Just Another New Year’s Eve - Stark Tower
Tony popped another stuffed mushroom cap into his mouth, remembering how the Lippy One had been carefully spooning a similar mixture into a similar mushroom the previous day in the kitchen. He’d come in from being in the lab for 36 hours straight to an array of foods strewn across the counters and island, with her holding up the mushroom cap probably higher than was necessary, as though she couldn’t really see it. That’s when he noticed her face.
She was pale, almost haggard, with dark, deep bags under her eyes. Her skin was dry and dull, and she looked as though she was running on nothing but autopilot. She almost looked worse than she had before she had left for Christmas. He’d been a little worried about what she’d looked like when she left, but he’d thought she would get some rest during her vacation. But he was also puzzled about the food everywhere and he’d asked. When she replied that he had wanted them to take care of the food for the party, he had realized that he should have let Pepper take care of it. He’d just wanted to push the new housekeepers, mostly, he admitted – but only to himself – because he enjoyed getting a push back from this one. He sighed, remembering her response was simply to put everything down and leave the kitchen, not mad like she normally would, but just tired. And that’s when he really started worrying.
His concern was only slightly alleviated when he’d overheard Romanov telling Barton that Lippy’s father had died while she was home for Christmas. He had made sure that his housekeepers knew that they could watch the ball drop from the top floors, and suggested the library window. And he had been sure to arrange for a bottle of champagne and some non-gooey appetizers to be there when they arrived.
Tony decided to just run up and check on them. He heard the commotion as he walked though the mini golf course towards the library. The twinkling mini-lights on the model of Stark Tower made his lips twitch up slightly. Somehow, Lippy had managed to sprinkle the Christmas flavor all through the building. The voices and squeals grew louder as he approached the library door. At the far end, Jarvis was broadcasting the Times Square celebrations on the window. Bouncing around, squealing at some boy band group or something was the Quiet one and three mini-people; her kids, he expected, having not been introduced to them. Lippy wasn’t around. He took another look around before backing quietly out of the room. He looked at his watch, still a half hour before the ball drop.
The elevator opened on the top floor, and he saw her. She stood at the window next to the pool, staring out into the night.
“I thought you didn’t do heights. Something about falling out?” She looked over at him as he crossed the room. She looked so tired. He frowned momentarily.
“I thought you said I couldn’t fall out,” she rebutted, turning fully towards him and leaning against the window in question.
For a very brief moment, he prayed the window would hold true, even knowing how thick they were, and bulletproof. “No chance,” he reassured, coming to a halt a couple of feet away. He looked out, down into the cold night towards Times Square. “My condolences,” he offered raising his tumbler of whiskey slightly, “Romanov told us he passed while you were away.”
She took the glass from his hand and took a drink, curling her hand around with the tumbler cradled to her chest. “Thank you.” She turned back to staring into the night. “We were with him, to say goodbye at least.”
Tony stood in silence a moment, wondering if it was safe to take his drink back. His hand made this funny little up and down movement while his brain debated. Finally he let it drop to his side. He stood awkwardly, waiting for her to speak again, pursing his lips. When he couldn’t stand the tension any more, he spoke. “Stark Tower doesn’t really have a formal bereavement policy, I know most places offer about 3 days, but, uh… well, uh, we want you to feel that you can take as much time as you need to, uh, work things out. I’m sure we can manage if you need some time to… whatever.” He flourished his hand in the air, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the next.
He saw her smirk out of the corner of his eye. She swallowed half the remaining liquor. “Thanks, I appreciate it. But I think I will just jump back in tomorrow, business as usual.” She paused to drain the glass, handing it back to him. “I need to be busy right now. But seriously. Thanks” Her lips quirked up in a bit of a smile. “You better get back down to your party. It’s almost midnight, you wouldn’t want to leave your girlfriend waiting. Someone might move in.”
The little sort of moment he had thought they’d been happening blinked from existence as she thrust the empty tumbler at him. He took it, turned it to be sure there was nothing left and turned on his heel. He strode swiftly to the elevator and opened the doors with the press of a button. Stepping inside he turned. His voice rang across the room as they closed: “YOU better get some sleep. You look like hell, and 6 am is right around the corner.”