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aa_natasha 8/16/2012
Polite inquiry of the right people will lead Pepper to the training facilities, where she's granted special access with an escort who stays several steps behind, all fading into the woodwork. Such as it is. The room is empty save for Natasha - probably because she's cleared it in order to use the entire space to her advantage. Her workout today apparently involves lots of climbing and flipping; she moves around the room like a pinball, with little care for the equipment in her way. She just goes up, over, around without pause.
It isn't often that Pepper gets to see things like this in person, not from some television somewhere, and so she remains quiet for a moment to watch the woman. Likely, her heels have already given her approach away, still dressed in her well-tailored cream suit and expensive shoes. She doesn't call to Natasha, however, instead only pulling an envelope from her bag, waiting.
Natasha doesn't stop right away. Pepper's heels /really/ give her away, and between that and her strawberry-blond stature, there's no question about who's hanging about watching. She takes her time, then, drawing the routine to a logical finish in the middle of a mat. She turns then, fixing her gaze on Pepper with a glance over her shoulder, and gives the other woman a smile. "Ms. Potts," she greets, remarkably not breathless.
"Ms. Romanov, you are quite impressive," Pepper offers her with a smile, tapping the envelope against her thigh. "I could not do that if my life depended on it."
"I couldn't handle Tony Stark all day," Natasha answers blandly, "So we're even." She turns, rubbing the back of her wrist across her forehead, and closes the distance between them with a few steps and an upraised brow. "Can I do something for you?"
A laugh escapes Pepper's lips as she nods at the point, but she answers, "That is going to make my task a bit awkward then. I am here to deliver this to you." She holds out the envelope neatly to the woman, plain white and unsealed.
Natasha lifts her brows, and her expression goes clearly wary as she stretches a hand to take the envelope. She slides it open with deft fingers, noting, "That sounds dire."
The envelope contains a key card and a neatly printed address on a slip of paper, but Pepper explains instead, "I think it depends on how you view it. The mansion is completed for the Avengers, and that is your key to access it and your rooms there."
Natasha snorts. It's not quite laughter, but it's close. "Quick work on those security upgrades," she says, studying the card and flipping it lightly in her hand before she looks up at Pepper again. "So who all got one of these?"
"Yourself and Tony, of course. Captain Rogers, Dr. Banner, Mr. Odinson and a Mr. Barton," Pepper recites with a professional smile, though she pauses to add with some humor, "We are efficient."
"You?" Natasha wonders, turning the card over once more.
"I have access to the mansion, yes," answers Pepper truthfully, her easy tell no where in appearance. "In case I am needed."
"Anyone else?" Natasha presses, just in case Pepper conveniently left /someone else/ off that list.
Pepper shakes her head, saying easily, "No, Natasha."
"Mmm." Natasha disappears the card somewhere so quickly that it's impossible to follow, then gives Pepper a smile. "Well. Thanks for the delivery. I'll stop by sometime."
"I am sure Mr. Stark will appreciate that," Pepper replies with the return of that professional smile, though the slight crinkle of her gaze holds real humor as she glances back to the gym and then Natasha again. "I will let you return to your workout, but if you need anything if you decide to relocate, just contact my office. We can arrange movers or negotiate your current lease."
Natasha looks amused for a short moment before she nods and says, "I'll let you know."
Pepper turns for the door, the same tap of heels as she goes as when she came even as she calls back to Natasha in farewell, "We'll have to do lunch, once your settled in."
*you're
"Of course," Natasha answers. She gives Pepper a final, parting smile before bounding into a backflip that starts her routine anew.
It's a key!
Polite inquiry of the right people will lead Pepper to the training facilities, where she's granted special access with an escort who stays several steps behind, all fading into the woodwork. Such as it is. The room is empty save for Natasha - probably because she's cleared it in order to use the entire space to her advantage. Her workout today apparently involves lots of climbing and flipping; she moves around the room like a pinball, with little care for the equipment in her way. She just goes up, over, around without pause.
It isn't often that Pepper gets to see things like this in person, not from some television somewhere, and so she remains quiet for a moment to watch the woman. Likely, her heels have already given her approach away, still dressed in her well-tailored cream suit and expensive shoes. She doesn't call to Natasha, however, instead only pulling an envelope from her bag, waiting.
Natasha doesn't stop right away. Pepper's heels /really/ give her away, and between that and her strawberry-blond stature, there's no question about who's hanging about watching. She takes her time, then, drawing the routine to a logical finish in the middle of a mat. She turns then, fixing her gaze on Pepper with a glance over her shoulder, and gives the other woman a smile. "Ms. Potts," she greets, remarkably not breathless.
"Ms. Romanov, you are quite impressive," Pepper offers her with a smile, tapping the envelope against her thigh. "I could not do that if my life depended on it."
"I couldn't handle Tony Stark all day," Natasha answers blandly, "So we're even." She turns, rubbing the back of her wrist across her forehead, and closes the distance between them with a few steps and an upraised brow. "Can I do something for you?"
A laugh escapes Pepper's lips as she nods at the point, but she answers, "That is going to make my task a bit awkward then. I am here to deliver this to you." She holds out the envelope neatly to the woman, plain white and unsealed.
Natasha lifts her brows, and her expression goes clearly wary as she stretches a hand to take the envelope. She slides it open with deft fingers, noting, "That sounds dire."
The envelope contains a key card and a neatly printed address on a slip of paper, but Pepper explains instead, "I think it depends on how you view it. The mansion is completed for the Avengers, and that is your key to access it and your rooms there."
Natasha snorts. It's not quite laughter, but it's close. "Quick work on those security upgrades," she says, studying the card and flipping it lightly in her hand before she looks up at Pepper again. "So who all got one of these?"
"Yourself and Tony, of course. Captain Rogers, Dr. Banner, Mr. Odinson and a Mr. Barton," Pepper recites with a professional smile, though she pauses to add with some humor, "We are efficient."
"You?" Natasha wonders, turning the card over once more.
"I have access to the mansion, yes," answers Pepper truthfully, her easy tell no where in appearance. "In case I am needed."
"Anyone else?" Natasha presses, just in case Pepper conveniently left /someone else/ off that list.
Pepper shakes her head, saying easily, "No, Natasha."
"Mmm." Natasha disappears the card somewhere so quickly that it's impossible to follow, then gives Pepper a smile. "Well. Thanks for the delivery. I'll stop by sometime."
"I am sure Mr. Stark will appreciate that," Pepper replies with the return of that professional smile, though the slight crinkle of her gaze holds real humor as she glances back to the gym and then Natasha again. "I will let you return to your workout, but if you need anything if you decide to relocate, just contact my office. We can arrange movers or negotiate your current lease."
Natasha looks amused for a short moment before she nods and says, "I'll let you know."
Pepper turns for the door, the same tap of heels as she goes as when she came even as she calls back to Natasha in farewell, "We'll have to do lunch, once your settled in."
*you're
"Of course," Natasha answers. She gives Pepper a final, parting smile before bounding into a backflip that starts her routine anew.
It's a key!