Fashion Victims

"Try this on," Pepper Potts instructed. It was 40 percent a suggestion and 60 percent and order. Pepper felt she owed Natasha Romanoff a debt and she was determined to repay it in good fashion — with good fashion.

Natasha Romanoff thought acting as Pepper's assistant (bodyguard) was all in a day's work for an Avenger and taking down the attempted kidnapper had been child's play. But Natasha also appreciated the concept of having red in her ledger. If Pepper wanted to buy her something to say thank you, Natasha wasn't going to object.

She just wasn't sure why Pepper settled on dress shopping.

"It really isn't necessary," the SHIELD agent had protested. "I have more than enough clothes."

Pepper made a scornful noise. "Dresses from missions. Don't you want a dress that's all for you, that doesn't make you think of blood and combat."

Natasha wavered then. It was true that all her nicest clothes were from SHIELD. It would be nice to have a dress that would make Tony wolf-whistle and make Bruce and Steve dope-slap him simultaneously, a dress that would make Clint's eyes light up and make him shake his head when he couldn't identify it with a city and a mission.

"That would be nice," she admitted.

"Done," Pepper said with a smile.

So here they were after-hours at Renee-Irene's, a tasteful boutique where the goal was to make the customer look beautiful and not to show off the designer's imaginative innovations. Renee-Irene herself was tall and poised and genuinely friendly. She gladly opened her store after hours to suit the CEO's busy schedule and Natasha's concerns about security.

"I'm sorry you had to stay late," Natasha said to Renee-Irene's chirpy young assistant, Cherry Wang.

"Oh, no, I'm happy to stay," the girl said. "The extra money helps with all the college loans and Ms. Potts is wonderful to work with. She's been very kind with advice about starting my own business."

"Cherry hopes to go into competition with me someday," Renee-Irene said impishly.

The girl laughed. "Never in competition," she said. "I want to specialize in business suits."

"Leaving me merely with evening gowns and cocktail dresses. You are too kind, my dear," Renee-Irene said with a musical laugh.

"Hmm, I think a cocktail dress is more what I'm looking for," Natasha mused. She twirled in front of the mirror. The black sequined evening gown looked beautiful on her, but, in her mind, evening gowns were work attire. She wanted something she could wear for dinner at a good restaurant with a little clubbing after. "And no black, or red."

Renee-Irene and Cherry held a discussion that consisted primarily of pursed lips and tilted heads.

"Reminds me of you and Clint," Pepper said quietly with a little giggle. She was sitting on a comfortable chair with her purse on her lap and a cup of exquisite coffee on the small table beside her. Her prim pose made it clear that this fitting was about Natasha not her.

"Maybe the green?" Cherry suggested.

"I think the sea-blue," Renee-Irene countered.

Cherry blushed. "Really?" she squeaked.

Renee-Irene just flicked one finger and Cherry scampered away in excitement. She went through a curtain-draped door into what ought to be the shop next door. Natasha caught a glimpse of bare plywood and plastic-covered shapes beyond. When she and Pepper came in, Natasha had noticed security bars on the empty store next door and windows covered with plywood painted in bright designs.

"How is the remodeling coming?" Pepper asked Renee-Irene.

"They've finished the construction," the couturier answered. "Next comes the decorating. For now, we're storing the new collection in there."

"Be sure to send me an invitation to the grand opening," Pepper said.

"You will be first on the guest list," Renee-Irene promised. "I don't know if I could have gotten the loan without your backing."

"I didn't tell them anything but the truth," Pepper replied. "That you were my favorite designer and had a loyal clientele. And that I would bankroll your expansion if they wouldn't."

"Which is why you're my favorite," Renee-Irene said honestly.

Natasha stepped into the curtained changing room to remove the evening gown, but didn't bother to close the curtain. The only thing she had to hide was her arsenal, tucked in her purse under her neatly folded street clothes.

Cherry returned, pushing a button beside the door after she came in. She looked like she was carrying a waterfall. The sleeveless silk dress shimmered in blending shades of blue and teal.

"Oh," said Natasha, entranced. She reached greedily for the dress and slipped it on. It hugged her curves and clung to her thighs. A gauzy ruffle in the same colors outlined the shallow V-shaped neckline. From the point of the V, the ruffle snaked to her left hip and curled down around the asymmetrical hemline.

"Oh … my … God!" Pepper said in admiration. "You look like a water nymph!"

"This is Cherry's design," Renee-Irene said proudly. The fashion student blushed and stammered at the customers' praise.

"The fabric is Renee-Irene's design," the girl said.

"You two make a perfect team," Pepper said honestly. "Don't let her get away, Renny. Make her a deal. Make her a partner!"

"Isn't that what I said?" the couturier asked the student.

"I thought you were joking," Cherry said breathlessly. Then, remembering the customers, Cherry scampered for the accessories. "These shoes would be perfect," she said, handing Natasha a pair of three-inch spike heels in a rich, dark blue. Then Cherry darted off again, looking for the matching handbag in a jumble of goods that had been moved because of the construction.

Renee-Irene stepped backward toward the shop door to get a better look at the ensemble. Natasha slipped on one shoe then, teetering, reached for the other. Pepper stood and put her hand on Natasha's shoulder to help her balance. Cherry popped up, holding up the bag in triumph.

In that moment with Natasha off balance on one foot, looking down at her shoe, someone came through the front door.

"I'm sorry, we're closed," Renee-Irene began as she turned.

A big man backhanded her in the jaw. She went flying across the room, crashed headfirst into the wall and collapsed unconscious without ever seeing her attacker.

Cherry shrieked in fear and a second man entering on the heels of the first fired his silenced pistol. The promising fashion student dropped with a hole between her eyes and an expression of fear on her face.

"Now, Miss Potts, you're coming with us," the first man growled around the stub of a lighted cigar. He inhaled in triumph, making the cigar tip glow red.

To be continued

A/N: Yes, I know, I liked her, too, but now Natasha has good reason to get mad. This is part 1 of 3.