Someone needs to Genius Interruptus her.

[geniusnotclever]

-Another nightmare had plagued Natasha Stark so she's down in her workshop working and welding away at different things. Sparks are flying and she's working on minor improvements to her suit.-

Comments

[ohpleasetony]

I'll think about it.

[She gives Natasha's shoulders one last squeeze before removing her arms and walking over to the coffee maker in the corner of the lab. There Dummy is already making himself useful and by useful she means messy as he struggles to pour coffee into the filter.]

I can get this, why don't you go help mommy?

[Pepper barely hides her smile as she scoops up the coffee and sets it to brewing, just the scent of it going a long way towards clearing her head. She turns back towards Natasha, watching her as she works and noting the graceful curve of her shoulders and the small hint of skin above her sweats where her shirt has ridden up.]

Can I ask what exactly I'll be putting my hand in? Or is it a surprise.

[geniusnotclever]

-She hears the clash and is already making threats to Dummy about dismantling him and putting him out as a sculpture at a playground. Still, the robot, pokes at her side with his claws. She pushes the claw away and goes back to tinkering.-

It rhymes with Stark Contractor.

[ohpleasetony]

Natasha.

[And whatever small bit she'd managed to relax since waking up to find her girlfriend's half of the bed empty is suddenly gone.]

No.

[geniusnotclever]

It's a new design. Made to withstand everything and things we haven't even come across yet!

[ohpleasetony]

[She can feel the tension building in her shoulders.] How can you build it to withstand things we haven't come across yet, if we haven't come across them?

[And yes, there's a tremor of exasperation there. Please don't make her do this. She hates doing this.]

[geniusnotclever]

-Call her on it? That her nightamres are nothing but nightmares. Because if she isn't called on it, Natasha will just keep working through the night to fix in real life what can be fought in nightmares-

Minor details.

[ohpleasetony]

No, they're important details. [Pepper takes a deep breath and crosses the room once again, this time physically moving in front of Natasha.]

Natasha, listen to me. You are the smartest person I know and what you've done... is nothing short of amazing. You took a situation that most people would've died in and you turned your life around. You found a way to protect yourself and to fight back and I love that about you. I do. But you can't keep doing this to yourself.

[geniusnotclever]

-she looks at Pepper-

Phil died. Did you get the memo?

-Phil died. Yinsen died. So many people died. She just wanted to fix that-

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper recoils a little at the comment. She cried over Phil's death and still feels upset whenever she thinks of it. A few days ago she was chatting with him on the way to the airport and now he was gone. It was horrible and terrifying and wrong.

And it could've been Natasha. She swallows.]

I know.

[geniusnotclever]

Then you won't blame me for wanting to fix that.

-she doesn't move to follow Pepper-

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper swallows and shakes her head slightly.]

It's not something that you can fix, Tasha. Phil was a SHIELD agent. He knew was he was getting into. Just like you know every time you put on that suit it may be the last time. You can make things safer, you can make things better, but you won't be able to fix this. This... wasn't your fault.

[nstark]

I could fix it! I could--I can fix things, Pepper.

-her voice cracks and she's so tired and she sways a little, leaning heavily against her work bench, pressing a shaky hand to her forehead-

[ohpleasetony]

[Okay, negotiation time is over. Pepper moves forward and wraps her arms around the other woman.]

You can fix a lot of things, and you will but right now you need to get some sleep. Please, come back to bed with me.

[nstark]

-Natasha is really trying to stand tall on her own but she practically collapses in Pepper's arms, holding onto her tightly-

I could've fixed the Helicarrier in time. Got to Phil faster.

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper tightens her arms around her.]

Phil wasn't your fault. You did what you could and you did it as fast as you could.

[nstark]

I--I could have saved him, Pepper. I could've--

-she hangs onto Pepper tighter-

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper starts steering her towards the door.]

He wouldn't want you to do this to yourself. Phil... [She takes in a shaky breath. She can't believe she won't ever see him again.] had faith in you. He would've wanted you to save those other people first.

[nstark]

-she gives a broken laugh and holds onto her-

At least I can protect you. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Pep.

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper stops, reaching out and gently turning Natasha's mouth towards hers. She gives her a light kiss, her fingers trailing the softness of her cheek.]

You won't. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.

[nstark]

-she kisses her back and holds her tightly, laying her head on Pepper's shoulder-

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper wraps her arm around Natasha's shoulder and pushes the door open. She crowds her through the door and up the stairs.]

Come back to bed.

[nstark]

-and she lets her guide her this time because her body practically is sagging in exhaustion-

Might need a face lift soon if I keep pushing myself like this.

[ohpleasetony]

[Pepper says nothing as she leads Natasha back to bed. Eight is going to come much too early and there are a million things Pepper needs to get done before her ten o'clock conference call but she'll take this victory.

It's not the first time she's peeled back the covers and poured Natasha into bed, though sliding in behind her and wrapping her arms around her is still fairly new. Pepper presses lips lightly against Natasha's neck and whispers.]

Sleep.

[nstark]

-She holds onto Pepper's arms as she settles in bed again. Natasha passes out faster than anyone can say anything. For now, the nightmares abated. At least enough for her to rest between now and eight or ten-