It is late in the night when Fury pushes the bar's door open. The place is crowded, full of chatter. He takes his gloves off and takes a look around, trying to find potential threats. He walks to the bar and clears his throat discreetly.
« Evening, ma'am. »
« You wait, » the woman behind the bar answers immediately, turning away from him.
He chuckles for himself and notices a man staring at him. He tries to stare back, but it doesn't seem to produce much effect on the man.
« You can stare all you want, » the stranger tells him, « but you'll never be the man you once were. »
« Say again, comrade? » He retorts, not surprised when he doesn't say anything. « Bourbon and a pint for me. » he tells the woman, « and whatever my friends are having. »
« Vodka, » the man tells Fury.</p>
Fury raises his glass in acknowledgment and gives money to the woman to cover his bill. He grabs the two glasses and bourbon she gives him and joins Hill at the back of the room.
« Making friends with the locals? » she greets him with a small smile, earning a chuckle.
« How do you think we kept the Cold War from going hot? » he jokes back, « Spooks like me buying shots. »
« You can't say that, » she chastises him gently.
« No, YOU can't say that, » they drown their shots.
Hill exhales, letting the alcohol burn her throat deliciously. There was a time when she would have never touched a single glass. She shakes her head, trying not to go down that path.
« It is good to have you back Fury, » she tells him, moving her chess piece.
« Is that sincere or are you just covering your bases? » he raises an eyebrow.
It angers Maria to no end. She grits her teeth, trying to not let it get the best of her. « Will you tell me you left Earth? » she asks instead.
« Well, building out S.A.B.E.R, » he answers, not looking at her. Maria knows It is a lie.
« Traditionally, we tell the truth during our chess games, » she tells him bitterly, « Maybe that has changed too, though, I don't know. »
« Okay, let's just say I had a crisis of faith, » He lets out.
« So why'd you come back? »
« It followed me up there, » he sighs, « and I owed it to Thalos. »
He could never know how much his words saddened her. How much it hurt that she was never someone important. That Thalos was before her in his priorities.
« You sure you're not talking about someone else? » She glares at him, « You gonna move? » she adds when he doesn't answer.
« I haven't decided. »
« See, that's what I worried about, » she looks at the chess board, « The Fury I knew was always three steps ahead, » She looks at him again.
« If I remember correctly, YOU call me. »
« Upon Thalos's request, » she looks around, « your lack of contact over the past few years sent a pretty clear message, » she spits.
« Meaning? » he gets defensive.
She chuckles and shakes her head, not believing he could be so self-centered. Did he really have no clue? Her sadness returns in full force when she recalls the freezing and choking feeling of loneliness she has been feeling since the blip.
YOU ARE READING
A-Force Assemble
Hayran KurguJust a bunch of one shots based on the ladies of Marvel! Marvel's caracters aren't mine but my stories yes so don't repost without permission! ;)
