After Tony had kept Rimuru in the lab for several days, Pepper finally managed to rescue him. Tony had been studying the T-1000 around the clock, so absorbed that he had apparently lost all awareness of the world around him. Rimuru could take it physically, but mentally, he was at his limit.
I feel like calling Tony a genius isn't even a compliment anymore. He works so hard that he forgets to eat and sleep, turning night into day and pouring so much effort into it all. Then someone just says, "Well, he's a genius," and dismisses all that hard work.
Rimuru admired Tony, but if someone asked him to do the same, sorry, he couldn't. "Pepper, save me!"
Stark Tower was quiet for a change because it was the weekend.
The lab had gone completely silent. Tony was thoroughly caught up in the T-1000's liquid-metal paradox, shutting himself away to wrestle with the laws of physics and leaving himself no time to wander out. The only sounds in the building were the soft noises of the robots, and in the living room were two people in entirely different moods.
For once, Pepper had taken time away from the company's complicated affairs. She didn't have to clean up Tony's messes or deal with piles of paperwork. Dressed in simple casual clothes, she looked gentle, but carried the familiar assertiveness of someone who wouldn't take no for an answer. She had long had her eye on Rimuru, who wore plain white every day, casual but monotonous. Today, she had made up her mind to give this slime a proper makeover.
Rimuru had been lounging on the couch, happily spacing out and slacking off. He was planning to swipe some of Tony's fancy desserts later and take a nice long nap afterward, only for Pepper to grab him and pull him up.
"Rimuru, hold still."
Pepper held down his body as he tried to curl into a ball and escape. Her voice was gentle, but left no room for negotiation. "You wear the same thing every day. It's too monotonous. Kids should dress neatly and look nice. I picked out several outfits especially for you last week, so today's the perfect day to try them on."
Rimuru froze, a bad feeling rising in his heart. "Tony, save me! Save me!"
ε=ε=(っ*´□`)っ
He could shapeshift, use Mimicry, and adjust his appearance however he pleased. He didn't need clothes at all, much less the complicated, restrictive outfits humans wore. Normally, he did as he pleased and went with whatever was comfortable, but faced with Pepper's gentle yet firm concern, he really had no way to resist.
Reasoning with her was no use, throwing a tantrum would be inappropriate, and running away would be too disrespectful.
He resisted fiercely in his heart, but still had to keep an obedient, sweet expression on his face. He stood still and nodded obediently. "O... okay."
The next second, Pepper brought out a whole bag full of new clothes.
Little floral dresses, light-colored knitted camisoles, soft princess-style petticoats, and fresh, light-colored pleated skirts. Every single piece was delicate, cute women's clothing.
Rimuru's pupils trembled slightly.
He had expected a change of clothes, but he had never imagined that Pepper's taste would be so thoroughly girlish. Every item was unmistakably women's clothing.
"Pepper..." Rimuru's mouth twitched stiffly as he made a last-ditch attempt to resist. His soft voice carried a pleading note. "A casual hoodie would be enough, wouldn't it? Men's clothes can look neat too. You don't have to go to all this trouble..."
"No." Pepper smiled gently, her hands moving briskly as she picked out a milky-white floral dress and held it out to him. "You have fair skin and delicate features. You'll look especially good in a light-colored dress. I spent ages picking these out, so you're not allowed to refuse."
She had spent her life cleaning up after Tony, who was hopeless at taking care of himself, and had long since mastered handling the little things and putting his messes in order. Dressing up the well-behaved, obedient Rimuru was even easier; she had him completely in hand.
Rimuru wanted to cry, but had no tears.
He was the mighty Rimuru, a monster overlord whose strength crushed countless powerful opponents. Cool and scheming before outsiders, with his aura at full force, he made everyone who saw him wary of him (at least, that was how Rimuru saw himself). Yet here he was, hiding in Stark Tower and being forced to wear a little dress.
His scheming thoughts were thoroughly bottled up inside, and he didn't dare let the slightest hint show.
He didn't dare resist and could only let Pepper do as she pleased. Her movements were gentle and meticulous as she patiently helped him change, straightened his collar, and smoothed his skirt. She even picked out a small pearl hair clip to go with it and carefully adjusted every detail.
Rimuru stayed stiff the whole time, his limbs rigid like a puppet being manipulated. Every second was pure torment. The restrictive feeling of fabric resting against his body was terribly unfamiliar to him, so used as he was to being relaxed and free.
Once he was dressed, Pepper looked at his delicate, well-behaved appearance with satisfaction, her eyes lighting up. "Look how pretty you are. It really suits you."
Rimuru glanced at himself in the mirror, at the gentle floral dress and little hair clip. His mouth twitched wildly, and he screamed for help inside, but still had to force a sweet smile onto his face. "...Y-yes, it looks very nice. Thank you."
His obedient smile could not have been faker, and he could barely keep it on his face.
He had fought countless hard battles and weathered countless crises in his life, but nothing had ever been more mortifying or more of a physical and mental ordeal than wearing a dress now.
He had thought changing clothes would be the end of it, but Pepper picked up her purse and casually took him by the wrist.
"All ready! Let's go out. The weather's nice today, so I'll take you shopping and we can have afternoon tea while we're out."
Rimuru's composure shattered on the spot.
Changing into women's clothes was one thing, but now he had to wear them out shopping?!
He immediately shook his head furiously, trying to find an excuse to slack off and get out of it. "We don't need to go out! I can just stay home. There are so many people outside, and I don't really like crowds..."
"Staying home is so boring." Pepper didn't fall for it at all. She gently pulled him toward the door, using just the right amount of force: gentle, but impossible to break free from. "It's a rare day off, so come out and relax. Don't worry, I'll take you to a shopping district that isn't too crowded, and afterward we can have the desserts you like."
Her words were gentle and thoughtful, but her actions were decisive. Just like that, she pulled the helplessly struggling Rimuru out of the house.
And so began an afternoon of ultimate torment on Rimuru's day off.
Pepper was thorough and patient as she shopped, taking her time in accessory shops, dessert shops, and clothing stores. Whenever she saw a cute little accessory, she held it up against him. Every now and then, she picked out new hair ornaments and little charms for him, smiling as she praised how perfectly they suited him.
All along the way, passersby kept casting them gentle, admiring looks, thinking the delicate-featured child in the soft little dress was especially adorable.
Rimuru's back stayed stiff the entire time, his steps mechanical and awkward.
With every step he took, the hem of his dress swayed gently, and the restrictive, awkward feeling wouldn't go away. He had to keep a sweet, obedient smile on his face at all times and go along with all of Pepper's compliments, never daring to let his true feelings show.
"You're really just too cute."
"I knew this color would suit you best."
"Next time, I'll pick out a few more outfits in this style for you."
Every enthusiastic compliment from Pepper was a perfectly aimed critical hit to Rimuru.
Inside, he was exhausted to the point of numbness and wailing wildly. On the surface, he remained sweet and well-behaved, responding gently and nodding obediently, playing the perfect obedient child.
After shopping, Pepper took him to an elegant, upscale Western restaurant and ordered a whole table full of delicate desserts, steaks, and drinks. The flavors were all extra sweet and delicate, just the sort of thing Rimuru loved (or so Pepper thought).
The food was indeed delicious, but it couldn't make up for how mentally and physically exhausted he was.
He held the elegant cutlery and ate slowly in small bites, his movements graceful and proper, his smile gentle and obedient. He followed Pepper's conversational lead perfectly, patiently listening as she talked about company matters, complained about Tony's bizarre antics, and shared amusing everyday stories.
In truth, though, his soul had long since drifted beyond the heavens.
His body was tired, his composure had shattered, and his sense of mortification was at its peak. He forced a smile throughout what could be called the most awkward and agonizing day of his life.
Ever since coming to this world, he had always been calm and at ease. Even facing the Ancient One hadn't left him this flustered; at most, he had been a little more timid.
Yet he had fallen into the hands of the gentle, considerate Pepper, whom he couldn't talk back to or resist at all.
On the way back to the tower that evening, the setting sun shone down softly, and the evening breeze gently stirred his skirt.
Pepper was in an excellent mood. She held his hand as they strolled along, still enthusiastically planning his next outfit and their next shopping trip.
Rimuru followed obediently, his smile sweet and gentle, though a weary, hopeless look had quietly settled in his eyes.
I'm so tired. Is this right? Aren't I a slime? How am I as tired as a dog?
System: "No. Do you remember the neighbor's dog from the last time you went to see the villa on Long Island? He wasn't nearly as tired as you."
"System, you mother..."
The moment they returned to Stark Tower and closed the door, Rimuru no longer had to feel the gazes of passersby or maintain his polished persona. He instantly went limp, shedding his entire obedient disguise in a second.
Before Pepper could say anything else, his form flickered. He shed all his clothes, returned to his round, soft, pure-white slime form, and flopped onto the couch, completely giving up.
He was exhausted in body and mind, his battery completely drained.
Seeing him lying there utterly listless and hopeless, Pepper couldn't help chuckling. She gently poked his soft body. "What's wrong? Worn out? But dresses really do suit you."
Rimuru shook his head furiously in his heart.
It might suit me, but that doesn't make it any less torturous, especially those women's panties!
I never want to be forced to go shopping in women's clothes again.
He silently made up his mind. As the saying went, how could a great man born between heaven and earth live forever in gloomy subservience? The next time Pepper picked out clothes, he would fight to the death to refuse, no matter what. Even if he had to act pitiful and wheedle, he would never let it happen again!