fic: "Like Fish Need Bicycles" - Part 1 [Maria Hill, Maria/various]

[tielan]

Because someone submitted All of the Avengers have asked Maria Hill out at some point on the Avengers Headcanon tumblr. And because this is me.

Part one of six - this one is Clint - and the reason I'm not posting them all at once is because I haven't finished them all yet.

Like Fish Need Bicycles: Playing With The Big Boys

"Know anywhere to get a good burger around here?"

With her mind still on the briefing they've just left, it takes Maria a moment to comprehend what's been asked. "You're in Italy and you want a burger?"

Clint Barton shrugs well-muscled shoulders carelessly. "Tastes of home."

Almost all field agents have a ritual after a mission - something that tells themselves that they made it, they're home, and they can relax. Phil makes a point of knowing the routines and accommodating them where possible, and because he does, Maria does, too.

"Down the Via Nazionale, up the Via della Consulta, second street to the left, there's a cucina that does a reasonable burger if you ask nicely and mention that you're a friend of Phil's."

"And what'll I get if I mention that I'm a friend of yours?"

Maria looks up into a guileless face that, while not exactly Hollywood handsome, has more than its fair share of charm should he wish to utilise it. "They like Phil better," she says deadpan as they reach the point in the corridor where they should separate.

Barton tilts his head at her, his hand resting on the door that leads out towards the street. "And you won't come along and hold my hand?"

She supposes it's been heading towards this for a while – they both work with Phil and they've been seeing a great deal of each other lately. And yes, he's an interesting guy, and she has no doubt that those hands – very able with a bow and arrow - would be very good on her body.

But she's on the way up, and she's not willing to risk her career.

"You're a big boy, Barton," she tells him, amused and appreciative. "I'm sure you can handle yourself."

--

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

:D

thank you. I love your cool and appraising Maria.

[tielan]

You're welcome! I have a great fondness for cool-and-appraising Maria.

[floatingcitylights]

no words to express how great this is :)

i'd have left you a message on tumblr, but the ask box isn't working lol what made you ship steve/maria? i've got a couple of scenarios myself for these two (or at least, for maria; i can't help it she's very interesting) that i may try writing at some point in the future if life permits, never wrote any fic before and this is actually more intimidating than i thought it'd be /o\

have a good day! ;jen

[tielan]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

Honestly? I suspect that most of my Steve/Maria love comes from Maria as a character archetype - the ice princess/lady of war.

I have a thing for female characters who are competent and in-control and stoic - the women who show less emotion rather than more. Sam Carter (SG1), Teyla Emmagan(SGA), and Ziva David (NCIS) are fairly key examples of it.

And then I tend to pair them up with the male action/hero character in their fandom - a guy, usually military or paramilitary, who treats her as an equal and a partner and who I can see watching her back as she watches his, and treating her with a measure of professional respect, even if they clash personally.

Canon-wise, Maria gives Steve this one appraising look when he comes onto the helicarrier bridge, she works with Coulson, so she'd have been told plenty about Steve over the years, and I imagine she'd be curious as to how that all added up in the real deal. From Steve's side it could be argued that Maria is along the 'type' of woman that Steve has previously been shown to be attracted to - intelligent, independent, cool, and a little belligerent.

I'll repost this on tumblr for you. :)