Tony Owes Pepper (a soulmate au)
(crossposted from my archive of our own)
Working in Stark Industries was about as thrilling as youâd expect; that is to say, not at all. For everyone not directly connected to Tony Stark, Pepper, or Happy, working at Stark Industries was like any other business. Boring paperwork, boring offices, boring people.
Youâd worked your way up from an entry position to one of the higher positions after a few years of boring work. Most of your colleagues at this level were men: most women who applied to Stark Industries only hoped to catch a glimpse of Tony Stark and their work output reflected that. The few other women in your office were more like you: working to work, not to see your hot boss. Well, one woman worked there mostly in a hope to spend time with Pepper, who was the most present executive in your office. In fact, youâd had lunch with Pepper on multiple occasions. Â In the years youâd been working, you couldnât remember Tony ever showing up.
âY/N! Can I borrow you a minute?â Speak of the devil, and she shall appear. You immediately drop what youâre working on and head towards Pepper. She gives you a friendly smile and leads you to the elevator.
âGood morning, Ms. Potts.â You greet her. She rolls her eyes in a playful manner.
âHow many times do I have to tell you to call me Pepper?â You shrug and she shakes her head. âAnyway, I have a job for you.â
âOkay? Why does that sound so ominous?â You ask, narrowing your eyes at her. The elevator finally dings and the two of you step inside, Pepper pushing the button to take you two to one of the highest levels of Avengers Tower.
âTony has at least three meetings this morning and I have to be in DC by noon. I donât have time to harass him into getting ready, which is where Iâm hoping youâll step in.â Pepper explains.
âYou want me...to harass my boss?â You say slowly. She laughs.
âPrecisely.â She looks towards you, serious now. âYouâve worked here long enough to prove that youâre capable and, personally, I like you. Thereâs no one else I can really turn to now, especially with Happy out of town.â
âHe wonât listen to me.â You point out. âI know I donât know him well, but he really wonât listen to me. He hardly listens to you.â
âI know, I really do. But Iâm out of options. Please, Y/N?â Pepper pleads. The elevator dings and the doors slide open to reveal a floor far fancier than your office level. You sigh.
âFine, Pepper, but you owe me.â She immediately shoves a folder into your hand and smiles. âPerfect. Thank you so much!â She disappears as the elevator door closes and youâre left alone in the entryway. You peak into the folder and see a schedule that looked way too full. You sigh.
âShe didnât even tell me which way to go.â You grumble to yourself.
âTony is down the left hallway in one of the conference rooms. Iâll guide you, if you like.â A voice echoed from nowhere but you know enough to recognize Tonyâs AI assistant, Friday. You thank her and make your way towards the conference room.
âTony, an employee is here to speak with you.â You hear Friday announce in the room ahead. Tony mumbled something unintelligible from your distance and you groan to yourself.
Today was going to be a long day.
You knock on the door frame to announce your presence. Tony gives you a fake smile, enough to make your blood boil a bit. You didnât ask for this.
âDid you forget how to tie your tie?â You ask him, gesturing to where his half done tie. Tony blinked, glanced down as if surprised that it wasnât done, then looks back to you, still speechless. You sigh and walk over, knocking his hands away and doing his tie up for him. âPepper said Iâd have to make sure you got to the meetings, not that Iâd have to help you get dressed.â
âYou could always help me undress, if the tie is too complicated.â Tony replies, a confident grin across his face. Your hands still on the tied tie and the words along the back of your neck warm from more than just your annoyance earlier. Tony raises a wrist, pulling down the suit and shirt sleeves to reveal your words on his skin.
âYouâve got to be kidding me.â You groan.
âYouâre the reason I wait so late to tie my ties.â Tony admits, reaching out greedily to grab at your hips, eager to have you here in front of him.
âYouâre the reason I keep my hair long, can you imagine what people have thought because of what youâve said to me?â You say back to him, smacking away his hands. âPeople thought Iâd be a stripper or something. I mean, there's nothing wrong with sex work but its not something you tell a six year old.â
âIn retrospect, not the best way to greet my soul mate.â Tony acknowledges. He manages to look sheepish while still grinning like the cat who caught the mouse.
âI did learn a lot of ways to tie a tie, just in case.â You mumble an admittance, earning a grin from Tony.
âSo, lunch?â He asks. You point dutifully towards the folder.
âYou have three meetings and a phone conference.â You recite. Tony pouts.
***
âI cannot believe you two.â Pepper says. Sheâd walk into Tonyâs living room the next day to find the two of you arguing over some small and funny thing, Tonyâs arm around your shoulders. You at least, managed to look mildly ashamed. Tony just beamed at her.
âYou sent my soul mate straight to me, Peps. I owe you a vacation.â He says happily.
âYou owe me more than that.â Pepper says, pinching the bridge of her nose.
âHe did make it to most of his meetings yesterday.â You pipe up. It was hard to fight Tony when he got into a stubborn mood, even with your soul mate status. He just turned it back on you, convincing you that as newly affirmed soul mates, you both should be spending time getting to know each other.
âBetter than nothing.â Tony adds. If glares could kill, you were sure Tony wouldâve died a thousand times over by now.âWhy isnât Y/N in her office?â Pepper asks, giving up on reprimanding Tony.
âThis is her new office.â Tony grins, gesturing towards himself. You and Pepper both give him a deadpan stare.
âI quit.â You say, starting to stand.
âAw, no, come back!â Tony grabs you around the waist, pulling you down onto his lap and pressing a kiss to the back of your neck, where his words lay.Â
âYou know you could never leave me.â
âCocky, arenât you?â You roll your eyes. His arms tighten around you, hugging you to him.
âAre you surprised? You shouldnât be.â















