Chapter 26

After quickly checking the new clothes she now has, she decides to use a dark top with light blue jeans. She's actually kind of surprised by the amount of blue, red, and orange clothes she now has. There are a couple white and black, but mostly there are colorful clothes that go well with her hair color.

Anyway, they're in the lab, hanging out, as they were before everything went complicated with Obadiah. She feels relaxed in the face of the familiar setting, which is bizarre, since what they're about to do is totally abnormal. However, Tony seems to feel like her, because his shoulders are less tense and the grief that has been weighting him down since the death of Obadiah seems to be almost gone.

As usual, he's working on his next update for his suit while Jarvis films her. DUMMIE is with the fire extinguisher ready to fire at any fire. It's kind of cute, actually.

The last time they've done this, they analyzed half of Linoone's moves and some of Hatterene's, which was harder because she didn't have many moves focused on attack. She wanted to continue to do those that were left, but Tony was curious about the new form she used while on fighting: Gallade. He has been curious about that Pokemon ever since she told him he is a fighting type.

"He also has over 30 moves," she thinks to add, because she thinks it's important to note. "We'll be here for a while and it's already midday. Aren't you tired?"

"Never when it involves something I'm curious about," he beamed.

"What if we do Hatterene?"

"Didn't we do all her physical attacks? I think the only fun one was that Brutal Swing."

She blinks. "Weren't you the one who wanted to try status effects moves?"

"Yeah, when we were in the kitchen. Now, we're in the lab. So, let's go wild." He smiles with an eager smile while he claps his hands once. "And if you've got any Dark type attacks, the better."

"… You need help." She says around a smirk, before sighing indulgently. "Okay. Though the only dark type attack Gallade can use is Night Slash, which is pretty self-explanatory."

That said, she concentrates in the dark energy of the move, which is harder because she's still primarily a Psychic. But if Gallade can do it, so can she. She raises her hand and extends her fingers up, not leaving any gap between each digit. She concentrates until there's a dark shine covering her hand. The only sounds around her are coming from DUMMIE, who is trying to look for the best possible angle to attack, and from Tony, who is trying to improve a thruster but still keeps glancing at her to see her progress.

When she thinks the dark light is thick enough, she slashes her arm at the old piece of Titanium Tony had hanging around his lab.

It parts it into two with slightly jagged edges forming where the Night Slash made connection. With a deep sigh, she runs her fingers across the metal, feeling the jagged edges where the slash touched it, not as precise as she had hoped.

Tony quickly exclaims "Sweet!" with an excited expression, looking like a kid who just saw something incredible.

"Only you," she laughs at his excited face for one more moment before leaving the two pieces of titanium on the ground once again, noting the damage she has caused to the floor and wall. She gives a quick, 'Sorry' to Tony.

He waves at her quickly. "Don't worry about it."

She coughs in embarrassment but continues trying her moves. She's just finishing using her Leaf Blade when Pepper comes. She panics for a moment of indecision when she doesn't know if she should transform or not, when Tony touches her shoulder. It relaxes her almost immediately.

"Right," she mutters out loud. "Pepper already knows, so there's no problem."

Tony gives her a look when Pepper is going down the lab's stairs and is about to look up. "What are you talking about? Pepper doesn't know."

She turns her head so fast she's surprised she doesn't give herself a whiplash. "What?!"

Of course, fate chooses that moment to appear as the automatic doors open up and Pepper walks through, her gaze zeroing in her the next second. For one moment, she stood with her head held high, exuding confidence, before she glanced at her and suddenly seemed uncertain. It's just a second there, but it's there.

She puts a strand of hair behind her ear, a polite smile on her face as she looks at her before looking back at Tony. "Is there something you need, sir?"

"Two things, actually." When Pepper nods, he continues, "I want you to find the printer as soon as possible, or a pirate will be angry at me."

Pepper tilts minutely her head, but she manages to answer promptly. "If I'm not mistaken, that printer is in your office, sir."

"What? You're joking. I don't remember having anything like—"

"It's on the first floor, sir."

"You sure? I don't think I've seen it before."

"It's where I do your work when I stay here."

Tony seemed ready to continue bantering, but stopped when he saw Eva, who was probably looking at them with star-filled eyes. After all, she's seeing one of her favorite MCU couple interacting. She always liked them as a couple, even if she isn't too fond of Pepper's actress.

Still, she doesn't know why he looks so confused and slightly annoyed. He clicks his tongue and tells Pepper, "Lead the way, then."

Pepper does so, turning around to guide them. Or, specifically, just Tony. Not her.

Why does she say so? Well, because when they leave the lab, she's quick to point her to the couches in the living room, her professional smile intact. "If you don't mind waiting, I'll call a taxi for you later."

She blinks and looks outside through a window, where it shows a sunny day with harsh winds. Then looks at her clothes, which are comfortable but not ready for the cold that she's sure it's outside. She then looks at Tony.

"Er." At least, he's quick to act. He moves next to her and touches her shoulder in support. So even if the words don't come to him instantly, she forgives him. "Pepper, she's Eva. She can come."

He's clearly a genius.

She wants to facepalm, but doesn't do that with force of will. "What he means to say is that I'm the ferret that went with you to your home. Also, that creature who helped Tony. The green with white? Also, the blue creature that was today in the conference's backstage."

That makes her blink. Luckily for them, she doesn't reject the idea as soon as she hears it. "… You mean, you were that blue cat?"

She nods. "Yes, that's my original form. I just can transform into others."

Looking from Tony, who gives her a nod, to her once again, Pepper looks dubious as she asks, "Are you human?"

She probably already guesses the answer and is just asking for confirmation. "I'm not. I'm a Pokemon named Mew."