A Spider's Web ll Natasha Romanoff

An Interesting Night

The steam fogged up the small bathroom of my apartment and the water from the shower head poured over me. It raced over my face and down my back as I sat on the shower floor with my knees up to my chest and my arms wrapped around them.

I'm sorry.

It was the only thought that circled my mind. I didn't want to do what I did to the kid, but it was my job. A job I was really good at.

I was a murderer. An assassin. It was my job to kill and leave no witnesses. I wasn't supposed to have feelings, but I couldn't help it. I was a bad person. A villain.

I sighed as I stood up and turned the shower knob off and stepped out of the shower. I grabbed the beige towel that hung from the hook on the bathroom door and wrapped it around myself.

I headed into my room and over to my head, picking up the clothes I laid out and quickly got dressed. A black t-shirt with a pair of skinny jeans and some black flats. Once dressed, I quickly blow dried my hair before grabbing my leather jacket and walking out the door, locking it behind me.

I was on my way to the cafe to grab a coffee and get on with my day. Walking down the busy sidewalk, I was almost at the cafe when I started getting the sense someone was watching me. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up and I was starting to get uncomfortable.

I threw open the door to the cafe and walked in, but it didn't make the feeling of being watched go away.

I walked to the counter to order and stopped short seeing Emily standing in front of me. My eyes scanned over the sweet girl's face, before stopping at the discolored skin resting underneath her right eye. She did a good job trying to hide it, but I was trained to see the deceit people give off.

"Good morning, Claire. How are you today? The usual order?" She asked.

"I'm alright. Yes, the usual, please and also add in a chocolate chip muffin. How are you today? Looks like you got into some trouble. What happened?" I asked the barista curiously.

"Coming right up. It was nothing really - just wrong time wrong place sorta thing. I was walking home past that shady bar down the street and the owner didn't like that I denied his invitation to tour his house." She explained, shrugging as she started to prepare my order.

Oh I knew the owner pretty well. Mean old Jack. He's not someone to mess with, but yet again neither was I. Emily was the closest thing I could call a friend, but even that was far fetched, yet I was still disgusted that the man laid a hand on her.

Although I normally stay out of other people's drama, I was gonna show that disgusting man who he managed to piss off.

Emily finally came over with my order, handing me everything before I told her, "keep the muffin. I know they're your favorite."

She gave me a thankful look before putting the small bag under the counter as I walked away and out the door. The feeling of being watched was still there and it was starting to get on my nerves, but I wasn't too worried.

I was more concerned about what I was going to do to the bar owner.

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Sitting at a table in the corner of the room with a few shots in front of me was where I was a few hours later after leaving the cafe.

Poor ole Jack stood behind the bar laughing maniacally with no care in the world, completely oblivious to the pain I was about to inflict on the drunk.

I put a shot glass of tequila to my red painted lips and downed it before putting a lime between my teeth. That was the turning point of my life that I didn't know at the time. It was at that moment that my life changed. For better or for worse? I'm not sure.

An older gentleman pulled the chair across from me out and sat down, completely blocking my view of the drunk bar owner. I narrowed my eyes at the man and rose an eyebrow. Was he brave or stupid? I'm still questioning it.

"You're blocking the view. Move." I said to the man, putting down the shot glass.

"Margot Desantos. Phantom. I've heard a lot about you." He said.

I snorted. "Obviously you haven't otherwise you wouldn't have sat across from me."

"My name is Agent Phil Coulson of the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division. Otherwise known as-"

"Otherwise known as SHIELD. I'm aware. Why are you wasting my time agent?"

"We've been keeping an eye on you, Miss Desantos. You have a special set of skills that we are needing. Something has come up and we are putting together a team of highly intellectual individuals to locate something that was stolen."

"You realize I'm a hitwoman right? I'm not a detective."

"We will hire you for this job then, Miss Desantos. We need your help." He responded.

"And if I say no?"

"We will be forced to arrest you for the crimes and murders you committed. Help us and your payment is that we wipe your file clean. You will get a clean slate."

Tempting.

"Seems like a tempting offer, but it doesn't seem like I have a choice, do I?" I asked rhetorically.

"No. Not really."

"I assume there are other agents outside those doors with guns ready to take me down if I try to run."

"You would assume correctly."

"And you were the ones watching me earlier?"

"Yes."

I nodded my head slowly. I knew I would be able to escape the agents and get away, but did I really want to?

"You wouldn't have to keep living like this anymore. We could even offer you a position at SHIELD. You can make the world better instead of adding to the horror. You could be the hero instead of the villain." He added in when he saw the conflict in my eyes.

I was silent for a few moments. I was drinking in the agent's words and clinging to them, hope filling my body. Could I really become good? It never seemed like an option before now.

A war was waging inside my head as I stared off not focusing on anything in particular.

"Okay. When do we start?" I asked, coming to a decision.

"We will retrieve you tomorrow morning at your apartment. Please pack the essential things you need. We will provide the rest." He responded, a ghost of a smile etching onto his face.

I nodded and briefly saw my target walking off with a young pretty blond.

"Will do. Excuse me, Agent. I have a guest to entertain." I ended, getting up and heading towards the couple that left through the side door.

It had been an interesting night to say the least.

An interesting night indeed.