Trick 124: Fooling a Hottie into Marriage

Ace was sitting in a church, without his cloak, just out in the open. He was wearing a completely black suit and sat in the middle of the crowd. Sharon went up to speak and said "Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD, but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy."

Ace looked at her and smiled gently, he had sent Hermione to go see her friends as they were in London for a little while. It was good to catch up and take a break from studying for a bit, refresh the mind. Plus, Hermione wasn't exactly a socialite. She didn't have many friends, it must be very boring for a teenage girl.

Ace didn't want her to grow up socially awkward, so he gave her a break.

Sharon continued "She had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which was why I barely told anyone we were related. I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either."

She looked around and continued after a breath, "She said, compromise where you can. But where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye and say, 'No. You move.'"

Ace scratched the corner of his lips as the ceremony went on. People started leaving the church, until only two people were left inside.

Steve stood in front of the coffin with his hand in his pockets, saying "No cloak today?" Ace sat in the pews, replying "Disrespectful to the dead." Steve asked "Not worried?" Ace shook his head and replied "Of Captain America spilling my secrets? Not particularly. Should I be?"

Steve snorted gently, saying "And Peggy…" Ace closed his eyes and replied "Sharon." Steve nodded, "Ah. Gotcha." Ace added, "She also figured it out. I went to see her a few times. Restored her memory."

Steve turned his head, saying "That was you?" Ace nodded and interlocked his fingers, replying "Yep. She threatened me right after that too." Steve turned back and chuckled "Yeah… I bet. One hot tamale, she was…"

Ace sighed, "Look, Steve. I'm probably not the only one to say this, but if you need to talk to someone. You can call me. Hell, even Tony will talk to you." he stood up and buttoned his suit jacket, adding "If you want some comfort, there is an afterlife. Just a bit boring. You'll see her again, I'm sure of it."

He nodded at Steve before walking down the aisle, leaving the church. He passed by Natasha and said "Excuse me, Ma'am." before leaving, without even glancing at her once, his face, completely indifferent. Natasha looked at him as he walked away, before going on into the church, asking "Chatting with a fan?"

Steve replied "One of Peggy's relatives."

Ace looked behind him at the church, smoothing out his suit and fixing his tie. He frowned and turned to the street, seeing Sharon sitting on a bench. He walked over and said "Beautiful speech."

Sharon looked at him and smiled gently "Risking it for me?" Ace curling his lips in a gentle arc as he replied softly "Disrespectful otherwise. I'm still a person without it." Sharon stood up and replied "Yeah. You're only wanted in 3 countries."

Ace smiled and replied "Not this one. Coffee?" Sharon tilted her head, asking "You paying, mr. Normal?" Ace cleared his throat, saying "Sure, from my billions…" he paused and remembered, "I might actually have billions!"

As they walked away, Sharon asked in confusion, "Huh?" Ace explained "I made an investment but I'm not sure Gringotts will transfer funds to normal money. They might though, we'll see."

They went to buy coffee and sat down, it turned out that they did!

Ace drank his coffee, smiling "Good thing too." Sharon rolled her eyes and replied "Oh, yeah, because you use money!" Ace made a face and muttered "Damn this coffee sucks…"

Sharon giggled and Ace secretly tapped his coffee cup before taking another sip. He licked his lips and said "Much better." Sharon pushed her cup to him and he tapped it before she took it back, holding it to her lips and smiling at him.

He smiled and they sat in silence.

Ace cleared his throat, saying "I was going to wait a bit, but… in light of recent events, I was thinking maybe you need a little happiness in your life. Take your mind off things." Sharon looked at him and he reached inside the inner pocket of his jacket, adding "I know it's a bit selfish of me to do this, I just…"

He sighed and put a black box on the table.

Sharon froze and said "Shut the fuck up, Ace… You…" Ace pushed it across the table gently, saying awkwardly "I'm not really good at planning or emotional events… Everything usually goes belly up and I react so…"

He swallowed and cracked his neck, saying "So I, um…" Sharon looked at him and covered her mouth with one hand, opening the box with the other, revealing a diamond ring.

Ace cleared his throat again and explained "You're going to Berlin soon and I just… Here's the thing-" Sharon cut him off saying "Just shut up. Shut up for a second." as she reached over the table, kissing him deeply.

Ace was stunned and she let go of him, whispering "Yes." Ace clenched his fists repeatedly, saying "Yes?" Sharon wiped her watery eyes and nodded, laughing "Yes!" as she grabbed the diamond ring.

Ace took it from her, holding her hand gently as he said, a little excitedly, "Listen. I don't know what's going to happen. I might just die next time, who knows when that'll happen, so... I just want you to know that I love you. I made this myself… Um…"

He was getting nervous and she held his face, smiling as he slipped the ring on her finger, adding "Diamonds are really hard to find… and um, it's also an artifact. Um…" Sharon smiled warmly, saying "It's okay, you don't have to be nervous."

Ace let out a breath and swallowed "Sorry, I, um… Never asked someone to marry me before. They also never agreed before. This is very new." Sharon laughed and held his cheeks, kissing him over the table as she replied "I hope not."

Ace smiled in amusement, swallowing "Yeah, that's it. Oh I also have these…" as he pulled out two more wedding bands as he said, all confused, "I don't know if you want them now? Are we even going to do anything? I don't really have friends…"

Sharon jerked his face, saying "Look at me." Ace looked at her and she smiled "I love you, idiot." Ace smiled and said "Me too." she snorted in amusement and said "Come on, let's go." as she held his hand and they walked out.