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[behisgirlfriday]

Waking up in alternate universes was becoming a semi-regular fixture in Pepper's life. It wasn't something that she was particularly happy about, because getting smacked down into another universe pushed the reset button on her life. In her own world, she was Virginia Potts, personal assistant to Tony Stark. She knew what to expect out of her life. She was as stable as someone with a failing marriage and a miserably complicated boss could be.

But every time she woke up somewhere new, she was a blank slate. No job, no friends, no family, and no idea where she was at. It'd happened twice already, and she didn't know how many more times she could handle it. She was getting better at weathering the initial shock of it, at least. Pepper wasn't sure if she was proud of that or not. Maybe she could add it to her resumé: has experience in setting up businesses in multiple universes. Excellent with temporal distortions.

For the first time, she was in a city that she'd only heard about. True, she'd heard a lot about it, but that didn't make it any less strange to finally see it for herself. Gotham City reminded her of a lot of cities, but it was an entity all its own. The first thing that Pepper did was try to get a hold of Bruce Wayne. With any luck, he would still remember her. If he didn't, she knew enough sensitive material to convince him of her authenticity real quick. This was easier said than done, though. His manor---yes, he had a manor---was outside of town, and she didn't have cab fare. Her two attempts to get into Wayne Enterprises had ended with her being escorted off the premises. So that left only one surefire way of finding her old employer.

She'd have to get mugged.

Comments

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ Daylight belonged to the people of Gotham City, but the night belonged to Batman; he had no use for it. In stories, monsters prowled at night-- it was a time to lock your doors and bar your windows, because that time belonged to them. As long as criminals continued to be cowardly and superstitious, Batman would use it to his advantage. The city and all of it's gothic skyscrapers and dark, pervading atmosphere belonged to Batman, so when he said this was his city, he wasn't lying. There were few who were hapless enough to wander into Crime alley at night, tourist or otherwise, but tonight would have a few surprises in store for even the Dark Knight. ]

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ The aim of the game was to get herself into enough trouble that a vigilante would be alerted, but not more trouble than she could handle. That was a fine, fine, dangerous line, and Pepper wasn't quite positive that she could pull it off. The months of training that Bruce had given her felt a very, very long ways away---she was still healing from her various surgeries, and her range of motion wasn't back to full swing yet. Still, she had a lot more fire than the average office diva, so she hoped that'd be enough.

The Park Row alley was pitch black and ominous.

Yes, Pepper thought to herself. Yes, it looks like I could definitely get mugged here. ]

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ If that's what she thought, she'd be right. As if on cue, a group of shadows catcall from the corner, skulking along as they go. The largest in the front, presumably the leader (in whatever hierarchy it is that thugs followed), drags his calloused fingers along the dirty brick wall, his grin twinkling in the darkness. He begins, a sinister coo... ]

Well, well, well... what do we have here?

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ Pepper's hand tightened reflexively on the strap of her purse. Even when she'd gone home, she hadn't stopped carrying a brick in the bottom of it. It'd work as a pretty good flail if she needed it---that'd be self-defense. Definitely. The man's voice laced up her spine in an uncomfortable shiver, making her skin itch and crawl.

This was a risk. A big one. A stupid one. She could admit to all that. But she remembered Bruce---there'd been no forgetting him, as much as she'd tried. He'd watched over Seattle jealously, and it hadn't even been his city. Gotham, he'd said, was his---and now that she was there, she saw it. The Wayne name was everywhere, a benevolent presence in an otherwise very dark city.

So she had to hope that he was as omnipresent as she thought he was. ]

Oh, no. [ she was almost shouting. ] Where's BATMAN when you need him?

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ Not here, at least. Not yet. And moments could decide the difference between life or death. When she mentions the Bat, his grin instantly falls-- a familiar response. He gets closer, hand curled into a fist; he seems impossibly larger now. ]

Not here, bitch.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ Pepper Potts has had to deal with a lot of shit in her life. More than most people, and certainly more than most secretaries. If there's one thing it has given her, it's a very low tolerance for people who try to look down on her or give her a secondary helping of shit. She's far from fearless, but in the face of an immediate threat, her response is resistance, not capitulation. Freaking out was filed away to be done later.

So she swings her purse once, hard, then follows it with a punch. Being trained by the Batman and married to an ex-prizefighter has its perks. ]

Don't you dare call me that again!

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ He doesn't expect it-- not from her, at least. He's thrown off balance, but catches himself on the wall and wipes at his lip with a sneer as his friends cackle at him. When he roars at them to shut up, though, they do. For all of the fight that she has in her, thugs in Gotham were just made of something more. He grabs a fistful of her blouse and shoves her roughly against the wall, growling. ]

STUPID BITCH! Just you fuckin' wait! You'll wish you never did that!

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ her knee comes up, automatically and unapologetically slamming into his crotch. Her options are cower, run, or put up as much of a fight as she can. Since cowering is not in her nature and running would ruin her heels---and she likes these shoes---that only leaves one option.

She's too angry to be scared. Her temper always has gotten her in trouble. ]

Try me!

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ He's angry; a certain twinkle in his eye. He growls again and reaches behind his back for something, but the moment is shattered unceremoniously when Batman drops, a mass of inky black, onto one of his friends. The "URGK!" is enough to call attention behind them as he rises slowly to meet them. He is as impressive and fearsome as ever, possessed by a new vigor now that he's home. ]

There are better ways to reach me, you know.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ Seeing him again is a weird relief. There are heroes like him in her world---plenty of people who keep to the shadows and cut a striking silhouette---but he's still uniquely him. Pepper tries to suppress her smile, because most almost-victims of violent crime don't go around grinning at the scary vigilantes who show up to kick some faces in. ]

This got the result I was looking for. My resources were limited.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

We'll talk later.

[ He's unhappy, that much is for certain. He points a stern finger her way, and only stops to nonchalantly bash the other remaining thug's face against the wall as he rushes at him, shattering brick and mortar. The very large one grabs Pepper to create some self-illusory sense of distance between him and Batman, and draws a large, shimmering blade against her neck. ]

S-Stay the fuck back, Bats! You come any closer, I swear I'll fuckin' kill her!

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ She'd wondered at first if he'd remembered her---she'd almost convinced herself that he wouldn't, just like most of the people who had been pulled and pushed through the multiverse. The rebuke is answer enough. She might've even been happy about that if the thug didn't strong-arm her into being an impromptu hostage. The knife to her throat is bad. Little bubbles of panic fizz in her chest. But she's not going to let it show---especially not in front of him. ]

Are you---are you stupid? Don't you know who he is?

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ Batman crosses his arms over his chest, waiting. Of course, if she can't, he has a contingency planned as usual. ]

Think you can handle this yourself?

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

You know I can.

[ The mugger seems agitated by their casual exchange. Pepper enjoys it, however briefly. She spares Batman a savage grin, then quickly traps the man's hand between her shoulder and chin. She twists, grabbing his arm and fully freeing herself, then knocks him out. It's been a while since she practiced that manoever, and it pulls at new scar tissue, but it still gives Pepper a rush of triumph. She smoothes her fingers through her hair, then calmly bends to pick up her purse. ]

Be honest. Have you missed me?

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ There's a hint of something wry that passes his lips before the car stops abruptly just outside the alley, breaking whatever silent moment there might have been between them as the top of the Batmobile hisses open. His cape wafts heavily behind him as he turns towards the car and starts without her. ]

Hn. Get in.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ No, he hasn't changed at all. She can't tell if she wants to thank him or hug him or hit him, but that is a normal reaction to talking with Batman. Pepper follows him to the car, briefly reflecting that this is a much better way to travel than being carried by Tony in his suit. She gets in, purse in her lap, and looks at all the buttons. ]

You're not even going to ask how I got here?

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ He continues to drive, never taking his eyes off the road, the very image of stoicism. He teases her dryly. ]

You've never been to my world before.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ she never expects him to react. His responses are always controlled and cool and collected, but that doesn't bother her the way it did at first. She can sass him indefinitely, and she's almost sure that he likes it a little. ]

It turns out that Gotham City actually exists. Not that I doubted you, but...it's still something, seeing it.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ He reminisces briefly as he takes a moment to stare out of the window. ]

Yes. It is.

I wouldn't make a habit of wandering the streets at night, though.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to wander the streets at night---I was only out because it seemed like the easiest way to get your attention. First thing tomorrow, I'm on the job and apartment hunt.

[ she says it with a lilt of amusement. She's fairly sure that he'll want her to do something for him, but she won't assume. Much. ]

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I'll have something set up for you by the morning. I'll have Alfred prepare a room for you.

[ Bruce presses down on one of the many illuminated buttons on the dashboard panel, and a small LED screen flashes on with the face of an elderly man who speaks with a flat coolness reserved for only the truest gentlemen. ]

Bringing home a guest this evening, Master Bruce?

Yes. She's a... [ He looks over for a moment. ] Friend. Have a room prepared for her, Alfred.

Of course. Shall I prepare your room as well? Or will you be spending the entirety of your night in the cave again.

We'll talk when I arrive, Alfred. [ His response is terse, at best. ]

I've prepared a Mulligatawny. I trust you won't let it go cold this time?

Goodbye, Alfred.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ she listened to this exchange with interest, struggling to hide her smile. She nibbled the edge of her thumbnail, completely failing at hiding her amusement. More than once, she'd been the one accusing Bruce of staying in his cave and not eating meals like a real person. The memory of his horrifically failed attempt to cook dinner after she'd bought him at the auction bubbled up, and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. That'd been happening to her on and off all day---memories she hadn't realized she'd let go of were coming back. ]

I like him.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ She gets a pretty severe glare from him at that before he turns back to the road. ]

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ Pepper lets the glare glance off her harmlessly. That kind of look could terrify some people, but she's used to this. ]

Can I ask where we're going?

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

The manor.

[ That's right... they've reached the outskirts of Gotham, leaving gothic skyscrapers and bustling city lights behind for long winding roads rarely used, advantage of secrecy known only to Batman as they approach the entrance of the Batcave.

A large waterfall disguises the entrance, and he speeds up to satisfy his own wry sense of humor. There's a quick transition from water and rock to man-made tunnel. Fluorescent lights along the floor guide him to his destination. ]

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ she sees the waterfall coming, and figures that they're going the scenic route. That's nice. Until Batman guns it, and Pepper realizes that they're going straight for the waterfall, and doesn't he realize that there is ROCK behind the water? She can't help the little shriek of dismay that she gives right before the impact---though there's no impact, because the waterfall was a secret entrance and Batman is an asshole.

She gives him a look. ]

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ Batman doesn't respond. When they arrive, he parks the Batmobile along a large, illuminated circular platform. The Batcave itself is impossibly huge, and filled with a menagerie of technological marvels that boggle the mind; this cave is far unlike the one in Seattle. It extends so far below them the bottom is almost imperceptible, though there's a faint sound of running water-- an underground river. The large supercomputer, serving as a centerpiece, glows gently in his presence as though to welcome him back. ]

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ in the year and change they'd been in Seattle, Bruce and Pepper had gotten an astounding amount established. They had done pretty damn good for themselves, considering that they'd started with so little. This cave speaks to what Bruce is capable of building with much more time and much more money. She presses a hand to the window without even realizing that she's doing it, staring out at the cave in childlike awe.

It seems to go on forever. She's never really seen anything like it. It's advanced tech and raw, primal material all at once. ]

Oh. Wow.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ The hood of the car retracts abruptly, revealing the true wonder of the cave to her as the cool air rushes in, and somewhere above a colony of bats flutter through the air. Batman doesn't wait for her and leaps from the car unceremoniously, and pulls back his cowl as he proceeds without her. ]

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ Seriously, this place just keeps going and going. Pepper's not sure what to focus on, because it's one part machinery and one part whimsy. There's a giant penny and a t-rex. And BATS. She follows him, knowing that the command to follow is just implied. ]

And you have actual bats. Your eye for detail never ceases to amaze, Mr. Wayne.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

It's a cave, Virginia...

[ Bruce stares upward and watches them scatter about the jagged crags of the cave ceiling. A memory passes-- he remembers the fear he felt when he'd first encountered them years ago, unintentionally intruding on their home as a child. After a moment, he stares after her. ]

Of course there are bats.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

[ Her smile is reflexive, directed mostly at the bats. Even so, it has more to do with the use of her full name, and less to do with the flying rodents Bruce kept in his secret lair. ]

The batcave. Right. A little drafty, but still very impressive.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

[ As she speaks, Bruce eyes a sandwich placed strategically by Alfred in an exact place his hand would fall upon approach to the supercomputer; never let anyone say Batman was the master of preparation. He makes the decision to pick it up and take a bite, knowing that it would be more counterproductive not to in the end than it would to just eat it.

At the same time, he takes a seat and begins to type. In the corner, far off to the side, there appears to be a small, worn cot that has gotten a lot of use... more so than his actual bed must look. ]

You must be tired. I had Alfred prepare you a room upstairs. Make yourself at home, I've got work to do.

[behisgirlfriday.livejournal.com]

Me? No. I'm wired. Trying to get mugged in another universe gets your adrenaline going. [ she eyes that cot, frowning absently. Some things were constants. ]

If you need me out of your hair, I'll make friends with Alfred. But if you have work, well. [ and then she really smiles. ] You know how I feel about work, Mr. Wayne.

[a-dark-crusader.livejournal.com]

I'm well aware, Virginia.

[ Bruce responds dryly, but doesn't look away from the screen. When he settles back in his chair, it's apparent he's been quickly absorbed into his work. Without the cowl, the five o'clock shadow and bags under his eyes are more clearly apparent, but like men she's more than familiar with, he's got hours ahead of him before he calls it a night. ]

I'll be fine.