Sitting At A Coffee Shop with Captain America

by A Velvet Rose

Tania Banks is just an average business woman who survived the alien attack a month prior, trying to make a living in a mangled New York City. She's not Captain America's biggest fan, but when she runs into him (or rather, he runs into her - literally) on the street, she starts to become one. Steve/OC, whole team included, 3rd genre would be action, Part 4 posted

2. Chapter 2

A.N. Hey all! Guess what? Im baaaaack! I've finally started making this a multi chapter and I've got tons of plans for this story. I'm just warning you now, although this story mostly focuses on Tania and Steve, the entire team will have their moments and be involved quite a bit in the story. You'll see why in a few chapters ;) Chapters are not going to be updated regularly, but I'm kind of in an Avengers Obession mode right now and have been for the past month or so, so I'll probably be updating this alot more than my Glee fics (sorry guys! I kind of lost where I'm going with those...) Anyway, I'll let you enjoy chapter two of Sitting At A Coffee Shop WIth Captain America (quite a mouthful isn't it?) Enjoy! :D

Disclaimer - I don't own the Avengers, Drew Barrymore, Finding Nemo, Harry Potter, or anything else. Potter Inc. was something I made up on the spot based off the notion that my friend loves Harry Potter. I own nothing except for my OCs.

CHAPTER TWO

Tania sat in Tony Stark's office, utterly soaked to the bone and totally ruining the material on the chair she was currently sitting on, but Mr. Stark didn't seem to mind. She certainly wasn't about to bring it up and possible shatter her chances of working with the biggest face in business history (in her opinion anyway). She sat with her hands folded neatly in her lap atop her navy pencil skirt and crossed her ankles to the side, nodding every few seconds or so, making sure not to do it at exact times. He was a genius, she didn't want him figuring out that she wasn't listening. But then one word caught her attention and she refocused on his spiel.

"... offer up anything you've got. Now, I'm not usually one to care about what others are telling me and I assure you I won't give you the reaction you were expecting, but I'd like you to tell me what you had in mind that you think could possibly benefit Stark Industries when it has a fine CEO like Ms. Potts to run it better than I ever did." Tony finished, playing with stuff on his desk the whole time as if he wasn't even paying attention to what he himself was saying.

Tania found herself blinking uncontrollably in shock. "You mean, now? As in, give you a full and impressive presentation on my ideas for your marketing and advertising... without any of my stuff? You have to understand Mr. Stark, that I came here on a whim. I-"

"I don't want to hear it! If you've got something to say to me, say it now before I change my mind." he kicked his feet up on the desk and leaned back in his chair with his arms behind his head, a smug look on his face that seemed permanently etched into his features.

Tania didn't do anything for a few seconds, scrambling with her thoughts on what to do. What was her idea again? Umm... oh, right. She cleared her throat and stood up. "Well, Mr. Stark-"

"Tony's fine." he interrupted. She glared at him, nervous as she was he was not helping. She took another deep breath and started again.

"Right, Tony. Well, I believe that with all of the promotion for the Avengers working together as a team to save all of New York, not enough focus has been put on each individual Avenger. Seeing as how almost every citizen of New York City has been calling your 'humble abode' as you call it, Avengers Tower instead of Stark Tower, I believe I could reinforce the idea that before the team came together, there was a great man or woman behind each mask or name. If you'd prefer, I could focus simply on Iron Man alone and try to separate him-"

"Now I'm going to stop you right there." Tony dropped his legs and leaned forward on the desk, staring straight into her eyes as though he could peer through a window and find a woman changing her clothes inside. "You've got the right idea, but as you said, the Avengers are a team now, and no matter how much credit Iron Man gets, they will always be a team. You can not take me away from the rest of them, not only would I and the others be against that, but Fury would have your ass on a silver platter in a matter of seconds. And might I add that it is a fine ass indeed."

She blushed from her head to her toes and felt herself getting warmer despite the water still dripping off her. This was not the kind of warmth she felt when she was with Steve, this was something entirely different, and entirely uncomfortable. Was this how every girl felt around Stark? If it was, she couldn't imagine why anyone would want to sleep with him. She must be feeling it wrong... Shaking her thoughts away, and splashing some more droplets of water around his office, Tania tried to pursue her idea. She could not lose this opportunity, she could get fired from Potter Inc. for skipping today, and if she didn't get this job with Mr. Stark then she was pretty much unemployed. Crossing her fingers for luck, she began again.

"I'm not trying to isolate Iron Man from the others, you've got it all wrong, what I'm trying to do is get the history and triumphs of the great Tony Stark out there, share what he wants to be shared across the city, the state, the country, heck! Even the world! Everyone should know that Tony Stark is a menace, and that together with the rest of the Avengers, they are a force to be reckoned with. Now, I'm not doubting that the television clips of the battle with the aliens last month wasn't effective, because it was, but there are millions of people who don't have TVs, cable, or even wi-fi or internet. With me on board, I could your face on the covers of magazines, newspapers, written with smoke in the sky, flying across a banner from an airplane, have professional authors write a biography on you and sell it for the big bucks here in America while giving it out for free to countries that can't afford it."

Tony smacked his palm on the desk, his eyes alight with what appeared to be excitement. "I like it! And more importantly, I like you. You're spunky and determined and I like the way you think. Now, I don't need to be any richer than I already am, but more money for Stark Industries means more vacation time for my girlfriend, for which I would be grateful to you. Keep coming up with ideas and promises like that and you'll get promoted in no time. Just don't forget to make good on them."

Tania didn't breathe. "Does that mean...?"

Tony smirked and stood up, knocking the chair with wheels against the wall behind him as he stuck out a hand for her to shake. "Welcome to Stark Enterprises." Tania grasped his outstretched hand and shook it once, the smile threatening to break her face in half.

"Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea how much was riding on this. Thank you so much." She let go of his hand and grabbed her purse. "I guess I should get go-"

"Ah ah ah!" he waved his finger back and forth, "where do you think you're going? You start right now. Get to work."

"Wha-? Right now? But... I'm all wet."

"I'm sure no one would mind. I certainly don't and I'm pretty sure Capsicle surely doesn't." Tania blushed again.

"I mind."

"Majority rules."

"I'm technically still working for Potter Inc, I have to go tell them I quit." And oh how satisfying that would be. Still, Tony was having none of it.

"You can do it tomorrow."

"But I-"

"Jarvis!" Tony called halfway through her next excuse.

"Yes sir?" Tania jumped.

"Who's there?" she whipped around to the doorway, but no one was there. Tony chuckled and shook his head.

"That's my AI Jarvis. He's the most advanced supercomputer in the world and operates on voice command. He's kind of an ass. But I programmed him that way."

Tania was speechless. A computer... that could talk back? "You mean like Siri?"

Tony's smile fell off his face. "No. Nothing like Siri. Jarvis is MUCH better than that. For one, he's british. Two, he's got a personality of his own, he's an ass. Three, he's not just on your phone, he's everywhere. Even in my suit. Four, because I made him." he smirked again, any offense having been replaced with admiration of himself within seconds. He didn't let Tania get a word in before speaking to JARVIS yet again. "Jarvis, tell Pepper to get some dry clothes for Ms. Banks and deliver them to my office."

"Right away sir."

"I don't see how he's an ass." Tania said hesitantly. Technology like that.. was kind of creepy if she was being honest, but she wasn't about to tell Tony that. She didn't want to get fired before even starting anything.

"Oh you will, trust me. Now all we have to do is wait until Pepper shows up and you can get changed and start working."

"Don't I have to sign something?"

Tony waved the concern away. "Pepper will get you all set up. You'll be fine. But there are a few things you should know about working for me."

"And what's that?"

"Don't double cross me. You know, get your hands on information you're not supposed to have and then give it to people like Justin Hammer or Loki, not that that's possible but still. No back stabbing. Another thing you should know is that I 'don't play well with others' apparently, so if I offend you in anyway, quitting would probably be the easiest way to go though I'm telling you now it will be the biggest mistake of your life. Now, I normally don't personally interview new employees, especially not ones so low in the pyramid, but you're an exception. Partly because you intrigue me and partly because you're rather pretty. But I know that if I hire you that I won't see you around very often, still, I know that you'll do great things for my company. So if you even so much as think of getting on my bad side, and let me tell you that's a pretty easy thing to do, then Jarvis will warn me immediately. Are we clear?"

"As day."

"Perfect." As if on cue, Pepper Potts knocked on the glass door separating the office and the hallway carrying some clothes neatly folded on her arm. Tony smiled warmly at her gestured for her to come in. She did so and it occurred to Tania that the two girls were dressed rather similarly. Pepper was wearing a brown pencil skirt with a tiny slit on the side and a pink blouse with ruffles and a brown scarf with her hair in a messy bun while Tania was wearing a navy blue pencil skirt, white blouse and navy blazer with a black purse and her hair was in a low ponytail. Pepper also had an earpiece in her ear.

"Hello again," she addressed the drenched girl in the middle of the room, "I don't believe we've officially met. My name's Virginia, but everyone calls me Pepper." she stuck out a hand to shake and Tania took it in her own, properly greeting the famed CEO of Stark Industries.

"Hello Pepper. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise. Now come on, let's get you dressed."

"She could change right here if she feels like it." Tony offered. Pepper rolled her eyes and Tania flushed for the third time since she'd gotten there. Pepper got behind her and slightly pushed her shoulders to make her move forward, only embarrassing her further.

"No Tony, we do not treat employees like that. Especially not when said employer has a very hard working girlfriend waiting for him to get his act together and come up from his office more than once in a lifetime." Tania could tell that both Tony and Pepper were used to this kind of banter and it flowed easily between them like waves crashing on one shore to another.

"You left out mouth wateringly gorgeous."

"I can't say the same for you." With that, she led Tania through the doorway with Tony opening and closing his mouth, wanting to say something back but it was too late. It was uncommon for Pepper to get the last word, so when she did, she bore a smirk for the rest of the day and enjoyed it. Tania noticed the smirk right away and laughed.

"Nice one." she commented. Pepper treated her to a smile and handed her the clothes, now walking side by side with her instead of behind.

"Thank you, it's not often I get the best of him like that."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Oh, he can have quite the way with words when he wants to."

"I can imagine."

They continued walking in companionable silence, both of their heels clacking quietly but audibly on the carpeted floor. After a little while, Pepper started a conversation again.

"So I'm assuming you got the job?"

An ear-splitting grin crossed her face and she nodded frantically. "Yeah, I can't really believe it myself. I mean, I was just going to work like usual this morning when all of a sudden this golden opportunity shows up and I get to meet THE Tony Stark AND get a job with his company! This is like, the best day of my life!" Tania left out that meeting Steve was also a big part of why she was so happy. Pepper raised an eyebrow.

"You know Ms. Banks, Steve and I are pretty good friends, and I mean this when I say that his happiness is one of my top priorities. He seems to like you quite a bit, so if you break his heart in any way shape or form, you will have to face not only me, but Tony and the rest of the Avengers as well."

"Okay, first of all, if I can call you Pepper then you can call me Tania. But where did this talk about Steve come from? I was talking about getting a job at Stark Industries."

"Yes I know, but I don't want you to use Steve to get close to Tony. Not only will it not work, but using him is a very bad idea." She warned. Tania suddenly felt a churning feeling in her gut as they stepped into an elevator. This feeling? Yeah, it's called guilt. She knew that Steve had offered to repay her, and that simply treating her to brunch had been his idea, but still... she couldn't help but feel like Pepper was right, like she was using him. Even so, she pressed the emotions quelling inside of her to the very bottom of her core and laughed nervously.

"And why wouldn't it work?" she asked with a smile on her face, meaning she wasn't serious. She prayed that Pepper understood that.

"Because they don't get along very well. They bicker and argue constantly and are always at each other's throats. Tony calls Steve a variety of nicknames and Steve never supports anything Tony does. But I think that deep down, they have a mutual agreement to put aside their differences occasionally. That doesn't happen very often though."

"Hmm." Tania nodded in understanding. She would have to see one of these 'arguments' one day. Something told her it would be highly amusing.
The elevator chimed and they reached floor eight, stepping into the hallway with an entirely new colour scheme of red and blue rather than red and yellow like the last one. "You can change in Thor's room, seeing as he's the only one not here. I'd allow you to change in our room, but Tony has security cameras in there and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to change in front of that."

Tania nodded again. "Thanks for the heads up. And... there's no chance of Thor coming back while I'm in there is there?"

"Only a very little."

"Right." Tania smiled nervously and was just about to go in when Pepper put a hand on her arm to stop her.

"One more thing. Once you're dressed and ready to go, meet me on the second floor in room 2P and I'll get you started." Pepper gave her an encouraging smile and a pat on the arm before striding purposefully back to the elevator. Tania turned to stare at the door that was marked Point Break. Deciding that there really was nothing to worry about, she opened the door and walked in.

Immediately to the right was a ten foot tall beige wall with a window to the kitchen and a doorway a bit further into the room. A large blue couch leaned against the same wall and face a huge flat screen TV on the other side. There was a bathroom on her left and a bedroom just past the TV. Nodding in approval at the design, obviously never slept in and relatively new, Tania lay the clothes Pepper had left for her on the couch and began to change. She was halfway through when JARVIS' voice scared her half to death.

"Ms. Banks?" she jumped a foot in the air, heart racing. "Mr. Stark would like to schedule a meeting with you in the near future." That was it? THAT was all JARVIS had to say?

"You couldn't have waited until I was dressed before scaring me like that?" she asked it. In her mind, this was all crazy. She was talking to freaking computer! But then again, it talked to her first.

"No."

"Did Tony say it was urgent."

"No."

"So why couldn't you have waited?"

"I saw no need for it."

"You don't have eyes."

"The statement was metaphorical. Never try and outsmart a computer Ms. Banks, it will never work."

"Gee thanks for the advice." she retorted sarcastically, a bit peeved off at him for getting the best of her."

"You're very welcome Ms. Banks."

"You really are an ass."

"So I'm told."

Tania rolled her eyes and continued getting dressed. She grabbed her purse and her wet clothes and exited Thor's room, making sure to leave it as it was. She was now dressed in jeans and a burgundy blouse that sort of matched her hair, except it the article of clothing was more red. Her hair was more brown than anything. She had removed the elastic and let it run down the length of her back and shook it free of most of the leftover rain and wiped the makeup off her face. Luckily she carried backups in her purse, which was also just as soaked.

Making her way down the unfamiliar corridor, Tania made sure to take in all of her surroundings should she ever end up here again. She would most likely be working directly from Stark Tower so she didn't want to get lost any time soon. She found herself in the elevator repeating "Two P, Two P, Two P." Over and over again. She knew she looked and sounded incredibly stupid and was more than aware that JARVIS and probably Tony could be watching her right now, but if she was going to work here she was going to have to get over that very quickly.

When she reached the second floor, Tania searched every door for the golden letters that labeled each room or office. This hallway was unlike any other she had ever seen. The walls to every office were glass and the doors were automatic. The floor was linoleum tile and her shoes made a steady rhythm as she made her way in through a maze of sharp turns to room 2P. When she arrived, she saw Pepper speaking into her ear piece while typing frantically on the laptop in front of her, eyes scanning the screen with accuracy and speed.

As soon as Tania approached the door, it opened by itself, giving away her presence. Pepper ceased her typing and looked up, holding up a single finger as a signal to wait while she finished her phone call.

"Yes, I'm sure Mr. Stark will be very happy to hear that." Pause. "But you see, although this is Stark Industries, I am currently the CEO of-" Pause. "Yes I understand that but-" Pause. "Yes, I will do that right away." She pressed a button on the piece of technology in her ear and huffed in exasperation. She gave Tania a small smile. "I'm sorry, I've just been swamped lately, especially with all the construction that's being done to the Tower." She stood up and grabbed a stack of papers on her desk next to a perpetual motion machine and handed them to Tania. "Just fill these out and you can begin working with Drew in Marketing and Advertising just down the hall through the door labeled 2MA. Believe it or not these doors aren't labeled alphabetically, it makes it that much harder to find things around here."

"I'll bet."

"You can fill this out just across the hall in that empty office over there," she pointed a dainty finger towards the room, "and when you're done just give it back it me. Any questions?" It was obvious that Pepper was a very busy woman, and Tania didn't want to disturb her anymore than she had to. So although the brunette had tons of questions about the work environment, she was satisfied to just keep her mouth shut and shake her head. Pepper gave her another warm smile and slid back to her desk, resuming her typing as if nothing happened.

Tania didn't dwell in the quaint office with an amazing view behind the desk that she hadn't had much time to stare at before leaving for the opposite end. When she reached the empty office she plopped down in a bean bag chair and grabbed a pen from the wooden desk just next to it. She clicked it open and began to slowly fill out the dozens of sheets for employment.

Halfway through she had to keep reminding herself that it would all be worth it in the long run, but the form was just SO LONG. She felt like she would never finish it, like these forms had somehow caught the perpetual from the machine on Pepper's desk and would never end. After about an hour (give or take) of writing, Tania's wrist and fingers hurt but she was finally finished. With a victorious grin, she returned the pen to its rightful place and took the papers back to Pepper.

When the door opened this time, Pepper was so engrossed in her work on the computer that she didn't even notice the girl enter. Tania had to clear her throat to get her attention, though she really didn't want to drag her away from her work, she didn't know what to do with the application forms and such. Pepper jumped and looked up, but then she smiled and took the papers, placing them on the far corner of her desk to be looked over later.

"Thanks Tania, don't forget that you will be working with Drew in room 2MA just down the hall." She pointed in that direction without turning her head as she was still focused on the screen in front of her. "Good luck on your first day!" she wished her and then she was gone again, lost in a world of complicated problems needing fixing and organization that almost no one could handle. Tania took the hint and left silently, not even saying a word.

The trip to her new work place was shorter than she expected, probably because she was a bit more confident in the halls of the Avengers Tower than she had been when she first arrived thanks to Steve. Steve... She didn't have time to dwell on him as the door to 2MA opened to reveal a girl with long blonde hair facing away from her dressed all in black. Tania stepped inside the room, catching the attention of said blonde who turned and raised an eyebrow at her.

"So, you're the one who got Akio fired."

What? "Umm... what?"

"Before you got here, Akio had your position, but Mr. Stark fired him to make room for you." the girl reiterated. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Drew." If Tania was being honest with herself, she had been expecting a boy, but that was perfectly alright with her. They shook hands.

"I'm sorry about Akia, I didn't mean to-"

"Akio, and that's alright. I know it's not your fault. Tony just isn't very bright when it comes to people. I was told you go by the name of Tania."

"That I do."

"I like your name. It's cool."

"Thank you, yours is pretty unique too."

She snorted and turned back to the long row of tables lined up in the stark white room. Tania stepped closer and stood behind one of the many black chairs surrounding the tables that were littered with papers of all different kinds with charts and graphs and calculations. This was what she familiar with, what she was good at. Drew interrupted her thoughts.

"It's only unique because it's a boy's name."

"Drew Barrymore."

"Who?"

"She's an actress."

"Oh, cool. I'll google her sometime."

"Yeah, she's in Charlie's Angels, one of my favourite movies. She's also in a whole bunch of other stuff but that one's my favourite."

"I like kid movies myself, a personal favourite of mine is Finding Nemo."

"No way! I saw that with my little brother and we both loved it! Though I have to say that my absolute number one pick has to be Harry Potter."

"I've read the books but I haven't seen the movies. Are they any good?"

"Amazing doesn't even begin to describe them."

"Well then, I guess I'll have to watch them then won't I?"

"Yes, yes you will."

The day continued on like that, the two girls getting along famously for a first encounter. They managed to get quite a bit of work done by six o'clock, when Drew yawned and decided to go home. Tania had sent her off with a wave of her hand and continued working, wanting to finish what she had started before leaving. It was an annoying little habit of hers that usually had her deprived of sleep most of the time, but it got the job done and on time.

She stayed there for several more hours, until the lights in the room automatically shut off on her and she couldn't see a thing. There was a faint buzzing to be heard, but that was all. It was kind of really creepy.

"Jarvis?" Tania called, not really knowing why.

"Yes Ms. Banks?"

"Why did the lights just turn off?"

"Employee hours are over."

"So I should leave."

"You should have left long ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was not asked."

Tania huffed, blowing her bangs away from her face. "Can you turn the lights back on so I can find my way out of here at least?"

"I am under direct order from Mr. Stark not to turn on the lights from after nine p.m. until six a.m."

"Well can't you make an exception?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Jarvis!"

"Yes Ms. Banks?"

"How am I supposed to find my way out of here?"

"Perhaps with a flashlight."

"I don't have a flashlight."

"Well you should."

"UGH!" Tania threw her arms in the air and whacked her head on the desk, groaning when pain shot through her forehead. "Ow."

"You shouldn't have done that."

"Shut up!" she ordered. The AI obediently silenced, leaving an eerie quiet in its wake. She almost wished she hadn't ordered him to shut up, just to hear someone's voice even if it was a robot. Sighing in defeat, Tania stood up and gathered her papers so that she could work on them at home. She took her wet clothes from where they were hanging on the chair beside her and left the work room and into the pitch black hallway. She fished through her purse to find her cell phone and used it as a source of light as she walked down the hallways.

Avengers Tower was pretty creepy at night, and Tania didn't want to think about all the stuff she was so unfamiliar with in such a large building. Using the golden labels as her metaphorical bread crumbs, she slowly made her way back to the elevator. Praying that not all power was cut off to the floor, she pressed the down button. It dinged and opened its doors, at which she sighed in relief. The lights were on in the small enclosed area and it was a warm welcome to the unknown of the dark. She wasn't scared per se, simply overly cautious.

She descended into the fully lit lobby and exited, hesitant to leave without a proper goodbye to Steve or Pepper, but she knew she'd be disturbing them if she went up to find them, or she would probably get lost. Either way, she decided to just leave and return the clothes the next day. At this, she smiled. She was coming back. She'd have plenty of chances to see Pepper and Steve, heck, she was meeting him for coffee the very next day.
Just the thought of seeing him again had her smiling like an idiot. She was starting to see why all those fangirls were such big fans of the gentlemanly super hero.