A/N1: I wrote this for the 30 Day OTP Challenge that's floating around. I have already rearranged the prompts because this is where I wanted to start. I think this will give me a good break in between chapters on my Mechanical Hearts series. I decided I wanted to use Maria/Steve for this one! Knowing me, this will be complete headcanon and entirely 100% AU.
A/N2: The title is from the Emily Dickinson poem of the same name.
A/N3: I'll probably post this all as one story.
Day 1: Dancing
Maria Hill twisted a strand of long, brunette hair out of her face and bit back a smile. The linen tablecloth was magically still bright white despite the first courses of ceviche and tomato bisque that threatened to stain it. (The pre-dinner cocktails (plural) were another story.) That, in itself, was enough triumph for the night. She swirled the fine merlot in her glass once more before downing the last bit in a gulp. It had been a fun evening spent with a woman she had served with and actually managed to keep in touch despite classified missions on both sides.
Lieutenant Colonel Daniella Desmond was career military, choosing to stay with the Marines when she had been recruited to SHIELD. She hadn't realized how much she had missed her friend until the phone call last week stating she was flying in to New York for a conference. Plans had quickly been made, and it hilariously involved getting dressed up and running up the bill on Desmond's soon-to-be-ex-husband's credit card. And so, Maria found herself in a little black dress, with her hair down, laughing in the first time since God knows when.
"Shit, I'm stuffed. Let's go dancing," the blonde said as she tossed her napkin on the table.
"Jeez Dani, how old are you?" Maria said with a half grin.
"Old enough to know I'll be sore in the morning," Dani retorted. "This desk shit's for the birds."
Maria snorted and considered the options. Envy had both drinks and dessert, along with a more mature crowd. The Avengers had already made one public appearance this month so the likelihood of running into them was slim. Not that her friend wasn't aware who she worked for. She was thankfully high enough on the classified scale ranking to be made aware of SHIELD although specifics weren't shared.
"I know a place," she eventually concluded and the duo headed out the door.
Steve Rogers shifted uncomfortably, wishing he had brought his sketchbook. He had made the mistake of mentioning to Tony earlier that he wanted to get out of the tower for the night. In all honesty, he had meant a walk or maybe a movie, but Tony Stark never did things halfway. And so, he found himself on the private second floor of a club that Tony owned dressed in clothes Pepper had acquired for him. He sighed.
"Whatcha think, Capsicle?" Tony asked as he gestured at the atmosphere around him.
"It's not exactly what I meant when I said I wanted to get out for the night," he muttered.
Steve downed the last of his beer, and an ever-present waiter quickly placed another one beside him. He nodded his thanks, and Pepper gave him a sympathetic glance.
"I'd say you could pick one of the ladies out of the crowd to dance with, but we all remember what happened last time," Tony said with a slight shudder as he glanced at the crowd below.
The first floor was packed with people who continued to glance upward in hopes of catching a glimpse of Stark or one of the Avengers. Once word had gotten out that Tony owned the place, business boomed continuously. Steve made a face at Tony's comment.
"Thanks, but no thanks, Stark."
"You're welcome to join our dart game, Steve," Natasha offered from where she stood with Barton.
"I dared him to play blindfolded," she added in a matter of fact manner.
Barton just shrugged, and Steve had to smile at that.
"I'm fine, Tasha," he said with a smile. "I'm just not great company tonight."
"I don't know, Rogers. Some of these girls are pretty-," Stark paused at a sharp look from Pepper. "good looking, platonically speaking of course."
Steve sighed, resigned to Stark's attempts at matchmaking and leaned over the railing to glance at the dance floor below.
"Holy Shit!" Tony exclaimed. "Is that Hill?"
Steve zeroed in on where Tony was pointing and locked his eyes on the statuesque brunette weaving her way through the crowd with a blonde beside her. He blinked. She was in a dress. A very short dress with long sleeves that flared out ever so slightly. And dear god, her legs went on forever. She leaned in closer to the woman beside her, before throwing her head back in a laugh.
"Is she smiling?" Tony asked incredulously.
The billionaire leaned over the railing.
"HILL! Hey Maria!"
Steve watched as her face tightened, her head cocked slightly to the side as she heard the faint echoes of her name. Frowning, she looked around before her eyes fell on Stark. With a roll of her eyes, her face smoothed into her usual expressionless mask as the blonde beside her pulled her towards the stairs.
"Motherfucker," Maria whispered as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
Dani elbowed her before grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the stairs with a knowing look.
"Come on, Mare. It'll be fun!"
"Dealing with Stark is not my idea of fun," she whined as they headed up the stairs.
"Damn Hill! You clean up nicely!" Stark said with a grin when they reached the top.
Maria just glared at him.
"I was really hoping we wouldn't run into you tonight," she muttered, as Dani hit her in the shoulder.
"I see your manners haven't improved in twelve years," the blonde said with a smile. "I'm Dani Desmond."
"Lieutenant Colonel," Maria added. "Sit down, Rogers!"
She barked as Rogers started to salute. Dani just laughed, and pulled her towards the booth.
"How did you two meet?" Pepper asked politely.
"We served together before Mare went dark and joined SHIELD," Dani replied.
"You were military?" Steve questioned with a strange look on his face.
"Oohrah, Army Boy," Maria answered with a wry grin as she stole his beer. "Over 600 flight hours logged in combat."
The rest of the Avengers gave her an odd look, and Maria shrugged.
"I don't like to talk about it," she added by way of explanation. "DD stayed a devildog when Fury recruited me after our 3rd Tour."
The conversation continued for a little while longer, until Dani glanced at her watch with a groan.
"I better get going. I have an early flight."
"Where are you headed?" Pepper asked. "Happy can drop you off so you don't have to catch a cab."
Dani nodded her thanks as she stood. Maria went to follow her, and Dani gave her a pointed look.
"Nope. You're staying. You don't get out enough as it is," she ordered.
Her eyes flew to Steve, and she grinned.
"Captain Rogers, I demand you keep this woman here for at least another hour."
Steve smiled and saluted as Maria groaned.
"I hate you," she told her friend.
"I know," Dani replied cheerfully and gave her a hug. "Next time, Hill."
She left with a wave, and Maria was saddled with Tony's appraising stare.
"Huh," he said after a moment. "I never would have guessed you had a life outside of SHIELD."
"Fuck off," she replied before turning to Steve. "Dance with me, Captain. I've had entirely too much to drink to sit here and listen to Stark."
"Yes ma'am," he replied and allowed her to lead him off.
"Huh," Tony repeated again. "I think Capsicle has a crush."
"I think you're right," Barton said as he slid down in the vacated seat with a look towards the retreating couple.
Tony continued to watch them for a moment, before pulling out his phone.
"Leave them alone, Tony," Pepper said with a sigh.
"I'm just texting the DJ," he replied with an innocent grin.
Almost immediately the music slowed as Frank Sinatra started to croon.
"Fuck you, Stark!" Maria called as she flipped him off.
Steve's shoulders started to shake with laughter. He smiled a half smile and pulled her closer.
"I do believe you're drunk, Maria," he commented.
"I'm pretty sure you're correct," she retorted.
"Are you always this snarky after a night out?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," she said with a grin.
She leaned into him with a sigh as the song started to wind down. His hand slid to her lower back, and she gave him a rueful look. Without warning, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek and pulled away.
"Thanks for the dance and the distraction, Rogers."
Running a hand through her hair, she gave him a slightly unreadable look, before smiling a small smile and heading towards the stairs. Steve watched her head for the door, his head spinning. Looking down, he smiled softly before heading back to the others. Pepper was smiling at him, and Tony just grinned.
"You like her!" Stark announced as if he had found the secret to world peace.
Steve's eyes widened.
"I was just being polite," he responded cautiously.
The rest of the table exchanged a knowing look, and Steve just sighed.
"We need to get Hill drunk more often," Clint commented.
"Who knew she could be fun?" Tony added, still surprised by the agent's behavior.
"She's always like that outside of work," Natasha said knowingly.
The redhead ignored the befuddled expressions of the rest of the group.
"Huh," Tony replied thoughtfully for the third time that night.
Steve just groaned.