Little One

Chapter 5

Rain poured from the sky. Thunder rumbled, and lightning lit up the sky.

I sat back against the window in my room. I picked up a book and turned on my lamp. I couldn't even see out the window; it was raining so hard.

Something thumped against the window.

"Stupid New York pigeons," I said, rolling my eyes.

The rain had been going since just after Doctor Strange left, and that was yesterday afternoon. The thunder and lightning only started this morning, though.

I'd teased Uncle Thor mercilessly about it.

He took it well, finding it amusing himself, that is until Tony got in.

Oh well.

I continued reading my book and ignored the thunder until the lights flickered.

"Oh c'mon, please don't do this right now," I muttered. I just wanted to finish my book.

They flickered again upon the next lightning strike.

I looked up and sighed. Normally, this is the part in a horror movie where the floorboards creak eerily or a door creaks, and I allowed my imagination to wander a tad. I looked at my door, and all I saw was the dark hallway that leads to Natasha and Uncle Thor's rooms.

"Guys! What's up with the power?!" I shouted.

Natasha popped her head in the doorway, much to my comfort.

"It's just the storm, don't worry." She told me, smiling gently.

She was always maternal to me, which was a gift, in my opinion. I loved her so much. And all of them were very much family. So the fact that they all seemed to regard me that same way was good.

"You good?" She asked, making sure.

I nodded a bit. "Yeah, just letting my mind wander, and the storm isn't helping. S'all." I told her.

She smiled and nodded. "Do you want me to keep you company? Or are you good?" She asked.

I paused for a second.

I'm 16, for goodness sake! I can handle myself. I shouldn't be afraid of a bit of weather, especially since my uncle is the god of thunder. It's ridiculous.

She does seem to want to, or maybe she just wants to seem that way. Make it seem like she doesn't mind — she does that. It's sweet.

Do I want her to stay or not?

"You're just in you're room, right?" I asked.

She nodded in response.

"I'm good then. Can you just tell me when you go out?"

She smiled and nodded, knowing what I was up to.

I just needed to know someone was there.

"Alright, no problem, Astrid." She walked off into her room, which was 4 paces or so down the hall.

I relaxed, knowing she was there and I was safe.

However ridiculous the prospect of my being in danger was.

I mean, for goodness sake, I lived in Avenger's tower. With the Avengers. I was nothing if not safe.

I continued my reading until the lights flickered again, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Where is it?" Someone muttered.

I knew it was Natasha.

And shortly after, she came in and asked to borrow an umbrella.