𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 (marvel fanfic)

Chapter 17

News flashed in front of the scarlet head. She observed the new hero swinging from buildings to buildings, before landing and swiftly taking out robbers.

"That's weird," she mumbled to herself, leaning back into the luxurious sofa while keeping her eyes fixated on the TV.

Clint walked into the room to see his partner, "What is?" He sat down next to her, twirling a knife in his hand.

Natasha remained silent for a bit, before sharing her thoughts. "Just a week ago, that kid was amateurish at best, good instincts but no training. Yet here-" she paused, observing closely his movements, "he has clearly received martial arts training. His stance is familiar too."

He paused his knife flipping to look too. "You're right, he reminds me of... Hydra, these vicious yet swift movements, minimum energy for maximum efficacity."

They both watched in silence the TV, growing suspicion forming in their brains. Though his form was less polished and less fierce, the bases were still there. Natasha could easily recognize them; she had been trained to counter and overpower them.

Another thing they had to worry about. The first one being—she glanced at the folder on the lower table—Sarah Cano.

She got up to make herself breakfast, leaving Clint to watch the news report, she had a long day ahead of her.

An hour later, she found herself knocking on the door of an abandoned orphanage. A glance around told her it was useless to continue knocking. There was no one to answer. She pushed open the creaking door and kept a hand on her gun. Traces of dust and broken wood were clear signs that no one had been around for a long while.

She made her way to the office and started looking around. There were some folders left behind. Soon enough, she found what she had been looking for, the folder of little Sarah.

She scoured the thin document, finding only confirmation of the official pieces of information they had on Sarah—an ordinary orphan who successfully found a job at a normal high school and was just a little too used to violence. All seemed perfect and normal. Too perfect.

She refused to admit to herself that Sarah was an ordinary citizen, she was certain there was something more to her. In the teacher's eyes, there was death and indifference, something only someone used to killing, like Natasha, had. She could pretend but sooner or later, her true nature would reveal itself.

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"I heard your apartment went down in flames, Ms. Cano."

Sarah looked up from her morning coffee to see an inquiring annoyance. She internally sighed. "I didn't know billionaires were that carefree." While gazing indifferently at him, she continued to sip on her coffee, enjoying the numbing feeling it provided.

"I just care very much for you." He offered his thousand-dollar smile which made her gag visibly. If he noticed, he didn't remark on it.

"Spare me from your bullshit, it's too early for that." She felt a headache coming along, he didn't look like he would be going away any time soon.

"I'm offended," he retorted, his smile not dimming in the slightest.

She didn't feel like humoring him so she stared at him through her curtain of hair, pointedly asking with her eyes what was his business with her.

"I will get to the point," he paused for a dramatic measure, "Stark industry is offering you a place to stay at."

She spit out her coffee, coughing as she felt her soul leave her body. What kind of bad joke was that? After all she had done to escape their surveillance, she refused to end up deeper in than she already was.

"I'm afraid I can't-" She was about to refuse when she was rudely interrupted.

"I heard you haven't been able to find any other place," he trailed off, his sunglasses hiding his slanted eyes.

It finally connected in her brain, he was the reason she hadn't been able to find anything, every time she thought she had secured a deal, they always backtracked and refused to sell or rent her anything.

"I didn't think you were the type to abuse your power." That was a lie.

"That is pure slander, I would never do that." He would.

Their conversation was cut short when her principal came over to them to thank Stark for the opportunity and inquire as to what they were talking about. Of course, Stark jumped on the occasion to pressure her into accepting.

"Oh, of course I'm sure Ms. Cano is delighted at the offer," he smiled at Sarah, politeness oozing from his posture. He wanted to curry favor from Stark and both knew that.

"Right..." She stared at him, brushing her hair back to uncover her eyes. The old man squirmed and looked away.

"Then I assume, you'll want to move in as soon as possible?" Stark asked rhetorically, his face radiating innocence and kindness.

"Of course, she will," the principal spoke for her once again without looking at her.

Sarah held back a curse, he wanted her to move in one of his employee's temporary quarters, meaning in the Stark tower where every single room was monitored. She cut the conversation short and walked away, feeling her emotions fluctuate dangerously. No one noticed, the dangerous glint in her eyes as she gazed at the principal, nor the wave of her fingers.

Left behind, the principal felt cold sweat erupt in his body, his body temperature dropping dangerously low. He had to swiftly leave as he didn't feel well.

The apartment provided to her was luxurious to say the least. There was a queen-sized bed, a TV that probably cost double her previous apartment's rent, a marble bathroom and a large glass panel that offered a view on the whole city. And the best part of that, she didn't sense any cameras. She had an inkling Stark didn't want the same thing that happened to her apartment happening to his property.

She was tired, but she didn't want to sleep. Her bed was too soft for her liking. So, she found herself taking a bath and staring blankly at the ceiling. It was pristine white, the lights were fixated on the walls, giving a soft hue to the room. Light streamed in from the small window, slowly giving in to darker shades of sunset. It was way past midnight.

She let herself sink in the bath; the world fell silent. She closed her eyes, knowing she was safe.

Disaster would soon come knocking on her door, but not yet. Not now. The night was still long...

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the story will soon jump into one of the avengers movies ;)