Characters: Pepper Potts, Steve Rogers

Summary: As usual, things begin with an introduction. Pepper Potts, meet Steve Rogers.

I debated putting this up with Polyrhythm, but since I'm going to start updating that one as intended, this'll be a separate adventure. I know it's been a while since I've posted, but consider this my reentry into active writing and fandoming. I'll be using selections from the 100 Themes challenge, and updates should be frequent (read as, daily).

Introduction

"Pepper Potts," she tells him coolly, clasping a file within her arms. She clenches it in her white fingers like a shield, keeping it between her and the rest of the world.

There's numbing anger in her gaze, a frosty dislike of him and what he's brought down upon her. He holds out a hand in response, giving her a genial smile. His initial volley may have been accidental, but it appears to have provoked a war nonetheless. Her anger is that of blinding ice, of chilling snow in the mountains, not a brilliant burning fire.

"Steve Rogers," he tells her softly.

Ms. Potts looks up and down his body, analyzing him. Something in her gaze lets Steve know that he's come up short – how, precisely, he doesn't know.

"I'm aware," she tells him. His hand still hangs between the two of them. "Tony's informed me."

Pepper takes his hand for a brief moment, holding it only long enough for her brevity to be read as more curt than rude, before she turns away. There's a certain lukewarm displeasure at his appearance that manifests as she begins to move away. "You look different without your suit," she tosses over her shoulder. "Tony's in room 3."

You look different without your suit is a pointed blow, an echo of what he told Tony when they first met. Steve winces, but allows the strike to glance off him. He deserves the hit, of that he's sure.

"Thank you, Ms. Potts," he calls after her, striding down the hallway towards the third room.

Either she doesn't hear or she doesn't respond.

Steve thinks it's more of the latter.

Many thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed, and if you care to, I would appreciate it if you left a review on your way out. -V