Work Text:
Tony had known from the moment Pepper came to him about the Stark Industries holiday party she had an evil plan. He hadn't known at the time just how evil, though. Until she brought up something he didn't realize she knew.
"Mr. Stark, it's already on the program and I am not changing the program," Pepper states, unflinching at his glare.
"How do you even know about this?" He demands.
Pepper tilts her chin up ever so slightly and says, "It's literally my job to know things about you."
"Yeah, but, this specifically. How do you know?" He whines, throwing a wrench down onto his workbench.
"Nevermind how I know," Pepper replies. "I've already made the arrangements, so all you have to do is practice a bit to work out the kinks." She lays a box down next to his tools. It's a plain cardboard box, no markings, logos or insignia anywhere on it, but to Tony it's like she just set down a block of C-4. "December twenty-third, be ready. JARVIS, don't let him forget."
"Of course, Ms. Potts," the disembodied voice replies.
She turns and marches out of the workshop on her Jimmy Choo's, leaving Tony alone to poke at the box. He tells Dum-E to throw it out, but of course, the klutzy robot drops the box, spilling its contents. Tony heaves a sigh, telling Dum-E to forget it.
Three weeks later, he's down in the workshop again, tinkering with his latest weapons designs when Pepper storms in again, this time carrying a garment bag.
"I brought your suit," she says, hanging the bag on a hook behind the bathroom door. "Get changed. We need to leave in the next thirty minutes."
Tony tries to ignore her, however, Pepper knows his tricks. She asks JARVIS to save his work and close everything down. Tony tries to belay her order, but JARVIS ignores him and closes his files, anyway. Pepper then herds him into the bathroom and tells him if he isn't ready in fifteen minutes she's calling Happy to come help dress him. Ten minutes later he gives up trying to bribe her into letting him skip the party and decides he will get wildly drunk at the party instead. He steps out of the bathroom in his suit with his tie and cuffs still undone. Pepper doesn't waste any time putting the finishing touches on his look, pinning his cufflinks in place and knotting his tie neatly.
In the car ride over she produces what appears to be the same nondescript cardboard box. She glances at him out of the corner of her eye and says mildly, "I hope you used the time to practice."
"I can't believe you signed me up to tap dance at this thing," Tony grumbles. "And I still want to know how you found out about this."
Pepper smiles her best "I'm never telling you a thing" smile and continues to tap out emails on her phone.