Agent Norah Adams

Level Five Agent with SHIELD with a specialty in linguistics. As the personal assistant of Deputy Director Natasha Romanoff, that particular area of expertise doesn't get a lot of play, but I love my job regardless. It's certainly not as bad as my friend Aidanne's. She's the PA for Director Hill. Not fun at all. But at least she has me to make her day. I may just be an assistant to most, but I'm trained in Martial Arts so I can still kick your ass. But how can I help you today? :)

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Three of my friends are engaged.

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That’s horrible. My condolences.

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I'm thrilled for them. They've found true happiness.

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Three of my friends are engaged.

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ard to push her chair in, his hand pausing at her waist modestly. He smiled charmingly. “If that’s something that you want then I can’t say no.” He almost wondered if she was making an innuendo, but knowing Norah, she literally mean dessert. He shrugged as they made for the door, pausing to at least open it for her. “As for equality, I’m all for it. But its a blow to my ego and my masculinuty,” he said honestly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not open to the idea.”

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"Your ego needs a few more blows." Norah smiled, dropping into the car seat. "So does your masculinity. It's good for you." She started the engine and turned on the radio. 

Johnny Cash played in the background as she drove towards McDonald's, glancing to the side to gauge his reaction. She was craving a milkshake. "I figured after this, we could do something you wanted to do? Unless you're tired." Norah had to hand it to him, he'd put up with her shtick the entire night. But, it's not like he didn't need it in his life. Some people needed to be rattled a bit.

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Her words had Harry looking down at the table, his smile trying to stay hidden. He didn’t know if she was messing around with him it not, but he didn’t even care. He was damn near close to blushing. No.. The last woman that had appealed to him had ended up robbing him blind. Still, he answered her, finally looking up with a smile. “I was taught that a real gentleman always treated and didn’t look to be treated,” he said quietly.

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"I like equality. Having everything paid for me makes me feel like the relationship is imbalanced. It also makes me feel passive. Which I don't like." Norah folded her napkin and waited for her card to return. The waitress handed it over with a thank you and she signed off on the tip. Now came the awkward part. Did they continue the date or did she drop him off at home?

She stood up, slowly sliding her bag over her shoulder and looked at him. "So...do you want dessert?"

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“Doughnuts. I’m wondering how you stay so fit,” he said with another teasing grin. Her question pulled a shrug from him yet again. “I dunno. Maybe I won’t want to. He can’t exactly make me. But I don’t like to disappoint him… For the most part. Half that ship is already sailed so he’ll probably be disappointed one way or another.” He shrugged again. “I like to live in a ‘Whatever Happens, Happens’ kind of world. As for now, I’m 23. I’m in college and doing what I’m supposed to do. It’ll have to do for now.”

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“What college? And don’t think I didn’t catch you jumping the question. What exactly would you be doing at your father’s work?” She finished off her meal, sucking off her fingers in a dainty fashion. 

“I’m pretty settled in my lifestyle, too. SHIELD is good for that sort of thing.” Picking up another handwipe, she rid herself of germs. They looked like they were about to finish their meals. She wouldn’t know where to take it from there. In a way, she wanted to see what he would do. Whether he’d take the prerogative. If he did, then immediately, she would try to take it back.

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“NYU. Working on my Masters. And I don’t know. And even if I did, I doubt I could tell you considering where you work. It’s business, not personal. My father’s rival company is Stark Industries who just happens to be very buddy buddy with SHIELD at the moment. Not that OsCorp isn’t buddy buddy with Maria Hill too, but eh… It’s just easier to stay on opposite ends of the table.”

He grinned a grin he’d give to most businessmen before dropping it for a more charming one. He settled into his seat, his eyes watching her face. “So,” he started, pulling out his wallet. “It was nice enough for you to bring me here. The least you could is let me pay for it. Miss Independent,” he added, his smile widening a little.

[agentadams-blog]

She noticed that he still withheld as much information as he could. Regardless, she was acquainted with Oscorp. It was hard not to be. A shady company, well known.  "Yeah, no. I'm paying." She had already slid her card into the slot. The waitress slipped the bill away, walking towards the front.

"Have you ever been treated by a woman, Harry?" Norah asked him, looking at him head on. "Maybe you deserve to be."

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“Doughnuts. I’m wondering how you stay so fit,” he said with another teasing grin. Her question pulled a shrug from him yet again. “I dunno. Maybe I won’t want to. He can’t exactly make me. But I don’t like to disappoint him… For the most part. Half that ship is already sailed so he’ll probably be disappointed one way or another.” He shrugged again. “I like to live in a ‘Whatever Happens, Happens’ kind of world. As for now, I’m 23. I’m in college and doing what I’m supposed to do. It’ll have to do for now.”

[agentadams-blog]

"What college? And don't think I didn't catch you jumping the question. What exactly would you be doing at your father's work?" She finished off her meal, sucking off her fingers in a dainty fashion. 

"I'm pretty settled in my lifestyle, too. SHIELD is good for that sort of thing." Picking up another handwipe, she rid herself of germs. They looked like they were about to finish their meals. She wouldn't know where to take it from there. In a way, she wanted to see what he would do. Whether he'd take the prerogative. If he did, then immediately, she would try to take it back.

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He shrugged. “My father would only send me to the best, of course. He has a reputation to hold and I’m guessing I’m going to be apart of his business at some point in my life. Had to beef me up intellectually, I suppose,” he answered honestly. He looked down at his plate. “Ah, yes. I do like it. But I really wasn’t expecting your call. I ate about two hours ago.” He smiled at her and lifted the sandwich to take a bite anyway, pushing his glass of water to the side to open and take a swig of his untouched beer. “It’s delicious, though. I’m sure I’ll devour it when I get it back home.”

[agentadams-blog]

"You guess? Do you care whether you do or not?" Norah asked, realizing that it was a personal question but barreling through with it. "Do you know exactly you would be doing?"

She pushed her plate away, grabbing a piece of bread from the bread basket and ripping it to pieces before popping them individually into her mouth. "I ate my real meal earlier, too. Doughnuts. Mmm."

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He leaned forward as well, that face splitting grin from earlier in his living room back on his face. “Oh you want to talk serious? I actually took the role of Bombadil in a school play when I was nine years old. Drove my father crazy that I would attempt something like acting, but he allowed it. I was horrible!” He added with almost breathless laughter. “But it was what got me into the books in the first place. Never gets old… Never ever.” 

He smiled a little wistfully as he picked at his sandwich a bit. He wasn’t all that hungry, but the sandwich admittedly looked pretty good.

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That grin was illegal in seven countries. Norah was pretty sure of it. Seeing it almost gave her a heart attack. She carried on like it hadn't affected her and tried to picture Harry as a little boy dressed as the prancing, song-spewing creature that lived in the woods. "I hadn't realized that schools could ever be so versatile. Tolkien's quite the reach from See Spot Run." Her lips curved up into a teasing smirk. "Must be the private school advantage."

"You don't like your sandwich?" She'd picked her plate almost to death, the bones lay scattered across like another bad simile no one needs to hear. 

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Before he could stop himself, he burst into a quiet bout of laughter at her singing with a little bit of giddiness at her knowledge of Tolkein. “Yeah, let’s just stick to your day job and leave the singing to the professionals,” he teased, but his tone wasn’t mean. Playful, almost. He sobered and raised an eyebrow in her direction.

“Have I?” He chuckled. “Only about ten times. And I’ll probably read it ten more times in the next year.” He smiled. “That’s for all of them, The Hobbit included. Middle Earth is my happy place,” he admitted for the first time out loud. It had always been his little secret, but he wouldn’t tell her that. The key was to acting like he wasn’t ashamed, and to be honest, he really wasn’t. “What do you know about Tolkein?” He asked with a surprised smile, again his tone light and easy, no meanness at all which was even a surprise for him.

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Norah fell into delighted laughter. "You're a nerd! You're an honest to god nerd!" She raked her hair back, clutching it at the back of her neck as she giggled. "I can't believe it." After she finished her laughter, she sat forward, leaning her elbows on the table. "You wanna get serious? Let's get serious."

"My dad used to read me the Hobbit when I was growing up as a bedtime story. After that, I progressed to the Fellowship. Cried at the first movie because it scared me to death. But I loved it. But I can't believe how they represented Boromir! The injustice. He would have never asked for the ring." She shook her head, heartily swallowing down her beer after a bite of chicken. Norah managed to do so with a certain amount of decorum, but she had loosened up some.

"And Tom Bombadil definitely deserved a role. Cutting him out was a travesty. He's one of my favorite characters."

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He watched her with a raised eyebrow, sipping more water. “What, are we talking like… Rivendale Elves?” He asked skeptically. What did she know about the world that was Middle Earth? He’d never met a woman who knew a thing about Lord of the Rings and while he wasn’t necessarily vocal in his interest, he knew that the women he’d entertained normally were interested in money, marriage, and eventually kids. That was it.

He blinked as she flipped her hair. Even such a simple thing made him stop short and inhale a quick breath, but easily recovered. She really was beautiful. But she wouldn’t be hearing it from him again.

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"Er, no. I don't think Arwen or Elrond would stuff their faces with cupcakes. They're a bit more leafy than that. I was referring to that Will Ferrell movie. Elf. You know..." She trailed off before bursting into a little song. "But baby, it's cold outside." Her voice was husky but sweet. 

"But, have you read the Fellowship of the Ring?" She asked curiously, picking up a wing and taking a bite as neatly as she could.

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“Hmmm…” He tilted his head, glancing around the room. “Probably Del Vecio’s. I was halfway in the mood for alfredo, but eh… There’s always next time,” he said confidently. He leaned forward on his elbows, his grin widening as he took her hand. “I haven’t said this yet, but you look magnificent tonight. Very beautiful,” he complimented truthfully.

[agentadams-blog]

“You could probably get some cheese on the side.” Norah helpfully informed him, blinking her eyes and smiling. Act normal, Norah. 

As her hand was caught in his, her eyebrow went up. Whenever she was called magnificent, which let’s face it, was never, she thought of unicorns and other animals that were known for majesty. Elephants. Giraffes. Beautiful, however. 

“Thanks, I did my best to put myself together after work. What’re you getting?” She said rather suddenly, removing her hand and sliding it to her lap. Glancing up at the waitress, she cleared her throat. “I’ll have the buffalo chicken wings with fries, thanks.”

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Harry’s lips pursed as he reluctantly pulled his hand back as well, his body slumping a little into his chair as he sat back. His smile was tight as he regarded the waitress. “I’ll have the pulled pork, tomatoes and no lettuce, please?” He requested politely. Well, that showed him, he thought to himself. She’d probably only brought him out to toy with his mind and he figured he deserved that much. Of course the one girl who’d finally managed to stay on his mind for more than a week turned out to be interested only when it was convenient to her. She probably just didn’t feel like sitting in the house tonight. Still, he kept a cool exterior as he regarded her again, sipping from his glass of water. 

“So is this a place you frequent often? What’s the pulled pork like?” He asked neutrally.

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"It's won awards." She waggled her eyebrows, lying through her teeth. She had no idea. Maybe it had. "Will you share?"

It was odd. She didn't like the overconfident, swarmy attitude, but she didn't like the detached, cold thing he had going on. But she didn't know exactly what she was looking for. To humble him? To shame him? What was she punishing him for? 

"I don't come here very often. Like I said, my favorite food is crepes. I like sweet things. I tend to eat a lot of greens and basics for meals but when it comes down to it, I'm like Elf. Less syrup, though." She took a long draw out of her bottle, gathering all her hair up before dispersing it on the other shoulder.

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“Hmmm…” He tilted his head, glancing around the room. “Probably Del Vecio’s. I was halfway in the mood for alfredo, but eh… There’s always next time,” he said confidently. He leaned forward on his elbows, his grin widening as he took her hand. “I haven’t said this yet, but you look magnificent tonight. Very beautiful,” he complimented truthfully.

[agentadams-blog]

"You could probably get some cheese on the side." Norah helpfully informed him, blinking her eyes and smiling. Act normal, Norah. 

As her hand was caught in his, her eyebrow went up. Whenever she was called magnificent, which let's face it, was never, she thought of unicorns and other animals that were known for majesty. Elephants. Giraffes. Beautiful, however. 

"Thanks, I did my best to put myself together after work. What're you getting?" She said rather suddenly, removing her hand and sliding it to her lap. Glancing up at the waitress, she cleared her throat. "I'll have the buffalo chicken wings with fries, thanks."

[agentadams-blog]

Yes, she was loving this. He looked so out of place. There were plenty of metaphors but her writer Norah was terrible for remembering any good ones. But she had to hand it to him. Even though he stood out, he still looked good. 

Killing a giggle in her throat, Norah nodded seriously. “Me, too. Are you a fan of barbecue? I hope so.” The waitress soon stopped by for the drink order, dropping off handwipes. Norah slid one over to him and ripped one open herself. She daintily dabbed her hands, taking the time to make sure every part of her hands was smeared with alcohol. “I’ll take a Sam Adam, straight, please.” 

She glanced at him, checking to see how the assimilation was going. 

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He watched her closely. Her amusement was hardly contained, but he didn’t feel stupid at all. In fact, he felt triumphant. She was out with him. On a date whether she’d admit it or not. He grinned and ripped open the packet as well. He glanced up at the waiter. 

“I’ll have the same please,” he said with a grin, his eyes staying on her.

[agentadams-blog]

Ew. He didn't look so uncomfortable now. In fact, he looked as if he'd transcended the situation and was watching from an amused sidepoint. That wasn't okay. He was supposed to feel out of his league and be constantly guessing himself. That's why Norah brought him here.

Nonetheless, Norah didn't show her irritation. Instead, she lifted her lips a teasing smirk. "Where would you have brought me?"

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Harry subtly glanced around the place, but kept his face stoic. “Mm..” He followed her to the booth and loosened his tie without thinking about it. He was overdressed and as he narrowed his eyes over the table at her, he immediately realized that that was probably the only reason she’d brought him here. But he wouldn’t let her see him sweat. He grinned at her, loving the show of skin sans jacket. 

“I’m more of a thigh man,” he answered smoothly. “More meat on the bones. And the meat is less dry,” he added. “You?” He was determined to be a perfect gentleman for her. Kill them kindness, said no one ever he thought to himself.

[agentadams-blog]

Yes, she was loving this. He looked so out of place. There were plenty of metaphors but her writer Norah was terrible for remembering any good ones. But she had to hand it to him. Even though he stood out, he still looked good. 

Killing a giggle in her throat, Norah nodded seriously. "Me, too. Are you a fan of barbecue? I hope so." The waitress soon stopped by for the drink order, dropping off handwipes. Norah slid one over to him and ripped one open herself. She daintily dabbed her hands, taking the time to make sure every part of her hands was smeared with alcohol. "I'll take a Sam Adam, straight, please." 

She glanced at him, checking to see how the assimilation was going. 

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She cut her gaze towards him. “I guess I’ll go hang out with the kindergartners. My favorite food is strawberry and chocolate crepes.” Feeling his eyes on her legs, she shifted them but there wasn’t much she could do. She was driving after all. “But, all the crepe stands are closed at this point. We’ll have to make due with this.”

Pulling into the parking lot, she turned off the engine of the car. She sat back in her seat and smiled, an evil smile. “What do you think of Famous Dave’s?”

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“Famous Dave’s?” He raised an eyebrow and looked out the car window, unbuckling his seatbelt. “Meh,” he said coolly. “Better than a crepe stand, at least.” And with that he stepped out of the car, unbuttoning the one button he’d had buttoned on his suit jacket.

[agentadams-blog]

She only smiled in reply. Walking by his side, it occurred to them how hostile they were, always circling each other. Not that she would change it, but how much of a defense she had against him. As if she reckoned him dangerous.

Hardly. 

Once they were inside, she was grateful to shrug off the jacket and slide into the seat. She'd actually never been to Famous Dave's before. Not that she would tell him that. She just really liked the contrast of Harry's aristocratic profile and sneer against the background of a barbecue place. 

Once they were settled, Norah leaned her chin onto her hand and cleared her throat. "So. Are you a thigh or breast man?"

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Harry sighed and got in the car. He should have known she wouldn’t take him at all seriously in his offer to take her to dinner and he was wondering if he had made a mistake in even asking her. But she wasn’t too bad on the eyes at least. He let his eyes rest on her legs for the briefest of seconds before answering her. “Favorites are for children. I’m a college student; I eat just about anything.” He wanted her to know that he wasn’t as sheltered as he liked to act. He used to be best friends with Peter Parker. You didn’t get any more unsheltered than that.

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She cut her gaze towards him. "I guess I'll go hang out with the kindergartners  My favorite food is strawberry and chocolate crepes." Feeling his eyes on her legs, she shifted them but there wasn't much she could do. She was driving after all. "But, all the crepe stands are closed at this point. We'll have to make due with this."

Pulling into the parking lot, she turned off the engine of the car. She sat back in her seat and smiled, an evil smile. "What do you think of Famous Dave's?"

[ciscobarry]

Leighton Meester for Flaunt. (2012)