Theme # 70 Friends
Title: Strange Relationship
Chapter Title: A Night Out
Theme: 70 Friends
Rating: pg-13 (for now)
Length: 1,251
Disclaimer: I own nothing, really.
Summary: Sometimes the best laid plans... well you know.
She had plans. He didn’t like it when she had plans, especially when it was with or involved anyone else but him. She had a date, a date with Joel from accounting. Joel was too young for her, by three years. He was a greenie. She needed a man with experience, she needed Tony Stark. But he was too busy sulking on the sofa, watching her bustle around, gathering up her things that were strung from one end of the coffee table to the other.
“Aren’t you going out with Jim?” She glanced at him, the look on his face making her eyes roll.
“Nope.” He tightened his folded arms a little more, his eyes trailing every move she made, “So, Joel.”
“Yes.”
“From accounting.”
“Yes.” She slips her laptop into its bag and stands, “We used to work together, before I moved up in the world.”
“Huh. Well isn’t that special.” He flicks the television on and surfs, anything to keep his sanity. It worked for about ten seconds, “So is he picking you up or?”
“I’m meeting him there.” She’s got everything picked up now and she notes when she does it’s like she was never there and for some reason that bothers her.
“Where’s there?” He settles on a baseball game, not really watching it.
“No.” She steps in front of the TV, blocking his view, “You are not doing this. I’m not going to tell you where I’m going so you can mysteriously show up and ruin a night out with a friend.”
“Friend? Hm.” He perks up a little, she said friend, in fact he swore he heard a little stressing on that word, “Have fun then.” He’d just have Jarvis find her, if he felt like it. Or maybe he wouldn’t, maybe he would go out after all.
“I’ll see you tomorrow; have a good night Mr. Stark.”
And she was gone, and the house felt just a little empty without her there. He actually tried to watch the game for maybe five minutes, but then switched to a movie… some classic silent film with Charlie Chaplin. He liked Chaplin’s work, amusing guy really and very talented.
Pepper sat alone, she had listened to the message three times, and it never changed. “Sorry Pepper, I can’t make it.” She fiddled with her blackberry; she didn’t want to be out on a Saturday night alone, especially here at Riggalatto’s. Her blue eyes kept falling towards one number, the only person she knew that would come and keep her company, “I’m going to regret this in the morning.” She sighed and put the phone to her ear and waited.
Somewhere in between A Night in the Show and Shanghaied (it turned out that AMC was showing a marathon of Chaplin) Tony had fallen asleep and was dreaming a very good dream; however said dream did not involve a vibrator of any kind. Blinking awake, he laid there a moment on his sofa trying to figure out…, “Cell phone.” He groped for the back pocket of his jeans and slipped the sleek silver object out and put it to his ear after hitting the green button, “’Ello?”
“You were asleep. I’m sorry…” She should just hang up and never mind.
“Pepper?” He shot up, “Is something wrong? Are you okay… why are you calling me?” He was shocked to say the least, but maybe this was his lucky day and her “date” turned out to be a dud.
“No, everything is fine. Well, sort of. Joel couldn’t make it.” She bit her lower lip, feeling completely ridiculous, “I was wondering if you’d…”
“Yes. Absolutely.” He was up and heading for his bedroom, stripping as he went along, “Where are you? Wait, I know that music, Riggalatto’s right?”
“Yes, but Tony…” He was ignoring her, so Pepper went to drastic measures, “Mr. Stark.”
“Hm?”
“This is not a date.” She heard the zipper of his jeans and knew he was busy changing clothes as he was talking to her, the mental image was staggering, “Just a friends thing.”
“Uh huh.” But in his head, the word date flashed in bright neon letters, “I’ll be there soon.”
Surprisingly the evening had gone well, he hadn’t hit on her too much during dinner and he ordered the best tasting red wine she had ever had. Now they were lingering over dessert, laughing and talking as others were leaving, the hour growing dim.
“It looks like they’re getting ready to close.” Tony stood, fixing the jacket of his suit and held out his hand, “Have I mentioned you look… stunning. Because you do.”
Despite the warning bells, Pepper took his offered hand and stood, grabbing the thin shawl she had brought with her, it matched her little black cocktail dress to a T, “I think that’s the third time you’ve said it, but thank you.” She smiles, almost allowing herself to enjoy the feeling of him holding her hand as they left the restaurant.
“Well I might keep saying it.” Outside the air was typical; thick and warm, heavy. He drew her closer to him as they walked.
“I wish you wouldn’t.” She let her hand slip from his, surprised he had let her and continued at an even pace towards her car.
“Why? I see the way your eyes light up when I do…the way your chin turns slightly as you try to hide the fact you’re blushing.” He moved so he was in front of her, his brown eyes searching her blue ones, “You can’t deny there’s some sort of an attract here Pepper.” He placed his fingers gently under her chin, forcing her to look at him.
She let that coldness creep over her, she let her defenses kick in and pulled back from him, “Please don’t start this again.”
They were by her car now, and he shifted so she was between him and the car, “Are you afraid?” He stepped closer.
“No.”
He trailed his fingers down her arm, “Then what is it?” He leaned in, she smelled like vanilla. Good enough to eat. His eyes closed as he dragged his nose across heir lose hair, his fingers dancing at her waist.
“I can’t…” She stiffened, her eyes closing a moment as she took a deep shaky breath, “Remember this wasn’t a date. It’s beginning to feel like a date.”
“Nope. Just a friends thing.” He grinned, his lips ghosting across the line of her chin, “Definitely not a date. No dates here.”
She bit her lower lip, she knew he was grinning, she couldn’t see it but she felt it and heard it in his voice. The alarms buzzed wildly inside her head as his face lifted, his eyes burning into hers, “I don’t think…”
“Don’t worry Pepper, just friends…” He brushed his nose across hers, his lips just a second from falling against her lips, “We can just be friends. But you know me, I like benefits.” His lips took hers, the kiss slow but full of passion as he wrapped her into his arms, pulling her against his body.
Her first instinct was to fight, but fight what first? His arms or his lips? She felt herself teetering on the edge of the curb. Her arms flailed and then gripped his shoulders. The kiss was wonderful, she was melting into it and she couldn’t stop. It was either that or fall back against her car. Holding on seemed the better alternative in the end.