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The lobby of the Baxter Building is always a bit nuts and one of the elevators is down for repairs. So there's a little bit of a line for the other elevator and Pepper's trying not to look annoyed or jittery about it but, in truth, most of her life is spent in a somewhat annoyed and jittery state these days. She's a bit thinner than the last Bobbi saw her, on the edge of gaunt but it's well hidden with artful make up, full, BUMPED up red hair and the fact that the lanky-look is in. A long, tan mod styled dress with lace sleeves and no waistline covers her thin frame, stopping just a few inches above her brow, knee high boots. She's done everything in her power possible to look put together and professional despite issues. Pepper sighs as she looks at her watch, waiting for the next row of people to go. It wasn't so bad for being after lunch. The evening rush hour would be a nightmare.
*
Bobbi hated the crush of people. Despite the fact that crowds made her job easier when it came to blending in it, she despised the lack of security that she could implement on her own.
Still it was temporary. Only until she found a new apartment to rent that the Winter Solider, she refused to call him by name just on principle alone, didn't know about. Call her paranoid, but it was part of the job. She sighed as she made her way toward the elvator, a backpack of clothes for the next few days stung over her shoulder. A leather biker jacket hung from her figure, black and patched in places. It had seen miles. Beneath the jacket, a pair of high waisted jeans and simple flannel peaked out.
Blue eyes scanned the crowd, and upon spotting one Miss Pepper Potts, Bobbi weaved between the crush toward her. "Hey, Miss Potts, right?"
*
That makes Pepper jump just a bit, jittery is still a thing. She does a double take towards the tall, toughly beautiful woman and gives an almost shy, redlipped smile. "Yes… ah… Agent, right? Morris? Morse? It's…been a while…" But Pepper's mind mostly remembers such things. She tries, at least. Another step forward and the elevator should let them on next, especially as the last few fingers of the lunch rush are now mostly gone.
*
A nod, "Mmm, call me Bobbi. Glad to see you again though under less pressing circumstances." She glanced around once, and back. An easy smile on her lips.
"Rogers invited me to stay over since I'm looking for a new apartment and all." A shrug, as she avoided answering the why with another grin and a nod toward the elevators as the doors chimed open.
"You work here?" She asked, arching a brow as she glanced over Pepper.
*
"Bobbi. Good to see you also." Then a brush of concern crosses Pepper's pale eyes. Even if she's on edge, she still *cares* about people. Pepper probably has a bit TOO much heart for her own good, over all. "…New apartment? Is everything alright? The apartments here are very nice. And… Mr. Rogers is a very nice man. At least you have good friends." Pepper offers with a game sort of smile.
Then the question comes about if she works here and she nods almost immediately, "Right upstairs. Technically, for the department of defense, but really only for Act-F… Dr. Storm and Dr. Reed are great bosses. It's… not the same as working for Mr. Stark, but… we're helping the world. That's what matters."
*
A nod, and Bobbi shifts her weight upon her feet, a hand settling on her hip. "Yeah, it's fine. Just had a leaky pipe. Damaged everything. Water all over the place. Utterly terrible." She shrugged lightly. "Rogers offered a place till I find a new one. Otherwise I'd just be sleeping on a cot at work. Which, if it's always this crowded, I might end up doing anyways." She snorted, her gaze returning to eye Pepper.
"That sounds like good work. I think it's important that you find something important about what you do." She murmured, and dragged a hand through her blonde locks.
"Is it particularly demanding? Get vacations? Benefits at least?"
*
There is something about Bobbi's too-casual words about the leaky pipe which get a slight side eye from Pepper, but she doesn't press it. She's not a trained agent, she's simply a secretary with a good sense of self. FInally, the lift opens and she steps forward, nodding Bobbi into the ride. She hits for the 40th floor, up where Act-F is. "Uh… the job? I mean..it's demanding like any super hero team… anyone trying to protect and save the world, yes. But… the benefits are very good, and I could take vacation if I wanted. I just… don't want to. I like working. Why… You considering switching?"
*
A laugh and Bobbi shook her head. "No, no. I'm not." She glanced up, folding her arms as they entered the lift and the doors slid shut. They were alone at least for the now.
"Listen, Miss Potts. I was asked in no uncertain terms to see to your health. I know what you've been taking and I can plainly see the cost it has on your physical figure. Take a day off, let me take some blood tests. I've read Coulson's files. I'm interested in seeing if I can help you." She murmured softly, turning to eye the other woman. Her voice low and calm.
"No judgements, no calls to go cold turkey. Nothing. Just letting me see if I can't crack the code on this thing. I do lab work too. One of the best, if I do say so myself."
*
Ah, that was where the instincts of 'something is WRONG' was coming from. Bobbi did have another motivation. Pepper stiffens as the door shuts and the are abruptly alone, Bobbi levelling far too honest and immediate for Pepper's brain to totally catch up. But it does, and her initial reaction is swallowed back. It was clear that she was about to shake her head no, but she stops. She exhales slowly, "…I… Why? Why would you do that? I… thought SHIELD was already working on this? I… I can't go cold turkey. I tried. I… I thought you were a secret agent?" Ahh, assumptions. Bobbi is too bad ass to be smart!
*
A smile, with a hint of chill to it followed. "Shield is, officially, but we're also dealing with several more pressing cases at the moment that have taken up a lot of hands." She sighed, dragging a hand through her hair.
"That and well," She paused, glancing over the woman. "It's harder to run tests without blood samples."
As Pepper starts to explain, and question, Bobbi inclined her head once. "I am a field agent, yes. But I have several degrees in biochemistry. I was recruited out of a program that worked with very sensitive information and took to the field though." She shrugged, "I'm not asking you to go cold turkey. I know what a shock that does, it's not going to help. I'm talking about a cure. Something that will block the addiction from triggering the want for more.. if you will."
*
The look across Pepper's face is one of complete ambivalence. The jealous, guarding feeling of any true addict — her brain is fighting this on pure habit and instinct alone. But Bobbi is also clearly an ENTIRELY too capable woman and Pepper WANTS to support women like that. She wants to trust women like Bobbi. And the woman isn't going to make her just stop. Pepper exhales a slow, slightly shaking breath before taking a deeper one in and trying to swallow back her heart. She finally gives a shaking little nod. "If…if you… if you promise this isn't just a trick, yes. I… I can't get locked up again… I can't do that. I'll give blood, do what I can to help you… I don't… *want* to be on this stuff. I just… need to, right now…"
*
A nod, and sympathy flickered to life in Bobbi's gaze. "I know, I know. Trust me, I know. I've seen harder drugs take a toll on people a whole lot less together than you. You're doing an amazing job staying on your feet and keeping your life together, Miss Potts." She smiled gently, a hand rising and falling as she gestured toward the redhead.
"I promise that no one else will get involved either. You won't have to go into a lab or even leave. I can take some samples right here in this building, and you can go on your way. The only time you'll have to take some time off, is when I offer you a cure. I promise."
*
The sympathy in Bobbi's eyes helps, and the reassurance even more. That tension that had crept up Pepper's spine is staring to ease and her breath isn't coming quite so shallow. No panic attack, no running. The fingers of trust are slipping through her mind where Bobbi concerns. "…You… are far too kind to me. Why are you doing this? You…you barely know me. God knows I want the help, but… why?" Pepper looks genuinely confused. But then the lift stops at her floor, door almost going to open. She jerks her hand to the side and pushes the stop button. People are going to be PISSED, but she doesn't care.
*
A shrug, "I've been asked to, and it's not right to let this thing get a hold of people. Right? Spy's job to protect home and hearth and all that shit. You're not the only one that this thing has affected. Just the one that finally pushed me to get back into the lab." She smiled, her gaze falling to the stop button the woman had pressed.
"Sides, it's not like I have other missions setup at the moment anyways."
*
Another small breath, Pepper looking to the buttons in the lift. She seems torn for another handful of heartbeats but, after achingly long, she gives a little nod. "Okay…okay. Yes. Let's…do this. Whatever you need. Today isn't pressing, I can go into the office, take the afternoon off, if you want to just… Just get it over with? I'd just have to give them notice. They won't mind…" Pepper finally takes her hand off the button so the door can slide open.
*
A nod, "I can take a blood sample whenever. Like I said. I'm here with Rogers for the time being. You can find me that way." She smiled as she gestured to the opened doors.
"Come find me whenever you've got the time, Miss Potts. It doesn't have to be today. I'll be around." She offered a two-fingered salute and leaned back against the wall of the elevator.