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[behisgirlfriday]

[ Pepper is no stranger to starting over. When she was with Tony, she did it a half-dozen times. It feels like more-- a thousand times, half of them in her nightmares-- but she knows for sure that she has watched her life fall apart and has been forced to put the pieces back together. If there is one thing that she is sure of, one thing that she has a bitter sort of pride in, it's her own ability to keep going.

So when she falls in semi-familiar territory, the transition is almost too easy. Gotham might not exist in her world, but she knows Jersey. This is home. Almost. Close enough. Close enough that she's determined to make it work. Pride-- and a little fear; always a lingering touch of terror when it comes to being forgotten-- keeps her from going straight to Wayne Industries. ]

Comments

[a_dark_knight]

[ His brow sets low and he approaches her briskly. His voice is very distinctly two octaves lower. ]

You can tell me how you got here later.

[ He gets back into the car, but leaves the door open. ]

Get in the car, Virginia.

[behisgirlfriday]

[ Her emotions catapult in the opposite direction so quickly, she feels like she has a mild case of whiplash. She's not sure whether to laugh or tear up, so she does neither. She wobbles a little, her heels suddenly unsteady beneath her, but she makes it to the car with most of her dignity intact. ]

So you do remember me.

[a_dark_knight]

[ He doesn't respond to her, but instead signals the driver to start driving and put up the window to afford the two of them so privacy. It'll be fun to field the inevitable rumors as to the strange woman he picked up on the sidewalk late in the evening in the bad part of town. ]

I'm more interested in what you remember.

[behisgirlfriday]

I remember building a business with you. Not in my world, and not in yours, but that other one. I remember thinking that I'd forget it whenever my time ran out and I went back home, and I... [ Pepper pauses, tucking a hank of her hair behind her ear. She needs these to be the right words, so she's careful. She takes her time. ] ...for a while, I did. But it came back in bits and pieces-- things that reminded me of memories that'd gotten lost in the shuffle. Then I went out on a coffee run a few months back, and I ended up here. In Gotham.

[a_dark_knight]

[ He takes a pause before continuing, inspecting her answers between pauses. ]

How long have you been here for?

[behisgirlfriday]

[ She knows better than to lie, even though it sounds convenient. This isn't a can of worms that she's looking forward to opening. Again, she sighs. ]

Two months. Maybe closer to three-ish.

[a_dark_knight]

[ He just. Stares at her. ]

[behisgirlfriday]

If this is how it's going to be, you can stop the car. I didn't expect a hug, but I'd hoped you...

[ She doesn't finish the sentence. Pepper crosses her arms over her chest, glaring out the window. ]

[a_dark_knight]

Hoped I'd what? There are things to consider here, Virginia, as thrilled as I am to see you.

[ He looks... thrilled. ]

[behisgirlfriday]

Oh, I know. Me being here means some cosmic balance is mucked up or whatever, and god knows you're the only one capable of figuring it out and fixing it so I can go back where I belong.

[ She scowls out the window, not even wanting to look at him. Now, she's not sure what she'd been hoping for. ]

[a_dark_knight]

[ His jaw sets out of frustration. ]

You don't know this city. You should have contacted me sooner.

[behisgirlfriday]

If I'd known I'd get such a warm welcome, I would've contacted you first thing.

[a_dark_knight]

[ He shuts his eyes and resists the urge to press between his eyes. ]

For what it's worth, I'm glad you're safe.