starktonystark.

and yet, she was praising his change. he had become a better man            couldn’t she do the same? “ i can ask you to come over and have lunch for no reason but when i ask how you’re doing, there comes the red flag? ”

❛ is that a question or a statement, tony? ❜   she groans with a slight eye roll, the woman definitely bothered by the direction their conversation is going.

starktonystark.

“ i know. ” there wasn’t any wavering or doubt in his voice about that. his sister was correct, pepper had always been a keeper            he had just needed to open his eyes. “ how are you getting along? ”

pleased with his answer, she’s admittedly annoyed by his question. not that he’s stepped out of line or anything, but because it’s a sore subject for toni… her love life hasn’t exactly been the best, but it’s because she’s just as stubborn as tony used to be.   ❛ — uh, i’m getting there… why? ❜

starktonystark.

not anticipating the embrace, he returned it nonetheless with a squeeze to his sisters frame. he smiled, “ i’m feeling a bit insulted here… did you expect happy to hold onto that for so long if i didn’t? ” then again, tony had been just as surprised as pepper had been in the moment.

she snorts, but toni is pleased with her brother’s decision.   ❛ shut up — don’t ruin the moment. ❜   but she’ll pull away slightly, hands moving to frame tony’s face with a smile still on hers.   ❛ i’m proud of you. she’s a keeper… always has been. ❜

starktonystark.

fingers frame his manicured jawline, auburn hues having already given away the flutter of excitement in his chest that this event created. “ already did, actually. ”

❛ — you used it and you didn’t tell me beforehand? ❜   they’re twins; aren’t they supposed to tell each other everything? well, mostly everything? toni scoffs, but she’s soon smiling once more and walking around the desk separating them so that she can pull her brother into a tight embrace.   ❛ congratulations… and i assume it’s safe to say you asked pepper to marry you? ❜   she chuckles in the hug.

starktonystark.

his fingertips tapped the lip of his porcelain STARK ENTERPRISES mug, a positive curl of his lips wrinkling the flesh around his eyes; it felt damn good to smile like this again in his sister’s company. “            remember that ring i told you about awhile back? ” several years back.

it’s been awhile since they’d been able to spend time together, but ever since things had gotten back to normal for tony, so had it for them.   ❛ yeah… you thinkin’ about using it finally? ❜   there’s a twinkle in her brother’s eyes, one that’s unmistakable.