8747/Hardly a mess

Hardly a mess
Date of Scene:	20 November 2021
Location:	Stark Tower: Roof Landing Pad
Synopsis:	Tony returns from a slime-infused battle and gets real with Pepper on some feels.
Cast of Characters:	Tony Stark, Pepper Potts

---

Tony Stark has posed:
"Ms. Potts," HOMER's crisp tone begins, "Mr. Stark is due at the rooftop landing in approximately four minutes." Helpful as always, the AI is on top of being able to answer such questions - though prior to that he was unable to give her much information beyond that Mr. Stark was out in the Iron Man armor handling a disturbance.

The news itself was able to shine more of a light on that - some ichor-like pods had hatched some strange yellow monsters, and a few heroes had responded to it. Tony had been out enjoying a flight - so of course he had moved to get some shots in.

"The disturbance appears to be contained now," HOMER adds, "Emergency crews are moving in to assist those injured at the site."

Pepper Potts has posed:
So nice to get a report like that within the first couple of moments after walking into the Penthouse. Pepper is slowly unwrapping herself from a woolen but stylish winter 3/4 length coat, a large shopping paper bag set just on the side near the wall of the entrance. Brows rise as the shoes that were coming off are put back on, the jacket that was mid-doff is shrugged back in, and her path begins towards the great glass windows that separate the interior from the balcony and landing pad.

"Is he okay?" Pepper continues, her tones slightly tinged with that 'whenever Tony's in flight, there's something wrong' sound, "Turn on the news reports. Search for mention of Tony or the Avengers, individually or as a group, please." Waiting for the holographs of the news recordings seems like an eternity, but in reality, it's almost instantaneous. Her nose wrinkles in distaste for the sight of the creatures, and waves a hand to dismiss it,

"Okay, that's enough. I really don't want to know."

And, like wives and lovers of those who sailed the wide open sea, Pepper walks out onto the balcony containing the landing pad, the cold air forcing her to close her coat. It tugs at the bottom of her jacket and sends red hair awry.

Tony Stark has posed:
Due to the estimate for arrival being so soon, that means Iron Man is close enough to actually see, visually, in the golden arc as he does a review loop over the area he'd been assisting. Pepper would have known exactly what to look for, as the footage from below and from helicopter was much of this as well.

HOMER is good at estimates (there has been plenty of these events to learn from), to be very close with the timing. Tony lands right 'on time'.

But the armor looks... gross, for lack of a better word. It looks like a few giant monsters sneezed on him - flecks of yellow and greenish pus-like sticky stuff are in rubbery hunks here and there. "Feel like the floor of a movie theater," Tony's amplified voice observes as he lands, helmet still closed. It's mostly at HOMER, though he picks up on Pepper's presence quickly. "Hold off on the loving hugs -- I'll ruin your jacket, and not in a sexy way."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper's hands are busy holding her coat closed, the wisps of hair whipping around in the cold breeze on the upper floor of the Tower. Green eyes search out and easily find the form and figure of the red and gold suit, complete with its flying final recons, as aided by those news reports. The fact that Tony's returning to her so soon means he's not wrapped up in that Emergency Services clean-up, but beyond that? Bets are still better than even there are a few bumps and bruises. Tony seems to invite those!

Watching him land, Pepper feels that all too familiar thump in her chest, and her eyes are on him, trying to judge without any real information other than the fact that-

Ew.

Pepper's nose wrinkles, and her head pulls back, even though he's not approaching her for a hug or affection. She even takes a step back, looks around, "Do we have an outdoor shower installed, because I don't want that in the house. You might leave.." and a hand is pulled from its job of keeping the jacket secured, "That's just gross." What else can be said?

Tony Stark has posed:
"We learned in the fight that water is /not/ effective for removal, sadly. But enough heat, and it will bake. So, in theory.... this is more of a flamethrower style situation. ...Within limits, obviously. I didn't come through that fight to put on a BBQ," Tony chatters. His tone and cadence suggest he's fine, there isn't strain to his voice. No, he's on a performance high: whatever this was, it didn't tax him, and he's feeling upbeat and energetic still! Whether it will continue after the flamethrower situation remains to be seen.

"Let's use the collider apparatus, and just put it at one-percent," Tony continues, talking to HOMER now. "Are the mobile ones still here at the tower?"

"Yes," HOMER responds, "Allocating to appropriate flying drones now."

Tony, still fully in armor, strides over a bit futher, then pauses, twisting a little, looking under one of his feet as if he'd stepped in dog poop. No, just the goo. "Let's keep this out here." No need to track it all in.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Water is one thing- hosing off the suit isn't an issue. But fire? Pepper's posture shifts and her mouth opens slightly, shaking her head, adding, "Is that really the only thing? I mean, I'm pretty sure I have some nail polish remover," Acetone takes off glue, right? So wouldn't it work?

"Tony.." At least there is the relief that he's okay, if only for the moment. It is true that the suit can handle a great deal of elements tossed at it, and he's pretty sure that whomever he's got in there (JARVIS? HOMER?) will keep him safe and the suit at optimum levels... but fire?

On the other hand? That's not a substance she wants in the house...

Tony Stark has posed:
"Trust me, I have no intention of messing up the paint job on this suit," Tony teases Pepper as she reacts in such dismay. "Just force this stuff to lose it's tacky quality to flake off. In the fight, we got great readings on the reaction to heat, so. No problem," Tony says, with an offhanded gesture of hand. Some of the goo nearly goes flying, but not fully -- sticks to the glove.

By now, the robots, a trio, have come outside, with what definitely looks like a weird heat ray, and Tony gives Pepper a 'just a moment' gesture more commonly used by men that want to check out one last thing in the hardware store before leaving. He'll be right with her!

Pepper Potts has posed:
Dubious. That is the best description of the look that Pepper gives Tony, with all the hallmarks of not quite //there// yet in terms of truly trusting the outcome. Still, with the studies and readings gained, it is probably the best course of action.

She looks considering, a quick, tight smile is returned for the hand in the air, the 'one moment' gesture, and with that, she retires (retreats?) back into the warmth of the Penthouse. "Just don't be too long. It's cold out."

The fireplace within is warming, a welcoming heat and glow, and finally Pepper gets to take off her coat, her shoes. She's in casual businesswear; the kind saved for the jaunts out of the building and out of the boardrooms in particular. Looking back over her shoulder towards the wall to ceiling glass window, she's keeping a close eye on Tony, and his drones.

Tony Stark has posed:
The process would be worrying -- except that that Iron Man suit can take one hell of a beating, and some minor heat ray isn't going to do anything to the suit or the man inside it!

It's possibly funny to watch -- the bouts of heat from the apparatus, in a few bursts as if Tony were trying to get a tan... while wearing the suit. But sometimes there's a silly factor to such armor behind the scenes!

Then, once that's finished, the armor unlocks and separates, to let Tony escape it without worry about getting gummed up. Flakes of the monster goo fall away, and he leaves the suit (and ground) to be dutifully cleaned up by the bots while he trots inside.

Tony looks healthy enough; he's in one of his snug undersuits that he wears for maximum comfort in the Iron Man armor. A black and gray affair with pipes of light blue in this case. He kneads one of his biceps and the shoulder socket as he comes inside, but gives Pepper a bright smile, his dark brown eyes warm. "See, hardly singed."

Pepper Potts has posed:
During the scorch off, Pepper's at the bar pouring Tony a scotch on the rocks, three fingers, and for herself, a glass of white wine, and when he finally emerges from the suit and enters, she has it ready and waiting for him. She's smiling now, partially in relief, and partially due to the fact that he really does wear that suit well. It accentuates exactly how fit the genius millionaire really is. (Take that, Elon Musk!)

"So I see," she begins, "Now, who do we have to thank for those creatures? Aliens? Magic spawn? Or just run of the mill alternate dimensional creatures?" At this point in her tenure, asking those questions is almost in the same tenor as asking what it is he's in the mood for in terms of dinner. "And do we have to write up some sort of press release?" Which, of course, is the bigger question.

There's an unspoken invite to join her on the sofa near the warm fire so she can curl up against him. "And I have other important news. My parents would like us to make the trip up for Thanksgiving dinner."

Tony Stark has posed:
"Door number four. Pretty sure this one was just crazy human scientists," Tony chuckles. "The Jurassic Park sort - can they make sentient ooze, not /should/ they make sentient ooze."

Tony comes to fetch the drink off the counter where Pepper had prepared it, and then meets her on the sofa as invited, without really being aware of the invite. Just normal rhythm of things, these days. Hints and easy cues.

"No, some other heroes were first on site, and I played the enchanting role of advisory and assist. They can handle the rest from here, get some experience when it's just sentient ooze, not something tearing holes in the sky or the like."

Tony didn't loop his arm around Pepper, there was a mild flinch to the start of the move from the tweaked shoulder, but he's still close and warm.

Pepper Potts has posed:
Once on the couch, Pepper's sits back and relaxes, a sip of her wine only on the occasional. She looks up at him as he approaches, explaining the lay of the land, underscoring it with nods of acknowledgment and understanding. "Right. Those geniusses are the worst," she adds dryly, green eyes bright with humor.

An arm rises in offrance, "Still, I'm glad everything turned out okay. You're fine, the other group is fine. I hope they found the person who did it, though."

The wince doesn't escape her notice, however, and Pepper shifts on the couch, her expression settling in on affectionate concern. No worry lines, just..

"Okay," and she leans over to put her wine glass down, "turn around a little." She's sitting a little more sideways, "You're hurt." It's not an accusation, though she does follow it up with, "Nothing we have to talk to the doctors about, right?" At the same time, however, her fingers begin to knead the area, first very carefully,

"Does this hurt?"

Tony Stark has posed:
"Yep, arrested. Though I don't envy them needing to remove the slime, I think they deserve whatever process the police come up with to get it off them," Tony says, innocently letting that be someone else's problem.

"Oh.... yeah, but not from this. Wrenched it while moving some things earlier," Tony comments as Pepper detects the arm issue. He has no problem turning to let her ease her fingers into the muscle there, and suppresses a flinch as she finds the sore knot pretty quickly. He huffs a breath to lie, "Never," tensed, but lets her work on it as he makes an effort to relax, and settle his head back and to the side some. "But just the same, may as well make sure."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Fire isn't going to work," Pepper muses, her fingers working to find the spots where knots linger. She's not feeling lots of tension, which is definitely a good sign, which allows her to relax a little in the comfortable contact. What she is feeling, however, is the warm, well-toned muscle of a man that she's crazy about, and falls into silence with the ministrations. She catches the flinch, however, and digs in a little deeper with the tips of her fingers to work out the muscle until it's a little looser under her hand. It's a gentle touch, but definitely assured and practiced.

It is easy to fall into an almost meditation, the fire in front of them, the chill of the night behind the glass panes with the blinking lights of the city, and the warmth of his presence, the feel of muscle and sinew, and, okay, a little bit of wine she managed to drink before he joined her.

"Moving some things?" Pepper does take hold of some things, but her tones are a soft, almost purr, "Are we remodeling? If so, I have a few ideas to make things a little more homey."

Tony Stark has posed:
"Yes, supremely heavy things; it was superhuman of me really. You would have been entirely impr-ouch," Tony grumps, as she finds a spot that causes a bit of a muscle spasm. Not one he can control. He turns and rolls partially, though, loosening the shoulder in the socket outward in a stretching motion, giving her full access to the zone despite his reaction of pain.

"Not in here, though I guess that could happen too. What'd you have in mind?" Tony is more muffled due to being faced away some, a bit into a cushion now.

"I directed the holiday stuff to start to get set up, but I'm still not the biggest fan of it in here. Maybe just how I grew up," Tony comments, with a shrug that lifts muscle into her palm. "But we were never home for holidays anyway. Everyone was always going in different directions, dad was working-- just all of that. Messy and busy."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Mmmhmm," is the always reaction to Tony's embellishments; affectionate and amused. Her ghosted smile can be heard in the soft utterance, which is followed up with, "I'm sure I would have been impressed, yes." Truth be told, however, some of her happier moments were spent watching him work, even as she had things to do as well. Such is her pride in him, and the fact he's distracting. Very distracting.

The muscle under her fingers tightens, and she can feel the knot forming under her fingers even as she works to loosen it up. The flinch, and she can almost hear the exhale of pain has her more attuned to the spot and the area around it. She has more of him, and the closeness is something that she doesn't take lightly or for granted.

Tony's a private man, no matter what others may think.

"Oh, I was thinking of putting up some art I found," Pepper begins softly, her attention more at the matter at hand, literally. "But, I wouldn't mind a tree, some lights. Maybe a little train." That smile can be heard in her words, sounding as if they are conjuring up cherished memories. "I don't want them to decorate the tree. That's for us." There's a pause, and she leans forward a little to press against him, "We can start new traditions. Maybe cut back on the galas and go skiing, or visit with my parents in Connecticut. The snow is really nice out there, and my mother's hot chocolate is the best."

Tony Stark has posed:
"/Or/," Tony says, suddenly twisting his body. He rolls entirely, fully removing his knotted shoulder from her hands, to sort of twist and drape his head and upper shoulders in her lap instead. He's athletic and agile, and can smoothly make this playful transition -- which includes a lift of one finger to her lips. Wait for itttt.

"HOMER, turn on the holiday display in the living space," Tony says, cheeky.

From the screen projectors so often used to continue work while in the penthouse, instead, a set of holographic lights glow in silver, white and blue, and manifest tinsel-dazzled trees. There are snowflake shapes across the ceiling that wink in and out. Festive. It's clean and sharply modern - something Tony had a hand in, then.

"And no boxes of ancient nonsense to drag up from storage," Tony says proudly. "I was going to save it, but this felt like the moment." And Tony senses his moments.

Pepper Potts has posed:
One thing that makes Tony quite good with his athletic displays is the fact that he doesn't telegraph anything. He's apparently learned that surprises are best when they are, yes, surprises. So, Tony's shift of position takes Pepper off-guard for a moment, and finds his shoulders and head in her lap. Her hand automatically goes for that dark, short hair of his, the other winding down the side of his face, his jaw and side of his neck in a light caress.

"Or.." and she's caught up in the moment, the 'pleased with himself', playful tones sounding. As the holograms bring their light display of the season, Pepper tilts her head, looking up and around, trying to take it all in, and failing. There are little touches here and there, and her expression is one of wide-eyed pleasure. Clean, modern and decidedly high-tech- it's all Tony's work, and she laughs. "Right, no dusty boxes?" She leans over, scooting just a little to press a light kiss, "Better moment than if we were coming in from an event and we were both exhausted."

Tony Stark and his moments. "Definitely the moment."

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony was looking at her to watch for approval or disapproval of the display - regardless of whatever act he puts on, he enjoys entertaining others and feeds off his audiences. In particular, those he cares about, of which Pepper is certainly one!

"We /do/ seem to save those things for when we're tired and drunk," Tony agrees. "Or at least tired," a point to her, "And drunk." Which points to Tony.

Tony pauses, dark eyes moving over her expression and to her eyes, weighing a choice. It's not mischief, though: this is more a look that exposes something that he cares about but is taking great pains to act with his usual confidence. "I /do/ have another thing, but putting it all out at once might spoil you."

Pepper Potts has posed:
Another of Tony's strengths- playing to an audience, even if it's one, and he does know how to read them.

Pepper laughs her agreement and acknowledgment, "Tired and drunk." She wrinkles her nose just so at the point to her as she's tagged as the 'tired' one, green eyes gleaming at the next point to the 'drunk'. "Why is it, then, that you fall asleep first if you're not pulled away to chase a thought?" She's teasing- drunk and tired! Ha!

Still, her hand hasn't really stopped finger-combing his short, soft dark hair, the other hand resting at the side of his neck. She can feel his heart beating, the soft warmth of his skin, and she tilts her head, looking down at him again, brows rising in curious question. Her hair falls slightly to the side in the action, which has her taking a hand off of him to tuck the strands behind her ear before it's set back in its place. "Oh?" There's a smile that mixes with a smirk, and she continues, "Oh no.. you might spoil me?" is asked drolly.

"You do know, now that you said something..."

Tony Stark has posed:
"Rock and a hard place now, really," Tony agrees. "Either I'm spoiling you or torturing you with curiosity," Tony says, with a very put-upon troubled expression. A very difficult choice to make between those.... what an infuriating man.

And it's all deliberate, of course. Or he's stalling, which also could be the case; Tony tends to skirt things sometimes when there's some emotional section to it.

But he can just as quickly suddenly make a decision about things and blast in, as if he didn't care about the consequences -- but more often it is that he has faith in his ability to deal and adapt with whatever the outcome ends up being. He's a risk-taker due to his confidence in his ability to make things pay off or dig himself out!

"It's information," Tony gives. His tone is a sort of cheeky, half-playful dodge. "Just important to give it at a good time, so you do the right thing with it."

Pepper Potts has posed:
"Or making me crazy," Pepper continues, her tones sounding as if she's ready to give a whole laundry list of exactly what it is he does to her on a regular basis. "I could go on," she informs him, "And I don't pity you, so don't give me that look." She is wearing that smile, her words are light and mock-stern in her teasing.

"So.." out with it? Pepper looks expectant, her head still at that quizzical angle, brows creased upwards. Those little strands of dark hair still move through fingers; that hasn't ceased.

"Information," she repeats. "Uh huh," sounds, that dubious tenor tinging the vocalization. "What information? About what?" 'Do the right thing with it'?

"Tony.."

Tony Stark has posed:
"Pepper." Tony repeats, in a mimic of the tone she just used with him, though with a bit less frustration to it than her dubious voice carried. But here comes the information, after an appropriate little pause.

"I figured out a little bit ago that I do, in fact, love you," Tony says, in his direct, full-speed ahead way. It's pure, direct, and from the heart.

....But then he /keeps talking/, and it starts to become his quick chattiness that can surge in when he senses his feels are too exposed.... "...But I figured that needed to be said at a good time. Then, after a bit waiting for a 'good time' just prolongs holding the information too long, when it's something you should know, and hear from me---"

Pepper Potts has posed:
What doesn't Pepper know about Tony? She knows his shoe size, his shirt size, tuxedo preferences, how he takes his scotch and how much and in what glass. She knows when he wakes up, what tricks can be used to get him to sleep..

Her mouth is open to keep the list going, and she even makes a sound as if she is going to continue, but then stops. Short. Her expression shifts to confused, puzzled, and mostly uncertain as to exactly what it is she heard. All those flicker across her face, all battling for primacy as the main expression, and she just manages a single word at the end of it all, interrupting him at the end,

"What? Tony, what did you say?" And if it was what she thought he said, is he okay? Is there something else he's not telling her? Or..

"Did you really say-"

Theirs has been a growing comfortable, a growing 'this is natural' once the whole fear of what 'they', the media, would say. If she doubted that she loved him, those around her, around them, definitely didn't. She's come around to finally understanding that she definitely is in love with the man, and so very proud of him. And deeply conflicted.. (darn him!)

This, however, this is new information.

"Oh, Tony.." She's pretty sure he did!

Tony Stark has posed:
Tony is still in a weird position, but he lifts his upper body some to prop it up on his hand-- which means he's facing her with part of his chest on her lap, but has now lifted on one arm. It's a more confident position than laying his head in her lap and hands, but still entirely close enough to where she can leave her hands on his upper chest or neck.

"I didn't propose to you, relax, Pep," Tony teases her immediately, with a quick little grin. "One step at a time." Cheeky, obnoxious as always.

Pepper Potts has posed:
There it is.

His following remark gains a quiet laugh, the breathy sound coming from her throat as she relaxes again, bobbing her head in complete understanding of what might have just transpired. Emotion followed by an off-the-cuff in order to lighten and possibly distance from the perceived weakness. Being vulnerable is hard, and emotions are harder.

As he moves to get into a better position for conversation, but no less in easy range of contact, she can see those dark eyes much clearer. She can try and read them, searching for that confirmation that it's honestly true. "No, no you didn't," Pepper agrees readily. "I don't think that I've ever been told that before when I believed it like I do now. Which," and she chuffs another soft laugh, "is very strange to say, but there it is."

She's found it, obviously.

She leans against the back of the couch, her head tilting once again, green eyes trying to keep those dark ones, and she's not about to let him off that hot seat, now that the 'information' has been divulged. "What was it? The Pad Thai? Or the thought that I wasn't going to let you into the house with goop on the suit?" She's teasing, giving him a chance, but underneath all of that, she's curious. How had he decided what is probably a life-altering fact?

Tony Stark has posed:
"Well, it probably /happened/ back when I nearly lost you into another reality," Tony explains, with a sort of squint, as if she had decided to send herself into the other reality. "But I think I noticed it when I made an effort not to wake you up the other night when I went to that emergency. You've made me /considerate/," Tony scoffs, but then laughs and lifts his head towards hers.

He doesn't quite go in for a kiss, but he certainly positions for it if she wants to come in for the other half of the distance. He's still watching for if the impact of his words was positive, or might have caused any difficulty between them. He's optimistic but feels are hard and don't always go well sometimes!

Pepper Potts has posed:
Pepper's not only watching, but listening, hearing the cadence of his words, and she nods slowly, "It was a little scary," she admits before adding, "Okay, a lot scary. Definitely worse without you." But, they managed. "I knew you would think of something." Her faith in him is all part and parcel of her affection, her love for him. "It's who you are."

Considerate?

As he leans in, Pepper does meet him half way, her eyes hooded a little for the kiss. It's definitely a positive reaction to the admissions that are almost as sacred as confessions. Before her lips are pressed against his, she whispers, "I love you too, you know."

Probably not a big surprise, but to be able to come right out and say it and //not// have that awkward moment when Tony isn't sure as to what to do, what to think, how to respond? It's information she knows exactly what to do with, and how to handle it. Gently and carefully.