Grant Ward grumbled as he stepped into the elevator, pushing the button for the penthouse. He had no idea why he got punished with this assignment, but he was determined to at least do an efficient job.
"Walking up to the penthouse now, Coulson," Grant said into his earpiece. "Tell me again why S.H.I.E.L.D. chose me to act as a glorified dog catcher?" Grant had always prided himself on his willingness to do any job, and do it well, but being assigned to apprehend a single escaped inmate seemed rather beneath him.
"Well, Stark didn't answer the phone when he tried calling him first," came Coulson's lighthearted sarcastic reply. "But don't kid yourself, Felicity Hopkins isn't some misguided kid who got caught with the wrong crowd. She's dangerous, Grant, and she has supernatural abilities."
Grant was lucky Coulson couldn't see his eye roll. "Come on, sir. I get that she tried to off her husband, but she's hardly the first young gold digger to attempt to kill her rich husband. And don't give me that 'hypnosis' garbage. If that's a superpower, we should be recruiting Penn and Teller for the Avengers next."
"Grant, she convinced billionaire Harold Cross to leave his wife of forty years for her. A week after marrying her, he tries to jump to his death from the top of his penthouse. Someone grabs him before he jumps, then that good Samaritan is found being drawn to a boat Felicity obtained by suspicious circumstances. All these people said they did these things after hearing Felicity sing to them. Agent Ward, don't take this assignment for granted. She'll give you trouble."
Grant had to suppress a groan when he saw how many floors he still had to go. "Please, in her file it said that before all that she worked as a babysitter. I'm not saying she isn't dangerous to weak-willed men, but after everything with Loki and the Mind Stone, I hardly think an impulsive babysitter is gonna put up a fight. Ten bucks says as soon as I flash my badge and show her I mean business, she breaks and just comes in voluntarily."
As the elevator finally stopped at the top floor and the door opened Grant stepped into the brightly lit hall, admiring the ornate woodwork and expensive paintings along the wall.
It had taken S.H.I.E.L.D. no time at all to link a series of bizarre heists at various clothing stores, jewelry departments, and every lead led back to this million dollar penthouse.
From inside the single door at the end of the hallway, loud techno music boomed, shaking the walls with every loud bass beat and reverberating through Grant's stomach. "Makes her guard unlock her cell and then kill himself, but then goes on a huge shopping spree, then comes back here with no attempt at subtlety or hiding." Grant thought to himself. "Dangerous maybe, but an amateur criminal at best."
He gave three hard knocks on the wooden door, and after a moment of hearing nothing but the uninterrupted beat of the music, gave another three hard pounds. After a moment, the music was turned down, and once the ringing faded from Grant's ears, he knocked again, not as hard, but much more audibly now.
"Just a moment," came an annoyed voice from inside. A young woman, from the sounds of it. Grant heard some shuffling from inside, then a click as the door was unlocked. The young woman who answered the door hardly looked like a fugitive on the run, Grant had to give her props for her confidence.
She had bright red hair, cut in a short pixie style. She had a sweet, innocent looking face, rose-red cheeks against otherwise ivory skin, a small button nose that complimented her full red lips. Large, round glasses covered her large gray eyes. She undoubtedly very naturally beautiful, and her make up accentuated that beauty. high quality makeup covered her smooth, soft skin, and she wore an exquisite green silk dress from some high-end Italian designer. Green, teardrop-shaped earrings hung from her ears. "Hollywood starlets on the red carpet don't look this good," Grant couldn't help but think to himself. Her mugshot didn't do her justice.
Hoping his attraction didn't show, he gave a slight cough to compose himself and put on a authoritative air. "Hello ma'am. My name is Grant Ward, I'm with S.H.I.E.L.D., I'm here to take you back into custody." Grant showed her his badge and prepared himself for a fight, or at least a chase, but to his surprise Felicity gave him a wide, friendly smile and opened the door up further.
"Sure, not a problem, come on in!" she stated, as care free as if he had just come from next door to borrow a cup of sugar. She opening the door and turned back inside.
Grant, taken off guard by her cavalier attitude, took a few steps inside, unsure of what to say. He was even more surprised when he got a good look at the state of the apartment, however.
This was one of the most expensive penthouses in the city, with ornate woodwork painted gold, high-end modern furniture, and a view overlooking the skyline, but the place looked like a frat party had taken place over the last week. Trash was everywhere, plates of half-eaten food, countless empty bottles of wine and champagne, and clothes strewn all over.
"I've just been trying on some new clothes my boyfriend bought, whaddya think?" she asked playfully, giving him a quick twirl in her dress. Grant couldn't deny that the slim dress fitted her perfectly, and he had to admit to himself he was attracted to the young, innocent looking girl. But he wasn't stupid enough to ignore what he read about in her file.
Brushing aside his natural male urges, Grant displayed none of his secret desires. "Ms. Hopkins, we both know the owner of this penthouse jumped to his death several days ago. I doubt he'd appreciate you using his cards after his death." Grant pulled out his handcuffs and motioned for Felicity to come towards him.
Even with the handcuffs out, Felicity's demeanor didn't change. She gave a slight giggle at the sight of them, but stopped trying to show off her figure.
"Kinky," she said alluringly. She scanned Grant up and down, looking at him closely for the first time. After a moment, she just smiled and shrugged. "OK, lemme just get changed. Don't wanna go back to jail wearing a ten thousand dollar dress."
She walked into the back bedroom, and started to hum a melody. Grant sighed and checked his watch, anxious to just get this over with.
As he was waiting, Coulson's voice rang out again in his ear. "Agent Ward, if she starts singing you can't listen to her. Before anything else you'll need to gag her somehow, her voice is her weapon!"
Grant groaned. "I'll be fine, sir," he said emphatically, frustrated at constantly being told things like a child. "This isn't my first mission, I can resist a stupid song." He considered simply switching his earpiece off, but he heard Felicity's, singing the same melody, but using words this time.
Close your eyes, fall asleep
Eyes are heavy, rest your head
I'm not bad, don't say a peep
Come and join me in my bed
Once Grant heard her sing, he felt a wave of drowsiness overwhelm him. He struggled to stay awake, but as sleepy as he simultaneously felt the urge to walk in her bedroom and do as she said. As soon as he realized what was happening, panic began to set in, and shook his head to tray to wake up.
"Coulson, I'm...I'm so sleepy," Grant said groggily, hoping his words weren't too slurred and that Phil could understand him. "I think...she's trying to hypnotize me."
