milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Fury is sitting at the bar, with a tumbler half-full of amber liquid sitting at his elbow. He is eating an exquisitely decorated cookie that is shaped like a Christmas tree. It looks delicious.

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Hill does not judge.

"Sir."

But she may conspicuously be looking at his cookie.

(Coveting is another matter entirely.)

"Merry Christmas?"

"And a Happy New Year, Agent Hill," Fury intones. "Cookie?" He offers her a neatly sealed package which does indeed contain a cookie. This one is shaped like an ornament, and frosted red. The label proclaims that it is made at a local bakery from all natural ingredients, and is free of nut based-allergens.

"Sir, you shouldn't have."

She smirks at the label.

How considerate.

"This is the best Christmas bonus you've ever given me."

It's funny because it's true.

"When you insist on racking up that much hazard pay, I gotta get a little more creative than a card with some under-the-table cash in it," he tells her. "You want some coffee, go double or nothing?"

If she looks proud, that's only because she is.

"Brazilian roast?"

Hey, she has standards.

She takes the seat next to him, and starts unwrapping the cookie.

"Bar?" A steaming mug appears in front of Hill. Fury has a sip of whatever that is he's drinking.

"Cooke decorations just aren't the same without those creepy little silver balls," he says.

She snaps her cookie in half, promptly dunking one end into the coffee.

"If you say so, sir."

Hill has her doubts.

Maybe she's just more a fan of chocolate sprinkles.

"Everything quiet at headquarters?"

"Not a creature was stirring, except several nests of trouble that we already knew about. Also the agents keeping watch on them, who mostly don't celebrate, or are happy to escape the fruitcake."

He shrugs. "Nothing out of the ordinary. You?"

Escape one fruitcake in exchange for another, at least.

The words are on the tip of her tongue.

The tip.

Fortunately, she values her job.

"You have all my notes, sir. The public ones, anyway."

Beat.

"You've been apprised of the situation here with Agent Simmons?"

"I left her a note, if that's what you're talking about."

He pauses, and slides forward a folded piece of paper.

"Or are you referring to this other note that I haven't opened yet? I was hoping that you could tell me whatever it is has been resolved, and my nice quiet evening can stay that way."

Her lips twitch.

"You're in luck."

She glances at the note to be sure nothing else has come up.

"Just a little personality clash with a telepath. I saw to it, and I believe Agent Coulson even bought her a beer."

Simmons should be fine, and Fury should get the full report later.

"She mentioned you left her a note. Not to tell her teammates about Milliways?"

He does not sigh in relief, but merely nods with satisfaction.

"Yeah. One specific teammate she wanted to tell. It's not the end of the world if she cracks, but it will tell us something important about her." He gives Hill a look.

"We play this one as close to the chest as possible. I always want to know who knows about this place, and how far we can trust them."

She nods.

She makes it a point to be familiar with all SHIELD recruits; a duo like FitzSimmons does not escape her radar.

"She made some very mature decisions at a time when she was clearly not at her best. I think she'll do fine."

She pauses to sip her coffee.

"I've been comparing notes with Coulson on the extent of SHIELD in Milliways. I hope you don't mind."

"I love it when you two plot behind my back," he says. "Keeps me young."

"We just want to make sure you're keeping your one eye open."

She smirks.

"And I want to be sure this place really is as safe as everyone seems so eager to tell me it is."

"Not safe," he says. "Not by my definition. Call it neutral ground, that might get you closer. It isn't our universe that's the problem, here. I'm more...concerned about what might show up here from somewhere else. Or what might follow us home. Or get brought back."

"Exactly, sir."

She nods, all previous joviality shifting into stern concentration.

"The doorway system is enough of a security issue. Even before Barton said doors can show up anywhere."

She looks at the front door like it just ate the last piece of pie.

The last piece of strawberry pie.

"As far as it being neutral ground goes, I have my suspicions some of the clientele take a more lax view of what that means."

"Lands sakes," he says, completely deadpan. "Agent Hill, are you suggesting that some of the patrons here might have ulterior motives?"

Well, he never.

Her mouth twitches.

"I believe that's more your area of expertise, sir."

She's not fooling anyone.

There's a reason she climbed the ranks so quickly, and it's not for her stunning personality.

"Somebody has to say the obvious while you're out chasing Stark from Brooklyn to Beverly Hills."

Fury rolls his eye and tosses back the rest of his drink.

"That's what I have junior agents for. And punishment details."

Another smirk.

As much as Stark can be a headache, she does find occasional amusement in how much trouble he gives her boss.

"Back on point, I just wanted to be clear we were on the same page, sir. Other than the plotting behind your back, of course."

He made his direction clear during their initial conversation.

She just has very specific hobbies.

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