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Hope was sitting inside their Avengers Tower penthouse apartment on the area rug with her feet under the coffee table, her back against their yellow sofa (which they moved into their new home from her old place), and her black rimmed reading glasses on. She had a PDF of the Agents handbook up on her laptop screen, a copy of The Art of Subterfuge open on the table, and a S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons catalogue splayed out next to her on the floor. In hand she had a practice test that she'd written the day before; she was currently going over all her wrong answers.
Their elevator door opened behind her. She didn't have to turn around to know it was Maria who'd gotten off of it, having the sound of her walk committed to memory.
"Yes, it'll be ready by the end of the week." Maria said, Hope realising that she was on the phone.
Her wife pulled her out of her studies as she listened to her dropping off her stuff on top of the desk near the lift.
"No, sir, it won't be a problem."
It was Fury she was talking to.
She then walked over to the kitchen when Hope couldn't help but look over to her. She knew that Maria was looking to see if she'd made anything for supper.
"Understood," Maria said before hanging up and putting her phone down on the counter.
Before she looked up, Hope snapped her head back and shoved her nose back into her papers.
"I saw that!" Maria called out to her. "You're avoiding me while I'm in here, which can only mean one thing."
Hope heard the fridge door open.
"There's no food." It sounded like she was speaking with her head inside of the appliance.
Hope smirked, not lifting her eyes off the page. "There's food, just none I've prepared."
"Which is no food worth eating," Maria groaned while shutting the fridge door.
She knew they had ingredients for Hope's famous vegetarian lasagne and was hoping to come home to a freshly baked dish of it.
Hope chuckled, elated by how much Maria had grown to love and depend on her cooking. She was slowly bringing up her food standards.
"I've been too busy studying here to make anything."
Maria walked over to the back of the couch, swinging her leg over the backrest to climb over and up onto the spot right behind Hope.
Soon Hope felt arms wrapping around her shoulders as Maria's cheek pushed up against her own.
"You don't need to study this hard for the agent's exam, you've been at this for days now." Maria moved to kiss her cheek, loving her focused and studious wife. "You're already gonna ace this thing."
"I am gonna ace this thing, but it's gonna be because I studied this hard." Hope turned her head to look at her. "Not all of us have a photographic memory who can read a thing once and retain it forever."
"Well I'll give you mine, then you can make dinner for me and your mom."
"My mom?"
"Yeah, she's stopping by. She said she has something for us."
"She never told me she's coming over."
"No, she told me – her favourite." Maria flashed her a smile.
Hope chose to ignore her comment as she asked, "And she's staying for dinner?"
"If I say yes, will you make food?"
"Maria." She dropped her head to her shoulder, giving her an exasperated look, wanting a straight answer.
"No, she said she'll be in and out."
"You're such a brat sometimes."
Maria innocently smiled at her before looking down to her study material. "Want me to test you?"
Wordlessly, Hope handed her practise questions to her.
Maria took it before laying down on the sofa with an arm bent under her head as the other held the stapled booklet above her face. "Okay, first question. It's a logic based one."
"Could you maybe skip those and ask me some procedural ones?"
She'd scored pretty well on the section that was essentially a compilation of S.A.T. questions. She'd had a lot of experience with those during her academic career.
"Procedural?" Maria flipped through the papers, stopping on the third one in. "Can do." She skimmed over the page before reading, "Okay, who do you submit an incident report to?"
"My direct superior," Hope answered without hesitation.
"And?"
"And? There's an and?"
"There should be an and." Maria turned to the last page which held the answer key. "What the— it's not mentioned here." She flipped to the front page, then to the back again, looking for a name. "Who wrote this thing?" She was instantly angered to learn that this particular procedure wasn't being taught correctly.
"Okay, but did I get it right, according to the answers?"
Hope was far too concerned about her test score to pay much heed to Maria's frustration.
"Yes, but you should also be submitting a copy to me."
"You?"
"Yeah, so I can keep my senior agents accountable."
"Isn't that kinda below your pay grade?"
Maria looked directly at her. "Do you know how easy it is for a C.O. to take advantage of those under their command? I'm not having any of that in my ranks. And I'll personally see to it."
Hope couldn't help but ask. "Because of what happened to you in the military?"
Maria turned her head to look upwards and blankly stared at the booklet. She slid her jaw to the side. "Tasha?" she coolly asked.
"Yeah."
Maria was quiet, unnervingly so. Hope hated when she got like that. She could never read what she was thinking.
"She didn't want to tell me," Hope nervously informed her, speculating that she was bothered by her friend sharing that with her. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
"It's fine," Maria calmly said. "Next question." She focused on the words written on the page. "What does the—"
"She said you fended him off," Hope couldn't help but stop her from proceeding. She just needed to know that Maria was okay and she wasn’t being unhealthful, shoving down any unresolved trauma.
"Sure," Maria softly mumbled, like what Hope had said wasn't quite accurate.
Hope was now confused. "Sure?"
"Yeah, no, I did." She gulped as her eyes went glossy. "But not before…" She shook her head as her sentence peedered off.
Hope's chest tightened. Maria punched him, there shouldn't be a 'before'. She was a badass that didn't let anyone touch her without consent.
"Before what?" Hope asked with a shaky voice as she turned her body around to properly face her.
Maria had a perfect memory, but not of that day, she didn't. It was a blur, and yet, she could remember the feeling of being pushed down, face first, onto the desk and her shirt being yanked up her back. She felt him against her bare skin. He'd pulled it out. But before he could rip her pants down she'd gotten out of his hold and struck him.
"No, nothing. Like I said, It's fine. I got out from under him." She turned the page of her booklet like she was trying to act nonchalantly. "It's hard to hold someone down when you're trying to pull their clothes off." She flipped back to the previous page. "Anyway, what does the code 10-12 mean?"
Hope took off her reading glasses, throwing them atop the coffee table, and slowly climbed up onto the sofa, laying on her side as she snuggled into her wife. It was clear that Maria didn't want to talk about it, but that wasn't going to stop her from supporting her.
"Stand by," Hope answered as she wrapped her arm around Maria's body.
"And code 10-23?" Maria turned her head to look at her.
"Ah."
Hope knit her brows together while presenting an adorable crinkle in her forehead before closing her eyes.
"I know this." Hope searched her memory. "Arrived on scene?" She opened her eyes again.
"Correct."
Maria tossed the practice test on the floor before turning on the spot to wrap an arm around Hope.
"What about 10-33?" She decided to ask code questions without the assistance of the study material.
"Need immediate assistance."
"10-0?"
Hope slid her hand to Maria's cheek. "Use caution." She kissed her on the forehead, understanding that Maria was asking her to keep her cool. "You want me to make you something to eat?" She pulled her head back as she asked with the desire to show her love through the act of feeding her.
"No, it's okay. I'm fine." Maria moved her hand to gently swipe her thumb back and forth across Hope's beautiful mouth. "I promise."
Hope studied her as Maria softly smiled. It was genuine, Hope could always tell her real smiles from her fake ones. Maria could never pull off a phoney expression, her eyes always gave her away.
Hope smirked. "10-4."
Maria chuckled at her use of the code which meant, 'message received'. "You're gonna nail this exam."
"I don't want to nail it, I want to obliterate it and beat your score."
"Mine?" Maria asked with intrigue as she removed her hand from Hope's face.
"Yes. I need to beat Sharon's too, but you scored higher than her so, two birds, one stone, I beat both of you."
"Huh." Maria said in intrigue. "So, I did do better than her then?" She'd always suspected that she might have. "Not that I even know what I got on that thing. I was shipped out before our grades were posted, all I knew was I passed."
Hope gawked at her. How could she be married to someone who didn't care about their marks? Maria was inhuman, not needing validation for stuff like that. Whereas – on the contrary – Hope was one who checked her grades as soon as they were posted – always.
"But how do you know my exam score?" Maria knew Sharon wouldn't have told her.
"I don't. I just know Sharon was acting really weird when I asked about it."
"She didn't rub it in your face that she scored higher than me?"
Hope giggled as she nodded. "Exactly."
Suddenly, their elevator door chimed before opening. They both popped their heads over the backrest of the sofa to see Janet walking in with her purse over her shoulder.
"Sorry, was I interrupting something?" Janet pointed at them sprawled out on the sofa with Hope practically on top of Maria.
"Yes." Hope got up from off the couch to stand. "I was just about to yell at Maria to check her personal records at S.H.I.E.L.D., and see what she scored on the agent's exam." Hope made her way over to her mother, giving her a hug. "Can you believe she's never bothered to check her grade?"
"Why does it matter?" Maria remained sitting as she placed her arms on the top of the sofa's backrest. "I passed. I'm an agent. The purpose of the test was fulfilled."
Janet smiled. "Oh, Maria," she fondly said, "you remind me so much of Peggy Carter sometimes."
"I do?"
"Yes, she too never measured her self worth by empty metrics. Her validation came from the results of her actions."
Hope said in offence, "Hey, my goal of destroying Maria's test score isn't an empty metric. On the contrary, the metric is so full it's holding multiple kilolitres in measurement."
Maria smirked at her. "Okay, that was a pretty solid pun – and about the metric system of all things.
"Thank you." Hope broadly smiled at her.
Janet ignored her daughter's need to make everything into a competition as she placed her purse on a kitchen chair.
"So, what did you bring us?" Hope couldn't help but ask her mother. She loved gifts.
"Okay, well, technically, it's for Maria."
Hope crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, I see how it is." She quirked a brow, looking between the two of them.
"Yeah, I already told you I'm her favourite." Maria flashed her a shit-eating grin.
"Oh you two." Janet shook her head at them. "And besides, Hope, I got something for her that will benefit you too, along with the rest of us." She dug into her purse, pulling out a small wooden containment, about the size of a watch box.
Janet looked over to Maria. "Come, come." She waved her over. "I want you standing for this."
Maria cocked her head to the side in intrigue as she got up and went over to her. Janet passed her the box.
Maria examined it. It had some sort of African letters which were wood burned into the lid. She was almost positive it was from Wakanda.
"Go ahead, open it," Janet encouraged her.
Maria flipped open the hinged lid to find a simple silver cuff bracelet. She picked it up, examining it. It was a thin band, about a centimetre wide, with a gold strip down the centre of it.
It was a nice item, but she didn't understand why she was being given it. Maria barely wore jewellery, so it seemed like an odd gift. And – for the life of her – she had no idea how it benefited Hope.
"Ah, thank y–"
"Put it on and turn the gold band in the centre."
"What?"
Janet gestured with her head for her to put it on. Maria complied. She then reached out to Maria's wrist and showed her what she was doing as she turned the interlocking piece.
Suddenly, a ripple effect emanated out of the band, running over Maria's body. It was startling. It felt similar to fabric swiping over your body when you pass through the opening of a heavy curtain.
Before Hope's eyes, Maria's grey pants and black t-shirt were transformed into an armoured suit. It was a similar style to Maria's blue, jumpsuit uniform, but darker, like a gunmetal blue – almost grey.
Her S.H.I.E.L.D. arm patch was an ashy, dark grey (almost black) along with the sharp embellishments that gave the garment more form.
"That's vibranium technology," Hope gawked.
"It is." Janet beamed with pride. "Bulletproof, durable in high impact situations – and most importantly – immune to arrow punctures."
Maria looked at Janet with wide eyes. "You got me a Black Panther suit?"
She nodded. "Shuri and I made it for you. I designed it, she engineered it." Janet walked around Maria, eyeing the garment. "It looks good on you, just like I thought it would."
"And T'Challa knows you two did this?" Maria couldn't believe that she was allowed to have such an advanced piece of technology, especially not one which shared the same qualities as the one worn by the king of Wakanda.
"Of course. It's a wedding gift from the crown."
Maria felt the tips of her ears go warm in a blush. She'd never been given such a prestigious gift before. She had an Avengers level suit. One that protected her like Hope's unstoppable molecules suit, or Tony's titanium one.
Hope lifted a brow. "I think it's time we test this thing out."
Maria looked at her mischievous smirk, knowing she probably wasn't serious but decided to play chicken with her. "Fine. Go get your gun," she coolly agreed.
"No, you will not, 'go get your gun'." Janet glared at her daughter. "Just because it can stop bullets doesn't mean you should intentionally shoot Maria in it."
They both chuckled at her reaction, dropping their silly game.
"Now, Maria, go check yourself out." Janet pushed her in front of the mirror which was hanging in their entry way.
Hope watched her study her reflection. She looked amazing, specifically – she looked hot. Hope had always appreciated Maria in her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform, but this one took the cake. It hugged every inch of her tall, slim body – and, god, her ass looked good in it.
"I like it." Maria slid her hand over her collar, realising it was without closures such as a zipper or buttons. It was odd to see, but still very neat.
Hope couldn't help but walk over to her, gliding her hand over the material of her sleeves, curious of its texture. It almost felt like a speaker grille or something of that nature.
Hope looked at Maria in the mirror. "Is it comfortable?"
Maria swung her arms a bit. "Very." She then looked over to Janet, "But why don't I feel or see my clothes underneath here?"
"Because they're not underneath there, that material temporarily absorbs them."
Hope grinned, finding that information very interesting. "You're naked under there."
Maria gave Hope an odd look. "Most people are naked under their clothes."
Hope crossed her arms over her chest. "Not what I meant." She stuck her tongue out at Maria before curiously looking over at her mom and asked, "What happens if I shoot her with my stingers?"
Janet's face lit up. "Okay, that one I'll let you try."
Hope's interest was instantly piqued, that look her mother gave her meant there was something unique about the relationship between the suit and a particle blaster.
She rushed over to the bedroom, grabbing both her stunner and her size manipulator before hurrying back to them.
Maria turned to face her, flashing her palms up beside her to make herself wide. "Hit me."
Hope made sure to put her stunner on its lowest setting. Despite them joking about shooting Maria with her gun, she wouldn't have actually pulled the trigger. She didn't care how certain she was that it wouldn't hurt her. But her stingers weren't deadly unless she turned up the power.
Hope raised her weapon. "Ready?"
"Yeah, go for it.” Maria tensed up, slightly nervous but refusing to show it.
Hope activated her stinger as a particle blast shot out and hit Maria square in the chest – the woman didn't even flinch from its contact.
"I didn't feel a thing."
Hope was intrigued just as much as she was determined. She wanted to see its capabilities. "I'm dialling it up." She adjusted the power on her stinger to half its potential.
She lifted her arm when Maria nodded for her to fire on her. When she did, it was the same result.
"Okay, I'm trying the other one."
Hope didn't wait for permission as she shot Maria with her size manipulator, attempting to shrink her, but it didn't work.
"No way," Hope gasped.
Janet smiled. "Yes, way."
"Ha, ha!" Maria cheered, "I'm finally immune to your shrinking powers."
Hope couldn't help but chuckle, Maria still didn't like being miniaturised. There was something about it that made her feel uncomfortable, and it seemed beyond the fact that bugs were bigger than her in that state – which was something she audibly detested.
Maria looked down to her new attire, running her hand over the material across her torso. "I'm wearing this every time I see you in your Wasp suit from now on. Gotta protect myself."
"I'll just shoot you in the head then," Hope taunted her.
"Oh!" Janet thrust her finger up in the air. "Speaking of that." She turned to Maria. "Put your hand around your bracelet."
Maria did as instructed.
"Now squeeze it."
Maria clamped her hand around it, holding it for a second before a mass suddenly appeared around her head and she was looking through some sort of barrier. The action made her jump.
Hope was pleasantly surprised to see that her suit had a helmet. It didn't look metal, but like it was the same type of material as the rest of the garment, just thicker. But what really caught her interest was that it resembled her Wasp helmet, minus the antennas at the sides, and it was in a different colour. Maria's was in the same gunmetal hue as the rest of her armour, and the fabric over her eyes – which mimicked Hope's glass visor – was black.
"You made her helmet look like mine."
"And mine!" Janet took offence. She had a Wasp suit well before Hope ever had one. "Maria has to fit in with the family."
Maria walked back to the mirror, looking over the newly presented accessory. It did look a lot like their Wasp helmets. Actually, it looked like her whole outfit was a marriage of their Wasp suits and her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform. She absolutely loved it.
Looking back down to her wrist, she squeezed her bracelet again which made the helmet retract onto itself, disappearing into the suit.
Maria's hair tousled in the wind from the action as she turned to set her gaze on Hope with a confident smirk on her face. It wasn't fair, she looked so damn gorgeous, she needed to see if the suit was tear proof because she was ready to rip it off and ravish her – but not before checking out what kind of friction she could get from its porous material.
"How do you clean the suit?" Hope was now desperate to know what she could get away with.
Maria noticed Hope's half hooded eyes, her slightly cocked head, and the way she was biting her lip – she knew what state she was in and it pleased her immensely to find her in it.
"Oh, good question," Janet innocently said, not noticing her daughter's hungry eyes or the motive behind her question, "you really shouldn't have to. The material destroys compounds like sweat, blood, and dirt when it retracts back into the bracelet."
"Perfect." Hope smiled at Maria before innocently looking over to her mom. "So, Maria said you couldn't stay long?"
"Yes, I'm having dinner with Tony and Pepper just downstairs." She referenced the couple's apartment that was literally below their feet.
Maria couldn't help but taunt Hope as she said, "But you have time to have some pre-meal drinks with us, right?"
Hope shot Maria a glare as she said, "I'm sure she wants to spend more time with them and have drinks there. They've also got Morgan's ultrasound to show her."
"Oh yes," Janet said excitedly, "Tony told me they'd gone to the doctor's yesterday."
Maria smirked at Hope before she looked down to her wrist. "So how do I deactivate this?" She twisted the gold part on her band which detracted the suit back into the bracelet. "Never mind." She smiled at Janet as she stood there with her normal clothes on. "Thank you so much for my gift." She went over to hug her.
"Oh, you're so welcome, Pumpkin." She squeezed her tight. "I just want to keep you safe."
As soon as they pulled back from one another, Hope's arms were stretching towards Janet. "Thanks for stopping by to give this to Maria." She hugged her. "And I hope you have a good time with Tony and Pepper." She pulled back from her.
"I'm sure I will." She smiled before grabbing up her purse to leave.
Once the elevator door opened and she got in, Hope waved at her. "Bye."
"Bye." Janet said just before the door shut.
Maria still wasn't through with bugging Hope as she decided to slip her bracelet off.
"What are you doing?" Hope gawked. "Put that back on."
"I don't need it right now, there's no–“ Hope lunged at her. “Hey!"
Hope grabbed her wrist as Maria held her bracelet high up in the air, away from the shorter woman.
"You better put it back on," Hope went onto her tippy toes as Maria raised her arm higher up.
"Don't worry yourself about me, you have studying to do, remember?" Maria said through a struggle as she was having issues keeping her arm up while Hope was pulling down on it. She was so strong and had gravity on her side.
Hope managed to jump and grab the band with her other hand. "Got it!"
Maria gave in as she allowed Hope to take her hand and push it back onto her wrist before activating it – her suit now back on.
"Now you come with me." Hope grinned with excitement as she pushed Maria over and down onto the single seater sofa chair.
Hope straddled her lap as Maria couldn't help but pull her in close.
"You're so demanding," Maria barely got out before Hope claimed her mouth in a hot, passionate kiss.
Eventually, they broke away for air, giving Hope the opportunity to lightly pant into Maria's mouth and say, "Let's see what this suit is capable of, shall we?"
"God, yes." Maria pushed her mouth back to Hope's, ready to take her new tech for a test drive.