Ice Princess

5

Matt was right, she did have a great time. Her cheeks hurt so much from the end of the night from smiling and laughing. Karen and Foggy were delightful and could playfully tease Matt as good as he gave it. Mina asked all the right questions to keep conversations going, while she deflected some, others she gave answers that were vague enough and non-specific without being noticeable to anyone. All the while, without her knowing, Matt was listening to her breathing and heartbeat. There was something he wasn't sure about and couldn't but his finger on it as of yet. He thought she was being guarded around new people which was understandable, but there was something else. Matt was very respectful of her personal space but some light touching to one another held the other's interest. When Mina excused herself to the restroom, she slid out of the booth. Coming back, she could tell that they were talking about her. That's when she caught a glimpse of Bucky and she didn't make eye contact.

Matt was a perfect gentleman walking her home.

"I don't know how I feel about this." She said laughing slightly.

"About what? Me walking you home?"

"Kind of, it's just you're going to be walking alone to your place. I don't know which wins out.... Women's lib or Differently Abled Rights."

"I think," he turned to her cupping her face, "It's a draw." WOW, just wow. That was some kiss. A kiss she would happily dream about for nights to come. She could tell he loved how little she was against him as his body responded to hers. He still tasted of the chocolate dessert they shared.

"Give me your phone." Mina said breathily. She added her number to his phone and dialed it allowing hers to ring. "This way you know the number is good."

"When can I see you again?"

"Call me later this week. I'm sure we can figure out something." Even if he didn't call her, the ball was in his court. Just the little bit of human contact she got from tonight did her a world of good. Closing the door to her building, she saw Bucky get off his bike and lean against it as she started up the steps. Locking her door behind her, Everest greeted her at the door. Mina fed her and went to her bedroom, drawing the blinds and started stripping down, tossing everything into the hamper. Bucky watched her silhouette and hungered for her. He had gotten the name of Matt Murdock from the bartender and that he was a lawyer. Bucky would research him tomorrow to make sure he wouldn't hurt her. If this Matt was a shady character, Bucky decided to give him hints to back off. Still looking up, he watched as her nightclothes skimmed over her body and she went to bed, the light turning off.

________

Monday morning, it was clear, cool, crips, and perfect as she drove into work. Mina did something she hadn't done in a long time, she hummed as she worked. No earbuds or headphones just humming quietly to herself some random tune that didn't have words to it. Today was going to be a good day, she thought to herself. Bucky on the other hand was not having a good day. He researched Matt Murdock and could find nothing wrong with him, basically a Boy Scout. That just frustrated him more. Sam had tried to figure out why Bucky was in a bad mood, but didn't reveal why. Leaving, Bucky went to Bruce's office.

"Did you know Mina was seeing someone?" Bucky flopped into the extra chair in Bruce's office.

"No, why? I tend not to get involved in other people's love lives. Mina never mentioned anything. Wait is this about the other night?" Bruce looked totally confused. Bucky got up to look out Bruce's office glass partition towards the lab and had a clear line of site at Mina. Her phone rang and she picked it up, smiling to herself. It felt like a knife to Bucky's heart. He shook his head, it was her choice, he reminded himself. Bruce got out of his seat. "Bucky, what's going on?"

"Nothing, forget about it." He stormed out of the office. Mina had just finished her call with Matt and hung up. She made eye contact with Bucky, the smile from her face was lost and her eyes were large, clear with worry. Mina's eyes flashed from following Bucky out of the office to Bruce's door and back again several times.

"What's going on?" Mina asked as Bruce left his office. Bruce walked over to her.

"Did you do what Fury and I asked?" He said quietly.

"Yeah, Bucky followed me last night."

"Did he notice?"

"Obviously, not. I hate that I had to do that to him."

"It's for the best."

"But the best for who?" Love popped into the lab and wanted to spend time with Mina, so any conversation had to be put on hold on the subject. Mina enjoyed having Love around, she was a little ray of sunshine on days that felt like she was in a fog. With today being a good day, it was even more enjoyable.

________

Mina checked her make up again. While she knew he wouldn't see it, it made her feel good that she looked nice. The sweater dress she picked out was warm enough that she only needed a light leather jacket and it hugged her curves divinely. Matt said it was a surprise what they were going to do and really, she didn't care what they were going to do as long as she got to spend time with him. He buzzed her apartment and she came down.

"I could have come up."

"I'm still trying out colors on the walls." She told him.

"I thought you moved in during the spring?"

"I did, but I only got done the bedroom and kitchen. I still can't figure out what I want to do with the living room, study, or spare room."

"Well, let me know if you want my opinion on any colors." She laughed at him. Matt loved her laugh, knowing without her telling him, it wasn't used often.

"So what's on tonight's agenda, this is your city."

"Is there something you want to do?"

"I'm doing it already." He gave her a quick peck. "Something easy breezy."

"Good answer."

"How is it you know your way around so well?" Marveling at the way they moved from street to street and through crowds.

"Every block has a certain sound signature."

"Sound signature?"

"By telling which sounds get louder and softer, I can tell which way I'm going."

"New York is huge, how are you able to remember all that?"

"Kind of like how people remember songs. Other things help, like knowing the bus schedules, or which have broken A/C units making certain noises."

"And what if that person with the broken A/C unit decides to get it fixed? Or a bus is running late?"

"Like a song, there are several noise for each block. If one sound is missing it doesn't hurt the song."

"And if the power is out?"

"Smell."

"Well, I do have to say, New York does have its own scent." He laughed at her.