What's Left Behind

New Neighbors

It was three weeks later when someone else moved into the Tower.

Isabelle had settled very much into her new home, and her new Aunt and Uncle's presence in her life.

As Bruce settled in himself, both living there and working on site with Tony, Isabelle learned to come and go as she wanted between the eighth floor, where she and her father live, and the twelfth floor, where Pepper and Tony lived. The floor directly above their living space was a laboratory, where Belle sometimes sat in the corner and worked on her lessons while Tony and Bruce worked. Sometimes she would wander up to Tony and Pepper's floor to sit with Pepper while she worked, coloring and letting Pepper braid her hair while she talked on the phone to various business contacts. There was no real worry for Belle's wandering around, as JARVIS always had eyes on her, and Bruce only needed to speak up and ask to check in on her at any time.

However, one day, as she stood on the elevator, riding back down to her home floor when the lift stopped only halfway back down. Belle backed against the back wall, flattening against the cool metal as the doors opened. A tall, beautiful, redheaded woman stood on the other side of the doors as they opened, and she looked equally shocked and surprised to Belle as she was to see her.

"Uh. Hey." The woman greeted gently. Belle looked her over with large, shining brown eyes- she was dressed more casually than Pepper normally did, who was usually in business suits or blouses and skirts and heels. This woman had on jeans and boots, and a tucked in t-shirt with a vest. Belle swallowed and scooted toward the corner of the elevator. "Are you okay?"

Belle nodded and squeezed herself into the corner more. The woman stepped over the threshold of the lift and paused, arm held backward to keep the door open.

"Is it okay if I ride with you?" She ask softly. "I can wait and catch the next one, if you'd rather. I don't want to interrupt you."

Belle slowly nodded, indicating she was okay with the company. The woman stepped into the lift completely and dropped her arm. "You're on eight, right?"

"How do you know?" Belle ask, and the woman gave a small, breathy laugh.

"You look very much like your dad, Miss Belle." The woman explained. "Bruce couldn't deny you if he wanted."

"You know my dad?" Belle said, easing herself off the wall only slightly.

"I do." The redhead nodded. She knelt down and held a hand out to the young girl. "I'm Natasha."

"Belle." Belle replied, giving Natasha's hand a single shake before dropping it.

"Thank you for allowing me to ride with you, Belle." Natasha said before standing back up.

"'S okay..." the little girl peeped. The elevator stopped on the eighth floor and Natasha stepped to the side and allowed Belle to slip out past her, which she did with such speed that the gust made Natasha briefly lose her footing, and she braced against the doors.

"Bye!" Natasha called as the doors shut and the lift continued on down the way. She laughed and shook her head at how shy the little girl had been. It was almost the exact behavior that her father had exhibited when she met him in India. She continued on her way down, only to be met once again on the first floor by Tony, who was coming in.

"Ah! Miss Romanoff!" Tony greeted with outstretched arms and a grin. "How are you settling in?"

"It's amazing, Tony. Thank you." Natasha said with a small nodded bow and smile.

"Are you sure it's okay to keep Barton on your floor?" Tony ask, propping on the wall. "I mean- It is up to you, completely, but you do not have to share. Robinhood can have his own apartment."