fix you

chapter three

The music from the club could be heard the moment they opened the car doors. It pulsed out from the open windows and into the night, making her head pound while they waited in line. She'd debated trying to charm her way through the line by flirting with the bouncer, but Steve was already getting his fair share of looks and she didn't want to draw anymore attention to him.

When a few wandering eyes lingered on him too long Maria took a step closer, and rested her hand on his arm. For God's sake, he wasn't a piece of meat. Steve lifted his eyebrows at her gesture, but didn't comment.

That was probably a good thing. No need to embarrass herself.

Half an hour later they were inside, and the flashing lights and increased noise levels assaulted her senses. Nothing like a night club to make you feel old and grumpy, but honestly, did it have to be so loud? Steve was probably miserable with his heightened senses. Annoyed, Maria stalked to the bar and ordered a drink. Handing Steve a beer, she let her gaze roam around the club, trying to see if anything seemed out of place.

All she saw was strobe lights and people dancing sinfully close together. One couple on the edge of the dance floor seemed only a few moves away from getting totally naked in front of everyone.

Maria snorted, and continued surveying the room.

"Shit!" She shoved Steve back, into the shadows.

"What? What is it?" Steve asked, on high alert.

"My contact from MI6. Don't look his way!" She hissed when Steve tried to get a look. "Jesus, Rogers, if he sees you we'll have a huge mess on our hands. I'm gonna go try and see what he knows, then get rid of him. Stay here."

"All right." His jaw was clenched and he looked like he wanted to argue, but he stayed in the corner and didn't protest when she stalked off to the little table the agent sat at.

"Charles," she purred, reaching out to kiss his cheek. "What are you doing here?"

He was a tall man with brown hair, but Maria was nearly the same height. It always annoyed him, so she was thankful she wore the boots with heels. Charles was good at his job, but he was also a pain in her ass. Mostly because he was too smart, and well aware of when she tried to pull one over on him. Like now.

Honestly, nothing good ever came out of her time in London.

"I can't let you have all the fun," he leaned back and studied her. "Besides, I figured it was the only way I'd get to see you. You never call anymore, Maria."

"Worlds to save, people to see. You know how it goes."

"I do. Which is why I'm glad you called. I've got a feeling about this place."

"Yeah?" She pursed her lips. "I'm not getting anything out of it."

"There's a maze of offices downstairs. That lead to tunnels and a secret passageway."

Well, those were always fun. "Guess I better go check it out, then."

"We will go check it out," he corrected, guiding her away from the bar with his hand at the small of her back. Hmm. Getting rid of him would be more difficult if she let him go to the tunnels with her, but she might learn more if he showed her what he knew.