Killer Queen (Nick Fury/Avengers)

13. Babysitting

I woke up to Monica shaking me awake.

I moaned softly and sat up. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"I'm hungry," Monica said. "Can you make pancakes?"

"Yeah," I replied. "Do you have chocolate chips?"

Monica grinned. "Of course. That's a stupid question."

I got up. "Come on. Let's make those pancakes."

Monica skipped into the kitchen as I followed close behind. We made pancakes and hash browns together, laughing with each other. We finished the food in good time and I grabbed different things to put on the pancakes. When I was done putting everything on, I set a plate full of stuff in front of Monica.

"You're the best, Tessa," Monica said.

I sat in front of her. "Thanks, kid. I try to be a good person."

"Well, you make good pancakes," Monica said. "What are we going to do today?"

"What do you want to do?" I asked.

Monica shrugged. "I don't know."

I dipped a bite into some syrup. "Do you have some card decks? I could teach you some games."

"Sure," Monica said. "I think these are the best pancakes I've ever had."

"I never had pancakes in Japan," I said. "I didn't have them until I was undercover."

"How old were you?" Monica asked.

"In my twenties."

"What?!" Monica exclaimed. "That's crazy!"

"Not when you grew up like me," I replied. "I grew up in the late fifties and sixties. I didn't have access to different things outside of Japan."

"You never left?" Monica asked.

I shook my head. "My parents never took me anywhere. I didn't leave until I became an agent for the Japanese government."

"I want to travel," Monica said. "I want to see the world outside of Louisiana. What's it like?"

"It's scary in some places but amazing in most of it," I replied. "I love seeing the world for all that it is. Travel as much as you can, Mo, because it is the best thing you can do."

Monica smiled. "I will do exactly that. Can we play some games now?"

I smiled back. "Of course. Help me clean up first."

Monica pouted. "I was just beginning to think you were cool."

I got up. "Adults aren't always fun, you know. I'll wash and you dry."

Monica got up with me and helped me with the dishes. After we were done, I went to grab my cards. I found Monica in the living room sitting on the floor.

I sat down in front of her and started shuffling a deck. "So you know how to play Speed?" Monica shook her head. "Okay, I'll teach you. It's very easy." I split the deck in half. "Count those out into piles of eight, thirteen, and five. If you have any extras, hand them to me."

"Why is that?" Monica asked.

"Because it splits the deck in half between us," I replied.

Monica nodded and split her half. I taught her how to play and we played for about a half hour. When we got too bored to continue, I started cleaning up the deck.

"Do you have any hobbies?" Monica asked.

I tucked the cards in the cardboard container. "I used to do ballet. I haven't done it in years but I haven't gotten to it."