MindifISlytherin: You up?

WhatDidIMiss: Yeah. Having trouble sleeping.

MindifISlytherin: Me too. Long night at work. I was surprised you're up this early though.

Steve glanced at his clock at the bottom of his computer screen. 4:39 am was early, even for him but as he told his online friend, he was having trouble sleeping. Luckily, MindifISlytherin (or Slytherin as he called her) worked long hours at night, usually coming online around three.

WhatDidIMiss: How was work?

MindifISlytherin: Same old nonsense every night. I can't wait until I get enough money to start my shop.

WhatDidIMiss: I checked out your portfolio, by the way. It's impressive.

MindifISlytherin: Do you mind telling that to my parents? They think it's a waste of time. lol

WhatDidIMiss: Nah. They probably just want you to have job security.

MindifISlytherin: Job security is for wusses. Personally I love the pressure of not knowing if I'll be able to pay my electric bill.

Steve smiled, chuckling to himself softly. Slytherin definitely had a way of getting him out of his own head.

WhatDidIMiss: Well, a lot of people thrive under pressure. :)

MindIfISlytherin: Pressure is what produces diamonds. :)

Steve was still typing his response when another message popped up.

MindifISlytherin: You should send me your art sometime. Maybe I could hire you as one of my artists when I finally open my tattoo parlor.

WhatDidIMiss: Flattering but I don't know anything about tattoos. I definitely don't have the skill required to ink someone else's skin.

MindifISlytherin: Maybe you'll let me give you a tattoo sometime. The first one is free for my favorite early morning online buddy.

Steve snorted, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

WhatDidIMiss: Yeah, right. And how is this gonna happen when we don't know each other offline?

MindifISlytherin: We'll meet someday. And when we do, you are getting some ink, my friend. :) In the meantime, I have to sign off. Early day and not enough caffeine to truly wake me up. Night Missy.

WhatDidIMiss: Sweet dreams.

Steve closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair with a sigh, resting his hands on the top of his head. He knew he should at least try sleeping for a few hours. There was a press conference at the Avengers Tower at ten and he needed to be rested. Standing and leaning back to stretch his muscles, he twisted a few times before heading to bed.

-0-

"Wake up!" Penny burst through the door to her roommate's bedroom. "My alarm didn't go off! I'm late for my first day!"

"Pen, you're my friend and I love you but it's so early that I may actually kill you." Roman grumbled, not opening her eyes and pulling the comforter tighter around her body. "Just get ready and go. Don't whine about it."

"I need you to give me a ride. I'll never get a cab right now." The sound of plastic coat hangers clacking against each other indicated she was going through Roman's closet. "Please?"

Roman half groaned, half sighed but managed to get herself into an upright sitting position. Widening her eyes in an attempt to wake up, she ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it out of her face and got out of bed. Penny had retrieved a black cardigan, something that Roman had forgotten was even in her closet in the first place.

"How do I look?" Wearing a black pencil skirt and crisp red top with sensible flats (Penny was five feet, eleven inches and hated towering over others) she was the epitome of professional. Except for one thing: the tattoo on her wrist, love written in a girlish, curlicue font.

"Your tattoo is showing. I'd probably cover that up since you're working at the fancy Stark Tower." Roman tugged on skinny jeans, hopping a little to fit in them just right. Her boots and a jacket followed before she shoved her hair in a messy ponytail. "But be warned, this is the only free pass you get. Wake me up this early again and I'll murder you in your sleep."

"Duly noted." Penny grabbed a clunky bracelet and put it over the tattoo. "Can we go now?"

"After you, princess." Not bothering to brush her teeth, Roman followed her roommate as she practically ran to the street below, her motorcycle waiting in the spot in front of their building. Patting the gas tank fondly, Roman straddled the bike, handing a helmet back to Penny, who shook her head.

"It'll give me helmet hair." She pouted, settling in behind her brunette friend.

"Helmet or no go." Safety had been pounded into her head from the beginning of her riding lessons, courtesy of her dad. Penny huffed but put on the helmet, whining about her hair. Moments later, the engine roared to life and, her own helmet in place, Roman started weaving in and out of traffic, more than likely breaking several traffic laws. She got Penny to work in record time, with only minutes to spare. Penny jumped off the bike, ripped off the helmet and bent over, flipping her hair over then standing up quickly, giving her hair some volume. Blowing a kiss to Roman, she ran in the building, disappearing from sight a second later.

Roman watched her friend scamper away for a moment before she caught a glimpse of a coffee cart. Heart torn between getting more sleep and coffee, she waited for a chance to get her motorcycle into traffic. It was rush hour so the ride home took longer than she would've liked but finally she was able to fall back into bed.

-0-

Penny practically ran up the stairs to fifteenth floor, where her new boss, Pepper Potts, waited. She was breathing hard by the time she reached the right floor, but managed to make it to her desk and throw her purse under it, pretending to be there on time when Ms. Potts came through the door.

"Penny, can you come in please?" She paused on the way to her office. "And bring the files for the Avengers press conference today."

"Of course, Ms. Potts." Penny grabbed several files and followed her boss. "It looks like all of the major newspapers will be attending and there's extra security in place around the building."

"Wonderful." Pepper took the stack of files and started to skim them. "Captain Rogers and Ms. Romanoff will be here shortly with Mr. Stark. Please bring them in as soon as they arrive."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh, and Penny?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Welcome aboard."

-0-

Steve detested press conferences, mostly he hated being gawked at. It brought back memories of his show back in the forties. Natasha seemed at ease but then again, she seemed comfortable in almost any setting. It must be part of her training, he reasoned as they rode the elevator up to Pepper's office. Stepping off, he noticed a new secretary sitting at the desk. She smiled up at them as they approached.

"Hi. We're here to see Pepper." He told her.

"Of course. Names, please?"

"Captain Rogers and Natasha Romanoff." She must be one of the only people in New York who didn't know him.

"Right. She had to step out but she said to send you right in." The secretary glanced at Natasha then back at Steve, blushing scarlet. "I'm sorry for not recognizing you, Captain. I'm a bit frazzled this morning."

"Not a problem." He assured her with a smile. "It's actually kinda nice."

Natasha arched an eyebrow but said nothing as they were escorted into the empty office, waiting until the door closed, giving them a semblance of privacy, before speaking. "She's cute."

"Not interested, Natasha." Steve already knew where this conversation was heading.

"What?" Nat asked, feigning innocence. "She seems nice. Or do girls need to be online for them to strike your fancy?"

"Nobody's fancy has been stricken." Natasha snorted. "We're just friends."

"You talk to her this morning?"

"Yeah." Steve admitted.

"Early?"

"Yeah."

Natasha gave him that knowing half smile. "I could find her in less than five minutes, you know. All I need is a computer."

"No, Natasha."

"Captain Rogers." Pepper breezed into the office, Tony in stride next to her. "Agent Romanoff. Shall we go over the questions for the press conference?"

A/N: So this is just a story that was in my head that I couldn't shake. I do hope everyone enjoys it. Feel free to leave a review/follow/favorite if you'd like. Thanks for reading!