Taking a deep breath, Val knocks rapidly on the door she was told she would find @MACHlNATOR behind, her ICER in her back.
This wasn’t exactly how she wanted to spend her birthday, but it had to be done, and she wasn’t one to waste time or put things off.
@MACHlNATOR + time.
She doubted /he/ would see it that way, though, and at his question, the ginger dug into her bag in order to pull the ICER out, handing it over as the doors shut behind them.
"There was no physical damage to the weapon as far as I could +
@MACHlNATOR + the weapon out of her bag to hand over towards him, but didn’t meet his gaze again.
Not yet.
“The enemy was too close to fire, so I sort of . . . smacked him in the side of the head with it. I don’t think I hit him /that/ hard. Not until he dropped at least.”
@MACHlNATOR Following after him, the redhead attempted to keep her composure. Really, Bucky had already told her not to use her ICER as a blunt-weapon, but it was what had happened, and clearly something Fitz had already figured out.
“I, um . . . “ Clearing her throat, she pulled +
@MACHlNATOR The male’s hand didn’t bother her in the slightest, her own only smooth due to the monthly-manicures she was practically forced to go to with Wanda.
His question, however, did.
“That’s . . . complicated. It won’t fire at the correct strength anymore after my last +
@MACHlNATOR + Leo Fitz, right?”
A hand shot forward slowly, intending for a firm handshake.
“Valentina Barnes. I was told to come to you for any problems with my ICER, and as it turns out, I have a problem with that damn piece of machinery.”
@MACHlNATOR Taking note of the surprise on his face, she offers a small smile, his question causing her to clear her throat.
She may be an Avenger, and she may be the one who takes the press for Bucky, but that doesn’t make any one-on-one conversation any easier.
“Hopefully. You’re +
Yet another thing Val is thankful for.
“Bucky’s my everything. I wouldn’t be here without him.” Mostly because The Soldier personality would have murdered her...
“It’s fine, really~. I was just heading home. I have time.”
The shift in the other's tone doesn't go unnoticed, but Daisy doesn't comment on it either.
〝 It's good you have him, then. . and— oh, uh. . I'm sorry for asking questions! I just get curious, is all. 〞
She won’t voice it, but Valentina is VERY grateful for that.
And suddenly, her voice turns slightly cold, but not /at/ Daisy.
“I used to have horrible paranoia about it. My husband was the only one who could calm me down when I would start to panic.”
Daisy is a fangirl, but not THAT much of a fangirl. Besides, she was beginning to know all too well what it was like.
〝 I wouldn't know, really, 〞she hums, arms lightly folding. 〝 Does it ever intimidate you? Knowing your name is out there? 〞
Well . . . at least this one let her hand go, and isn’t literally screaming.
“You’d think it would get easier with time, but it really doesn’t.” Sipping her coffee, Val shook her head slightly.
“But it’s not /all/ horrible, at least.”
〝 I /do/ know you! 〞
There's a light bounce as she releases the other's hands —— despite it all, it seems she's managed to keep aliver her inner fangirl.
〝 Sorry, it's probably weird, huh? Being recognized and all that jazz. 〞
As she shook her hand, the undeniable flash of recognition appeared in her eyes, and a low sigh was quick to follow barely beneath her breath.
She missed the quiet days.
“Valentina Barnes, though you might know me as Sergeant Star.”
She /still/ hates that name.
〝 Daisy Simmons-Johnson. 〞
Her hand extends to shake the others, though a fleeting hint of recognition flashes behind umber irises.
〝 Hold on —— /who/?〞