3164/It's not Spying, it's Protecting

It's not Spying, it's Protecting
Date of Scene:	30 August 2020
Location:	Stark Tower: Penthouse
Synopsis:	Pepper, threatened by a foul villain, has Tony to thank for his protection and Greek food.
Cast of Characters:	Tony Stark, Pepper Potts

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Tony Stark has posed:
There is a small robot, generally referred to as 'Patrick' by Pepper, that patrols Pepper's apartment for scary things like dust and bits of trash. He is extremely good at his little job. Scrub-scrubbing his way around her Upper West Side apartment, he keeps it spic-and-span.

Patrick also fights /snakes/: he's been a champion before, getting rid of such an intruder with valiant heroism.

Today, Patrick noticed that the generator of snakes and evil entity known as 'Loki' was present (albeit with Thor) in Pepper's home!!

THIS WILL NOT STAND.

So, in his little robot way, he sent alarm back home to the AI there, HOMER, by way of Avenger Mansion, and JARVIS. Technically, Patrick is not really making judgements, he's following programming that is there for Pepper's protection. But it may seem like he cares. Maybe in his little droid way he does?

All of this means that Pepper gets a text very quickly from Tony, during the time that she steps out on her balcony. 'Pep, what is Loki doing there? I'm on my way.'

Pepper Potts has posed:
In the middle of her business call that had pulled her out onto the balcony, Pepper catches the ping of a message that is marked as 'urgent'. To be fair, for the last 8 years or so, all of Tony's texts have come through as 'urgent', from the most basic drunk-messaging to, well, 'what is Loki doing there?'.

With more than a few apologies, and promises for a return call, she hangs up the phone, glances back in the direction of the muffled conversation, and starts a quick double-thumbed text exchange.

'Thor is here, it's fine.'

Wait.. wait.. and Pepper glances into her apartment again, not listening, but now looking beyond, and,

'How do you know?'
'HOMER?'
'JARVIS?'

One message after another goes out until she has to lower her hands and take a breath. She can feel her heart pounding, and leaning against the railing of the balcony, she waits for the response.

Tony Stark has posed:
'Yes, and the cleaning robot. I have a notification set up to tell me if you are in EXTREME DANGER!' Tony answers back, without any pause.

'Loki qualifies! What is LOKI doing at your apartment??'

Tony was not at the tower, he was out, and he's not in a good position to respond to an emergency. Pepper won't know, but he's disengaging out of something else, making his quick goodbyes, and getting back to the Tower, to be able to fly out to provide protection...

Pepper Potts has posed:
'NOT in extreme danger. Thorr is here.'

Pepper doesn't even bother to correct her misspellings, and doesn't take the time to hit autocorrect.

*ding* The texts are coming in, and thumbs are flying across her screen.

'Not in EXTREME DANGER. Thor AND Amanda are here.'

And.. and... Patrick? Pepper searches for her little bot and spies a tread just peeking out from a corner, across the kitchen, into the living area.

'You used Patrick?'

Tony Stark has posed:
'I'm still coming' Tony asserts stubbornly, 'I'm headed back to the Tower to armor up.'

She's getting her protector in armor, it seems. Tony isn't yet back to the tower, but he also doesn't want to use the armor he'd had in mobile form: no, he wants the latest one, because otherwise, Loki may well make him a smear on the pavement: bringing the artillery is necessary. It won't do any good if he's not capable of protecting. That Thor is there has relaxed him a little - but not knowing the full situation makes it easiest to just ... want to rush over there as soon as possible.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper stares at the screen for a few heartbeats, letting the words sink in. //Armor up//.. and she shakes her head, an immediate reaction to the words printed. Her fingers type quickly, 'I'll be there in a few.'

To prevent what could be a messy showdown, and quite possibly put a wrinkle in plans for the fragment going to Asgard, Pepper's made the decision, and it's better all around. If truth be told, she's really NOT comfortable with Loki there, and while she knows she's basically a nobody to him, it's still better to not be there.

Escaping her own apartment for the night isn't necessarily a bad decision.. and glancing back at the sliding door, she can wait a few minutes before they've moved elsewhere in the apartment before she makes her move to leave. There is that twinge of guilt, certainly.. but more?

Pepper simply wants to see him.

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony eyes his own screen as he gets the reply that, instead, she's coming to him...

    And promptly reaches out to get more information, if available, from the cleaning bot. He won't send other drones over, that might enflame things, but he already has a little spy there. (Not a spy. Protector!)

He's still returning to the tower, but has made it to the garage, parked, and hopped out, to head up into his armory area via elevator. He isn't sure he'll not still fly over there, yet. He's winging it.

Like always.

Pepper Potts has posed:
As Pepper cross through the kitchen and living area, Patrick takes note of the movement and his arrays look up, offering an inquisitve *beep*. While she doesn't stop, Pepper has the courtesy to answer the question with, "Going to the tower. Keep an eye on 'Mands, please."

*beep*

The treads whirr and find their purchase, spinning the little bot around as he gets orders.

Down the stairs and out the front, Pepper stands on the side just outside the front as the doorman greets the redhead and hails a taxi for her. One does pull up, and with a 'Evening, Ms Potts', he opens the back door and moves around front to give instructions to the driver.

Pepper gets to spend the next few minutes in the back of a dark cab (she's giving Happy a break!), looking at the screen of her phone.

Even at night, going crosstown will take a little time, depending upon traffic.

Tony Stark has posed:
It's Patrick the robot that ended up calling off Iron Man. Indirectly.

With the information that Pepper left, and is traveling... and that the villain is evidently still back in Pepper's apartment -- Tony can relax a little. He stays in his armory a little while longer, though, sprawled in a chair and looking at the different Iron Man suits set up there. He rubs his forehead with two fingers and thumb, letting his eyes close, and releasing a slow breath. "You're overreacting," Tony chides himself with a rueful chuckle. "And talking to yourself." He smiles, and shakes his head.

After a little while, he shuts off the lights in the armory, and walks across to the penthouse, shedding his coat, in a good impression of calming down.

Pepper Potts has posed:
There are no doormen at Stark Tower, and at night, there are fewer employees working period. Security is up, however, as there is a lot of ground to cover. So, when Mr Stark's PA steps out from a humble taxi, there isn't the immediate recognition. As a result, she's able to swipe into the building, and once on the other side, greets the security assigned to the lobby.

*click*click*click*

Sensible heels make a light sound on the marble floor, heading to the elevators.

Tony Stark has posed:
And Tony is well aware when she's near the building, as well as when she's crossing the entryway.... and when she's hit the elevator.

'I'm in the Penthouse' is the reply she finally gets - after all, he hadn't really decided until she actually hit the Lobby that he for /sure/ wasn't going to be in armor. It was still a possibility of things that could have happened.

So when she comes up, Tony was seated, but gets up and comes over towards where she is. He'd been going with 'indifferent relaxed' on the couch, but gave it up for the urge to come look skeptical at her, with a side of grumpiness!

Pepper Potts has posed:
There's a *ping* of an 'urgent message' that hits Pepper's phone again, and once she's in the elevators, looks at it. There's a moment where she considers a reply before she simply doesn't. She'll be there within a couple more minutes, and when the elevator's doors open with a chime, she steps out to the tableau of seeming indecision.

She's in casual, low heels, and once inside, stops to take one shoe off, then the other before she stands there, watching him. Brows rise at the expression that he's decided on, and her head cants. "So," she begins, "I would really hate the thought of having to move. I really like my apartment. But, if crazy gods keep showing up, I might have to consider it. Property values are threatened."

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony had intended to remain more grumpy about the whole situation, and seek some answers right away. But he doesn't end up starting with that.

Once again, winging it. He comes right over, following the stronger urge to draw her in and hug her, one hand lifting to the back of her head, gentle against her ponytail.

"Look, I just-- he's a dick," Tony says, as if that were entirely enough explanation over the whole thing. "One of the most cosmic ones, well above me. And that's saying something, I know," Tony jokes. It's slightly flat. He was concerned for her.

"That's true, about property values. Guess you'll have to stay here tonight," Tony remarks.

Pepper Potts has posed:
As he approaches, Pepper watches him, green eyes studying every move, every line on his face, her expression fighting the battle between concern and relief. It's when he puts his arms around her that she wraps her own around him, stepping in to the embrace.

The explanations elicit a soft, breathy laugh as she stands there, her head leaning on his shoulder. "Pretty impressive," is murmured. "But, don't try and win that contest, okay?" The man is competitive, after all! But, the truth of the matter is that she doesn't forgive or forget as easily as some. Not when Tony is concerned.. and she still kicks herself that she //wasn't// there, in New York. One of her bigger regrets.

When he comes around to agreeing about property values, though, Pepper leans back a little, green eyes bright. There isn't a whole lot that can stay wrong with the world when she's right there. "There is that," and her tones take a light lilt, "and my couches are comfortable." In the office. The red-head knows what he means!

Tony Stark has posed:
"The thing is," Tony answers, as she draws her head back to meet his gaze. His dark eyes are warm, but ... cunning. He was concerned, but that's moved into the backseat now that he's got her present. Allowing that weird tension and anger around the villain being in close proximity to Pepper to reduce.

"The elevators really need some security tests. HOMER, go ahead and start those now," Tony instructs.

"That will block their use for two hours, sir," HOMER replies.

"Oh no," Tony says. "...Start that up." His look at Pepper is entirely shameless and direct. So there.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper's brows rise and she looks at him, a smile ghosting. "Oh.. do they. I don't remember.."

Right in the middle of it all is when Tony calls for HOMER to start the test. "Homer, don't--" but, it useless. Looking back at Tony, Pepper actually laughs. "You are.. impossible, do you know that?" Though, she's hating every minute of it, right?

Right?

She hasn't let him go, and it's late in the evening. And now? The elevators are out for //at least// two hours. "What else is due for a test once the elevators are done? Hmmm?" She's finding affectionate amusement in this, and her tones are soft and low; intimate.

"I know why you like Homer.. because Jarvis listened to me, too." While she couldn't override anything Tony did directly, Jarvis did remain somewhat open to suggestions as to how to get around programming.. sometimes.

Tony Stark has posed:
"HOMER hears nearly as well as I do," Tony defends the poor AI, as well as his own hearing. To some extent, while implying the opposite! He grins into her response of amusement and return volley of sassing him. Falling into this easy form of communication is an old, comfortable hat.

Just now with new and improved flirting.

It's nice.

"Now... will you tell me what's going on?" Tony asks, looking between her eyes, staying close. "I know Thor was an option for that tablet we tested, but how did that end up with Loki? I feel like that's the opposite of safe for it."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper laughs, "I see.." which means they can also selectively ignore just as well! Not that he's ever actually ignored her- just disagreed silently at her! Or, grunted a response that was vaguely in the negative.

It's a warm feeling, all of 'this' around her. It has a comfort to it that, while she imagined some of it, the full extent hadn't even been imagined.

Pepper exhales, and he can feel the breath move as she stands there with him, still in his embrace. She really, really doesn't want to break from the contact, now that she has it. "He walked in behind Thor." Literally. That's all it was.

"But the problem is, the thing is all magic. Unless he was nominally on board with it, we'd be out of a hiding spot. All we really have is Asgard." There's a tight lipped smile, and green eyes look into that concerned face before she pulls back just a little to rub his cheek with a gentle, open hand. "I really don't think he makes the connection. And if he does, I don't think he sees me as too terribly important." She's no threat to him, as herself.

Tony Stark has posed:
"No, I don't think he sees you like I do," Tony agrees, smile sleek but turning more gentle, more natural: a quieter smile that is very rare... but less rare, lately. It shows up for Pepper.

Tony brushes his nose to hers a little, and aims a kiss for the side of her lips. "Since you're staying, come have some dinner," Tony invites her, relaxing the hug to drop one hand to hers, attempting to hook a few fingers between hers to draw her with him. "I've got that Greek you're a fan of."

Technically it's what he's a fan of, but, well, maybe it's close enough. His smile is hopeful, and genuine.

Pepper Potts has posed:
It's a moment when she realizes what she's said, or more to the point, how he read it and responds. Her expression brightens, her features take on a veritable glow. As he comes in, she meets his forehead briefly and accepts the kiss, her lips automatically returning the lightly brushed caress.

It's a moment, one of many to come, and when the embrace is ending, Pepper's fingers do entwine and she allows herself to be led. It's a natural progression, seeming like they've done this forever, shared the warm contact, the light, playful words.

"Mmmmm.." comes as a slightly dubious sound, "seeing as the elevators are down, and you have //my// favorite Greek," she's no fool! "Just don't eat all the tziki sauce this time. Save some for me..."

They'll sit, share the Greek, and share a drink, and when the elevator test is done? They may find something else to occupy their time.