Hey guys, this is the first Iron Man fic I've written, so I guess I'm still getting into the hang of doing all the stuff with the character voices and all that. Reviews are much appreciated to let me know if they sound in character or not. This is set before Iron Man 1, though in later chapters I will skip forward to bits and pieces of Iron Man 1 and 2. And if you all can think of a better title, feel free to let me know. (BTW, the reason for the title becomes evident in later chapters. :)
~ Lindsey
Brotherly Love
Chapter 1
Virginia Potts… he didn't know what to make of her. They'd gone to high school together, a long time ago. He seems to remember a redheaded, freckled girl sitting in the back of the class, with an organized folder, and three sharpened pencils, but it was just homeroom, and while vague memories of her rested in the back of his mind, he really never had a reason to remember her, and so he hadn't, until that moment. Sitting across the desk from her in his office, interviewing her for the job.
He had to admit, it was a lucky find on hiring and firing's end.
"How did you get put up for this position again?"
"Put up? I applied for it."
"No I get that, but who do you know in the company that got you this far? There are loads of women lining up for this part. What makes you stick out?"
"I don't know anybody," she replied, quite collectedly.
"Nobody at all?" he queried.
"No sir," she replied, and held his stare across the desk.
Ok then. It was time for the quick-fire.
"Worked as a PA before?"
"After college, yes."
"College degree then?"
"Stanford. Bachelors in business management."
"Ah," he said. "How many times have you PA'd?"
"Seven," she replied. "I've had seven previous employers."
"Who?"
She rattled off a bunch of names like it was her street address.
"So why aren't you working for them instead?"
"Some of them didn't want me after a while, or require my help. So they let me go. Two died. They were quite old, and that's why they needed me. Then there was Mr. Veldingberger."
"Veldingberger?" Tony questioned, "his company went down for fraud last month. I was watching it on TV when his stock plummeted."
Tony narrowed his eyes. Perhaps this Miss Potts wasn't all that she seemed. He wondered if she'd been involved in the fraud.
"Well, I was the one who exposed the fraud," she said, pressing her lips into a thin line before continuing, "if there's one thing I will not stand for, it is dishonest dealings and corruption."
Tony leaned back in his chair and said,
"Ok," then looked at her thoughtfully.
"Parents? Living or dead?"
"Both deceased."
"Family you see at holidays?"
She shifted in her chair as if the words affected her, but kept her cool.
"No."
"So vacation time? I warn you, I'm a very demanding man." His words held another meaning that she chose to ignore.
"Just my birthday. I'd like my birthday off," she replied.
"Ok," he said, and was silent for a minute, leaning back in his comfy office chair.
"GPA?"
"3.85."
"Do you ever drink?"
"Occasionally."
"How about at work."
"Rarely."
"We might have to fix that," he says, smirking.
"Or not," she counters.
"Well. Ever broken a bone?"
"Twice?"
"Where?"
"My left arm."
"Both times?" he said.
"Yes,"
"How did you manage that?"
"The first time it was waterskiing. I ended up falling out of the boat on a sharp turn, and hit my arm on the side. I also nearly drowned. I was twelve then. The next time was at a party when I was 15. It was a birthday party for my friend, and my arm got slammed in a car door by a guy who was half drunk."
"Ooh. So what did you do to him? Strangle him? Yell curses at him? Kick the door back at him in his face?"
Pepper took a breath and replied with considerable cool, that indicated slight amusement.
"I phoned my parents and we made his insurance pay for the damages. I fail to see how any of this is relevant to job placement, though."
Tony chuckled.
"You know what, Virginia Potts? I like you."
Tony pushed himself up out of his chair and went around to the other side of the desk. Pepper stood up to face him.
"You can have the job," he said, and extended his hand for Pepper to shake.
Pepper smiled, a genuine grin. She was actually very pleased, however collected she seemed on the outside.
She shook his hand, and he took the opportunity to catch her gaze.
Pepper looked back, with an even, steady look. She knew exactly what she was getting herself into.
"Thank you, Mr. Stark," she said.
"Yep!" Tony said, letting go of her hand and going round to his desk again, pulling out a box of chocolates from a drawer and popping one into his mouth.
"Don't call me Mr. Stark," he mumbled around the chocolate, "it makes you sound like a journalist."
"What would you rather me call you then, Sir?" she said.
"Call me Tony. I like Tony. What do I call you?"
She paused for a moment, considering whether or not she should tell him the nickname her family had long used. Eh, why not? She told herself, and said,
"It's Pepper."
"Well then, Miss Pepper Potts. Here's a stack of stuff I need you to do," he grabbed a bunch of papers off his desk and plopped them into her arms. Pepper looked surprised, and taken aback.
"What, is now not a good time for you to start work?" he asked, like a little boy who didn't quite understand why he couldn't have a lollipop until he'd eaten dinner.
"No, no now is just fine," Pepper recovered, and headed for the door.
"Good," Tony replied, and motioned Pepper to leave his office.
"Catch you later, Potts," he said, as she left.
Pepper grinned to herself as she went through the door.
"Afternoon, Tony," she replied.
A few minutes later, and she'd been shown to an office, with a lovely view of the city, and a cozy desk, and plenty of space for her to work. The desk already had a computer and a telephone on it.
"Thank you, Meagan," she said, to the young office worker who had shown her around.
"No problem, Miss Potts."
Meagan left, and she was alone in the room. She sat down at the desk and let herself smile a shy, ecstatic smile. Even though she was by herself, and could do all her 'end of job hunt YAY success!' celebrating she wanted to, she still held it in. On the clock after all.
"Virginia Potts, Personal Assistant to Mr. Tony Stark," she whispered, looking out of the window.
She turned around, and picked up the phone, dialing the number she knew better than her own phone number.
There was a click then,
"Hello?"
"Michael!" she said, barely able to contain her excitement. "I got the job!"
"WOO! YAY Pepper! That's fantastic!" replied the boyish voice on the other end of the line.
And it was.
A/N: That's the end of chapter 1. Next chapter shall be more emotional, and delves into more character development. Thanks for reading!