Archive of Our Own ^beta

Mel closed her umbrella as she stepped inside a bar. It wasn’t her usual style. Technically any bar wasn’t her usual style, she didn’t have a lot of friends who she could go to a bar with, nor a lot of free time. Val had given her a night off, and Mel had decided to try something different.

The bar was dimly lit, and it was truly beautiful. Maybe a bit out of average person’s pay grade, but then again, Mel was Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s personal assistant. Nothing average about that.

She looked around the bar, her gaze stopping when she saw a glimpse of familiar hair. What. The. Fuck.

”Val?” she asked, as she approached the woman.

”What?” Val glanced at her, her fingers playing with an empty glass. Mel raised her eyebrows and slid into the seat next to Val.

”You look pissed. What happened this time?”

”More like what didn’t happen,” Val sighed.

Mel let out a dry chuckle, her fingers tapping once against the table.

”So it’s one of those nights. Let me guess- Bucky refused to play nice, Walker pissed off another ally... or did Yelena finally snap and stab someone?”

Val threw her an amused gaze.

“Something like that.”

Mel tilted her head slightly, the corner of her mouth quirking up.

”Should I start taking bets on which disaster it was? Or do you just need a drink and someone to vent at?”

”You have a free-night, for once. I doubt you want to spend it with your boss,” Val said dryly.

Mel raised an eyebrow, something almost like humor in her eyes.

”Oh, I don’t know. You’re not so bad. When you’re not chewing out people left and right, anyway.”

”You do realize you’re the only one who I allow to talk to me that way?” Val looked at her, and Mel couldn’t place if the expression was annoyance or amusement.

Mel chuckled, a barely-there smile on her face.

”Oh, I’m aware. I take full advantage of that fact, Val.”

”Yes, I’ve noticed.”

Mel leaned back in her seat, arms crossing.

”And yet you haven’t fired me. Almost makes you fond of me.”

”Don’t flatter yourself, I just doubt I could find another assistant as good.”

Mel smirked, her tone dry but playful.

”So you do need me. Should I mark this on my calendar?”

”Sure, if you want to get fired.”

Mel held her hands up, the smirk turning into a wider smile.

”Relax, I was joking. I know my place. What do you suggest?” Mel gestured to the menu.

”What do you like?”

Mel thought for a moment, her eyes roaming the menu.

”Hm... I feel like something sweet. Maybe something fruity, you know, a little fun to lighten the mood.”

Val ordered expensive wine for herself, and a lavender martini for Mel. Mel raised an eyebrow when Val ordered for her, but didn't complain.

When the drinks arrived, she took a sip of the martini, her lips curving up in approval. She watched Val closely, tilting her head.

"I'll admit, lavender isn't exactly what I expected from you. Figured you would've ordered something bitter and strong for me."

”I doubt you like anything bitter and strong.”

Mel chuckled, swirling the martini in her hand before taking another sip.

”No, I tend to prefer things that don’t taste like regret. ”

She smirked at Val over the rim of her glass.

”This is what I get for having an assistant in her thirties, young people can’t appreciate taste.”

Melissa gasped, feigning offense. She put her hand dramatically to her heart.

"First of all, I am barely in my thirties. Second of all, I do appreciate taste, I just appreciate flavor more than bitterness."

“Sometime I will teach you how to drink whiskey. “

Mel groaned, wrinkling her nose.

"Oh, God, no. You might as well try to teach me to drink paint thinner- it would probably taste better."

“Oh, God, yes. I can’t have an assistant who refuses to drink whiskey.”

Mel rolled her eyes, taking another sip of her martini before smirking at Val.

”Fine. But if I ever drink whiskey with you, it’ll be because someone’s holding a gun to my head.”

“Probably me.”

Mel let out a short laugh, shaking her head.

”That sounds exactly like you.”

Mel took another sip of her martini, her eyes studying Val.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you? Tormenting me, ordering me around... You like being in complete control."

”You’ve worked for me for what, years? And you just now figure that one out?”

Mel smirked, holding up her hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, I'm not that oblivious. I've known you're a control freak from day one. I just enjoy calling you out on it."

”I’m not a control freak, I just like to be in control. Control is power.”

Mel rolled her eyes.

"I knew you'd say that. In your book, being in control equals being strong. You have a slight... obsession with dominance and power."

”Everyone does.” Val took a sip of her wine before continuing: “I’m just making it a reality.”

Mel smirked, watching her carefully.

”So that’s your philosophy? ‘I want it, so I take it?’ No hesitation. No remorse.”

She tilted her head slightly, just enough to show she was analyzing Val but not judging.

”You know me well enough to know the answer.”

Mel chuckled, her tone dry as she took another sip of her martini.

"Unfortunately for both of us, yes, I do. You're stubborn, ruthless, and determined as hell. A force of nature in high heels and designer clothes."

”Hmm, maybe I’ll quote that sometime.”

Mel laughed again, a sound half humor and half disbelief

"Are you seriously going to turn one of my comments into some sort of... motivational quote? You're impossible, you know that?"

”And you love it.”

Mel rolled her eyes, the corners of her lip turning up ever so slightly.

"Oh, yeah, I love working for someone who's the human embodiment of a hurricane."

”Hurricanes get shit done.”

"Alright, I'll give you that. You get results. And a wake of destruction and chaos, but results nonetheless."

She took another sip of her martini.

”Thank you, finally some recognition,” Val rolled her eyes.

Mel scoffed, shaking her head.

”Oh please, you don’t need recognition. You know damn well how powerful you are.”

She leaned in slightly, just enough to show she was teasing but also dead serious.

An unknown man walked next to their booth. He stumbled on his own legs before checking them out. He was clearly drunk, but he didn’t seem overly drunk.

“Hi, lady, you’re uhh, you’re quite hot, want to leave with me?” he asked Mel.

Mel’s sharp eyes immediately flicked up to the man, her expression hardening. She took a deep breath, her voice turning into a cool, professional mask. She wasn't a fan of strangers, especially drunk strangers.

"No, thank you."

She hoped that would discourage him, but she didn't hold out much hope of that, drunk people were rarely rational.

“Are ya sure?”

Mel’s smile was polite, but her eyes were cold and unamused.

"I'm very sure."

She tried to return her attention to her drink, hoping the man would get the hint and leave. She glanced at Val, silently asking for backup.

“She’s with me,” Val said smoothly as she placed her hand on Mel’s thigh. “Now, fuck off, or I will make sure you’ll never see daylight again.”

Mel’s eyes widened slightly at the touch, a hint of surprise in them, but she masked it quickly. She didn't pull away from Val’s hand, instead leaning into her slightly, giving the illusion of a couple.

The man, seeing Val’s cold eyes and her hand on Mel’s thigh, backed off, mumbling something about 'crazy women' before stumbling away.

Val glanced at Mel, as if asking if she was alright.

Mel met her gaze, her expression softening just slightly. She gave a small nod.

"I'm fine."

Then, because she couldn't resist pushing back: "...but you didn’t have to be that aggressive."

Val tightened her grip on Mel’s thigh momentarily, before she pulled away. “I did, otherwise they’ll never learn.”

Mel’s breath hitched slightly at the grip, but she hid her reaction quickly.

"You have a point... but you sounded like you were about to threaten to kill the guy."

There was a hint of dry humor in her tone, a silent tease Val could probably hear.

“Oh I was.”

Melissa sighed, shaking her head.

"Of course you were."

She took another sip of her martini, watching the man leave before turning back to Val with a smirk.

"You know... that was almost sweet. In your own terrifying way."

“Well good to know you appreciate it, dear.”

Melissa scoffed, rolling her eyes, but the corner of her mouth quirked up just slightly.

"Don't push it."

She took another sip of her drink, then added dryly: “...but thanks for having my back."

“You’re welcome.”

Mel was quiet for a moment, swirling the drink in her hand. She could feel the warmth of Val’s hand still lingering on her thigh, her body still acutely aware of her touch. She was used to Val’s possessive and authoritative tendencies, but they still caught her off guard at times. The way she had casually claimed Mel, her hand on her thigh... all to scare off a stranger. Mel found it both irritating and oddly reassuring. She took another sip of her drink, trying to push away the thought of Val taking control in other ways.

But the image popped into her head anyway: the feel of Val’s hands on her, her back against the wall… Mel shook her head slightly, trying to push the thought away. She was never supposed to think about Val like that. It was inappropriate, unprofessional. But damn, she couldn't help it. There was something about Val that made her lose her normal composure.

The way Val spoke, the way she carried herself, the way she possessed. Mel had to admit, it was damn sexy.

She took a final sip from her drink, her face maintaining its facade, but her mind was starting to wander to inappropriate places. Mel was supposed to be professional. She was Val’s assistant, for god's sake. But the way Val said ‘dear’, the way she had called Mel hers so easily in front of a stranger. Mel could feel heat rising in her cheeks, and it had nothing to do with the alcohol. She took a deep breath, trying to snap herself out of the thoughts that were running through her head. But it was no use. The images of Val’s hands on her skin, her voice whispering in her ear... it was too much.

“Want another drink?”

Mel was yanked out of her thoughts by Val’s question. She blinked, realizing she had been zoning out slightly.

"Hmm?"

She looked at Val, her mind still on the fantasies she had just been having, her body still remembering the feel of Val’s touch.

Mel shook her head slightly, trying to regain her composure.

"Yes, please. Another martini."

“And you’re sure you don’t want whiskey?” Val teased.

Melissa rolled her eyes, the ghost of a smirk on her face.

"Oh, you are not going to let that go, are you?"

It was all teasing banter, the kind of flirty, playful back-and-forth that was a normal part of their interactions. Mel leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs.

“Absolutely not,” Val said before ordering Mel the same drink - lavender martini - and whiskey for herself.

“But I will make you taste it.”

Mel’s breath caught in her throat at Val’s words. She had to swallow hard, trying to hide the effect they were having on her.

"Oh? Is that a promise?"

Her voice was smooth, but there was no hiding the slight tremor of anticipation underneath it.

“Threat.”

Mel raised an eyebrow, her heart suddenly racing. The way Val said that, her tone dark and promising... it made her body react in ways that were entirely inappropriate considering the situation. She tried to play it cool, lifting her chin slightly in a challenge.

"I'd like to see you try."

Val placed her whiskey in front of Mel with a smirk.

”I dare you.”

Mel’s eyes widened slightly. She knew Val was daring her, no, taunting her. She wanted Mel to take a sip, to give in to her demand. Mel looked at the glass, then at Val, her mind warring between her stubbornness and her growing arousal.

The room suddenly felt much hotter, Val’s gaze burning through her.

“If you can manage to drink it without making a face, I’ll give you a raise.”

Mel’s eyes flicked to the glass, then back up to Val’s face.

A raise. Val was bribing her into drinking whiskey. Mel would have found the situation ludicrous if the intensity of Val’s gaze wasn't making her dizzy. She took a deep breath, mentally cursing herself for even considering this.

"And if I do make a face?"

“You owe me.”

Mel hesitated for a moment, her mind working through the implications. Part of her wanted to refuse. ’Don't take the bait.’ but the other part, the part that was growing hotter and more impatient with every word from Val’s mouth, throbbed with anticipation.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden rapid beat of her heart.

"Deal."

Mel picked up the glass, her fingers curling around it tightly as she took a deep breath. She stared into the amber liquid, steeling herself.

"Fuck it."

In one swift motion, before she could overthink, she tipped her head back and took a large sip.

At the same time, Val placed her hand - again - on Mel’s thigh, this time more higher than last time.

Mel immediately choked on the whiskey, her entire body tensing as Val’s hand made contact with her thigh. Her eyes watered slightly from both the burn of the alcohol and, more notably, the sudden heat flooding through her veins at Val’s touch.

She coughed once before fixing Val with a glare that was undercut by how flushed she had become.

"You absolute bastard."

“It seems you owe me,” Val smirked as she pulled her hand away.

Mel scoffed, swiping the back of her hand across her mouth as she shot Val a glare.

"Oh, fuck off. I didn't-"

She paused when she met Val’s gaze. Her body immediately missed the contact, something that pissed her off more than anything else.

“Yes?”

Mel scowled, trying to maintain her cool, unperturbed demeanor, but it was getting increasingly hard around Val. Her touch had thrown Mel off, her body still tingled at the memory of Val’s possessive grip.

Mel’s mind was filled with images of Val grabbing her, pushing her, pulling her, pinning her against the wall. She clenched her jaw, trying to ignore her thoughts.

Mel was too close to snapping.

She could feel the heat of Val’s gaze, and it made her want to crawl out of her own skin, or maybe just drag Val into a back room and see how far this little game could go.

But she wouldn’t. She couldn't.

Because as much as she wanted to act on every filthy thought running through her head, she had self-control (barely). So instead, Mel rolled her eyes at Val again, but this time with an added layer of frustration laced beneath them.

"Don't push it."

“And what would happen if I would?”

Mel’s lips parted slightly, her breath hitching as she met Val’s gaze. Mel knew exactly what she was doing, testing her patience, pushing the limits of that professionalism she was clinging to by a thread. Mel’s mind flashed with images again: her pinned beneath Val, her hands on her hips, that whiskey finally being tasted properly.

But then reality crashed back in.

She swallowed hard and forced out a scoff, though it lacked its usual bite.

"You wouldn't like the answer."

“Try me.”

Mel’s entire body went still for a second, like she was genuinely weighing the consequences of what came next. Then, in one swift motion, she grabbed Val’s wrist and yanked her closer until their faces were mere inches apart.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, low enough that no one else could hear it over the bar noise.

”Fine. You want me to try? Then stop fucking around with whiskey bets and just tell me what you actually want."

There was fire behind her words now, no teasing left in them at all. Just raw challenge.

Mel wasn’t bluffing anymore either, every muscle in her frame was coiled tight like she'd snap if this tension between them didn't break soon... one way or another.

Val blinked, and Mel could’ve sworn she saw a flash of surprise in there, before she schooled her features.

“You. I want you.”

Mel’s heart skipped another beat as Val’s words echoed in her ears. She'd imagined Val saying that to her a thousand times, in every sort of inappropriate situation imaginable. But nothing could've prepared her for the way her entire body reacted to hearing those words come out of Val’s mouth.

She should've pulled away, or laughed at Val, or said something sarcastic.

But instead, she found herself whispering back.

"...then take me."

Val crashed their lips together, and Mel immediately melted into the kiss, her hands gripping Val’s coat as she pulled her closer.

The bar, the whiskey, everything else faded away until it was just Val and her in that moment. Mel didn't care if people were watching anymore, didn’t care about professionalism or consequences. All she knew was how good it felt to finally give in, to stop pretending that this thing between them wasn't inevitable from day one.

And when Val’s tongue traced along hers?
Her whole body shivered with need.

Mel pulled back just enough to break the kiss, her breathing ragged as she met Val’s gaze with a mix of challenge and surrender. Her fingers curled into Val’s collar, possessive, desperate, as if daring Val to stop now after everything.

"Now what?"

”What do you want?” Val asked.

Mel’s eyes darkened with a mixture of arousal and defiance. She hated how easily Val could undo her. How one look from her was enough to make her forget everything else, her job, her dignity, all of it.

She held onto Val tighter and tilted her chin up in that familiar act of challenge.

"I want you to take me somewhere more private. Now.”

”Well, that can be arranged.”