sixwordstories | (no subject)

But I could start experimenting. That's when things start to get a little dangerous. [He steps out from behind the bar and walks toward her with both drinks in hand. He holds one out to her and smiles] Your drink, Miss.

You're going to give a girl the wrong idea with talk like that. [She chuckled and took her drink, lifting in a small salute to him.] Why, thank you, sir.

Maybe it's not the wrong idea at all. [He lifts his own glass with a smile, and takes a drink]

[A brow arched upward and she gave him a mock-scandalised look.] So you are trying to get me drunk and take advantage?

[He grins, though it very quickly turns to boisterous laughter] Do I have to get you drunk first?

[Oh, laughter is so contagious. Besides, with the out-of-the-blue call-out, Pepper's glad to hear it. Something was going on, but it wasn't something she felt comfortable prying into.] No, actually, you don't.

[The laughter is only a little fake, at least. And there's definitely something going on with him, but he wouldn't talk about it even if she asked, beyond the obvious points] Oh really? That information would have been useful at an earlier date.

That information wasn't available at an earlier date.

So why now? Why so... Well, I guess 'suddenly' isn't really the word for it.

Precisely because it isn't so suddenly. I like to think I have some standards.

A lot more standards than I have.

I might be insulted by that.

You shouldn't be. It actually doesn't even apply to you.

That's nice to hear. [Pepper paused, contemplating Face before finally taking a drink.] You're really not going to give me any clue as to what's on your mind, are you? [By that she meant what's bothering him. Not that she actually expects him to say.]

[He thinks about her question, wondering how much he wants to tell her, if anything at all. Well, she's bound to talk to Hannibal sometime, and she'll end up finding out something, at least. May as well prepare her for it] I'm working on my own, now. [He refuses to act like it's actually bothering him, though]

[Pepper couldn't hide her surprise, though she recovered from it quickly.] Oh. [awkward...] Need an assistant?

[He expected the surprise, considering how he spoke of the team in past conversations, but not the question] An assistant?

Well, sometimes it's helpful to have someone else around when you change jobs. [She's just trying to keep the conversation light.]

Well, I haven't technically changed jobs. It's still business as usual, just with a few less players on the field, so to speak. I could probably use your help from time to time, though.

I'm always happy to help out a friend, Face.

Good. I might need you with me, to help me convince a few people that I am who I'm going to say I am. If anyone finds out though? Tell them that I forced you to do it.

Whatever you need, Face. I mean it.

Thanks Pepper. But I probably won't be asking too much of you from now, on.

I'll have to be satisfied with our occasional lunches and drinks, then.

How about lunch tomorrow?