Collins stirred slowly, clinging to the last tendrils of sleep like she did every day she was off work. How nice it was to sleep in, to not have to listen for an alarm or wake up periodically in the night with the fear that she had missed the sound and slept in.
She hummed to herself, turning her head to rub against the soft silk of her pillow and opened her eyes to the darkened room.
For a long moment, it was unfamiliar to her and her brow furrowed. This had happened before, but the room she'd slept in this time was most definitely not her guest room.
And this time she wasn't alone.
Collins turned her eyes downward and blinked blearily at the sight of Cooper laid across her, his face pressed against her stomach and lax with sleep.
That was right. They had fallen asleep during their marathon, though Collins couldn't say who had broke first.
She took her chance to examine his face uninterrupted.
He looked younger, making her rethink her previous guess of him being in his mid-thirties, the lines around his mouth and eyes evening out into smooth skin with nary a pimple or blemish in sight.
Collins still suffered from acne breakouts from time to time, usually around the time her period started. She was still a little huffy about being told the lie that acne was something only teenagers suffered from.
Still, she was faring better than that one woman in accounting. Now she had some sensitive skin to talk about.
Collins traced a hand lightly over the contours of his face, not wanting to wake him but unable to deny the urge to touch.
She pressed lightly against the dark circles beneath his eyes, noticing how they almost looked bruised, and wondered if this type of deep sleep was normal for him. She pulled her hand away for fear of waking him, continuing her exploration with her eyes and rested her hand against his hair.
Collins petted the dark strands rhythmically, much like she had done the night before, and laid back. She stared at the ceiling, thinking about nothing in particular and enjoying the cool morning. The room was soundproofed and gave the illusion of being removed from the city. There was nothing to disturb them.
It was no wonder that it took Cooper what felt like forever to wake.
He shifted against her, arms like steel bands when they tightened around Collins to pull her closer.
She jerked when his chin dug into a ticklish spot and startled him further awake.
"G'mornin', Coop." Collins whispered, afraid to break the early morning spell for fear of him bolting like a frightened animal.
As it was, he remained stiff in her arms for several heartbeats longer before he relaxed against her.
"Good morning, my darling." he rasped, his voice rough and sleep deepened. "I haven't caused you to miss work, have I?"
Cooper looked like he was on the verge of falling back asleep when Collins resumed petting his hair, his green eyes fluttering under the gentle touch.
"No, I'm off today - remember?"
Cooper hummed against her stomach and dozed back off.
Collins closed her eyes again as well, content to stay like they were for however long they were allowed too.
Eventually, Cooper sighed, giving her a gentle squeeze, and propped his chin up on her stomach. Collins opened her eyes to smile at him.
"Say, Miss Collins, how would you like to spend a day in the city with me?" he asked, quirking a brow at her. The light in his eye was full of mischief, the accompanying smile that joined it rather boyish.
"With you?" Collins raised her brows in surprise. "I thought you had to stay here in the penthouse, hon."
"They won't miss me at all." he shrugged nonchalantly, his voice lowering to a croon. "One day won't hurt anything."
He lowered his eyes as he argued his case, looking up at Collins with jade eyes enhanced by dark lashes. He looked positively devilish - all mischief and much too pretty for his own good.
"What-" Collins had to clear her throat. Her train of thought spiraled away beneath that endearing gaze. "What about your, uh, safety? Will it really be alright?"
Cooper pushed himself up, sliding up her body until he was practically in her face, and hovered over her. Collins laid back instinctively, wide-eyed beneath the cage of his arms.
Cooper's voice became a purr that bordered on the verge of seductive. "A simple disguise then. I've seen your celebrities out and about in such a manner. Why, I believe it even worked for Captain Rogers a time or two."
"Well, you're not wrong," Collins hesitated, running her eyes over his face. "I can't see you wearing a baseball cap, though."
Her willpower was weak in the face of those eyes if she was brought to such a terrible argument.
Cooper knew he was winning, too, if the look on his face was anything to go by.
"Can't you?" he grinned wickedly and slipped away from Collins so fast she was left reeling and more than a little disappointed.
She propped herself up on her elbows, watching him disappear out the bedroom door. She barely had enough time to get out of his bed before Cooper returned, a pile of clothes in tow and the unbelievable baseball cap perched on his head.
Collins laughed helplessly at the sight.
She couldn't even pretend to protest anymore. He was much too charming and she wanted him to all to herself for a day. She wanted Cooper, unbothered by the company of the Avengers and free in the streets.
Still, she had to tease him a little.
"Where on Earth did you get that?" Collins giggled. "Wait, did you take someone's jeans? Do you really only own slacks?"
"As it so happens, Captain Rogers and I are about the same size. What do you think, darling? Will it not suit me better?" Cooper gave her a mischievous grin and lifted a sweatshirt to lay against his chest.
He looked very touristy and mismatched with his cap and BROOKLYN sweatshirt. Had he ever been to Brooklyn?
Collins stood and reached for the shirt, giving the sleeve a gentle tug as she looked him up and down.
"Well, throw it on and let's see." she commanded. She glanced down at her own rumpled shirt. "But I may need to stop by mine to change my shirt, at least."
"It may be a bit large on you, but you could wear one of mine if you like. Or I could purchase you one once we get out." Cooper hummed thoughtfully. He inclined his head towards a pair of double doors that belonged to the closet. "I'm afraid if we dally too long, we'll be caught before we make it out of the Tower."
Collins nibbled her lip, her brow furrowing.
The thought of sneaking out under the team's nose was an inconceivable one. Getting Cooper out of the Tower wasn't going to be as easy as just walking out of the door.
"I can wear one of yours, if it won't bother you." she conceded after a moment. "Could I borrow your bathroom?"
"Come take your pick, my dear. My room is yours to do with as you please." Cooper smiled, pleased, and opened the closet for her.
Most of his wardrobe was made up of dark suits in muted tones, mostly black with a smattering of gray and charcoal. Collins spotted a dark navy suit in the back and couldn't help the quiet noise of appreciation she made when she ran a gentle hand over the lapel before moving on. She peeked through the suits a little longer before moving on to his collection of button ups, most in similar neutral colors with the exception of some pale blues and greens.
Collins chose a pale, pinstripe blue shirt, one she thought she'd seen Cooper wear once before, and took over his bathroom to freshen up before she redressed.
Cooper took the opportunity to change in the bedroom while she was occupied.
Collins donned the button-up and rolled the sleeves a few times so she could use her hands, then tucked the ends into her waistband, tugging at the excess until it settled just right. She looked a little nineties-nostalgic, but it worked for her. Still, her hair needed some love.
"Cooper!" she called, opening the door just enough to wave a hand at him. "Do you mind if I borrow your hairbrush? I swear I don't have lice."
She heard him chuckle from the other side of the door and allowed him in when he pulled on the door.
"The thought never crossed my mind." Cooper gently nudged her out of the way and pulled a new toothbrush from his medicine cabinet. "Do you mind some company?"
"Oh, thank you!" Collins accepted the toothbrush eagerly. She hadn't even thought about herself potentially having dragon breath. "Here, I'll scoot over a little more."
"I dare say I'm the one taking up more room." Cooper grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You are the smallest person on this floor by far. I believe even Agent Romanoff is taller!"
"Yeah, yeah -" Collins rolled her eyes, having heard it all before, but didn't rise to the bait. Too much. "Live it up, Giant Boy. Watch out for the ceiling up there."
Cooper laughed at her and fell silent as they brushed their teeth together, doing his best to make her choke on her toothbrush by arching his eyebrows into dramatic expressions.
Collins couldn't help but laugh at him, thoroughly enjoying the domestics of it all. She never would have guessed Cooper could be a goofy sort of person when they first met.
He seemed looser now, perhaps because of the casual clothes, but Collins liked the look on him. He looked younger. A little happier.
They left out the emergency stairwell rather than the elevator, hoping to avoid as many security cameras as they could and not entirely faithful that JARVIS would keep their escape to himself. As it was, the AI was suspiciously quiet as they hurried through the living quarters and Collins wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth by questioning it. Considering all the cameras in New York and Mister Stark's tendency to hack whatever he felt like, they'd be spotted in the city sooner or later.
But luck seemed to be on their side for the moment and they made it down several flights of stairs before Cooper chanced on opening one of the doors to the corporate floors.
It was empty save for a rather lost looking woman in a lab coat, and they slipped past her and around a corner with ease. Collins had to hold a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles when they reached a service elevator. That particular elevator went to every corporate floor for equipment and supply deliveries. Collins has used them a time or two when fielding deliveries and mediating disputes between executives about resource distribution. They made a quick getaway, but more importantly, they usually ended up close to another set of service elevators that lead to the loading back beneath the Tower.
Collins led Cooper through the maze of the Tower, knowing the building like the back of her hand at that point, and they rushed through the loading bay and into the parking lot. Collins burst into another round of uncontrollable giggles as she pulled her phone out to call a Lyft.
"My, you're nervous." Cooper noted with amusement, reaching for her elbow to slow her pace.
"Sorry." Collins snickered and smiled sheepishly. "I've never been the best at this sort of thing. My daddy usually caught me, usually comin' back inside. I'm havin' some flashbacks here."
"I find it hard to believe you were the type to sneak out." Cooper looked thoughtful. "But you have told me before you were no good girl. I'd better take your word lest you get back at me again."
He gave her an overexaggerated look of suspicion and stepped away, but never released his hold on her.
Collins grinned cheekily at him. "You better believe it."
"I, too, had my fair share of secret escapades." Cooper confessed unrepentantly. "Though, I was only ever caught when my brother came along. His talents were more often of the heavy-handed nature - breaking things, sparring and flirting with the maids."
Cooper's tone held a hint of fondness, but his lips pursed as if the words soured his tongue.
"Oh, you never made eyes at any of the pretty girls working for your family?" Collins raised her brows at him in disbelief, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Surely there was one or two you had a crush on."
"Perhaps a few caught my eye - but only ever in passing." Cooper met her eyes, his grin softening before it faded. "My brother was the brightest star of our family constellation."
He looked away from her as they finally made it out of the parking garage and onto the street behind the Tower.
Cooper sighed, his shoulders dropping as he closed his eyes. How long had it been since he'd left the penthouse?
Collins watched him, her brow furrowed.
She wanted to ask, but his family seemed like such a touchy subject. His mother had passed, his father seemed to be the kind to hold him to high expectations, and it seemed like he had a rough relationship with his brother. Add that together with his refugee status and Collins couldn't help but wonder if the man actually had any family left.
Collins bit her lip and decided to just bite the bullet too.
"Cooper, I'm sorry if I'm prying, but your brother - is he…?" she asked quietly as the Lyft she ordered arrived.
Cooper looked down at her, his face impassive and a touch of ice in his eyes.
"No, he isn't dead." he said shortly. He sighed and opened the car door for Collins, following her in. "Rather, he's livelier than ever these days. However, there is an unmendable rift between us and we can never return to the relationship of our youth. Is that not worse than death in many ways?"
Their driver raised an eyebrow at them in the rearview mirror and turned the music up to drown out their conversation.
"The pain of losing someone you loved -" Collins grimaced at the reminder of the people she'd had to cut off in favor of her own happiness and quality of life. The list went on and on. "Well, isn't it just as terrible to face whether it's through death or separation? Either way, I'm sorry for your situation."
"He is an idiot. The loss is not a terrible one. In fact, much of our misadventures were his doing." Cooper scoffed. He sounded dismissive, but there was a certain fondness in his undertone that couldn't be ignored. He continued, a small smirk softening his face again. "This one time, there was a lovely little stray that wandered about, just outside the grounds of our home.
"I was quite fond of it and often cared for it however I could when it crossed my path. My brother caught me feeding it one day and decided that he, too, was quite enamored of my stray. He was intent on taking it home with us and thought it was the grandest idea in the universe."
"Oh, no." Collins lifted a hand to stifle her giggles. She had an idea of where the story was going.
"Oh, yes." Cooper confirmed with a grave expression. The corners of his eyes crinkled at her amusement. "I admit, I was easily swayed by him at the time and all seemed well. We took turns hiding our new pet in our rooms, distracting our parents and the servants if it came to it. We thought ourselves quite clever.
"At least, until one day our pet escaped through my brother's door - carelessly left open by him - and launched itself upon the breakfast table. I believe our father wore an egg in his beard while he raged at us."
Collins burst into laughter. "I wish I could have seen it! What happened to the pet? Did you get to keep it?"
"In a way." Cooper's lips curled into a smile, a soft one Collins knew from their more intimate moments, and his voice dripped with love when he continued. "Mother revealed that she'd known of our little guest from the start - she had a home set up for it in the garden. It stayed with us a great many years before it passed."
Collins watched him fondly, honored that he chose to share a story of his family with her and especially that he felt comfortable enough to speak of his mother with her. He had obviously been close with her.
She reached across the backseat, pausing for a moment before slipping her hand into his.
They had spent the night together. What was a little hand holding after that?
Collins took Cooper into a bookstore first, of course, a little second hand thing filled with the smell of old books, most worn with creased paperbacks, hardcovers with threads sticking out the ends, some entirely coverless and only held together with book tape and sheer willpower. They meandered through, lost in picking up something familiar or that had an interesting title.
Their hands stayed linked, only parting for a moment when they picked up a new book, but they slipped their hands back together before moving on. Cooper carried most of their choices tucked beneath his arm, never complaining when Collins added another to their collection.
They left the store with two bags of purchases and a happy owner waving them out.
Cooper chose a haberdashery with tall windows and golden writing on the door next, perusing the pocket squares and tie clips with careful interest. He wanted Collins opinion on everything, even going so far as to hold up a few to her smiling face and claiming which colors complimented her complexion. When she asked why he wanted to know, he simply shrugged and said he was already thinking about their next day out - perhaps a dinner date.
Collins blushed pink at that and gave him the opening to lay another square against her cheek.
In the end, he chose a few dark greens and one beautiful navy blue that Collins had expressed her appreciation of. That rich shade was one of her favorites. She insisted on getting him something to go with it and chose a shiny golden tie bar with an engraving of a mountain on the end.
It reminded her of the Lonely Mountain, she joked.
Cooper slipped it onto the navy square before storing it away.
They stopped at a Starbucks for coffee and Collins had the pleasure of seeing Cooper's face pucker with disgust when he tried her sugary monstrosity of a drink. In return, he had her try his Earl Grey Tea and snickered when she made a displeased face. They left the busy store, Cooper acting as a stiff barrier between Collins and the incoming customers. She sighed in relief once they were back on the street. She never liked trying to fight her way out of somewhere with a lot of foot traffic - it always took forever on her own.
But people parted for Cooper like the Red Sea and she was grateful.
It probably helped that he was tall and walked with purpose, keeping her close at his side by their linked hands.
Collins was at a loss for their next venture and decided that it was high time they got something to eat.
With much reluctance on Cooper's part, they bought a bunch of skewers from a Chinese place where the woman insisted on giving them extra when Cooper volunteered to hold all of their bags and drinks while Collins ate. She liked his manners, it seemed.
He thanked her, but still seemed dubious about the food itself until Collins rolled her eyes and popped a piece of chicken in his mouth.
In the end, he ate most of the skewers by himself.
They meandered through a park as their drinks dwindled down to dregs and Collins pulled him into a tiny theater where a troupe was rehearsing. She had to admit that her feet were killing her by that time and enjoyed being able to sit in the back of the room while the actors practiced their parts.
Cooper was wholly entranced by the entire thing, sitting on the edge of his seat and watching with uncontained interest. For the first time that day, he left Collins' side for more than a few minutes to head down to the stage side when one of the younger actresses was struggling with a scene. Collins wasn't able to hear him from the back, but watched happily as he spoke to the director.
The other man seemed bewildered at first, then contemplative before calling the actress down to speak with him and Cooper.
When she headed back up, she held herself with a little more confidence and was practically spitting her lines at her copart with fiery anger.
Collins quirked a brow at the change in performance, feeling a newfound appreciation for the scene in its familiarity. It sounded like a woman fed up with her place in life and finally saying fuck it.
She wondered exactly what play they were rehearsing.
Cooper rejoined her with a smug smirk and news that they had been invited to the play's opening night in three weeks, much to Collins' amusement and delight.
She couldn't wait to see the thing in its entirety - and spend that night out with Cooper he'd suggested.
Their final stop for the day was an antique store, just as dusty and a touch musty as the bookstore had been, and they wandered around while Collins made jokes about potentially finding a cursed object and how creepy the porcelain dolls were. She'd had several growing up and only trusted the ones given to her by her grandfather. The others just had something in their eyes.
Cooper shook his head at her, but teasingly reached out as if to tempt one of the dolls before Collins whined and begged him to move on.
She revealed her love of little glass eggs and how she had several in both her apartment and her childhood bedroom still. One of her favorite things about going to antique stores was hunting for them.
Her great-grandmother had owned a particularly beautiful purple and gold Faberge style egg that had a place of honor on the top shelf of the family's china cabinet. Collins' mother had been devastated when it disappeared while her extended family was 'helping' clean out the house after Grandmother Porter's passing.
It was a longshot, but Collins had always hoped to find one similar to it one day.
Though purple and gold eggs remained elusive, Cooper made her day by producing a tiny black egg with blue butterflies painted on the surface.
She squealed loud enough to make the sleepy cashier jump in shock.
The egg was the only thing Cooper allowed her to carry back to the Tower, as he insisted on still carrying everything himself. They had made their way back on foot throughout the day and Collins knew he must have been tired, but he didn't show any signs of slowing despite her protests.
Cooper gave a put upon sigh when she tried to convince him to share the load once more and let go of her hand. She was left standing on the sidewalk, a bit hurt and completely confused when he left her behind, but he didn't go far.
He stopped at a little flower cart and chatted with the elderly couple running it for a moment before returning with a bouquet of sunflowers and red peonies.
Collins blushed nearly as red as the flowers when Cooper handed them to her and declared her capable of carrying more bags without compromising her flowers.
He was so smooth about it that she could find no more arguments.
They made it back into the loading bay, walking closely together and with Collins feeling more than a little in love, only to be stopped short by the sight of a familiar blond waiting for them.
Collins groaned and hid behind her flowers.
Cooper swore under his breath in an unfamiliar language.
"Lady Collins," Thor frowned down at them, arms crossed as he blocked them from the elevator entrance. Collins winced and shrank back into Cooper's side, reminded of all the times her father caught her sneaking home. "I thought you were the more sensible one between you and Cooper. How ever did he convince you to go along with his schemes?"
His beard twitched when Collins looked up at him from beneath her lashes, her attempt at puppy dog eyes weakening his resolve.
"He's quite charmin' when he wants somethin'." she admitted sheepishly. "And I'm quite weak-willed when it's somethin' I want, too."
Cooper smirked and stood a little taller at that.
"There was quite a fuss when we found the two of you missing today." Thor sighed and shook his head. "But as nothing untoward came of it, I think you'll be let off the hook easily this time."
Cooper slid forward so that Collins was partially hidden behind him, causing the others to look at him in surprise, Thor more so shocked by the action.
"Place no blame on Miss Collins - this was my own doing. And who are we to blame if we made it out so easily." He shrugged and pulled the cap from his head, pinning Thor with a challenging look. "Perhaps Stark's security is not as impenetrable as he believes it to be."
"A fluke, I'm sure." Thor said evenly. He clapped a hand on Cooper's shoulder and dragged him forward. "Just in case, let's get you back now. Lady Collins, take this time to yourself while I see to Stark. He's quite beside himself at the moment."
Collins lowered her eyes guiltily. "I'm sorry we caused any trouble. But being stuck in this Tower all the time…"
She could feel bad about being caught and about the others being upset, but she'd sneak Cooper out again and again if she had to.
Cooper slipped out from beneath Thor's hand and was at her side at once, a hand slipping beneath her chin.
"A little troublemaking now and then is good for the state of life, my dear." He reassured her, urging her to face him again. He winked at her. "Have no concern, I shall convince Stark and the others that I was the mastermind behind our foray into the city. I'm quite skilled at talking myself out of trouble."
Collins melted under his gaze.
"Still, call me and let me know how it goes?" she pleaded.
"If my lady so wishes." Cooper inclined his head. "Good evening, my darling."
Thor raised his brows and shook his head incredulously at their display and turned to step into the elevator that led directly to the penthouse.
Cooper lingered a moment longer, uncaring of the blond's impatient expression, and leaned in close to Collins.
She froze when his lips pressed against her cheek, a light and fleeting pressure that was gone in a moment, but left her dizzy and surrounded with the tangy smell of citrus and a lingering undertone of cinnamon.
Cooper smirked and let his fingers trail across her cheek before he turned to join Thor in the elevator just as the doors began closing.
Collins remained rooted to the spot, her expression just as shocked as Thor's, until the doors finished closing and cut the men off from her sight.