Pepper’s Day in – Part 4? I think it’s part 4?

Pretty sure this is part four, but I honestly don’t know so it’s just gonna be part four regardless, okay?

Pepper’s heart began to beat faster. Was he dreaming? Was Lightning really in his apartment again after so many months? On one hand, he was elated ((not that he’d ever admit such a feeling)). On the other… he was so nervous it was hard for him to enjoy this new development. With the blue-haired lady’s gaze falling over her haphazardly tidied abode, Pepper felt a bead of sweat form near his brow.

At first, Lightning simply walked around in silence. After a few minutes, Pepper cleared his throat to kill the awkward noiselessness.

“So, uh, just… look around, I guess. You said you think you left something here. That’s the only reason you’re here, right?” he grumbled.

Lightning looked over to him.

“Huh? O-oh! Yeah! That is… eh-hem.. the only reason…. isn’t it?” she mused, laughing nervously.

Pepper tapped his foot against the carpet.

“Well, I guess just… look wherever. Sorry if it’s not totally clean though. I’ve been busy….. it’s not like I just sit around all day here…” he said hastily, though it was obvious that the opposite was true.

“Is that so?” Lightning murmured, only half-listening to Pepper as she made her way towards the bedroom. There, she approached the closet and tugged at the handle. At first… the closet wouldn’t open.

“What the– what gives?” she asked with a raised brow as she pulled harder on the closet doorknob.

Pepper looked equally as confused.

“Huh?! It must be jammed…” he said. He then thought back to his hasty cleaning, when he’d packed the closet full of all that was on the floor. He tugged at his shirt collar, suddenly feeling hot with nerves as to what would happen when she did manage to pry the closet open.

Lightning was adamant as ever, and yanked the door so roughly that the hinges began to squeak. She narrowed her eyes, and with a determination she back up, cracking her knuckles. She rolled her ankle slightly, and wound up to kick.

“What are you– HEY YOU CAN’T JUST WRECK THE DOOR!” Pepper shouted, but it was too late. Lightning shot her foot forward with all the force she could muster, and the snapping of metal could be heard straining from the hinges.

The door flew away from the frame, nearly hitting Pepper as he jumped to the side.

Then, with the door no longer guarding the contents of the closet, the disaster unfolded.

“Sh-shit! Lydia, what have you done?!” Pepper snapped. Upon hearing her birth name from his mouth, she turned towards him, eyes wide. This was enough to distract her from the avalanche of clutter that was about to bury her alive.

–to be continued?–