I don't own anything to do with the Avengers, but would I be writing this if I did? I know Amy Acker has now been cast as the Cellist but I started this before I knew that so this story shall not follow anything to do with that cellist.
Phil Coulson was dead. That much Louise Roberts knew for sure. She was just a regular citizen. How did she know him in the first place? It's an interesting story actually, perhaps it should be told from the beginning. There's a possibility that it should be told from the end, but where's the interest in that? Right, it's been decided. The story shall be told in five parts; The Beginning, The Beginning of The Middle, The Middle, The End of The Middle and The End. Let's start at the very beginning, for as Maria once said in the Sound of Music, it's a very good place to start.
THE BEGINNING
Louise thought that she should have been more careful, then again, she thought Phil should have too. It was a cold, blustery, winter's night, the concert in which Louise had been performing had just finished, she was walking home, phone in hand, texting one of her good friends, Kelly. It was well past eleven pm, so Louise did not expect anyone to be out and about, at least not walking.
Phil Coulson also happened to be walking home, to a very rarely used flat in New York. There was a cup of coffee on his hand, which he was not only using to keep himself awake, but to warm himself up too. Phil was also trying not to think of the mountains of paper work he had been assured by Fury were piling up in his home. Fury had given him the night and next morning 'off' and by 'off' he meant catching up on paperwork.
Unknowing to themselves, their paths would cross. When they did, the worst happened. Louise's phone left a bruise in Phil's chest, his coffee left a burning stain in her blouse. Both apologizing profusely, Louise marched Phil to the nearest all hours coffee shop, and bought him another one. Phil gave her some money for a new blouse, given the one she was wearing had been completely ruined.
They then went their separate ways, neither expecting to see the other again. Neither could recall what they talked about, but the others face and charming persona definitely stuck in their minds. That could have been it, end of story, but it wasn't.
A little less than a month past, of boring S.H.I.E.L.D. work for Phil, a little less then interesting concerts of the same old music, the same old people for Louise. They both found that they thought of the other often, though neither thought that each would see the other again.
It was no secret at S.H.I.E.L.D. That Phil Coulson loved Captain America, and classical music, so when Fury presented him with a ticket to a live classical performance, and a night off, properly off, Phil quickly accepted, and though he remained professional, he jumped for joy inside. He had just come back from Berlin with Barton and Romanoff, and though the mission had been very successful, each had their fair share of cuts and bruises, and all three's concentrated mainly on the face and fore arms.
Every evening, before the concert with her orchestra started, Louise would scan the crowd, looking to see if there was anyone that she knew. She almost did a double take when she saw him. He had a long cut down one side of his face, a yellowing-yet-still-purple bruise on the other cheek, just below the eye. Yet, he though this change in his face, he was definitely her coffee-spiller, Phil Coulson.
Throughout the show, Louise was distracted and kept sneaking glances at Phil who just-so-happened to be sitting in the front row of the circle. Phil noticed this and immediately recognised her, of course it had been a cello on her back when they had met before. The concert was lovely, the music beautiful, but Phil was totally entranced by one particular cellist. The cellist whom he had met and the one who had introduced herself as Louise. Lovely name, pretty girl, this time when he would meet her, he would get to know her personality and definitely get her number.
When it had finished, Louise packed up at the speed of light, though it was not needed as Phil was waiting for her outside the stage door. He walked Louise home, which unusually took a good half an hour, both of them walking at an incredibly slow pace, in which time they talked, got to know each other better. Phil listened as she described her dream of being a first class cellist, playing in a different concert hall every night.
They arranged a date to meet again, next Friday at twelve o'clock, for lunch. Louise couldn't do dinner because of her job as a cellist, the concerts always were in the evening. They would meet at the restaurant, a little Italian place, a few blocks from both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the concert hall. As they were saying goodbye on her doorstep, Louise gave Phil a quick peck on the cheek, a sign which meant to Phil that she really did like him.
The next day as he walked to work, Phil whistled to himself, a very out of character thing for him to do, a thing which meant he was exceptionally happy. He then realised he had to ask Fury for more time off and became a little less cheery. Phil rationally explained to the director his situation, to which the director said, "I give you tickets to a classical concert and you manage to get yourself a date? Only you Phil Coulson." He did, after some persuading, eventually agree though.
That week, for his birthday had fallen on a Saturday, Phil Coulson was exceptionally happy. The only fact remained was that no one knew why. Not even Barton and Romanoff, and they knew all of Agent Coulson's secrets. He in turn knew theirs, but still. No matter how hard anyone tried, they could not get a word out of him. He was a spy, of course he could keep some secrets, but such a big secret, in such the place where such a large amount of world class spies lived and/or worked, it was extremely surprising.
In the orchestra, the same thing happened. Everyone noticed how Louise Roberts had and extra flourish in her bow, an extra wide smile, she even talked backstage, a first for the quiet, bookish girl. Some who had not even noticed her before, began to strike up conversation to learn about her and her interests. People who had classed her as a nerd found out more things about her, which were all still pretty nerdy, but also pretty cool. Many musicians wondered what had brought on this fun loving Louise, though the truth was, even she didn't really know. It was just a date, she had been on plenty before. Truth be told, she didn't really know anything about this guy, he had mainly let her talk when they first met, and when he had walked her home.
By the time Friday rolled around, Louise couldn't wait to know more about Phil, and he, her. Phil picked her up from her small home at quarter to twelve. He had spent all morning fussing about what to wear, and no, he did not dress in his usual classic suit, he had jeans and a Captain America tee on.
"I love your top!" Was the first thing that was said to him, straight away as the door was answered. Phil's eyes widened, his smile brightened. Louise quickly added, "And you too." Though the mention of the Cap had more effect on the older man.
"Don't you think that he was one of the best? The first real super hero!?" Phil fanboyed, and that was it, he was off in his own little fan boy world about all things Captain America. Just as they were about to reach the restaurant, Louise realised that she had been with a friend at an auction when her friend had lost a Captain America trading card to this man. She brought this up, and he showed her the full set in photos on his phone. They reached the small restaurant, in which their conversation was stopped. Louise's spaghetti carbonara came quickly, as did Phil's Pollo Al Fungi pizza. The food was excellent, the service fantastic, but the main part each of them were to remember would be staring in to the other's eyes, all blue, glassy, fascinating orbs which brought light in to each of their faces. Lunch was soon finished all too soon for not only Louise but Phil as well. He hadn't been expecting to have a great date, for he hadn't been on one for most of the time he had been at S.H.I.E.L.D. due to the all things classified rule, and not being able to have the time off.
Once they had finished, Phil invited Louise back to his flat, where they hung out for the rest of the afternoon, until Louise had to go back to the concert hall. Phil went back in to S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury had called him in for a few reasons, mainly to discuss Barton's abysmal paperwork, but once they had finished that topic, the director asked, "How did the date go?" To which Phil smiled in response. It had been amazing. So, so good. Wonderful. Fury nodded to this though said, "Don't let this interfere with your work, agent. Don't become emotionally compromised." Phil shuddered slightly at the directors words, and voice. Fury could be scary when he wanted to be.
It just so happened that a certain archer had been crawling along the vents outside Fury's office at that time. He heard that Phil had been on a date and quickly told a certain spider. They weren't first class spies for nothing. Together, the hawk and the spider made their way to Agent Coulson's office at eleven thirty that night, where they guessed he was on the phone. This was after the female agent had rapped on the door three times in quick succession, and they heard a faint, "Sorry, gotta go, bye Lou." And some kissing noises which both of the agents had gagged at.
Phil's low rumble soon invited them to come in, and though Coulson was not surprised at seeing Natasha and Clint standing there, he was surprised at the topic they had come to discuss. "Who are you dating?" Clint blurted out, forgetting his and Natasha's plan to approach the matter sensitivity and calmly. Clint stared at Coulson which his cold, stormy, grey eyes, hoping he looked terrifying enough for his handler to be truthful about it.
At first, Phil tried to deny it, but under Clint's cold glare he crumbled. "A-a Cellist," he admitted, blushing and staring at the ground. "She's called Louise." With this information, Barton and Romanoff began to interrogate Coulson about his cellist for the remaining half hour of the day. They both couldn't wait to meet, judge and scare her, for their handler was just like another best friend. Phil was the first to notice when they began dating, when they had a mini break up, and would be the only guest at their wedding in Budapest, but that was a whole different story.
When the Hawk and Spider finally went away, Phil sighed to himself. He really did like that girl. But if they were in a relationship it would be difficult. As said before, he very rarely got time off, and spent a lot of time halfway across the world. This was the reason he hadn't really dated anyone since he had joined S.H.I.E.L.D. But he really did like her, and she really did like him.
Louise was a little downhearted that night when she got to the concert hall. She wished she could haves had spent more time with him. Phil. That night Louise played well, she was not entirely focused but how could she be? She had just met the 'man of her dreams' however cliché that may sound.
Again, Louise quickly packed up, slotting the bow in place and zipping up the case. Though she had seen him not a few hours ago, on her walk home she calls Phil again, out of loneliness and simply wanting to hear his voice again.
BRING BRING
BRING BRING
BRING BRING
Louise was beginning to give up hope by the third ring. Every time she had called Phil before, he had picked up ok the first. Maybe he was busy.
"Hello, this is Phillip J. Coulson, please state your name and business here to-err-night." Phil's voice came on the end of the line. Louise chuckled slightly, that must be the way he was told to answer his calls at work.
"Hello Phillip J. Coulson, this is Louise E. Roberts. I would like to see if you're available to chat." That time she heard him laugh. His laugh was quite cute, it reminded her of bubbles and rainbows.
"I'm at work, but I could probably talk at the same time."
"Only probably?"
"Definitely."
"Okay then... Who do you even work for?"
"A government agency. S.H.I.E.L.D. The rest is kind of-"
"Classified. Don't worry. One of my stupid ex's worked there. I know just about everything's classified." Phil had hoped that his job wouldn't really come up, but it was out there. At least she understood. Louise was a little miffed but already knew that herself and Phil would be able to work around it, unlike that idiot James Clifton. She wasn't the least surprised when Phil asked who it was, and he was none too surprised when it turned out to be agent Clifton. Phil had never liked that agent. He was a complete idiot.
Louise suddenly heard three loud knocks crackling through her reception, and Phil saying, "Sorry, gotta go, bye Lou." And kissed her down the phone. Phil then cut off quite quickly, before Louise could reply. Louise was a little shocked. No one ever really called her 'Lou' and if they did, she stopped them pretty soon. However, 'Lou' found herself liking the name as it was coming from Phil's lips and though she was not given the chance to, she wouldn't stop him from saying it in the future either. The phone was put back in Louise's pocket as she pulled her jacket tighter, hoping to shelter herself from the harsh wind that tormented the city. It didn't do much to help, though Louise soon was home and tucked up in a nice, yet empty bed. Aside from the teddies this is.