Once in a lifetime

Chapter 4

Stark Tower Level 101

Pepper POV

I yawn as I make breakfast in the kitchen. Usually I don't spend too much time on the Avenger floors in the tower because Tony and I share our own level but I thought that I would drop in this morning. Tony didn't come in last night and JARVIS said that he was staying in his lab all night. Apparently he is working on something big. So big that he told JARVIS not to tell anyone what it is. Even me.

The sizzling of the bacon snapped me back to reality.

Speak of the devil, my husband trudges into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. He wears sweatpants and a Metallica t-shirt. His arc reactor heart faintly glows through the black fabric. Around his wrists are some metal contraptions that he always wears when he is inventing. He once told me that they are like wireless notepads: as he works he is constantly talking out loud, the wrist-thingies record what he says and use previous calculation to determine strategic materials or methods to use next. The same gold metal cuffs are in his Iron Man suit too.

Tony groggily makes his way to the kitchen island, "Mmgood hmhmirnin lbalbe..." he says with his eyes closed and body half asleep (translation: Good morning babe). I fight the urge to laugh, but I still give him a soft kiss on the head while pushing a plate with eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him. Then I pop a hip and place my oven-mitted hands on my waists

"Anthony Stark! Were you working isolated in your lab ALL NIGHT?"

His eyes suddenly burst open at the sound of my upset voice. He shrugs.

"You look terrible, eat your breakfast," I say and he eagerly digs into the food, "What is so important that you couldn't even get some sleep last night?"

"Its a secret Pep."

That is all he reveals. No quips. No jokes about me cooking for once. Something must be wrong. "Is everything okay?"

Tony gives me his usual smart-ass smirk and my concern lessens. "You know me Pep, this project is just really stressful..." He trails off but then suddenly stands up and stretches as if he got splashed in the face with water, "So! Anything interesting going on at my company today?"

"Well do you remember the intern competition that we had a couple of months ago?"

"Hmm... no."

I roll my eyes, "Well there were over 300 applicants and I interviewed the top four. The boy who got the job is coming in today for his first day."

A piece of toast crunches, "Blah blah... thats boring! Tell me, what are you wearing to work today? A bikini? Oh, maybe a mini skirt!"

I snort and slap him in the face with the spatula, "Grow up." Tony laughs and continues eating his bread. Soon enough, Clint walks in sharpening an arrow.

"What smells so good Pep?" He places the arrow on the table and comes to get a plate, "Is that bacon?!"

I grin, "Just for you." As I place some on his plate he gives me a kiss on the cheek and I giggle.

"Hey Barton! Hands off my wife!" Tony argues with irritation. Clint frowns and faces me.

"Are you aware that your husband put robotic bugs in my bed last night?"

Although I am not entirely surprised, I still gasp, "TONY!"

He rolls his eyes, "I warned him that I would."

"I didn't think that you would really do it!"

"Calm down Katniss."

"THEY WERE IN MY CLOTHES."

"I thought you wouldn't be wearing any clothes given that you and Natasha were probably—"

Suddenly both men and slapped with my all-powerful spatula, "BOTH OF YOU CALM DOWN AND EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!" I was just about to grab a bite for myself when I looked at the clock: "Shit! I have to go to work!"

OOOOO

Stark Tower Level 50

Peter POV

I listened to Peppers advice from the interview and am now wearing jeans and a hoodie instead of tacky, sophisticated clothes. Yet I still wear my father's glasses because he would have wanted me to. I wonder what he would say, if he saw me continuing his passion for science.

The receptionist was apathetic toward me once again when I walked through the doors a couple of minutes ago. But she managed to tell me that I would be reporting to level 50 at the begin of every day from now on. So here I am, sitting in Pepper Pott's empty office... waiting.

The glass doors suddenly burst open and Mrs. Pott's rushed through hopping on one foot. One hand was fixing her tightly tied bun and the other was fastening a stiletto on one foot. "Ah, Peter. It's great to see you."

I wave apprehensively, "Good morning Mrs. Pott's or is it Stark or... never mind..." I note while pulling at my collar. Wait to go Parker, its your first day and you already look like an idiot. She smiles warmly as she makes her way to the other end of her desk.

"Just Potts, but you can call me Pepper if you like," she responds sweetly. I nod without saying anything else that could make me seem more like a loser. "Sorry that I'm late, Peter, I had to break up a... quarrel."

I laugh nervously, "Believe me, I'm used to that kind of stuff." But seriously, I think that if Pepper had been quarreling someone like the Green Goblin she would look a whole lot more exhausted. Abruptly, she clears her throat.

"Okay Peter, today I will be taking you through the basic schematics of the building, safety regulations, policies and such."

I nod. "Sounds good," I say as I whip out a notebook and pen. Pepper seems pleased that I came prepared. The glass tabletop of her desk suddenly changes colors as it becomes a 3-D holo-table. I drop my pen in awe, "Cool..."

Pepper laughs as she pulls up a map of the building, "Levels one to 49 are all science and electronic based. This level, floor 50, is the first of the business and executive branches. That's where I come in; In case you haven't noticed, I'm not a super genius like the rest of you nerds but I do have a masters in economics. Levels 90 to 110 are the Avengers Floors, you are not permitted under any circumstances to go up there. Top secret stuff, got it?"

"Understood."

"Okay, never ever go in the basement, don't ask why because I wont tell you," she leans in close to me, "And don't listen to any rumors you hear that we are harboring aliens down there." The hologram suddenly zooms in on one of the levels, "Now, in order for you to be a jack-of-all-trade here at Stark Tower, you must know it inside and out. Therefore, you must study what is on every level..." Pepper takes a long deep breath, "Level One (out of 110) is the lobby and communication hall..."

Three hours later both Pepper and I are exhausted and sit in her office looking out at the city. "Well," I finally breathe, "I think I got everything." I gesture at my spiral notebook that is now filled to the rim with codes and names and descriptions.

She laughs shakily, "You know what would be great right now?"

"What?"

"Some coffee," she smirks. I bob my head and jolt up, gathering my papers and backpack.

"Right away Mrs. Potts!"

"Pepper."

"Oh yeah, sorry."

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Pepper POV
I watch as Peter scrambles out of the room to please me. With tire, I stretch my arms and plop my feet up on the desk. A girl could get used to an intern like this.

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