Tomorrow's gonna be a better day.

[fatherofinnovention]

[It's right at 10 till 8 when Howard shows up at pepper's home with a bouquet of orchids and a bottle of Sassicaia. He's not a man overly concerned with punctuality, but he figures it'll be a nice change of pace for Pepper, who's probably used to dragging Tony into meetings by the scruff of his neck.]

Miss Potts? Hope I'm not too early.

Comments

[yes_mr_stark]

Not at all, you're actually right on time. Come on in and make yourself comfortable. I've just got to grab a few things and then we can head out.

Are those for me?

[fatherofinnovention]

No one else here to give them to, gorgeous.

[He wanders over to her couch do drop down and relax, tugging lightly on his tie.] Take all the time you need, I'm not in a hurry.

[yes_mr_stark]

[Pepper takes the flowers with a smile before wandering into the kitchen to place them in some water.]

Are you hungry? I was thinking we could grab a quick bite to eat and then I have a surprise for you. Did you remember to wear comfortable shoes?

[fatherofinnovention]

Yeah, sure, I could go for a bite.

Surprise? ...You're not going to try and do something to make Anthony and me get along, are you?

[yes_mr_stark]

[She laughs and slips her coat on.]

No, I think I know better than that by now. You two need to work this out on your own. I'm just here to make sure nothing gets blown up in the process.

I think you will like this surprise actually, or I'm hoping you will. I've been wanting to go for ages but Tony gives me some silly excuse whenever I bring it up.

[fatherofinnovention]

[He slides up behind her to help her slip into her jacket, chuckling slightly.] What, the kid making excuses? Never would have believed it in a million years.

[yes_mr_stark]

Howard,[she draws his name out in a tone of warning.] Be nice, Tony is a great man, going dancing just isn't one of his top priorities.

[fatherofinnovention]

--Dancing?

I've seen what dancing is like these days, doll. I don't have a problem with it, but it's a bit forward for my tastes.

[yes_mr_stark]

[She laughs and swings her purse over one shoulder as they make their way towards the door.]

Don't worry, I'm not taking you to a club. I'm not very keen on that type of dancing anyways. We will be going swing dancing. I believe that is a bit more up your alley.

[fatherofinnovention]

[Once again he slips past her to hold the door as she passes, grinning in relief and-- perhaps-- slight anticipation.]

Now that I can do.

[yes_mr_stark]

Thought so. I've only been once or twice, but it's always been a lot of fun. Did you want to drive or shall I?

[fatherofinnovention]

You navigate and I'll manage the rest.

[After escorting her to the car he borrowed from Tony's garage to get here, he hops into the driver's seat and glances at her out of the corner of his eye.] So you've got some experience with swing dancing, huh? Did Anthony take you?

[yes_mr_stark]

He did actually, on my birthday, it was a really wonderful time. I can't say we were very good, but it was one of the very best dates I've ever been on.
But, well, you know Tony, if he's not excellent at something, he tends not to want do it much. I haven't been able to get him to go again.

[fatherofinnovention]

That does tend to be the pattern.

How long have you two been uh-- together?

[yes_mr_stark]

Turn left up here.

Tony's just stubborn, a trait he gets from another Stark man I know.

We've only been together a year, but I've been a part of the Stark Industries team and his life for so long it feels like its been forever.

[fatherofinnovention]

[Howard doesn't remark on the comment about his stubbornness but there's at least a moment of recognition that passes in silence before he turns the wheel and starts speaking again.]

Oh yeah? So he didn't hire you on to manage his life and his company from the start.

[yes_mr_stark]

Actually, I was hired as a secretary to start. Not to long into it though, I noticed that Tony himself had made an accounting mistake. I pointed it out and everyone said that I was just making a mistake. Tony walked by and I pointed it out to him. After that he made me his assistant and I never looked back.

[She smiles and then sighs, looking over at him, her eyes sad.]

You two really need to lay off each other. It's very sweet of you to defend me for doing all the work, but I would have quit ages ago if it bothered me. The only thing that's been bothering me is the two of you not getting along.

[fatherofinnovention]

Best call he could have made.

[He taps the palm of his hand against the steering wheel for a moment.] I get where you're coming from, and believe me, I'm not trying to run him into the ground. But this is my company-- this is the thing I've been dreaming of bringing to life for years. And he's capable of more...

Level with me, Miss Potts. Before you stepped in, how were things run?

[yes_mr_stark]

Well, you had passed away not to long before I started. Directly after that Stane was in command. [She frowned deeply.]

Tony didn't get control until he turned twenty-one, and he was doing as best a job as he could. But he was in so many ways still a child, still learning. He wanted so much to make sure he did everything right. There were so many people expecting far to much from him. Expecting him to be you. [She shook her head.] I was glad when I came in, he needed me, someone who understood his situation, who was expecting nothing from him.

You have to understand, and this might not be easy to hear, but Tony grew up in your shadow. He grew up wanting nothing but to make you proud. For you to show up now, and tell him everything he's doing wrong and that's he's ruining what you built. It's everything he's feared. He'll never admitt it ever, but you can see it in his eyes.

I know Tony better than I know myself. This isn't easy for him.

[fatherofinnovention]

[It's obvious that Howard's listening just from the way his brow furrows as she carries on. He hasn't ignored the paperwork on how things played out in his later years, but it's not a subject he favors for all the obvious reasons, and he pulls the car to a halt in front of the restaurant before he bothers even attempting to respond.]

Well I'm glad he has someone like you in his life, Pepper. [Because I sure as hell don't know how to handle it.]

[yes_mr_stark]

[She smiles, letting him keep quiet for the time being, but he certainly hasn't escaped talking about.]

I hope you don't kind, but I thought it might be fun to have fondue for dinner, nothing to fancy or serious.

[fatherofinnovention]

[He laughs, pinching the bridge of his nose.] All right, now I know this isn't a coincidence. Did you pull some files on me from somewhere? Because if not, sweetheart, you're psychic.

[yes_mr_stark]

[Pepper laughs and gives him a playful wink.]

I've ready plenty of files on you Mr. Stark, but that little fun fact came from Miss Carter. We've had coffee a couple of times and shared stories, that particular one happens to be my favorite.

Come on, let's head inside, we don't want to be late for our reservation.

[fatherofinnovention]

...I should have known. She tell you anything else?

[He holds out his arm for her] I'll follow your lead, Miss Potts.

[yes_mr_stark]

[She loops her arm in his and they begin the short walk down the strip to the restaurant.]

Oh yes, she's told me lots of things. I like hearing stories from her, they remind me of the ones my father used to tell me.

[fatherofinnovention]

Well it's true she has a lot of stories to tell.

...Exactly how long have these little get togethers of yours been happening?

[yes_mr_stark]

Not very long, we've only been out a couple of times since Steve's birthday disaster.

[fatherofinnovention]

Birthday...disaster?

[yes_mr_stark]

[She turned to him a look of playful shock on her face.]

Don't tell me you haven't heard about it. Oh my god, it was a nightmare. Tony brought strippers, Namor showed up and hit on Jane, Thor and Namor got into this huge fight and Tony was drunk so naturally he had to get involved too. It was an absolute nightmare. I felt so bad for poor Steve.

[fatherofinnovention]

I-- wow. Yeah, that's pretty rough right there.

You know, there really was a point in my life where I really thought the kind of stories we swap casually over lunch are the kinds of things I'd save for the fairy tales I'd tell my kids someday.

[He pauses after the last line, obviously realizing what future kids actually means now, and wishing he could just erase the past few seconds of his life.] Anyway. Uh.

[yes_mr_stark]

[Pepper smiled softly, sadly, and gave his arm a soft squeeze.]

Come on, let's head inside, there is a pot of melted cheese calling our names, and I'm starving.

[fatherofinnovention]

[He follows her inside, careful to hold the door as they enter.]

Oh now this is just what I needed.

[yes_mr_stark]

Isn't it what everyone needs after a bad week?

[She laughed and followed the waiter to their table where the fondue was already ready and waiting.]

We'll take two waters please, no alcohol tonight.

[fatherofinnovention]

--what. [His expression is somewhere between pure shock and being offended. ]

Listen, gorgeous, you don't need to monitor me.

[yes_mr_stark]

Oh no, it's not just you. I try to make it a rule on all dates. Most of the time he'll at least slip a sip. I'm hoping you would be as kind to please indulge me?

[It was a lie. Tony was actually pretty good about not drinking when she asked him to to. She was playing the 'don't-be-like-your-son-who-you-seem-to-think-does-everything-wrong.' card and hoping it worked. If she was going to get Howard to talk about his feelings she needed him to not drink until they were at least dancing. Tipsy, good. Drunk, bad.]

[fatherofinnovention]

....[Though he still looks irritated, Howard sips at his water, staring off at some distant point on the horizon.] You got it, doll.

[yes_mr_stark]

[She ignores the irritation and tries to bring his attention back to her with a cheery]

Thank you! Now, let's get started, we don't want to take to long to eat. There is dancing awaiting us.

[fatherofinnovention]

[He digs into the fondue when it arrives, eventually settling as the minutes pass.]

Funny how some things never change. This stuff tastes just as good as I remember...

[yes_mr_stark]

[Pepper smiles and dips a piece of bread into the pot, twirling it around.]

It always manages to make you feel good, doesn't it? You could have the worst day of your life, then one pot of this and suddenly you just feel warm and fuzzy.

You want to share some stories? I would love to hear the fondue story from your side.

[fatherofinnovention]

Not much to tell. [He stares at his plate for a moment, conjueing up a few memories. ] I'm an old man, Miss Potts. My stories are outdated, my memories are expired goods. I just thought this wouldn't happen to me for at least another fifty years or so.

And I'm not too keen on spending dinner spinning a few tales about the 'good old days'.

[yes_mr_stark]

[She nodded in understanding.]

Of course, I'm sorry to bring it up. What would you like to talk about then? Perhaps I can share a story? Anything you would care to hear about?

[fatherofinnovention]

Nothing to be sorry for. [Another bite of bread dipped in cheese is stolen before he continues.] You've been nothing but nice-- on an almost impossible level, might I add.

I'm beginning to think you were born with a halo over your head.

You're doing all this parenting when it comes to Anthony, so why haven't you moved in yet? His house too big for you or what?

[yes_mr_stark]

You have never deen me angry then. [ She laughs]

It's not really about the house, it's about Tony. I would love to live with him and it's no issue of space, I just don't want to scare him. He's all I have really, and this relationship is going better than I could ever even hope. I don't want anything to change that. I want him to be comfortable.

When Tony is ready for it to happen, he'll ask, until then, my apartment is all I need.

[fatherofinnovention]

Pff. The kid does spook easily when it comes to personal matters. Surprised he managed to keep a sharp dame like you for so long without ruining it entirely.

He'll ask. Eventually.

[yes_mr_stark]

I know he will, and at this point he'll never get rid of me. Even if we do end up splitting I'm still going to be there. I'll be there as long as he needs me.

[fatherofinnovention]

You're too good for him. [Having finished, he slides his plate away.] If you two ever fall apart, I'll personally come over there and weld you back together.

You know, if I go back to the 40s, you should give me your mother's name. If she's anything like you, I could use her in my life. [He grins wide, obviously joking. Maybe. ]

[yes_mr_stark]

We're both good for each other. I don't think one of us can function without the other. You should have seen me when he was being held captive in Afghanistan, I was a mess.

Now, now, Mr. Stark, I don't think my mother is who you should be looking for. [She winked]

[fatherofinnovention]

...Right. That's where he got the uh...[He taps the center of his chest.] Arc reactor heart.

I read up on it, but somehow I feel like pieces of the puzzle were missing. What exactly happened?

[yes_mr_stark]

[Pepper flinches softly and bites her lip.]

It was barely two years ago, it was a simple job. He flew to Afghanistan to do a weapons presentation and the next thing we knew, his fleet of humvees had been blown to bits by a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings. Tony doesn't like to talk about it, but I know that in the explosion his chest was pierced by small pieces of shrapnel that are constant trying to make their way to his heart. The Ten RIngs had a Doctor who implanted a magnet into Tony's chest to start with to keep the shrapnel from moving any further. Of course that wasn't good enough for Tony so he quickly made the miniature reactor and implanted t into his chest.

I know they did terrible things to him after a while they told us all to just assume the worst. I broke down at that point, me and Rhodey couldn't think like that. We had to find him. It was honestly the happiest moment of my life when Rhodey called to tell me that they had found him and he was coming home.

Though the joy didn't last long once he was back and I was back to stressing about keeping him alive and healthy --and working.

[She laughed softly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It was hard for her to leave the part about Stane out, but she had already been lectured by both Phil, and Director Fury about the importance of not changing the future.]

[fatherofinnovention]

Huh... [It's hard for him to feel as much as he knows he should since Tony hasn't been born yet in his timeline, since he doesn't feel like a father in any sense of the word. But he does care for the guy, and if he had to sit around like Pepper did-- not that he would, because like hell would Howard Stark sit idle and not jump into that mess the moment it came to light-- but if he -had- to, he'd be no less upset about the whole thing.]

After that, he took up this whole 'Iron Man' thing, right?