ficlet (tony/pepper): Look at What We Made
Title: Look at What We Made
Author: foolyoulovesomehow (foolyoulove)
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Synopsis: "You wish that you could stop time for a little while and just keep staring in awe at your daughter, whom you hope against hope will turn out to be the very best of both of you in spite of the crazy life she was born into." Second-person (Pepper) POV, kind of fluffy with a pinch of angst. This story stands on its own, but I imagine it in the universe I started with the fic " Perfect Little Plus-Sign." (~400 words)
Author's Notes: A new and strange POV for me, but somehow it felt most natural for this. Written for the prompt "Tears" in the its_always_been Challenge 13: Revenge of the Bingo, but if I'm being super greedy, I think it could also cover "Kiss" and "Family." :E I guess this was a little inspired by the fact that today is Father's Day. I didn't create these characters, and I intend no profit or personal gain, other than the joy of receiving your comments. <3
EDIT: this has been expanded into a multi-chapter fic of Tony+Pepper+baby moments... click here to jump there!
~ ~ ~ ~
You're sitting with Tony on your hospital bed, leaning back against his chest. The medical staff has finally cleared out to give you some time to get acquainted with the tiny person you're cradling. She has your fair coloring and his bold eyes--and when her little fist grips his finger for the first time, he remarks with pride how strong she is. "Look at what we made, Pepper. Us. Well, mostly you, I guess." You can hear the teasing in his voice, and you smile. You wonder if Tony has ever created anything else that was left so up to chance, without calculations or formulas, welding or soldering.
You wish that you could stop time for a little while and just keep staring in awe at your daughter, whom you hope against hope will turn out to be the very best of both of you in spite of the crazy life she was born into. After a while, Tony breaks the silence, suddenly somber. "I never thought anyone would want this with me. Especially not you." It's one of those rare, startling admissions that betray the vulnerability beneath the armor. Then his breath hitches, and he buries his face in your hair, as your own eyes start to brim.
Tears don't really fit with the Devil-may-care persona that Tony Stark has cultivated over the years, so you're one of very few people who have ever seen him cry. Even with you, though, it's almost always only been fleeting evidence--red-rimmed eyes, a crack in his voice, some exaggerated blinks--there are certain things he just tries to avoid sharing with anybody. There's no hiding this time. You reach an arm over your shoulder, find the side of his neck, and hold your hand there while his tears flow, mingling with the sweat that lingers in your hair and on your skin. He takes a steadying breath, shaking his head slightly. "You're amazing. She's... perfect. I don't deserve any of this," he mumbles.
You don't quite know the right words to respond to this, so you don't say anything. Instead, you crane your head around and your lips eventually find his. It's wet and messy from your combined tears; the position is awkward, bordering on uncomfortable. The kiss, like nearly everything else in your lives, is paradoxical--sweet and hot, tender and urgent, full of promises and mutual uncertainty--but it and the little bundle that has suddenly turned you into a family are everything that you both need right now.
~ ~ ~ ~
Author: foolyoulovesomehow (foolyoulove)
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Synopsis: "You wish that you could stop time for a little while and just keep staring in awe at your daughter, whom you hope against hope will turn out to be the very best of both of you in spite of the crazy life she was born into." Second-person (Pepper) POV, kind of fluffy with a pinch of angst. This story stands on its own, but I imagine it in the universe I started with the fic " Perfect Little Plus-Sign." (~400 words)
Author's Notes: A new and strange POV for me, but somehow it felt most natural for this. Written for the prompt "Tears" in the its_always_been Challenge 13: Revenge of the Bingo, but if I'm being super greedy, I think it could also cover "Kiss" and "Family." :E I guess this was a little inspired by the fact that today is Father's Day. I didn't create these characters, and I intend no profit or personal gain, other than the joy of receiving your comments. <3
EDIT: this has been expanded into a multi-chapter fic of Tony+Pepper+baby moments... click here to jump there!
~ ~ ~ ~
You're sitting with Tony on your hospital bed, leaning back against his chest. The medical staff has finally cleared out to give you some time to get acquainted with the tiny person you're cradling. She has your fair coloring and his bold eyes--and when her little fist grips his finger for the first time, he remarks with pride how strong she is. "Look at what we made, Pepper. Us. Well, mostly you, I guess." You can hear the teasing in his voice, and you smile. You wonder if Tony has ever created anything else that was left so up to chance, without calculations or formulas, welding or soldering.
You wish that you could stop time for a little while and just keep staring in awe at your daughter, whom you hope against hope will turn out to be the very best of both of you in spite of the crazy life she was born into. After a while, Tony breaks the silence, suddenly somber. "I never thought anyone would want this with me. Especially not you." It's one of those rare, startling admissions that betray the vulnerability beneath the armor. Then his breath hitches, and he buries his face in your hair, as your own eyes start to brim.
Tears don't really fit with the Devil-may-care persona that Tony Stark has cultivated over the years, so you're one of very few people who have ever seen him cry. Even with you, though, it's almost always only been fleeting evidence--red-rimmed eyes, a crack in his voice, some exaggerated blinks--there are certain things he just tries to avoid sharing with anybody. There's no hiding this time. You reach an arm over your shoulder, find the side of his neck, and hold your hand there while his tears flow, mingling with the sweat that lingers in your hair and on your skin. He takes a steadying breath, shaking his head slightly. "You're amazing. She's... perfect. I don't deserve any of this," he mumbles.
You don't quite know the right words to respond to this, so you don't say anything. Instead, you crane your head around and your lips eventually find his. It's wet and messy from your combined tears; the position is awkward, bordering on uncomfortable. The kiss, like nearly everything else in your lives, is paradoxical--sweet and hot, tender and urgent, full of promises and mutual uncertainty--but it and the little bundle that has suddenly turned you into a family are everything that you both need right now.
~ ~ ~ ~