Saving Grace

Thirteen

Car after car pulls up outside the mansion, Happy checking everyone that goes inside. Rhodey drives up, talking on the phone. It's not a pleasant phone call. "Yes, sir, I understand... No... No, sir, that will not be necessary... I'll handle it... Sir, I personally guarantee that within 24 hours, Iron Man will be back on watch." He walks inside, then spots Pepper. "Hey, Pepper."

"I'm going to get some air," she says, starting to walk away.

He follows. "What's wrong?"

She leads him to Tony. "I don't know what to do."

"You gotta be kidding me."

Tony is in an Iron Man suit, stumbling around next to the DJ table at his birthday party. His helmet is on, but the mask is up. He's already drunk. California is playing. Party lights flash on the walls. People are drinking, shouting, dancing.

Rhodey sighs. "That's it, I'm making-"

"No, no, no, don't call anyone," Pepper says, panicked. That'll kill his reputation, and they'll be even more screwed than they were before.

"Pepper," Rhodey says, gesturing to Tony. "This is ridiculous. I just stuck my neck out for this guy."

"I know. I know. I get it. I'm gonna handle it, okay? Just let me handle it."

"Handle it. Or I'm gonna have to."

Pepper heads over to Tony as he talks to the crowd, holding a microphone. "You know, the question I get asked most often is, 'Tony, how do you go to the bathroom in the suit?'" He pauses, then says, "Just like that."

The crowd actually cheers, laughing. Pepper rolls her eyes, walking up to him. She takes the mic and plasters on a fake smile. "Does this guy know how to throw a party or what?"

The crowd cheers. Tony leans down to the mic and says, "I love you."

"Unbelievable," Pepper says, though more happily than she wants to. "Thank you so much. Tony, we all thank you so much for such a wonderful night. And we're gonna say good night now, and thank you all for coming."

Tony starts to protest, and Pepper lowers the mic. "No, no, no, we can't, wait, wait, wait — we didn't have the cake, we didn't blow out the candles-"

"You're out of control," Pepper says quietly.

"You're out of control gorgeous."

"It's time to go to bed-"

Tony leans forward. "Give me a smooch-"

"You're not going to be happy about this-"

"Come on, you know you want to. Grace wants you to, she said so-"

Pepper, knowing he's drunk, ignores this. "You just peed in the suit."

"I know. It has a filtration system."

"It's gross."

"You could drink that water."

Pepper sighs. "Just send everybody home, okay?"

"If you say so."