fateandfortune | { Hold My Heart

I don't need a man to hold my hand
I just want one to hold my heart

Agent Marie D'Ancanto.

She hasn't been able to stop looking at the badge since she get it three hours ago, the thing making so many trips to and from her pocket that she's surprised the case isn't showing more wear yet. It's silly, she keeps telling herself, it's the exact same thing every time, and yet... Each time she still reads the words with the same awe and fascination, unable to believe that the day she's worked so hard for is finally here. All those months of training, the long hours of evaluations, leading to this day.

Perhaps even more awe-inspiring at times is just how many people have welcomed and congratulated her. The family Coulson had talked about has truly welcomed her into the fold and she can't imagine her life without them now. She can't imagine her life without him and everything he's done for her.

Checking her reflection one last time in the mirror, she straightens out the skirt of the dress she's chosen for this special occasion before reverently slipping the badge into her purse and heading down the hall to a particular office door. With a light knock, she leans around the corner of the frame, hoping that her dinner companion isn't still buried under a pile of paperwork.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's a conspiracy afoot.
Namely a conspiracy to un-bury one Phil Coulson from his usual mountain of paperwork in order to take the night off and celebrate Marie becoming a full Agent.

May has threatened any subordinate near his office. Daisy has stolen reports and (he's pretty sure) hacked his email. Mac is scaring the younger agents away.

Phil can't stop his small smile as he finishes the last report.
Family.
Even if they were all conspiring to send him out for the evening to simply relax.

A glance up at the gentle rap.
"Wow." She looks amazing and Phil smiles as he closes the last file. "You look beautiful. I mean, you always do, but.. that's a lovely dress."

There are very few times in Rogue's life when she's actually blushed from a compliment, but of course Phil Coulson brings out that side of her. He can manage anything he puts his mind to, from convincing her to trust humanity again to sweeping her off her feet with effortless compliments. Her answering smile is bright and happy, matching emotions that she'd never thought she'd feel again before joining SHIELD.

"Why thank you, sugar. You ready to head out?" Bare fingers absently check the thin silver cuff bracelets on either wrist, ensuring they're both securely in place for perhaps the dozenth time. The new gadgets from FitzSimmons will only work for a few hours at a time, but for those hours she can be a normal human again, whatever magnetic field they've concocted being just enough to dampen her powers. They weren't a gift, the two had insisted, but something she deserved, and she'd cried all over the two scientists in return.

"Absolutely." The silver bracelets are beautiful and subtle, enough to allow her to feel safe for a few hours, to feel normal. Fitz and Simmons had worked tirelessly to find her an option and for that he was only prouder of his team. They weren't doing it to protect the other agents, they were doing it for Marie to feel more at ease with herself. Because she was one of them. She was family.

The file tucked into a locked drawer, Phil picks up the jacket from the back of his chair and slides it on as he crosses the office to offer his arm. "More than ready. It's time we celebrate."

She doesn't hesitate to slip her arm through his, giving his forearm a gentle squeeze with her hand. It takes a huge amount of effort to tame her expression into playful seriousness, but she can't resist the opportunity.

"It's your fault we have anything to celebrate at all, you know," she points out matter-of-factly. "There's no one to blame more than you for my current situation."

And Phil? He's more than happy to play along, a teasing smile curling his lips as he tips his head at her. "You know, I think that's blame I'm more than happy to accept."

"But I just opened the door. You're the one that took me up on the invitation."

Rolling her eyes in exaggerated exasperation, she gives a small shake of her head. "How was I possibly supposed to resist an invitation like that? I mean, really, it's like setting a piece of chocolate cake in front of me and expecting me to not want it."

Spoiler: She loves chocolate and has fought the other agents for the last piece of cake before. May especially enjoys playing referee on those occasions.

His hand folds over hers in the crook of his arm, smiling easily in reply to her counter. "And I know better than to get between you and anything even remotely chocolate related."

And while May is playing referee and Mac taking side bets?
You can bet that Phil is placing a heavy bet on Marie every time.

{ Hold My Heart | Phil Coulson }

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