Stark's Shadow

Chapter 24 - And Now They're Roomates?

Datura was quickly locked back in her cell. She was a threat.

"I'll kill you all," Datura tells me in a low voice, "You can't stop me, and you know it."

I scoff, "I could stop you in my sleep," I responded coldly, "There are no plants around for miles and without powers, you've got nothing on Petunia or me."

She rolls her eyes, "Please, you don't know what I'm capable of,"

"Throwing a massive tantrum?" I mock, "Because that's the most impressive thing I've ever seen you do, ditz."

She hits the glass, screaming at me. I couldn't make out one word.

"Aww, does the lil' baby need her nap? A bottle? Her shitty attitude changed?" I laugh and leave the room, her shouts so loud I can hear them to the end of the hallway.

"Olive," Fury says, "Usually when we have a prisoner as dangerous as her, we don't try to anger them."

"Maybe you don't, but I do," I tell him, "I'm not as good of a person as you are, Nick."

He looks annoyed but holds it back, "Clearly,"

"Glad we can agree on something," I smile, "Now I'm going to go home and cause problems there. See you later, Fury."

"What about your friend?" Fury asks, "Is she not coming with you?"

"I thought you wanted her here? Poke around at her, see what she can do?" I ask without turning around, "Figure out who she actually is? She deserves to know the truth."

"We can dig into her past without her, but I think she needs a friend. I'm not her friend,"

"I know her no better than you, Nick," I say aggressively, then turn around and walk up to him, "I'm sure this is real fucking hard for her, but I'm not having an easy time with this either. I finally had the slightest amount of stability, but now it's all gone because she decided to find me. Then Datura followed. The entire Nightshades are in your headquarters and you don't know a damn thing about one of us. The three of us will be hunted down by that organization. They were already looking for me. Nothing is changing. And now I need a new fucking therapist!"

Fury stops and stares at me for a second, "First of all, why do you need a new therapist? And why in hell is that relevant right now?" He asks, annoyed, "And second, have you considered looking past your own needs? She'll be safe with the Avengers while we find out more, and far more comfortable with you. You are being selfish, Stark!"

"My therapist was part of the organization. I was told you personally took your time, and lots of it, to check to make sure she was safe. If they can avoid you, hide from you, nobody is safe. Nothing gets past you except for them it seems. But they wouldn't dare be close to you."

He crosses his arms and stares at me, "Why would they avoid me?"

"You're the only person Gorgon fears. Why would she put anyone here? And if she was going to, it would have been a Nightshade." I glare back, arms crossed too. Then Petunia walks into the room.

"Everything alright, folks?" She asks sweetly, "It seems a tad tense in here."

"Nick is a pain in the ass, homegirl,"

"I could say the same about you, Stark," Nick replies, "Though I'd be wrong, you're a pain in general."

I laugh, "Sure I am," I uncross my arms, trying to seem more open, "Now what shall it be, Nick? Where will she stay? Somewhere where she's guaranteed safety, or with me?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

"I thought you were the boss," I sass.

"I'm good wherever honest!" She squeaks, uncomfortable with the tension, "No need to be so hostile about it."