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touch me, save my life [for intheread]
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.
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.
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The sudden want makes her uncomfortable, both because of it's implications about her real feelings and also because it makes this easy mission suddenly much more complicated. She can barely tolerate Braden's hands on her, the thought of them on Pepper is not an option. Still, there's ways to twist these feelings to her advantage.
"Maybe you can give me some pointers," Natasha says, giving Pepper a look and a small smile that usually turns most men to putty in her hands.
"Excellent," Braden says, grinning at the two women in front of him. "Let's take this night cap upstairs, shall we?"
He holds out his arm and Natasha slips her own through it easily, reaching out for Pepper's hand she pulls her close, intentionally keeping herself between Braden and her.
She smiles. "I feel like it's going to be a pleasure meeting you, Pepper."
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Dangerous to her reputation, possibly dangerous to her relationship with Tony too. Not that Pepper thinks it would really bother him, if he were here to see it. They've never talked about what being together meant in terms of exclusivity. She suspected that Tony was being as faithful as it was in his nature to be. Though the addition of Bruce Banner into their life had been something of a shock to the balance. In fact, the whole lot of the Avengers seemed to be a temptation that proved stronger than traditional monogamous values.
If you couldn't beat them, join them?
Pepper laces her fingers between Natasha's, an intimate gesture that's more for her own comfort than anything else. While nobody in the crowd seems to be particularly interested in the three of them leaving for the elevator, the exit can't have gone completely unnoticed. Pepper is all the more aware of what technology is capable of spotting and recording, and what SHIELD might find interesting about her willingness to play along in their business.
She was never offered a position in SHIELD, though she doubts it would be for lack of qualification. Pepper's philosophy was far too civilian to mesh well in that kind of structure, but she would have gladly helped where she could.
With a bit of a start, Pepper realizes that Braden has been talking about himself, or something equally uninteresting this whole time. Luckily enough a simple nod in his direction seems to be enough from her. Pepper leans slightly more into Natasha, as if to apologize for being such an amature.
The elevator isn't glass, which is something they can be thankful for. Though the reflection of Natasha is almost as entrancing as the real one. Pepper runs the fingers of her free hand lightly down the Spy's arm. Silently questioning herself. Is this okay? Is this right?
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Braden trails off, realizing his audience is distracted and being too distracted by them in return to carry on. With her back towards him, Natasha allows herself to meet Pepper's eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly from her concentrated pout to a tiny smile. Men are so easy.
The elevator stops abruptly and her smile fades as she turns to look at Braden. He's hit the emergency stop button and she releases Pepper's hand, preparing to reach for the knife strapped to her inner thigh. She underestimated him. She's been compromised.
Instead of calling her out though he nods towards Pepper. "Kiss her."
It's an order, not a request and Natasha looks back at Pepper, for a second before forcing a smile. "Let's go to the room and have that drink first. We've got all night. We can build up to that."
This time, Braden's tone is steel. "Kiss her."
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Nervous, but hiding it well, Pepper reaches out to tuck Natasha's hair behind her ear. Leaning in close enough to press her lips just barely against the shorter woman's cheek. "It's okay. I want to help." The words escape softly. Hardly heard even by Pepper herself, so there's no way that Braden should be able to tell what she's said. Still, it's best to convince him that it's only a matter of reassuring 'Natalie' that she wants to be kissed.
Pepper slides her hand slowly down Natasha's back, urging her closer. Until red hair and curves are all that come to encompass Pepper's world. Her eyes flutter shut and she takes in the clean, impossible to label sent that is unique to the spy.
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She turns back towards her at her words, her eyes silently questioning whether or not Pepper knows what she's asking for. Still, she let's Pepper's hand pull her close and when her eyes flutter shut Natasha reaches up and cup's Pepper's face lightly before moving in to press her lips to hers.
The kiss is soft, but steady and she shifts, allowing Braden a better view as she pushes Pepper lightly against the elevator wall and angles her mouth to capture more of the blonde's. Her hand slides down between them slowly, her fingers sliding off her bracelet and twisting at the metal while she keeps Braden's attention occupied.
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Pepper only remembers that after she made a small sound against Natasha's lips.
It surprises her, how much she wants more of this. More of Natasha pressed against her and the liberty to run her hands over all of those curves. Pepper isn't a prudish woman by any means, but she's always done her best to keep certain things professional. Tony being, as always, the big red exception to the list.
"Nat-" The broken whisper echoes in the small elevator. Pepper becomes more aware of the man staring at them with greed and lust and it changes what she intended to say. "Natalie."
There are deeper illusions in that than just this moment. A lifetime ago, when Natasha had been under cover working for her, the things that could have happened....
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She breaks the kiss, her eyes meeting Pepper's for a brief moment before she looks over her shoulder at Braden and gives him a small smile. She holds her hand out to him as an invitation to join them and he takes it easily. One twist of the wrist and she's surprised him enough to allow her to bury the needle and the solution built into her bracelet into his neck. He goes limp instantly and Natasha struggles under his sudden weight.
She reaches out and restarts the elevator, looking up at Pepper. "Put one arm over your shoulders and follow my lead," she directs. "We just have to get him by the security guards."
She wants to say more, but the elevator doors open suddenly, revealing two security guards. She rolls her eyes at the nearest one. "Someone started the party early downstairs."
Braden isn't entirely out, not yet, but he's not forming complete words and his neck is rolling about drunkenly. The security guard grins, taking more than a little satisfaction in seeing his employer in this state. He steps aside for them to move past.
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She even holds her tongue around the security guards, offering them a weak smile that probably comes across more as one of the long suffering looks she's prone to. This wouldn't be her first time escorting a nearly unconscious man to his room. An old habit, when you once worked for the pre-ironman Tony Stark. Though in those cases, there had been significantly more commentary from Pepper.
When they reach the door to the suite, she let's Natasha find the key card.
"I bet you're the kind of man that keeps a gym membership just for show, Mr. Braden." Pepper can't keep all her muttering to herself, even if this isn't Tony, the opinions might do him some good in the long run. "You may want to rethink that policy."
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She pushed open the door and moved the three of them inside, shutting it with her foot. She motioned with a nod for Pepper to drag Braden over to a rug before they unceremoniously dumped him on it so that the thud would be muffled.
Natasha was all business as she moved back to the door and locked it, then moved to the computer on a desk in the corner. Two seconds later she was pocketing the USB she'd come for and pressing into her ear with a finger. "I've got it. I can handle it from here."
She glanced at Pepper as Clint spoke to her from his vantage point. "Braden's down, information's secure. My escape route is uncompromised. I'll debrief Pepper." Her jaw tightened at the joke that came a second later. "Out," she said, her tone hard steel as she slid the comm from her ear.
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She rubbed her wrists nervously. More for something to do with her hands than from any real pain or discomfort. Pepper waited until Natasha was done speaking with her SHIELD team before she ventured an apology.
"I'm sorry, Natasha, I didn't mean to jump in like this. It all just happened-" She flutters her hand up as if to say 'quickly' or 'in an instant' though Pepper knows very well that excuse can only carry her so far. There were moments between the sudden meeting and the elevator that she could have taken to remove herself from the situation.
And she hadn't.
It's practically impossible to read Agent Romanoff's expression when she doesn't want you to. Pepper's best guess is that Natasha is a little frustrated with how things turned out, but hopefully not angry enough to say something disparaging. Actually, Pepper doesn't think that Natasha has ever said a mean word to her. Then again, it never seemed to matter as much as it did now, what the agent's thoughts were. Particularly regarding Pepper herself.
"...what did he do?" They are here for a reason, after all. Pepper can't ignore the actual problem, even if she was never meant to be involved in the first place.
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There's still time and opportunity for excuses even if they would be incredibly frustrating, especially since she can't seem to get the thought of that kiss in the elevator out of her mind or the small sound Pepper had made before she'd had to get back to business. If Natasha does what she actually wants to do, there won't be any going back.
"He's built up his fortune over the last six years finding buyers for blood diamonds," she says, moving closer to Pepper. "We haven't been able to get the evidence via normal means."
She stops in front of Pepper, almost touching but not.
"Why did you really come with us?"
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Pepper's gaze unconsciously dips down to look at Natasha's lips. She's just kissed that mouth, but not long enough, not nearly enough for as much as she wants to. And then there is the other matter too, the way that the dress Agent Romanoff is wearing hugs every curve. It's a miracle that anyone can look away from her. Pepper can't.
Self control is something that Pepper has more than an average amount of. She isn't a trained government spy, or any kind of soldier though, so when it reaches it's limit, that's that. Her body tends to betray her desires before she's even really aware that she's doing it, Pepper leans towards Natasha. "I just wanted to spend more time with you."
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Her eyes are bright and alert as she studies Pepper's expression. "Why?"
There's no judgement in the question, no surprise or expectation. It's soft but matter-of-fact. She knows the answer. It's her job to know the answer, but she's not sure Pepper does.
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"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.
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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."
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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.
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"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.
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"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.