Calm in the Chaos
Chapter 3: The Eyes Have It
A/N: Now that we're getting deeper into this story I thought maybe I should clarify on where in the MCU timeline I'm aiming for. The answer to that would be early in the two years between The Avengers and Winter Solider. And of course, I own none of this…I just like to play with it.
Thank you to everyone who is reading, and an even bigger thank you to my sole reviewer jcstibs – your kind words are very appreciated!
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"Everyone is set up in the third floor conference room, this place gets even more exciting when they're all here!" gushed Kelsey, the super perky receptionist, as they made their way towards an elevator.
Everyone? I should have known Stark wouldn't keep this meeting between us.
Rylie gave the cheerful woman next to her a smile to mask her surprise as they stepped into the car.
It quickly ascended the two floors to their destination and the doors opened to an empty hallway.
"If you'll just follow me, we're almost there." Kelsey beamed as the lieutenant fell into step behind her.
She doesn't walk, she bounces…
Rylie withheld a snicker as they paused in front of the third door on the left. The receptionist gave a soft knock before pulling open the solid wood door enough to poke her head inside.
"Mr. Stark, Lt. Walker has arrived." She all but sang before opening the door the rest of the way, allowing Rylie to step into the room.
With the exception of Stark, who was having a spirited discussion with a tablet in his hands, all of the eyes in the room were immediately trained on her. Among them was a particularly memorable set of blue ones that held her gaze. Blue eyes that belonged to the blonde man from the Lincoln Memorial; the one she had rambled nonsense to while they watched the sunrise. Eyes that she now realized belonged to one Steve Rogers, also known to most of the world as Captain America.
Well this is embarrassing. It's a good thing he didn't want to fight.
Rylie thought as she remembered the tense first moments of their previous encounter just a couple weeks ago.
Maybe he won't remember me…I'm sure he comes into contact with a lot of crazy people…
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She was the last person Steve had expected to see when Tony's unnaturally happy employee announced the arrival of their visitor. Yet when he looked up from listening to Natasha go on about another girl he should ask out; there she was. His blue eyes meet her green ones and he felt a small tinge of the peace he had felt that morning in D.C. He didn't even know her name, but somehow he found her presence oddly relaxing, and at the same time that feeling put him just slightly on edge.
After a couple of long moments, she broke eye contact and suddenly became interesting in watching Tony secure his tablet to its stand on the table.
Way to go Rogers, you just had to make things awkward…
He mentally berated himself, studying her a couple seconds more before switching his attention to the wood grains of the table top and hoping no one noticed.
"She's way cuter than Jill from records." Natasha whispered with a knowing smirk, shattering his hopes for anonymity.
Steve answered her comment with a stern look that clearly stated this was not the time for this discussion.
This is going to be a long meeting.
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"Alright if everyone would like to take a seat, we'll get to the reason I called you all here."
Tony Stark called the room to order, taking a seat on the same side of the boardroom style table as his teammates.
Rylie took the chair in the middle of the other, unoccupied side and waited for Stark to make the next move. Originally he had not been overly thrilled about her visit so she decided it was best to let him take the lead.
Personalities like his always respond best when they feel like they are in control.
"Although I go without introduction, for their sake, let me introduce my associates. The assassins Barton and Romanoff. The big green guy, Dr. Bruce Banner, who is joining us via video conference from where ever it is he is hiding out." He explained, gesturing to each person, and the tablet, respectively "And of course everyone's favorite ninety-year-old, the Cap. Thor is not on the planet at the current time, so we will proceed without him."
This was followed by a brief silence that Rylie took as her que to begin speaking.
"Good morning" she started, "I'm 1st Lieutenant Walker and I'm here today on behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss.."
"What she meant to say was she's here because her daddy sent her." Interrupted Stark.
"Excuse me?" Rylie questioned evenly. She knew he was trying to get a rise out of her and she wasn't about to play along.
"You did your research on me when you went through Colonel Rhodes to secure a meeting with us; I figured it was only fair that I do some research on you." The billionaire responded with a shrug. "And since your father, General Joseph Walker, is in with the Joint Chiefs that leads me to the conclusion that the reason you're here is to make him look good. Maybe secure yourself a promotion in the process?"
"I don't know that I would say he's in with the Chiefs, he's the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, high positon sure but it's not like he gets a vote." She returned casually. She had expected some difficulties from Stark, but not a full on interrogation.
"Right. So if it's not because of your connections, why else would the military's highest body of leaders send you, a junior JAG officer, to offer a proposal to the greatest team of heroes the world has ever known?"
The others followed the exchange with their eyes as though it were a tennis match.
"Well Mr. Stark, with as much digging on me as you've seem to have done, I'm sure you've come across the fact that I've been called one the US military's best SRT negotiators."
"You know I did come across that; I also came across the fact that you didn't reenlist after your initial six-year contact." He countered, proving how much research he had done on her "Yet three years, and a law degree later, you took a commission back into the Air Force. That's a bit of a drastic career change don't ya think?"
Did he seriously think that I would walk in here unprepared for him to reveal all of my "secrets"?
If Tony Stark thought his little inquisition was enough to get Rylie worked up or distracted, he had severely miscalculated. If anything this display was allowing her to prove her transparency to the group, and that gave her a renewed feeling of confidence.
She was about to give him an answer when a strong, male voice beat her to it.
"Tony can you stop reciting her biography and let the lady speak?" questioned Steve Rogers from his seat to the left of Stark.
"Oh, I'm sorry Gramps. We better get a move on so we can wrap this up in time for your twelve o'clock nap."
The two assassins shared a look and Banner could be heard letting out a sigh as the two most stubborn among them locked into a brief glaring match. After a tense moment Stark waved his hand in her direction and the Captain spoke.
"Please continue Lt. Walker."
Rylie gave him a polite smile before speaking.
"Well as you all are more than well aware; the world has changed substantially following the events of the last several months. The public was made aware of threats and organizations they previously had no idea even existed." She paused, half expecting Stark to interrupt her once more, but when he stayed silent she carried on. "I was asked to speak to you on behalf of the Joint Chiefs, who as the military advisors to the President, have been tasked with creating a plan to help ease the fears of the public as well as prevent any kind of global armament escalation."
"I'm sorry, an armament escalation?" Steve repeated slowly as he processed the phrase.
"They're worried that the rest of the world will look at us as an asset of the US military. If that happens it has the potential to cause another arms race." Romanoff answered and Rylie nodded in confirmation. "You slept through the last one, but believe me, they're no fun."
"Haha" he muttered, turning his attention back to the lieutenant. "So what exactly do they want us to do?"
"The Chiefs are proposing an alliance; they would like to reach an agreement with all of you that the President can use in foreign policy to explain your relationship with the US government. And to have it all legally documented of course."
Rylie paused in her explanation to gauge their reactions. Stark was rolling his eyes and the Captain looked thoughtful. On the tablet screen Banner frowned, but did not look surprised at the announcement, while the SHEILD agents' neutral expressions remained the hardest to read.
"I'm not sure what worse; that the military's brightest minds thought they could send you in here to recruit us as weapons or that they thought it had any shot at actually working." Tony spoke up with a snort.
"As much as they would love to add your team to their arsenal Mr. Stark, even they know that won't happen." She answered, a small smile playing on her lips. "The alliance they are seeking would be more for humanitarian purposes. It was abundantly clear to us after New York that we do not possess the knowledge or resources to handle an event like that, the idea that we could call upon you should anything like that ever happen again would bring comfort to a lot of people. Not to mention help put off a little bit of political pressure from the rest of the world."
"We would eliminate that type of threat without directives from the government." He replied
"Exactly."
Tony gazed at her with a pensive look in his eyes.
That got his attention.
"I have a draft written up and the Pentagon isn't expecting an answer for at least the next two days." Rylie explained before he could regain his wits. "Why don't you all take time to look it over? Let me know if you're interested in discussing it further."
The billionaire took a long moment to glance at each of his counterparts before speaking.
"Why you mind giving us a minute?"
She simply nodded before stepping into the empty hall, closing the door behind her.
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"I really appreciate your help…Yeah on the glass would be great!" Rylie spoke as she took in the view of the city through glass wall of the tower.
The soft click of the conference room door was amplified in the deserted hallway and she turned to see Captain Rogers standing just outside the closed door. Observing that she was on the phone, he took several long steps away and turned to look out the glass. It appeared as though he was attempting to give her some privacy, but she was sure he was catching every word.
"Actually Derek, go ahead and make it two seats…. Thanks again." She concluded her call and moved towards Rogers.
"Sorry for interrupting." He apologized courteously.
"Don't worry about it, it wasn't work related." She answered with a playful smirk, waving off his apology. "The Capitals and Ranger are playing a preseason game in town tonight, that was my ticket guy."
He gave her a grin in return, holding back the many off topic questions on his mind.
"Stark wants his lawyers to review your proposal. Would you be able to meet with us again tomorrow afternoon?"
Bingo.
"Of course." She replied, turning her attention back to the view. They stood for a couple moments in companionable silence before she broke it. "So Captain, have you ever been to a hockey game?"
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A/N 2: Oh wow…over 2,000 words…I never intended for this chapter to be this long. I actually made several attempts at making it into two chapters and never found a spot where it still flowed the way I wanted. The length was part of the reason this took so long to get out, for that I apologize.
Thanks for reading!
~Semper