𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖈𝖎𝖊𝖘||𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖔𝖘

3.0

jul 15 2007

"Hey, ready to watch the movie of your childhood," Charlie sighed, as he pressed play.

"Are you sure this is appropriate for seven-year-olds Charlie," Thomas asked skeptically. "I don't think I watched this movie until I was twenty-three."

"Relax," Charlie said. "She can handle it. Right kid?" Nakia nodded eagerly.

She was excited to watch Poetic Justice. Thomas had gotten her completely obsessed with Tupac Shakur, and now that she knew that he was an actor, she wanted to watch all his movies, even though most of them weren't exactly appropriate for her age group.

That didn't stop Charlie from convincing Thomas to let them have their very first movie night together, watching Poetic Justice.

So they popped the popcorn, bought some snacks, and settled down for a relaxing night in. Thomas and Nakia sprawled themselves over his couch while Charlie spread himself on Charlie's floor.

He pressed play and the movie began. About an hour passed and Nakia began to lay on Thomas's shoulder.

"You okay kid," he whispered. She nodded, yawning.

Nakia and Thomas's relationship had significantly improved after their talk. He was patient in whatever she was willing to talk about from her past. He also hadn't said anything to anyone else at S.H.I.E.L.D., wanting her to keep her privacy a priority.

He also wanted to change her sheltered childhood. Despite Pierce or anyone else knowing, Thomas was sneaking Nakia out on the weekends to try different things. Sometimes Charlie was there too. They got ice cream, went roller skating, bike rides in the park, and one by Sunday they took her to a diner.

The nightmares were still lingering. Some nights they were calm, some nights she woke up in screaming fits. But Thomas was still around. No matter what.

In all honesty, Nakia had never been so at peace in all her life.

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The movie was one of the best films she ever saw. It was cute, Tupac was there, and everything was just perfect...

"Okay," Thomas said, standing up. "Time for bed. It's late."

"Aw," she whined. "One more movie."

"No," Thomas replied, snatching the remote. "It's after midnight."

"Wait," Charlie said, taking the remote back. "We can still watch some of the hockey games. C'mon, man."

"What's hockey?"

Charlie stared pleading at Thomas, begging him to allow him to let her watch one of his favorite sports. Rolling his eyes, Thomas nodded.

Charlie cheered, turning on the sports channel.

Nakia stared at the T.V. as she watched people skate on ice kicking a circular disk with sticks. It looked so pleasing for some reason.

"This is so cool," she breathed. "How do you play?" Charlie chuckled, snatching something from a bag. It was a hockey puck. He grabbed two brooms, handing one to the small girl. Thomas sat on the couch watching the two.

"Push the puck kid," Charlie mentored. "Push it towards me. But don't let me score." Nakia nodded.

The two went back and forth for a couple of minutes, Thomas dominating the game.

Finally standing up, Thomas walked over to the girl, who was frowning. He carefully picked up Nakia and placed her hands on the broom.

"Okay," he smirked. "Let's kill his ass." Charlie pouted. "This is cheating."

Thomas shrugged as Nakia swept the puck into the net. For the next two hours, the three of them stayed up past their bedtimes and played 'house hockey.' Her stomach was hurting from laughing so hard.

And there was the perfect ending to another day.

Everything was perfect.

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Too perfect.

Nathan was beginning to grow annoyed. The girl was growing less cautious, taking more risks.

He had been stalking her for almost a month and not one single tear had fallen because of him.

No bodies had dropped to the ground in so long.

Ingrid kept insisting that he needed to wait, but he didn't know how much longer he could take it.

He was ready now.

Ready to hunt.