The first time he tries to escape she shuts him down with a gun held to the head.
It’s not his head.
--
There were voices somewhere far away, calling his name.
If he concentrated, he could make out what they were saying.
He didn’t particularly want to concentrate, but one of the voices was pushing through the comfortable fog of exhaustion, a familiar cadence with a familiar exasperation.
“...did you do to him?”
“He said he was okay to keep working.”
“And you took his word for it?”
“He’s Captain fucking America, Mars – of course I took his word for it!” A pause, then. “Is he okay?”
--
“Captain.”
“Commander.” He held out the tray. “Coffee?”
“Apology?”
“No,” the blue eyes stared back without remorse, “coffee.”
--
It’s not until she’s back home and the shower’s running hot to wash the reek of sex from her skin that Maria glances in the mirror and sees the red welt on her throat.
Steve’s given her a hickey.
It’s midsummer, the temperatures are predicted to hit a hundred, and Maria has at least three meetings today, discussing this incarnation of the Avengers Initiative and exactly how it’s going to be managed.
Shit.
--
Maria Hill is going to kill her boss.
There was a reason Phil shut TAHITI down – not least of which was the psychological damage to the individuals who volunteered to be tested. And sure, a complete mindwipe was an option – but not one of the sane ones in her opinion.
Unfortunately, the air’s a helluva lot thinner this high up in the organisational structure, and she’s still catching her breath after her unexpected elevation. What started out as a chance to give the World Security Council the finger turned into a promotion – which was enough of shock even before Fury read her in to TAHITI and Phil.
And then he dumped Captain America on her, instead of on Romanoff who’s only out in the midwest being called ‘Auntie’ and getting to cuddle a couple of kids who Maria always tells Clint can’t be his because they’re too damned cute for his ugly mug.
At any rate, here she is, conducting a fucking job interview with Steve Rogers, as though there was any possibility they weren’t going to take on the supersoldier who started it all.
It’s not his head.
--
There were voices somewhere far away, calling his name.
If he concentrated, he could make out what they were saying.
He didn’t particularly want to concentrate, but one of the voices was pushing through the comfortable fog of exhaustion, a familiar cadence with a familiar exasperation.
“...did you do to him?”
“He said he was okay to keep working.”
“And you took his word for it?”
“He’s Captain fucking America, Mars – of course I took his word for it!” A pause, then. “Is he okay?”
--
“Captain.”
“Commander.” He held out the tray. “Coffee?”
“Apology?”
“No,” the blue eyes stared back without remorse, “coffee.”
--
It’s not until she’s back home and the shower’s running hot to wash the reek of sex from her skin that Maria glances in the mirror and sees the red welt on her throat.
Steve’s given her a hickey.
It’s midsummer, the temperatures are predicted to hit a hundred, and Maria has at least three meetings today, discussing this incarnation of the Avengers Initiative and exactly how it’s going to be managed.
Shit.
--
Maria Hill is going to kill her boss.
There was a reason Phil shut TAHITI down – not least of which was the psychological damage to the individuals who volunteered to be tested. And sure, a complete mindwipe was an option – but not one of the sane ones in her opinion.
Unfortunately, the air’s a helluva lot thinner this high up in the organisational structure, and she’s still catching her breath after her unexpected elevation. What started out as a chance to give the World Security Council the finger turned into a promotion – which was enough of shock even before Fury read her in to TAHITI and Phil.
And then he dumped Captain America on her, instead of on Romanoff who’s only out in the midwest being called ‘Auntie’ and getting to cuddle a couple of kids who Maria always tells Clint can’t be his because they’re too damned cute for his ugly mug.
At any rate, here she is, conducting a fucking job interview with Steve Rogers, as though there was any possibility they weren’t going to take on the supersoldier who started it all.