I trust Kevin. We’ve been together forever. I know he wouldn’t do anything too stupid. Who: Pepper and Rarity/Rachel When: After New Year Where: Stark Industries What: Catching up Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete
Pepper knew Kevin had a meeting with Tony that afternoon so she had dropped a message to Rachel to see if she wanted to meet for a coffee and a catch up. Pepper had been very busy and felt bad that she hadn’t checked in with her friend to see how everything was going. But she had taken steps to rectify that which was good.
She’d even thought they could go out for the coffee, so that they were away from the work environment which would be much more relaxed. So she was waiting in her office for her friend to arrive.
Rachel had been out shopping. She probably spent more on shoes in one year than your average woman spent on rent. But still. She had some bags with her as she headed in, gave her name to Pepper’s Assistant, and was buzzed into the room.
“Pepper!” She cried out, happy and beaming. Her arms opened wide with all the shopping bags hanging from them. As much time as Rachel had spent in Las Vegas, she really was a New York City girl at heart. And that meant taxi cabs, walking for blocks on end, not driving herself around, and carrying everything with her. “How are you, Darling?”
“Rachel” Pepper smiled as she looked up and moved quickly to the woman to give her a hug, “I’m good thanks, how are you? Been on a shopping spree? How many pairs of shoes this time?” she teased.
“Always.” Rachel said, then laughed. “Only two or three,” she added, playfully defensively. “I need to get used to driving myself everywhere, and storing shopping in the trunk,” she added. “I spent too much time in New York, I think. Anyway, what’s been happening? What have I missed?” She added, setting the bags down and waving her arms a little. Those bags were heavy!
“Wow you’re holding yourself back” she laughed, “I don’t think it’s a bad thing, shopping is a pretty nice thing to do” Not that Pepper did it much herself but it was lack of time mainly, “Oh not a lot really. You know me, work is pretty much it. Tony has a new project going on so my babysitting duties have increased” she said with a fond smile.
Rachel noted the fond smile, and logged it away. She and Pepper were friendly, but they were still working on their friendship. She wasn’t about to start asking for gossip this early on. Perhaps she’d get to hear all about that fond smile later, but she didn’t want to push. “What sort of a project is it?” She asked. Though, that might have been a silly question, too. After all, she was engaged to the competition.
Had Pepper realised Rachel had picked up on the fondness she would have worked harder to not show it. She didn’t want anybody to think there was anything except professionalism between them. “Honestly, I don’t know the exact details but I do know Tony is very excited about it” she replied.
“Well, that’s great. Anything to keep them busy and happy.” Rachel said, breaking into a grin. “Do you have time to run out and grab a coffee today? Or are you busy doing… Stark things?” She asked, reaching for her bags once more.
“My thoughts exactly” Pepper replied with a smile, “I absolutely have time, I’ve cleared my afternoon when I thought you’d be by” she informed Rachel, knowing the other woman would know how important that was - she was almost as much of a workaholic as Tony and Kevin.
“Great! Let’s go to that place that has the sparkling lattes.” Rachel said, brightening considerably. “They make the most amazing white mochas, too.” She added, then started collecting up her bags once more to carry them out and down to the car.
“Oh I love that place, the wife of one of our ex-employees owns it” Pepper told her, she had a knack for remembering those who worked for Stark and information about them. “Would you like a hand?” she offered gesturing towards the bags.
“Oh, sure. Here, thanks.” Rachel said. She handed a couple of the bags over to Pepper to carry. “I can call a car service to come pick me up from the bakery,” she added.
Pepper took some of the bags from her and shook her head, “Nonsense, we’ll use a Stark car and the driver can take you back once we’re done at the bakery”
“Are you sure?” Rachel asked, but she was smiling. She wasn’t about to refuse the offer. “That’s so kind of you, Pepper. Thank you.” The two of them headed out of Pepper’s office and to the elevator. “So, wedding preparations are coming along swimmingly. We’re looking at a winter wedding next November or December, I think.”
“Of course, it’s no trouble at all” Pepper said tapping a few things into her cellphone as they headed to the lift, a car would be waiting for them in the parking garage. “Oh really? It’s so exciting Rachel, you know Tony was actually very touched that Kevin asked him to be best man”
“Was he? I thought it was a perfect touch. They’re really much better friends than I think they let on.” Rachel was grinning softly. “I can’t think of anyone else he’d rather have standing up there beside him.” She added.
"I completely agree. I think Tony listens and respects him far more than he lets on" Pepper said, "Although I do think you're brave letting Tony take on stag party duties" she teased.
Rachel shrugged her shoulders as they headed out of the elevator and across the lobby toward where the car was parked out front. “I trust Kevin. We’ve been together forever. I know he wouldn’t do anything too stupid.”
"Oh no, I'm sure Kevin wouldn't at all. Tony on the other hand..." Pepper chuckled, "Do you know what you're doing for your do?" she asked curiously.
“No idea. I don’t really have many friends in the area, so. I’m not sure who I’d even ask to throw one for me. My mother wants to set a shower, but that’ll be back home. With mostly her friends, and my little sister.” Rachel explained.
"Well you know if you wanted anything doing I'd be more than happy to help you Rachel, you should do something even if it's a spa day or something like that" Pepper said smiling as they got into a car.
Rachel broke into a bright and happy grin. “I’ll definitely take you up on that, Pepper.” She said, climbing into the car after her friend.