So it goes with saying that only things I own with any connection to MARVEL I bought on Ebay or Etsy. MARVEL COMICS & MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE are their own creatures and I have nothing to do with either of them aside from the fact I enjoy reading or watching them, and am grateful for the ability to play in their world. I claim nothing, and I receive nothing for this, expect the pleasure of putting something out into the world.
You can also find this story on ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN under the same title and pen name.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1205 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
MADDIE
Holding them both up I give them a small shake, in emphasis of the question I leave unspoken mostly in distaste. She meets me silence with a few more seconds of it, before she adds sound to it at last. "The blue anarkali." Looking over the blue dress with mustard pleated underskirt and red shawl over after she returns to her efforts of brushing her hair into silk. After a brief study, I also add my own approval to it, reluctantly.
I don't like the idea of her dressing up for this man, one of two that is coming, is much is she doesn't. I have not meet him, a blessing that she can not claim the same of, but I have heard of him. I know that type of man, and they all put the same foul taste in my mouth. Not just mine either.
"You sure your up to this?" The Captain has just is many reservations and opinions about this meeting is I do, but unlike me he has resigned himself to quiet disapproval in respect of her decision. Unlike me he doesn't know her true motivations. She said lie, she said keep a big secret, encompassing smaller secrets. I said said no. She said baby, and a monsters name. I swallowed my bile and said okay. I couldn't say no to that, to a mothers rights, not when I remember what that felt like once.
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1206 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
STEVE
She turns to my question, her eyes finding me where I lean, arms crossed, against her wall is they glance over the shoulder of her dressing gown. "Yes." She says it with the absence of a smile, just resignation at how many times she has repeated that word, and likely will again.
She told me her reasons, and I agreed with the logic of them, even if I couldn't really agree with them. I agreed, I told myself I was okay with it, then they told me who was part of the pair they were sending, and I argued again. I remembered how he treated her, and I couldn't just accept it, I still can't, not really. But she argued with logic, again, and I submitted, again. "Sorry."
Don't apologize for this..." I hear her mutter after breathing out a weighted sigh. "I'm not looking forward to this either, it just needs to be done. If anything, I should apologize. I feel like I'm forcing you through it with me."
My lips tighten on the smile a bit is she said that, due to the uncomfortable humor in my head, and the truth of it. "No. its just is much on me, I choose not to let you do this alone."
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1207 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
SITWELL
The conversation had been pleasant enough, Agent Romanoff filling the role of hostess, while we waited for our real host to show up. Our wait ended finally with the sound of the elevator pinging upon its descent and the sight of her on Captain Rogers arm is they step into the living room. So much different then the energetic, sweet, naive young woman I expected from my memory.
Since we are all 'mostly' gentlemen here, I rose from the white couch to greet her, hesitating with the gesture portion. I allow her to take the lead and dictate what she considered appropriate, since this is the first time I've seen her since her 'awakening'. They did inform me she changed, but I've always found it best to avoid presumption. The handshake is a strange, but very welcome change.
The urge, born out of habit more than anything does takes some effort to crush, resisting the familiarity of calling her 'Agent Elaine' like I used to, and calling her what she apparently goes by now "Lady Arnora." is followed by a compliment "A dress? You look...can I say beautiful?" though that might be a bit to forward given the frown sinking into Captain Rogers features.
The feel of her grip on his hand comes to my rescue quickly, drawing his attention if not his eyes. "Jasper was my S.O when I 'almost' bought my first dress." The shift in his expression and gaze makes it clear he is aware of the incident in question, and well he doesn't reach a happy state he at least levels out at understanding acceptance.
"Yes" I nod in confirmation. I remember how excited she was at the idea of wearing a dress, and though how absolutely terrified she became at the sight of it. I sacrificed all the cash in my wallet to appease that store clerk long enough for the other agents show up and buy her permanent silence. I always felt a little bad about that, because it was a very nice dress, but if she didn't know how she would react there was no way I could. "...and I have to say, you look lovely in blue, Indian fashions suit you."
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1208 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
RUMLOW
She skips a verbal reply in lieu of a nod to Sitwell's compliment, then turns her attention to me at last as she extends her hand with my name on her lips. Taking her hand in return, I resist the urge to push my luck with a kiss on her knuckles. It's not really my style, and the small mountain of 'behave' speeches I got on the way here is still fresh in my brain. That being said though I don't resist letting my eyes scan her dress and offering her a "Gorgeous" in response to my name.
She doesn't bat an eye at the blatant flirtation, and neither does agent Romanoff. Sitwell being one of the pebbles in the 'behave' mountain, lets slip a small eye roll, but it's nothing compared to the annoyance off the Captain, or the death beam I'm getting from the granny in the corner. She's new, though I know her details, but I'll have to look into her personally now that I'm gonna be here more often. Zero threat or not I like to know who doesn't like me.
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1208 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
NATASHA
Despite Rumlow's complete lack of manners, Nora to her credit handles the situation with practiced poise, proving once again that this isn't her first rodeo, or her first asshole. "I take it you're here for the security portion of the deal?" Her question getting a 'yep' even before he lets go of her hand.
Turning her attention to Steve she proves even more, her understanding of the game. "Steve, would you mind taking Agent Rumlow to tour security and meet the staff."
The sound of his "Me? Not Natasha?" makes it clear how thorough his surprise about that is, but I'm not at all. She's sending him, not me, not the Head of Security off with Rumlow out of necessity. She knows he's the kind of person Steve doesn't like, but she's forcing them to interact so they can either fight or figure it out because she knows it needs to be done, and the sooner they level the field the better for everyone in the future.
"Natasha is a S.H.I.E.L.D Agent." She answers, an excuse however reasonable and believable, meant to cover her real reasons without resorting to an outright lie. "I'd like her here for the negotiations."
Even is much is Steve's feeling might disagree, he can't argue the logic of that. But after he agrees to it she also shows that she isn't entirely without sympathy, promising to send me to join him is soon is she doesn't need me here anymore.
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1209 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
ARNORA
Watching Jasper track their departure, I answer his silent question when his eyes turn back to mine. "Teamwork takes work." He agrees to that with a shrug, even if it doesn't cancel all of his concerns. He is right to question rather it is a good idea or not. I'm not even sure. They might butt heads, but I trust in Steve enough to not actually let it escalate into physical violence. He cares too much about me, my opinion, and my wishes to risk disappointing any of them.
"Well then..." He steps aside and gestures toward the white cushions, and coffee table. "I suppose we should get started."
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1210 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
RUMLOW
I waited through the uncomfortable elevator ride down to the basement, listening to him list, Bill Nye style, how the elevator was the only access to the basement and medical ward. How the house A.I actually three isolated systems, for the house, medical ward, and on site staff apartment. They are each shielded against EMP's and require fingerprint, retinal, and voice recognition to access. Then in terms of commutation there is a separate system that doesn't interface with the others at all outside of verbally, but allows for wireless communication with the other STARK facilities.
That's all super interesting, and pertinent to my job, but I put it on hold to deal with a bigger more personal concern, mainly this frustratingly awkward atmosphere. It's like being the wing-man on a bad date, and that's just not going to work for me. "You don't like me much do you Rogers?"
His fingers stop their trip to the wall panel, trapping me down here without access to the elevator back up, or the underground tunnel leading to the staff housing, is he turns around and crosses his arms in front of me. An imposing figure of strength, met with my passive eyes and calm demeanor. "I don't like how familiar you are with her." He confirms and elaborates all in the same sentence. "Or the way you're eyes dog her steps."
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH 2012
1211 HOURS
PEPPER POTTS CABIN, WOODSTOCK NY
2565 ROUTE 212
STEVE
It wasn't the fist time I've done something I didn't like to, but if it was what Nora wanted I was willing to suck it up and get it over with, however when he brought it up, that didn't mean I intended to look away from it too.
Hearing my response he clears his throat and rocking back on heels he adjusts his posture for what may be a long conversation. "Look Captain, we..." he pauses, seemingly hunting down the right word, or lining out his sentence in his head. "Specialists don't spend a lot of time with 'people'. The take days off, go on vacations people, that's not us. We're the 24/7 emergency response guys."
"We tend to just spend time with each other, after a while we loss our normal social graces." He continues, his tone coming about is close to an apology is I think I might get out a guy like him, if my evaluation of his personality is accurate as I believe it to be. "I'm really not trying to piss you off." He adds before gesturing at me with a bit of humor in his smirk. "Though personally I can't pretend I wouldn't love to see how my training holds up to a Super Soldier, but making you my enemy is not my preferred kind of crazy."
"That aside, I get it, you looking out for your girl." I consider correcting him for half a second, but my tongue sticks at the suggestion, and forgets it entirely at the unfamiliar references that follow. "But while you might be Mario, she's not Princess Peach and I'm not Bowser. She can take care of herself." he continues on. That statement is clear, concise and even, regrettably, truer then I'd like to admit "...and I pity the moron who try's to steal her."
I didn't even recognize the darkness that must have taken over my features before he raises his hands in a placating gesture. "I was there, at the park?" He adds the question to his tone, unsure if I was aware of that apparently "I saw what she can do, what she did, before their reinforcements showed up and we got separated." The respect, and appreciation, return to his expression, along with the part I don't like.
"So yeah I like her, yeah I'm interested in her, in a couple ways." He admits, before he admits something even more, which helps settle me feelings back in place. "I'm interested in all strong women a little like that, but the truth is I know she outclasses me is much is you do, if not more. If she really didn't like the way I act or talk around her, she'd stop me long before you could."
"I know." That's the problem. I said we'd just be friends. I said it was okay, I wouldn't be a competitor for her love, I wouldn't compete against Bucky, because it was Bucky, and I really thought I meant it. But then another man called her gorgeous, and she she smiled, and it hurt. It hurt, and it it made me angry, and I can't figure out who that anger and pain is for. Who am I offended for? Who's this jealousy for? Bucky? Her? Or me?