Yes, Virginia, There Really Is An Iron Man: Chapter Twenty-Two
TITLE: Yes, Virginia, There Really Is An Iron Man
AUTHOR: Quicksilvermad
SUMMARY: (Movie-verse) Pepper deals with Tony’s newfound lease on life and ends up making a mountain out of her molehill of emotion where her boss is concerned.
GENRE: Humor/Romance
RATING: PG13
PAIRING: Tony/Pepper
DISCLAIMER: Iron Man etc. belong to Marvel Comics et. al.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Pepper walked down the stairs in a pair of ballet flats and a simple black dress to the sound of Tony playing something on the piano that she’d never heard before. He was half-ready for the charity auction-dressed in black slacks and a “hot rod red” oxford. His blazer was draped over the sofa along with a gold tie.
Pepper had not known that Tony could sing until he opened his mouth and did so-lovely tenor notes flowed along with his fingers as they delicately played melodious chords that echoed through the living room. After a moment or two of watching her boss do this, Pepper stepped a bit closer.
Tony stopped.
“Thanks for getting a replacement so quickly,” he said.
Pepper grabbed the gold tie off the sofa and motioned for him to stand. She hooked the imported silk around his neck and executed a double-windsor knot with a perfect dimple (one of Pepper’s special talents). “You’re welcome. I had no idea you could sing, too.”
He smirked and helped her straighten the tie. “I’ve got to have some hidden talents.”
Pepper hummed a response and stepped back a bit to observe the finished look. She nodded in approval and turned to grab the formerly forgotten paperwork off the petrified tree stump. “Signatures.”
Tony unclipped a pen from the manila folder and signed the check along with the acceptance letter Pepper had written up for him. “Will that be all, Miss Potts?” he handed her the folder and pen.
Pepper smirked. “That will be all, Mr. Stark. If you’ll excuse me I have plans for later tonight and I need to go home and get ready.”
Tony liked this teasing side of Virginia Potts. A lot. “Hot date, Potts?”
“Oh, Mr. Stark… A girl doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Tony laughed and kissed her swiftly on her lips. “Though my heart burns with jealousy, I guess I won’t keep you any longer.”
Pepper smiled and walked calmly to the front door. “That’s good, because the dress I got is harder to get on than it is to take off.”
She stumbled slightly. In flats, she tripped over her own feet and blushed deep enough to shame a rhubarb. What in the name of all things holy made me say that kind of thing?!
Tony raised an eyebrow and ran his index finger across his mustache. “That’s, uh, good news…” he cleared his throat.
Pepper gave a pathetic wave goodbye and vanished out the front door. Tony collapsed back onto the piano bench once he heard her car scream out of the driveway.
“This is a good thing, right Jarvis? I mean…”
As usual, Jarvis read into Tony’s phrasing and tone and answered the unspoken question on the genius’ mind. “If you are worried about Miss Potts’ wellbeing in regards to your current affairs overseas I think you will find that she is quite capable of handling herself.”
Tony glanced up at the ceiling and, not for the first time, seriously considered giving Jarvis a holographic likeness. “She did do an outstanding job this weekend, didn’t she?”
“I believe your phrasing was: ‘she saved my life,’ sir.”
Tony grinned. “That she did.”
Somewhere deep in Jarvis’ programming, paternal approval seemed to flare to life. “I am pleased that you finally overcame your insecurities and told her how you felt, sir.”
Tony scowled. “This is what I get for coding in that psychology mumbo jumbo.”
“Nevertheless, your vitals are much more stable than yesterday.”
“Mother hen,” Tony grumbled beneath his breath. “Whatever, Jarvis. Call Hogan and tell him I’m going to need him to drive us tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tony fiddled with the end of his tie and went back to playing the piano.
TBC
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AUTHOR: Quicksilvermad
SUMMARY: (Movie-verse) Pepper deals with Tony’s newfound lease on life and ends up making a mountain out of her molehill of emotion where her boss is concerned.
GENRE: Humor/Romance
RATING: PG13
PAIRING: Tony/Pepper
DISCLAIMER: Iron Man etc. belong to Marvel Comics et. al.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Pepper walked down the stairs in a pair of ballet flats and a simple black dress to the sound of Tony playing something on the piano that she’d never heard before. He was half-ready for the charity auction-dressed in black slacks and a “hot rod red” oxford. His blazer was draped over the sofa along with a gold tie.
Pepper had not known that Tony could sing until he opened his mouth and did so-lovely tenor notes flowed along with his fingers as they delicately played melodious chords that echoed through the living room. After a moment or two of watching her boss do this, Pepper stepped a bit closer.
Tony stopped.
“Thanks for getting a replacement so quickly,” he said.
Pepper grabbed the gold tie off the sofa and motioned for him to stand. She hooked the imported silk around his neck and executed a double-windsor knot with a perfect dimple (one of Pepper’s special talents). “You’re welcome. I had no idea you could sing, too.”
He smirked and helped her straighten the tie. “I’ve got to have some hidden talents.”
Pepper hummed a response and stepped back a bit to observe the finished look. She nodded in approval and turned to grab the formerly forgotten paperwork off the petrified tree stump. “Signatures.”
Tony unclipped a pen from the manila folder and signed the check along with the acceptance letter Pepper had written up for him. “Will that be all, Miss Potts?” he handed her the folder and pen.
Pepper smirked. “That will be all, Mr. Stark. If you’ll excuse me I have plans for later tonight and I need to go home and get ready.”
Tony liked this teasing side of Virginia Potts. A lot. “Hot date, Potts?”
“Oh, Mr. Stark… A girl doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Tony laughed and kissed her swiftly on her lips. “Though my heart burns with jealousy, I guess I won’t keep you any longer.”
Pepper smiled and walked calmly to the front door. “That’s good, because the dress I got is harder to get on than it is to take off.”
She stumbled slightly. In flats, she tripped over her own feet and blushed deep enough to shame a rhubarb. What in the name of all things holy made me say that kind of thing?!
Tony raised an eyebrow and ran his index finger across his mustache. “That’s, uh, good news…” he cleared his throat.
Pepper gave a pathetic wave goodbye and vanished out the front door. Tony collapsed back onto the piano bench once he heard her car scream out of the driveway.
“This is a good thing, right Jarvis? I mean…”
As usual, Jarvis read into Tony’s phrasing and tone and answered the unspoken question on the genius’ mind. “If you are worried about Miss Potts’ wellbeing in regards to your current affairs overseas I think you will find that she is quite capable of handling herself.”
Tony glanced up at the ceiling and, not for the first time, seriously considered giving Jarvis a holographic likeness. “She did do an outstanding job this weekend, didn’t she?”
“I believe your phrasing was: ‘she saved my life,’ sir.”
Tony grinned. “That she did.”
Somewhere deep in Jarvis’ programming, paternal approval seemed to flare to life. “I am pleased that you finally overcame your insecurities and told her how you felt, sir.”
Tony scowled. “This is what I get for coding in that psychology mumbo jumbo.”
“Nevertheless, your vitals are much more stable than yesterday.”
“Mother hen,” Tony grumbled beneath his breath. “Whatever, Jarvis. Call Hogan and tell him I’m going to need him to drive us tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tony fiddled with the end of his tie and went back to playing the piano.
TBC
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