Chapter 3
Following the harsh comment made by Tony the rest of the team didn't leave but Thor did decide to go spend the week with Jane and both Steve and Bruce had avoided the couple all day. Deep in their minds they knew that if Tony and Natasha really cared for one another then they shouldn't be angry with them. However, for the fact that the two of them had hurt Clint and Pepper the way they did, it was a bit disheartening and they couldn't find it within themselves to be so forgiving of the fact.
Tony didn't care or at least if he did he didn't show it. All of that day for him was spent on Natasha's floor with the two of them going through collections of alcohol, movies, and anything else that caught their interest. It was late that afternoon when Tony began to complain that he was hungry and Natasha had offered to make something for him.
"No offense Red," Tony said as he looked up at her from where he was sitting "but I don't feel like getting some sort of poisoning from whatever creation you'd concoct and try to pass off as food." She rolled his eyes at him until she thought about it for a moment and grabbed her keys from where they were hanging by the door.
"I'll get Chinese food," she said and was out the door. It was just her luck that when she had reached the parking garage someone else was pulling in. She recognized the car immediately and inwardly groaned. The last person she wanted to see at the moment was currently getting out of her car with an angry glare on her face. Natasha continued to move towards her vehicle hoping not to get into any sort of confrontation. It seemed like she would get her wish as Pepper walked passed her but it was short-lived when the other woman's voice cut through the air.
"Are you happy?" Natasha tried to ignore her and just continued walking but Pepper wasn't about to let this go. "I'm talking to you!" she called out angrily and at the sound of her heels clashing against the concrete Natasha paused. She took a deep breath before turning to face her only female best friend, ex-best friend she reminded herself.
"What do you want from me Pepper?" She asked and let a glare of her own take over her features.
"I want to know if you are happy with what you did!" Pepper snapped back at her. "Why did you do this Natasha you were my friend! I trusted you!" The other woman showed no emotion and that only added to the annoyance that Pepper felt for her.
"I don't have time for this," Natasha replied and turned away from Pepper. Instead of getting into her car she walked right passed it and continued towards the main entrance.
"I guess they did train you well!" Pepper yelled and Natasha froze and turned around slowly.
"What did you say?" She asked the older woman in a completely calm and collected voice.
"The Red Room," Pepper said taking a step forward, "that's what you called them right? They taught you to seduce men? Well they must have trained you well because you're the biggest whore that I know!" Pepper yelled the last part and thought for a second that she had seen a look of pain flash through the other woman's eyes but she couldn't bring herself to care. Natasha just stood there for a moment then turned and continued to walk away more hastily than before.
Pepper took a deep breath then turned to entrance of the tower. As she reached the door she took a quick glance over her shoulder but Natasha was completely out of sight. She felt something deep within herself but refused to acknowledge it. Why should she feel any guilt for that woman after what she'd done to her? She continued her way to the elevator, telling JARVIS to tell Steve she had arrived. By the time she reached the common floor of Avengers Tower she had made up her mind. She needed to have a talk with Tony.
"Hey Pepper, how are you holding up?" Steve asked in that gentle voice of his. She shook her head and looked around.
"Where's Tony?"
"I haven't seen him much since yesterday afternoon," Steve replied.
"JARVIS," Pepper said then.
"Yes Ms. Potts?"
"Will you tell Tony to get down here?"
"I'm afraid Mr. Stark is absent at the moment."
"Where did he go?"
"He didn't say Ms. Potts," JARVIS replied "would you like for me to leave a message with him?"
"Only if I'm gone before he gets back. Tell him I want to speak to him alone."
"Yes, Ms. Potts." Pepper than turned to Steve.
"So are you available to help me now?"
"Yes ma'am." He said and took a second to place his glass in the sink before following her to the elevator.
It was about two and a half hours later, Pepper had decided to try to wait for Tony to arrive, when finally JARVIS announced his arrival along with Natasha's. Hearing the other woman's name had Pepper getting to her feet and telling Steve and Bruce she'd come back another time. Knowing that the couple would probably use the elevator she made her way to the stairs but was stopped when the door came open to reveal their missing archer. His hair was a bit out-of-place and he looked tired but other than that nothing gave away how he was feeling.
"Clint," Pepper greeted but was cut off at the sound of the elevator arriving and both Tony and Natasha making their entrance. Without missing a beat Clint moved past Pepper and towards the two arrivals.
"You two have some explaining to do," Clint said as approached them. "Right now."
"Clint," Natasha started but stopped when Clint raised his hands up.
"Barton!" For a split second Steve thought he would do something stupid but then Clint dragged her into his arms and held her close and she let him. She even returned the favor and everyone was confused. Tony then went to Pepper who backed away from him when he reached out to her.
"What the hell is going on?!" Pepper said as she stared wide-eyed from Natasha and Clint to Tony.
"Uhh," Tony said with a quick glance at Natasha then looked back to Pepper "yeah maybe we should start from the beginning."
