Chapter 79
"So? Was it such a problem to get him a drink one time?" Mary asked venomously as she peered out of the lab and found Quentin sitting sprawled on a chair reading a newspaper. "Get up! I don't pay you for this!"
"Sometimes I'm quite surprised you pay me at all," he muttered to himself so she wouldn't hear it, and tossed the newspaper on the table. Mary narrowed her eyes ominously because she didn't understand. "Jesus, if something doesn't go according to your plan, you're even more grumpy than usual," he grinned. "He drank that serum. I made it up quite cleverly. "
"I'm quite surprised," Mary snapped, and Quentin laughed.
"If you think you're insulting me with this, you're wrong. But really, is that kid really such an idiot? He believes everything I tell him. Even to such bullshit... Are you sure you had that child with Stark and not with some idiot? Didn't you have any other relationships during the time you dated Tony?" he teased her, and he didn't care how upset she was. Apparently he was quite suicidal.
"You don't have to care," Mary growled. "People are best manipulable when they have a broken heart. They will believe everything and cling to all the people who show their interest in them."
"Oh, could you repeat that? I forgot to write it down in my devilish diary, where I write down all your remarks on world domination and so on. See?" He pulled a red notebook with a picture of the devil from the drawer. "Devilish."
"Remind me not to accept idiots like you next time," Mary said dryly, folding her arms across her chest. Quentin chuckled. "You're cheerful today. I don't like that."
"Thank you very much. Hey, Mary, how about a little relaxation? Everything is going like clockwork, the boy will be with us in a moment. It works out, don't worry," he said calmly, folding his arms behind his head, looking at the ceiling as if he were lying somewhere on the beach and sunbathing.
Mary slammed her fist on the table and Beck almost jumped. "But I'm worried! Whenever I have something close at hand, Potts appears and thwarts it. And I will not suffer this anymore. I have to get rid of her once and for all. I hate to do it, I wasn't really going to take that step, but it's absolutely necessary." She started pacing, and Quentin watched her with a raised eyebrow.
"And do you have a plan for how to do it?"
"Even if I did, I won't tell you this time. I'd rather work alone, and I have to be really careful about this," she growled, clenching her fists. She remembered Pepper's face and a strong hatred spread in her body. "I thought Peter would be too proud and hurt to return to her. Apparently I misjudged him. Our move didn't upset Anthony either. I thought they just wouldn't go through something like that. Knowing that the amazing Pepper Potts isn't as perfect as she thinks... Why didn't it work out? They should have lost faith in her, let her be, turned their backs on her..."
"Well, I know you work alone, but," Quentin cleared his throat. "I don't want to give you any advice, Mary, but I think it's called love. They overcame it all because of love. "
Mary snorted and tore off a few petals from the flower, which she began to crush. "Love," she repeated contemptuously. "That's exactly what will weaken them and eventually destroy them."
•••
"So it went well?" Nat made sure as she helped Pepper put the boxes in. Pep didn't get used to living here and she was moving again. Well, maybe. If it all worked out. Natasha generously offered to help her, she had practically nothing to do at home, and at least she could find out all the details while they were packing. Peter told her already, but she needed to hear it from Pepper as well.
"More than good! It was so beautiful, and after a while, it seemed to me that the months we'd been separated didn't happen at all," Pepper breathed happily, then straightened up and looked around at the half-empty boxes that lay in the room. She put her hands on her hips. "Do you think it was a good idea?"
"What?"
"Well, start packing."
"Pepper Potts, Tony practically told you to move back in, and Peter suggested it a little more gently because he's not as dictator as his father," Nat grinned, stretching her stiff back. Pepper had to laugh.
"It still feels like a dream to me. I felt exactly the same when Tony and I officially moved together. I'm really looking forward to being home again. It's great here, but neither Peter nor Tony is here," she breathed and sat down on the couch. Nat threw a pillow at her.
"I'll try not to take it personally."
"That's not what I meant, Nat! Of course, I'm looking forward to you too!" she assured her with a laugh. She was really cheerful, Natasha's presence, Peter's forgiveness, and Tony's love helped her forget and more easily get over what happened. Despite the miscarriage. Of course, they were some moments when she was overcome by sadness when she wanted to give up on everything, but because of them, she had to overcome it and move on.
"I honestly can't wait to get back in bed—"
"Skip the details," Natasha interrupted dryly, raising her hand. Now it was Pepper who had thrown the pillow at her.
"Hey! I mean, I can't wait to snuggle up to Tony in bed again! Looks like he's having a bad effect on you."
"He on me? Maybe more I on Tones. Although, it depends on what," Nat grinned, reaching for a glass of water. "My favorite couple will be together and happy again. And I won't have to play on a psychologist with you anymore. Sometimes it was really exhausting. So what do we drink to?" she asked, moving closer to her, lifting her glass. Pepper reached for hers and thought for a moment before smiling and tapping with her.
"To new beginnings."