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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

[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.