(A/N): Well hello again. Can't believe we made it to April already!
Just an FYI since someone asked about this in a review, when I say we're getting to the endgame of the story, I mean THIS story. Not the series. This story will end after everything's resolved with Reyes. The next story will cover Iron Man 3. Don't worry guys, we're nowhere close to the end lol
Thanks to edwardsgirl21, Catzandbookz8, Stephanie MRV, supercowgirl101, Tametiger, Katerina Malfoy, redheadfaerie, Ayeilin, Analena, Silas Serenity, and Guest for reviewing! Good to know people are still hanging around. I'm totally not going to start working on other projects now (kicks Hunger Games story under the couch)
I love how much you all enjoyed Jessica and her terrible advice! She's a great character to write. Nearly as fun as Billy- who this chapter is alllllll about.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go *not* work on a story of Troll!Harry and Vengeful!Hermione volunteering for the Hunger Games. It's pure chaos right there, no lawful, evil, or neutral about it.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy!
"They found them this morning," one of the newest Auror's whose name Harry had forgotten was telling him as he led the older man down the hall.
"Them?" Harry repeated, already exhausted. "I thought this was about Kingsley's disappearance?"
"Yes, sir. It's… you have to see it for yourself."
Harry rolled his eyes. The boy looked nauseous and his eyes were darting all over the place even though they were the only ones in the hallway. It was clearly his first case, and based off his behavior, he had a lot to learn. Harry couldn't remember ever being that offput by the cases he'd worked on when he first started as an Auror. Then again, he'd had a rather unusual and gruesome upbringing.
They stepped into the room and Harry's opinion was instantly turned on its head.
There were no furniture or decorations in place, nothing in the room other than three bodies and a soft overhead light that made the whole scene more jarring.
To the left was Kingsley, seemingly frozen in place with his mouth gapping as his hands covered his eyes. Next was Rita Skeeter, eyes wide with her hands over her mouth. Last was Ron, hands covering his ears as filmy eyes stared straight ahead.
"What the fuck?" Harry breathed.
"It gets worse," Mordecai Berrycloth stated, walking over to them. "We were waiting for you to arrive before we unparalyzed them."
Harry was quite sure that he didn't want to see anything more but, as the Head Auror, it was his job to. So, steeling his nerves, Harry walked forward and nodded at the investigators hovering over the bodies to get on with it. After sharing a look, the duo waved their wands and Ron, Skeeter, and Kingsley's hands fell to their sides.
He almost vomited.
Where Kingsley's eyes used to be were two gaping holes. Skeeter's mouth was wide open, bright red with dried blood from where her tongue had been ripped out. Ron's ears had been hacked off based off the edges of skin still attached to his skull.
Clearly, there was some message that Harry wasn't able to see. But what? And, more importantly, why? Why Ron, Skeeter, and Kingsley? What did they have in common?
"You know, you could have just asked me to meet you," Mia teased Billy as they slowly made their way through the packed roads of the city. "I imagine it would have taken far less time."
"Probably," he agreed with a laugh, "but it'd be rude of me to make you hike through the city in this heat when you're doing me a favor."
"Could this really be considered doing you a favor when it's you calling in one of your IOU's?" she asked, shifting in her seat so that she could watch him more comfortably. It was her first time seeing him in casual clothes and Mia hated to admit it, but Billy looked unfairly attractive in a gray shirt and jeans.
Billy smirked, not taking his eyes off the road. "Figured I should start cashing them in since it seems pretty easy to earn one from you. Honestly, I had no idea you were going to end up being this needy when I helped you that first day."
She laughed, the weight pressing down on her chest easing the more they spoke. It was easy with Billy. Mia hadn't realized how much she'd missed talking to someone not dealing with government conspiracies. "If I'm needy, then what are you? Always willing to lend a hand when I'm in need, doesn't hesitate to drown my apartment- and my brother's also, thanks for that- with amazing and expensive chocolate, and so quick to give up on our competition to see who's going to give in and find the other's phone number first. If I'm needy, then you're an attention seeking prat."
"And you're reusing old insults," he chided, shaking his head and feigning disappointment. "I thought you were more creative than that."
"If you'd given me more time, perhaps I'd be able to display more of my amazing wit. Alas, you sprung this outing on me with no time to prepare, which means that you're going to have to settle for the company of tired-Mia."
Billy snorted. "Potts keep you up late yelling at you for the stunt you and Tony pulled?"
"I'm not talking about this with you!"
"Hey, I thought you guys really livened up the party. It also took the attention off of the Captain, who seemed pretty relieved to me."
Mia wrinkled her nose. "You can just call him Steve. Or Rogers, if that makes you more comfortable. Referring to him as 'the Captain' is strange to me. Especially since he's no longer in the army."
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I feel like I'm seconds away from triggering a landmine here."
"Then I suggest you watch your step," she retorted archly, refusing to engage with Billy further on the subject.
Fortunately, he seemed to pick up on her decision. "I thought we'd just hang out at my place," Billy informed her. They took a right turn and then were smoothly pulling into a small lane leading to an underground parking garage. The silver door automatically lifted as the car approached. "Figured you'd appreciate some time out of the public eye."
Mia hummed as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change from bright sunlight to dim lighting. "Always." She suddenly frowned as a thought struck her. "Are you alright? With the publicity I mean. I should have thought about how you might be struggling with all the new eyes on you."
Billy chuckled, turning the wheel and bringing the car to a stop in a space with a reserved sign mounted to the stone wall in front of it. "Don't worry about me. Being the owner of a private security company comes with a few perks."
"At the very least, you know how to enter and exit buildings without being seen." Mia started to get out of the car but stopped when Billy gave her a look as her fingers reached for the door handle. "Really?" she sighed. "Fine."
It only took a few seconds for Billy to walk around to her side of the car and open the door, but she still resented having to wait. "Trying to be a gentleman here, Stark."
"The first time we met, you made fun of me for hiding behind your car," she reminded him as they walked to the elevator.
"Yes, and you basically told me to fuck off. Which means it was all uphill from there."
"That's not how I recall our conversation going," Mia said, tone dry. She watched Billy flash a card to the black box above the buttons for the different floors and, once it turned green, press the button for the rooftop, feeling curious about his choice considering how hot it was despite the sun beginning its descent.
Billy noticed her glance but didn't explain. "Well, that's how I took your cryptic comment about avoiding troublesome Stark's."
"A warning you chose not to heed." Mia didn't know whether or not she was glad that he didn't.
"Like I told you last night, I don't mind a bit of danger."
"If you think that hanging around a Stark will only bring 'a bit' of danger into your life, then you're a fool."
"You insult everyone, or is it just me?"
"Depends on the day."
I think I picked up the habit from Frank, part of her aches to tell him, just to see what Billy looked like when that unflappable demeanor of his cracked. But Mia doesn't, because she promised Frank she wouldn't.
The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open with a soft ding.
Mia blinked at the sight before her. "A picnic?" she questioned hesitantly. Out of all the outings she might of expected Billy to plan, a picnic was one that never crossed her mind.
"Yeah. Is this okay?"
Slowly walking out onto the rooftop patio, Mia stared around in something that felt a little bit like awe. Which was silly. What she was seeing was nothing extravagant for someone like Billy: blankets spread out over the dark wood boards covering the rooftop, a wood structure covering them with soft white curtains, and a sea of pillows surrounded by multiple containers of foods and a pitcher of drinks.
"Why?" Mia finally asked, turning to look back at Billy, whose expression was blank stone. "Why this?"
Carefully watching her, he shrugged. "Figured you'd be the kind of person who preferred space when getting to know someone."
She let out a strangled laugh. "I… that is such a strange thought for a person to have."
"Was I right?"
He was, so Mia toed off her flats and ducked around a curtain to sit down on a large gray cushion. "You were."
Billy's slow smile is a satisfied thing that makes Mia itch to smack him as he passed her to sit down across from her seat. "I've always been good at reading people."
"Must come in handy for all the politicking you have to do," she commented, studying his hands as he carefully pulled the lids off of each glass dish. It was a mixture of fruits, cheese, crackers, and chocolate truffles.
"Networking, not politicking," Billy corrected.
"Potato, potahto." Mia snatched up the container of cantaloupe and popped a cube into her mouth with a noise of contentment. It had been hours since she'd seen Curtis and she was starving.
"Have you eaten at all today?" he asked, shaking his head in amusement as he plucked a red grape from its vine.
"Yes," she answered defensively, though the effect was ruined by her shoving more fruit into her mouth.
"Enough?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, mother."
It was supposed to be a light, teasing taunt, but the way Billy subtly flinched made Mia feel like she was the one traversing a field of landmines and she'd just heard a click.
"Believe it or not, fresh fruit is kind of a rarity in the Tower," Mia hastily continued before Billy had to come up with a response. "Getting Tony to eat anything that's not food a 'high frat boy'- as Pepper put it- would eat is usually a real fight. And I used to try and keep my fridge stocked but I kept forgetting about it and it would go bad, so I stopped out of guilt."
"First world problems," Billy joked, but there was still a tightness around his eyes.
"Ah, first world. One of the poorer concepts to come out of the Cold War. Possibly the most insulting, too."
"Careful now," he warned, smile turning more honest. "You're veering dangerously close to sounding unpatriotic."
She shrugged. "It's after the fourth of July. I can be as unpatriotic as I want now."
"Really? That the rule now?"
"Yes," Mia told him decisively. "Didn't you see it in the news?"
"I didn't. Must have missed that announcement."
Shaking her head with an over-the-top sigh, she told him, "If you only use Yahoo and Google for your news, you're going to miss out on so much."
Billy laughed loudly. "Shit, you found out my secret."
Mia couldn't help leaning in and dropping her voice to a whisper. "Don't worry- I'll take it to my grave."
Copying her pose, he asked, "You say that, but how can I know you'll keep your word?"
Pressing her hand to her chest, Mia said, "Do you mean to say that you doubt my trustworthiness? I don't know what could possibly have given you such a negative impression of my honor."
He shook his head. "You mean besides almost every conversation we've had?"
"Of course."
"Well, what can I say, Mia, I'm just not a very trusting kind of guy. I can't trust someone who has such life ruining dirt on me unless I have the same on them."
"That sounds like a personal problem," Mia noted, setting the cantaloupe aside in favor for a chocolate covered strawberry.
"Guess that means I'll have to find a way to fix it myself. So, in the name of a secret in exchange for a secret," Billy ducked his head slightly to lock eyes with Mia, "tell me about Steve Rogers."
Mia's brows rose as she gave an over-exaggerated look of confusion. "You mean you don't know? The American education system is that bad? Steve Rogers is Captain America- your beloved boy in blue."
Billy rolled his eyes. "Come on now, you know that's not what I meant. I saw how he was looking at us last night. I don't want to step on any toes here or go where I'm not wanted. Am I causing you any issues?"
"In general? Yes," she told him flatly. "With Steve?" Her shoulders slumped. "No. That particular issue has been going on for a while."
"How come?"
Peering up at him through her eyelashes, Mia asked, "Would you believe me if I said that it all boils down to us being in two very different places in our lives? Him being in a 'serious relationship' place and me being as far from serious as you can get?"
"I would," he responded, surprising her. "But I also know that it's not that simple."
Mia rolled her eyes. "There's a conversation he and I need to have that we just haven't quite gotten around to yet. Together, I mean. Because I've had it a few times on my own and have done a fairly good job- if I do say so myself- of filling in Steve's side of things for him."
He let out a bark of laughter. "You mean you don't actually need Steve when you want to have a conversation with him? He doesn't get a say in things?"
Taking a break from snacking for a moment, Mia leaned back on her hands with a sigh. "I know that's not something any of us should be doing, but I also don't think that this would be one of those conversation where Steve might surprise me."
Grabbing some more grapes, Billy shifted to lay on his side, propped up on one elbow. "Wanna walk me through it?" When she gave him a doubtful look, he gave her a half-smile. "I'm pretty sure I'm as unbiased as you're gonna get, Stark. Unlike your family, I don't know anything about Rogers- I can't really argue your points when I don't know whether or not you're right. And I'm not gonna go blabbing either about what you say. Why not give it a go?"
Mia could think of a number of reasons why she shouldn't 'give it a go'. Yet, she still found herself speaking.
"Steve and I were in very close quarters once he was brought out of the ice and I was brought to the States. We latched on to one another in a way that I know now was unhealthy. I don't think he does though. Once there was some space between us, I realized… no," Mia corrected, "that's too… firm. I got the feeling that Steve himself doesn't know what he wants. He says one thing, but his actions don't reflect that. It makes me feel as though he's trying to force himself to be who he thinks he should be. Who he was before he went into the ice. And he's ignoring who he is now."
"Okay." Billy nodded. "So, how does that play into the conversation you're not having with him?"
She looked down at the blanket they were seated on, tracing over the patterns on it with her eyes. "I think Steve is doing the same thing with me. He's seeing who he thinks or who he wants me to be, but he's not seeing who I actually am."
Billy shifted and nudged her foot with his. "And who are you?"
Letting out a rush of air, Mia bluntly stated, "Someone who's not serious relationship material for a person like Steve. For a number of reasons, but I think the biggest is that we have different… values, for lack of a better word. He values honesty above all else, and I've realized that I'm now someone who values flexibility. And he knows that, but I don't think he gets it. Because he says he's fine with it as long as I don't actually lie and instead just don't answer the question. But eventually, Steve's going to start asking the right questions, ones where not answering will be enough of an answer. And the answers to those questions are ones he won't like, and I'm not willing to change things so that he will.
"Steve has a very strict moral code," she continued, still refusing to meet Billy's penetrating gaze. "His beliefs are what they are, and there's very little wiggle room. I know he won't be comfortable with some of the decisions I have made and will make in the future."
"How do you know?" Billy interrupted softly. "How can you be sure he won't be able to understand your reasons?"
"Because I know for a fact what he would do in a situation," Mia murmured, thinking of Arnin Zola and the choice Steve made to follow orders. "And I know what I would have done in his place. Taking out what I know now that he didn't, ignoring hindsight and everything of that nature- focusing only on what I would have done if it had been me making the decision in his place- I know I wouldn't have made the call he did, and I know he wouldn't have approved. And maybe he could get past that, maybe he could learn to live with those differences, but he won't be able to ignore the lack of remorse and the lack of regret. Which will result in me being unable to ignore and tolerate his disappointment and desire for me to find a better way."
He let out a low whistle, and the unexpected sound made her eyes snap up to meet his. "Sounds to me like Rogers is saying he wants long-term, but you're the only one thinking about it." Straightening up, Billy told her, "Look. At the end of the day, what it all comes down to is what you can live with. You, not anybody else. After its all said and done, when you look in the mirror, can you live with who you see looking back at you? Because if you can, then that's all that matters."
Mia gave him a mirthless smile. "I guess the problem here is, what happens if your partner looks at you and doesn't like who's staring back at them?"
Billy shrugged. "Depends on the person. If it were me, then I'd call it quits there. Because if you're fine with who you are, and they're fine with who they are, but one of you doesn't like who the other is, then that's not a partnership. Not a sustainable one at least. And maybe things might change and maybe it could work out someday in the future, but how long are you willing to wait for maybe? How long should he? And if you don't think that maybe is likely to happen in the near future, then you should tell him that." He paused, shifting to nudge her foot again even though her attention was already completely focused on him. "Do you think maybe is something worth waiting for?"
She bit her lip. "I don't know. But I think Steve gets a say with that, so I should probably talk to him and not just for him."
"No." Billy said firmly, uncharacteristically serious. "This isn't about Steve or anyone else- this is about you. This is your life. Don't make a decision- or wait to make one- until you've taken other opinions into account. You get to be selfish here. What do you, Mia Stark, think? Do you want to take a chance on maybe? Do you think maybe is worth waiting for?"
It was a rather complex question that required a surprisingly simple answer. But not one Billy needed to or deserved to hear first.
"What about you?" Mia asked, not bothering to try and find a smoother way to change the subject. "Am I stepping on any toes? Should I be worried about any girls coming out of the woodwork to start trouble?"
Billy grinned, accepting the shift in conversation with his normal, easy-going grace. "Aren't those two mutually exclusive things?"
Mia flicked a grape at him, giggling when it hit him in the forehead and his eyes widened in surprised. "Curtis was right about you. You're too cocky for your own good."
"Is that what Curtis said?" he questioned.
"His actual words were more along the lines of, 'He's a smooth son of a bitch that's never met a problem he can't talk his way out of.' But I can read between the lines."
He chuckled. "That sounds more like Curtis. Which you still haven't told me how you guys met."
"And you still haven't answered my question," she returned with a raised brow. "Do I need to start looking over my shoulder for someone looking to kick my ass for stealing their man?"
"I get the feeling you wouldn't bother being worried even if I said yes."
She threw another grape at him, but this time Billy managed to catch it in his mouth.
"If you choke, I won't help you," Mia warned.
After he swallowed, Billy grinned and said, "I'm a marine- it'll take more than a grape to kill me."
"With that level of arrogance, I'm pretty sure you're required to die by something as silly as a grape. It's a law."
"Only in Ancient Greece," he responded confidently.
"Shakespeare is rolling in his grave at that insult."
"I think my favorite Shakespearean death was that one where the character just threw himself away in the end."
Mia's head fell back as she laughed. "Yes, it would seem that people from the 1400s aren't that different from us."
"Does that mean you think that, if time travel was real and you somehow found yourself in the 1400s, you'd survive just fine?"
"No," she answered immediately. "I could probably navigate the differences in language and culture, but I'd never be able to survive the smell. Basic hygiene is a must for me."
"How needy of you."
"Says the man currently wearing cologne and hair gel."
"You got me there," Billy hummed. "And I guess I'm with you on the hygiene thing. After being trapped in a tent in the desert with a dozen sweaty guys, I can say with confidence that that level of stink is truly unforgettable and not something you ever get used to."
"I can imagine." Mia thought that the only benefit of being on the run during the colder months in Britain was that none of the trio had gotten too smelly. She couldn't imagine how much worse it would have been for Billy, trapped in a tent in the desert with so many men. "And, since you won't answer my original question- which is very ominous, by the way- I get to ask you a different one."
Billy spread his hands. "Go for it. I am an open book."
Mia rolled her eyes. "If that were true then you'd have answered my question."
He smirked. "Since you're so desperate to know… no, there isn't any women out there preparing to throw down with you over me. Guess I'm also not a serious relationship kind of guy."
"Yes, you seem to be very careful about not getting caught," Mia agreed. "Which makes your decision to spend time with me very confusing. I can't see how having your name tied to mine is going to benefit you beyond having your name smeared across the tabloids and attracting crazies that think they can use you to get to us."
"I mean, publicity is publicity," Billy joked before allowing himself to be a bit more serious. "I'm not worried about whatever craziness might come my way; perks of owning my own security firm. And would you believe me if I said that I just enjoy your company?"
She smiled prettily and looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Well, I am charming." He laughed and Mia lifted her head and let her smile fall. "We barely know each other, Billy. But I can tell that, at your core, you're as logical and pragmatic as I am. I don't expect you to be totally honest with me, but I want to make sure that we're clear on something: my family is no longer in the weapons making business and we have no plans on returning to it. The fact that the military already has access to the War Machine suit is bad enough. We won't be giving anyone even slightly military affiliated any more of our technology. And most people on Capitol Hill hate us so using our name isn't likely to help you much."
As she spoke, Billy sat silently, watching her intently with an unfathomable gaze. "I think you're underestimating just how much sway your name holds all on its own. But you know, I could ask you the same question."
"Would you believe me if I said that I just enjoy your company?" she tossed back.
"Hey, if that answer doesn't work for me then it certainly doesn't for you."
Mia grimaced. "Yes, but you're far more charming than I could ever hope to be."
"Again, you're selling yourself short. I wouldn't have helped you steal a phone after one meeting if I wasn't attracted to you."
"Here I thought you agreed because you also detest Samantha Reyes."
He smirked and the sharpness in his expression reminded her of why so many people had warned her that Billy Russo was a dangerous man. "That was just a bonus. Speaking of Reyes though, what exactly were you looking for?"
Just proof that she covered up the deaths of your godchildren and is actively trying to kill your best friend Frank, who doesn't want you to know he's alive. Mia's stomach churned because the truth would be out soon, and she was terrified of Billy's reaction.
"Mia?" She stiffened as Billy's fingers brushed against her jaw, gently turning her gaze back onto him. "What is it?"
Forcing a smile, she told him, "You'll figure out soon enough."
After waiting a few beats, Billy huffed, dropping his hand. "That bad, huh?"
Scrambling for something to say that would be even somewhat true, Mia finally settled on a reply. "Everyone is going to see Reyes for the monster she is but make no mistake- none of us are going to come out of this clean."
I'm sorry, she silently whispered as she stared into wine-dark eyes. He asked me not to say anything and I respected that. Even though I could see how much it's hurt both of you.
"What the fuck did you get yourself into, Stark?" Billy asked, brows furrowed. "What could be so bad that the Stark Princess has to brace herself for the storm?"
"There's very little I won't do to help a friend," she answered, hoping that when the time came, Billy remembered that. "No matter what it takes."
"And your friend got mixed up in something involving Reyes," Billy deduced.
Mia grimaced. "Reyes started the fight. We're just finishing it."
Billy's hand lifted to cup his chin. "Let me help you."
A bark of laughter escaped Mia, although it was slightly tainted a tinge of hysteria that wove its way through the sound. Billy's eyes went wide, and Mia waved her hand in the air. "You'll understand later," she told him, unable to come up with a better answer.
"That sounds ominous."
She just wanted the conversation to end. There was no good way to respond to Billy's accurate statement and the possibilities of what Billy would do once he found out the truth about Frank and Reyes and Mia's silence almost brought her to tears because was there really no way for this to end in any way other than pain and anger?
"What's one thing you've always wanted to do but still haven't managed?" Billy suddenly asked.
Air filled her lungs and Mia gratefully took the reprieve she was being offered. "I've always wanted to go on a road trip," she answered once her mind began to properly function again.
Billy seemed surprised by her answer. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. Road trips are a very American thing and I've always wanted to find out for myself if it's any fun."
"So why haven't you gone on one yet?"
"Because I can't go by myself and everyone else is too busy or hates the idea of being trapped in a car for hours on end."
He made a noise of understanding while Mia began sampling the different kinds of cheese that were at hand. "What kind of trip would you want? Just going wherever the road took you or did you have a destination in mind?"
Mia bit back a smile. "No destination in mind. Just wherever the restaurant recommendations I got from random people take me."
He laughed. "You want to do a foodie road trip? Food is that important to you that you want to center a whole trip around it?"
Tossing a cracker into her mouth, Mia considered his question. "I've struggled with food for a while now," she admitted. "Specifically with eating enough. If I'm out in public, then it feels like people are constantly watching me and judging me on what I'm eating and if I'm eating too much. Then, at the Tower, Pepper watches Tony and I like a hawk to make sure that we're not only eating enough, but that it also meets her standard of healthy."
"And before you started living with your brother?" Billy prodded. His countenance was a perfect blend of compassion and empathy that Mia had seen several times with Curtis, making her wonder if Billy had been on the receiving end of Curtis' tough love lectures.
"What do you mean?" she questioned warily.
He shrugged. "I saw the photos from when you first arrived in New York- it was hard not to given how they were plastered on every screen, magazine, and newspaper. You looked-"
She interrupted him. "I know how I looked." If it wasn't for how meticulous Pepper and her team of stylists had been about her appearance, Mia was sure that there would have been far more insidious questions about how exactly she had grown up. "It was a difficult transition for me, but I bounced back to normal quickly. Pepper's hovering proved effective," she tried to joke, but it fell flat.
Before Billy could continue that line of questioning, she asked, "What about you? What's one thing on your bucket list?"
Leaning back in his seat, Billy took a moment to consider his answer. "I've always wanted to travel for non-work-related reasons." Giving a self-deprecating grin, he explained, "I went from high school straight into the marines and once I got out, started Anvil. Never really had the opportunity to travel just for fun."
Pouring them each a glass of lemonade, Mia handed Billy his as she asked, "Where do you think you'd like to go? Do you see yourself tanning on a beach somewhere, or do you think you'd prefer to pick a destination based on history, culture, and sightseeing?"
"After too many years in the desert, I'm not a fan of sand," he told her dryly and she laughed. "I've always wanted to visit England because of how often the country is seen in classic literature. Even though it's not very patriotic."
"Italy or France were also the setting for many a classic," she pointed out, automatically shying away from the idea of Billy visiting the homeland of many of her personal horror stories. "Germany and Denmark as well. There are reasons that the tales of Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm stuck around for so long and the stunning settings those stories took place in are one of them."
"Very true. Where would you suggest I go?"
Letting her gaze drift lazily over Billy's relaxed form, Mia told him, "France or Italy. I think you'd enjoy the rich history of Italy, but you'd appreciate the French culture more. Although, if you are serious about your patriotism, you may need to avoid both because neither country's citizens will be thrilled by it."
Billy nodded seriously. "So, you're saying I shouldn't wear my baseball cap with the American flag on it?"
"I would go a step farther than that and recommend you don't wear a baseball cap of any kind while abroad, no matter the country you find yourself in."
"Top hats only, got it."
Mia laughed at the image of Billy in a top hat and a monocle and her giggles caused Billy to start laughing with her.
"So, where are you usually traveling to with Anvil?" Mia asked, stomach aching from laughter as a bittersweet realization hit her that it had been weeks since she'd felt so relaxed and that she only found herself able to do so with a near stranger. "Is it mainly places in the Middle East?"
"For the most part. Africa and Southeast Asia too. Been to Eastern Europe twice and I may be going to Sokovia in the near future."
"Really? That sounds… well. Make sure you keep your guard up while you're there. I know SHIELD has a base there and, from what I've heard, the political climate there is hostile to all things American." And, based off of Brock's warning, Billy is considered enough of a threat to HYDRA that they're actively trying to keep us separate. They'd jump at the chance to get rid of a potential headache whose death could be easily dismissed as a casualty of Sokovia's civil war.
"Yeah? Would you be sad if something happened to me?" Billy joked.
"I would," Mia admitted. "Which means you better look after yourself. I'll be very cross if I have to fly over there to bail you out after you did something stupid."
Billy audibly inhaled, jaw clenching. Setting aside his drink, he leaned forward and started to reach towards her, only to pause as her phone ringing shattered the moment.
Blinking rapidly as she watched Billy retreat, Mia licked her lips and reached into her purse. "Sorry," she told him, spotting Jessica's name on the screen. "I have to take this."
He nodded in understanding and Mia hit the green button.
"Christopher's Crematorium, we fry, you cry. How can I direct your call?"
Billy snorted with laughter, his hand flying up to try and muffle the sound. "Jesus, Stark."
"Where are you?" Jessica demanded and Mia stiffened.
"I'm with Billy. Why?"
"Because Frank is a goddamn moron who decided to deal with the Irish by letting himself get captured."
"Frank did what?"
"I don't have eyes on him, Stark, and I can't go barging in there with no backup. The Irish are armed and they're pissed."
"What's going on?" Billy asked as Mia threw herself to her feet and shoved her feet back into her shoes. "Who's Frank?"
Who's Frank? Mia was torn between laughing and crying. All that talk of Shakespeare… she almost felt like she was trapped in her very own tragedy of errors.
"Give me five minutes." Mia almost ran to the elevator, cursing the fact that she couldn't just apparate away from the roof with Billy there. "How bad is it? Should JARVIS contact Tony?"
"Iron Man is the last fucking thing we need, Stark. Just get here. St. Michael's Cathedral."
"Are you fucking kidding me?! Who the hell abducts someone and brings them to a church to torture them?"
Billy grabbed Mia's arm, forcing her to stop and look at him. "Talk to me, Mia. What's going on?"
"Fuck. The Demon of Hell's Kitchen is here."
"And it can get worse. Lovely. I'll be there in two minutes." Hanging up the phone, Mia yanked her arm out of Billy's grasp.
"As you're obviously aware, something unexpected has just come up that I need to deal with." The elevator doors opened and Mia stepped backwards. "I had a lovely time and I would love to see you again, provided you still want to see me."
"What does that mean?" Billy asked, following her onto the elevator. "What is going on?" When she shook her head, he reached out to grab her shoulders. "Talk to me, Mia. Let me help."
The Irish + Frank + the Devil of Hell's Kitchen + a public church= cops & press
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry about this. About everything." Because there was very little chance that this evening wasn't going to end with Frank's war being brought to light and the showdown with Reyes to begin. Which meant that Billy was going to find out everything.
"I see it less as lying and more as respecting Frank's right to privacy and acknowledging that he is an adult that can make his own decisions."
"Yeah, but you're still facilitating the deception. If Frank is family to Billy and you were helping to hide the fact that he wasn't dead, that Billy was mourning a brother who wasn't really gone… I don't know how I'd get past that if I were in his shoes."
Mia reached out and shoved Billy, sending him stumbling out of the elevator as she slammed on the button for the ground floor and held down the one to close the door.
First, she would help Frank. Then she would make time to get upset and throw a fit because Billy was going to hate her and it wasn't fair.
"Do we have any idea who exactly is following us?" Loki asked Talos, arms crossed over his chest as he frowned at the messages coming through the command center.
Talos shook his head. "Whoever they are, we've got no information on them and neither does the Nova Corps."
"And yet, based off of their ships alone, they are clearly no novice warriors," the Asgardian murmured, mind racing.
The black, t-shaped ships had begun following them a few days before. Not long after they had departed from a refueling station, the ships had appeared on their radar. However, they kept disappearing and reappearing at random intervals. Loki was certain that they weren't falling off their radar but simply uncloaking and recloaking themselves. Their reason for doing so was less clear to him.
Talos had received word that the station they had last visited had been destroyed mere hours after their departure. The specifics of what had been done were unknown, but the Nova Corps reported that the technology that had been used was incredibly advanced, something Loki had assumed would be the case after spotting the ships.
"What should we do?" Soren asked Loki, pulling him from his thoughts. Talos made a noise of discontent and the corner of Loki's lips pulled upwards. He and Talos had established a shaky truce at best, for Carol's sake.
The Skrull despised him because he knew that Loki would let worlds burn to protect his family, his child. Knew that Loki would slaughter everyone on the ship without a second thought if it came right down to it.
Loki just did not like Talos. That was really all there was to it.
They played nice for Carol, but Carol wasn't on the ship. She was away with Gamora, searching for the Power Stone. But the unspoken rule was that, when she was away, Loki was in charge and Soren, at least, was willing to go along with it. Which is why Loki liked her far more than her idiot husband.
"Ensure our defenses are working properly and are at full strength," Loki instructed, turning to look at the monitors again. "I will contact Carol and request her return as soon as she can. Once she arrives, we'll go from there."
A wave of pure panic slammed into him and Loki tensed. He automatically pressed against the bond with Mia, only to find that his daughter had blocked him as best she could. Unfortunately, her efforts only kept him from being able to speak with her, not from being able to sense her feelings. The last time he had sensed such fear from his daughter was…
Loki could feel Carol's mind joining his, both of them desperate to connect with their child. For once, they were both in perfect agreement: once they found out what had upset Mia, they would kill it.
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