rescue-49:
Differentiating between Iron-man and Tony Stark felt like a constant battle with Tony for Pepper. Because most of the heroes were much more than their heroic persona in Pepper’s eyes at least. “I know it’s not as cut and dry as my beloved Tin-can man, but your magic? It’s what’s up there that counts, that’s what drives you not the arm flailing or the red stuff,” She shrugs as the wisp of a flame danced around the flickers of red magic stuff before simply just giving out. Pepper gave a tired sigh,”It makes for a very lame party trick right now or a very convenient lighter.” “They usually tend to be afraid because they haven’t humanized you, or connected the idea that you’re just a person too with fears and dreams and family and a life. It’s a hard question, but who do you want to be” It was a hard question that she wrestled with herself. So long she had been the no-nonsense assistant that seemingly had the abilities of precognition to know when Tony was going to fuck up and close a deal regardless if her boss was there. Somehow that evolved into the esteemed CEO of tech company that was genuinely trying to make good in the world while still remaining with more money than many socialists wanted them to have. Few government agencies and select questionable people in the less favorable circles also knew that she wasn’t a woman to be fucked with, but that was between herself and her board members. “To be fair, no one is Tony Stark who knows how to work the press since birth. That was part of the endless Howard Stark’s terrible parenting package. Which isn’t at all the plans for well,” Pepper awkwardly gestured toward her stomach,”It can be learned to a degree. God knows, I did. But I’m not nearly as cruel as Tony and the PR department who made it trial by fire. If I had a dollar for every page 6 tabloid from the past twenty years that said I was only here because I slept with him? I’d probably have billion myself from that. ”
“Party tricks are not lame, Pepper.” Wanda laughed, watching as the flame danced around before disappearing and shaping her own magic into a butterfly that fluttered about her head before also fading out. “Honestly, I have more fun with things like that than with the earth shaking, probability altering spells.” She felt much more relaxed and connected to her gifts in small forms like that. More like she was in control and not just a vessel for something that acted on its own.
She had to stop herself from thinking ‘that’s easy for you to say’. Pepper didn’t mean any harm and clearly she had more to grapple with than most people really knew, but she still had one advantage that Wanda did not: powers or no powers, she was still human. That didn’t change much, no matter what else people held against her. Wanda, however, was a mutant. There was a little further to go when a lot of people didn’t even really see you as being a human to begin with.
“Too bad we don’t get paid for any form of publicity. We’d all be rich then.” Not that Wanda was even sure that was something she would want. Money was never really something that was high on her list of desires, outside of just having enough of it to not be on the streets again. “You seem good at not letting it get to you too much though.”
