tushanshu | [console | video] then we do it again (pre-hurricane)

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[console | video] then we do it again (pre-hurricane)

[Hi there, Keeliai. Remember this guy? It's been a while.

He's sitting in what looks like a cafe out in the city. For those who don't remember him from his previous stay, he's beautiful, with striking eyes that unfortunately have some pretty dark circles under them. He looks like he hasn't slept well in ages. He's wearing a three-piece suit and cradling a cup of something in his hands--lid on, because his hands shake.

He's... seen better days.

When he speaks, he's got a pronounced Irish accent.]

Right, I... I'm back. Surprise. [He smiles and his face lights up for a moment before the smile slips.]

I don't know how many of the people I knew are left. I know... I know we're missing some. [Studiously going to avoid mentioning Anton, thank you very much.] If you're still around and we were friends, or... talked, maybe drop me a line? And hello to all the newcomers. I know I've spoken with a few of you.

I'm back at the shelter, so. I mean, Brigid and Sonja are doing the real work, the paperwork and all that. I couldn't keep paperwork straight these days if I tried.

[The thought trails off. He looks a bit lost.]

If anyone happens to spot a talking skeleton, let me know, will you? He's got another punch coming if he shows his face again. And... if anyone happens to spot a tall, skinny redhead with an accent like mine, please tell him I'm looking for him.

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Yeah, I probably did. He works for the FBI; we live in New York City. It's just been the two of us since I was six. We make a pretty good team. [She sounds fond, and tries to keep the sadness out of her tone. Pepper misses him so much it makes her chest hurt.] He's the reason I wanted to be a SHIELD agent and fight crime and everything. I've been trying to help him on cases since I was little, but there's this whole 'needing to be an adult' rule that he keeps bringing up.

[There's a small smile now. Pepper knows that legally she's not entitled to arrest people and do half the things she's done, including hack into the FBI servers repeatedly (but they made it so easy), but legality has never really stopped her from fighting for justice.]

He was here for a little while, last April, when we had that big influx of Foreigners. I was kinda distracted by him, so I didn't get to meet all the other people that came. [Like Hopeless, and Rover. She'd met Ghastly, though.] It was cool getting to introduce him to a few people I never thought he'd get to meet. Weird, but cool. He and Rhodey are probably the only reasons I want to go back home; I'd be okay staying here permanently, if they were here, too. There's people here I'd miss just as much if I were home.

[The part about 'needing to be an adult' draws a soft laugh]

Being an adult is overrated. Our world's been saved half a dozen times by a girl no older than you.

[At the mention of her he pauses in his weaving, gripping the shuttle tight for a moment until the spike of panic passes. He's trying not to interrupt Pepper.]

Maybe you'll get lucky then, and he'll show up one day for good. Or you can treat your time here like a holiday and enjoy going back to your own world and your father when it's time. Since we go back to the time we came from.

[As he's recently confirmed, very painfully.]

[Pepper isn't sure what causes that tension in Erskine, but it must have something to do with whoever this girl is.]

I've done some world-saving myself, you know. More day-saving than world-saving, but I don't fly around in power armor just because it's fun. Only partly because it's fun.

[She shrugs and then sighs softly.]

I'm not really looking forward to going back, actually. As soon as I do, a giant alien ship is going to explode over Manhattan, and a lot of people are going to die. I know most of my friends survive, and my dad does, too, but it's not gonna be fun. Not for a while. At least we'll be together, which is good. I just... I don't want to forget, but I'm also not sure I want to remember. I'm not sure which'll hurt worse.

I meant to ask, actually--how did you end up a superhero? I'm assuming you didn't fall into a vat of radioactive waste or something like that.

[He's grateful for the diversion back away from her, and smiles a little as his weaving returns to its former rhythm. The smile predictably fades, however, at the mention of things exploding and people dying.]

I'm glad you and your father survive, at least. But we're happy to have you here for now. We'll just have to make the best of the time we have, I suppose.

No vats of anything, although I did get sprayed with hazmat foam once. It got up my nose, [Pepper recalls, faintly amused.] Tony needed a distraction while we were infiltrating a high-security building.

[The matter of Erskine's past doesn't seem quite settled, but she feels the tug back to lighter ground and goes with it.]

It all started when Tony came to the Tomorrow Academy - that's our high school.[Skipping the part about his dad supposedly dying and it being Gene's fault, whoops.] He was friends with Rhodey, who was sort of my only friend at the time, and so we all ended up together, more or less. And right around then there was this armored superhero that showed up called Iron Man - stopping runaway trains, catching villains, that kind of thing. [She's glossing over some of the less pretty bits of the story.] Anyway, I was pretty sure Tony and Rhodey were up to something and that Tony was Iron Man, and once he actually did the big reveal I started helping them out. Mostly I was operating suits remotely since I didn't have my own and it took me a little while to learn how to fly in one, but the three of us basically started doing a bunch of supervillain-catching and world-saving and whatever. A little while before I got brought here, Tony gave me my own armor and that was that.

Tony... I know I've heard of him, here and there, but I don't know if we've ever actually met.

[Other than that comment and a few appropriate nods along the way, he's quiet as she talks.

There's a faint tug of a memory at the name 'Iron Man,' something to do with Anton, but he doesn't remember well enough to say anything about it. He just looks puzzled for a moment before settling back to his weaving while Pepper continues.]

So you've got your suit here then, I assume? And you're moonlighting as a superhero to the kedan in between delivering fantastic smelling treats by day?

I.... think you may have met him before, but you probably didn't know him super well.

[They didn't run in the same circles, mostly.

She nods in answer to his questions, grinning now.]

Yeah, I've got my suit. I showed up in it, but I'm not hiding my identity. There wasn't a point; everyone already knew Tony and his suit by the time I got here. I've been using it a lot on night patrols for the police force, though, and any time there's problems that need either people who can fly or who are really strong. [And occasionally situations where there are fights, but those were comparably rare.]

That's possible. Swiss cheese memory, and all.

[Oh dear. Pepper's grin is infectious. He smiles back, and when he speaks again it's obvious that he's teasing.]

So you're a super hero and a police officer and you're, what? Twelve?

Excuse you, I'm nineteen. [She crosses her arms in mock offense.] And I'm helping run the force on top of working for it, just so you know.

[Pepper can't help but laugh quietly, and it's vaguely wistful.]

I've been told since I was twelve that I wasn't supposed to go after the bad guys, and if I'd listened to my dad and the rest of his FBI friends then I wouldn't have ended up taking on supervillains and saving the world. I get that I'm young, and I know that you're teasing, that's fine, but it's like no one takes me seriously until I'm wearing armor.

[This time instead of merely pausing in his weaving he stop altogether. Erskine sets the shuttle down and turns on his bench to face Pepper, smiling gently rather than grinning now.]

If it helps, I don't think I've ever even seen your armor, and I take you seriously. I know I can't speak for everyone else, but....

[He shrugs]

You know the worst about me, and you're still here. You're smart and passionate and you care about people who probably don't deserve it. I don't need to see your armor to believe that you've saved the world.

[Pepper looks a little bemused for a moment, and then flattered. She smiles, and it's smaller and more vulnerable than usual.]

Thanks, Erskine. Really.

[Then her smile turns just a shade wry, and she tilts her head to the side.]

Also, it's not about deserve. I've seen what giving people a second chance can do. Giving up on them isn't an option.

[And just like that, she's decided that she won't give up on Erskine, either. She hadn't quite known when she came here, but now... despite everything he's done, he needs help, and not hatred. Pepper has learned she can be angry and still care, and she does.]

Any time, love.

[He turns back to the loom instead of facing Pepper now, though he doesn't pick the shuttle back up. Just stares down at the machine with a faint, almost sad smile.]

That's a good way to look at things. Not very many people feel the same way, you know.

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[console | video] then we do it again (pre-hurricane)

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