A Beach by Miami, Florida, Wednesday Afternoon

[headkickpoet]

Okay, so Ray's pay didn't get them beyond a nice three-star place with about half the amount of old people he'd have got on his old salary, but that was decent, right? He wasn't going to let Tony Stark's bazillions ruin his mojo

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[lots_of_olives]

Pepper, meanwhile, was pleased as could be with the whole situation, though she could do with fewer old guys staring at her. It was, she supposed, what she got for getting new beachwear, even if she did have a modest little white sarong around her waist.

"Hey, it's probably still gorgeous in July," Pepper noted. "Just more hurricane-y and with, um, a little more beach company."

[headkickpoet]

"Yeah, as far as I can see, we got plenty of company already," Ray pointed out, and actually glared at an old guy. It was the international man sign for eyes off my woman. Very caveman. He wasn't gonna mention it to Pepper. "So, what's up first?"

From where Ray was standing, there were only two options, which was go into the ocean or lie around on the beach turning into a roast, but he wouldn't put it past Pepper to have like a numbered list or something.

[lots_of_olives]

Well, what else was she supposed to do with her PDA while on vacation?

"Sunscreen," she said immediately, nodding. "Because neither of us needs to burn amongst all those freckles."

[headkickpoet]

"Right. Sunscreen." Ray never made lists. Ray worked fine without lists. Ray was, however, totally comfortable with letting her make lists.

As long as she wasn't, um, labeling his stuff. "...You bring any?"

And that would be why.

[lots_of_olives]

Pepper sighed, smiling at him, as she spread out a towel, gracefully sat down, and produced three different bottles with three different SPFs. "Yes. Come on, Ray, it's me. Of course I did."

[headkickpoet]

"I was just, um, testing you," Ray argued, tossing his own towel down in the sand in a way that kind of resembled spreading. He eyed the sunscreen. "Man. You could screen up an arm."

[lots_of_olives]

"Have an SPF preference?" she offered, having to smile at that whole little production. "I need the strongest or I'll be all pink and ridiculous-looking."

[headkickpoet]

"Same," Ray admitted, on the next beat, and flopped down on his towel. "Polish skin, it is not fond of the sunshine."

[lots_of_olives]

"Oddly enough, neither is that of natural redheads," Pepper noted with a small smile, squirting a bit of sunscreen in her palm before tossing him the bottle. "I can't speak for the unnatural ones."

[headkickpoet]

Ray caught it. See, that he could do. Even if he nearly dropped it, like, once. Smooth catch. He'd hit 180 once, dammit. "You know, you actually gotta use sunscreen up north? 'Cause it's cold, but damn, the sun's shining." He squirted some onto his arm.

[lots_of_olives]

"Well, plus I bet the reflection off the snow is awful," Pepper said with a nod. "I mean, I've had to wear sunglasses every time I've been to Aspen."

[headkickpoet]

"Try the big snow ones," Ray said, rubbing the lotion into his arm. "Had marks on my face for weeks."

[lots_of_olives]

"I bet it was a very attractive look for you," Pepper said, trying not to laugh as she rubbed lotion into one outstretched leg.

[headkickpoet]

"It was," Ray shot back, "It's, uh, good for the eyes." Yep. He went for the other arm. "Aspen, huh?"

[lots_of_olives]

"Yet another place I've been but never enjoyed, thanks to work," she said easily, nodding as she stretched out her other leg.

[headkickpoet]

"You need more vacations," Ray decided. Immediately.

Hey, it was one thing he had up on Stark, and she really did need 'em.

He was also sneaking a peek at her leg, but hush.