I can take it off, I swear!"
"What?" he asks, even though they both know he heard her. Now's his chance to tell all, he thinks, but wouldn't that just be too simple? He doesn't want to freak her out either and besides, it's not exactly a bad thing so it's not exactly lying. ...Right? "Oh... oh, yeah. Never better, Pepper. Seriously. I feel great."
And for the most part? He does. She's used to his eccentricity but even he knows recently he's been at an 11.
"It's like... for the first time in my life? I can see everything clearly and I know I'm on the right path. You ever feel that way?"
And for the most part? He does. She's used to his eccentricity but even he knows recently he's been at an 11.
"It's like... for the first time in my life? I can see everything clearly and I know I'm on the right path. You ever feel that way?"
Pepper is instantly on guard some, lips twisting a little into a moue of suspicion. Whenever Tony claims he's fine in such abundance, he usually is anything but fine-- it's so ingrained in her by now to react this way it's almost in instinct.
It's not very flattering, so she attempts to school her features into something more neutral, wetting her lips as she considers what he's telling her; as well as the question. She isn't exactly sure what to make of this, still having this niggling sense there's something... more.
"I'm not trying to rain on your parade. It's nice that you've been feeling so cheery. I guess I'm just wondering what's brought that on," she eventually settles on, slowly.
It's not very flattering, so she attempts to school her features into something more neutral, wetting her lips as she considers what he's telling her; as well as the question. She isn't exactly sure what to make of this, still having this niggling sense there's something... more.
"I'm not trying to rain on your parade. It's nice that you've been feeling so cheery. I guess I'm just wondering what's brought that on," she eventually settles on, slowly.
So, that's a 'no' then. He swallows some beer with a little twitch of his nose before putting it down.
"What's not to love about my life, huh? Quaint house in the suburbs, beautiful wife, flourishing business..." He trails off, still grinning. Sorry, Pepper, he's insufferable (like she doesn't know.)
"What's not to love about my life, huh? Quaint house in the suburbs, beautiful wife, flourishing business..." He trails off, still grinning. Sorry, Pepper, he's insufferable (like she doesn't know.)
Oh. Tony's face falls when he clearly scares the shit out of the kid. He honestly should have known better and his scowl reflects as much.
"I'm technically trespassing too right now so calling the popo... wouldn't be the best look." He'd done worse though where New York's finest was concerned. He shrugs. Then he's leaning back, hands on his hips, to survey the mark Miles put on the tower seriously. "New and improved t-b-h." And the beauty of it is, the new owners would never even notice it.
"I'm technically trespassing too right now so calling the popo... wouldn't be the best look." He'd done worse though where New York's finest was concerned. He shrugs. Then he's leaning back, hands on his hips, to survey the mark Miles put on the tower seriously. "New and improved t-b-h." And the beauty of it is, the new owners would never even notice it.
He is insufferable and she well knows it, dropping her chin and giving him a Look; the long-suffering one she always does whenever he's being... well, himself.
"You're so full of it," she says dryly in return, but a hint of a smile tugs at her own lips. She really hates it when he pulls out the charm, she's not as immune to it as she likes to pretend.
"You're so full of it," she says dryly in return, but a hint of a smile tugs at her own lips. She really hates it when he pulls out the charm, she's not as immune to it as she likes to pretend.
"Yeah," he agrees, but in a tone she knows means he's gonna drop some smugness on her. "Full of truth-bombs." Mic-drop. Or more like a long sip of his beer and prolonged, bemused eye contact.
Pepper can't help it. That's such a stupid, ridiculous, frat boy thing to say even by Tony's standards that it hits like a ton of bricks, startling a somewhat unladylike chortle out of her-- a sound that morphs into lilting laughter of amusement. Thank god she wasn't drinking herself when he said that.
"You dweeb," she accuses a beat later through her chuckles, catching her breath and wiping her eye. Wow, that was absolutely terrible. And she couldn't have sounded more fond if she'd tried.
"You dweeb," she accuses a beat later through her chuckles, catching her breath and wiping her eye. Wow, that was absolutely terrible. And she couldn't have sounded more fond if she'd tried.
"You like it," he accuses, pointing at her. See, he's just in a really super-good mood. Nothing weird about that, right!! But he sobers quickly after, setting his glass down and licking beer off his mustache to level her with a more serious expression. "Can I ask you something, Peps?"
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