[ OoM ] File 001A - S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Coulson

[holds_her_own]

It's been seventeen days since the appearance of the inter-dimensional anomaly they call Milliways.

Hill has utilized that time to write up a personal file of information she gathered while there.

X-men
Warehouse 13
Earth, designation "616"
Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett
Joshua Donovan
William Evans
X-23 (possible code name?)
Oswin Oswald
Autor

She hasn't yielded enough results from her research to be worth the time.

Sighing, she leans back in her chair and stares blankly at the open document on her screen.

Comments

[holds_her_own]

Doesn't she know it.

"I'll be keeping my attention on it. I can't officially ask you to do the same, but we could occasionally compare notes over a steak dinner. As friends."

Director Fury made it clear that she's off the clock when she's there.

What Director Fury doesn't know continues to not hurt him.

[hisonegoodeye]

"I like how you say that as if I weren't already."

Because clearly neither of them have enough on their plates already.

"But I do like steak."

He'll buy the drinks?

[holds_her_own]

She cocks a grin.

"This is why your mug says 'World's Greatest' on it."

If there's one man Maria doesn't feel the need to keep an eye on at all times, it's Phil.

He is an indefectible ally.

"Thanks for the coffee."

[hisonegoodeye]

"And I take great care not to break the FTC Act."

Not smiling. Not smiling at all.

"And at the very least we can take advantage of the apparent... time-stop."

[holds_her_own]

Hill, on the other hand, smirks.

"What are you suggesting, Phil?"

[hisonegoodeye]

With absolute innocence, "That there will never again be any excuse for being late with the paperwork."

[holds_her_own]

"Ah."

The grand nod of her head could distract from the snort of amusement, but it's undeniably there.

"Here I thought you were offering to sweep me off my feet for a long weekend."

[hisonegoodeye]

"What, and risk the reaction at home?"

Leo is an easy-going type as a rule (he's had to be), but even he has limits.

Plaintively, "I like having all my internal organs in their intended positions, Agent Hill."

Except for that one misplaced rib after the thing in Dublin. But they fixed that, eventually.

[holds_her_own]

She points at him with an office pen.

"That's good. You'd be an idiot to screw that up."

Now, stop making her look bad by using your off-time to do paperwork, damn it.

[hisonegoodeye]

"Yes ma'am."

His salute is impeccable, naturally.

"And don't I know it."

[holds_her_own]

He earns the rare broad grin before Hill swivels her chair back to her screen.

"Get back to work, slacker."

She'll needle him for more details on his private life when they're off S.H.I.E.L.D. premises.

[hisonegoodeye]

"Yeah, yeah."

His eyes twinkle, very faintly, as he heads for the door.

"See if I bring you that blended Brazilian dry-roast next time you demand information from me."

So there.

[holds_her_own]

It's an empty threat.

They both know he will.

(Because he is classy.)

Once he clears the door, Hill reaches under her desk and flips the switch that jams S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance for a time into its OFF setting.

You can't be too careful.

Heaving a sigh, she frowns at the open file only a minute more before adding:

Possible Interplanetary Security Issue. Investigate.

Closing out the file, she brings up her email. It's getting close to end of day, so she flags the low-level mail for tomorrow morning and ties up a few loose ends.

That is, before she stumbles across this video.

She blinks, and figures...

What the hell.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Maria Hill <[ADDRESS REDACTED]>
Date: Tuesday, June 27th, at 16:39
Subject: Because I care.
To: Natasha Romanoff <[ADDRESS REDACTED]>

Don't say I never give you anything.

-M

All in all, it hasn't been a bad day after all.