#ic; pepper potts

[izzysarchivedblogs]

❛ what kind of insurance coverage do we have for people falling through the fucking wall? ❜ ( pepppppper )

The Bear -> Accepting // You better compensate for her stress levels @cardiomyapathy

There were some people in life that were meant to irk people, just get on her nerves. Like the people she's been playing phone tag all day.

She's already running into issues with some of New York's new laws centered around superheroes namely when it comes to their destruction which is where Pepper's running into issues with the City and trying to get Damage Control to work with each other, given Resilient's city planning and building capabilities along with all their green tech, and what DC does for cleaning up after superhero ⸻

FALLING THROUGH THE FUCKING WALL ⸻

Now there was Kelly telling her, hold on ⸻ ❝ I am going to call you back, Mr Shaw. ❞ Or she was going to delegate and have someone else call the individual back. Save her a headache. Especially when a new headache has presented itself with ⸻ ❝ What do you mean falling through the fucking wall? ❞ Pepper turns around to look at him, squints for a moment and old habit kicks in.

Years of scolding a genius ceo coming back with the quip of her tongue. ❝ What did you do? ⸺ Oh, sorry habit for what did Tony do? ❞ Except he was definitely not here, so it couldn't have been Tony. Dammit! ❝ Of course, we ⸺ I have insurance, what kind of idiot wouldn't insure for scenarios like that? ❞ Lessons learned when she's been involved in the superhero scene since she was twenty because of her boss.

[izzysarchivedblogs]

Marvel's The Order (2007) quotes -> Accepting // pepper is squinting at you, @amethystarrows -> Am I afraid to die? I suppose? I don't know -- I mean, no more than anyone else is afraid of dying, I guess. Should I be? (For Pepper. :v)

IT'S THAT QUESTIONING THAT MAKES HER REALIZE WHY SHE KEEPS HERSELF REMOVED FROM THE GREATER SUPERHERO COMMUNITY.

It's why she had to step back, let her connection to Tony and everyone fade out. Drift apart, but she still cared. Pepper was still a part of this community, Rescue was a superhero even if she didn't get trotted out every day of the week.

Her therapist would say that line of thinking was sad, to which Pepper would response that it was but this is the kind of thinking she was familiar with, knowing because her friends were all heroes and faced death or literally died often.

❝ I think I've heard that before, and I've pretty sure I've told a couple someones before they can value their own life a little more. ⸺⸻ Are you okay, Kate, and I don't mean physically. You know ⸺ ❞ Pepper does not finish that, knowing that her offer to get her someone to talk to would be shot down.

She's sitting across from her, knowing that the EMTs have already given her a pass. She's reaching a still gloved hand towards Kate's. ❝ Since you do in fact, have a concussion and a few other things, you should stay with someone tonight. ❞

[izzysarchivedblogs]

Actions Speak Louder Than Words -> Accepting All Memes // @stxrksarc wants pepper ( platonically, ofc. possibly for a rebuilding friendship arc? ) -> dance, sender sticks a hand out to receiver and invites them to dance.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN INVITATION WITHTANDING. Tony was always included in the invite lists, in the email chains, his people and her people talked, and so Tony was always welcome to show up.

Resilient was still tangentially connected to all Stark companies and branding; was once Stark Resilient until the decision was made to drop the Stark name and pass the keys over to HER. The only company, not officially under Tony Stark, who legally has any rights to his patents, tech, and designs. Only company who had Stark repulsor tech. Tony still shows up to some R&D meetings in New Jersey to work on design with the team there.

Pepper never expected or needed for him to show up; he wasn't needed because Resilient could carry its own, she could carry its own. If he showed up, which with being Iron Man and the Avengers, and his own companies, whatever else he had on his plate; it brought more attention to the event.

SHE'S NOT EXPECTING HIM TONIGHT. Not at all, figures that the automated invitation went through and than there's a some chatter, noise in the room getting louder, and than a tap to her shoulder.

Conversation interrupted, turned around and met face to face with Tony. She shouldn't be surprised, as he pulls her away without any consideration. It's fine, because she had been talking to Tim from the labs, whose knows the both of them and won't mind. Actually, she can hear Tim laughing as she's pulled into a waltz.

❝ You know there are politer ways to ask a girl to dance ⸻ ❞ Pepper accepts his outstretched hand again, taking the position. Her eyes lookin, flicking down and finding herself want to smile. Not yet fully trusting why he's here, but he's been a friend before.

❝ So those emails that are sent are going to someone, any particular reason you are here tonight ⸻ please don't tell me you're dying again or another building is getting bombed. ❞ She taps at the arc reactor to her chest, living there now as a choice to keep than needing it, that old wound healed.

[izzysarchivedblogs]

❝ Well, lab coats are personal protective equipment. You should be wearing a lab coat, even I should put one on when I want to check in. ❞ She points out, but she's smiling as Riri proves how much a kid she still was. That's good, Pepper would hate to see kids grow up too fast. ❝ In the professional setting I work in, at least when it comes to presentations, you have to look the part so that means but there are plenty of times when casual wear are just fine. ❞

⚙️ → ❝.......I go to MIT's physique class in my pajamas. So--I guess I can't work in the lab in my pajamas anymore. Why do we have to work in lab coats and suits but not in an T-Shirt and fluffy slippers? ❞

Riri has an incredibly high IQ but still has the mindset of a teenager. She wonders about the most random things. @oceansfirst

[smbhax]

From "The Icy Fingers of Jack Frost" in Tales of Suspense #45, September 1963. Stan Lee script, Jack Kirby (Iron Man), Steve Ditko (?), Don Heck (?) pencils, Don Heck inks, Stan Goldberg colors, Artie Simek letters. The linked GCD page notes "Happy Hogan is based on pro wrestler-turned-actor Nat Pendleton; Pepper Potts is based on actress Ann B. Davis." Ann B. Davis played housekeeper Alice in The Brady Bunch TV show (1969).

[lastavenged]

@overclocks is always getting into trouble (just kidding)

Eyes are fixed on the screen as she watches the security tape, this shouldn't be her job but this was one of those things that shot up the ladder. It was odd, but anything involving Stark tech required hers and Tony's knowledge.

❝ Are you sure you haven't been to your tech graveyard lately? ❞ She's on call with Tony now. That's her first guess and that he's been spooking security at their junkyard in LA without any intention. Nothing was on the tapes, nothing out of order or wait a minute...

❝ How many of... fuck, just make it out to LA. Someone's definitely tampered with secruity and moved things. ❞ So something could be missing.

[izzysarchivedblogs]

STARTER CALLS / @w1nterwolf / pepper potts

While she had an office as well as apartment in New York, there were times when Pepper knew she needed to leave the office and work behind to try to have a social life. What that really meant was visiting the Avengers tower and still having a tablet with her that she did work on. She had working in the commons room, it's the excuse to use that if someone came and interrupted her than she would be social and she wasn't actually working because she wasn't in the office.

She hadn't been alone in the room, there was Bucky Barnes, even if neither of them have been talking to each other. The occasional voice of Tony's AI piping in to talk with Bucky Barnes or chime in in reaction to what he was doing. Pepper's been watching him and she thinks he sees him getting mildly frustrated with the AI that has freewill to speak.

❝ Hey! PP19S8UP. Please and thank you. ❞ Don't you dare ask for authorization.

When no response is given, she smiles. ❝ It sounded like you were getting frustrated with the additional input. That's the code to get them to mute for exactly one hour barring any emergencies. It literally means Pepper Potts Says Shut Up, because Tony thinks he's cute. ❞ She explains to the supersolider.

❝ Now you know, he'd never tell anyone there was a mute button but I put it in my contract. ❞

[izzysarchivedblogs]

OH ⸺ Had she been staring? ⸻ ❝ Oh, uhm, I was just. . . Sure, I could go for holding her. ❞

open starter

+ " Do you wanna HOLD her ? "

[littlemissagrafina]

Mongoose on Ice

@comfortember Day 14. Encouraging

Summary: Peter grasped Morgan's hands. "You ready?"

She gripped back tightly, and Peter helped her slide over the edge of the dock, balancing her when she wobbled, her feet sliding out from under her.

"Whoa!" She breathed, eyes darting up to Peter's face. Uncertainty painted over her expression.

"Hey! It's okay! You're okay! It's slippery and feels really weird but you'll get used to it. You'll slide around, feel wobbly, and probably fall, but I promise you'll be okay and I'll keep you safe."

Morgan was quiet, eyes darting between the ice and the dock before she visibly steeled herself. "I've got this."

Aka Peter teaches Morgan to ice skate.

Read on AO3

Peter and Tony had barely made it back through the door when Morgan appeared in front of them.

She stared up at them with wide eyes and a surprisingly serious frown. She already had her favourite purple beanie squished haphazardly over her braids, and was holding her matching gloves and coat.

"And? Is it frozen enough? Is it good, can we go? Can we, can we?" 

Tony smiled. "It's all good, baby. Peter and I both checked and we used a little drone so Friday could check too."

Morgan's eyes widened even more which was something Peter didn't even know was possible before she threw her hands up and yelled so loudly that Peter and Tony winced. "YES! SKATING! Petey let's GOOO!"

She grabbed Peter's hand and started pulling him towards the door, but Peter tugged her back.

"Nope." He shook his head. "Not yet. You're forgetting something, Morgs. What we're the rules that Mom and Dad made?"

She blinked, head tilting as she thought before she suddenly started giggling. "Whoops. I need my warm stuff on. And I need to listen to you and not pull you around. And we need our skates."

Peter held his hand out for a high five and waited for her to put her coat on, they almost walked away but Tony cleared his throat, eyebrow raised as he gestured to Morgan's pockets. 

"Gloves too, Missy."

"Oh yeah." She quickly slid them on. Turning to Tony, she held her arms out and waved her hands. "Ready now?"

"Nope." He shook his head and scooped her up to give her a hug and pressed a kiss to her head. When he put her down, he did the same to Peter, just without the picking up because he really didn't feel like pulling his back today.

"Now you're ready."

With that, Peter grabbed the small duffle bag he'd stored their skates in, and they trampled out the door.

-

Peter led Morgan to the snow covered dock, dusting the edge so she could sit on the edge without getting icy bits stuck to her pants just yet.

He hopped carefully onto the ice below the dock, leaving him at eye level with his sister. "Okay, the dock is the safe zone for this. It's the resting area, the putting-our-skates-on area, the entry and exit area. Whatever you think of, it's that. Got it?"

Morgan nodded, eyes shining with excitement, her legs swing back and forth over the edge of the dock.

"Cool! So now what I'm gonna do first is put my skates on. Then I'm just gonna skate for a bit and get used to it and see how bumpy or rough the ice is. If it has lots of snow and uneven patches, I'll know where to stay away from while I teach you."

He hopped up next to Morgan and tugged the duffle bag closer to sit between them. Slipping his boots off, Peter set them on the do behind them and opened the duffle. He grabbed his skates and left them next to the bag, grabbing the two extra pairs of socks he'd slipped in with them.

"Actually, let's have a first little lesson right now." Peter held up the skates for a moment, "We both have hockey skates, rather than figure skates. I only tried figure skates twice but I tripped over the toe pick enough times and had enough bruises to never want to go near them ever again. And I just think hockey skates feel more comfy and secure so that's what I'm gonna teach you in. If you like it and want to skate more and learn more fancy stuff one day, then we can talk to Dad about all that."

Morgan nodded along as he spoke. "Hockey skates are cool and that's what you like. Figure skates for if I like it and wanna do fancy stuff later. Got it. Are they really sharp?" She questioned, poking at the stretchy material of the skate covers.

"Yes and no. They're sharp that if someone gets hit really hard with the blade, they can get cut up really bad. But they're not sharp enough to cut you if you just touch them or rub your fingers or hand over the blade." Peter paused and gestured to the bag, "Hey, take yours out and I'll show you."

Morgan fished hers out, leaving the socks she saw behind for the meantime. 

Peter picked up one of his skates and took the cover off, prompting Morgan to do the same. Once she did, Peter took both skates and rested them on his lap, the blades facing his sister.

"Feel the blades, mine will be a bit sharper than yours. Can you feel that?" He asked as Morgan brushed her fingers over the edges of both blades.

"Yeah," she nodded, "I can feel it."

Peter hummed, passing her skate back and taking the cover off of his other skate. "Mine are a little sharper 'cuz I'm pretty good at skating. Yours are more dull to help you learn." He grabbed his socks, sliding one pair over the ones he was already wearing and then a fluffy pair for good measure. "They can't be too dull or your slip around too much and fall, but, while you're learning, it will be easier than having ones that grip and cut deeper in the ice the same way that mine do."

Peter slipped the skates on, tugging and pulling at his laces until they were tied so the boot of the skate was snug over his whole foot, especially his ankle. He repeated it with the one and tossed his skate covers into the bag before carefully hopping down onto the ice. It had been a while since he'd last skated and he needed to get used to the feel of the ice again.

"How are we doing so far, Mongoose? Not overloading you with any of this?"

Morgan shook her head, mimicking Peter's earlier action and taking out her other skate and socks. "Nope. It's interesting. I like when you explain things to me. I like learning."

Peter grinned at her, sliding backwards a bit. "I know you do. I do too. I'm gonna check out the ice a bit like I said, then I'll help you put your skates on."

"Can I start putting my socks on?" Morgan asked, already reaching for them while Peter nodded.

"Yeah, you can. Put the normal pair over your socks you have on now and then the fluffy pair last, like I did."

Morgan had already started tugging her boots off, so Peter pushed off, wobbling slightly before his 'ice legs' took over and he was gliding smoothly over the lake. He arched around in a fairly large circle, going back and forth until he was sure there were no hazards, be it snow piles or sticks or whatever could have blown onto the ice.

He skated back to Morgan, taking a moment to spun and start skating backwards, sliding smoothly to a stop in front of the dock.

Morgan handed over her skates, wiggling her fluffy, purple sock covered toes at him. "Can I lace them myself?"

Peter shocked his head. "Not this time. They've gotta be pretty tight so your ankle doesn't wobble in the boot and you don't get hurt. We use extra socks so we can minimize blisters and stuff, too. Your skates are new, so they'll be hard to lace for a while but once you've broken them in more, you can do the lacing for yourself."

Peter looked up, catching sight of Tony and Pepper walking down from the house as he slid both skates over Morgan's feet. He was almost done with lacing them when their parents stepped onto the dock.

"Guys, look! I have my skates on!" Morgan beamed up at them as they settled a thick blanket on the edge of the dock and sat down themselves, another blanket and a flask was placed next to them.

Tony smiled back and Pepper leant over, pressing a kiss to Morgan's forehead as she straightened the purple beanie. "We see, Baby. How's the ice, Pete?" 

Peter looked up at them as he double checked the laces on Morgan's skates. "Pretty good. It's frozen over really smoothly and there isn't too much snow on it that we'll get tripped up over. No sticks or anything either."

Peter grasped Morgan's hands. "You ready?"

She gripped back tightly, and Peter helped her slide over the edge of the dock, balancing her when she wobbled, her feet sliding out from under her.

"Whoa!" She breathed, eyes darting up to Peter's face. Uncertainty painted over her expression. 

"Hey! It's okay! You're okay! It's slippery and feels really weird but you'll get used to it. You'll slide around, feel wobbly, and probably fall, but I promise you'll be okay and I'll keep you safe."

Morgan was quiet, eyes darting between the I and the dock before she visibly steeled herself. "I've got this."

Peter cheered, Pepper and Tony calling out with their own encouragements.

"First things first, keep your blades as straight as possible for now, twisting, angling, and leaning to steer can come later. For now it's just balance. So keep them straight and try to keep your feet under you at shoulder width."

He nudged her skates slightly with his to help her pull them closer together, squeezing her hands in praise when she balanced herself on them automatically.

"Next. Don't haunch over too much or you lose balance. Leaning over is good for when you're going fast, but too much while you're learning or slow and you'll get all wobbly. Same with standing up too straight. That way can make you fall backwards if you lean too far back in your heels to stand so straight. So try to be in between the two."

Morgan only wobbled slightly as she stood up a bit straighter, but she beamed up at Peter when she kept her balance.

"Perfect!" He cheered. "Try and stay like that. I'm going to skate backwards and pull you along. I'll hold your hands just like this and we'll go super slow. If you slip, I can catch you easily."

He felt Morgan tense when he pushed off, leading them slightly away from the dock but not so far in the middle that Morgan would feel scared.

"I'm gonna turn a bit so we can go in a big circle. I'll go wide, so don't worry about trying to turn, I'm just showing you have it all feels, okay?"

Morgan nodded, excitement returning as she relaxed, adjusting to the feel of the ice even though she wasn't doing much herself.

Peter pulled her around for a while, stopping at the dock every now and then to let her stand and balance on her own in between being guided around.

After a while, Morgan asked to try skating forward on her own, so Peter stood next to her just past the dock. He showed her the way to lean from side to side to guide forward without having to pick up her feet, switching to teaching her to pick up her feet and actually push off once she had settled and got bored with just gliding forward.

Peter jumped and cheered, just barely dodging a fall in his excitement when she pushed herself across the ice without his help. He seriously hoped that Tony got it on video. He and Pepper had been taking so many pictures and recordings of them.

"Go Mongoose!! You did it!" He hollered, whooping and darting around on the ice before gliding over to her and squeezing her in a bear hug.

They spent ages on the ice until Morgan was eventually pushing off near the dock and skating towards Peter where he waited to catch her closer to the open area of the frozen over lake. Then she would skate back and catch herself on the end of the dock or on Pepper and Tony's legs where they dangled over the edge as they sat and watched.

"Can you pull me again? Faster this time?"

"Not too fast, but yeah. I'll take you around faster than before." Peter laughed at her pout, but pulled her out all the same and soon Morgan was giggling, cool air rushing over them and the slight unevenness of the ice making her feet feel like they were being tickled in her skates. It wasn't enough to make her wobble totally, though. Peter made sure of it.

Crossing his skates over, Peter grinned as he guided them over another bumpy patch and Morgan's giggles grew louder. Back and forth they went until they were both breathless from the cold air and laughter.

Taking a small break, they were given a mug of hot chocolate from the flask that Pepper and Tony had brought down with them. Morgan chatted away, asking over and over if their parents had seen how fast her and Petey had gone and how good she was skating.

Leaning against the dock, mug cradled in his hands and Tony's at wrapped over his shoulder, Peter knew that Morgan would be dragging him to the lake as much as possible. 

He looked forward to it.

[fortislumen-archive]

could  trixie  be  the  one  doing  this?   absolutely.   as  a  matter  of  fact,  she  SHOULD,  only  if  it  had  been  earlier  and  if  their  daughter  wasn't  already  fast  asleep  on  the  couch  after  trying  to  wait  up  for  her  father.   instead,  it's  left  on  pepper  the  job  of  talking  her  husband  into  accepting  this.   she  hears  clint  walk  through  the  doors  and  slides  in  front  of  him  once  he  rounds  the  corner.  

❝  hi!  ❞   giddy,  she  stands  on  her  tiptoes  to  give  clint  a  quick  peck  on  the  lips  before  she  takes  two  whole  steps  back,  hands  hiding  behind  her  back  the  whole  time  as  if  she's  hiding  something.   and  she  is. ❝  hypothetically  speaking...  if  beatrice  was  to  have  found  a  stray  little  kitten  by  the  main  gates  and  her  mother  was  weak  for  the  eyes  she  inherited  from  her  father  and  took  the  cat  in  to  take  care  of  it— ❞   virginia  tilts  her  head  to  the  side  a  little,  showing  that the  last  thing  he  should  do  now  was  interrupt her little speech. taking a deep breath, she continues.  ❝  could they...  keep  it?!  you  know,  most  animals  can't  get  inside  here  and  perhaps  the  family  needs  a  little  one  to  live...  here...    ❞

@alyafae — closed starter.

[izzysarchivedblogs]

MARY JANE WATSON was a good woman. She paid credit where credit was due and called her, with public knowledge of a falling out between Pepper and Tony, with staying in her lane and out of Tony Stark's shadow. SHE LIKED HER IMMEDIATELY. There was something to say about Tony surrounding himself with redheads. She's pretty sure she mentioned that to MJ.

Pepper gathers her purse, smile on her lips even if she was exhausted and the bed in her second office sounded appealing, when had Pepper had taken up the offer to go out. ❝ You'll have to recommend the place, ask me for any restaurant for specific occasion or business deal and I'd have one in mind. BARS? CLUBS? ❞ She was lost on that because it wasn't her scene, not since the last time she had been around for when Tony fell off the wagon and kept her eye out for where he may end up, waiting for him to sober up again.

Once the place is picked out, a car is taken, her own because sometimes she liked to drive and they enter the place at the fashionable hour. ❝ You aren't wrong, I do feel better. ❞ She already trusted MJ, as she had told Tony briefly that she LIKED her.

❝ So how would you say you're doing? ❞ Pepper asks after letting Mary Jane pick out what they were drinking. Curious to hear where she felt she was with work, with Tony, and she would even listen if she brought up personal life.

+ Even despite the FISH OUT OF WATER feeling that had plagued Mary Jane like some kind of a RAIN CLOUD following her around , she didn't feel that way about being around Pepper . If anything, she'd LATCHED onto the other woman as if she were a ROCK in the storm , giving her some kind of anchor to prevent her from being WASHED out to sea . As much of a RUSH as it was working for Tony ? There was a STEEP learning curve that she was still finding her place in .

" Now you're TALKING . " Grin stretched across her face , she snagged her own JACKET off the back of her chair . Even despite the late HOUR , she seemed wide awake . Too many nights of having the TELEVISION broadcasting her husband's efforts into their BEDROOM had left a MARK on her , as much as she would DENY it .

" Trust me, the moment we get out, I think we're BOTH gonna feel a lot better. "

[iamthexweapon]

Open to All:

"You know, I'm very tired of this over the hill joke. It's my birthday, I have no issues with growing older." However, she did smile when the card and present was passed over to her, "Thank you, though."

[lastavenged]

[ inbox ] accepting ⸻ @overclocks ⸻ @ pep, who else? ⸻ tony really just likes to be a headache for pepper; it's probably good for her health or something

It had taken her an embarrassing amount of time to realize what he had been doing in the first place, but when she had noticed? Well, all she can do for about twenty seconds is stare at him. Let him carry on with the mime show he was putting on. It comes to a halt as she had stopped talking, they stare at each other for a long moment.

❝ What are you doing? ❞ Her incredulous tone of voice finally breaks the silence.

I was just trying to distract you from telling me you were right about it.

Her hands go to her hips, which at this point, is probably one of two of the only ways that Tony could think of her. At this point, twenty years down the line; she should invest in cut-outs or holographic recordsing to play her speeches and pose in this way. Pepper sighs, because what he had been doing worked exactly. ❝ Tony, the day that I stop telling you that I was right is the day that Hell's frozen over or something. ❞ A beat as she thinks of this suddenly, given the world they lived in.

❝ Do not tell me you've been to hell actually and it's a wintery tundra now.❞

[izzysarchivedblogs]

STARTER CALLS / @h-osborn / pepper potts

When Ms. Arbogast had pushed a compiled profile of Harry Osborn to her desk, she hadn't recalled any discussion about bringing on anyone new to the Resilient team.

The company was starting to gain traction, production on their repulsor cars had started, investors as few as there were had been found, and they were starting to talk what was next. What was Resilient's vision, what was Pepper's vision for this company as it had been several years since it had dropped the Stark name. It was hers and her team; they knew they wanted to focus on improving the world around them, create a more eco-friendly, energy efficient planet. They had contributed to the building of Asgardia which opened the avenue that they would not solely be focused upon vehicle development and technologies.

The company was stable now, but there had not been a discussion of bringing anyone on. It was Tim whom in a later meeting mentioned that he wanted her to look into bringing on an environmentalist. The issue that came up with had to do with his last name, considering the reasonably bad blood that she had with Norman Osborn. This was his son, and she knew better to judge someone for who their parent was, or she was suppose to.

He been one to remind him not to judge a book by its cover and she should look into this, arrange a meeting. It wouldn't be a hiring but Harry's work as an environmentalist and vision deserved at least a meeting, that perhaps he could give them some insight or work out a partnership for future developments.

So that was how she ended up here waiting with nerves that she was hoping her coffee which she had pour way too much french vanilla creamer into would quell some of that. When he was in sight, she stood up with as much as grace as she could and moves out to extend her hand. ❝ Harry Osborn, it's a pleasure to meet you. Have you spoken with Tim Cababa? For what I understand he is the reason for this meeting. ❞

[wandaslittlebird]

As The Summer Ends

Wanda x Natasha x Reader

As the summer comes to a close, you and your girlfriends celebrate with one more day in the sun.

CW: Pure fluff, R calls WandaNat Mama/Daddy but only like once.

Word Count: 1.3k(ish)

A/N: Happy last day of summer everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful season, and you’re all excited to see what wonders the fall brings.

It was your first year ever attending Pepper Potts’ yearly “end of the summer” pool party: the celebration she had every year the day before it was time to cover the pool for the winter. You’d been invited as Wanda and Natasha’s plus one, as you still didn’t really know Pepper, or anyone else in attendance.

Much to your dismay, none of the other women seemed too eager to actually be in the pool. In fact, aside from you, Natasha was the only other person in the water. And she wasn’t even swimming. She was leaned up against the side of the pool talking to Maria.

Sure it was a little cold, as it was late September and there was a growing chill in the air, but you never got to go swimming. You did so love the water.

Wanda’s heart swelled with affection as she watched you from a beach chair, flopping around the water like a fish. Your child-like nature knew no bounds. You didn’t seem to have a care in a world about what the adults around you were doing, despite being one yourself. You swam laps around the pool, did handstands in the water, dove off the side and swam to the bottom of the deep end. You seemed to be keeping yourself entertained well.

However, as time wore on, Wanda could see you getting restless. You tried to join Natasha and Maria’s conversation, but they didn’t seem interested. Wanda frowned as she watched you try to talk, only to be ignored and talked over by her wife and her friend. Your joyful disposition cracked into one of isolation as you slowly began to feel like an outsider in this group of people.

She huffed, tempted to go over and have a word with Natasha about ignoring you. But, as she remembered how much you had had playing in the water, she got a better idea. She sat down on the lip of the pool, putting her feet into the cool water.

“Honey!” she shouted, making you turn your head as you popped up out of the water. She curled her fingers, beckoning you towards her. Obediently, you stopped everything you were doing to join her on the edge of the pool, laying your head on your hands next to her to avoid getting her wet.

“Yes?” you asked, innocently looking up at her from the water.

She lifted your head and bent over to whisper in your ear. “If you can knock Tasha over in the water, I’ll get you ice cream on the way home.”

You nervously turned around to find Natasha where she’d been this whole time, talking to Maria by the side of the pool. Her top half was completely out of the water. She hadn’t even gotten her hair wet. “But she’s talking to Maria. It would be impolite to-” you attempted to explain.

She cut you off with a soft smile. “Don’t worry, little love. I’m sure their conversation is drier than a sack of flour anyway. Go make your daddy actually have some fun.” She winked, lightly pinching your cheek.

A smile slowly grew across your face as you turned away from Wanda. You planned your approach carefully, deciding to launch yourself off the side wall and throw yourself into the back of her knees as hard as you possibly could.

Natasha stumbled as you knocked against her, immediately annoyed. “What the-” She glanced down at you in the water, then up at Wanda, smirking smugly by the side of the pool. She rolled her eyes and picked you up out of the water.

You squealed as you were caught, disappointed but not surprised that your first attempt had failed.

“Hold on, Maria,” Natasha joked. “I gotta teach this little punk a lesson.” You tried to squirm out of her grasp, but you were quickly thrown ass over head into the deep end of the pool.

You squealed again with excited delight. Wanda smiled, watching as you quickly turned tailed to go for Natasha’s feet again. Once again, you were dragged out of the water and tossed back into the deep end. Natasha had no difficulty dexterously dodging your attempts to knock her down, but you didn’t even really care to be losing the bet. It was reward enough to finally have somebody to play with, even if you were devastatingly out matched.

You were getting out of breath after a few rounds of fighting Natasha just to be effortlessly tossed back into the water again. You grabbed at the side of the pool, breathing heavy. Natasha was laughing now too, enjoying your frazzled and breathless face. She was glad that Wanda could at least pick a game that took way more energy out of you than her.

You turned around, ready to make another pass at Natasha. You didn’t actually think you'd ever be able to knock her down, but you liked it when she threw you into the water. You grabbed at her legs again. However, this time, before she could grab you and pull you out of the water, you saw two scarlet tendrils wrap around her ankles. She shouted before she was quickly pulled under the water.

You stood up, a little dazed, to find Natasha coming out of the water as well, completely and utterly soaked. Her nicely curled hair was now flat and wet against her head.

“You got her!” Wanda laughed.

“Oh it’s on,” Natasha challenged, quickly making her way to the end of the pool, where Wanda sat. Before she could reach her, though, she was wrapped with more scarlet tendrils that hoisted her out of the water, carried her to the deep end of the pool, and dropped her in.

You shrieked with joyous surprise, making your way back to Wanda as well. She let you approach, knowing that, unlike Natasha, you would never dream of pulling her into the water. “Mama, can you throw me next?”

Wanda’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “You want me to throw you in the water like Tasha?”

You nodded eagerly.

She wrapped you up in her magic, pulling you from the water and carrying you across the pool. You giggled as the magic disappeared and you were dropped into the water.

Natasha climbed out of the water, grabbing a towel and drying herself off before sitting down next to Wanda. She laughed as you eagerly swam all the way back to them, looking up at Wanda expectantly.

“Again?” Wanda chuckled.

You nodded, laughing uncontrollably as she picked you again and threw you into the water. She went a bit higher this time, not dropping you until you were a good ten feet above the water.

She threw you a few more times, changing her tactics a little every time. Sometimes she dropped you in upside down. Other times she would hold you still above the water while you waited in anxious anticipation to be dropped. You were roaring with excitement and laughter the whole time.

It wasn’t long before you were completely and utterly spent, physically exhausted from all the swimming. Natasha stood next to the steps, a fluffy towel in her outspread arms. You breathlessly climbed up into her arms, allowing yourself to be dried off.

Wanda made a space for you to sit in between her legs. You happily sat down, putting your feet back into the water as she pulled you so your back was flush to her front. You cuddled into her tiredly.

Somebody tapped your shoulder from behind. You turned your head to find Pepper, holding a waffle cone with chocolate ice cream. “I heard ice cream was on the line. And it looks like you won the bet.”

You smiled and took the ice cream, eagerly licking at it before it could melt in the sun. “Thank you, Mrs. Potts.”

“Of course, kiddo,” she said, playfully ruffling your hair.

Wanda laughed as you proceeded to get the ice cream all over your face. She periodically wiped it away with a towel.

You would miss days like this as the air grew colder. There would be no more pool days, no more opportunities to comfortably spend the days outside in the sun. But fall brought new excitement of its own.

You could only hope you’d be tucked between these same arms by the fireplace come winter.

[fortislumen-archive]

❝  you're  staring.  ❞   she  says  blatantly,  but  with  a  hint  of  tease  on  her  voice,  acting  as  if  there's  nothing  different about herself for someone to stare in pure shock.   but  there  is.   her natural hair was replaced with the dark black again,  like  it  was  before  she  even  started  working  for  tony.   it  was  time  for  a  change,  and  perhaps  a  decision  she  didn't  think  about  much.   ❝  do  you  not  like  it?  ❞

open.