A Truth Universally Acknowledged
Pairing: Loki x Original Female Character, Tony Stark x Pepper Potts, Thor x Jane Foster
Summary: After a long period away from home, Collins returns to work at the Avengers Tower where she meets their newest guest. He’s certainly charming and handsome, but she can’t shake the feeling that everyone is hiding something from her when it comes to him.
After the events of the Convergence, Loki is finally given a second chance to redeem himself by Odin’s favorite method of dealing with unruly sons: banishment to Midgard. Sometimes, he’d rather be sent back to isolation on Asgard than deal with Stark and his lackeys. But the pretty little PA that stumbles into his parlor is a welcome distraction.
At the very least, he can use her to rile up the Avengers.
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“I’m Collins Cunningham, Miss Potts’ assistant. I haven’t heard any news about a guest in the Tower, Mister…”
“Cooper. Damos Cooper.”
“Mister Cooper.”
“It is an honor to make the acquaintance of a lady as lovely as yourself, my dear.”
Contents: Secret Identity, Fluff, Romance, Soft, Gentleman!Loki, Pre-Age of Ultron, Flirting, Slow Burn
Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven, Chapter Twelve, Chapter Thirteen, Chapter Fourteen, Chapter Fifteen, Chapter Sixteen, Chapter Seventeen, Chapter Eighteen, Chapter Nineteen, Chapter Twenty, Chapter Twenty-One, Chapter Twenty-Two, Chapter Twenty-Three, Chapter Twenty-Four, Chapter Twenty-Five, Epilogue
Collins stepped out of the elevator with a newfound sense of familiarity with the Avengers’ floor.
For the past two weeks, she had spent more time with Pepper in her bedroom than she had with Oliver in her own. Her apartment was getting rather dusty and the orange tabby seemed grumpier with her by the day.
Collins hated to leave him so often, but it couldn’t be helped. She only hoped that he didn’t stop visiting her altogether.
She would miss the fuzzball if he went away.
She rounded the corner and found Pepper waiting in the kitchen with most of the team.
Collins had learned, through her many visits, that Agents Romanoff and Barton were off on a SHIELD assignment - the only reason she hadn’t met the entire team yet.
“Hi, Pepper!” Collins greeted her cheerfully. “What are we going over tonight?”
“Ah, no.” Mister Stark interrupted, leaving his spot by the counter to catch Collins by her shoulders. He wagged a finger at her. “No work tonight! If Pepper can nag me about not taking a break and I can’t, then I call hypocrite.”
He fixed his girlfriend with a stern look, to which she just rolled her eyes with a smile, before he continued. “Forget playing super spy tonight, Doolittle, you’re wining and dining with me and the Baywatch Bunch tonight. Thor and Cap, I mean. I’d prefer if they kept their shirts on, though. Bruce, Pep - that’s optional for you two.”
Collins snorted at the mental image and moved away to stand with Pepper. She accepted the glass of wine the older woman offered her with a murmur of thanks. She nodded at the rest of the guests in greeting.
Doctor Banner gave Mister Stark an unimpressed look. “I’m flattered.”
The sarcastic tone in his voice was the most personality Collins had heard from him yet. Well, that and what seemed like anxiety most of the time.
She couldn’t be sure, but it often seemed like Doctor Banner avoided her on purpose.
Mister Stark pouted. “Well, that’s disappointing. So much for dinner and a show, then.”
Pepper groaned in exasperation and muttered to herself about her life choices. Or maybe it was about her choice of men. Her wine glass was an efficient muffler and made her words intelligible.
Collins snickered and bumped her hip gently.
“It’s because you’re not in the kinky paperwork club.” she teased Mister Stark.
Doctor Banner laughed at the return of her joke and Pepper eyed Collins and Mister Stark with dawning apprehension.
“Again, I don’t want to know.” Pepper raised her hands in surrender. “Collins, we can pick up on the work tomorrow. We’d love for you to have dinner with us - and then the night’s yours to do as you please. I’ll understand if you want to go straight home, though.”
Collins had to admit, the idea was tempting. She had spent so much time between work and looking into the data breach with Pepper that her energy meter was running dangerously low. She wasn’t sure what good she would be in present company or if she would even be good company at present.
Pepper and Mister Stark were the only people there she really knew, so maybe it would be alright for her to call it a night and just go home.
Mister Stark seemed to think otherwise.
“I won’t!” he protested, waving his hands at his teammates. “Cap may be a fuddy duddy, but Thor’s hilarious and Bruce makes up for Cap with just like, twelve percent of his presence alone.”
Steve looked long-suffering and made a face that made Collins and Pepper giggle as he passed Mister Stark into the dining area. He didn’t even deign to respond to the other man’s quip.
Thor smiled good-naturedly and threw an arm around Mister Stark’s shoulders.
“Well spoken, my friend! But explain to me this Fuddy Duddy of which you speak. Is it some Midgardian beast?”
While Mister Stark got stuck explaining a bit of pop culture to the God of Thunder, Pepper linked arms with Bruce and beckoned Collins to follow them into the dining area too.
Tony and Thor followed after them shortly, carrying the wine from the kitchen and a few foil covered pans. Thor carried three, one resting over his forearm, seemingly immune to the heat that radiated from the dish. He set them in the center of the table according to Pepper’s directions.
“Do I take it, you'll be our guest for dinner?” Thor asked Collins hopefully when she lingered by the table.
She bit her lip, the desire to go home still strong, but wavering in the face of the endearing expression the blonde Asgardian had fixed her with.
“Oh, I don’t think I could. I don’t want to impose.” She demurred, turning her eyes from him in desperation. How dare he use the puppy dog eyes on her.
By chance or by fate, her eyes landed on a newcomer to the room.
Mister Cooper strode into the room, his long legs helping him close the distance so quickly she had little time to raise her guard against his presence, and he smiled charmingly at her.
He came to a stop before her, inclining his head and taking her hand to his lips in greeting. “I’d say you can impose on this floor whenever you like, my dear.”
Collins had to laugh at him, still utterly charmed by his manners, and met his eyes.
“Mister Cooper! How are you?” she squeezed his fingers before he released her hand.
“Better for your company.” His eyes swept over her and his smile turned into the soft expression she was beginning to find familiar on his face. “Please, call me Cooper as the others do. I dare say you and I are on more familiar terms as it is.”
Collins glanced over at the others, surprised at the sudden silence that had come over them without her notice. They stared at Collins and Cooper in surprise, the latter even more so.
Pepper and Thor seemed pleasantly taken aback by the interaction between them, a slow grin spreading over Thor’s face as he observed the closeness between them.
Doctor Banner and Steve looked distinctly uncomfortable, the former more so than the latter, and Mister Stark looked more annoyed than he did when he’d dealt with Senator Stern.
Collins raised her eyebrows at Pepper before turning back to Cooper.
“Then you call me Collins. My name is stuffy enough… as it is.” She teased lightly, determined not to treat him differently in the face of company.
“Though a lovely name, I shall abide by your request.” Cooper smirked at her and inclined his head to the table. “Will you join us for supper then, Miss Collins?”
“You’re joining us!” Mister Stark exclaimed unhappily. He stepped forward, a muscle in his jaw ticking, but was intercepted by Pepper.
She stepped forward, giving Mister Stark one of those looks that was testament to the long years they had spent together, even before they were a couple.
There was a tense silence in the room as Mister Stark and Pepper seemed to hold a conversation through their eyes only. Mister Stark was the first to look away, throwing himself down into the chair at the end of the table and downing a glass of whiskey.
Pepper turned back to Collins and Cooper with a polite smile.
“All the more company!” she said kindly, giving Collins a pat to her shoulder before linking her arm through Cooper’s. The man stiffened, but allowed Pepper to lead him to the opposite side of the table. “Cooper, you can sit next to me.”
She fixed Mister Stark with a warning look and saw Cooper into the seat next to her.
It surprised Collins when she chose a seat in the middle of the table, putting Doctor Banner between her and Mister Stark and keeping a measured distance between the men and their mutual dislike.
It seemed that Pepper and Thor were of one mind in keeping Mister Stark out of the interactions between Collins and Cooper, as Collins found herself settled next to Thor and across from Cooper. An empty seat was left on Mister Stark’s other side when Steve chose to sit at the other end of the table.
“Well, I for one am quite happy with this arrangement.” Cooper smirked to himself, looking pleased to have the company of both ladies. He had quite successfully stolen them away from the one who insisted on the family-like dinner - and had all of the room he desired at the table.
Collins could hardly scoot her chair to either side without being in danger of an elbow from Thor in her plate or catching Steve’s leg with her own.
“I bet.” she pouted half-jokingly. She raised a brow pointedly at the blonds on either side of her. “At least you’re not in danger of being squished.”
“Come, darling, don’t you feel secure between the strongest Avengers?” Cooper teased her with a gleam in his eye. There was something even more charming about those eyes than usual.
Collins caught herself staring and turned her eyes away.
“From what? The salad?” She gave Thor a playful glare as she reached for the salad tongs. He chuckled at her and moved the bowl closer so she could reach it better.
“Hardly, Miss Collins,” he assured her. “Have all you like.”
“I dare say it would be the roast.” Cooper leaned forward, catching his tie with one hand, and wore an expression like he was divulging a great secret. He glanced at Thor with a smile bordering on wickedness. “Fill your plate quickly - Thor could eat the pan and still demand more.”
Collins lifted a hand to hide a smile.
“Cooper…” Thor huffed in disapproval. He frowned and looked like he wanted to say more, but was holding back.
“Okay, okay!” Collins passed the salad on to Steve and held up her hands. She fixed Thor first, then Cooper with a warning look and a wag of her finger. “Let’s not get our feelings hurt over dinner, boys. Besides, neither of you have had dinner with me before - you might catch me keepin’ up with y’all after a long day at work.”
Her little joke got a snicker from Steve and smiles from the others at their end of the table.
Doctor Banner even looked a little more at ease, though held himself as tensely as ever, and drew Mister Stark into conversation to distract him from the annoyance of having Cooper at the table with them. The billionaire resisted at first, but Doctor Banner knew him well enough by now to catch his interest and soon the two were firing new ideas for robotics back and forth while Pepper turned her attention to them and offered some business applications for the ideas.
With Cooper and Mister Stark away from each other, the atmosphere of the room lightened enough to fall into a comfortable silence when the plates were filled and everyone focused on sating their hunger.
Collins again caught herself watching Cooper from time to time when she wasn’t worrying about her table manners. It was hard to relax sitting between a prince and a figure from history, let alone across from one who seemed more refined than most of the people she had met in her lifetime. But it was hard to worry about scraping her fork over her plate or chewing too loudly when Thor openly laughed and called attention to himself throughout the meal when Mister Stark made a joke.
Collins had to dodge a careless hand from the God of Thunder more than once when he began a story from home, gesturing wildly and never seeming to notice Collins until he nearly hit her. Then he would apologize and scoot over a bit until it happened again.
After a while, the empty chair between Thor and Mister Stark was removed and the former moved closer to the Science Bros (as Mister Stark had started calling himself and Doctor Banner), leaving Collins and Cooper to share a look of quiet exasperation.
They were left in a little bubble of quiet with the addition of Steve and Collins found herself able to observe him freely without fear of an elbow to the face.
He was more reserved than she was used to him being, though his manners to her were as nice as ever. He seemed almost entirely fixated on her and paid little attention to the others except to Pepper, with whom he was distantly polite, and Thor, who he seemed eager to tease. Steve and Doctor Banner he ignored entirely.
He had said nothing to Mister Stark throughout dinner, but Collins had caught him looking down his nose at the other man with a smug expression when the billionaire glanced their way.
Mister Stark looked increasingly agitated with every silent jab at him, and Collins exchanged a look with Pepper. An unspoken agreement to intervene was made between them.
“So… Cooper.” Collins mused quietly and caught his attention. He curled a brow and she offered a cheeky grin in return. “Have you started The Lord of the Rings yet?”
He chuckled at her impatience to have him caught up on the story and nodded. Cooper lifted his wine glass, long fingers playing with the stem of it, and his attention was wholly on Collins again.
“Oh, yes.” he confirmed. “It’s proving quite different from The Hobbit. Bilbo’s tale seemed almost fairytale in nature - and I must admit, I believe I prefer it over the other so far.”
It was a touch surprising, considering that he was fond of Hamlet, which had little shortage of conflict, but Collins thought his preference endearing. It wasn’t often she heard a man prefer the whimsical over something with more action and grit.
“It does. But the books are meant to be told from the Hobbits themselves - I could see why Frodo’s story would have a darker tone.” She agreed and took a sip of her own wine. “How far along have you gotten?”
“The Hobbits have parted ways with Tom Bombadil and met Strider.”
“Oh, I’ve just gotten to that part, too!” Steve exclaimed, surprising them both with his interruption. He looked a little embarrassed, but pushed on. Collins felt rather guilty that they had been ignoring him. “Sam said I should just watch the movies, but I’ve heard they leave things out.”
“Unfortunately, that’s the way it goes in movies.” She made a face, but kept her preference for the movies to herself. She would readily admit that there were parts of the book that didn’t fit into the movements of the film. “The bit with Tom and Goldberry is left out entirely. How are you liking the books, Steve?”
Collins turned to Steve in an attempt to make up for her earlier neglect and he looked surprised by her sudden interest.
“Well, I don’t think I’m far enough in to judge the newer books, but I like The Hobbit alright.” he admitted.
Collins laughed quietly, incredulous. “The newer books?”
“I can remember when The Hobbit first came out.” Steve smirked a bit bitterly and Collins was suddenly reminded that he was a child of the forties and not the new millenia like herself.
“I forget you didn’t grow up the same as me.” She gave him an apologetic look and tried to recover. “Y’know, if we ignore the time you lost, we’re about the same age.”
Collins winced and turned her eyes to her plate again. A blush crept over her cheeks.
How could she even dare to bring up his time in the ice? How could she be so insensitive to remind him of the time he lost? Everyone else seemed to love reminding him of the fact and here she was, no better than the others for not treating him like a person.
He was a man, even with the shield, not some relic of the past.
“It’s nice to not be seen as an old man for once.” Steve chuckled kindly. Collins felt that it was safe to look up at him again, relieved that he wasn’t upset with her. “And to see that people still appreciate the same books after all these years. Was it you that talked Cooper into reading them?”
He glanced at Cooper and she followed his eyes to find the man watching them with literal green in his eyes. Envy turned his lips downwards as Steve captured Collins’ attention, but he perked back up once she turned to him. He turned his eyes to Steve for a moment, but looked at Collins again when he spoke.
“I admit she sparked my interest in them. But it was Miss Collins herself who forced the books upon me.” Cooper teased her with a faux solemnity to his expression.
A surprised laugh tore itself from her throat, too loud to be ignored, and she grinned at Cooper openly.
“I did not! You said to lend them to you, you sneak!” she cried. “In fact, if I have forced a book on you, it was Pride and Prejudice. You can’t read only Shakespeare and still call yourself cultured - you need variety, Cooper.”
“I wouldn’t say Cooper here has any culture - unless it’s in his hair.” Mister Stark cut in with a snort. Collins turned to him in shock, her jaw dropping at the malice in his voice. “I gotta warn you, Doolittle, Rock of Ages looks like he goes weeks without washing it sometimes.”
“Tony!” Pepper cried, aghast.
“Y’know, you’re not meant to overwash curly hair, Mister Stark.” The words fell from her lips automatically, a reminder drilled into her by her great-grandmother all her life, and Collins grimaced at her own response. She frowned at Mister Stark. “I don’t see what hair has to do with the type of culture we were talking about anyway…”
“I’m surprised you can talk to the man at all, given what he’s really like.” Mister Stark fixed Cooper with a sneer. The decanter of whiskey that sat before him on the table was low, but Collins knew the man’s tolerance was too high for the excuse of drunkenness to fuel his attitude.
Cooper tilted his chin up in challenge, ice in his eyes as he met Mister Stark’s own unflinchingly.
“Just what are you implying, Stark?” he asked cooly, his voice low.
Cooper’s lips curled in a mockery of a smile. It was more of a baring of teeth, a wolf ready for a fight.
Collins and Pepper exchanged an alarmed look and began rising to their feet. They worked well together for a reason - Collins would follow Pepper’s lead if it came to stepping between the men and they would divide and conquer between Cooper and Mister Stark respectively.
Thor rose with them and soon the others followed. The God of Thunder caught Mister Stark by the shoulder as the shorter man tried to press forward and kept him in place.
“Stark, you would do well not to start something.” Thor warned, keeping his voice low. He cast an anxious look at the women and nodded at them with an expression meant to be reassuring.
It did nothing to calm Collins. She had never seen Mister Stark like this and was baffled by the change in attitude. She had only ever seen the pleasant side of him, all jokes and flirtatiousness, occasionally interspersed with manic engineer when he spent too much time unchecked in his lab.
Mister Stark tried to brush Thor’s hand off. “Because you’ll finish it for him?”
“Okay, I think we can call dinner over now.” Pepper exclaimed and stepped around Doctor Banner to cut off the line of sight between Mister Stark and Cooper. She continued speaking between gritted teeth. “Tony, can I have a word with you?”
“Sure, let’s have it out right here! Doolittle here’s gunning for the Cooper Defense Squad, Thor’s the president - where better to get everything out in the open?” Mister Stark scoffed.
Collins looked over at Cooper, worrying her lip between her teeth at the thunderous expression on his face. She had begun moving around the table without conscious thought and found herself now behind Steve, close enough to touch her friend.
Cooper tensed when Collins brushed her fingers down his elbow. He turned his head minutely, still watching Mister Stark intently, but reached behind to catch her fingers. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his hand cool against her own.
A touch of tension left her shoulders and Collins tugged him a little closer to her and Steve.
The action didn’t go unnoticed and the captain clapped a hand on Collins’ shoulder before pressing forward so that he stood in front of Collins and Cooper. He crossed his arms and Collins found her line of sight blocked entirely by his broad shoulders and Cooper’s own tall frame.
She felt like a kitten guarded by a pair of large dogs.
“Careful, Tony.” Steve warned the other Avenger. “You’d need your suit to take on Cooper. After all, he’s looking like the bigger man in more ways than one right now.”
There was a moment of stunned silence around the table as everyone stared at Steve. Collins could see the swell of Cooper’s cheek rise and he turned his head to hide a grin.
The others seemed shocked that Steve was on Cooper’s side, but Collins had to tuck her head as well, just as amused as Cooper with the jab at Mister Stark’s height.
Steve had really thrown them a curveball with that.
“I think that’s the cue to go.” Doctor Banner said slowly, his eyebrows raised. He took Mister Stark by the arm and led him away from the table amidst protests from the other scientist. “C’mon, Tony. Pepper.”
He inclined his head at Pepper and she hurried after them, calling over her shoulder to the others with an apology in her voice.
“I’m so sorry everyone. I’ll sort this out.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Those left behind shifted awkwardly, trying to avoid each others' eyes.
Collins looked around the men and huffed a humorless laugh as she started gathering the dishes.
“Family dinners, huh?” she commented and succeeded in breaking the tension.
Thor snorted and, like a spell being broken, the men moved to help her. The remaining food was carried to the kitchen and leftovers on plates scraped away into the trash.
“Aye, it’s quite reminiscent of home.” Thor made a face as he caught up to Collins by the fridge. Behind them, there was a quiet laugh Collins had only had the delight of hearing a few times before.
She turned and caught Cooper watching Thor, his lip caught between his teeth to hide a smile.
Thor looked at him too, a tentative smile also on his face.
Collins raised her brows, rather lost on what seemed like an inside joke, but didn't comment. Instead, she nudged Thor to remind him of the casserole dish he had in hand and took it from him to cover and place in the fridge.
Between super soldiers and hardy Asgardians, it was in little danger of going to waste.
Collins had often heard Pepper lament the loss of some leftover dish or another.
The quiet sounds of the kitchen were almost domestic and Collins was reminded vividly of the after dinner clean ups back home. There, it had only been her and her mother left in the kitchen while her father wandered off to some project or television show.
The kitchen had been the center of many a heart-to-heart with her mother and was, in her mind, the center of her home.
Kitchens seemed to have that effect no matter where they were found.
“Sorry about Tony, you guys." Steve sighed once the dishes were put away. He looked so upset that he could hardly contain himself. But also sad and a little defeated. "He’s… not been himself lately. Part of it might be all these late nights Pepper’s been putting in. Doesn’t excuse that, though.”
Collins worried her lip between her teeth.
“I’ll see about getting her to step back a little.” she offered, eyes wide with apology.
Cooper surprised her by reaching out to tip her chin up. She was surprised by their difference in height every time he drew close.
He dropped his hand and offered her a small smirk.
“Don’t be too concerned, my dear." he murmured. "This attitude from Stark has become commonplace whenever he and I have the misfortune of crossing paths with one another.”
It did little to reassure her. Now, not only did she have to worry about Pepper's health and the health of the relationship between her and Mister Stark, but now Collins would worry about the severity of the feud between Cooper and Mister Stark.
“If you don’t mind my asking, why do you stay here? Why put up with that crap, especially since y’all’s dislike of each other seems mutual. Seems like spittin’ gasoline on a fire at this rate.” Collins frowned up at him, her brow furrowing in confusion and displeasure.
Cooper’s expression was oddly fond as he watched her emotions play over her face.
“I would leave the Tower today if the circumstances would but allow it." He admitted with a sigh and took her hand, tracing small doodles against her palm. Again, something itched at Collins' mind, telling her something about him was different today. "As it is, I cannot.”
Collins opened her mouth, ready to push on and ask why. Why was he there then? What was keeping him from just leaving?
But she found herself nearly barreled over by Thor, the blond behemoth nearly knocking her against the counter as he threw an arm around Cooper’s shoulders and gave him a shake.
He gave Collins a nervous grin.
“Because, he’s a… refugee!” Thor drew out the words like he was trying to catch them. He winced at his own tone and turned his head.
“A… refugee?” Collins asked slowly, quirking her brows at the pair of men before her.
Cooper sighed deeply through his nose and closed his eyes like he was wishing he were anywhere else.
He shook Thor off and moved to stand next to Collins, his nose wrinkled in annoyance.
“From Europe!" Steve chimed in, a smile just on the side of too charming plastered on his face. It looked like the smile he wore in the old videos Collins had been forced to watch in school. It made her have horrible flashbacks to PE. She turned her eyes to Cooper as Steve continued to explain. “There was a sort of coup there and SHIELD had Cooper placed here for security!”
“And Mister Stark’s not happy about that.” Collins murmured. Her brow furrowed. That wasn’t like Mister Stark. “I guess that makes sense considering his relationship with SHIELD. Still…”
Mister Stark, for all the carefree air he liked to present, tended to care too much. He became a superhero to make up for his own mistakes for crying out loud!
Collins couldn’t see him being angry at someone just for sharing his living space.
Mister Stark would have just given him his own penthouse and upped the security if it was a simple case of not getting along or SHIELD interference.
There was something more going on with Cooper than Thor and Steve were letting on. Something they either didn’t want her to know or… something classified by SHIELD.
Collins lowered her eyes, lost in thought, and Cooper seemed to feel the confusion and tension radiating off her.
“Don’t fret about it, Miss Collins.” he murmured, nudging her lightly. The brief touch left a trail of goosebumps in its wake and Collins found her attention stolen by Cooper again. “It is only a temporary situation. As soon as the tension in my… country has eased, I shall be out of Stark’s hair for good.”
“Oh…” The idea of Cooper leaving made Collins’ heart drop to her stomach. They had only known each other for a short while, broken into chance meetings and interspersed with long absences, but Collins felt like she was losing a chance on something great if he walked out of her life now.
“What’s this? Are you disappointed by the idea of my departure?” Cooper tried to tease her, his voice gentle. His eyes, however, contained a hint of melancholy as well.
“Well, if you’re gone, I don’t have anyone to harass about books and poetry.” Collins sighed, trying for a smile to lighten the mood. It was too early to ask him to stay for her, a near stranger, but she could be honest. “I’d be terribly disappointed.”
“I see.” Cooper offered her a miniscule smile in turn. “Perhaps I won’t stray far if that’s the case. I should sorely miss our conversations, Miss Collins.”
There was a quiet longing in his voice that threw Collins for a loop and she was left speechless by the naked sincerity in his words.
Looking back on their previous conversations, there was always something more lingering around Cooper, a slight air of superficiality in his words that left him polite and reserved of any truth in his desires. He had charmed her and convinced her - in a somewhat roundabout way - to come back with books in tow to break the monotony of his time in the Tower. She wasn’t a resident of the Avengers’ floor and unfamiliar enough still to be interesting to him.
The freedom to leave the Tower should kill any false hopes between them of continuing this… flirtation they had going on.
But Cooper implied that he would hang around. For her. Because of her.
Even he seemed surprised by this admittance, his eyes darkening to storm darkened seas as he peered down at her.
Behind them, Thor and Steve exchanged an awkward look, seemingly forgotten.
Steve cleared his throat, breaking Collins from her trance.
She blinked rapidly as she turned to the blond, still trying to place just what was different about Cooper.
“I think I’m gonna call it a night.” Steve announced, eyeing Cooper hesitantly before nodding at the others. “Thor, Miss Collins. Hey, uh, Cooper - if you’re not too busy later, can we finish that talk about The Hobbit?”
Cooper looked poleaxed.
“.... I suppose?”
“Great. Good night, everyone.”
Steve left them to their devices and headed down the hall to his room.
Collins fidgeted awkwardly, fighting a yawn. She glanced at the time on the microwave and winced at the late hour.
“I guess I oughta get goin’, too. Before I fall asleep under the table, anyway.” She made a face and thought longingly of her bed and the extra sleep she would be able to get.
“Allow me to walk you out, Miss Collins.” Cooper inclined his head towards the elevator and offered her his arm.
Collins’ eyes lit up and she slipped her arm through his with a shy smile. His suit was smooth and crisp beneath her fingers and he smelled of something sharp and crisp, like a winter morning. What a Yank.
“Sure. Night, Thor.” Collins allowed herself to be led out of the kitchen, offering the God of Thunder a wave as she went.
“Good evening, Lady Collins.” the blond inclined his head. “I hope you’ll join us again soon.”
“You got it, dude.” Collins shot him a finger gun and grimaced at the cheesiness of it.
Cooper raised his brows, amused, and Thor laughed.
“You are a fan of the Full House! My Jane has shown me many episodes.” He enthused. “It is most amusing!”
His joy was contagious and Collins found her awkwardness melting away with ease. She laughed quietly and nodded before turning the corner.
Yet again, she was alone with Cooper.
She looked up at him, suddenly shy again, and her grin gentled.
“So, that was something else.” Collins murmured.
“Something of a disaster, you mean.” Cooper corrected with a smirk. “I had imagined your coming to dinner quite differently.”
“Is that something you think about often?”
“It’s a coping mechanism. If I look forward to my time with you, what little time I spend in Stark’s presence is more manageable.”
“I would say that I’m flattered, but it’s really just sad to think about.” Collins murmured with a frown.
“You are as a guiding star in but a temporary storm, my dear.” Cooper slipped a hand beneath her chin to tip her face up. She met his eyes and found what was so different. His tie was blue and made his eyes seem lighter and clearer than ever. “Do not worry - even the smallest ship may at times surprise you by enduring to arrive in its harbor no worse for the wear.”
“And even the strongest barque can be toppled by a well-placed wave.” she challenged in turn. A pout threatened her lips. “I don’t like sittin’ idly by while others struggle, Cooper.”
“Such a kind heart you have, Miss Collins.” he sighed fondly. The corners of his eyes crinkled and Collins felt her heart skip a beat. She was becoming all too fond of those lines in his face. “I feel all the more fortunate to have met you for it. If you are still so concerned, I would have you visit more often - if you have the time to spare, that is. Perhaps I could even enjoy my time in the Tower with such an amicable companion.”
Collins felt her face warm and her eyes flickered involuntarily to his mouth. The combination of her exhaustion and his easy flattery was messing with her skills of perception.
When had he gotten so close to her, close enough for a stray ebony lock to brush her cheek? Her hand had strayed to his chest, her palm resting over his heart to feel the steady thump of his life force while his enchanting eyes held her captive.
He was whittling away her desire to go home one flutter of his eyelashes at a time.
Cooper unlocked their arms and trailed his fingers down her forearm until he could slip her hand into his own.
“Could I give you my number?” Collins asked breathlessly, feeling her heart run wild with the contact. She had to break up the moment before she lost herself entirely. “That way we can text each other before I come over - and keep in contact when I can’t. I hate to think of you stuck here without anyone on your side.”
The thought of him alone grounded her and helped her find her senses again.
“Thor has been on my side from the beginning, and it seems you’ve helped me find a champion in the captain as well, but one can never have an overabundance of allies. Tell me your ‘number’; though I warn you, these… cellphones are not my forte. It will no doubt be some time before I work my way around this concept of ‘texting’.” Cooper shook his head doubtfully.
“Y’know, I could also have an intern run messages from my office.” Collins offered, a mischievous light sparkling in her eyes. He acted like such an old man at times. “If you’re so invested in this old world persona you portray.”
“And what of you? Ordering the help about like a lady of the court!” Cooper exclaimed quietly with a laugh. He shook his head again. “No, I will settle on your terms and give you a call.”
“Alright, then.” Collins accepted and rattled off her number. “You think you can remember that?”
“I have an excellent memory, my dear. I won’t forget. Go now - your eyes look as heavy as lead and you’ve begun to list with weariness. I shall call you tomorrow when you’ve had the time to rest.”
“Call around one - that’s my lunch hour.”
“Very well. Good evening, Miss Collins. Go safely.” Cooper lifted her knuckles to his lips, lingering there for a long moment before releasing her.
Collins felt her face warm to boiling. She cleared her throat and lowered her eyes bashfully.
It seemed she was doomed to blush like a fool everytime they said their goodbyes.
“Good night, Cooper.” She bid him, reluctant to look away even for a moment as she stepped into the elevator.
He inclined his head to her, watching her go with an affectionate smile as the doors closed and she was carried away.
Collins cocked her head to the side as a thought caught her.
Cooper’s mannerisms left him looking a lot like Thor.
A princely manner indeed.
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