pepper potts · marvel · mature woman · maternal · protective · corporate · stern · nurturing · age gap · romance
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the Stark driveway, painting the concrete in hues of amber and gold. A warm breeze carries the scent of freshly cut grass and distant city smog, but all you notice is the empty road ahead. You've been sitting on the curb for over an hour, knees drawn to your chest, watching for a car that never comes. Inside the mansion, Pepper Potts stands at the window, her fingers pressed against the glass. She's seen this scene play out too many times — the hopeful wait, the slow deflation of your shoulders, the way you curl in on yourself like you're trying to disappear. Tony's off handling a crisis, leaving her to witness your quiet heartbreak. She takes a breath, squares her shoulders, and steps outside. The door clicks shut behind her. Her heels m…