Chapter Text
You idly tapped your fingers against the arm of the chair. You were increasingly bored, and the man who continually paced by the windows was of no help. He’d barely even acknowledged your presence since he’d brought you to this dilapidated building.
If there’s anything you hated more than a kidnapping it was a dull kidnapping.
“Hey…” you began to call until you realized you didn’t know the guy’s name and so substituted, “you. Do you have a plan here or what?”
He didn’t appear to enjoy being interrupted from his… what? Brooding? “I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he near snarled.
“Well, no, you certainly don’t have to, but it would make our time together so much more enjoyable.”
"Look, lady, just keep your mouth shut until Stark wires me my money. Then all you gotta worry about is the cops finding you before you starve to death.”
“That could take a while – I don’t starve quickly.”
He gave you a look that said he didn’t understand, but then turned his attention back out the window because he obviously didn’t care. You returned to your tapping until the silence once more became unbearable. “But honestly, how long are we going to wait? What if Howard doesn’t send you any money?”
He snorted. “He’ll cough up the dough. Everyone knows you’re his favorite little piece of tail.”
“Everyone knows this, do they?”
“Why else would he have given you that cushy job?”
“The reason couldn’t possibly be that I’m good at it.”
He snorted again. Misogynistic jerk.
You rolled your eyes. “Fine, let’s say that he’s not willing to pay what you asked for his prized harlot. What’s your next move?”
“I’ll cut off a part of your body and send it to him.”
“Hmm, that might be effective, but it’s going to take time. You must know that Howard is currently across the country – I’m sure you did your research before enacting this scheme of yours. Are we just going to sit here until he receives the macabre package and has a chance to respond?”
“You gab an awful lot. Maybe I’ll send him your tongue.”
“Then I better warn you quickly.”
“Warn me ‘bout what?”
“You’ve gone and made yourself a very regrettable enemy. You’ll be much better off if you just let me go now.”
“I ain’t afraid of Stark.”
At that moment, by some fantastic coincidence, a crash sounded somewhere beyond the door to your dingy room, followed by yells and gunfire. You couldn’t stop the smile that slowly spread across your lips. “I wasn’t talking about him.”
When Jack Thompson kicked the door open soon after, he found your kidnapper gripping one of your arms while holding a knife to your throat. Jack leveled his gun at the sweating man’s face. “Get your hands off my wife.”
“You sure you wanna risk it?” It was a fair question – he was blocking most of his vital points with your body. “Even if you manage to miss her, I’ll cut her throat if I move an inch.”
Jack looked at you and watched one side of your mouth tilt up. Silent understanding passed between you, and he moved his finger from the trigger as he raised both hands up in surrender.
You felt the man behind you relax minutely just before you grabbed his knife-wielding arm. In one fluid movement you flipped him over your shoulder and then rammed your fist right into his face. With a satisfied huff you brushed your hair back and looked up to the room’s other occupant who was staring at the now unconscious man.
“That move looked awfully familiar,” he said, tucking his gun into its holster.
“Peggy taught it to me the last time we were out west.”
“Of course she did.” He raised his eyes to meet yours and asked wryly, “And why didn’t you do that before?”
“Because now we can say you took him out and no one will ask any questions." Your smile turned mischievous as you began toying with your necklace. “Also, I kind of like watching you burst through doors. It’s very… heroic.”
“Oh yeah?” He smirked, eyeing you with renewed interest.
No one could say your flirting hadn’t improved.
“Though we need to work on your heroic one-liners,” you continued, tone returning to normal and then a tad scolding. “I’m still not your wife.”
“Did I say that?” His expression negated any innocence he tried to affect.
“You did,” you confirmed, but smiled even as you sighed resignedly, making your way over to grab hold of his hand.
“Oops.” He laced his fingers through yours and squeezed before leading you out of the room to find another agent to clean up the mess left behind. “Guess I keep forgetting.”