i remember falling [open]

[fearlesswonder]

Late at night, the prodigal son returns to the streets of Minneapolis, hands tucked into his pockets and head down as he wanders, occasionally kicking at stray cans and other small, safely kickable objects

Comments

[needsmorepepper]

It's not unusual for Pepper to be out, on her own, late at night--it's not advisable, but it's not unusual. Tony calls or she forgets something during the day...whatever the reason tonight, Pepper's out wandering with purpose, direction, because that's how she does these things.

She's also on a cellphone, but that may just be for practical reasons rather than actually taking part in a conversation. It takes her a second to realize that she recognizes that possibly-moping boy walking in the other dir--

"Dick!"

Okay, there are better names to raise your voice with on the street at ridiculous o'clock. The boy needs a nickname badly.

[fearlesswonder]

Dick perks up when called, and by the time he's recognized her voice, lifted his head, and made eye contact he's smiling, though not as infectiously as he usually does.

"Hey, Pepper," he says, and hustles over to her as he pulls a hand from his pocket to wave, "Long time no see. How you doin'?" He finger guns and winks when he asks the question, annnd maybe he's trying a little too hard.

[needsmorepepper]

Some people would call that the dictionary definition of trying too hard, although Pepper is charitably not one of them. Even if she does give him a moderately concerned look--her polite enthusiasm and tendency to fuss come standard, don't they? "I'm good. I'm good! I'm going to school here, now."

[fearlesswonder]

"Cool- I just got back from the Alps with Bruce, but I'm still enrolled. Hopefully. I have to work everything out at the school Monday, grab some classes, catch up on those classes...I'm not looking forward to next week." He rubs the back of his neck and keeps on smiling. He's fine, Pepper! "How's Mr. Tony Stark doing?"

[needsmorepepper]

"If you need any help catching up," Pepper offers, possibly automatically. She smiles back, and if there's just a hint of skepticism there she's being nice and tactful about it...and falling into step next to him, because standing around on a dark street is not anybody's idea of a good time.

Usually.

"He's good, Tony's good. He moved here, too--before me. Did you know?"

[fearlesswonder]

"I'd heard. I'll have to look him up some time." For one brief, crazy moment, Dick considers the possibly of confiding in Tony, because after all if anyone would get it- but that wouldn't work, and he rejects it. "And I'll be okay with school. It's only been what, a month? I can catch up."

"So...anything interesting happen over your summer?" He walks close to her, mostly because he likes it and partly because it establishes she has a tall, muscular guy with her. He's grown some over the summer, to boot.

[needsmorepepper]

For a second, a totally absurd moment, Pepper thinks to herself well, I got locked up in a glass cage and had to climb a tower with things that wanted to eat me snapping at my heels to kick it off-- but that seems like...a bad idea.

"I was doing an internship here," she says, instead. "The McCain campaign! Mr Stane helped me get the placement." Obviously, because she's not even sixteen yet.

[fearlesswonder]

Dick, it can be assumed, would not be happy to hear something like that.

"McCain? I'm not surprised." He smiles, easily, and bumps her shoulder with his fist. "You must be having fun with that."

[needsmorepepper]

"It was really good experience," she enthuses, closing her hand around her cellphone and gesturing with it. "I mean - you know, I was just answering phones mostly, little stuff like that...but it was great. It was a good way to spend summer."

Plus, it meant all her time was spent working or running around after Tony (and holding her breath in the elevator and never shutting shower stall door).

[fearlesswonder]

"And it'll look great on your resume and university application, not to mention etched into the barrel of your complimentary handgun." He is teasing, but very gently. Pepper is...reliable. He's glad he ran into her first.

[needsmorepepper]

Pepper laughs a little, sort of gently, and nudges him with her elbow. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, you go ahead and laugh. And - I guess I didn't want Tony to be on his own this summer, either. So that was good."

It's comments like that that and the underlying attitude that's why Pepper has so much trouble keeping a boyfriend, she knows, but it's not like that and so hard to explain.

[fearlesswonder]

"Okay, Mother Goose." Dick lifts his hand, and for a while it looks like he might ruffle her hair, but instead he runs his fingers through his own and tips his head back. His eyes close and he takes a deep, slightly chilly breath.

"I'm sure he would have collapsed into a sobbing heap without you, Pep. You're a rock." In a good way, his tone says.

[needsmorepepper]

Pepper smiles, suddenly, looking up. "No. No, he'd be okay. He came and res-got me, when I was...well, there was some crazy stuff going on, anyway, I'm really proud of him. Hey, do you know Wanda Maximoff?"

...oic.

[fearlesswonder]

"Crazy stuff?" Dick turns and looks at Pepper, concern writ large in his widened eyes and serious expression. "I sort of know her. Know of her. Are you okay? What happened?"

[needsmorepepper]

"I'm fine!" It comes out so quickly that Pepper sort of winces, because she'd never believe that coming from somebody else - but she is fine, really. "Really, don't worry about me. There was just, um - there was a h...ail storm," she falters a little over the explanation, "at the fair before summer break - it was in the news - and I got - trapped."

[fearlesswonder]

Dick puts his hand on her shoulder and stops walking, staring at her.

"You are a terrible liar, and now I am going to be worried about you. What's going on?" He'd better be able to fix it, whatever it is- Pepper is his friend.