"I've got to say Tony," Pepper chimes while working over a projected computer image, "I never quite understood your obsession with working while stressed, but this is mysteriously distracting."
"It can be very relaxing, can't it?" Bruce asks, smiling at Pepper.
"Yes, it can." Pepper says happily smiling at Bruce. He can't help but look Bruce up and down, admiring how cute she looks. Bruce does not notice.
"It has its benefits." Tony says, as he concentrates on building a casing for what looks like an engine.
All three of them are a little sweaty, and wearing various band T-shirts. Tony has the blimp from Led Zeppelin and a pair of black slacks, Pepper is wearing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon with baggy denim jeans, and Bruce is wearing white short shorts that are mostly hidden by a long and surprisingly familiar Duran Duran shirt that Tony swears he recognizes.
"I mean it," Pepper insists, "This is surprisingly relaxing. I'm so glad I came out here, and took the day off. You won't believe how busy things have been since you guys have been gone."
"I can imagine." Tony says, a little distracted by his project.
"Why? What's been going on Pepper?" Bruce is more curious than ever, especially after missing so much on Earth.
"Aside from the big alien invasion of privacy," Pepper starts to explain, "A lot of politics. We have our first female Pope. The army has to make a lot of concessions for a higher female to male ratio. The changes have done wonders for a lot of transgender issues."
"And you've gotten involved in all of that?" Bruce asks in legit interest.
"Well... Yes." Pepper says with a shrug. "Someone had to step in. Things were so hectic, down here." Pepper smiles as he thinks about the last couple of months. "Down here..." He says, mentally reflecting on how different he sees the world now that there is a more prominent extra terrestrial influence.
"I'm impressed you can still find time to juggle the company and get so politically involved." Tony says, leaning into his project for a better look. "It'll be a relief when things clear up and I can begin backing you up again."
"Actually," Pepper sets down a stylus pen that he had been using and turns toward Tony, "I kind of enjoy being so busy. Doing my own thing. Getting so involved. It feels like something I've alway wanted."
Bruce looks up toward Pepper, a little concerned about what she thought was a minor shift in tone. Tony does not seem to notice.
"It's good to know I wasn't overworking you all those years." Tony says with a light chuckle, but never looking up from his work.
"Don't get me wrong," Pepper continues, "I've always been plenty busy when you were here." Pepper pauses to think about what he wants to say. "But, this is different."
Tony looks up, finally attentive.
"I feel like I'm finally making a difference." Pepper says.
Tony tries to hide a hurt look, but both Pepper and Bruce know him too well. "That's great, Pepper." Tony says before looking back to his work. "I'm proud of you."
"I didn't mean it that way..." Pepper replies.
"No, I get it." Tony responds. "You want your own thing. You want to make your own impact..." Tony's computer panel beeps as he hits a wrong icon.
"Tony, don't be upset." Pepper says. Bruce wants to say something also, but does not know what there is to say.
Tony pauses and starts slightly shaking his head as he tries to concentrate on his work, "I always just assumed we were making a difference out there."
"We are, Tony." Pepper retorts. "It's just... different when it's..." Pepper has to think about how to word what he is thinking, "It's different, when it's all, you know." He contorts his face to imply he doesn't like his choice of words. "When you're not riding on someone's coattails."
"I never saw you as riding my coattails, Pepper." Tony says with a light huff, trying now to show too much emotion. "I always considered you my partner. Another brilliant mind to help keep me steady, and on the right path."
"That may be how you see it, Tony, but that is not how the world sees it."
"Since when have you cared about how the world sees us?" Tony asks.
"That's just the thing, Tony." Pepper raises his voice slightly. "It's always us, but when the world thinks of us, they only think of you." Pepper searches his head for a comparison. "No one ever remembers the presidents' wives."
"Martha, Abigail, Martha Wayles, Dolley..." Tony starts spouting off names.
"Of course you would know them Tony." Pepper grumbles. "Not everyone's a genius, but that's besides the point..."
"It's alright, I get it." Tony says with a reluctant tone. "You want to make a name for yourself..." He swipes at his display a few more times. "You want to be more than just Iron Man's wife."
"It's not that I don't want to be married to you, it's just..." Pepper pauses hoping Tony didn't interpret his words the wrong way. Tony does not seem to react, so he continues. "I didn't start working for you to have a chance at getting closer to you. You knew I wasn't just some fan girl looking to marry your fame and fortune."
"That's true. It's what got you the job, and what I love about you." Tony replies matter-of-factly.
"But Tony, before you, I wanted to be something." Pepper continues. "I had big dreams, of moving up in the company, changing the world, and going somewhere in life. Starting my own thing."
"And you're not somewhere now?" Tony asks, a little agitated.
"I'm married to you Tony!" Pepper says loudly. "Whenever I do anything, that's the first thing people see. Even if you had nothing to do with it." Tony finally stops what he is working on and gives Pepper his full concentration. "I may be CEO of your company, but anytime I do anything, make any decision, I am referred to as Mrs. Tony Stark."
Tony looks down momentarily. "I suppose it doesn't help that my name is on the building." He looks back up. "Ok, fine, we can change the company name. Or we can branch out. Pepper Industries?" Tony gestures to show that he is serious when he makes these offers. "What do you propose we do?"
"Nothing, Tony." Pepper says, to both Tony's and Bruce's surprise. "We do nothing."
Tony fully turns away from his computer now, and tries to study Pepper's face. "I am not sure I follow what you are trying to say."
Pepper takes a moment to collect his thoughts, but when he answers he places both hands on his monitor as if bracing for the impact on what he is about to say. "Tony, ever since the snap, and all these changes, things have been different."
Tony wants to interrupt, but his instinct tells him not to.
"I know the world is different. That's a given." Pepper continues. "But everything is different for everyone, even on the smallest scales..." He pauses to think. Tony is about to ask for clarity, but Pepper continues. "Especially for me..." He looks up at Tony with concerned eyes. "Ever since the changes, no one calls me Tony Stark's wife anymore. No one credits you for my decisions. No one sees your company when I speak. No one treats me like I'm just an extension of you."
Tony absorbs the words and wonders the best way to proceed. "Are you thinking of stepping down from Stark Industries?"
"I don't know..." Pepper looks away, hiding something more. "Maybe..." He replies.
Tony is now feeling legitimately afraid to pry for more information.
"What're you trying to get at?" Bruce asks in Tony's stead.
Pepper continues to look away, but decides to finish his thoughts. "Nobody second guesses me anymore..." He takes a deep breath. "No one treats me like I don't know what I am doing... No one explains the simplest things to me anymore. No one has hidden intentions..." He peaks up toward Tony momentarily to see if his message is understood. "At least not hidden sexual intentions..."
"Pepper! Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Tony says in a mixture of confusion, concern, and anger.
"Tony, I'm just saying..." Pepper looks away again. "Maybe you should consider it..."
"Leaving you like this?" Tony asks loudly, tapping his screen and shutting off the music.
"I don't know, Tony." Pepper answers passively.
"Pepper, you can't stay like that!" Tony protests. "We have to save the universe!"
"From what‽" Pepper snaps back louder than he himself expects. "Tony, the universe is safe. You saw to that yourself."
"Well it's not..." Tony begins to stutter and look around grasping for ideas. "Those stone's," He says, "The stones are still out there!"
"They're safe, Tony. Everyone knows what happened." Pepper argues back. "They were scattered across the Universe."
"For now!" Tony retorts. "But how long before someone goes looking for them again? Someone crazy and desperate?"
"Someone like you?" Pepper says, angrily.
"I..." Tony is feeling trapped. He looks to Bruce for support, but remembers how Bruce feels as well. "I just..." He can't think of any way to justify his obsession. "But, you're my wife..." He says almost pleading.
"I still am, Tony." Pepper turns away when he says this. A gesture that does not go unnoticed by the others. "You'll just have to accept me for who I am..."
The emotions going through Tony are making him feel completely lost. His mind is reaching for any excuse to justify his quest. "And what about Steve?" He asks. "We can't just leave her like that."
"You can help her Tony." Pepper says already prepared for the question. "You have the technology. Just like you did for Rhodes..."
"I just..." Tony turns back to his digital display, but now he is so confused he can't even read it. "I just..." He looks back at Pepper, then toward Bruce. Bruce has a look of sympathetic sadness on her face that Tony is all too familiar with. Tony turns away and almost stumbles. "I need some time to think." He says as he regains his balance.
"Wait, Tony..." Bruce calls out, taking a few steps in his direction. Tony just waves her off, and rushes out of the room.
Pepper watches him leave, feeling heart broken.
The door shuts and Bruce continues to stand there, staring at it for a long moment. She turns back toward Pepper, prepared to question his decision, and defend Tony, but seems to freeze in place. Bruce is looking at Pepper, standing there strongly. He had a look of hurt confidence. Like a parent feeling guilty for pushing their overgrown child out the nest.
Pepper turns toward Bruce and they lock eyes. She can tell Pepper is hurting, but seems to have already mastered the art of controlling his emotions. Bruce wants to demand an explanation, or convince him otherwise, but the truth hits her like a ton of bricks. Bruce doesn't want to change back either. She looks back toward the door and wonders if she should find Tony.
"You should probably go to him." Pepper says, breaking the silence. "He'll need a friend."
"I don't think I'll be any help." Bruce says, shutting her eyes as she reflects on the outcome. She turns back toward Pepper. "I'm on your side Pepper... He already knows that."
"Really?" Pepper asks, somewhat surprised. He tilts his head. "Then, why are you helping him?"
Bruce looks down and away, but not fast enough to hide his face turning red. "I felt like he needed a friend..." she lies.
Pepper studies Bruce for a long moment before taking a deep breath. "I get it." Pepper says. He leans on his computer, trying to calm down. "He has a charm to him..." Bruce looks back toward the door. "Even I, with my straight forward seriousness, could not resist it for long." He takes another deep breath. "It's only so much worse... When he's upset."
"Why is that?" Bruce asks, feeling a new sense of closeness with Pepper.
"He's alway puts on a strong, and confident facade." Pepper answers. "It makes you feel like he really trusts you, when he opens up and shows that he can be vulnerable."
"He's never really shown me that side." Bruce admits. "Maybe a little, but not really." Bruce looks back toward Pepper with a light smirk. "He used to pretend I was a therapist back before Sakar."
"I remember that." Pepper chuckles.
"Maybe I should talk to him..." Bruce says, partially to herself.
"What's stopping you?" Pepper asks.
Bruce looks down to think. She smooths her T-shirt and studies the image. It makes her feel close to Tony knowing it once belonged to him.
"Tony was my first friend..." Bruce answers. Pepper tilts his head in curiosity again. "The Hulk's first friend, that is." Bruce adds for clarity. "Back when everyone was afraid of me, and I had no control, Tony didn't care... He just wanted to know more. He wanted to meet me."
"He was always curious like that." Pepper adds.
"He saved me..." Bruce continues, "on Sanctuary. He might never know, but he saved me... I suppose by extension, he saved us all."
"How's that?" Pepper pries for more information.
"I had given up out there... The Hulk had, actually." Bruce feels guilty remembering it now. "We'd given up. I had no power, no will, no desire. I thought the entire universe hated me, and only wanted Puny Banner." She chuckles, then takes a deep breath. "Except for Tony." A tear slides down her cheek. She closes her eyes to concentrate. "I suppose I'd better go check on him." She starts walking toward the exit.
"Thanks Bruce." Pepper calls out.
"You're welcome." She stops and turns back. "And Pepper..."
"Hmm..?" Pepper answers.
"I'm happy for you..." Bruce says. "Congratulations."
"Thank you, Bruce. It means a lot." He smiles. "I'm happy for you too..." He pauses wondering if that was the appropriate thing to say. "I feel like I should be."
"Thanks Pepper." Bruce says. "I don't think I've ever been this happy. For what it's worth, I hope we never change back."
Pepper chuckles. "Just don't tell Tony that."
"Too late." Bruce giggles before turning away to leave.
Pepper continues to lean against her computer as she watches Bruce leave. When the door shuts, she takes a third deep breath and stands up. "Why is she so cute?" Pepper asks loudly to herself.
"Possibly the combination of height accompanied by the look of youthful beauty that comes with young maturity." F.R,I.D.A.Y., Tony's artificial intelligence responds.
"Shut up, and help me clean!" Pepper replies loudly. "How long have you been listening?" He says as he starts logging off the computer.
"Tony asked that I record the entire developmental process of the gravity engine." F.R.I.D.A.Y. answers.
"Yeah, well that last conversation wasn't part of the process, so you can delete that." Pepper retorts.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Potts, but despite you being CEO of Stark Industries, only Tony has that authorization."
"Ugh! Tony's definitely going to hate me later." Pepper starts grabbing a few things off a nearby work table. "And don't call me Mrs.!" He reprimands.
"I'm sorry Pepper." The AI responds as Tony's lab assistant Dum-E begins to roll into the room to help clean up.