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"HE WAS HERE ALMOST ALL DAY, SPORT."
"That's not what this is about! I'm just bored, Mom," I pouted, my feet propped up on the back of the couch in her office as my head hung of the edge.
"Right, but the moment he left, you sulked your way into my office to whine so I'm sorry for making assumptions," she said with an amused smile.
I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Yeah, you should be," I mumbled, closing my eyes and pouting again. It was nice, to be able to spend time with her, just the two of us, and I had forgotten how much I cherished moments like these until dinner the night before where she teased the shit out of me.
I huffed and and moved to a semi-sitting position with my legs thrown out over the side of the arm of the chair. After a moment of silence, I whined, "Mom, I bored!"
She let out a small, amused laugh, picking herself off of her big fancy CEO chair and walking over to me, heels clicking. She bent down slightly until her face was at the same level as mine and offered one of those soft mom/why-do-I-love-you smiles, reaching out delicate fingers to ruffle ugly bleached blond curls. "Baby," she said like she was both cooing at me and calling me pathetic in the same breath.
I frowned at the tone. "Is that a term of affection or are you calling me a baby?" I asked indignantly. She huffed a laugh and ruffled my hair again before straightening out.
"Both," she informed seriously, cracking an amused smile at my responding huff. "Now get out of here, I'm busy running a company."
"What happened to mother-son time? Do you not love me anymore?" I replied, like the little emotionally manipulative brat I was. I knew she loved me with all her heart but I was bitchy teenager.
She didn't falter like she probably would have a few years before and instead just directed the same soft grin my way. "As much as I love having you moping on my couch, I have a meeting in here in about 5 minutes and I'm gonna have to kick you out, sport." At my frown, she added. "It's my last meeting of the day, I'll be there to join you and your dad for dinner."
At this, I perked up. "Dad's back? Already? It's only been like, a day."
Something in her expression shuttered at my question. She smiled again, though this time, the smile was tighter and more forced. "He finished the work he went to do. No other reason to stay, I guess," she replied, walking back to her desk. I squinted in suspicion. Pepper Potts didn't guess anything; she was always sure, or at least, always appeared that way.
"Okay," I said slowly, still suspicious but trying to mask it. "I'll just go bother Dad instead," I added with a forced smile, getting onto my feet. "Have a nice meeting, then?" I offered before speed-walking out of there. What the hell was going on?
