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Hey, yourself.

[ Her tone stays soft and almost hushed, even. Somehow, neither the somber mood of the house or the lateness of the hour lend themselves to speaking any louder. She steps close enough for her leg to nudge Tony's knee, tucking her hands into the pockets of her robe and mustering a small smile; but it's mostly sad and kind of a pitiful effort. ]

It was a little lonely, in there.

[ Their room, she means, little alien pig aside. But there's no judgment in her voice. She's long since accepted they rarely went to bed together, considering how little Tony slept in general. Not that she didn't give a valiant effort to get him to sleep more, but that's not the point now.

Right now, she just wants to be close to him for a while. Sympathy's written all across her expression as she tips her head a little, her loose hair swinging slightly with the motion. ] Are you okay?

[ She's thinking not so much. He'd known Elena longer than Pepper had, after all. ]

[ Is he okay? Probably not. But he doesn't feel like he has any right to it. Not when Nate's in the position he's in, and not when Pepper's right here, in arm's reach, alive and breathing and glowing with as much life as ever.

He feels a nasty twinge of guilt at that - Pepper can't be having a good time with this, either, and here he's been holed up in the shop all day. Damn.

To her second question, he offers a vague shrug, but to her first... ]

Yeah, about that...

[ He flicks his hand in the direction of the workbench and requests JARVIS wrap things up for the night, which earns a quiet and equally solemn "of course, sir." Then he stands, stretches - a few things pop, a testament to how long he's been hunched over that table - before he turns back to Pepper and slips his hand into one of those fluffy pockets, squeezing the hand hidden there. ]

Bedtime, yeah?

[ Not that he really thinks he can sleep, but some solitude with Pepper might be what he needs more than anything, right now. ]

[ Pepper's not expecting him to wrap it up so compliantly, and it hadn't been her intention to oust him; she knows he tinkers to cope with things, among other reasons. But she sure isn't about to complain for a second, though she knows neither one of them is likely to sleep much tonight.

The tiny smile on her lips trembles a little when Tony squeezes her hand, moving it instantly to tangle their fingers and nodding wordlessly in agreement.

But instead of moving aside, Pepper takes half a step closer so she's pressed flush against him while bringing her free hand up to grasp his back in a lopsided hug, leaning her chin into his shoulder and gently squeezing his fingers with hers.

The simple physical contact is exactly what she's needed all day, she realizes, her throat feeling tight all of the sudden. She swallows back the lump there, as well as the three little words they still rarely speak aloud that spring to the tip of her tongue now. She just needs to take this moment before they do anything else. ]

[ She's got the right idea.

He folds into it the moment her arms go around him, arms going around her waist, tension seeping from sore muscles for the first time in two days. He wonders if this is what Pepper had felt like those months he'd been lost in Afghanistan, or after everything that happened with Stane, or after New York, or any other dumb, reckless thing he's done that by all rights should've killed him.

He suddenly feels like more of a jerk than ever, and that's a feat.

But if he holds perfectly still, he can almost feel her heart beating against his chest, warm and safe. What does he have to complain about?

He sighs and buries his face in her hair, muttering against her ear. ]

I'm one lucky asshole.

[ The answer probably is yes, compounded. Pepper breathes a shuddering exhale of her own as he returns the contact, one hand slipping up to delve her fingers into his hair while the other clutches at his shoulder firmer, clinging to him a little more insistently still.

She gives the faintest hum of gentle amusement at his remark, lips curving just a hint for a moment. ]

That's probably true. [ In more ways than one. ]

[ Those little words crowd in the back of her throat again, but what she ends up murmuring quietly against the join of his shoulder and neck is something quite different; normally, she wouldn't be quite this needy, but in the light of recent events she's not quite feeling up to her usual, poised self. ]

Don't leave me alone in this place.

[ It's unfair and below the belt, even she sees it. She knows he can't really make promises like that, couldn't even back home, but right now she'll take a lie if she must. ]

[ It's absolutely unfair, and that it comes from Pepper at all sends a pang through him like some kind of electric shock.

He already feels guilty for transgressions not yet committed, because this damn place - it may not be as bad as it was aboard the Moira, the danger may be more spread out, but he's been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hawke's haunt on the slaver planet and Elena's death just confirm it. They may be playing house well enough for now, but they'll never really be safe, not until they get home.

Except, not even there.

His fingers trace absent-minded circles in the small of her back while they both dutifully ignore that reality. ]

Cross my electromagnetic heart.

[ She knows he can't make promises like that; he knows he can't make promises like that. But Pepper had been his reason to keep fighting even before she'd arrived, so there's no reason to pretend otherwise now. If there's anyone he'd try for, it's her. ]

[ Deep down Pepper knew all too well how unsustainable this little charade was -- yesterday kind of brought it home in the worst possible way. But for a moment, it had been nice to believe maybe, just maybe, they could have a shot at the so-called normal life. That she didn't have to fear something terrible happening, something going awfully wrong, all day and all night.

That illusion has been shattered, but she's still more inclined to take Tony's lie -- because that's what it is at its heart, even if it's well-meant -- than face the reality that implies next time some calamity happens, it could be Tony on the line of fire. (That's more unbearable to her than thinking about something bad happening to Pepper herself.)

She nods slightly into his shoulder, her frame going lax against his body for a moment as if his promise takes some invisible weight off her shoulders. ]

I'm gonna hold you to that.

[ Oh, would she ever. Pulling her head up finally, she palms the side of his face gently and leans in to press her lips to his in a soft kiss, closing her eyes and letting the contact linger. ]

Come to bed, [ she urges softly once the kiss breaks, giving a tiniest smile and finding his hand with hers to tangle their fingers, tugging slightly to get him on the move. ]

[ He returns the kiss in kind, something in his chest seeming to tightening even as Pepper relaxes. It's not as simple as Tony being in danger, and Pepper being safe; Pepper is always in danger. She's in danger back home, weeks or months from going through an ordeal Tony has only heard secondhand from Bruce. She's in danger here, as much as any of them are, as much as Elena was - and there's only so much Tony can do to protect her, short of bundling her into this house and urging her to never leave.

Also not an option, for either of them.

So he holds on as long as he can, and ignores the slight swoop of disappointment when she pulls away (but that's always there, every time, totally normal). He gives her fingers a squeeze as they tangle with his and follows her from the workshop, through the dark and quiet house (too quiet, eerily quiet, like a funeral shroud has been dropped over the entire thing), and into their shared room.

As they cross the threshold, he thinks idly about how he really hasn't spent much time in here, and how maybe he should fix that. ]

What time is it?

[ He thinks to ask only after the door is shut behind them, and he's left to wonder how long Pepper has stayed up waiting for him. ]

[ It feels a little selfish again, but Pepper can't help but be slightly relieved when the door shuts softly in their wake, closing them into this private bubble for a while; shutting out the oppressive sadness permeating the whole house. Not that either of them can truly forget the circumstances, even so.

Since she's the one who's mostly been using their room, not to mention more interested in interior design in general, their room is all Pepper decor-wise; done in a neat and elegant contemporary style with mostly neutral shades of white, black and grey -- but livened up with pops of calming blue. Pepper toes off her slippers as she checks the bedside clock for the time. ]

Going past midnight, now.

[ Early for Tony, late for her, in other words. The covers of their king-sized bed are already turned down and rumpled on Pepper's side, betraying the fact that she'd uselessly tried to go to bed once already tonight. Ziggy the space piggy is sleeping on the floor on Pepper's side of the bed, snuggled up to a blanket in what looks to be a small dog bed -- she'd make introductions soon. ]

Far too late for old ladies like me, [ she jokes wanly while shrugging off her fluffy robe, her pj's consisting simply of a pilfered t-shirt of Tony's that hangs down to mid-thigh, far too large on her slender frame. ]

[ Tony toes off his work boots and leaves them next to the door before working his way around the bed, headed for the closet. Something about the mundane action makes him realizes he's as exhausted as the rest of them, even if it isn't quite "bedtime" by his standards. The emotional toll has been far heavier than the most strenuous physical labor. ]

Pep, if you're an old lady then you'd better pony up your secret to immortality —

[ He gives her a pointed (salacious) look over his shoulder as he says it, and the up-and-down he's giving her is probably the only reason he spots the odd bundle on the floor. He stops abruptly, blinking a few times like he might just be imagining things. Wouldn't be the first time. ]

Uh... Do we have a dog and I didn't notice?

[ Pepper smirks at that look as she puts away her robe, tossing him a playful wink in return. It's always a little flattering to get glances like that from him, even though there's certainly nothing she has that he hasn't seen numerous times before.

At the question, she bites her lip and turns to look over to the bundle in question. Ah, yes. This would be interesting. ]

Umm, well not... exactly.

[ She pads over to the pet bed and stoops down to gently scoop up the tiny creature in it, cuddling it carefully against her chest. As she turns around and steps closer to Tony, he too can see what exactly it is; a pink-and-black piglet, over half the size smaller than Elena's cat. ]

Tony, this is Ziggy. He's a teacup pig. [ Obviously. She pets his little head gently, rubbing with a finger behind one ear; the sleepy little pig seems to like it, judging by the contented, soft grunting sounds he emits, closing his eyes happily. Pepper grins. ]

Isn't he adorable? [ To the pig; ] Yes, you are.

A... pig.

[ He stares as she steps closer, like he still hasn't dispelled the possibility of this all being an exhaustion-fueled illusion. But by the time she stops in front of him, it's undeniable. It's definitely a pig. In their room. In Pepper's arms.

A pig.

He sways forward a little to stare at the bundle more closely, one hand hovering like he's trying to decide whether he dares touch it or not. ]

Where did you - it's not - uh, I'm guessing we're not keeping it for eating.

[ Not that he wants to (bacon's bad for you anyway), but he has to make absolutely sure, okay. ]

[ Pepper draws in a sharp breath at the question as if scandalized at the mere thought, covering the pig's ears so he wouldn't hear such traumatizing ideas. ]

Him, not it. Don't even think about making any bacon jokes.

[ Hmph! She goes back to gently petting the pig in her arms who continues to be quite happy with the treatment, occasionally letting out quiet grunts and oinks. ]

Anyway. [ She sighs deeply, because this is sort of a long story and she'd specifically told Hawke when it happened not to tell Tony about their outing so he wouldn't worry needlessly. Or make fun. Either one of those. ]

I took Hawke out to get our nails done a couple of days ago. You know, to bond with her a little. Uh, well, it turned out the salon was really a front for some aliens running a pet trafficking ring. They were doing experiments on the animals in the basement, like enhancing them scientifically for all kinds of weird things? I guess that's a thing some people want, like fire-breathing dogs and such...? [ She winces a little before shrugging, forging on. ]

Long story short -- we busted those poor creatures out, the bad guys got what they deserved, and... now I have a pig. Simple, really. [ TOTES. ]

[ Tony had almost worked up the nerve to pat the little pig's head when Pepper gets to the "scientifically enhanced, fire-breathing" part, then snatches it back like there might be a pig-combustion at any moment. ]

One - I can't imagine Hawke sitting still long enough to get her nails done. Two - much more importantly, actually, ignore the first thing cuz I wanna focus on this instead: a scientifically enhanced pig is not [ air quotes included ] "simple, really."

[ For all he knows it's gonna grow ten times its size and eat Pepper in her sleep, or something. ]

[ Pepper listens to Tony rant on with that same, tolerantly patient expression she usually wears in these situations. When he finally gets to the air quotes, she rolls her eyes. ]

Well, I wasn't going to leave him there! I mean, look at him. [ She holds the pig aloft gently and carefully between her hands so the animal's little face is pointed at Tony. ] How can you say "no" to this cute little face? He won't be any trouble, besides. Pigs are more intelligent than dogs, he'll be good.

[ This is probably a bad time to tell Tony the pig can literally eat anything? Probably. ]

[ He leans back slightly when she holds the pig aloft. Is it cute? .......... Maybe. Sort of. Is that the point? Absolutely not. It's a great time to tell Tony, because - ]

Really? And what's his superpower? Laser beams from the eyes? Gas so powerful it creates sonic booms? We're playing with pork-fire, here.

[ --Dang it! ]

Oh, don't be ridiculous. [ She cradles the pig back against her chest, rolling her lips into her mouth for a moment before muttering, ] ...Matter ingestion. Apparently.

Matter Inge-

[ That seems benign enough, until he realizes this refers to more than simply eating food. ]

Pep. [ He points at the pig accusingly, because that's safer than pointing at his girlfriend accusingly. ] You adopted a bottomless vacuum wrapped in ham?

Edited 2017-07-08 02:50 (UTC)

You know what?

[ She starts, only to realize there is no sassy rebuttal to that. So, she switches tactics in a heartbeat; owning up to it in that tone of hers that brooks no arguments. ]

Okay, yes. I did. [ It's her turn to point, holding the pig -- still miraculously dozing through all this -- to her chest with one hand. ] And he's staying, Tony.

[ Tony crosses his arms and leans back on his heels, assessing the situation. The data points are as follows:

- Pets are unpredictable and high-maintenance
- But it will make Pepper happy
- But its powers are heretofore unexplored and may present real, present dangers
- But it will make Pepper happy
- The damn thing will probably eat everything, including important mechanical components, tools, and socks
- But it will make Pepper happy
- He probably won't win the argument one way or another anyway
- And it will probably make Pepper happy
- ...
- He's fucked and they have a science pig now ]

...

No pigs in the workshop, we're buying one of those invisible dog fences. And I'm not cleaning up pig poop, that's pig-owner work. And I'm not obligated to call him "Ziggy" when I can call him "Pork Rind" instead.

Non-negotiable.

[ How to be a complete pushover to Pepper's whims but pretend you still have some control of the situation: a novel by Anthony Edward Stark. ]

[ Pepper beams happily the minute she gets her way, not that anyone had any doubts... She doesn't bother addressing any of Tony's demands because in the long run they would probably go ignored anyway for one reason or another, so why even go through the trouble? ]

Thank you, [ she says sweetly in a low murmur as she bridges the gap between them and kisses him lightly and softly, keeping it brief. ] Very much.

[ Two more soft pecks follow, her nose nudging his as she shakes her head slightly and adds with a hint of a smile, ] No food names.

[ Okay, maybe that one thing. ]

[ She's a devious creature indeed, because he can't even be truly sullen about it now. Not that he isn't going to make perfunctory efforts, but - melting into her touch and all. It ruins what he was going for. ]

You're really clipping my wings here, Pep.

[ This part muttered into the scarce space between their lips, which also ruins what he's going for. Oh well. He plants one on her over the stupid little pig's head, because at least then he feels like he managed to own something here.

It's only after a longer, more drawn-out kiss that he pulls back and starts tugging her toward the bed, but not without a sudden pause. ]

Oh - and definitely no porkchops in the bed. He'll eat our pillows in our sleep.

[ All part of the plan, of course. She grins maybe a little too victoriously against his mouth, quipping lowly before his kiss silences her, ] Aren't you used to it already?

[ It's an eternal struggle between them to get the last word in, but she's all too happy to forgo words entirely for a while in favor of more non-verbal communication. She tips her forehead against his when the leisurely kiss breaks, a brief but familiar gesture, letting herself be tugged along. If it's just pillows the pig will eat they'd be lucky, Pepper thinks, but she sure isn't about to tell Tony that. ]

Okay, I'll give you that.

[ For now, at least..... She pulls away from Tony long enough to take the pig back into his own bed, the tiny animal seeming perfectly happy to burrow into the blanket there and resume his snoozes so rudely interrupted earlier. Pepper's no less enthused to climb into bed herself, doing just that and beckoning Tony to join her. ]

Now. Where were we?

[ Occupying Tony Stark's mouth with other activities is almost certainly the best way to stop him trying to get the last word, something Pepper no doubt realized within the first ten minutes of them being together. It works just as well here, even with his strong pig-related objections. How predictable.

He slides onto the bed next to her once the pig is comfortably situated on the floor. If he considers the situation Nate is in right now, pet-related annoyance is really nothing of importance at all. Hell, he's glad this is an argument he gets to have. One hand moves to brush a few strands of red hair out of her face while he takes a moment to marvel for the millionth time that she's here, safe, and his.

It feels like a dream that he's gonna wake up from eventually, the kind you desperately have to savor while it's happening. ]

Depends. I can think of a few things.

[ Pepper's pretty sure he does that on purpose just so she's forced to resort to this method of shutting him up, to be honest... it's a good thing she doesn't (usually) mind that.

She turns her head a little when he brushes back her hair, her cheek nudging his hand as a small smile curves at her lips; something slightly sad and empathetic in it. Like she can tell which track his thoughts have taken. Pepper Potts knows everything might have been a jokey quip tossed around, but to be fair, it doesn't require giant leaps of deduction this time around to figure out what's going on in his head. And this time around, she can completely relate. ]

Only a few? [ It's a soft tease, though lacking her usual playfulness. ] I hope you're not losing your touch, Mr. Stark.

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