margotkim:

So at one point in time I was planning to write an MCU fic about Pepper Potts and Hope Van Dyne, and all I really had was a word document with the title, “There’s a Special Place in Hell for Women Who Don’t Help Other Women (And Bitch, I Will See You There)” 

and the premise was that Stark Industries and Pym Technologies are basically the bitterest of tech enemies, and as the respective heads of their companies, Pepper and Hope are determined to destroy each other, even as they are both on the new Avengers lineup together. 

“Cute suit,” Hope says to Pepper suited up as Rescue. “Tell your boyfriend he made you look very pretty.”

“Cute suit yourself,” Pepper replies to Hope suited up as the Wasp. “Did your daddy make it for you?”

“No, I upgraded it myself. Because I actually understand the technology my company sells.”

“So good for you and your company. We all know scientists make the best CEOs. Hey, how are your stock options doing? I heard some dire things on CNN the other day.”

“It’s been a rough quarter, I’ll admit. Of course, a rough quarter for Pym Technologies has nothing on a rough quarter for Stark Industries. Now I forgot, how many evil sentient robots have you guys made this week?”

And meanwhile Rescue and the Wasp just saved fifteen hostages. 

At the successful mission after party, Scott and Tony make the mistake of talking to each other, which means that Pepper and Hope both come over, and there’s like the actual sound of Kill Bill sirens when they see each other. 

“Love your hair today, Hope,” Pepper says. “Not enough modern women are willing to publicly declare that they are more than just their looks.”

“Thank you, Pepper,” Hope says. “Some of us modern women just have more to fall back on.”

“Oh come on,” Scott says cheerfully, while Tony makes a little throat slitting gesture like stop, Scott, you wanna stop. “I know you two really like each other.” Pepper and Hope stare at Scott with unmitigated horror. Scott grins all the wider. “You two get drinks when you’re in the same city. You work together on missions all the time. Hope can’t stop talking about your work, Pepper, and Tony says that you’re a big fan of Pym Tech’s new direction. You guys are like the kind of enemies that are basically friends.” 

“No,” Pepper says after a long pause she shares with Hope, the only time they have ever willingly shared anything. 

“Scott,” Hope says, “we’re the kind of enemies that are basically enemies.” 

Pepper turns to Hope. “You’ll notice that my boyfriend knew enough not to say that.” 

“My boyfriend has faith in people,” Hope replies. “Maybe Tony should try that sometime.” 

“Why does this now involve me?” Tony asks, but no one is listening to him, mostly because he is superfluous to the actions here because Stark Industries may have his name, but Hope is here to wrestle with the CEO. And Pepper is quite possibly willing to literally wrestle. 

“I hate her so much,” Pepper tells Tony that night in bed. 

“I can tell,” he says, “from the last two hour speech you’ve given on everything Hope Van Dyne has done for Pym Tech in the last week.”

“She’s my true nemesis,” Hope tells Scott as they both ride their ants through the city for a midnight jaunt. “I want to destroy her.”

“You saved her life in battle like four times today,” Scott replies. 

And Hope just whispers, “Destroy her.” 

It is, in many ways, the most passionate relationship in these women’s lives.