Pepper Potts was not a stupid woman. In fact, she was rather intelligent. She knew how to handle her boss when he decided to forgo a human necessity, what to do when he was in a mood. She knew how to persuade a room of corporate jackasses, how to please shareholders and how to scare any nosey journalist that wanted more than what she wished to give. She knew the background of all employees (past or present) that were even remotely close to Tony and held them to the policy of silence that each and every one of them had signed. All of them, except one Natalie Rushman, or, to be correct, one Natasha Romanov.
It wasn't that she thought that the information wouldn't be secure with SHEILD, rather the opposite, she knew that it would only benefit both Tony and herself if such information was known to those who controlled the missions that Tony would be sent on. No, Ms Pepper Potts merely resented that a woman such as Natasha Romanov could infiltrate and obtain such information without her knowledge. Not only was it a betrayal to Tony, she felt the woman had intentionally betrayed her trust, and dare she say, the semblance of friendship that they had shared in that brief time.
Needles to say that one Pepper Potts was not happy that one Natasha Romanov was an Avenger.
It started out alright. Pepper consoled herself with the fact that she would just actively avoid the Avengers Tower as a whole, and speak to Tony when there was no one else to distract him from the numerous tasks that she would bring him on a regular basis to complete for her. But this was becoming increasingly difficult, and with no other apparent place to be, she often entered the stylish penthouse to be assaulted by one of Thor's bear hugs, as he loudly proclaimed "The fair Pepper has returned!" and endure the various stares that would follow such a declaration.
Not that she could ever begrudge Thor.
So ultimately her plan of avoidance fell to pieces. But that was okay. She was Pepper Potts, Tony fucking Stark's Personal Assistant, and she would be damned if she let one woman stop her from doing her job. Hell, it's not like anyone else could have possibly dealt with the day to day shit Stark carried around anyway.
None the less, she attempted to keep her distance as much as possible from one fiery-haired spy, much to said spy's displeasure.
Because Natasha wanted to talk to Pepper. Much to her chagrin, Natasha actually missed the small talk the two had made. She missed the so called normality of their office banter, their brief conversations over lunch. Hell, she almost missed the menial tasks the quiet PA cover had given her to complete.
But most of all, she wanted to see the woman stop tiptoeing around the place, as if she was afraid that Tasha would jump out and karate chop her or whatever other ridiculous thing Pepper had concocted in her mind.
So Natasha we her mind to a new mission. A new mission aptly titled Strawberry.
