touch me, save my life [for intheread]

[shesright]

It had been a few weeks since the destruction of the majority of Stark Tower, and though Pepper couldn't exactly blame Tony for the strain on their relationship. It was difficult to deal with him, and the guilt of costing them both millions in property damage. It left her with a shorter fuse than he could handle. So Pepper opted to return to Malibu for a while, and Tony spent his sudden increase of free time playing hero with a renewed enthusiasm.

That didn't put an end to her responsibilities as CEO either. A close thing, but Tony refused to accept anyone else could actually run his company with any amount of success. The occasional sacrifice of a building seemed a small prize to pay, at least that's what he'd professed.

Pepper believed him, reluctantly.

She also reluctantly continued to attend the events she was expected to. Without Tony to accompany her, it was almost as if she'd returned to being an invisible assistant. Albeit, generally thought to be an attractive woman in the right dress, but nothing striking in itself.

Comments

[shesright]

"I don't -" She was about to say that she didn't know, but that wasn't the full truth. Pepper did know. She wasn't afraid to face something different. Even if it was a bit of an inconvenience for them both.

"I think it started even back when you were 'Natalie'." Not this one, the one that Pepper had distrusted and then practically adopted for herself. There had been a certain measure of jealousy, though not towards Natasha, in the end. "It has to be a natural skill that you have, the ability to collect everyone's attention. I suppose I'm not immune either."

Pepper's face flushed a little at the frankness of the conversation.

[stillfriends]

Nat smiles slowly, taking in the color in Pepper's cheeks. Satisfied that Pepper knows exactly why she's here she leans in, lowering her voice to something just above a whisper. "Well, now you've got my attention."

Her smile softens into a small grin. "Not many people would crash a SHIELD operation just to get close to an operative. I'm flattered."

She was more than flattered. Impressed was more of the right word, but then again Pepper had her own natural ability of impressing others with her sheer capability to adapt to whatever situation at hand. It was a trait that Natasha admired and enjoyed.

She took another step forward, closing what little distance there'd been between them. "Just one thing though."

[shesright]

The flood of relief that Natasha doesn't seem to be angry is a heady thing. Pepper even forgets for the moment, that there's a drugged man in the room with them. She smiles at the spy, not really able to portray the coyness or flirty look that other's might.

Pepper isn't afraid or timid when it comes to matters of attraction. In fact, confidence is something that follows here as well as in business matters. But she does try to keep in mind what's appropriate. This really isn't. Not because Natasha is a woman, but because she's a dangerous woman. Already proven to have been able to meld into Pepper's life with ease.

"And what might that be?" Pepper's hand settles on Natasha's hip, her fingernails catching against the smooth fabric, her breath held wail waiting to see what the spy had to say.

[stillfriends]

Pepper's smile may not be coy, but it's honest and Natasha can feel her stomach tighten the tiniest bit at it. She wonders if Pepper knows what that smile does to her.

"That," Natasha nods towards the door and the man lying unconscious, but doesn't actually take her eyes off Pepper's. "Can't be our first kiss." If love is for children then she demands a do over.

Yet again she's grateful for the little height difference her heels remedy as she leans in, her own hand settling on Pepper's waist in a mirror of the other woman's. Without an undeserving audience she can kiss Pepper the way she wants to. She can take her time and focus her attention fully on the blonde in front of her.

[shesright]

A thousand small things register to Pepper while Natasha is this close. The room seems warmer, but that can't be anything more than just the effect that the red head is having. Pepper's pulse jumps to match the fluttering in her stomach, each little breath before their lips meet is counted and kept as a perfect memory.

"No, of course not." Pepper never really remembers to control her tongue at times like this. She agrees without thought because she's caught up in the overwhelming want of it all. It's not a stretch to say that Pepper is extremely easy to seduce, if you're the right person.

Slow, but not timid, this kiss is something that Pepper can devote herself to. With the focus that characterizes all of her efforts, Pepper kisses the spy.