Risks Chapter 5
Maria walked into Fury's office to find him staring distastefully at a heavy, cream colored envelope.
"You sure looked a whole lot happier a few hours ago, sir," she told him, taking a seat.
He threw her a flash of a smile. "I was a whole lot happier a few hours ago. I tend to be that way when I wake up with you in my arms."
"Me, too," she responded.
"But then I come in here and find this on my desk."
"And what is that to inspire such disgust?"
"The UN Security Council is hosting a reception to honor the Avengers and SHIELD for actions taken during the recent invasion. I've been 'invited' to attend," he told her, dropping the offending item onto the middle of his desk.
Maria had to fight not to laugh. "Lucky you. I know how much you enjoy formal receptions and receiving awards."
"I'm glad you feel that way," he answered, fighting his own laugh, "since you'll be accompanying me."
"As much as I would love to, Director, someone needs to stay here and keep an eye on things," she hastened to remind him.
"Yes," he told her, "but it won't be you." He held up another envelope, this one with her name across the front in neat calligraphy. "Your presence is also cordially requested."
She had a sudden thought and sat up straight. "What about Coulson? He actually had more to do with the victory than either of us."
Fury held up a third envelope. "He's included, but Dr. Carlyle says that since he's still in ICU, he will not be able to attend."
Her eyes narrowed. "You know, I did get that head injury. Probably a concussion. Still having some headaches, too. And that knife wound to my side last week..."
"Sorry, Hill. The invitation has already been accepted on your behalf."
"I don't have anything to wear," she protested weakly.
"As I was reminded," he told her, "we have a wardrobe department that has spent years dressing agents for every possible occasion. Annie will get you fixed up." He continued, "Maybe I should be a little insulted. You seem to be looking for every possible way out of being my escort."
"It's not that, Nick," she hastened to reassure him, "I would love to go on a real date with you, but this kind of party is just really not my thing. Then, there's the whole 'date that's not really a date' thing. We can dance and hold hands, but can't look like we're enjoying it."
He shrugged. "I suppose we could each bring another escort. The invitations are addressed 'and date'."
"Assuming either of us could find someone willing to spend that much time with us, then I would have to watch you not enjoying yourself with someone else. No, if you're going to be miserable, it's going to be with me," she told him.
He laughed, "Now that's the Maria Hill I know."
"Never thought I'd be jealous of the guy in the hospital," she sighed.
"How's Coulson doing?" Fury asked.
"Recovering. Getting stronger. Dr. Carlyle said that you should have left him dead for a few more weeks. Since people found out he's alive, she's constantly having to chase his visitors out so that he can get enough rest. Have you gotten much fallout from your little deception?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "A few dirty looks. Some people not talking to me. He's pretty pissed about the deal with the cards. But at least no one else has hit me."
"I apologized," she protested.
"Yes you did," he commented with a leer, "and a very nice apology it was."
"Why, thank you, kind sir."
He cleared his throat and turned his attention business matters and they quickly laid out plans for the day and went their separate ways.
Later that day, Maria was informed that she had a call from Pepper Potts. She took the call, wondering why Tony Stark's personal assistant would be contacting her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Potts. What can I do for you?"
"Good afternoon, Agent Hill. I assume you've received you invitation to the UN reception next weekend?" Pepper asked her.
"The command appearance? Yes, I was informed."
"And you sound so excited."
"Right up there with root canals," Maria commented wryly.
"That good?" Pepper laughed. "The reason I'm calling is that they are sending limos to transport us to the venue and I thought that you, Agent Coulson, Director Fury and your dates might want to join us here at the tower so we can all ride together."
"Actually," Maria corrected her, "It will just be Director Fury and myself. Coulson is still confined to the medical center."
"No dates?"
"No. Just the two of us," Hill confirmed.
"Well, then it makes even more sense for you to come over here and dress, then we can all ride together. You can check out your new quarters here, bring over some changes of clothes and toiletries and stuff, then you can spend the night here afterwards," Pepper told her.
"I'm sorry. Did you say my quarters?"
"That's right. As part of the renovations here at the tower, we're including permanent living quarters for all the team members. That includes Fury, Coulson, and you, since you're the ones that work most closely with the Avengers. That way, we'll have a central location to operate from when needed, but everyone will still have their own private space."
"Okay," Maria spoke slowly, "I suppose that's a good idea."
"We thought so," Pepper responded. "I'll get with you later about the details for next weekend. Just wanted to run the idea by you and check up on Phil at the same time. Do you think it would be alright for me to come by and see him sometime?"
"I think he'd probably enjoy that, Miss Potts. Just keep it brief. He still tires out pretty easily."
"Understood."
"Let me know when you want to come and I'll make the arrangements," Maria told her.
"Will do. I'll talk to you later."
They said their goodbyes and ended the call. "Fun, fun," she muttered under her breath.
When she ran into Fury later in the day, she passed along the details of Peppers plan. He nodded. "I can tell you're not exactly thrilled, but it's actually a pretty good idea to have another base to operate from should the need arise. And if I have to dress up in a monkey suit, I'd just as soon no one here witness me in it."
"Yeah, but I never really got into the summer camp, slumber party thing," Maria told him.
"Why am I not surprised?" Fury asked. "So, have you been down to get outfitted for the reception yet?"
"No, sir. Haven't had the time."
He looked at her. "Ignoring it won't make it go away and leaving it til the last minute won't get you out of going either," he told her.
She shrugged. "Thought it was worth a try."
"Nope. What are you doing now?"
"Now? I'm really busy right now. I have a dozen different things I'm in the middle of."
"Name one," he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"I'm following up with Agent Smith on the situation over in the middle east," she told him triumphantly.
He dismissed that with a wave. "That's been going on for years. It can wait a little longer. Let's go see Annie and get this part over with."
Grumbling under her breath, she fell into step beside him following him to the wardrobe department.
When they arrived, a pretty young blonde escorted them back to a workroom. The woman who awaited them there was in her mid sixties with frizzy, gray hair. Her shapeless tunic would have confused those not familiar with Annie Robinson's styling expertise.
"Now what?" she asked, her tone far from cordial.
"UN reception," Fury told her. "Next Friday evening. Black tie. Myself. Agent Hill."
She crossed her arms and stared at them both. Finally, she pointed at Fury.
"Jacket and shirt off, up on the riser."
He hesitated a moment. "Why do I need to take my shirt off?"
Her glare made him decide that he really didn't need an answer to that question and he hurried to obey her directions. She pulled a tape measure from her pocket and stepped up, wrapping it around his waist.
"You should already have all my measurements on file," he protested.
She looked at the number, then turned to yell into the other room. "Girl! Bring me that step stool!" Then she turned back to Fury. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since I fitted you for a tux? I can tell just by looking you added some muscle here, lost some there. Where's that stool?" she hollered again.
"Where have I lost muscle?" Fury asked her, looking insulted.
"Face it, Fury, that 6-pack has a little bit of a jiggle. Been giving short shift to those crunches, haven't you?"
At that moment, the blonde from the front came running into the room carrying a two-stepper. "By the way," she gently told the older woman, "my name is Elaine."
Annie harrumphed. "Don't bother remembering names 'til I decide if you're going to stay or not."
She climbed onto the stool and continued her measurements while Elaine stood watching.
"Would you like for me to write down the measurements for you?" she asked.
The older woman turned and stared at her.
"Did I ask you to write down anything?"
"No, ma'am. But I thought..."
"When I wanted you to bring the stool, I told you to. If I want you to do something else, I'll tell you to do that, too. Don't think, girl. Just go away."
The girl turned and fled as Maria grinned.
"I want to be just like her when I grow up, Fury."
Annie threw her a glare. "Enough from you, Hill." She went back to her tape measure, muttering to herself as she walked around the man on the riser. Finally, she looked up at him. "Why are you just standing there? Get your clothes back on and get out of here."
He hurried to comply, then leaned up against the wall to wait for Maria.
"Your turn, Hill. Strip down to your undies and get up on the platform." She looked to Nick. "Go find something to direct, Director."
He started to protest. After all, Maria had gotten to watch his ordeal. The look on Annies face stopped his words before they left his mouth and he straightened to leave. As he started out the door, he leaned over to whisper to Maria.
"I don't have a jiggle, do I?"
"Of course not, sir," she told him with a reassuring pat on the arm.
The wardrobe mistress cleared her throat. "If you two are finished flirting, I've got work to do."
Nick hurried to leave as Maria quickly stripped down and stepped up for her turn.
Again, the woman walked in circles, commenting to herself. "Good bustline...flat stomach...well shaped backside and legs...nothing we're going to have to disguise...scars should be easy to cover..." She nodded approval. "Makes my job a little easier."
She pulled out the tape measure again and started taking the younger woman's measurements. Maria cleared her throat.
"So, why did Director Fury have to take off his shirt?"
"Had to measure him, just like I do you, Hill."
"It doesn't seem like a tux would require fitting quite as close as an evening gown does," she probed.
"So now you're an expert on clothes fitting?" the older woman grouched.
When Maria continued to stare, she finally shrugged. "Hey, I may be old, but I still enjoy looking at a well built man." Her glance at Maria was probing. "You certainly seemed to be enjoying the view as well, Agent Hill."
Maria thought about denying it, but, in the end, she shrugged. "Like you said..."
By the time the day rolled around, she had almost resigned herself. She tried once more to volunteer for a foreign mission, but, again, Fury had turned her down. Annie had all their clothes and accessories packed up and ready to go and she could delay it no longer. When the chopper delivered them to the tower, Maria grabbed her bags and reluctantly dragged inside. Pepper Potts, already dressed for the gala, greeted them and escorted them to the residential level, showing them to their quarters.
"I hope that you don't mind that the three of you are grouped together," she told the two SHIELD agents. "I thought it would make things easier for handling SHIELD business when you're here."
'And other things,' Maria thought, glancing quickly to Nick.
"No, that's quite considerate of you," Nick assured Pepper.
Settled in her room, Maria showered, then pulled out her makeup case and went to work. Though she rarely spent much time on her hair and makeup anymore, undercover assignments from the past had given her enough practice that she could still blend in to the society crowd. Everything went quickly and smoothly until she hit a snag. After trying to work it out herself, she noted the time creeping away and decided to ask for help.
She pushed a button to activate the computer. "JARVIS? Is Miss Potts still around?"
"She's in the living room with the others," the computer told her.
"Could you please ask her to come here for a moment?" she asked. "Or Agent Romanoff?"
"Yes, Agent Hill."
A few minutes later, there was a tap at her door. She opened it to find the two women waiting in the hallway. She motioned them inside.
"Is everything okay?" Pepper asked, concern in her voice.
Maria blew out a frustrated breathe. "Fine, but I think this stupid zipper is stuck."
"Let me see if I can get that for you," Pepper told her, motioning for her to turn around.
As she reached for the zipper pull, she suddenly froze, noticing the angry red scars crossing the other woman's back. After a moment, Natasha stepped forward, nudging Pepper aside and carefully worked the fastener up. The nudge was enough to break Pepper's stare. Her eyes met Maria's in the mirror.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Maria shrugged. "Guess I should have warned you. I don't have to see those so I sometimes forget they're there."
Natasha spoke into the silence. "Did you enjoy watching him die?"
Their hard eyes met. "I did." She turned her gaze to Pepper. "Does that bother you, Miss Potts?"
Pepper thought a moment, then shook her head. "From time to time, I get reminded how very different lives can be. I'm certainly in no position to stand in judgment of what either of you has had to do to survive or to protect this country."
"No, you're not," Tasha agreed.
Pepper nodded agreement, then asked, "What else do you need, Agent Hill?"
Maria pulled out the jewelry case Annie had sent along. She fastened on the earrings while Pepper secured the necklace around her neck and Natasha clasped the bracelet around her wrist. With a look of distaste, Maria pulled on the stiletto heels, then stood and pivoted.
"Do I look presentable?"
Romanoff considered for a moment. "You'll do."
Pepper rolled her eyes at the red-haired agent. "You look fabulous, Agent Hill."
Maria looked in the mirror. The sapphire blue dress hugged her figure from her breasts to hips before flaring out to swirl around her legs, the handkerchief hem falling just above her ankles. A matching wrap would cover her bare shoulders. The stones in the jewelry perfectly matched the color of the dress and the diamond accents mirrored the sparkles that shone with every flutter of the skirt.
"Yeah," she shrugged, "I suppose I'll do."
Together, the trio headed back upstairs to join the rest of the team and their dates. When they entered, Fury was glad that no one was looking his direction. While all the ladies looked lovely, none shone quite as brightly as his Maria.
'HIS Maria? Where had that come from?' She threw a quick smile his way and he smiled back, feeling a warmth spreading from head to toe.
As Clint Barton walked over to claim Tasha, he bowed to Maria, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. "You look stunning, Agent Hill. I've already claimed a dance from each of the other ladies here. I hope you will grant me the same privilege?"
"Only if it's alright with Natasha," she told him, grinning.
"Just one," the other agent replied.
Steve Rogers stepped forward. "May I also put my name on your dance card, Agent Hill?"
Nick stepped forward. He took her wrap and draped it around her shoulders, then he tucked her hand securely in the crook of his arm. He looked at the other men. "Just remember, gentlemen, she is trained to kill and has my permission to do so if anyone gets out of line."
Bruce cleared his throat. "I happen to think we will be accompanying the loveliest group of ladies at the event."
Pepper smiled at him. "And all you gentlemen look quite dashing."
Natasha looked around. "Yeah, you all clean up pretty well. Even you, Stark."
Tony Stark rolled his eyes at her, then looked at his watch. "Can we get going before I become ill with all this mutual admiration stuff?"
As Pepper patted his arm, JARVIS announced that the limos had arrived and the group headed downstairs to head out. Fury handed Maria into the vehicle, then slid in next to her, taking advantage of the brief moment before someone else joined them, he leaned over and whispered softly.
"You take my breath away."
More to come. If anyone is interested. I really love reviews and would love to know what you think about this story. Please?