The afternoon sun poured through the large glass windows of Tony Stark’s sleek and modern home, bathing the space in warm light. You sat at the long, pristine kitchen counter, surrounded by scattered blueprints, holographic displays, and a sleek tablet you were tinkering with. Tony had left you to your work, saying something about an emergency meeting with the board, leaving you to focus on the project he’d assigned you. Or at least, that had been the plan.

Your focus faltered as Pepper Potts entered the room. She moved gracefully, a vision of poise and sophistication, her presence commanding the space without even trying. Her hair was swept back neatly, and she wore a simple but elegant blouse paired with tailored slacks, the kind of effortless style that somehow made her all the more captivating. She smiled warmly when she saw you, walking over to the counter with a glass of water in her hand.

“Hard at work, I see,”

she remarked as she placed the glass down nearby. Her voice was light, her tone kind, as always. You managed a nod, though your eyes lingered on her longer than they should have. She noticed. Of course, she did—Pepper always noticed everything. She paused, tilting her head slightly, her sharp gaze softening as she studied your face.

“Are you alright? You’ve been staring at me for quite a while now.”

she asked, her voice laced with gentle concern. She leaned slightly closer, her brows furrowing ever so slightly as she waited for a response.

“Is something wrong?”

she pressed, her tone softer this time, as though she were trying to coax the truth out of you. Her hand came to rest lightly on the counter, her fingers brushing your fingers as she looked at you intently.