Shadows and Secrets (A MCU FanFic)

Chapter 29: Preppy

Sam's POV

"SAM! WAKE UP!"

"Ahhhhggg!" Sam bolted upright and put a hand over his heart. Marjorie stood over him, grinning.

"You wouldn't wake up," she explained.

Sam scowled at her. "Why would you do that?" Marjorie shrugged. "There is something seriously wrong with you," he muttered under his breath.

Sam glanced at the clock. It read 7:03 am. The hotel was close to the bank, so they didn't need to leave until 7:40.

Marjorie already looked ready. She had straightened her hair so it hung down almost to her waist, and changed her makeup from her normal artsy style to a more normal and sophisticated style that almost made her look older. Marjorie looked like a totally different person; Sam guessed that was what she was going for.

She was also dressed in a plain black hoddie and black pants. Sam had never seen her wear so little color before. He wondered if this was her normal attire for stealth missions and if the helicarrier incident was an outlier.

Sam locked himself in the bathroom to get ready.

~

    "I don't think I can pull this off," Sam admitted. He wasn't good with this spy stuff. The rest of the Avengers were way more experienced and confident. Sam was... not.

"You'll be fine, Sam. You can do it!" Marjorie and Sam had arrived about a block away from the bank. Marjorie was full of energy; where did she get it? Sam knew that she hadn't slept any at the hotel.

"I just wouldn't know what to say. What if it doesn't work?"

"Sure it will." Marjorie stopped Sam. "Listen, it's all about confidence. Just walk in there like you own the place, and ask to meet with Mr. Colville Dennis. If anyone questions you, just make up some random BS about your boss not being happy or something."

"I don't know..." That may work for her, but Sam would be too nervous.

"That's fine, just pretend you do. Anyway, just get him out of his office. See you!" She winked at him, and then stepped back, melting into shadows.

Apparently, she couldn't teleport into Dennis' office because she had never been there before, but she could sneak in while hidden by shadows. It was kinda like being invisible.

Sam took a deep breath to steel himself for the job ahead. "Confidence," he muttered. "I can do this."

~

"I'd like to request a meeting with Mr. Colville Dennis."

The secretary who sat at the desk pressed her lips together. "You can't just 'request a meeting'. You need an appointment."

Yeah, this plan would never work. Sam took a breath. Confidence. "He will be glad I didn't wait to make an appointment when he hears my boss's proposal."

The secretary raised an eyebrow and Sam adjusted his cuff. The suit was ridiculous. Marjorie had said, "The more preppy, the better," but Sam felt that the disguise was overkill. What normal 16 year old wore a suit to his summer job?

But it seemed to be working. "Very well," the secretary said after some time. "I will notify him. Please wait over there." She gestured to a lobby area with firm-looking armchairs.

Sam nodded formally and made his way towards a chair. He hoped she actually notified Dennis and not security; that would make things difficult for Marjorie.

"Are you in?" he muttered discreetly, pretending to study an abstract painting that was hung on the wall.

"Yeah, he just left his office. I snuck in before the door closed," Marjorie said through the coms.

Sam shifted his weight and crossed over to an armchair to sit stiffly, making sure his posture was straight. "Please hurry. I really hate this suit."

"You look fine. Very handsome."

Sam rolled his eyes. He doubted Marjorie would tell him if he looked stupid.

"Okay, I'm in the hall," She whispered. "Get ready to open the door."

Sam crossed over to the secretary. "There's been a change of plans. I won't be meeting with Mr. Dennis about that business proposal." He walked away briskly before she could say anything.

Sam reached the door and held it open, like he was looking around to make sure he wanted to leave. "Are you out yet?" he muttered.

"Yes, I'm bisexual."

Sam stepped out, the door swinging shut behind him. "That wasn't what I meant!" He walked forward formally; he could drop the act once they rounded the corner.

"Admit it, it was funny," Marjorie's voice said. It was strange, talking to someone right next to you that you couldn't see. He could hear her like she was right there, and she was right there, but his eyes and his brain told him she wasn't.

Her powers had creeped him out at first; they were still unnerving. But, Sam tried really hard not to show it. It really wasn't that bad, most of it was really helpful. If he was her, he wouldn't want people to be creeped out by him.

It was hard to tell with Marjorie. Sometimes she seemed really detached, and sometimes she was really attuned to other people's emotions.

"Okay, it was a little funny."

They rounded the corner, and Marjorie faded into view. She pulled off her hood and a black face mask, the kind you might wear if there was some kind of pandemic, opposed to the traditional superhero masks that didn't conceal one's identity and mysteriously stuck to one's face.

Marjorie flipped her long, now straight, hair out of her jacket. "Now, we have a flight to catch."

~

The flight was mostly quiet. It wasn't until midway through that Sam brought up the subject he was avoiding, but also strangely curious about. "So..."

Marjorie looked up from her book. "So?" she asked after a pause.

Sam cleared his throat. "You and Bucky are together now?"

"Oh." She smiled ruefully. "So that's why you look so awkward. Yeah, we're dating."

"How is that working out?"

Marjorie smiled. "Pretty good, I think."

Sam had always assumed that there was something there. Bucky stared at her all day, either he had a crush on her, saw her as a threat given her umbrakinesis, or was plotting to kill her or something. He was 99% sure it was the first option.

"Do you like him? I mean, really like him." He didn't want either of them to get their hearts broken. They seemed to be both the type of person that put all of their hearts into something, someone. It could either last forever perfectly or end in disaster.

"Yes," she whispered, blushing slightly. That was a good sign.

Or a bad one, depending on the perspective. Sam had the feeling that they would be a terrifying power couple.