C.H.A.S.M. [MARVEL FANFICTION] ✓completed

3

Where I meet a sharpshooter, an actor and a pirate

-

"There's someone here to adopt you."

BOOM. Ten out of ten for subtlety, Mrs Dawson.

That was sarcastic, in case you hadn't noticed.

Completely against my nature, I stood stock-still in shock. I was desperately trying to decide whether I should be happy or not.

"Is this a joke?" I asked, looking at Mrs Dawson. She was frozen, and I realized I'd involuntarily stopped time again. Shaking my head, I studied Mrs Dawson. She seemed serious enough.

"They're waiting in the lobby," Mrs Dawson finished as I let time resume. 

I nodded absentmindedly, and began to walk towards the lobby. 

Mrs Dawson stopped me.

"What?" I demanded, "for the record; I've already had breakfast."

It was 10 AM, so that was logical, but I was trying to lead her attention away from the real reason she was stopping me.

She gestured to me vaguely, aware of my intent.

"Shouldn't you put on something a little... neater?"

I looked down at my jeans, which were tattered at the knees, my slightly worn-out shoes, and my green t-shirt.

"No," I answered bluntly. I still wasn't sure whether I wanted this adoption to be happening or not, but I definitely wasn't going to play dress-up for anyone. I made my way towards the lobby as fast as I dared.

In the lobby stood a man in a dark blue suit. I was trying to decide whether he was a chauffeur, a bodyguard (although his build was on the slight side and there wasn't anyone to guard except me) or my adoptive father to be, when he held out his hand and introduced himself.

"I'm Coulson," he began, "Phil Coulson. But you can call me Phil."

It didn't answer my chauffeur-bodyguard-dad question, but I shook his hand firmly. Appearantly that's good for your first impression. Whatever.

"Penny," I replied, before adding sarcastically; "and you can call me Penny."

"Well Penny," he ignored my sarcastic look, "are you ready?"

READY? I thought, I found out about this less than four-hundred words ago and you're asking me  if I'm ready?!

But I just smiled politely and answered.

"Just let me collect my stuff."

-

I spent a long time on my bed, thinking. I was wondering whether I'd run away again. The prospect of parents seemed nice enough, but I liked the freedom that the orphanage offered. Well, they didn't really offer it, I just sort of demanded it and got away with it. Parents were likely to be less easygoing. I'd just have to see; I could always decide to escape later.

I had no idea how long I was on that bed. Miss Hemsworth the secretary, who was in the lobby with Coulson, said I was in my room for about ten minutes. But she, of course, didn't know that time had stood still for about... yeah, I have no idea.

I took a walk around the orphanage while everything was frozen, pulling off a few pranks. I couldn't possibly leave Maya without glueing her toothpaste tube's lid. It just needed to be done.

I packed all my stuff in a jiffy, and allowed time to resume as I began dragging my bag down the stairs. My backpack was filled with my possesions — not that I had many. One of the perks of being an orphan...