Fic: Iron Man; Dance4Life
Dance4Life
Iron Man Movie!verse; Gen. One-Shot. Set before the events of Iron Man.
Tony buys a house in Dubai and decides to break it in the best way he knows how: by throwing the biggest party possible.
Pepper had barely made it into the workshop before Tony turned to her and announced, “I bought a place in Dubai.” He flashed her a grin.
“You…bought a place in Dubai,” she echoed, her tone hovering between a statement and a question. Tony could practically see the gears turning in her head, wondering where on earth the money for this new house in Dubai had come from and just how recently it had drained his bank accounts. Which, if Tony knew Pepper’s schedule at all (which he did), she’d checked just that morning.
He nodded. “It’s very nice. Fewer windows than here, but it gets a lot warmer in Dubai. Still has some stunning views. You should see it. I’m just finishing some of the renders of the work I want to have done…”
“And… What would you like to do with it, Mr. Stark?”
Tony turned and looked at her. “I want to break it in,” he said, as though this were the obvious answer - which it was, of course. What else would he do with a brand new mansion in Dubai? “My birthday is next week. Let’s throw a birthday party.”
Pepper’s lips became a thin line for a split second before spreading into a thin smile. “Of course, Mr. Stark.” She made a few quick notes on her PDA. “Shall I clear your schedule or would you like to keep the appointments we already have set?”
“Clear my schedule.”
Pepper nodded and made a few more notes on her PDA. “Is there…anyone in particular you would like to invite to your housewarming party?”
“The usual crowd. Make sure there’s an ice sculpture. No swans this time. I don’t like swans. I do want fireworks. Lots of fireworks. Oh, and hire a DJ, too. A good DJ.”
Pepper looked up from her PDA. Her eyebrows rose. “There are a number of good DJs out there, Mr. Stark. I’m afraid you are going to have to be more specific.”
“I don’t know,” Tony replied. “Get me the biggest one.”
Two ice sculptures - neither of them swans, though one toed the line by being an eagle (the other was a seal) - served as centerpieces on two long tables piled high with food. The bar was at the near end of the patio, by the doors leading into the mansion, while the DJ was at the far end. A set of top-of-the-line speakers piped music to every corner of the mansion, including the garage.
Tony stood in the wings of a sweeping balcony overlooking the entire backyard, from the patio to the infinity pool overlooking the gulf. In a few minutes, when the guests had finished filling in and they were all holding drinks, he’d step out, give his little speech, and launch the party.
Until then, he would wait.
Wait and…tap his foot in time with the beat, apparently. Right now the DJ was playing a more mellow set, and Tony found himself surprised that anything in the obnoxious, overly synth-y, repetitive dance genre could be even resemble mellow. This DJ was good.
What was his name? Tijs? TBA? Pesto? - Pepper would know. He just had to find her and ask…
And, like magic, there she was. Mostly just to make sure his shirt wasn’t wrinkled, but even so. “Who’s the DJ?”
“Tiësto, Mr. Stark.”
“And he’s big?”
Pepper lifted her eyes to meet his. “His current album tops almost all of the European charts and is number one on the Billboard Dance and Electronic Chart. He interrupted his very busy world tour schedule to be here because I promised that Stark Industries would help out with the stage effects of his next concert.” She paused, absently adjusting Tony’s collar. “There is also an army of fans at the far gate hoping they can get in to your very exclusive birthday party just to see him. I have never seen so many glow sticks.”
“So he is good.” Tony felt a small twinge. Perhaps he should have gone with the second biggest DJ in the world, just to make sure he wouldn’t be outshined at his own party.
“That seems to be popular opinion.”
“Good enough.”
“I’m glad you approve, Mr. Stark.” Pepper straightened his tie, then stepped back from him. “Will that be all, Mr. Stark?”
“Yes, Ms. Potts. That’ll be all.”
She smiled. “Let me know if you need anything else.” Then she turned and walked away, back into the quieter recesses of the mansion.
In retrospect, Tony Stark realized he didn’t give Pepper enough credit for anything she did. He thought momentarily of rectifying that mistake somehow - maybe taking her to Paris for a month - but that thought was quickly lost in the sounds of applause as he walked onto his sprawling patio.
“Good evening, Dubai!” he called, waving languidly, and the crowd broke into a roaring round of applause. A blonde - the ditzy kind with a dye-job, nose job, boob job, and way too much time spent on a tanning bed - whistled and cheered at him from the crowd, waving frantically to get his attention.
He ignored her, his gaze zeroing in on a tall, leggy, gorgeous brunette in the second row.
He pointed at her, then winked and said, “I’ll see you later.” This was met with a few appreciative chuckles and a warm smile from his brunette. “Anyway,” Tony continued, turning back to the rest of the crowd, “so tomorrow is my birthday.” He paused again suddenly, looking at his watch. Seconds to midnight. He smiled, holding up a finger. “Now it’s my birthday. And I say we party.” Tony raised his glass to the DJ, and Tiësto grinned, nodded, and cranked the music back up.
Tony awoke early the next morning and slipped out of bed, leaving more girls than he’d remembered inviting scattered around his bedroom. Most of them were in various states of undress, and those wearing less clothing got a closer cursory look than the others. You know. Just in case he wanted to see one or two of them again.
Lightly cradling his left temple in his hand, Tony padded around the mansion, looking for Pepper. Had they been back home he’d have known exactly where she was, but in this new place neither of them had set up a routine yet.
He eventually found her sitting on a lounge chair outside, sipping her coffee and reading a book. Tony couldn’t be sure if she’d even slept at all last night. Of course, he could barely remember last night after a point, and for all he knew it wasn’t actually tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow. Or something.
His head hurt. In more ways than one.
As if reading his mind, Pepper spoke. “How is your head?” she asked.
“Pounding,” he replied.
Pepper reached over to an end table she’d set up beside her lounge chair and handed him a bottle of orange juice. “Drink this,” she said. “I’ll go make you some breakfast.”
She paused briefly inside the sliding glass door. Tony had heard it open, but hadn’t yet heard her feet on the floors inside. “Happy birthday, Mr. Stark.”
Tony smiled. “Thank you, Ms. Potts.”
Okay, so. Originally this was supposed to be the very first fic I wrote for the Elements of Life series, but clearly I was sidetracked, derailed, and distracted by other fics. But I dug this one up out of my files, polished it off a little bit, and here it is. :D
...That would partially be why it's a little rougher and choppier and abrupt than the others. I was getting a bit of a feel for writing Tony and Pepper.
Iron Man Movie!verse; Gen. One-Shot. Set before the events of Iron Man.
Tony buys a house in Dubai and decides to break it in the best way he knows how: by throwing the biggest party possible.
Pepper had barely made it into the workshop before Tony turned to her and announced, “I bought a place in Dubai.” He flashed her a grin.
“You…bought a place in Dubai,” she echoed, her tone hovering between a statement and a question. Tony could practically see the gears turning in her head, wondering where on earth the money for this new house in Dubai had come from and just how recently it had drained his bank accounts. Which, if Tony knew Pepper’s schedule at all (which he did), she’d checked just that morning.
He nodded. “It’s very nice. Fewer windows than here, but it gets a lot warmer in Dubai. Still has some stunning views. You should see it. I’m just finishing some of the renders of the work I want to have done…”
“And… What would you like to do with it, Mr. Stark?”
Tony turned and looked at her. “I want to break it in,” he said, as though this were the obvious answer - which it was, of course. What else would he do with a brand new mansion in Dubai? “My birthday is next week. Let’s throw a birthday party.”
Pepper’s lips became a thin line for a split second before spreading into a thin smile. “Of course, Mr. Stark.” She made a few quick notes on her PDA. “Shall I clear your schedule or would you like to keep the appointments we already have set?”
“Clear my schedule.”
Pepper nodded and made a few more notes on her PDA. “Is there…anyone in particular you would like to invite to your housewarming party?”
“The usual crowd. Make sure there’s an ice sculpture. No swans this time. I don’t like swans. I do want fireworks. Lots of fireworks. Oh, and hire a DJ, too. A good DJ.”
Pepper looked up from her PDA. Her eyebrows rose. “There are a number of good DJs out there, Mr. Stark. I’m afraid you are going to have to be more specific.”
“I don’t know,” Tony replied. “Get me the biggest one.”
Two ice sculptures - neither of them swans, though one toed the line by being an eagle (the other was a seal) - served as centerpieces on two long tables piled high with food. The bar was at the near end of the patio, by the doors leading into the mansion, while the DJ was at the far end. A set of top-of-the-line speakers piped music to every corner of the mansion, including the garage.
Tony stood in the wings of a sweeping balcony overlooking the entire backyard, from the patio to the infinity pool overlooking the gulf. In a few minutes, when the guests had finished filling in and they were all holding drinks, he’d step out, give his little speech, and launch the party.
Until then, he would wait.
Wait and…tap his foot in time with the beat, apparently. Right now the DJ was playing a more mellow set, and Tony found himself surprised that anything in the obnoxious, overly synth-y, repetitive dance genre could be even resemble mellow. This DJ was good.
What was his name? Tijs? TBA? Pesto? - Pepper would know. He just had to find her and ask…
And, like magic, there she was. Mostly just to make sure his shirt wasn’t wrinkled, but even so. “Who’s the DJ?”
“Tiësto, Mr. Stark.”
“And he’s big?”
Pepper lifted her eyes to meet his. “His current album tops almost all of the European charts and is number one on the Billboard Dance and Electronic Chart. He interrupted his very busy world tour schedule to be here because I promised that Stark Industries would help out with the stage effects of his next concert.” She paused, absently adjusting Tony’s collar. “There is also an army of fans at the far gate hoping they can get in to your very exclusive birthday party just to see him. I have never seen so many glow sticks.”
“So he is good.” Tony felt a small twinge. Perhaps he should have gone with the second biggest DJ in the world, just to make sure he wouldn’t be outshined at his own party.
“That seems to be popular opinion.”
“Good enough.”
“I’m glad you approve, Mr. Stark.” Pepper straightened his tie, then stepped back from him. “Will that be all, Mr. Stark?”
“Yes, Ms. Potts. That’ll be all.”
She smiled. “Let me know if you need anything else.” Then she turned and walked away, back into the quieter recesses of the mansion.
In retrospect, Tony Stark realized he didn’t give Pepper enough credit for anything she did. He thought momentarily of rectifying that mistake somehow - maybe taking her to Paris for a month - but that thought was quickly lost in the sounds of applause as he walked onto his sprawling patio.
“Good evening, Dubai!” he called, waving languidly, and the crowd broke into a roaring round of applause. A blonde - the ditzy kind with a dye-job, nose job, boob job, and way too much time spent on a tanning bed - whistled and cheered at him from the crowd, waving frantically to get his attention.
He ignored her, his gaze zeroing in on a tall, leggy, gorgeous brunette in the second row.
He pointed at her, then winked and said, “I’ll see you later.” This was met with a few appreciative chuckles and a warm smile from his brunette. “Anyway,” Tony continued, turning back to the rest of the crowd, “so tomorrow is my birthday.” He paused again suddenly, looking at his watch. Seconds to midnight. He smiled, holding up a finger. “Now it’s my birthday. And I say we party.” Tony raised his glass to the DJ, and Tiësto grinned, nodded, and cranked the music back up.
Tony awoke early the next morning and slipped out of bed, leaving more girls than he’d remembered inviting scattered around his bedroom. Most of them were in various states of undress, and those wearing less clothing got a closer cursory look than the others. You know. Just in case he wanted to see one or two of them again.
Lightly cradling his left temple in his hand, Tony padded around the mansion, looking for Pepper. Had they been back home he’d have known exactly where she was, but in this new place neither of them had set up a routine yet.
He eventually found her sitting on a lounge chair outside, sipping her coffee and reading a book. Tony couldn’t be sure if she’d even slept at all last night. Of course, he could barely remember last night after a point, and for all he knew it wasn’t actually tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow. Or something.
His head hurt. In more ways than one.
As if reading his mind, Pepper spoke. “How is your head?” she asked.
“Pounding,” he replied.
Pepper reached over to an end table she’d set up beside her lounge chair and handed him a bottle of orange juice. “Drink this,” she said. “I’ll go make you some breakfast.”
She paused briefly inside the sliding glass door. Tony had heard it open, but hadn’t yet heard her feet on the floors inside. “Happy birthday, Mr. Stark.”
Tony smiled. “Thank you, Ms. Potts.”
Okay, so. Originally this was supposed to be the very first fic I wrote for the Elements of Life series, but clearly I was sidetracked, derailed, and distracted by other fics. But I dug this one up out of my files, polished it off a little bit, and here it is. :D
...That would partially be why it's a little rougher and choppier and abrupt than the others. I was getting a bit of a feel for writing Tony and Pepper.