hm. so this is a HUGE thank you for 20k...you guys are so amazing, I never expected to get a few hundred reads, let alone twenty-fricking-thousand. That's so amazing, thank you! Also, just...this was the news i needed right now, as you're probably aware of things are pretty crazy in America right now, so thank you guys for the distraction ❤️

Your reward is a (probably overly) long oneshot overflowing with Pepperony tension and gahhhhhh i love it

anyways, does anyone remember the little prompt list thing I "started" A few months back? Yeah well I forgot about it until recently and just kinda started writing it, because for some reason I can't ever commit to writing something I tell myself I'm going to write and end up writing random shiz anyway, so yeah, this was born.

I just like to imagine that this happened, aight? If anyone asks, it's canon.

Takes place in the middle of iron man 1, I guess it's slightly AU because the time might not add up but whatever

Pg-13 rating btw, just for some minor suggestive description and some bad language words. Steve wouldn't approve 😂😳

Ps apologies for the long authors note lmao you can read now

also...sorry for this :)

~~~

Pepper doesn't get jealous.

It's not in her nature. Jealousy is childish and inappropriate no matter the circumstance; there's no room for it in the workplace, either; a place where your emotions could and should never come into play. When you were in a working environment, you mastered a consistent poker face and learned quickly to swallow your emotions to get what you needed to get done. It made things easier, much more efficient.

So, Pepper is disgusted with herself when she abruptly realizes that the reason she's been so cranky and irritable tonight was indirectly due to her boss' dramatic charisma and outlandishly flirtatious behavior.

This is normal for him, Pepper, get ahold of yourself! Is what's blaring in her head as she quietly observes Tony Stark getting up close and personal with a brunette woman across the dance floor – a woman who's absolutely gorgeous, and someone who Pepper might actually admire if it weren't for the skanky red dress she was wearing – the scrap of fabric barely covered her for God's sake; it only just reached the top of her knees and wasn't shy with cleavage, hugging her figure in all the...right...places. It didn't help that she looked comparable to a doll with how much makeup was caked onto her porcelain face. Everything about her was plastic and fake. It was disgusting, truthfully.

She shook her head violently back and forth, forcing her eyes away from the two. Pepper! My god! That woman did nothing to you!

Except it was just exactly the opposite – without even realizing it, this stranger was viciously yanking at her heart strings, causing her head to swim in circles as she attempted to steer her thoughts clear of imagining Tony getting it on with the brunette instead of Pep-

Okay, WOAH. Calm down, what are you, a teenager?!

Pepper was becoming rather concerned with how hypercritical the thoughts in her head were...she was never like this; the PA wasn't a judgmental person by any stretch of the imagination, and almost always kept her thoughts to herself. Bottling things up was just...simpler. Unhealthy, maybe, but it made the most sense. However, this...this new side of the assistant that was bitter and possessive of a man that wasn't even hers – she didn't like it one bit.

What made it worse was that Pepper had offered nothing but respect to every single one of Tony's conquests for just about a decade now (unless they gave her a reason not to), so why was this one any different? It wasn't like she hadn't seen this before; in fact, she'd seen much, much worse of Tony and his little companions messing around. So why on earth was she feeling so bothered by some harmless flirting and touching?

Maybe it's because things have changed. Maybe it's because you've almost kissed him, on multiple occasions. Maybe because there's undeniable tension in the air whenever you're together. Maybe it's because you want him as much as those other women do.

No. Pepper took a much-needed swig of her martini. This was not how things worked; those thoughts...these foolish little ideas he put into her head were toxic and unprofessional. She was simply over-evaluating the situation, putting too much thought to something that was otherwise completely obvious to anyone with eyes. She was allowing her emotions to get the best of her, and it was starting to cloud her logic.

Tony Stark was a playboy, a womanizer, a world-renowned master of seduction. Three months in captivity wouldn't change that, right? Right? Even though he hadn't had a single woman over since his grandiose return a few months back...that was just PTSD, wasn't it? He was insecure. Once he was able to find his way back to his ego, things would go back to the way they were. It wasn't like he'd changed.

Besides, he was letting that woman come on to him. Nothing about his poise looked bothered or even relatively fazed; he wasn't actively trying to pry her off of him, politely shove her away, nothing. Part of that made Pepper's heart twinge in sadness, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know why. . .

This was dumb, the entire thing. Whatever she was feeling was misplaced and silly; Pepper wasn't entitled to think this way – she had no right to feel protective of a man that most likely thought nothing more of her than the prissy assistant who put up with his bullshit.

Then...why was her chest burning? Why did her eyes narrow in visible rage as the brunette bimbo put her paws to the front of his chest, and laughed like a total idiot at something he'd said? Why was her heart on fire, burning holes in her chest as she had to forcefully tear her eyes away from them again before she threw something?

This was exactly why she always listened to her head instead of her heart – for this exact reason.

Pepper chances another glance at him, knowing instantly that she'll regret it, and she does.

It doesn't help that he's smirking the familiar smirk she's greeted with every afternoon at around 1:30 PM, since God knows the man won't roll out of bed till at least that time. It doesn't help that he's looking at her with the same dark eyes he looks at Pepper with, the same deeply brown pools that quietly follow her movements whenever they're in the same room. It doesn't help that his hands are at her waist, the same hands that Pepper knows well – not because she's slept with him, but because she's seen him up close when he's working in the lab, knows how perfectly calloused and impeccably talented those hands are.

Her fists clench at her sides, jaw slack as she swallows every temptation to march over there and slap that busty sl*t in the face. Pepper is the one who knows Tony best. Pepper is the one who knows how he likes his coffee in the wee hours of the morning, or how he can't stand the sound of feet shuffling on carpet. Pepper is the one who has to deal with his childlike behavior and immature nonsense on a day-to-day basis. Pepper is the one who lays out his clothes for all these fancy-ass events, the only one who can get a clear read on him when he's going through one of his 'moods' and he's all closed off and silent.

Does anyone else clean up after him? Does anyone else drag his sorry ass out of the lab at four AM to make sure he at least gets some sleep? Does anyone else know how he likes his god damn eggs cooked?! No, didn't think so.

And then she kisses him. Not on the lips – it's a simple yet slow peck to his cheek, the most innocent a kiss could be and yet...she was fuming. Pepper was seeing red. The things that were running through her head right then were unfair and horrible, but she couldn't possibly care any less than she did as she watched, shooting daggers at that excuse of a woman who had her claws all over Tony. Her Tony.

Upset, disgusted, and beyond angered, Pepper is somehow rational enough to excuse herself from the situation before she makes a fool of herself by doing something she'll regret.

The strides she takes out of the Foundation Ball are long and rushed, and even though she's in heels her steps are quick and anxious. Her palms are sweating, and her skin feels all tingly and gross. She wants out. She wants to go home; not to Tony's, no, she wants her apartment, her own cozy bed and her own pajamas so she can sulk in the stupidity of this laughable incident and pretend to forget about it the next day.

She settles on going to the bathroom instead, because her and Tony had shared a ride – Happy – so there was no leaving this place until he did.

What if he doesn't leave alone, what if it's not just us two? What if he brings that woman with him? Oh my god, he's reverting to his old ways, isn't he? I knew it. I knew things wouldn't be any different, it was stupid of me to assume I could think any higher of him.

She curses herself for bashing Tony, knowing her anger is illogical and this whole thing is entirely on her. He's done nothing, at least not intentionally, and so she cannot hold him accountable for her petty little mental breakdown.

Surprising herself as tears begin to threaten her eyes, Pepper charges through the bathroom doors to hide. She doesn't need to face this right now.

Tony's Pov

"As much as I'd love to sweetheart, I doubt my assistant would enjoy your companionship on the ride back to my place. We'd be sharing a vehicle," Tony is telling the beautiful woman that's been clung to him all evening, her hands tracing up his back and looping around his neck before kissing his cheek. He restrains himself from flinching at the contact. Really, he doesn't want anything to do with the woman in front of him.

He knows those lashes are fake, that makeup is all for "special effects" – everything about her is one big lie. She's no different than any number of the other few hundred girls he's gotten into bed with; they're all liars, fakers, and masters in deception. They want nothing out of him except bragging rights.

You graduated from Harvard? Well I slept with Tony Stark. You've got three PHD's? Well I've slept with Tony Stark. Your father is a World War II vet? Hm, well, I've slept with Tony Stark, you know.

He's learned to see right through their façade. Well, in a way he'd always been able to, but that was also back when he was careless, reckless, and kind of a disaster, and he didn't really care how fake and blatantly obvious their fibs were. Not that he wasn't any less reckless now, but...things were different? Maybe? Yeah, he'd changed, right? Yep. He hadn't brought a woman home since his return, and it hadn't bothered him as much as he would've imagined it to.

Pepper was partially – no, mainly – the reason for that. If it weren't for her stability and her strict, sometimes frustrating dedication and marriage to her work, Tony wasn't sure where the hell he'd be right now. For those months in captivity, she was what was on his mind – whenever he found sleep, she was right there to greet him; and when he was awake, her voice echoed in his head and the image of her tall, blonde, and gorgeous self was imprinted in the back of his mind. Pepper had helped him survive one of the darkest and most horrible parts of his life, but whether or not he'd admit that was debatable.

The more he thinks about his favorite, excessively professional assistant, the more the temptation in front of him fades, and the more wrong this entire thing seems.

"Your assistant," the woman continues suddenly, pausing to place a kiss to the underside of his jaw, teasing over his facial hair with her lips. He shivers, but not in the way she's probably hoping. "-isn't the boss of you," she finishes.

He forces a smirk to suppress oncoming anger, drawing back her wandering hands with his own. He grips her wrists just tight enough to be a warning, informing her that he wouldn't be giving her the consent she wanted. She was starting to get a little too curious. "I'd beg to differ," he speaks. "You don't know how she is."

"Don't care," are her next words, and she grins to flash those overly perfect teeth at him. That's what irks Stark. This part is familiar, too, the lack of sensitivity. Previously though (as in, before his little soiree in Afghanistan), Tony had learned to ignore it, shove aside their falsely immaculate faces and their extremely crude and offensive remarks. But things had changed, and so had he, for what that matter.

He frowns, and every ounce of playfulness has left his voice when he says his next words.

"Sorry sweetheart, it's a no." He had let this go on for a tad too long already, and hearing her snidely quip about Pepper simply sent him over the edge. Maybe he'd been more lenient in the past, but this Tony wasn't about to sit around and allow anyone to treat Pepper like she was his just his assistant, because she was so much more than that, she was...she was...shit, what was she? More than a friend, he thinks...he hopes.

"Excuse me?" she exhales, clearly in disbelief, pulling him from his momentary haze. The look of irritation and, well, hurt on her face is priceless. She almost looks offended, and he doesn't know how to feel about it. Was this really what the world thought of him? Were people really, genuinely surprised when Tony Stark turned down a woman? If so, that stung – for some reason.

"You heard me," is all he says, and he thinks it's all he needs to say. As he'll find out, he's wrong.

She steps back from him though, forcing herself free of his hold. Her eyes scan him up and down as if she's trying to read him like a book. But she won't, not successfully – only Pepper can do that. She's the only one that can truly get to the bottom of what he's actually thinking. "You're being serious?"

"Pretty damn well," he chides with ease. "It's nothing personal..." he deadpans, voice monotone and uninterested. He strains to remember her name, before realizing that he never asked; maybe his old self hadn't completely left.

"Carolyn," she answers for him, although her voice is venomous, and she scowls at him.

"Right," he grinds out, tilting his head at her. "Well, Carolyn, I've had a lovely time tonight, but I believe I'm needed elsewhere." Then comes the classic shit-eating grin that he's notorious for giving people whenever he wanted to be an asshole. This was one of those occasions.

Catherine rolls her eyes, before forcing another smile to her unnaturally plump lips, and the bitterness is evident in her voice. "Yes, of course," she practically hisses. "Well, have a good evening then, Mr. Stark. I hope you know you could've had a better one."

"Someone's on their high horse," he quips, mainly to himself, but Caroline must've heard him because she sarcastically winks over her shoulder before strutting away. The way in which she excessively swings her hips back and forth is so obviously intentional that it's almost embarrassing; she does it with such a dramatic ferocity that Tony can only describe to be puerile. He nearly laughs at how ridiculous she looks weaving through the crowd in a dress that barely covers her ass; if all this was supposed to make him regret his decision, it was doing the total opposite.

God, he really had changed, hadn't he?

After mingling briefly with a few other total strangers that he absolutely didn't know and talking about a few things that he didn't really care about, he set his sights on finding Pepper. He hadn't seen her basically since they arrived, where he'd been swept away to talk with some other "important" people before finding himself surrounded by some rather nosy women; somewhere during the two or so hours that they'd been here, Pepper had left his side and he was determined to find her.

Problem was, he was having no success locating the woman. Eventually, after his many failed attempts to scope her out at the event, Tony ultimately resorted to asking around; he frowned in concern when every person he asked shook their head and directed him to someone else.

Tony was starting to get frustrated, wondering where on Earth the blonde could've wandered off to; he wasn't entirely sure why he needed to find her – he just felt like seeing her, and that was reason enough, right? Who knows, he may even ask her to dance again if it meant getting to be so close to her. This time, though, he most certainly won't abandon her after they nearly kiss.

Wow...he really cares for this woman – not in a way he's ever felt before, this is different, this is new, and it's exhilarating, like a breath of fresh air. Dancing with her, getting to hold her hands between his own, the feel of her body pressed against his, it all feels so incredibly right.

Tony gulps upon remembering what it felt like to be that close to Pepper – feeling her share the same air that he did, so close he could barely stand it. God, what he wouldn't give to kiss her senseless, feel the warmth of those impossibly thin lips on his, allow her hands to wander wherever they so pleased – crap, he'd never wanted a woman this bad. But how in hell would he ever admit any of this to her? Surely, she'd think him insane and tell him to keep on dreaming then make him sign papers or something like that.

Maybe he was being paranoid; or a coward, one of the two. Possibly both.

Then, his stomach does a little flip-flop when he spots Pepper emerging from the bathroom, looking gorgeous as hell, as usual – tonight she was wearing a breathtaking high-waisted deep sea-green dress that wrapped comfortably around her; it was modest, not at all revealing and yet it was so ungodly and inexpressibly attractive to Stark that he couldn't force his eyes away from her even if he tried.

The minimal makeup, the loosely falling hair, and the tasteful party dress was purely Pepper. It was her, the woman that was every bit a workaholic as he was, though you'd never hear her say it; the person that was his rock, the one who was somewhat able to control his impulsive behavior.

Relieved at the fact that he's finally found her, he smiles in her direction even though she's facing the other way. Her presence is the only motivation Tony needs before he's maneuvering through a sea of people to get to her, ignoring the stares as he shoves some mingling partygoers. Any excuse to talk to his Pepper is reason enough for him.

Pepper's Pov
(last one lol)

"There's my favorite assistant," comes his familiar sprightly voice from behind her, and she wants to sink to the floor. It's bad enough that she just spent about fifteen minutes in the bathroom steadying her breathing and fighting back tears. Thank god she did so successfully, though, Pepper didn't know what she'd do if he knew she was crying in the bathroom over him.

But right now, after all the stupid drama going on in her head, she doesn't have the tolerance nor the emotional strength to face him, and it's so dumb that she wants to kick herself.

"You ready to go?" she's spitting out, and her jaw is tightly clenched as she tries to ignore how devilishly handsome he looks in that suit – hair gelled back, eyes glowing with a piercing yet inquisitive intensity as he seems to take notice to how edgy she is.

"God Pepper, loosen up," he jokes. "Why so tense?"

"No reason," is her response before she lightly tosses her hair behind her shoulder. "I'm just ready to head home. It's getting late," she pauses briefly to check her watch when he cuts her off.

"Pepper, it's eight o'clock. Why the rush, you got a hot date or something I should know about?"

She frowns at him as he says it, as unfettered anger bubbles within her. He has the nerve to ask about her personal life? To be so invasive in acting like he gives two literal shits about who she's with, when he's the one flinging himself at other women and forcing her to act like everything's okay? Like that kind of behavior is normal? Sure, he's joking as he says it, but it damn near sets her off.

Pepper, calm down, you're being very, very, very dramatic.

Annoyed and on the brink of internal collapse, she speaks to him in the most level voice she can muster. "Yes, well, I have plans on getting home early tonight, not that it's any of your concern."

His brows furrow as he tried to read her, evidently confused as he attempts to understand what on earth she's getting at. "O-kay, what-"

"So long as your little brunette friend won't be joining us, I'll call for Happy and have him greet us outside with the car." At that, she fishes through her purse until she's found her Blackberry, and she's ignoring the crossed look on his face as she texts their friend.

But then he's laughing, chuckling until she looks up from her phone and he notices that she's serious, and the lovely smile on his face falters. "Oh come on, Pepper," he says. "That's low."

She only widens her eyes at him, just to be a biatch. "Well, forgive me for assuming that you getting handsy with a woman means anything other than your plan to take her home and have your way with her."

Tony's eyes quickly widen, visibly taken aback by her words. She's never this aggressive, even passively, so it's clear she's taken him by surprise. He's cautious as he tilts his head in obvious exasperation. His hands find their way to his tux's pockets as he continues talking to her. "I think you're confusing 'getting handsy' with 'prying off.'"

Oh, no, she knows how this goes. Tony's doing that stupid thing he does whenever he's trying to prove to someone that he's keeping his cool, when in reality he's starting to get pissed off – he keeps his voice low and threatening, making excuses for himself in an attempt to make you feel like you're the one in the wrong. Pepper has known him too long to fall for it. Now, she's just downright angry.

What angers her is the fact that he's lying...he was not in any way trying to push that woman off of him. Sure, he wasn't instigating anything, or making out with her, but that didn't change the fact that he'd just let it happen.

Oh my god. You sound like such a toxic, horrible girlfriend right now, and you're not even dating.

She stares at him, open mouthed in befuddled shock and shakes her head. "You're unbelievable."

He opens his mouth to talk but is cut off by the buzzing of Pepper's phone in her hand. "That's Happy," she tells him. "You sure you don't want some company tonight?" she shoots at him bitterly. Normally, she'd never be this standoffish with Tony, but Potts has ridden one hell of an emotional roller coaster tonight, one that's made it clear that she needs to go home and clear her head before something inevitably horrible happens between them; something that her head would regret, but her heart wouldn't.

His face is what initially makes her wish she could take back her words. The billionaire-genius looks hurt, in a way – but it's not because she's bruised his ego or anything, it's because-

"You really don't believe me?" he pushes, voice not exactly soft, but like he's trying hard to convince himself of something. Of what, she isn't sure. When it's clear she isn't following, he continues. "Pepper, I haven't slept with anyone since before Afghanistan, haven't brought home a single woman in months. You really think that's all a coincidence? All because I'm – what, scared? Scared of someone seeing me like this? Seriously, is that what you think?"

She has no clue how to respond to that; her mouth opens and closes as she miserably fails to search for something, anything to say. The truth is...she knows deep down that she's been overreacting all night; that it's very selfish of her to presume things about him without knowing the entire story, to accuse him of his "old ways" based entirely on speculation and what her brain wants her to believe.

Suddenly, Pepper hates herself for blaming her jealousy on him; she knows that everything that's happened tonight is completely her fault. Only problem is, she's too much of a coward to fess up to it, too scared of what his reaction would be if he were to find out about her absurd desires – her longing to have him to herself, to be with him, to just...not have to worry about Tony loving some other girl that wasn't her.

But what had he meant, then, that none of it was a coincidence? Was he implying something? Could that very implication happen to be the one thing she's wanted to hear him say for years without realizing it?

It can't be. At least not right now, after she's ruined everything.

Great job Pepper, you've screwed things up again.

"Tony-"

"No, no, it's fine, let's just go home," and it's spoken in a flat voice that's so clearly pained that it only makes Pepper's heart sink even further in her chest. She doesn't know what he means by 'home,' but assumes it's his house and not her apartment like she'd originally hoped.

She doesn't have time to protest because he's grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her towards the exit, not caring who's been staring at them arguing or who watches as they parade to the exit.

His hold on her wrist isn't hard, but it's a touch that stirs the sleeping butterflies in her stomach awake, which is definitely not something she needs at the moment.

As they emerge by the valet pick-up, Happy greets them with an aggravated look on his face. When he speaks his voice is rushed which proves that he's upset about something. "You two get in, I have to go snoop out the god damn owner of this place and ask them why the hell they have a twelve-year-old kid valet parking; twat doesn't know how to drive a car."

Normally it'd be amusing to watch Happy get peeved at every tiny little inconvenience, but given that Tony wasn't looking her in the eye and had tightened his grip on her wrist, she didn't think it would be appropriate.

The two of them pile into the car as Happy marches back up the stairs and into the venue, disappearing behind the grand doors.

"I'm sorry," she says instantly, knowing that if she wasn't quick he wouldn't give her the chance to talk at all.

"Don't be," comes his monotone response, and it bugs her that she's not getting more out of him.

"No, listen to me, Tony; I lied. I don't think that you...I know you're different, I didn't mean to...I guess I was just being melodramatic, it's not your fault, I'm just being weird and everything-"

"It's fine," he tries to remind her, but his heart really isn't it in and she can tell.

"No, it's not," she rambles. "I totally misread a situation, and I should be able to take your word for something, even if you're totally unreliable at times, and don't always tell the full truth. I should've believed you when you said you weren't going to try anything with her, I just left before you pushed her away, and the whole situation could've been avoided, and none of this would've happened, I'm sorry, I really am, I hope you can forgive me-"

To her relief – or surprise, she doesn't really know – he laughs, a true, heartfelt laugh. "Pepper, Pepper; just, calm down. Stop apologizing for a hot sec."

"I- what?" she stutters, trying to listen to him.

"I accept your apology," he smirks at her, and it gives her chills.

"Are you sure? No, that's...I was being dramatic. I didn't mean anything I said, or implied, I was being a total b*tch, and I know that you're not-"

"Me forgiving you means you can stop apologizing now," he chuckles again, quirking an eyebrow at her.

She's about to start talking again but clamps her mouth shut, allowing herself to smile and let out a breathy giggle. "You're right. You're right. I believe you, I just don't think my head wanted to accept the idea that you'd miraculously stopped womanizing every girl in sight, and seeing her hands all over you just made me think-"

He gasps suddenly, smirking broadly, and that's when she knows he's caught her red-handed. "Wait a minute; are you jealous?" he muses, and it's so obvious that he's completely entertained by the idea. With another large grin, he adds, "green looks kinda sexy on you, Potts, if I'm being honest."

"Oh please," she snips, shifting uncomfortably against the leather cushions. "I have no reason to be jealous of you, or anyone that you...surround yourself with."

"Oh, no no no no no, that's not what this is, you're totally jealous," he giggles like a teenage girl. Pepper feebly tries to defend herself, which only encourages him further.

"I am most certainly not jealous of you, Mr. Stark," she tries. "You make your own choices, and I respect that, as it's none of my business-"

"You can stop trying to explain yourself, Pep, you and I both know what really went down."

She hesitates, looking him dead-straight in the eyes, as much as it makes her tremble, and says, "I am not jealous. I never was, never have been, and never will be."

"Hm, right," he states. "So you're not jealous, you're just incredibly disturbed by the fact that women who aren't you are trying to jump me."

Pepper turns bright red, a stuttering mess. "I- no, that's not- I could never, that's highly unprofessional."

He groans audibly, rolling his eyes in exaggerated annoyance. "Pepper, you're doing the thing again."

She squints at him. "The..."

"The thing," he whines. "Where you get all 'professional,' and 'defensive,'" he gestures with air quotes, exaggerating his words. "It's a thing you do. Whenever you don't want to admit I'm right, you say that."

"Okay, well it would be inappropriate to be anything other than professional, so for what it's worth, I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about," she argues, although she feels the heat start to creep up the back of her neck, forcing herself to swallow the lump in the back of her throat.

"Mhm," he says, squinting at her through partially hooded eyes, eyes that she so easily gets lost in. "That's interesting, then. Maybe my memory has me mistaken, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I recall a little moment you and I shared just a little while back that wouldn't exactly be considered 'appropriate' for co-workers."

Pepper freezes as his words sink in, each one firing straight into her heart after another. Before she knows it, she's brought back to their moment on the roof just weeks ago after their dance at the Firefighter's Foundation Fund...when she'd leaned in, and he'd kind of, sort of, not really leaned in, and then she...backed away.

Pepper looks to him, wondering if he's just as lost in the memory as she is, and she gets her answer when she finds those wide, brown, doe eyes locked onto her. As if his sudden silence isn't sufficient enough, everything about his face offers her the reaction she wasn't totally expecting but was frantically hoping for. His fallen expression and wide eyes silently tell her that he's thinking about it too, realizing the soft spot he's hit by bringing up their shared intimate moment; remembering what only those few seconds felt like – like an eternity as both waited for their searing lips to touch and at long last rid them of the overwhelming tension among the boss and his PA.

Only, much like every other time, Pepper had chickened out; it was always an inward battle with herself, as she was much too stubborn to think that maybe her heart was right – that she was totally lost to this man and his famously alluring charm, or his immature yet secretly compassionate demeanor.

Even Pepper can't deny her attraction to the enthralling, intriguing manchild she's spent the last six years of her life with.

And then the damn thing is happening again, for what she can only imagine to be the millionth time in only the last month. These few milliseconds that Pepper and Tony always find themselves in, where the world stops spinning and everyone else is but forgotten as they're trapped in each other's gaze and enclosed in one another's radiating heat.

Every bone in her body, is telling – no, screaming for her to move forward no more than a few dozen inches, take his lips between hers and never let him go; every ounce of her being is begging her to finally succumb to the unmistakable desire that swells in her gut, the same desire that's slowly gnawed away at her for years.

What's stopping her? What is possibly preventing her from leaning forward and kissing those perfect lips? Nothing, a secret little voice reminds her, from the bottom of her heart. Nothing is stopping you.

She isn't thinking, can't possibly process anything that's happening as she examines Tony's eyes, that are clouded with lust and passion and want...for her. Tony Stark wanted her, Virginia "Pepper" Potts, the woman who came from nothing and clawed her way to the top; the woman that was consistently a pain in his ass, as he constantly reminded her; the normal girl from a Minnesota ranch, that just so happened to find her way to corporate business.

And you want him too, she realizes. Pepper believes it this time, and she'll be damned if she lets another moment like this slip through her fingers.

Suddenly she's back in her body, at least long enough to begin to inch towards him; it's then when she realizes just how close he's already gotten to her – Pepper had been so drunk on desire that she'd failed to notice that he was way ahead of her, head tilted and ready to meet hers on her command and her command only; he was waiting for her, not forcing anything out of the mutual respect the two of them shared.

Pepper silently studies him yet again, taking notice to his heavy breathing; chest moving erratically under his tux. Her eyes wander up, studying his face that's become a shade of scarlet that matches hers; his eyes are still just as wide and overflowing with an immeasurable amount of need. Despite the darkness outside and the only lighting being the dim outdoor lamps and the floor lights of the car, she is somehow tracing every inch of his skin with clouded, longing eyes. Butterflies flap madly, confined in her gut as his own gaze flickers down to her lips and back up again, a silent plead for permission that she's more than willing to allow. He's never looked more perfect or more enticing than he does right now.

"Pep," is what he says on an exhale of breath that escapes him in barely a whisper; it's more of a caress of air that brushes delicately across her face and raises the hairs on the back of her neck. He's asking her if this is OK, inquiring if what they're about to do is something she'll regret later on, or if she's just as willing to surrender as he is.

It's nearly too much, but she miraculously manages a one-word response that she hopes is the assurance he's looking for. "Tony-"

She doesn't remember it happening, but at some point his arm had snaked around her back, gently resting behind her over clothed skin that was shielded by her sea-green party dress. When she's suddenly aware of it, though, she's thrown into sensory overload and she knows she's practically panting now, gulping in the air that they're sharing in the closeness of one another. Her own hand leaves a trail of fire as it seeks out the nape of his neck, anxiously twirling his small, dark curls around her fingers in anticipation.

As if sensing her impatience, Tony comes in closer until their noses brush, and it's driving her absolutely wild. Her eyes flutter closed and her lips part, her heart is pounding in her chest and her lungs are heaving; the wait is killing her, but it's a sensual, and extremely arousing kind of wait.

What are you doing, Pepper, is what her brain is trying to tell her, warning her of the potentially risky repercussions that would come to light in the aftermath of what they're about to do. Yet, those thoughts are all but completely drowned out by the roaring thunder of her heart thumping within her chest, the feel of euphoria washing those warnings away with an ease so complacent that it should terrify her – but it doesn't.

He takes her by surprise when he starts talking, among all other things he could be doing right now, but her irritation dissipates quickly when she listens to his words behind lidded eyes.

"Are you...are you going to do it this time?"

Her heart melts at this, and she wants to laugh but is much too distracted to do so, so she settles for a broad smile instead. Then she's teasing him by ghosting her lips against his, which causes him to shudder. That tiny little quiver is all the confidence she needs – knowing that she, Pepper Potts is capable of making the great Tony Stark shiver at just a little tease of her lips against his – what girl wouldn't be thrilled by that?

She's a half a second away from giving him what they both need when the driver's door flies open and Happy Hogan plops himself down in the seat.

Pepper and Tony instantaneously fly away from one another like two repelling sides of a magnet, flushed and hot and very much bothered. Pepper is internally willing herself not to punch him in the face. Of course, the one time she's letting her walls down is the one time Happy interrupts with stupendous timing.

The driver, still oblivious to the situation, is frustrated as he exclaims, "the manager's not even here, seriously? Could you believe the service at this place? You'd think they'd know what they're doing hosting a party for such- oh-" he cuts himself off, lucky enough to look up just in time to catch a glimpse of his friends in such close proximity that it's unquestionably intimate.

Awkward is the only suitable word for the situation as both Tony and Pepper clear their throats and glue themselves to opposite sides of the car, Pepper forcing her glance outside the tinted windows as she tucks her hair behind her ear. Tony sits up as straight as an arrow in his seat, fixing his tie before his knee starts to bounce, something she's noticed he does whenever he's...well, needing attention. She bites back a giggle, but can't refrain from smiling and nibbling on her lower lip.

Happy, who looks wholly confused and slightly amused, directs his gaze to the two of them, bouncing back and forth from one immensely tense person to the other. "Was that- did I- I interrupted something, didn't I?" he grins knowingly.

"No," come both of their immediate responses that couldn't be further from the truth. Pepper squirms under Happy's gaze, because she knows that he knows exactly what Tony and Pepper won't admit.

It's silent in the vehicle for a little too long, before Tony's voice cuts the silence. "So are we going to sit here all night, Hap, or are you going to go ahead and turn around, mind your business, and get us home?"

He's joking, but Happy's dead serious. "Not until you two tell me what the hell I just walked in on."

"Nothing happened," Pepper finds her voice, as if by a miracle.

"Oh, I know nothing happened," the driver agrees. "I just want to know what would've, had I not intervened."

"Again, nothing would've happened, because nothing was happening, therefore nothing could have been happening; thus, anything you think you saw did not happen and does not leave this car, got it Hogan?" Tony's quick to snap at him, his face still flushed (either from their previous predicament or embarrassment, she couldn't be certain).

Pepper laughs into her hand for a multitude of reasons – one, she's still a bit mortified that they were caught, even though nothing was technically happening; two, because Tony looks absolutely adorable when he's beat red and fidgety, and it dawns on her why Tony enjoys making her squirm so much; and three, because she's still as red if not redder than he is, and every time the scene replays in her head it makes her increasingly antsy.

Their friend eyes them warily for another moment. "Fine," he concludes angrily. "But I better get a raise, god dammit; the amount of times you two have made me keep secrets for you-"

"You got it pal," Tony nods. "Just uh, toss up the divider, would ya," he gestures suggestively to the dividing window that sits between the back and front seats.

Pepper, who would by all means love to finish what they started, is still smart enough to respect their own boundaries, and while she knows Tony's only joking around, the temptation is far too great for her to chance it. Besides, the mood is gone anyway. "That...won't be necessary, Happy," she interjects, which earns her a sideways glance from her left.

"I'm not taking any chances with you two," he snaps back, and as the divider is going up she catches him mumbling, "someday, I swear, it'll happen someday Hogan."

Pepper was right in thinking that the car ride home would be awkward. Neither one of them was courageous enough to speak about what had just happened, even though they both knew exactly what did.

A tiny part of her wants to grab him by the lapels of his stupidly expensive tux and ravish him right here, but the fear of not being able to stop is quickly silencing that voice.

Pepper was sad, naturally – they'd come so close yet again, only to be disrupted. It sucked even more that it wasn't one of them that had been the problem this time, either – at least from her end, Pepper was more than willing to kiss the god damn life out of him, and planned on doing it, too.

She audibly sighs. Does the universe really hate them that much? She'd finally surrendered, let her walls come crashing down only to have them forced right back up.

The mood was gone, but Tony's fidgeting wasn't. He kept switching back and forth between crossing his left leg over his right and his right over his left, clearing his throat several times to break the quiet that lurked in the vehicle.

It's what urges her snort of laughter and what causes him to growl out in an intentionally deep and suggestive voice, "this is your fault, you know."

She answers with another giggle and turns her gaze back to the window, having a pretty good idea as to what would happen should she look at him any longer. 

~~~

Good god that was a long oneshot lmaoooo

I hope you enjoyed :D 

don't hate me ehehe >.<
But uh...part 2? With tony being the jealous one?

Let me know~