𝕮𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖊 𝕾𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘

Blasphemy | M.H.

[Angst/Fluff]
TW: Violence, Homophobia

The street was crowded in that restless Saturday-afternoon way that made the entire city feel awake at once.

People moved in currents between storefronts and cafés, shopping bags swinging at their sides, conversations folding into each other beneath tram bells and distant music from street performers farther down the boulevard. Cold spring sunlight reflected sharply off glass windows and wet pavement left over from morning rain.

Maria Hill walked beside you with one hand looped loosely through your arm.

She wore a long dark coat over black trousers and boots, auburn hair loose today despite the wind. Elegant as always. Calmly self-possessed in a way that made her stand out even in crowded streets.

You walked half a step slower beside her, distracted every few seconds by either shop windows or Maria herself.

Mostly Maria.

"You are doing it again," she murmured without looking at you.

"I am literally just walking."

"You walked into a sign five minutes ago because you were staring."

"The sign attacked me."

"It was stationary."

A faint smile touched her mouth.

Maria sighed softly, but her fingers tightened briefly around your arm anyway.

You stopped outside a bookstore window for a moment while she looked at a display of hardcovers inside. You leaned against her shoulder absentmindedly, taller than her even while slouching.

People glanced at the two of you constantly.

Some subtly.

Some openly.

You noticed less now. Or maybe you just cared less.

Because Maria stayed close in public naturally now. Small touches. Hands brushing. Her adjusting your jacket collar without thinking about it. The kind of intimacy that became invisible to the people inside it.

You crossed toward another section of the boulevard where several stands and volunteers lined the pedestrian area handing out flyers.

Most people ignored them automatically.

One man stepped forward anyway.

"Excuse me," he said brightly, holding out pamphlets. "Free Bible courses."

Maria gave a polite but immediate smile of refusal. "No thank you."

Usually that ended things.

This time it did not.

The man's eyes shifted between the two of you.

Then lingered.

His expression changed almost imperceptibly.

You noticed it first.

That subtle tightening around the mouth. The judgment settling in.

Maria felt your posture shift beside her immediately.

Then the man looked directly at Maria.

"You seem like a very intelligent woman," he said.

The tone had changed too.

Not friendly anymore.

Performative.

Maria's expression cooled slightly. "Thank you."