Who: Pepper Pottspottsp & Rick Grimes rick & Judith What: Pepper making friends while exploring the park When: Monday, April 27th, early afternoon Where: Loveless Park Rating: General Audience Warnings: Babies! Status: Closed/Completed GDoc
~*~
Pepper made it a point to take her entire lunch hour, since it was something she’d never allowed herself since she started working for Tony all those years ago. Per usual, she walked over to the cafe Clint worked at and ordered a sandwich to go - turkey and swiss, with lettuce, tomato, and just a touch of mayo - before making her way to Lovelace Park. Often times, Natasha was wandering around and they’d be able to just enjoy each other’s company for a little while. Even though it was a little disconcerting, knowing that her friends didn’t remember Composite City, she was glad that their friendships all remained fairly strong.
She really wanted to talk to Natasha about marriage, about what life would be like for her and Tony when they got married and, eventually, had kids. Being Iron Man wasn’t something she could ask him to give up, not completely. He’d always be needed in some capacity or another, whether it was in the suit or in the lab. Pepper didn’t want to hold him back from being a hero; he was her hero without all of that, but it meant something to him, to be a force for good. It was hard, trying to balance between her desires and his, but they both made sacrifices, compromises.
Maybe here, like in Fake Vegas, they could cut back on the sacrifices and compromises. Pepper just wanted to really understand the gravity of how good they had it. That conversation would have to wait for another day, as Natasha wasn’t in her usual spot. Pepper wasn’t bothered and just kept walking, until she came along a small play area for children that had picnic tables nearby. A man was playing with his daughter, it seemed. It was such a beautiful sight. Seeing them, Pepper knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wanted to be sitting on a bench, eating her meal, watching Tony playing with their little boy or girl.
“Afternoon,” she called, not wanting to startle them. “Would it be okay with you if I sit down and have my lunch? I don’t want to disturb you guys.” Pepper smiled warmly, hoping that might encourage a positive response.
~*~
Flowers were useless in a world where survival was key to living. No one had time to stop to look at them, pick them, and to Hell with planting them or watering them. What in the world would make a person crazy enough to waste precious time on something so pointless? Rick couldn't imagine such a thing back in the world he'd been in. During his stint as a gardener's apprentice to Hershel, Rick had learned how to plant useful things such as herbs, vegetables, edible things.
No one would have doubted he was insane if he had suddenly started planting daisies. They'd have likely cast him out to fend for himself as long as he could before being overtaken by walkers, another casualty in their neverending war. Rick wouldn't have blamed them either. He'd have thanked them in fact if he'd been in his right mind because getting rid of the dead weight? That was what it took to keep their people alive, strong, and together.
His son and his daughter wouldn't have a chance to grow up unless hard choices were made such as sloughing off the dead weight before it had a chance to drag the whole group down.
Carol had known how to make the hardest choices before him; Rick would never fully forgive himself for not understanding her motives before he'd cast her out.
Looking up, Rick lowered the long-stemmed rose he'd been using to tickle Judith's face, making the baby laugh, "No, you're no disturbance at all. Feel free to pull up a space. I take it you aren't from around here either?"
There was something about the woman which said she wasn't used to this place any more than Rick though she didn't have the edge to her he knew he still had or even the deep-seated suspicion which lurked in Sidney Prescott's eyes. This woman might not be local, but she didn't come from Hell either. She was only lost.
Rick oddly felt worse for her than the rest of them. What if she'd left behind a family? A good home with good people? He saw how different some of the people -if some of the being in Test City could be called 'people'- were in comparison to regular folks. He didn't want to think about how it'd feel to wake up in this place with no warning if he'd come from an ordinary world.
"I'm Rick Grimes, manager at The Greenthumb. This is Judith, my daughter."
~*~
The people who’d been brought to Test City had every right to not be trusting of the other inhabitants, since they could be pulled from anywhere, under any circumstances. Pepper knew first hand that not everyone was what they appeared to be. There had been vampires and aliens in Fake Vegas, and the same no doubt held true in this place. She knew she was somewhat protected by Extremis and the training she did with Natasha and Steve meant she could handle herself decently as well. This man wouldn’t be a threat to her unless she was a threat to him or his child. That was her assessment.
“You’re right about that,” Pepper replied, taking a seat and opening her sandwich. “Before I was brought here, I was brought from my home to a similar place, called Composite City. Though, I called it Fake Vegas, since it was a replica of Las Vegas, with the addition of buildings from the various homeworlds of the residents.” She had quite liked having her home, though this place seemed less inclined to flood or take away their powers. “It’s not exactly comforting, but I have been through this before. Best to just play along, from what we’ve experienced. Pepper Potts,” she offered in exchange.
“How are you two liking it here? Settling in well?” She took the opportunity to have a bite of her sandwich. Judith was very young and would need protecting if things got crazy in the same way they had in Fake Vegas. “My fiance, Tony, and I work at the auto shop. It’s...somewhat similar to what we did back home. I honestly like it. I’m not one for a lot of downtime, you know? I enjoy working a bit too much.” Pepper smiled, appreciating how few people felt the same way she did. It seemed as though Rick knew how to take time out to smell the roses, literally in Judith’s case. “Your daughter is beautiful,” she added, glancing toward the baby. Pepper definitely wanted to have that.
~*~
Before he'd been brought to this place, Rick wouldn't have let this strange woman anywhere near his child. He'd have likely killed her for trying to get close to him. There were too many dangers everywhere to trust anyone. This place made it easier to some degree. It had proven capable of subduing the residents if they got out of hand. He'd read about people being part of the police force which meant there was a regulatory force at hand.
Rick was strangely comforted by the knowledge a Police Department existed.
He'd never thought he'd miss it before. The job had been hard. Rick had fought with Lori more than he'd ever wanted to when they'd gotten married. She'd blamed him for being absent more than he was present. They had fought a lot about how the job had made him harder, more callous. Lori had wanted him to be the man she'd married; Rick couldn't go back in time to be that man who'd thought being on the force would mean he got to help eliminate crime in the world.
There would always be crime. It was only possible to keep it in check, not to eradicate it completely. Humans by nature were flawed. Fighting, fussing, warmongering was all in their blood somehow. They were the only creatures on the planet who destroyed their own habitats. Rick had a feeling Pepper Potts would understand exactly what he meant if he were to mention that to her. She had the look of someone who'd seen too much.
"I'm lucky," Rick acknowledged, "She looks like her mom. Before I came here? I was a sheriff's deputy. Got shot. Woke up in a world gone to Hell. The dead had rose up to eat the living. Society was just---gone. I lost a lot of myself. My humanity. I'm calling this place Paradise for now. I worry about seeing my baby grow up safe here, but it's not the same. I don't worry she'll cry and alert a pack of walkers to get us overrun. I don't have nightmares where she's eaten in front of me. Here? I worry she'll get a splinter from crawling over wood flooring. I got no complaints about here though I've never been through anything like it before."
~*~
It seemed to Pepper that Rick had lived a very difficult and compromising life before coming to Test City. Zombies had been horrible to deal with, nevermind without powers, and that had only lasted a short period of time in Composite City compared to what Rick had survived. He very clearly deserved some rest and relaxation. “I can see why you’d call this place Paradise,” she replied. “I’ve had the unfortunate experience of dealing with zombies myself for a short period of time.” Her tone said more than she ever could about how much she hadn’t enjoyed that.
She took another bite of her sandwich, considering what life would be like at home for a child of her’s and Tony’s. Could the beauty and love that a child could bring outweigh the dangers? Objectively, Pepper wasn’t so sure, but looking at Judith, she knew if it were her child in her arms, every sacrifice would be worth it. Offspring always had a tendency to throw reason out the window and as much as she wanted to be the rational, reasonable one, it was an immensely difficult decision to make for herself, never mind how Tony might feel about it. He had his reservations, she expected them, but she could see how much potential there was in him to love their child more than anyone, or anything.
“It sounds like what you went through was quite disorienting, and that you’ve never really had a chance to relax. I’m glad you were brought to this place with your daughter. While I can’t promise there won’t be zombies, I’m confident in saying that there will be an expiration date on any kind of obstacle or interference. Fake Vegas got pretty creative, and I’m sure some of that carries over here.” She grinned, recalling with great fondness the time they’d all been turned into animals. In hindsight, it was much more fun.
Pepper realized she’d finished nearly half her sandwich already, pleased with how easy it was to converse with Rick. “I know it might be hard, trusting anyone in a place like this, particularly with your daughter, but I hope you let yourself relax and enjoy the time you’ve got with her. Make friends, and enjoy the break for what it is. It won’t be perfect, and not all your friends and family will show up or stay, but it’s important to have hope.” Maybe it sounded too much like a fairytale story, but Pepper truly believed what she was saying. “There are some wonderful people here, who make for excellent allies.”
~*~
"Not a lot of women classify people they meet by whether or not they make 'excellent allies.' I take it you deal with some unusual things back home, too? Even before that other place and this one?"
People had a tendency to revert to their basic natures. Crisis was the best way to determine what a person was made of---it'd been the only way Rick had ever seen the truth of a man he'd thought to be his best friend. Shane had been a coward under it all. He'd been a survivor, sure, but he'd never thought of others. All his actions had been geared toward solely his own future, his own desires, his own safety.
They couldn't live in their world if they weren't ready to make the hard choices for each other. Society truly had broken down back in his place and time. Rick knew there was little chance they could rebuild it. He only wanted to ensure as many of them stayed alive as possible. He didn't want to lose all hope of ever becoming good again either. There were lines. Rick knew he'd crossed plenty.
The important part was he hadn't crossed them all yet.
Judith waved her hands as Rick bounced her lightly. She wasn't generally fussy. Her life had been filled with hardships; she'd adapted the way the young could where the old could not. Sometimes he worried she was too quiet, what if she'd never talk, what if she wouldn't walk as soon as other babies, what would they do when she did start talking and walking? All those fears were the kind normal parents had, but normal parents didn't have to worry about their child being devoured by the undead on a daily basis.
Rick caught his daughter's hand with his own, cherishing the fierceness of her grip around his fingers, "My Judith is a survivor through and through. We've made friends. Allies. I'm hoping we'll learn to make a few more here. I want her to have a life. If she can. What about you? What are you hoping to get out of this place?"
~*~
Pepper chuckled softly. “I was a personal assistant to the CEO of a multi-billion dollar tech and weapons manufacturing company. For a number of years, he was his own worst enemy. It was easier to view everyone as either enemy or ally, and to be suspicious of everyone. We’ve since gotten past that, but I’ve found it’s easiest to view everyone in the business world with that lense.” It was often very lonely, but she wasn’t in the business to make friends. She was in it to make money and give Stark Industries the best possible reputation before she died - because that was probably the only time she’d really give it up.
“In Fake Vegas, with one thing after another coming up, it was very clear where the lines were drawn with the people there. Here, it seems as though there’s a lot more mingling done between the residents. The jobs have certainly helped, in my opinion.” The Auto Shop filled her time well, allowed her to develop and balance her relationship with Tony, and played to her strengths. The balance alone was more than she could’ve hoped for.
Seeing Rick with his daughter made her wish they could spend the rest of their lives in Test City, or some variation of it. “Honestly, I’ve got more than I ever could have hoped for back home. My fiance and I are much more balanced now, between life and work, being together versus separately. Seeing you with your daughter, it makes me wonder if we could have a child in a place like this. Oddly enough, it might be safer here, than at home.” It was funny, that she was saying that to a man who was raising a child in a world where zombies were the norm, day in and day out. “That seems silly, saying it out loud. There are always challenges with kids, but it’s worth it?”
~*~
CEOs were a whole world away from Rick's life back in Georgia before the outbreak. He'd been a small town man his whole life. His position as a deputy sheriff had been as high as his aims had ever been set. There had been no great desire in him or his Lori to travel so they'd been the people they'd always been in the place they'd been born; they'd been prepared to live out their whole lives in that same town.
He couldn't imagine a life like what Pepper described.
Rick could imagine how it felt to want a child. He'd wanted more than Carl the same as Lori had wanted. Things hadn't panned out for them in that respect. They'd been good parents or as good as they could be with their own issues. Raising their son had been the most excitement either of them had wanted. He couldn't imagine a life without Carl---or one without Judith now. She was every bit his daughter the same as Carl was every bit his son.
"Children are worth it. Everytime. My wife and I only got the one boy to raise together. Judith was a surprise the same was the world I woke up in. I live in fear for her, but I wouldn't take anything, not a thing for her. She and Carl, my boy, are the best things I've ever done in my life. No matter how much money a person has, how many great things they do, if they don't have kids to see to a future after they're gone? They don't have a damn thing."
It was difficult to imagine how someone who was used to running a billion-dollar company could be happy being reduced down to changing diapers.
Rick knew better than most it wasn't about that though.
Family was about everything a man could want in life. It was all which could matter in the end. He'd lost everything except his children which meant he still had something to live for, fight for, and that meant he was a man blessed.
"I hope you get a chance to have one. A child of your own. You can't imagine what a difference it makes. You think you can, but you can't. It's an amazing thing."
~*~
Pepper hadn't been expecting a different answer from Rick. Children were always worth it, even if obstacles were continuously put in the way. At home, those obstacles were terrorists, aliens, and rivals, on top of the more typical ones, such as medical conditions or natural disasters. In Test City, there was every chance zombies would appear, or floods, or aliens, or everyone being turned into an animal of some kind. Would the City protect her baby from the trials they were all put through? Did she trust the City to do that? The reward would be beyond words, but would the sacrifice?
Pepper needed to think more on those, but she didn't want her turning thoughts to bring down the happy mood surrounding Rick and Judith. "I believe that," she murmured, smiling softly. She took another bite of her sandwich and found her appetite to be mostly salted. She could finish the rest of it at the shop. "There's nothing quite like a child, especially when they're yours, or with a person you love." Maybe it wasn't so far fetched for her and Tony.
"I've gotten him to set a date for the wedding. I think I'll tackle one life changing event at a time," Pepper commented lightly, as she began to settle her things. "It was wonderful talking with you, Rick. I hope I'll see more of you and Judith around Test City." With that, she gave him a warm smile and began the walk back to the Auto Shop, her mind turning over the possibilities, as well as her to do list.