Another in between chapter. I'm really hoping to build on Joei's personality and relaitonships in the next few chapters. Please review to let me know how I'm doing! I've been feeling particularly insecure about my story telling capabilities lately, which is why my updates are lagging once again.

May 11, 2012

"Hey, your dad wants to know where you are with addressing the public?" Caitlin asked, looking up from her cell phone.

Josephine sighed in frustration, running a hand through her hair and scowling at the laptop that was resting on her legs, "Ask him why he can't ask me that himself?"

"You know he won't answer me if I do."

Joei rolled her eyes and tried to keep a pout from appearing on her face, "Tell him I just opened a twitter account and I'm thinking of the best way to make a statement. I don't feel like rounding up the press in a crowded room for this one."

"Yes, ma'am."

Caitlin typed away on her cellphone for a moment and hit send. The room fell into comfortable silence as Caitlin switched through TV channels, looking for any new information that was being released on the Battle of New York. Since it had been a week, most of the news outlets were just repeating the same information, or moving on to newer bits of news.

The Avengers had been introduced to the world as a special ops team, and the appearance of Captain America had been explained in as vague terms as possible, but people were still wondering what Josephine Stark's role was within the team.

"Alright," Joei exclaimed twenty minutes later, having finally decided it was time to let people have it, "I'm sending the tweets now. And then I'm logging off twitter for the next ten years."

"Let me hear it," said Caitlin.

Joei cleared her throat and began to read the series of tweets that she was about to upload onto the internet for the world to read, analyze, and criticize, "It's been a week since the sky was torn open and an army from another planet came raining down on New York City. Like the rest of the world, I was shocked to learn that we are not alone in the universe, and that images from movies and tv shows had suddenly become a reality. I watched in terror as my father and his teammates fought to protect the city, and like many other New Yorkers, I did what I could to help. I grabbed the closest weapon I could find, in my case a prototype Iron Man Gauntlet, and ran through the streets trying to help people get to safety. I won't pretend to be a superhero, or even a regular hero like the policemen and first responders who were there that day. Even now, I'm just a regular citizen trying to come to terms with what happened, and hoping that the rest of the world will work together to keep humanity safe from the threats that we now know exist. As for those who want to know if I'm an Avenger, the answer is no."

Caitlin nodded in satisfaction, "It's good. Send it."

"Here goes nothing."

As soon as the tweets were sent, Joei logged off and snapped the laptop shut.

"I'm a coward," she groaned, lifting herself off the couch, "I can't deal with this."

"I think you already dealt with enough," said Caitlin, "You deserve a break for once, especially from the press."

"If you say so. I'm going to go take a shower, and then I have to get to work on my evaluation."

"Evaluation of what?"

"Of the Avengers post-battle. I'm pretty sure they all need therapy, not just Barton."

"And you think they'll actually agree to go?"

"Nope."

June 4, 2012

"Cut! Alright, everybody, take ten."

Joei tried to keep a straight face as Steve walked away from the green screen and toward the catering table where she was nibbling on crackers and cheese.

Only a few days ago, the Bureau of Education had gotten in contact with Tony in hopes that they could find Captain America and get him to record a series of PSAs directed at high school students. Tony had passed them off to Caitlin, who along with Joei had been keeping tabs on the locations and contacts of all the Avengers. In doing so, he'd told the Bureau and anybody else involved that Joei was now in charge of the Avengers' public appearances. Thus they had ended up on an impromptu set in Willowdale, with Steve dressed in his repaired Captain America suit and Joei standing far enough to where her quite laughter wouldn't distract Steve or the rest of the crew.

"Stop it." Steve said seriously as he got to the table.

"What?" she smirked playfully.

"Stop laughing at me."

"I would never," she said, though her mind betrayed her a second later as an unladylike snort escaped from her nose.

"You're a terrible friend. I don't know why I let you rope me into doing this." He said, removing the cowl of the Captain America suit and grabbing a bottle of water.

"Excuse me?" she answered, wiping the crumbs from her fingers, "They called me and asked me to relay the message. You're the one who agreed."

"Well, when you said they wanted me to record PSAs for the youth of America, this isn't exactly what I envisioned."

"Are you telling me that looking disappointed but supportive while saying 'So, you messed up and got detention' isn't a step up from punching a fake Hitler in the face in an attempt to sell war bonds with Star Spangled Man With a Plan plays in the background?"

Steve groaned, "Are you ever going to let me live that down?"

"Never. I will come back from my grave and haunt you with it."

"Assuming I don't die of mortification first."

"In that case I'll set up a solar powered stereo above your grave and let it play all day and night for all eternity."

"You need help."

"So do you," Joei pointed out, "Like, officially. I wrote a report and everything. There's even a referral from an actual doctor. And yet…"

"I'm fine."

"Really? Because I'm not. Nobody on the team is. And yet Barton and I are the only ones who are going to therapy. And Romanoff, surprisingly, but I suppose she understands the importance of having a clear head out in the field."

"The only thing keeping me from having a clear head are these damn commercials."

Joei sighed, "You're deflecting the issue. I get it. Therapy was still a big taboo in the forties. Actually it's still a taboo now in some places. But think about it, please. If you go, I promise to never put you down for any photoshoots, interviews, public appearances, or PSA recordings ever again."

A distorted voice called through a megaphone before he could answer, "Captain Rogers, please report back to the set."

"Just think about it, Steve."

"Fine, but I'm not making any promises that I can't keep."

"That'll do for now," she nodded, "Go be a superstar. I think you're doing the puberty one next."

Steve scowled, putting the cowl back over his face and walking away as Joei laughed. Pulling out her cell phone, she snapped a photo just as he sat down in front of the green screen and sent a quick text to Natasha.

Never getting over this.

It didn't take long for the spy to get back to her with a picture of herself sitting in front of a computer.

Ready to hack into whatever government database I need to download this footage.

Three hours later, the director had decided that he'd gotten final cuts of all the commercials and Steve was allowed to change into normal clothes and leave. The suit was packed neatly into a suitcase, and Joei walked out through the back door with Steve to find a black sports car waiting for them. The driver rolled down his window, revealing large black sunglasses and a crisp suit.

"The name's Fullerton," Jimmy said, "James Fullerton."

Joei laughed loudly and smacked his shoulder playfully, "Ok, Double Oh Seven, don't hurt yourself."

"You like the new car? Came with a promotion."

"Congratulations," Joei smiled, "How does it feel to be Top Butthead of the Library?"

"That's rude."

"I speak the truth," she shrugged, "Steve, this is Agent James Fullerton. He's stationed at the Library, it's the closest SHIELD base. He's in charge of transportation of people, assets, objects, etc. Everything that comes and goes from the Library and surrounding areas."

"It's an honor to meet you, Captain," said Jimmy, although Joei noticed that his nod and smile were slightly more tense than usual. They hadn't been dating for a long time, and they had both moved on to other people and become good friends, but now that Steve and Joei's time at the Retreat was common Level 2 knowledge, it hadn't taken Jimmy long to figure out that their break up had happened while Joei was alone in the woods with the super soldier of every woman's dreams.

"The pleasure is mine, Agent Fullerton," said Steve, nodding at the Jimmy and holding up the suitcase, "I suppose you're here for this?"

"They didn't tell me, but that important so I guess it's why I'm here."

"It's the Captain America suit. And the shield."

"Oh boy," said Jimmy, eyes lighting up.

"Which is why you better take good care of it, Fullerton," said Joei, "No opening it for a peak."

"When have I ever done that?"

"Need I remind you what happened to your last car?"

"No," he huffed.

"Exactly. No looking or the next time I give you something to transport, I'm putting a bomb inside it."

"Yes, ma'am. Am I transporting you, too?" he asked, "The car's a convertible. And I'm allowed to drive as fast as I want."

Joei laughed, "Sorry, Bond, but I think I'll stick to two wheels for today. Besides, you have to get that suit on a plane to D.C. ASAP. Cap, give me a ride?"

"Of course."

"Jimmy, it was good seeing you. Movie night still on for Friday?"

"Is Caitlin back from Chicago?"

"Why don't you text her yourself and ask?"

"She's kind of mad at me."

"Why?"

"I'm not really sure. That's why I need her to be back so I can begin to grovel for forgiveness."

"Why not start by asking her to dinner? Like on an actual date, not just to a frat party or a club."

Jimmy blushed, "We're not…I mean she's not…"

"She is. And so are you. Ask her out. That's an order."

"You're not the boss of me."

"When you're working with the Avengers, I'm the boss. Ask her out or I'll hack your phone and do it for you. Now get out of here before you're late for the drop off."

"Yes, ma'am."

Joei watched the car go with a soft smile, turning to Steve as it turned the corner.

"Wasn't that your…"

"Ex-boyfriend, yeah."

"And isn't Caitlin your best friend?"

Joei nodded, "She's also my personal assistant, roommate, and SHIELD partner. I want her to be happy, and even though Jimmy and I have been broken up for a while he's still one of my closest friends and I want him to be happy, too. They've been bickering and avoiding their feelings for months now and I think it's about time they make a move."

"You're a very interesting person, Agent Stark."

"Why, thank you. What do you say we go grab something to eat before you take off to wherever it is you're going next?"

"That sounds good."

"Lead the way, then," she said, allowing him to go first toward his motorcycle.

June 5, 2012

Joei reached for the ringing cell phone on her bed, sitting cross legged in front of a notebook and two text books while trying to study.

"Hey, you."

"Hey," Alex greeted softly, "You get a chance to look at TMZ or Perez yet? My aunt Winnie sent me a very concerned text."

"What did we do now?"

"You cheated on me with a blond in grandpa trousers." He said, amusement clear in his voice.

Joei laughed loudly at the false accusation, "Did they really use the term grandpa trousers? Because if they did, I need to save that article and show it to Steve so he can start wearing the clothes I bought him and look like a normal person."

"Perez said he was an old-fashioned Greek God."

"Oh, he'll love that."

"You busy?"

"Oh, not really, just drowning in all the work and study topics that I missed while I was saving the world from an alien invasion. You?"

"My uncle Ian called me this morning." Alex said, sounding a lot more serious.

Joei put down her pen, closed her laptop, and sat a little straighter, "I'm guessing he didn't call to ask if you're alright after our lover's spat."

"No. He's on his way to meet me. It sounded serious."

"Does he make a habit of flying to Willowdale for impromptu meetings?"

"Never. The only time we talk is at family functions or public appearances."

"What do you think he wants?" she asked, standing and beginning to pace around the room.

"I have a hunch. Dad's been talking a lot about what he's going to do with his shares of the company once he's gone, and he and Mom have mentioned a few times that there might be some shares up for grabs soon. One of the stockholders is thinking of selling."

"You think they want to bring you in to the company?"

"Possibly. They've always said that I could start an internship as soon as I was ready."

"Maybe they think you're ready."

"Yeah," he sighed, sounding unconvinced.

"You okay?"

Alex's sigh was louder this time, and Joei could imagine him reaching up to rub his left temple as he usually did.

"I just…I can't stop thinking about what Jimmy said before you guys left. I know now that S.H.I.E.L.D. is one of the good guys. If they had to intervene…does that make my uncle a bad guy?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D intervenes in a lot of things. Your uncle made a bad call, that doesn't necessarily mean that he's a bad guy."

"I know but…it sounded like he knew what he was doing and did it anyway. And even though S.H.I.E.L.D. got involved he was able to get away with it. Something just doesn't sit right with me. And my dad…I don't know if he's involved in whatever schemes my uncle might have going on. I want to believe that they're both doing everything the right way, but if my dad turned out to be doing something wrong…I'm just not sure if I'm ready to open my eyes to that, you know?"

"I know." Joei said, "Trust me. I grew up spoiled on blood money."

"Your dad didn't know they were selling to the other side."

"Guns kill people regardless of who you sell them to, Alex. It doesn't matter if the people we sold them to won or lost." Joei answered, sounding a bit tenser than she had hoped.

"I feel like we're getting into dangerous territory here."

"Yeah, maybe we should leave conversations like this for in person."

"I'll let you get back to studying, okay? I should go put on some nicer clothes before my uncle gets here."

"Good luck."

"Thanks. Hey?"

"What?"

"I love you."

Joei smiled. They'd exchanged I love yous a few times already, but she still felt butterflies in her stomach and a warm feeling in her chest, "I love you, too. Bye."

"Bye."

June 7, 2012

The doorbell to the apartment rang and Josephine jumped, noticing that the news show she'd been watching had ended a good while ago. She'd sat down thinking that she had a good two hours before Alex arrived and had turned on the television. Somewhere along the line her mind had wandered, until all she could see and hear were aliens and gunshots and blood and screams, and she was back in the middle of a ruined Manhattan block while the television and the rest of the world moved on.

She turned toward the clock when the doorbell rang again. Alex was right on time as usual. She smoothed her shirt into place and stood off the couch, checking her hair in the mirror before opening the door.

"Hey," she said, smiling her best fake smile.

"Hey," Alex answered, looking concerned, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, of course."

Alex blinked at her and walked inside, watching her closely as she closed the door and motioned toward the paper bags in his arms.

"What's that?"

"I brought a few ingredients. I thought I'd make us dinner."

Joei raised an eyebrow at that, "Really? Well, color me impressed. What are you making?"

"Well, I know how much you like fish tacos. So I looked up a recipe."

"That's very risky of you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a Californian through and through, my dear. I take my fish tacos very seriously."

Alex laughed, beginning to take things out of the bags which he had placed on the counter, "I'll have to do my best and hope to impress you, then."

Joei walked over to him and began to help him empty the paper bags. He bumped her shoulder as they worked side by side and she returned the gesture. He retaliated by poking her in the ribs, which led to her pulling lightly on his ear. By the time they were finished emptying the bags, she was full on tickling him and he was attempting to grab her hands to stop her. Joei could have easily dodged his attempts, but she let him grab her hands and stop her, holding them in place between both their chests. He raised one of her hands and kissed the inside of her wrist.

Josephine's other hand fell on his neck and they drew together for a kiss. It was a sweet, soft kiss which ended with their foreheads together, hands tangled together between the two of them again.

"I love you," she whispered, splaying one hand on his chest and feeling his heartbeat. It had taken only minutes for the echoed screams in her ears to disappear, and the tinge of red that she often saw on her fingertips these days was gone.

"I love you, too." He replied, kissing the top of her head, "And as much as I would love to stand like this forever, I'm starving."

"Me too," she giggled, "Do you need help?"

"You hate cooking."

"Well, yeah, but my dad raised me to have manners." She scoffed, "Well, actually I think the manners came from Pepper, Peggy, and Rhodey. Dad and Happy spoiled me far too much even if I misbehaved."

"Well I appreciate the fact that you were raised right, but you don't have to help me cook. You can take pictures and post them on Instagram is you wish."

"I do wish, but I don't have an Instagram."

"Well why haven't you made one?"

"I already made a twitter," Joei countered.

"Yes, but anybody who is anybody these days has an Instagram. Even your mom has one."

"No, Stark Industries has one. She doesn't actually do any of the posting."

"Well, either way, if your dad wants you to handle the public when it comes to the Avengers…"

"More like he's punishing me by making me deal with all the public fallout…"

"To-may-to, to-mah-to." Alex said, waving around a spatula, "Social media is the way to go. Press conferences are outdated. And you can control what information you give out on a post better than when you're speaking to someone directly."

"You mean it's easier to hide behind your phone than to face people."

"That, too."

Somehow, between the battering of the fish strips and the heating of tortillas, Alex was able to convince her to open an Instagram account.

"Now what?" she asked, satisfied with the profile picture she had chosen of herself with a handful of kids from last year's J-SEF Carnival.

"Now you post your first picture. Just choose something you like and want to share with the world."

Resting a hand on her chin, she thought about what she could possibly want to share with the world. Her first thought was her family, but they were on the other side of the country, and it would feel fake to post an old picture, especially with the way things were right now between her and Tony.

Joei watched as Alex continued to prepare their food, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his shoulders and looking perfectly relaxed with a spatula in his hand as he pulled strips of battered fish from a pan onto a serving plate. She lifted her cell phone quietly, and he turned when he heard the click from the camera app.

"You said to take a picture of something I liked," she shrugged, "I know we haven't really talked about going public but…"

"But it's all but confirmed at this point, isn't it? We might as well. Maybe if we post enough sappy pictures, people will get so tired of us that the paps will stop following us around."

Joei laughed, "So you don't mind if my first Instagram post is of you making dinner?"

"Not one bit," he said, leaning over the counter to kiss her.

Joei uploaded the picture without adding too many effects, and captioned it with a simple 'Dinner Time,' after which she helped set the table for the two of them, and they fell into a comfortable familiarity of eating dinner and making comments here and there. When they'd finished, she pulled a tub of ice cream out of the freezer and served some into a large bowl with two spoons.

"I need to tell you something," Alex said as they were about to finish the dessert. He looked worried.

"What is it?"

"My uncle asked me to go work for him over the summer as an intern."

"Oh."

"In Malta."

"Oh." Joei repeated, "Malta is…"

"Completely out of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s influence," Alex finished, "I know, I asked Jimmy. I've been asking him a lot about my uncle's business lately. Uncle Ian said he moved to Malta because it's beautiful and private, but I think he did it because he feels that he's untouchable there. Laws are lax, and his citizenship will protect him from being persecuted elsewhere."

"What are you going to do?" asked Joei.

"I'm going to go. I want to find out what's going on. Quinn Worldwide has the biggest philanthropic branch out of any company in the world. I can't imagine that my uncle would really disregard people's safety and the environment so much, but I'm not naive enough to think that all of S.H.I.E.L.D is lying."

"So you're going to Malta to do what? Spy on your uncle?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Yes. Jimmy said he didn't have access to my uncle's file or to the whole file on the mission. He said his clearance level wasn't high enough," said Alex, looking hopeful.

"And you guys think mine is?"

"Well, it's higher than his, isn't it? I mean you're part of the Avengers Initiative."

"If I look up those files, it'll rouse questions that I'm not sure we should answer. If you get too close to S.H.I.E.L.D, it could cause some serious problems with the company and with your uncle. I'm sure he's already on your ass all the time about dating me."

"He's fine with it."

"No, he's not," Joei laughed, "You don't have to lie to make me feel better, honey. He's been trying to make it big in tech for years, and when Dad switched from weapons to tech he all but pushed him out of the game. We're his biggest competitors in that area and I doubt he's happy about me spending time with you."

"Your dad doesn't seem to have a problem."

"Well, for starters, my dad loves you. But also, and no offense to your uncle or your parents, we're the ones who are winning the game and I don't think Dad sees Quinn Worldwide as much of a threat."

"I can't really argue with you on that. My uncle all but gave up on the tech race. For the past few years he's been putting a lot of his money into mining."

"Mining for what?"

"I have no idea. But I'm going to find out, and then we'll go from there."

"And what happens if you do find something you don't like?"

"I guess I'll have to fix it. Or expose it."

"Your family could lose a lot of money if you do that."

"I'll figure something out," Alex said, "Trust me. But first I need to find out what's going on."

"Just be careful, okay?" Joei reached for his hand across the table, "Don't do anything stupid or dangerous. And if you're ever in trouble, call me. I'll have a Quinjet ready to get you out of there in a minute. Screw regulation."

"Is it bad that I just imagined you kicking down a door and shooting at everything in one of those ridiculously sexy catsuits?"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm more of a cargo pants and compression shirt type of girl."

Alex closed his eyes, "Okay. I'm imagining it aaaaand…Yep! Still sexy."

Joei smacked his hand and stood up, taking the empty bowl and dirty spoons to the sink, "Keep it up, and I'll send Jimmy to rescue you in the catsuit."

"Kinky."

Joei rolled her eyes, "I'm starting to worry about this bromance you have going on. Am I going to lose you to my ex who is currently on a date with my best friend? Because that would be some soap opera level stuff."

"Sounds like an episode of Glee to me."

"To-may-to, to-mah-to," Joei mocked.

"Don't diss Glee."

"My apologies."

"Now you have to sit through the whole first season with me."

"We agreed to watch Parks and Recreation first."

"That was before you smack talked the best show in the world."

"Fine, while you're off in Malta, I'll watch it by myself." She poked him playfully in the shoulder and began walking toward the sofa in the living room. He followed her and sat down first, opening his arms so she could curl into his side comfortably.

"What do you plan on doing while I'm gone? Are you going back to Malibu?"

"Actually, my Superior Officer called this morning. He wants me to go to a training facility while he's on the bench. I have one more week of therapy with Dr. Garner and then he's going on his own vacation."

"Isn't there some sort of ethical thing about treating people you know personally?"

"Well, yeah, but S.H.I.E.L.D doesn't have many psychologist and Dr. Garner is the one with the highest clearance level, so he's the only one who can actually listen to me talk about what happened on the Hellicarrier and in New York. Talking about Coulson was tough on both of us, though. That's not a topic I'm hoping to cover with him again any time soon."

Alex kissed the top of her head again, then took her hand and kissed her knuckles, "I'm glad he's helping you. I wish you didn't have to go through that sort of stuff, but I know it's part of this job and this is the job you want."

"Yeah, it is."

"And if spending two months on a training ground will make you a better agent, I'm all for it. That way there's less of a chance you could get hurt."

"We'll have to make up an alibi as to why I'm not out and about. Especially if anybody at your uncle's company asks."

"Well, what's your usual alibi?"

"I've only had to disappear for this long once, and I said I was in Canada on a Women's Empowerment Retreat."

"And where were you?"

"At an actual Retreat in Canada," she laughed, "But it was a cabin in the woods with Captain America, and I was teaching him about World History and how to use a computer. And how to dance, although I think that was a failed lesson."

"Captain America can't dance?"

"Not unless he signed up for ballroom dancing classes sometime between then and now." Joei laughed, turning on the TV and looking through the selection of movies, "Anywho…Alibi ideas?"

"We could just say you're working for the summer, too. Just not in Malibu or New York. How about that you're looking for new places to expand J-SEF? Honestly, if anybody starts asking too many questions I can just tell them that you won't tell me because Quinn is the competition."

"I'd say that's a lie, but Quinn beats out anyone in philanthropy, even us."

"Which I'm starting to think is just a cover up to keep my uncle looking spotless."

"Don't get paranoid. It might be that he really wants to help people and this whole S.H.I.E.L.D issue was a misunderstanding or a slip up on his part. Or maybe he did do some bad stuff in the past and now he's trying to atone for it by giving away billions."

"Yeah, maybe. Either way, I doubt anybody will question me about your alibi. The press will be the ones to look out for. They might have bought the retreat thing before but they'll start to get suspicious."

"I could always use my new found social media abilities against them. I have plenty of pictures of different parts of the world saved on my private server. I could fake a vacation."

"That's not a bad idea. I told you Instagram was the way to go."

"Quiet, you." She said, lightly jabbing a finger into his side. "I guess I'll finish up with Dr. Garner, head to Malibu for a couple of days to check on my parents and the foundation, and then it's off to training. When do you leave?"

"On the 27th," he said, playing absentmindedly with her hair.

"I leave on the 28th. I can drive you to the airport if you want."

"Sounds good." He said, leaning down to place a chaste kiss on her lips. "I love you."

"I love you more," she smiled, kissing him again.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"Nope. There's no way."

"I do."

"Don't."

Joei stared up at him and laughed, "We're sappy and disgusting, aren't we?"

"Big time."

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