widows_kiss | Appointments Post

[Natasha gives her a wink, relieved to see her grin.]

We'll figure it out. It can't be that hard.

...It's a pity Jarvis isn't here.

I was just thinking that.

[They'd come to the house by this point, and Pepper opens the door before motioning for Natasha to come inside. There's a moment when Pepper stops to listen, but as expected, they're surrounded by silence.]

Make yourself comfortable. I don't know if you've already eaten, but I need to make dinner anyway.

[Natasha steps inside, her posture still and at ease despite the way she listens for any noises out of place, her gaze scanning the room, taking in everything.

When Pepper speaks again, she gives the woman a faint smile.] Thanks. And no, I haven't actually. I was going to grab something at the bar, but... [She trails off with a faint shrug.]

Right. Well, that's all the more reason to put something together.

[It's a bittersweet thought, but Pepper is more used to making dinner for two. It'll be simpler, since she doesn't have to cut a recipe in half.]

Do you want something to drink before I get started? It shouldn't take too long.

I'll just help myself to some water, if that's alright. [She moved to the cabinet where she remembered the glasses being, from when she was in here over Thanksgiving.] Do you need any assistance with anything?

Of course. Get whatever you'd like. [In the meantime, Pepper moved to the fridge, pulling out the steaks she'd put in to marinate the night before.]

No, that's okay. It's all pretty straightforward. [Things that Pepper's made before, and she makes her way around the kitchen with ease.]

[Natasha gets her drink and hops up on a counter where she'll be out of the woman's way.]

So how are you settling into this whole domestic thing?

[Pepper straightens when Natasha says the d-word, giving the other woman a look over her shoulder.]

So well that I can suppress the urge to scoff at being called domestic.

[At least mostly.]

It keeps me occupied. And I know Tony's--

[Taken care of. But the words die in her throat, and Pepper freezes for a moment at that unintentional reminder that right now, he's most certainly not being looked after.]

I don't think it's something to scoff at. I think it's... special. [There's something faintly wistful in Natasha's voice as she counters that, shaking her head at the look she gets for it.

Not missing the way the other woman goes still, she returns with her own moment of skepticism.]

Tony's a handful at the best of times. You have the patience of a saint, Pepper.

[She needs the time Natasha's comments give her to push back the emotion that threatens to break the surface. She'll save her sorrow for when she's alone, and the compliment helps, if only because it earns a short laugh.]

Don't I know it. [It's enough, and Pepper resumes her preparations.] Loving him helps. That, and I get paid really well.

[She turned just enough to wink at Natasha over her shoulder.]

[Natasha laughs at that wink, fond amusement in her gaze as she swings one foot absently in front of her.]

I suppose those perks help, yes. [Her smile softens a bit as she glances over at the woman.] You are fortunate.

[A pause, and a scoff.] Tony is triply so.

A bit. [Although there have been times…Pepper shakes her head at the thought, deciding it better not to count the times she’s either quit or come extremely close. Natasha’s right, after all. Pepper is fortunate.

Tony too, and Pepper laughs when she points that out.] Believe me, he knows it. [She looks back over at Natasha, curiosity in her gaze.] What about you?

[An eyebrow arches upward in inquiry.] What about me?

Are you with anyone? [Although a moment after she asks, Pepper winces. That might not have been the most considerate thing to bring up, especially if Natasha's SO isn't in Luceti with her.] If you don't mind telling me?

[Something flickers in Natasha's gaze and it drops to her hands around her glass, going carefully still.]

It's... complicated.

[A look of sympathy crosses Pepper's face. Complicated could mean any number of things, but from Natasha's body language? This time it's nothing good.]

You know, I'll listen if you want to talk about it. [Pepper would have anyway, but especially now when Natasha has done the same for her, and offered to stay with her.] We're practically having a girl's night anyway.

[Natasha gives a quiet laugh at that, shooting Pepper a crooked smile.]

It's also classified. But thank you.

[Although there was part of her that wished she could. That it was just that simple, to spill her frustrations to a friend, get some different perspective. But things had been complicated before, without the mess of timelines, of memories that did not yet exist. Now it felt hopelessly tangled.]

[Classified sounds a little convenient, but Pepper won't press--at least not just then.]

Well, if you ever decide that I've got appropriate clearance, consider the offer open. [Because SHIELD protocols be damned; Natasha was clearly bothered by this, and Pepper wouldn't let red tape get in the way. Especially not in Luceti, where the organization didn't truly exist.]

[She gives a quiet laugh, the sound a little wistful as she swirls the water in her glass.] I'm not even sure I should have clearance, but here I am. But I thank you, Pepper. Really. It means a lot, that you'd offer.

Oh, please. It's the least I can do. [Pepper shakes her head, genuinely wishing that Natasha would open up. But she has her reasons, things that Pepper's sure go beyond SHIELD-standing, and she's willing to let it be.

She put on a pan a few minutes ago, and now it's hot enough to start cooking on. It distracts her for a few minutes, but hopefully the aromas will keep the silence from becoming uncomfortable.]

It's hardly the least. [Natasha directs a smile at her glass, crooked and fond before glancing up at the woman.]

I wish it were as easy as that, honestly. Even if it weren't the tangle that it is, I've never been very good at just... spilling.

[They could probably spend most of the evening arguing over what either of them feels they owe the other, or how they want to help. But that seems pointless, so Pepper instead thinks about what it means to share someone's personal secrets with someone else.]

I don't know how good at it anyone can be. I think it comes down to trusting someone enough to let them in. And that probably just starts with being honest.

[Natasha gives a laugh at that, soft and subdued.]

Well, then you've possibly found the most helpless case possible.

[Pepper's silent for a long moment after that. It's simple, what Natasha's said, but there are also a lot of admissions among the words.]

Do you want to change that?

Some days. [That much is honest, at least.]

Appointments Post

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)