«Star Shadows» A Night Angel Sequel

CHAPTER VII - SOMETHING ELSE

27th October 2011. 11:12. S.H.I.E.L.D H.Q's. 219 West 47th Street, , NY.

Third Person POV

After a morning filled with training, Sophia was waiting patiently for the elevator to come, as she tapped her foot on the floor at the rhythm of "Cherry Pie" by The Warrants playing through her headphones. She was bobbing her head slightly as well. Just as the elevator doors opened, she was greeted by Phil's happy face.

Ever since her father's absence, Phil had taken it upon him to be some sort of father for the young woman.

He was not looking to replace Antoine, in any way, but he promised to himself he would look after the girl like she was his own. He was some sort of like another protective uncle, like Fury and Pierre, which by the way, also took the whole "being a father figure" role way more seriously than Sophia ever thought.

-Hey, Phil.- Sophia said as she got inside the elevator.

-Hey, Sophie.- He replied, his voice low but kind.

-Haven't seen you in the last weeks.- She said as she stood on the other side of the elevator, facing her boss. -Where have you been?.- She asked as she took her headphones and iPod and placed them on her bag.

-Oh, I've just been here and there, doing a few things, you know, the usual.- He said nonchalantly and Sophia nodded.

She knew he couldn't really reveal everything he did, to her, not that he haven't done it before, but now, they were in the elevator and someone might be listening.

-And you? What have you been doing these past couple of weeks?.- Phil asked and Sophia instantly knew what he meant.

He was asking about Steve. With a knowing smirk, she looked at her friend with narrowed eyes, to then just shrug a little.

-Oh, you know. Just been doing some things, here and there. The usual.- She answered back and the agent almost facepalmed himself because he set this up for him.

Sophia laughed at the way he shut his eyes and muttered something under her breath. The elevator doors opened on Sophia's office floor and as she walked out she turned to Phil.

-Are you busy now?.- She asked as she saw the man stepping out after her.

-Not really, why?.- He said, knowing he had a meeting at 10:00 with a team for a mission he was directing, but by Sophia's tone of voice, he knew she was going to tell him what he wanted to hear.

-Well, maybe, maybe, I can tell you a little bit about Steve, I don't know. If you like.- She said, shrugging, like it was nothing.

-You get to call him Steve?.- Phil asked, surprised and Sophia nodded with a small smile.

Before Phil could say something else, Sophia's phone started to ring. An alarm sound. As she looked at the reminder, her eyes opened widely. She wanted to tell Phil about the Captain (since he was excited to know him more), but she had saved the day to go buy some things she needed and do a few errands. She turned to look at Phil, but by the looks on her face he already knew she had somewhere else to be.

-It's okay, Sophie. Go. You'll tell me later.- He said, his voice filled with understanding. Sophia smiled and went to give the agent a small hug and a kiss to his cheek.

It was the first gesture Sophia deliberately had given someone since she came back from her "mission". Aside from her welcoming hug to Natasha and Clint, of course.

In the last month she had been here, everyone took notice that the young agent, who always used to be all happy and cheery, (despite also being serious and stoic), who was always sharing a few hugs to someone when she saw them that morning, had stopped doing just that.