InsaneJournal

Who: Pepper and Elizabeth
When: Early March
Where: Russian restaurant
What: Catching up over lunch
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete



It had been a while since Pepper had taken a proper lunch, she’d slipped recently back into old habits. Unless Stiles or Tony brought up lunch to her she didn’t stop, though thankfully her assistant made sure she did eat. Even if it was at her desk. So she was looking forward to having a good chat and food with Elizabeth.

Entering the restaurant she spotted her friend and made her way over, “Elizabeth, it’s good to see you” she said, leaning down to kiss her cheek before sitting. “How are you?”

"Hey you," Elizabeth smiled brightly at he friend, returning the kiss on the cheek. "I've uh...I've been better if I'm honest," she admitted with a little smile, fiddling with the napkin in front of her.

“Oh no, what’s wrong?” Pepper asked, laying her hand on Elizabeth’s, “Tell me everything” she said to her friend concern on her face.

“I’ve just...not had the greatest start to the new year is all,” Elizabeth shrugged. “I don’t know if I told you but...Leonard and I broke up and he moved away not long after new years day. It’s been...difficult,” she told Pepper sadly and sighed.

“You did, I am so sorry Elizabeth. Truly” Pepper said, “I didn’t realise he moved away so soon though. He’s a fool, I honestly believe that” No matter the reasons for it, Pepper hated that he’d hurt her friend.

Elizabeth shook her head and gave a sad smile. "No, he was doing what was best for Joanna, I can't fault him for that," she told Pepper. "I was tempted to go with him, but...it feels like some things keeping me here," she shrugged, unable to explain it properly. "My other best friend left too, not a month afterwards. Suffice it to say, I'm feeling more than a little abandoned lately," she joked glibly, giving a bitter little laugh.

“Oh no how awful” Pepper said, “That really is awful timing. It sounds to me like we need a girls night for you. Few drinks, good food and maybe a little pampering” she suggested.

"You know what?" Elizabeth grinned and looked up at her friend. "That sounds like a really great idea," she agreed happily. It would be nice to have some time to just be her and not the professor or the consultant or the lonely. "Have you had a look at the menu?"
“Well then leave it to me and I will organise everything” Pepper said with a smile. She’d make sure Elizabeth had a lovely time and didn’t spend a moment thinking about anything slightly sad. “Mmm I’m leaning towards the pirozhki” the little fried buns full of meat and vegetables looked very good.

“That sounds amazing, thank you so much Pepper,” Elizabeth smiled across at her friend, before looking down at the menu herself. “Mm, the pirozhki does look good. I think I’m going to try the kotlety though, I’m in the mood for meat,” she joked. Truth be told, she could probably do with the iron. Since first Leonard and then Sam left, she hadn’t been taking particularly great care of herself. It was so easy to forget a meal when she was head down in her work. “So, you’re settled on pirozhki?” she asked, she’d call the waiter over in a second and order for them in Russian. Any excuse to keep her language skills in check.

Pepper was glad to see her friend choosing something hearty as even she had noticed that Lizzie was looking thinner. “You always amaze me when you say things like that so effortlessly” Pepper said, “I know a little stilted french but that’s pretty much my limit” she admitted.

Elizabeth laughed at that and closed her menu. “It’s just something I was good at as a kid,” she shrugged. “Plus I don’t get a chance to get rusty what with the UN calling up practically every day, it seems,” she remarked. “I think they’re wanting me to go out to the Ukraine, but I’ve got obligations here that I can’t just drop, you know?” she looked up at Pepper, folding her arms on the table in front of her.

“You need to start putting your foot down Elizabeth, they cannot think they can still call and you will come running. It was supposed to be on an emergency basis wasn’t it?” she asked, because she recalled her friend saying she’d given up the full time UN job because of the stress.

“It is, but with everything happening in Russia at the moment they’re...worried,” Elizabeth told her. “I can’t blame them for that. It’s not a situation we hoped to find ourselves in, in the twenty first century,” she shrugged as the waiter set a jug of water down between them and two glasses. Elizabeth smiled up at him and gave him their order, also ordering a white wine for them both. “I may have to take a trip out there during the Easter break, see what the lay of the land is and give them some advice if I can,” she sighed, pouring them both some water out. “I’d offer you a chance to join me, but it’s not exactly the tourist attraction of Europe at the moment,” she said.

"Well I guess it's reassuring that they want the best to help, but don't take on too much. You need to look after you" Pepper said before offering a smile, "Oh no, can you imagine Tony's reaction of I told him I was going to Russia?" He'd probably make her take a bodyguard or a suit or both. "But thank you anyway for the thought"

“I’ve never been particularly good at that Pepper, we both know that,” Elizabeth smiled, it would be funnier if it weren’t so true. There were a couple of times Elizabeth could remember from college where she had been dangerously close to collapse and only Sam and Pepper’s interventions had been enough to stop her from ending up in hospital. “I know, I thought I’d offer it up though. I wouldn’t expect Tony to let his most precious pearl be taken into a warzone, at least not without hiring the entire US Army to protect her,” she winked at her friend and took a sip of her water.

“I know which is why you have me” Pepper said, now she knew Sam had also left she would be sure to keep a closer eye on her friend. She was rather good at looking after people after all, she’d had plenty of practice with Tony. “You joke but you know he’d do it, or try at least” Pepper smiled, not that she minded it was rather nice that he was protective. Sometimes anyway.

Elizabeth laughed at that as the waiter returned with their wine. She sat back as he poured it out for them and when he was finished she gave him a little smile. “So what about you? How are things with you and Tony?” she asked, sitting forward again.

“Things are good” she smiled, “We’re both making more of an effort to be at home together and the company is doing wonderfully. I’m rather happy I have to admit” she smiled.

“You’re taming the great Tony Stark? I’ll alert the media, it’ll cause a riot. Just think about all those disappointed fangirls,” Elizabeth teased and gave her wink. “Any sign of things...y’know, moving on a bit more?” she asked with a knowing smile.

“Apparently I am” Pepper smiled, her affection for the man in question obvious, “Nothing yet, nothing concrete anyway. We spoke about it a while ago but nothing since. I’d say yes in a heartbeat but I won’t push for it”

“I’m sure it’s coming,” Elizabeth smiled at Pepper, happy for her friend. “I can’t imagine you being with anyone else, you’re perfect for each other,” she shrugged and took a sip of her wine.