Summer in New York was much more bearable than summer in Alabama. It was warmer than one could expect with it being an upper state. But that could be attributed to the masses of people moving in the streets. It was still hot, humid and generally a miserable state of summer heat. At least the mosquitoes weren't biting like tiny little vampires like they would in Atlanta.
Collins grinned at the sight of the city laid out before her. She liked to admire the hustle and bustle of the tiny cars and people floors and floors below her. She didn't often watch the city from the penthouse floors and took the chance whenever she came up.
The windows were larger and the floor itself was brighter and more open.
She usually attributed that to Tony's alter-ego as Iron Man and the need to escape at a moments' notice. He sometimes had good reason. Most of the time he was avoiding paperwork.
The open concept would work well for the newest residents of the Tower, in particular: a certain giant Asgardian called Thor.
Collins had yet to meet him, but she and Pepper had seen the footage and knew of his ability to fly. It was interesting to see. It seemed less like flying and more like riding on the momentum from flinging his hammer.
She had to admit, she was eager to meet the rest of the Avengers.
Collins peeked around the corner of the entryway after she stepped off of the elevator. She couldn't see anyone lingering around the couch or the bar; she could see no further into the living space due to the angle.
"Hello?" she called out, moving further into the room. "Anyone home?"
"Hello." an unfamiliar voice greeted her in return. They sounded English. Collins jumped and looked at the far corner to find a man scrutinizing presence. "It would seem that I am the only one present today."
He was tall. Collins could see that even as he sat down, all long legs and a lithe torso encased in a lovely gray suit. He wore a small, half-smile as he looked over Collins and she found his jade green eyes captivating. He had sharp cheekbones, softened by long black hair that fell in waves around his shoulders. There was a hint of laugh lines around his eyes that made the intensity of them more bearable. The features all worked well together to give the man a very handsome face.
The man set his book to the side and rose from his chair. He buttoned his suit jacket as he stepped closer to Collins with a courteous nod.
Her jaw clacked shut as she realized she had been staring and she hurried forward herself.
"Oh, excuse me. I didn't realize there was someone in here. Are you a guest of Mister Stark's?" she said breathlessly, trying to compose herself. She was no longer used to being charmed by handsome men after so many Stark Parties, but this one had stolen her breath away in an instant. Collins felt caught off guard.
"A guest?" he chuckled with a small grin. The laugh lines around his eyes crinkled attractively. "I suppose you could say that. I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet."
"I'm Collins Cunningham, Miss Potts' assistant. I haven't heard any news about a guest in the Tower, Mister…" Collins offered the man a polite smile of her own and her hand.
"Cooper. Damos Cooper."
"Mister Cooper."
He caught her off guard yet again when he accepted her hand, turning her wrist gently and lifting her knuckles to his lips. His hand was cool and smooth. There was a hint of calluses there to suggest he worked with his hands and Collins felt a brief flash of panic at the thought of her own hand being sweaty with nerves.
She was glad she always took her grandmother's advice to dab perfume on her wrists in a case such as this.
"It is an honor to make the acquaintance of a lady as lovely as yourself, my dear."
"O-oh! Um, the pleasure is all mine…" Collins stuttered, a pink blush spreading down her throat. She cleared her throat in an attempt to regain some composure. "I hope you don't mind, but I have to double check your clearance with JARVIS. It's a safety precaution we all have to go through. You understand, yes?"
She firmed her voice and frowned as she met his eye. Stark Industries and the household itself had been through too much in recent years for anyone to take chances with strangers. No one wanted to move again because of another explosion.
"Of course, you can't have anyone just wandering in off the street here." Mister Cooper smiled benevolently and released her hand. He took a step back and held out an arm to usher her further into the room.
"I appreciate your understanding." Collins nodded in appreciation and glanced up at the ceiling. "JARVIS, confirmation of identity, please?"
The AI didn't respond.
"... JARVIS?" she tried again. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Collins glanced over at Mister Cooper suspiciously. Her fingers lingered over the wristwatch she wore. There was a taser feature hidden in the Stark Tech that might give her time to get away if she required it.
Mister Cooper glanced at the ceiling as well. He raised his eyebrows and turned to Collins with interest.
She couldn't get a read on him and clenched her jaw to hide a frown. He had the innocent look down pat if he was involved in JARVIS' silence.
"My apologies, Miss Cunningham." JARVIS' cool tone sounded around them. Some of the tension released from Collins' shoulders. "Mister Cooper is indeed a guest of Mister Stark's. He has access to the amenities in the living quarters."
Collins smiled at the ceiling despite knowing that the AI wasn't located there. It was more of a habit than anything. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Miss Cunningham."
"Well, Mister Cooper," Collins breathed deeply and smiled again. "Like I said - I'm Miss Potts' personal assistant and part of that extends to managing some of the Avengers' needs. As Mister Stark's guest and a guest of the Tower, I'd like to also extend those services to you. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to make your stay with us more pleasant."
"My dear, you have already made my stay more pleasant by being here." Mister Cooper's eyes crinkled at the corners again. He stepped closer with an inclination of his head and leaned closer like he was divulging a secret. "I'm afraid the company I've been subjected to so far has been less than… courteous."
"Oh, my." Collins squeaked and felt like she could kick herself for it. She was no simpering college student anymore. She tried her best to meet that luminous green gaze head on. "You flatter me, sir. But I'm sorry to hear your stay has been lacking. I could speak to someone and see if there's been some misunderstandings from your hosts?"
It was concerning to hear that a guest of Mister Stark's was finding their stay disagreeable. Most guests in the Tower were usually close to Tony Stark himself. Collins wasn't sure what the relationship between the two was, but JARVIS had confirmed that Mister Cooper was a guest with access to the comforts of home, as were the Avengers. That had to count for something.
Mister Cooper grinned and moved to speak again, but was cut off before he could speak.
Collins heard the elevator open and a burst of noise accompanied it.
She smiled at the familiar voice and stepped away from Mister Cooper to turn to greet their arrivals.
"Hey, Eliza Doolittle! Good to see you back!" Mister Stark exclaimed joyfully as he strode into the room, a tall blonde at his side that wasn't Pepper for once. He raised his brows at the sight of Mister Cooper at her back and his smile became a bit fixed.
Collins blinked in surprise and resisted the urge to look over her shoulder at the man.
Perhaps they weren't friends after all.
"Mister Stark. It's good to be back. Your investors are stubborn and are terrible company." She teased and moved forward to accept a hug when he opened his arms to her.
Collins was no stranger to Mister Stark's reputation as a womanizer. Yet, she had spent enough time with him and Pepper to know the man was gone for his CEO. She had been there for the aftermath of the Battle of New York and the disastrous Christmas with the Mandarin, though she had been on leave for the majority of the latter. Her mother had nearly been destroyed by the news over the attack on the Malibu mansion. She begged Collins to find a new job, but Collins was quick to return to Pepper's side to help her recover from the ordeal.
Pepper was like family and Collins considered Mister Stark a brother-in-law she approved of and treated him as such. The company may have his name, but she didn't work for him.
Besides, he could have been her father with their similar features and the age gap between them.
Mister Stark flirting with her was unthinkable.
"Why do you think I stepped back and let Pepper take over? She's better at handling those blockheads anyway." Mister Stark patted her on the back. He threw an arm over her shoulder and dragged her around to face the blond he came with. "Have you met Point Break here? He's new to town!"
"Hello, Mister Thor." Collins smiled sweetly and offered the man her hand. He seemed familiar enough with Earth and American customs and shook it easily. "It's nice to meet you. It seems like Mister Stark's already got you settled in if he's giving out nicknames."
Thor grinned down at her, looking like sunshine personified. His eyes were the bluest she'd ever seen and he had masses of golden blond hair and more muscles than she had ever seen on a person.
And she grew up with country boys.
It was no wonder he was popular with the ladies.
"Then can I assume, Doolittle isn't your true name, my lady?"
"It's a joke Mister Stark thinks is clever." She threw Mister Stark a pointed look that he ignored. "Collins Cunningham, at your service. Please let me know if Mister Stark becomes too troublesome for you and I'll let Miss Potts know - he's afraid of her. That goes for you too, Mister Cooper."
She smiled over her shoulder at Mister Cooper, but faltered when she saw his expression had closed off and become cold. The lines in his face had smoothed out and left him like marble, his skin pale enough to render him a statue as he watched their little group.
Even the green of his eyes seemed darker and less welcoming.
"Cooper…" Mister Stark stared at the man like he was a snake in his bed. He frowned and tugged Collins closer. He turned to her, pouting. "I am not afraid of Pepper! I just have some common sense."
"Now that is a surprise." she said dryly.
"You hurt me, Doolittle!" Mister Stark claimed dramatically and laid a hand over his arc reactor. He threw a nasty look at Mister Collins. "Anyway, Rock of Ages, don't you have anything better to do than harass my employees?"
Collins gaped at the blatant animosity radiating off of the man. Thor looked similarly discomforted and was watching Mister Cooper closely.
Mister Cooper himself looked tense. A muscle in his sharp jaw clenched and he crossed his arms defensively.
"He hasn't been a bother at all-" Collins tried to protest. Now she understood why Mister Cooper was displeased with his stay.
He cut her off with a glance, the ice in his eyes startling.
"It's quite alright, Miss Cunningham." Mister Cooper simpered. His face twisted into a smile of contempt. "I don't care much for Stark's company."
Collins watched with dismay as Mister Cooper nodded at her cordially. He turned without a backwards glance to leave the room, moving like a predator. He stalked away with quick, rolling strides and took the warm atmosphere of the room with him.
"Lady Cunningham." Thor cleared his throat and offered Collins a nod as well. "No worries, I shall see to… Mister Cooper. Farewell."
Collins brow furrowed.
Why did they say his name like that?
"Oh, good-bye then, Mister Thor." she offered awkwardly.
He seemed to sympathize with her and gave her a pitying look. "Just Thor, my lady."
"Then you can call me Collins."
"Lady Collins."
Collins couldn't help a quiet laugh at his stubbornness. "Close enough, I suppose."
She watched him go silently before slipping out from beneath Mister Stark's arm. She gave him a look of concern and nodded after their guests.
"Mister Stark, is everything alright here?"
"As well as it can be with an alien in the house!" Mister Stark exclaimed after a moment of hesitation. He ushered her towards the elevator and that wonderful cityscape she had been admiring moments before. "But anyway, kiddo, I'm sure there's been some paperwork piling up while you and Pep have been outta town. Anything need my signature? I've got some spare time on my hands since Cap's looking for me and I gotta say, I'd rather waste time on filing than listening to him drone on and on."
Collins nearly tripped over her own feet. She didn't know what was more surprising.
The fact that they had a literal historical artifact living in the building or Mister Stark's sudden urge to actually do work outside of his lab?
She wondered if he'd hit his head on a mission.
"Captain America is staying in the Tower now, too? You oughta warn a girl first, Mister Stark." Collins tried to joke. She worried that she'd run into the Captain and be unable to resist the urge to salute. Or groan in despair at the memory of all the videos she'd been subjected to throughout her school years.
"I didn't send a memo? Ah, well I can tell you all about it while we head over to your office. Is Pepper in today?" Mister Stark asked lightly.
Collins looked at him with bewilderment.
He was acting off-kilter. Pepper had called him that morning about some documents. That aside, she was his girlfriend - he was terrible about bugging her throughout the day in an attempt to distract her into giving him attention.
He was like a cat in that regard.
"She is." They reached the elevator and Collins watched Mister Stark as he hit the call button. She couldn't hold her curiosity any longer. "…if you don't mind my asking, is Mister Cooper a friend of yours or a business guest of sorts? You rarely have company outside of Mister Rhodes. I don't want to overstep with Mister Cooper if that's the case."
"He's a pain in the ass." Mister Stark said tersely. "But I'm doing a favor for a friend, which means putting up with him. He usually keeps to his own room, which makes it a little easier."
"I take it y'all don't get along." she murmured, her brow creasing.
She wondered what Mister Cooper had done to get on his bad side and who the favor was for if the man was still allowed to stay in the Tower.
"That's an understatement. If he had the chance, he'd throw me out the window every time I pissed him off." Mister Stark's mouth twitched and he seemed unable to decide if he'd rather frown or smile.
Collins felt like she might be missing some inside joke.
"Remind me not to ask." She sighed and followed Mister Stark into the elevator when it arrived. She looked at the ceiling again. "JARVIS, Floor 82, please."
"Of course, Miss Cunningham." The AI responded immediately this time.
Whatever Mister Stark's issue with Mister Cooper, it wouldn't matter in the end to her. Collins was sure the latter would be gone before long and she would never see him again. Considering he hadn't been introduced as anything more than a personal guest, Collins doubted Mister Cooper had business dealings with Stark Industries. She wouldn't count on seeing him on the Avengers' floors or any of the business floors again.
Still, she thought wistfully, he was rather handsome. She certainly wouldn't mind seeing him again.