Troublesome [The Avengers]

4|| Snarky

"Oh I wouldn't try any of that witchy-woo-woo stuff 'cause as you can see we've come prepared." Tony motioned to the arrow that was buried in the drywall. 

Arden glared at the two men and slowly crossed her arms over her chest. This was really not her week.

"I hope you plan on repaying me my damage deposit for that." Arden tilted her head towards the arrow in her wall. 

Tony brushed the cat off of his lap and stood up. "I hope you plan on repaying me for the equipment you stole. Do you want a rough estimation of how much you owe 'cause it's in the millions." he crossed his arms with a snide look on his face.

"Look, we aren't here to cause you any trouble-" Steve turned to face Arden. He --unlike Tony-- didn't look angry, he looked more like a disappointed father.

"Oh look the star spangled trashcan speaks." She grumbled and rolled her eyes. Steve's brow furrowed and his lips parted for a second before he closed his mouth and shook his head.

"You're a sarcastic one I see." Tony said sounding rather unimpressed. "Look, Trouble, that's what the media's calling you right?" He furrowed his brow and waited for her to answer.

"I didn't come up with it." She shrugged. The name was undoubtedly dumb but nobody ever said news sites were good at coming up with names. At least they didn't just call her Blue.

"Well Trouble, I just want my equipment back and then well leave and you can continue to do whatever it is you do." Tony said, his expression softening.

Arden silently cursed herself for getting rid of the Stark stuff so soon. She wished she would have just found someone else to steal from last night, but no she had to be an overzealous ass.

"How do you even know I have your stuff?" Arden asked.

"There's a tracking device built into the container. The backpack it was in was blocking the signal. When you took it out of the backpack last night the signal locked on to it." Tony explained before his eyes drifted to the backpack strap that sat on Arden's shoulders. "Please for the love of god tell me you still have my equipment."

"Well not exactly." Arden said with a sheepish smile.

"You sold my equipment!" Tony snapped before he dropped his head into the palm of his hand. "Do you have any idea what you just sold?"

"I never opened the cylinder. The last thing I wanted was you people showing up on my doorstep!" She said defensively.

Tony groaned loudly and looked back at Arden. His eyes read 'i'm going to kill you' well everything else was a calm anger. 

"Fine, that's fine just tell us who you sold it to and well leave." he said calmly.

"About that-" Arden cleared her throat and ran a hand through her hair. "I never ask for names." 

Tony threw his head back and groaned. Steve shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why don't you tell us everything you do know about the person."

"Look," Arden huffed. "I don't know much about the guy. I stole from one of his weapon businesses a while back and now I sell him some of the stuff that I don't know what to do with. I've never met him, he always sends goons to pick up points."

"How do you contact him when you have stuff to sell?" Steve asked.

"A reddit page called bad ideas. He set it up not me." Arden rolled her eyes. "Everything's pretty cryptic though."

"How long ago did you meet up with him?" Steve asked. Arden shrugged and peaked around the dividing wall, into the kitchen. The bright green numbers on the stove said it was already four pm.

"Three, four hours ago." Arden answered. "We met up in some back alley outside of a McDonald's." She shrugged and leaned against the wall beside her. Steve sighed and looked over at Tony who was silently mouthing the word stupid over and over again.

"Look, I had no idea that it was your equipment when I stole it. I'll admit that for once I was a little in over my head." Arden said. "I don't have anything else to tell you guys and by telling you what I just did I've put a target on my back. Nobody here knows who I am and it's gonna be fucking suspicious when somebody sees Captain Crunch and Tin-Man leaving my apartment."

"What is it with you and your nicknames." Steve raised his brows, clearly confused and slightly offended. Arden glared at the man before she rolled her brown eyes. 

"We can have some agents posted in the area for your protection if you'd like." Tony offered with a huff of annoyance.

"No, I don't need you or SHIELD's help. I can take care of myself." Arden was quick to snap before she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fine, suit yourself!" Tony tossed his arms up and shook his head. "You millennial's are all the same."

"Yeah, well at least i'm not some narcissistic asshole who paradise himself around in a glorified tin can. Now are we done here?" Arden glared daggers at the two men.

"Yes we are." Tony grumbled before walking past Arden to the front door. Steve followed after him, coming to a stop in front of Arden.

"I get that you don't like us but in case you remember something or need our help here's the number to Stark Tower and my cell." Steve handed Arden a small card before him and Tony were leaving. 

She waited for the door to fully close before she locked it and pulled the arrow from her wall. She twirled the thin wooden arrow between her fingertip, watching the fading sunlight gleam off the tip. 

Arden could barely believe she just sold out a man who could have her killed in the blink of an eye. But hay, she always loved a challenge.