04 | Accidental Video | Alternate Universes | Take a Hint
[The video broadcast begins with a flash of half-clothed leg and a loud clatter as the device hits the floor. There's a long moment of rustling fabric as Pepper pulls on her pants and then a sigh.]
I don't know what happened, but I'm not staying.
[Tony can't be seen onscreen, but his voice, just as loud and cocky as ever, can easily be heard.] Oh, sweetheart, we both know what happened. The memory's a little hazy, but I'm sure it was a truly magical night, wouldn't you agree?
[There’s a quiet huff and a hand appears in the view of the ceiling, pointing angrily to match the statement as Pepper responds.] No. Absolutely not. I would never.
[Tony laughs, unconvinced.] Darling, half the country would, and then some. Don't get your panties in a twist just because you’re having second thoughts.
There cannot be second thoughts if there weren’t first thoughts. I was at home. I don’t know how you got me here!
[The amusement in Tony’s voice lessens, his tone rankled now.] I hope you aren’t implying -- Pepper, you know enthusiastic consent is my greatest kink. Well, that and pegging, but anyway -- just calm down and come back to bed so we can get this sorted.
Stop talking. And stop calling me Pepper. I’m not staying and I’m not getting back in that bed. Waking up in it was horrible enough. [A shadow crosses over the camera at the same time as footsteps sound, discernible only because of the change of light.] Where did you put the rest of my clothes?!
Seems I have your shirt over here. Give me a kiss for it?
Absolutely not. [Pepper nearly growls, and the video shakes slightly as she stomps one foot in disapproval. The device has shifted far enough to reveal Pepper standing with her arms crossed over her chest, doing her best to cover her simple black bra - as if that would help very much where Tony was involved.]
Worth a shot. [He tosses Pepper’s shirt across the bed at her. He may be an ass, but he’s not that much of an ass.
Pepper throws out one arm to catch the shirt before it can touch the bed again, revealing more skin to the camera than she would ever want to.] It was not. [She quickly slips the shirt on and glances down so she can make certain she’s buttoning it correctly. Her face is at the edge of the video now, a mixture of confusion and anger is evident.]
Hey now, don’t look so upset. If you’re angry you don’t remember any of it, I’ll gladly spare time for a repeat performance.
There was no original performance! You’re heartless and- And I have standards that you could never reach.
Meeting people’s standards isn’t one of my usual goals, to be honest. Generally because people like you have hugely impossible standards.
That’s why you hired me and that’s why I quit. [Pepper shakes her head, and after a deep breath she turns on her heel, disappearing from the video and obviously walking across the room.]
JARVIS is- oh, good. [There’s a ding as the elevator doors open.
Tony rolls off the bed, trying to put on a pair of boxers in the same movement, and nearly slips on something laying on the floor. He reaches down and picks it up, showing off his conspicuously arc reactor free chest in the process, and his eyes go wide in surprise when he realizes Pepper must’ve dropped her phone at some point.] Oh, shit. Pepper, wait, hold on --
[He turns off the feed as he hurries after her to stop the elevator doors from closing.]
[[SO YES, ANSWERS MAY COME FROM EITHER UNWILLING PARTICIPANT. A bit about the AU can be found here and here as well. CUT CONTAINS SOME MENTION OF SEX AND LOTS OF DRAMA.]]
I don't know what happened, but I'm not staying.
[Tony can't be seen onscreen, but his voice, just as loud and cocky as ever, can easily be heard.] Oh, sweetheart, we both know what happened. The memory's a little hazy, but I'm sure it was a truly magical night, wouldn't you agree?
[There’s a quiet huff and a hand appears in the view of the ceiling, pointing angrily to match the statement as Pepper responds.] No. Absolutely not. I would never.
[Tony laughs, unconvinced.] Darling, half the country would, and then some. Don't get your panties in a twist just because you’re having second thoughts.
There cannot be second thoughts if there weren’t first thoughts. I was at home. I don’t know how you got me here!
[The amusement in Tony’s voice lessens, his tone rankled now.] I hope you aren’t implying -- Pepper, you know enthusiastic consent is my greatest kink. Well, that and pegging, but anyway -- just calm down and come back to bed so we can get this sorted.
Stop talking. And stop calling me Pepper. I’m not staying and I’m not getting back in that bed. Waking up in it was horrible enough. [A shadow crosses over the camera at the same time as footsteps sound, discernible only because of the change of light.] Where did you put the rest of my clothes?!
Seems I have your shirt over here. Give me a kiss for it?
Absolutely not. [Pepper nearly growls, and the video shakes slightly as she stomps one foot in disapproval. The device has shifted far enough to reveal Pepper standing with her arms crossed over her chest, doing her best to cover her simple black bra - as if that would help very much where Tony was involved.]
Worth a shot. [He tosses Pepper’s shirt across the bed at her. He may be an ass, but he’s not that much of an ass.
Pepper throws out one arm to catch the shirt before it can touch the bed again, revealing more skin to the camera than she would ever want to.] It was not. [She quickly slips the shirt on and glances down so she can make certain she’s buttoning it correctly. Her face is at the edge of the video now, a mixture of confusion and anger is evident.]
Hey now, don’t look so upset. If you’re angry you don’t remember any of it, I’ll gladly spare time for a repeat performance.
There was no original performance! You’re heartless and- And I have standards that you could never reach.
Meeting people’s standards isn’t one of my usual goals, to be honest. Generally because people like you have hugely impossible standards.
That’s why you hired me and that’s why I quit. [Pepper shakes her head, and after a deep breath she turns on her heel, disappearing from the video and obviously walking across the room.]
JARVIS is- oh, good. [There’s a ding as the elevator doors open.
Tony rolls off the bed, trying to put on a pair of boxers in the same movement, and nearly slips on something laying on the floor. He reaches down and picks it up, showing off his conspicuously arc reactor free chest in the process, and his eyes go wide in surprise when he realizes Pepper must’ve dropped her phone at some point.] Oh, shit. Pepper, wait, hold on --
[He turns off the feed as he hurries after her to stop the elevator doors from closing.]
[[SO YES, ANSWERS MAY COME FROM EITHER UNWILLING PARTICIPANT. A bit about the AU can be found here and here as well. CUT CONTAINS SOME MENTION OF SEX AND LOTS OF DRAMA.]]