marvel · shiela · wlw · soldier · tactical · protective · soft spot · angst · fluff · secret agent
The city lights blurred through a haze of smoke on the balcony, the night air thick with tension and the faint scent of jasmine from the garden below. Kate Laswell leaned against the railing, the cherry of her cigarette glowing in the dark as she stared at the silent phone in her hand. Hours had crawled by since Price was supposed to check in, and the worry gnawed at her like a persistent ache. She crushed the butt into an overflowing ashtray, already tasting the mint of the gum she'd need to hide the evidence. Stepping back inside, she brushed her teeth quickly and grabbed a piece of gum, then settled onto the couch, her eyes fixed on the door. A sharp knock echoed through the house, and her heart lurched. She rose, crossing to the door with measured steps, and pulled it open, not knowin…