Despite having so many occupants, the Avengers' floor was often empty during the day. According to Pepper, the team only really came together at the end of the day when their appetites called them to the kitchen. More often than not, they came and left alone or in odd pairs; most often it was the Black Widow paired with either Hawkeye or the Captain.
Collins herself had yet to see more than one or two of the hero team and never for more than a quick moment as she popped in to collect something for Pepper.
Therefore, it was a bit of a surprise when she found a familiar face settled at the kitchen counter, idly taking notes and sipping from a teacup Collins recognized as Pepper's.
He glanced up at her entrance and stood, buttoning his suit jacket.
"Oh, hello Mister Cooper. I'm afraid I didn't see you there." Collins greeted. She came to a stop at the end of the counter, feeling a bit awkward. She honestly thought she wouldn't see him again.
"It would seem that I have a tendency to surprise you, Miss Cunningham." Mister Cooper offered her that half-smile of his and a polite nod.
She cleared her throat and tried to ignore the little thrill she got when he directed that smile at her. She lowered her eyes in an attempt to collect herself and regretted it at once.
Collins dealt with men in suits every day - why did Mister Cooper seem to fill them out so differently?
Today, he wore a dark charcoal suit that ought to have made him overly somber, but only enhanced the contrast of his dark hair against pale skin and made his eyes all the clearer.
Collins' eyes flickered back to his face and found him watching her with barely concealed amusement.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." she blustered, feeling her face warm. "I just came to get a file for Miss Potts. She said she forgot it at breakfast."
"Ah, yes." Mister Cooper mused. His brow furrowed as he looked over the counter, bare except for his book and tea. He shook his head. "I do recall seeing her, but I don't remember a… file. Allow me to assist you."
"Oh, thank you, but I'm sure I can find it. I don't want to trouble you." Collins blushed further at the offer. She was capable of doing her job.
Her heart jumped unpleasantly at the thought of being seen as incompitent. She had worked hard to get her position. Her pride wouldn't accept help easily.
"It's no trouble, Miss Cunningham." Mister Cooper assured her. His smile took on a slightly bitter edge. "Trivial as it may seem, even looking for a lost item would give me something to do with my time."
"Oh my, you must be terribly bored, then." Collins stared at him in surprise. The Avengers Tower was a bit of a funhouse for adults in some ways. There were pools and gyms and virtual reality centers dedicated to rest and relaxation for employees. As a guest, Mister Cooper had access to the spaces usually reserved for the Avengers themselves. "Are the amenities not to your liking?"
"They are suitable enough, but more stimulating for the body than the mind. I'm not a man prone to idle behavior."
Collins nodded carefully and tried not to stare at the way his suit jacket reinforced the hint of muscle beneath. The folds of fabric were meant to straighten the silhouette of a man, but could only hide so much.
To make matters worse, Mister Cooper seemed to catch on to her reluctant admiration and crossed his arms.
Collins bit her lip as his biceps threatened to break free from his jacket.
He wasn't as burly as Thor, but he was no wilting flower either.
She cleared her throat again.
"You don't seem like the video gaming type, either." she deflected. "What has Mister Stark left you to bide your time with, in that case?"
Mister Cooper dropped his arms in favor of tucking them behind his back. He moved about the kitchen, occasionally opening a drawer or adjusting an appliance on the counter.
Collins hurried to do the same, looking around the connected living room for her missing file.
Her attention was drawn back to Mister Cooper when he spoke again.
"Stark supplied me with a collection of literature when I first arrived. Still, it has been quite some time and one can only enjoy a collection of sonnets so many times in repetition."
"A poetry fan, are you?" The openness of his statement made her smile. The boys she had grown up with wouldn't be caught dead reading poetry or even admit that they enjoyed it.
"Your Shakespeare was a rather talented wordsmith."
"Oh, absolutely." Collins beamed and recalled one of the few she had loved enough to memorize as a girl.
"What is your substance, whereof are you made,
That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
Since every one hath, every one, one shade,
And you, but one, can every shadow lend.
Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
Is poorly imitated after you."
Collins stuttered off, a warm blush tinging her face. She turned away from Mister Cooper and busied herself looking over the collection of magazines on the coffee table. She doubted Pepper would have left her file there, but she couldn't bear to look him in the eye.
Quoting poetry was one thing, but she had essentially told a stranger to his face that he was more handsome than Adonis.
Her father would be steaming mad with her for being so… bold.
"On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
And you in Grecian tires are painted new.
Speak of the spring and foison of the year:
The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
The other as your bounty doth appear;
And you in every blessed shape we know.
In all external grace you have some part,
But you like none, none you, for constant heart."
Mister Cooper finished for her, his tone gentle and his eyes warm. They crinkled at the edges and Collins felt her heart jump again. "I see you're an admirer yourself."
"When I have a spare moment." Collins breathed, relieved he allowed her to take control of the conversation rather than pointing out her embarrassment. "I admit, I've always been a bookworm. Actually, I might have a few things in my own collection I could lend you if you don't mind my annotations. Give me an idea of what you like and I'll pick something out for you."
"A most generous offer indeed." Mister Cooper's smile grew and he left the kitchen to join her in the living room. "Might I ask about your favorite work from the good bard while I consider my own choices?"
"Um, probably Macbeth." she answered, thinking back to the version of the play her favorite English teacher had shown her class.
"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." he quoted musically. "A rather dark choice."
"I enjoyed it very much… and the adaptation with Sir Patrick Stewart." Collins grinned a bit, feeling her fluster fade in favor of passion. She could talk about books and plays all day. "I liked how Macbeth was the one who put his own fate into motion. That's the same thing that drew me to Oedipus Rex and I can argue that the tale was even more twisted. Besides, Macbeth had some influence over my favorite Lord of the Rings character."
Éowyn's crowning moment as she faced down the Witch-King had given Collins such a thrill that her breath caught every time she saw the movie or read the book. Be the line 'I am no man!' or 'But no living man am I!', the impact was always the same.
Admiration and adoration coursed through Collins for the fair shield maiden.
"Now, that is one I've heard good things about, but yet to see for myself." Mister Cooper admitted sheepishly.
Collins' jaw dropped.
"Dude, Lord of the Rings is my absolute favorite!" she exclaimed, moving closer to him in her excitement. "I have multiple copies because I wanted special editions. And The Hobbit… and all of the movies and their extended editions…"
Collins laughed a bit nervously at herself. She had revealed herself as a nerd now.
Mister Cooper looked delighted and his voice dropped to a murmur as he drew closer as well, leaving very little room between Collins and himself. A person would find it difficult to pass between them if necessary. "I should absolutely like to read that one if you so favor it."
"It's the best." Collins smiled shyly and twisted her fingers together. "But what about you? Have you decided which play is your favorite?"
"I would have to say… Hamlet. Or Henry V." He almost pouted at his own indecision. "It's a difficult choice to make."
"I like Hamlet, too!" Collins loved the infamous soliloquy the prince gave in the play. "I can't say I'm familiar with Henry, though."
"I admit, you surprised me with your choice."
"How so?"
"Are you not a romantic?" he teased gently. "I thought Romeo and Juliet to be well-favored by young ladies."
"Ey, don't push it." It was Collins' turn to pout and she fixed him with a firm glare. "I'm no starry eyed girl. Besides, A Midsummer Night's Dream is better than R and J."
"Ah, there is the romantic." Mister Cooper's smile softened.
"I admit I'm partial to the tale. We had an impromptu play back when I was in high school. Due to a higher ratio of girls to boys in my class, I landed the role of Lysander and got to profess my love for my best friend - Hermia, coincidentally. We got a lot of laughs out of it." Collins tittered, rambling a bit in an attempt to take control again. She had stopped looking for Pepper's file entirely.
Mister Cooper laughed and the sound reverberated through her bones. "That I would have liked to see."
"I'll bet. I think she might even have a picture saved still. I wore a mustache for the role and I have to say, I totally rocked it." Collins dared to look up and found herself caught in his gaze.
Mister Cooper looked thoughtful and his expression took on a more solemn tone. Collins felt rather like he was looking through her.
The light tone between them became subdued and she felt lost on how to get it back.
Did she even want it back?
Everything about Mister Cooper was intense and Collins found it difficult to focus on much else when faced with his company.
It thrilled her as much as it confused her.
"Do you know Edgar Allan Poe?" she asked suddenly, startling both of them.
Mister Cooper drew in a deep breath and his teasing smile returned. "The name is a bit familiar, but I can't say I've met him. The Raven author, correct?"
"I'd be worried if you did. And very curious about your skin care routine." Collins quipped and stepped back, scanning her eyes over the room. She was still there with a job in mind. She needed to put some space between them so she could think clearly again.
"How old do you believe me to be, then, Miss Cunningham?" Mister Cooper laughed quietly and moved the couch cushions to look behind them.
The question caught her off guard.
"Oh, um…" she bit her lip and looked him over again. She was terrible at guessing ages. "Mid-thirties? Or a little older?"
She didn't want to offend him by going too high, but didn't think he was too close to her age. His face was a bit lined, but not wrinkled, pleasantly creased around his forehead and eyes like he had a face prepossessed to smiling.
"Ehehe, close enough." Mister Cooper chuckled, his eyes sparkling.
"... you're not going to tell me?"
"What would be the fun in that?"
"Alright, then. Keep your secrets." Collins huffed with amusement. At least she didn't upset him.
Mister Cooper laughed at her.
"Anyway, what I was going to say was that I have a collection of Poe's works." Collins continued, frowning as she looked over the mantle piece. The file remained elusive and she was beginning to think she'd have to look through Pepper and Mister Stark's room for it. "There's a distinction between him and Shakespeare, but you might enjoy some of his works."
"Which do you prefer more? Shakespeare or your Poe?" Mister Cooper asked curiously.
"Poe." It was an easy answer. "He has an easier readability for me and I'm a sucker for gothic horror. The Fall of the House of Usher still gives me chills."
Poe had definitely sparked a lifelong love of horror movies for Collins, along with Stephen King. She had been reading their works long before it was appropriate for a child and found they had shaped her preferences for life.
"Very well." Mister Cooper tilted his head in acceptance. "Lend me his works and I shall return you with my own favorite when I am finished."
"It's a deal." Collins grinned over her shoulder at him before moving to the hallway. Uncomfortable as she was about invading Pepper's private space, she'd have to check the bedroom for the file.
"Ah, what's this?" Mister Cooper called out before she could turn the corner. "Was this the point of your search, Miss Cunningham?"
Collins turned and gasped with delight at the manilla folder in his hand. She couldn't help herself as she gave a little jump and clapped her hands.
She grinned widely as she rushed back into the living room, quickly closing the space between them again.
"Yes! Thank you, Mister Cooper." she gushed. "Where was it hiding?"
"Beneath the sofa. Perhaps Miss Potts was in more of a hurry than she realized this morning." Mister Cooper quirked a brow as he handed over the paperwork.
"It's not like Pepper to make a mistake like that…" Collins mused, frowning in concern. "Maybe I should convince her to take a break or finish up early."
Pepper would have been extremely overworked to make a mistake like that. Details were her fine point after years of working for 'Figure it out as I go along' Tony Stark.
"Between her work and Stark, I'd assume the idea would be well received." Mister Cooper snorted dryly. He inclined his head regally. "I will allow you to return to her now and not take up any more of your time. I will think on our conversation as a most pleasant visit when I can no longer stand the presence of my host. It will remind me that not all of the Tower's occupants are as insufferable."
"Oh dear, you and Mister Stark are an explosion waiting to happen, aren't you?" Collins asked helplessly, still wondering at the nature of his relationship with the Avenger's leader.
"It would seem so."
"I'll try to get those books to you as quickly as I can, then." she promised before offering him a beatific smile. "Thank you so much for your help, Mister Cooper."
"It was a pleasure, Miss Cunningham." he intoned quietly, catching her hand with his. He brought her knuckles to his lips and sent a spark through her belly. "I hope to see you again when you return."
Her face flamed red.
"Yes, well - I'll make sure you're home when I stop by." she gasped, nearly jumping away from him. "Until then."
There was no other word for it. Collins fled the Avengers' floor like a deer in flight, the sound of his rich laughter following after her.
She fell against the wall of the elevator and fanned her face furiously with Pepper's file.
That man was simply dangerous.