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Who: Pepper Potts and Natasha Romanoff; Pepper Potts and OPEN
Where: The mansion starting on the seventh floor, potentially anywhere.
When: April 28
Rating: PG?
Summary: Pepper wakes up in Wonderland.
The Story:

Part One:  Locked to Natasha
She’s never needed long to wake up; too many days with more to-dos than hours have made Pepper both an early and a quick riser.  Granted, coffee usually also plays a role in that, but panic serves as a good substitute.  Her mind is quick to recall those last moments of awareness before she’d blacked out: the tightness of Killian’s fingers around her throat, leaving her unable to breathe or to scream.  The frustration in Maya’s voice where there should have been fear, except she wasn’t a friend after all.  The realization that they were going to use her to lure Tony into a trap, and that she was absolutely helpless to stop them.

Pepper pushes herself upright with a gasp, eyes wide as she looks around the darkened room.  She can’t see much, but she’s been lying on something soft—a sofa, maybe.  It’s kinder than she would have expected Killian to be, and Pepper moves a hand to her neck, still able to feel the way he’d gripped her.  She can’t see anyone else, and precious seconds, maybe minutes tick by, marked only by the too-loud sound of her own breathing as Pepper tried to piece together where Killian or his henchmen are.  Why would they leave her alone?

She’s so preoccupied with looking for some sign of her kidnappers that it takes Pepper too long to realize something vital:  she can move.  Not only her hands, but her entire body.  She stares down at herself in wonder as she stands, scarcely able to believe she hasn’t been tied up.  Then again, Killian had been the picture of confidence when they’d met in her office.  Maybe arrogance isn’t that far of a leap for him.

Or maybe he doesn’t think she’ll be able to make it out of the room regardless; Pepper’s gaze turns toward the opposite wall, and the closed door that presumably leads outside.  Would she need to be restrained if there’s a guard in the hall?  If Killian hadn’t thought so, that will be his mistake.  She isn’t a superhero, but Pepper also isn’t a damsel in distress.  There’s a statuette on a nearby table, something solid and heavy she can use to knock out whoever is waiting for her.  Maybe if they haven’t realized she is awake, maybe if they aren’t paying close attention…

Maybe she’ll get herself killed.  But in her mind, she can hear Tony’s screaming at her to just go, and Pepper knows she has to try regardless of the risk.  She can’t let herself freeze again.

She creeps over to the door with her makeshift weapon in hand, leaning as close to it as she dares to try and listen for some sound of movement beyond.  It’s hard to convince herself that they won’t hear her the way her heart pounds in her chest, ruining her plan before it even starts.  But if there is someone waiting she can’t tell, and Pepper worked up enough to open the door.  No reaction from outside, no rush to restrain her.  With no sign of anyone around, she carefully makes her way into the hall.

Part Two:  Open to All
So this is Wonderland.  It’s…well, frankly, it’s impossible to believe.  Pepper makes her way through the mansion almost in a daze, feeling like she has to remind herself with every other step of what Natasha’s said.  It’s not that the Agent wouldn’t lie; their first introduction had been comprised entirely of falsehoods, after all.  But she’s fairly sure Natasha isn’t insane.

So she wanders the halls, trying to get her bearings and maybe find someone to give her answers.  Despite how deeply unsettling this is, she does her best to keep those emotions in check.  She hates when things feel out of control, and right now she’s been put in a situation where the only thing she can keep a handle on is herself.  Regardless of the utter impossibility of it all, Pepper refuses to break down or to let panic grip her.  It won’t accomplish anything if she does.  Of course that doesn’t mean she doesn’t look as lost as she is; Pepper’s never been a good liar.  That mixed with what she’s been through the past couple of days has left her more frayed than she cares to admit.

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It's a fair assumption, and he even gets a laugh out of her for it. She actually is a little curious, since Bucky's smile doesn't seem to be the source of the nickname, but in turn her freckles aren't the reason for hers. More than that though, he offers her something she really hasn't had yet: distraction. This is by far the lightest conversation she's had, not only since her arrival but even before. It's more of a relief than she can bring herself to admit.

"But if I go alone, we can't swap stories about our nicknames." I'll show you mine, as it were, and the offer to leave her be if she so chooses only makes it easier to accept. "I wasn't headed anywhere in particular, so I can just follow you, if you were."

"Thought I might try to find the library. I've got a bit of catching up to do. Way I hear it though, the place takes a while to find."

He offers her his arm and another easy smile. "We really gonna swap stories? Come on, yours is obvious. It's Pepper because you seem like such a nice dame, but the truth is you've got plenty of kick. Am I right?"

"I'm not surprised. This place is massive." Pepper hasn't been outside yet, but even just wandering the corridors, it feels like there's nearly no end. It stands to reason that locating any one room would be difficult, although that isn't what has her curious. "Catching up on what? Is there information about Wonderland in there?"

She eyes the arm for a moment, but takes it with a grin. Pepper gets the idea she's going to have to try and let Bucky down easy, but she can make her way there. First though? She has to laugh. "A nice dame?" Though she's familiar with the word, it's well beyond dated. She thinks about his theory with a soft hum. "You're close. My former boss gave me the nickname when I threatened his security with pepper spray--which I wasn't actually carrying at the time."

"And it makes no sense. Pool on the second floor, windows facing out when they should be facing rooms... Thought I might read that Alice in book. But otherwise, I don't know. Maybe some history."

He can't help stumbling over the last word a little bit. History is... Well, the main thing is it's over. He tries not to dwell on it. Maybe it'll be easier seeing grainy washed out photos, instead of remembering. He wants to know more about the world Steve lives in now, anyway.

He keeps an easy pace with Pepper as they walk. He doesn't know what's so funny about the word dame. She hasn't let go of his arm, so she's not offended or anything... And a moment later he's laughing too, at the story of where she got her name. Yeah, he likes her already.

"Must've been some boss if you kept the name."

"I've seen places with pools that aren't on the ground floor." Then again, the people who have them usually are extravagantly wealthy and don't mind the potential nightmare should something go wrong structurally. Even Tony's pool is outside, away from everything else costly within the house.

Or, it used to be.

But those are the kinds of thoughts he's distracting her from, so Pepper arches an eyebrow at that small stutter. "Sounds like you're eager to learn." Which brings up the question of why, since she doubts anyone is forcing him to. "Any history in particular?"

At least her story gets a laugh though, and Pepper can't help her smile when Bucky points out that the name's stuck. "That's one way of putting it. I told him I'd only accept the promotion he was offering if he stopped calling me Pepper, and he said I'd get used to it. Ten-plus years later, I don't think most people I speak to on a regular basis even know my first name."

Bucky just raises an eyebrow at that. Sure, the pool thing is do-able, but it seems kinda over the top for no reason.

"Wouldn't mind starting with yours," He replies easily. It's partly true. It's not a secret or anything, what he's looking for, but it's not gonna be all that interesting to anyone else. "You like the nickname, though. It's all over your face. You ever tell this boss of yours how you feel about him?"

She barely resists an urge to roll her eyes at the obvious line. "That was bad. I hope you realize that." Not that it stops her from finding it funny, but the laws of the universe require her to at least point out how horrible the pick-up had been.

She arches en eyebrow when Bucky makes a few more assumptions though. It isn't that he's wrong, certainly far from it considering that Pepper lives with that same boss. But she still tries to mask the surprise, putting up a mock-innocent look. "What do you mean, how I feel about him?"

Yeah this is not Bucky's impressed face. He thought he'd seen the worst liar ever when he met Steve Rogers, but clearly someone is trying to compete.

"That was bad. I hope you realize that. Were you gonna lead me on all day, or just try to let me down easy?"

Okay, she's earned that. Pepper laughs when he calls her out with the very same words she'd chided him with a minute before. "If I was a good liar, my nickname wouldn't be Pepper." Because Tony had needed someone who would watch his back, and someone who had to be honest with him.

"Oh, I was going to tell you. I'm not mean." And letting Bucky get his hopes up just would've been cruel, especially when he's really managed to take her mind off of things. "The conversation seemed to be going in that direction, so I figured it would come up.

"And now that it has, you still have to tell me how you got your nickname." Because no, Pepper has not forgotten that Bucky hasn't shared his story with her. She gives him an expectant look, her arm still in his as they continue to walk down the hall.

"I'm heartbroken, but I can't say I'm surprised." Bucky, still grinning, is clearly far from wounded. He's enjoying her company; it's nice to talk to someone who isn't caught up everything.

"That story's not as exciting as yours. Actually..." Bucky rubs the side of his neck. "It's what my folks called me."

He usually makes something up, but he figures he's not really trying to charm Pepper back to his room. "My middle name is Buchanan so... It's not a weird nickname, where I'm from. And speaking of -- where are you from?"

He's taken it well, and for that Pepper is glad; Bucky has made a genuinely good impression, and she'd hate to think he'd only done so for the purpose of flirting. But he keeps going, and seems just as interested as he had been. It's definitely endearing.

"With that charm, I doubt you'll have to be heartbroken for long." Especially when he rubs his neck in that almost awkward sort of way. She laughs a little when he confesses the origin of his nickname. "Buchanan, like the President? Or is it a family name?" Because even if Bucky doesn't think the nickname is weird, the middle one certainly is. He's got questions too though, and Pepper's happy to oblige.

"Malibu, California, although I travel a lot for work. I may have spent more time in New York over the past six months than I have at home." Although it's improved significantly as of late--at least until a few days ago. "What about you?"

"Yeah, so I've been told," Bucky replies with a laugh. All the fooling around aside, he never did find a girl he wanted to settle down with, and now he thinks that's probably for the best.

Bucky looks like he's in mild pain when she keeps asking questions. In retrospect, he shouldn't have told her the truth. "The President. There wasn't a more obscure one named James."

She really doesn't strike him as a typical California girl, but then Pepper doesn't strike him as a typical anything. "I wonder if your New York is anything like mine. Brooklyn. I know, you wouldn't have guessed."

He didn't have as heavy an accent as some, but it was there.

"I mean it. I'd go on a date with you." If she hadn't been in a relationship, anyway. Tony isn't present, but that doesn't change Pepper's loyalties. Still, she doubts Bucky will be on his own for long, despite how he laughs.

She can see the hints of discomfort, but it doesn't seem bad enough to make her think she should stop teasing. "James Buchanan. That's definitely an interesting one to pick. Dare I ask what your last name is?"

He's right in his assumption; Pepper didn't start off in California, but has ended up there through schooling and circumstance. "Well, that depends. Does your New York feature a building called Stark Tower?" It's the quickest way she has to determine if they're from the same world; considering the press both before and after the battle of New York, she has little doubt he'll know of it if he is.

"Brooklyn! What a surprise. And here I was thinking Boston, maybe New Jersey..."

"No, don't say that, the wound is still fresh." He hopes teasing her will get her off this topic. He's not modest about his skills in that arena, to say the least, but having her think that is better than the alternative.

"Barnes." He replies, more easily, and then she says a name that gets his attention right away, though it doesn't convince him they're from the same place. He's met a Lady Stark who has nothing to do with his world. "It doesn't, but hell if that's not because Howard hasn't gotten around to it yet."

He gives her a look. "Jersey? Really? What did I ever do to you?"

"Fresh wounds, right. Dropping it." As an act of mercy, of course. But even if it hadn't worked, he gives her something far more distracting a moment later. She means to tease him further, smiling as she starts to point out the alliteration of his name.

"So that makes you Bucky Ba--" But right as she starts to say it, Pepper hears Phil's voice echoing the name, showing her his card collection and telling her all about the Howling Commandos. Bucky himself confirms it in a way, dropping Howard's name, and Pepper actually stops walking as she stares at him in disbelief.

Natasha and Steve being from her future is one thing; that had been a matter of months. Bucky Barnes has been dead for over seventy years, and yet here she stands, her arm locked with his.

"...His son, actually." It's the first thing she can think to say, even as countless questions come to her mind. "Tony. Tony Stark."

As soon as she stops talking, Bucky's first thought is oh crap. People recognizing his name - especially pretty girls - is another thing he's not particularly modest about, but pretty girls from the future who know how this story goes?

"I know, I look good for a guy my age." He replies with a sly wink, like it's nothing. He tugs her arm gently to get her moving again. "Steve told me Howard had a kid. It's still kinda hard to believe a guy like that finally settled down. What's Stark Jr. like?"

She's really at a loss for what to say at first, but thankfully Bucky smooths the situation over with that same ease and charm he'd shown from the start. Pepper once more falls into step beside him, taking his lead as they continue down the hall.

"You do. It's very impressive." She manages a smile, silently relieved that Steve had already explained so many of the differences to him. Talking about Tony isn't the easiest thing at the moment, however, given her situation back home. "And you really have no idea. There was a time when I ushered out a different girl almost every morning."

Back in Tony's more infamous days as a playboy. She's quick to wrinkle her nose at the nickname, shaking her head. "Oh, no. He's the kind of person who definitely doesn't want to be called Stark Jr." Not with the issues she knows he had with Howard when he'd still been alive. "Beyond that, he's brash, arrogant, and doesn't typically think before he says or does anything."

Qualities Steve might have already shared with Bucky.

"Aw, shucks, ma'am." He tips an imaginary cap at her. Seems like Pepper is over that little hurdle and he's more than happy to leave it behind.

He's really not the least bit surprised by what she tells him next. Howard was the kinda guy who'd pull a chorus girl out of line for a kiss, and no one would think twice. Not to mention Bucky isn't exactly a gentleman himself. "Chip off the old block, huh?"

He makes a note to only call Tony 'Stark Jr.' if he turns out to be as obnoxious as Steve clearly thinks he is. Pepper isn't doing much to dissuade him of that idea. Bucky laughs. "You know, I expected a 'but' in there somewhere."

"I don't know about that." Which is a more complicated answer than it might seem on the surface. Tony's relationship with his father hadn't been a good one; he doesn't talk about Howard much, almost never in private. But she's learn to see how he addresses the press, the words that are more practiced than truth.

Then again, he does still have that car they worked on down in his shop. Or did, before yesterday.

"I never actually met Howard." She leaves it at that, her smile a little tighter as she hopes Bucky will return the favor she just did him. There are still easier things, and she laughs a little as he points out that she's only listed flaws.

"Oh, you were expecting me to say nice things?" It's a question she gets asked often by the people who think they know Tony well: how could she be with, even live with a guy like that? It's also the question she's never been asked by the few people who really do know him, and why that circle is so loyal to Tony. "I guess if I have to be complimentary, I have to point out that he's also one of the most caring, determined people I've ever met. Even when he doesn't have a clue what he's doing, Tony will put his heart and soul into it."

"Oh," Bucky says quietly. He was never that close to Howard, but he knew him, knew what he did for Steve, and Howard is dead, too. The world rushed on without him. He wants to ask how it happened, but he doesn't want to press Pepper with that look on her face, and it's not like that helped with Steve, either.

Instead, he lets the topic drop silently between them.

"Well, one nice thing. Like 'he's got a great b-- brain.' Something like that." Bucky shakes his head. "He's a lucky guy. I hope he knows that."

The burden of too many years gone by, she supposes. Even if Howard hadn't been killed, what would the chances be that he'd still be alive when Pepper started working for Stark Industries? Either way, it's another topic they let go, and she starts to wonder just how many more mines they're going to find in the metaphorical field.

"His brain is pretty impressive." Along with Tony's ass, which is what she assumes Bucky nearly says. It seems like the answer she gives meets his approval, and she favors him with a coy smile. "I do my best to remind him of that fact every so often."

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