<div class="floatleft">(http://www.mathgoespop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tonystark2.jpg)</div><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>  Name:</strong> Tony Stark<br/>  <strong>Title:</strong> Iron Man<br/>  <strong>Location:</strong> R&amp;D Level to Tony's Lab<br/>  <strong>Time:</strong> 7:00pm Thursday<br/>  <strong>Tags:</strong> <strong>Pepper Potts</strong></span></span><br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">     Tony felt like he'd dodged a bullet - or to be more accurate, felt like Pepper had chosen not to shoot him with one. She was understanding as always, but her face didn't soften for long. Ms. Potts was quick to steel her resolve again, only this time in a different manner. She had seen Tony's look of need, the weakened glance hidden behind his eyes that he couldn't hope to hide from her. <br/><br/>     So she insulted him. Her words were like a boot stomping out the spark of an accidental fire before it could become a much larger problem. His eyes sharpened up, and that distant haze seemed to disappear immediately as if all the emotion he'd just shown had never even happened. He did allow himself to imagine Pepper actually playing out her anger on him - and it only strengthened him more. There was no woman in the world that contended with him so boldly and confidently; as if he wasn't the most important man in the world - which he was.<br/><br/>     He could feel the blood rising in his veins, and the excitement of the moment. He felt like he was back in Afghanistan agreeing to make the missile all over again. He was choosing to overcome. And it was Pepper who was giving him the boost this time, helping him reach a new height yet again. The nostalgic moment lingered slightly longer when Pepper asked him what he needed of her - as if she was the assistant and he was the CEO, before they'd realized how they really felt about one another.<br/><br/>     With the serious look she was giving him, he knew he couldn't get away with telling her what he <em>really</em> wanted to do. He did have a lot of work to do after all. However, the look that was in his eyes burned with intensity - mostly for her - but duty called. He just smiled that knowing grin, letting it linger long enough so she would know what distraction he was entertaining - at least in his mind. <br/><br/>     Then he broke the silence, <strong>"You know what I need,"</strong> he said with a sly wink that hinted heavily at sexual implications; followed by <strong>"a cappuccino."</strong> He just grinned then kissed her cheek before stepping down the hall towards his personal lab.  Without even looking back, Stark spoke again - though she could likely hear him smiling as he spoke <strong>"Don't just stand there, <em>we've</em> got work to do."</strong> <br/><br/>     It was as if narrowly escaping her wrath hadn't phased Tony at all. His comments were both playful, but authentic. He had no doubts that the ever-so-sharp Pepper would recall the way it used to work around here; answering Tony's every whim and need as he pressed on to excellence. It drove her mad... but it also made her crazy about him and he knew it. He couldn't quite get away with as much as he used to - since she was wearing at least one of pant-legs now; but she'd walked right into that one. <br/><br/>     As a final exclamation point on the ribbing he raised his hands in the air and clapped twice, <strong>"Chop, chop Ms. Potts. You're on the clock."</strong> And then he disappeared through his lab door, hoping she would take her own shot back at him later that evening. Something about the cat and mouse game between he and Pepper never got old. Of course they were much closer now, and she likely knew he was just trying to get her to fire back. <br/><br/>     In the past she might have assumed he was just a clueless ass - but she knew better now. Tony was fired up. It was a quality that radiated off of him. He would apply the renewed passion to his work - but he would also set a healthy portion of it aside for Pepper later that night. She was unique in her ability to fully sustain Tony and push him beyond his limits, a crucial role that Tony had always lavishly rewarded her for. In the past he'd let her gift herself however she wished for putting up with him, but now she reaped that and more. <br/><br/>     Tony entered his lab, silently applauding his choice of words; hopefully it would work better than <em>"Hey, you want to see my Iron Man?"</em> - which didn't work out so well for him last time.</span></span></div>