Mirror ∞ Marvel ∞ bk. 1

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

This is probably a bad idea, Clint thought to himself as he stood pretending to examine the Washington Monument. The food trucks where Paige consistently went for lunch weren't far away. He had purchased a phone from a nearby store that morning and left it on the park bench near the trucks, one that Paige always passed. He knew she'd be in need of a new one that morning.

She entered the food truck line right on time again. But this time she looked around first and to Clint's pleasant surprise she found the phone. As she went to order her food, Clint enacted step two. Dial the phone.

He watched her stare down at the device in confusion. He had set the Caller ID to "Answer the Phone." He just hoped her curiosity would set in. It did.

"Hello?"

Clint smiled, turning away from her to look up at the Washington Monument. He had the call routed through his hearing aids and put the phone away. There was no reason for her to suspect him. "Nice display last night."

"Listen, if you're here to kill me, I'm not going down easy."

Clint paused. "I'm not here to kill you. I just want to talk." A long paused ensued. He decided that was a good sign. "Do you like coffee?"

"Depends on the type."

Clint smiled to himself. "I promise, I'm not going to hurt you. Let's talk like civilized people and not fight where civilians are present."

"Depends on if you try to kill me."

He rolled his eyes. Turning to see where she was, he found her turned the opposite way, looking down 14th Street. "That's not how I work." He continued, "Turn around. Washington Monument, beside the fifth flag from the door."

She turned slowly. It didn't take her long to locate him, and he nodded to her. Immediately she hung up the phone. Clint walked over to her nonchalantly, watching as she took a bite of her pizza. She didn't seem overly concerned.

"Paige, right? I'm Clint." He nodded, and gestured for her to sit on the bench. Without waiting for her he sat down.

She looked him up and down. Paige stayed standing. "Clever trick, with the phone. Though totally unnecessary. Also overly dramatic. Especially if you want to kill me."

Clint rolled his eyes. "Listen, Paige, I just want to talk. If I wanted you dead I could've taken the shot last night." He paused. "Also, sorry about killing your phone. That was the quickest way to make sure no one had footage of you."

Folding her arms, Paige frowned. She glanced over Clint's head at the street. He sat expectantly. Finally she spoke. "There's a coffee shop not far from here. It's called Timgad's. If you're buying, I'll go."

Clint nodded. "Only fair. Keep the phone, by the way. I owe it to you." He stood from the bench and followed her up 14th Street.

The walk took about ten minutes. Neither one said anything. Clint didn't find the silence uncomfortable except for the fact that his brain kept trying to remind him that she, like Loki, had magic. He kept his right hand active in his jacket, playing with his closed pocket knife.