Ms. Pepper Potts

“Because either he’s done something ridiculous that we need to take care of and we’re the only two who understand what’s really going on or because deep, deep down, we really just miss him. I mean, we could change the subject and talk about charts and numbers of your business.”

       Pepper cracked a smile and shook her head. “It’s quite empty without every stupid thing he could do.” she half-admitted. “Numbers aren’t really your thing, Rhodey, you’d be bored.”

“So…what do I do about him ? Cause he keeps calling and I don’t really want to put nuclear weapons on him just yet? “  and by that she meant the uncles and aunts.

       “The worst insult is to be ignored. You clearly don’t need him. Show him that. Show him that you don’t want to be with him. Don’t engage conversation or he might think that there is still a chance. And if he still continues... well then, I can give you, not nuclear weapons, but the infamous Pepper spray.” 

“I almost did once, but then I would have made him look like an idiot in front of a bunch of his donors, so I stayed my hand.” That, and Tony was like a brother to him. He would never really punch him on purpose or maliciously. “I doubt he used it for his armor. You know Tony, only going for the good stuff.”

       Pepper made a face. “I continuously slap him with words for the last two decades.” she smiled. “Yeah... a mystery it will always be.” she tilted her head then. “How is it, he always comes into conversations, honestly?” 

Maria’s eyebrows made a weird twitch. “You protect people without any weapon? Now I’m the one that’s worried, Pepper. Tell me you at least have some for emergencies.” Because in the world they lived in, fighting the fair fight without weapons was started with a disadvantage. At least she thought so. “I don’t know the feeling, never been skiing. One of those day, I’ll steal one of those beauties and try it on. Just out of curiosity.”

       The redhead cocked an eyebrow. “I got Friday with me. And I have the repulsors just in case I need to defend myself. Plus I can fight with my bare hands, Barnes taught me. I’m not just having fun because it’s fun. I can defend myself Maria.” Pepper smiled then. “I’ll take you out skiing one day.” 

Wong was genuinely interested. Sure, he wasn’t really into technology and all this modern things, but when it was about gree energy, he was all for it. “I’ve heard about it, yes. That’s a big project, ambitious too. I’ve also seen the cars, I’d gladly buy one if I had my licence.” Wong poured the hot tea into a cup he took from her cupboards, and handed it to her. “Thank you, though. For what you and Stark Industries do. Saving the environment is also saving this world’s magic.”

       “You don’t?” she asked first. “Have your license I mean.” Pepper carefully took the cup between her hands, feeling the warmth beneath her fingers. She loved that feeling. “Yeah, I guess it does. We’re trying to, at least. The point of Resilient is also to show everyone, every citizen, every entrepreneur, every company that green energy is as good as what we have right now. Not to say better, which it is anyway already. Stark Industries had history, Resilient started from nothing. I hope it’ll make people realize.” 

“Sometimes ? I came to the conclusion that it’s always  to be honest. “

       “It’s true the right ones are kind of rare, these days, I’m afraid.”

Yeah, the same old problem as always. You couldn’t be entirely mad because hey, it meant he cared about her, but at the same time getting limits was always bad. She was glad she didn’t have anyone to act like that with her. Maybe she’d actually be more on Tony’s side of the spectrum than Pepper’s, anyway. “I mean, why give you a suit if you’re not supposed to use? He should have been more specific if it was just to expose in your living room!” She laughed with Pepper. “I’m a bit jealous though. Always wanted to try one of those things. How is it, to use it?”

       Pepper shrugged. “I didn’t want to fight, to be honest. And I don’t. Just want to help people. DOesn’t involve weapons.” Maybe there was another trught she wasn’t seeing or refused to see, but this was another topic she never thought the end of. So she forgot about it. “It’s pretty much like... putting on a ski suit, totally excited to go skiing in the snow. It’s the same feeling. And just as comfy.” 

“No, you don’t want to have been there. It was embarassing for all of us.” Mostly Rhodey, though. “Probably under a pile of junk in his lab. Or taken apart for spare parts.”

       “Sometimes I just want to punch him for doing that, I swear.” she chuckled. “Or in one of those armor as a part indeed. It saved the world then.” 

Stephen and Tony were really much alike. They’d noticed that rapidly, even though Stephen was more serious, more… down to earth, which was a interesting thing for a sorcerer really. “Stephen’s like that yes. To me he is, though I’m not sure he’d ever really admit it. He’s always fine when you ask him. Bit annoying.” But Wong could read in him like in an open book most of the time, so they made it work. “You have every reason to be proud of all this. What’s that ‘baby’ of yours, by the way? I knew you were on a project of some kind but I’m not the best at keeping up with the news.”

       Pepper smiled at this question, crossing her legs. She always loved when people asked her about her baby. She was not a show-off person, she never was. But she was proud, really proud this time. “Oh, maybe you heard. Resilient. Basically tech feed by green energy from SI. We got cars as well.” 

It’s important that you’re here …  the voice faded to when he had said it , so many times to his father, even his mother, but at the important things, only Rhodey showed up as support. He was playing it off cool, but he meant to attend it. “I’ll be there , Pepper, I promise. You can submit your dress options to me,  I dress you better than yourself by the way.”

       Her face turned into a warm smile. “Thank you, Tony. It means a lot.” she took his chin to push it on the side so she could kiss his cheek. “Uh uh, are you sure about that? Because you buy my dresses’ birthday for twenty years?” she joked around. 

“You turned off Tony? Why, what did he do this time?” This wasn’t meant in a mean way. Tony meant well usually, but he could be a bit… too much. “Got into the whole ‘I gotta protect you’ act again or something new?”

       Pepper rolled her eyes. “Please. I’ve done that a million times.” she laughed. “Oh, I think he understood I don’t need saving. I mean, I have my own suit now. He just-- doesn’t like when I’m saving a plane about to crash. I don’t understand why, to be honest.” she spoke and burst into laughter. 

Wong nodded to her, appreciative of her understanding. With most people, they had their own way of seeing magic and couldn’t believe that it wasn’t how it worked. Telling the actual magicians how magic was supposed to work. Someone who just took the information was always appreciated. “That’s basically it. Though I’m not sure that’s why they have such a big ego. It’s said that the people who have the biggest ego are actually those who love themselves the less. Not that I know if it’s true on them.” Though he had his opinion on the matter, for sure. “But anyway it’s no bother. I actually feel very prouf of where I am today thanks to all that hard work. They’ll never know how that feels, and it is saddening.”

       Pepper opened her mouth, but smiled honestly. “I can’t agree more. I’m not so sure about Stephen, I don’t know him that well. But Tony, yes. That’s why I... I always make sure he remembers he’s got people who love him. And there is.” she nodded. “It is, Wong. Proud isn’t a bad thing at all. I’m proud of where I am today as well. My baby is about to open and I can’t feel more proud of myself.” 

“You mean like the time when I was giving him an award and he was too busy playing craps in Vegas?”

       She laughed at this. “I wasn’t there. I wish I was tho. I’m still sorry for you... I’ve never seen that award btw. I don’t want to know where it is. He never... liked those.” 

“Well of course not, since Stephen is your plus one and I’m to arrive after you and just before your speech , it’s rather easy to tell. “

       “Before the speech then. Please. It’s important to me, Tony. For once and the first time, it’s about me. And it’s important to me that you’re here.”

“I am Groot?” He asked, showing his own ear, curious because Friday was starting to also understand him but if she had no translator well it wasn’t that bad and Groot tried to share that fact by a reassuring smile. “I am Groot.” He said and pointed out the funeral invitation on the table. “I am Groot?”

       Maybe she didn’t understand, but the redhead learned to understand other things in all these years working for Tony. The non-said things. The tones, the faces, the actions. She could understand at least the intentions. And the reassuring smile she saw and returned. Pepper looked done at the old invitation. “Oh it’s, Peggy. Her funeral, last year. Maybe Tony did mention her to you. I had the chance to meet her a few times before when I began to work for Tony’s dad. She was nice. You would’ve loved her, and her back. I’m sure of it.” she smiled even more. 

“He does have the nerves to do a lot of things, that I’ll grant him. Wish I would have seen the disappointment on his face when you turned him off. Maybe I’mm be there when he’ll come for you again, that’d be pleasing to watch.” Maria played with her glass, her eyes still on her friend. “I wish I could just tell you to join me and go kick him out of his job, to be honest.”

       “I have to say it was such a pleasure to ask him to leave and watch while drinking my cup of coffee.” she said, squinting her eyes and smiling at the same time, having the best feeling ever. “I’ll call you, don’t worry. Oh please, the day it happens call me too.” she laughed. “And before Tony. Him too I had to turn him off when I told him. But I can handle myself.”