(On Hold) Stepping Stones | Avengers FF

10 - I Trusted You

"Hey Riley... Riley come on," I pried my eyes open to see Alan shaking me awake, "we're here."

Lazily I got up and exited the car. I walked behind Alan to his front door where he knocked and yelled out,

"Melissa! I'm home!" In response I heard a crash and a swear word slip out from the wife's mouth. I'm guessing she stubbed her toe, a gift from Satan. A second later a woman came to the door and hugged Alan, she was shorter than him but Alan was quite tall.

"Welcome home honey." She said, breaking away from the hug. As she pulled away she seemed to notice me and sent her husband a look.

"And who is this?" She asked, more directed to Alan than me.

"Riley, she was walking on the highway in the rain. Looked like she had been walking for hours so I picked her up." Alan replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry miss. Your husband has been very kind to me and I don't need to stay if you don't want me." I said looking at the ground.

"Oh no dear. I'm happy to keep you here for as long as you need." She said putting her hand on my shoulder, I flinched slightly but tried to keep my composure.

"Thank you miss." I said, finally meeting her eye.

"Oh you can drop the miss, call me Melissa," she sent me a bright smile and gestured inside, "why don't we go inside and I'll get your room set up?" I nodded enthusiastically and followed her inside, Alan behind me.

We walked into the house and Alan gestured me over towards the kitchen counter, sitting himself on one of the stools. I took a seat next to him and rested my head on my hands. Alan did a slight cough, and I turned to face him thinking he wanted to talk.

"So kid, why were you getting out of New York?" Do I tell him the truth?

"I'm an orphan, I got fostered but the family was bad. I didn't want to stay in New York since they technically have legal custody over me so I left. Thank you, so much, Alan." He gave me one of his award winning smiled as he patted my shoulder.

"No problem kid, we just need to lay some ground rules. Just for smooth running you know?"

"Of course sir."

"First off, how long are you planning to stay?" I probably shouldn't stay here for too long, I should keep moving.

"Maybe 2 days and I'll get out of your hair. I'll head to the nearest town and take a train or something."

"Sounds like a plan, we'll take care of ya while you're under our roof. In repayment though you'll have to help around, sound fair?"

I nodded in response,

"Is it alright if I head to bed?"

"Of course, Melissa should have your bed ready, follow me."

I stood up and followed him down a hallway, Alan turned into a room and as I did as well I was met with a room painted pink, and empty bookcase to the side and a barren dresser with a mirror opposite the bed. The bed itself had purple sheets and actually looked quite comfy.

"This was our daughters room before she moved out. She never really grew out of pink." Melissa said with a fond smile on her face. "We'll leave you to get some rest, it's late. If you need us for anything we are just down the hallway on the other side of the kitchen."

"Thank you, both of you, so much for this. I'll do my best to repay you."

Alan and Melissa smiled and me before biding me goodnight and leaving, turning the light off behind them. I felt my way to the bed and collapsed. As I expected the bed was comfy. But not the good comfy, the kind of comfy where it's so comfy it's uncomfortable. Does that make sense? Anyway there was no way I could sleep on this cloud of a mattress, so instead I grabbed a pillow and the thick duvet and set myself up on the floor. It was almost more comfortable than the orphanage beds. Now I could sleep. And sleep I did.