Mike could only let out a small grunt in reply as he felt a surge of heat rush to his face. He lifted his cup to his face to cover up the corresponding hint redness that doubtless appeared on his countenance. Though he often played the part of the perpetual stoic, the right word from the right person could slip through the chinks in his metaphorical armour and strike a devastating blow to his facade and reveal the teddy bear within. Whether Angel meant to or not, her statement had done just that and Michael, out of instinct, instantly went to mask it for fear of allowing any emotional confusion. He liked Angel a lot, that could not be denied, but he wasn’t good with relationships. When he was with SHIELD, he was not known for enkindling a relationship with a coworker because of the taboo on dating within the workplace. Some people find such rules outdated, but Michael thought that given how dangerous their work is, it would be best to keep any drama that sometimes comes with a relationship from potentially interfering with a mission that could endanger innocent lives. On top of that, he also kept himself mostly isolated from civilians and in the rare instances that he did date, it didn’t end well. Secrets and love seldom mix. So, eventually, he became content with being alone, in the romantic sense. Maybe, since he was in a new line of work, things might be different, but at this point, he wasn’t even sure how to begin the intricate process that was courting someone. So, instead, he buried his feelings and took comfort in pleasant company, kind conversation, and good coffee.
