Chapter Text
Natalia tries not to let all the bright lights, and noises, and people overwhelm her. She’s still not used to going to the store, not used to letting herself be out in the open, where anybody could see her. She’s spent most of her life in the shadows, no one knowing she was there unless she wanted them to know. She ignored the slight itch underneath her skin and continued pulling things into the cart. Her and Daisy were running low on essentials.
She would have had Daisy come with her, but she had been taking a nap and Nat didn’t want to bother her, so she left a note in immediate sight so the girl wouldn’t be worried, and left the house as quiet as possible. They didn’t have a car, so Nat lightly jogged for 15 minutes to get here. It wasn’t a strain, but not having a car also meant buying as few things as possible, because she only had two arms. Wisely, she brought her backpack this time, so she could carry some items that way.
Natalia is just turning a corner when a girl half a foot taller than her tumbles into her and Nat allows the force to send her falling to the ground, because most people wouldn’t have been able to sidestep something like that. The girl has familiar brown hair and it takes Nat half a second to recognize her from lunch a few days ago.
“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to- Natasha!” Maria stumbles to her feet looking panicked until she sees who she ran into. She reaches out a hand to pull her up but Nat ignores it and gets up on her own. “Natasha- Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“I’m Maria?” She says, when Nat doesn’t respond. “Clint’s friend?”
“I remember.” She plans to walk away then, but Maria looks far too frazzled to have just been spooked by running into her, so Nat offers to join her as she shops.
“You don’t have a cart.” She points out, and Maria’s cheeks turn slightly red with embarrassment, but Nat stops her before she can say anything. “We can share, I’m not getting much.”
So far, Nat only has toilet paper and a box of granola bars in her cart. She plans on getting cereal and bread before she leaves.
Maria nods her thanks, and the two go on their way. They don’t have much to talk about, but they manage to have a somewhat stilted conversation despite that. Maria isn’t the worst to be around, but Nat isn’t sure if she likes her just yet.
“So.” Maria says, breaking the momentary pause in their conversation. From what she’s observed so far, Maria seems to be uncomfortable with silence. “I heard you got in trouble with the Principal.”
Nat smirks, in trouble wasn’t the right word. She thinks Principal May was more amused than anything. Of course, she had to give her detention, but May probably knew Nat couldn’t care less.
“Yea. Pushed Grant Ward into a locker.”
At this, Maria snorts, seemingly impressed. “Asshole probably deserved it, what’d he do?”
Nat goes silent for a moment, pretends to be occupied with the labels on the shelf. May had asked her the same question, but she refused to tell her. She’s aware most people wouldn’t shove a person into a locker and twist their arms behind their back for simply touching someone they cared about, but she wasn’t a normal person, and Ward sent Daisy into a panic attack, and Daisy was hers . She didn’t like it when the people she loved were hurting.
Besides, based on Maria’s reaction, the guy had it coming anyway.
“Sent my cousin into a panic attack.” She admits, deciding to tell Maria the truth, because she recognizes a kindred soul in her, and doesn’t see much harm in it anyway.
Maria winces, revealing that she’s probably had one before and knows how awful it is, so Nat knows she hasn’t made a mistake in telling her. “Yeah, okay, he definitely deserved it.”
The two approach the cashier, and Natalia politely ignores the way Maria’s hands start to subtly shake.
“Yeah. How do things work in your friend group?” She abruptly changes the subject. “You guys always hang out together?”
Maria takes the change in stride, answering immediately. “Pretty much. Sometimes me and Wanda hang out with a group of juniors to get away from all the testosterone.” She jokes.
Nat grins. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“You and Skye are free to join us whenever. Darcy’s always saying we need more people to hang out with. I think she’s trying to start a cult.”
This earns a short chuckle from Nat, she appreciates Maria’s dry humor.
“I’ll be sure to take you up on that.” And she actually might.
They pay separately and finish checking out, and Maria’s nerves seem to grow worse despite Natasha’s attempt to distract her with conversation. The girls hesitate outside the doors, not knowing what to say.
“Are you alright?” She asks, finally.
“Yeah- yes, I’m fine.” Maria rushes to answer. “Just- ah, just got to get back home now.”
Nat plays close attention to the way Maria winces at the word ‘home’.
“Give me your phone.” She says after a pause, and types in her number after Maria gives it readily. “Text me if you want to talk.” She says before walking away, hoping she hasn’t made a mistake in befriending the brown haired girl.
She spends the walk home in silence, taking in what remains of the afternoon. She doesn’t get to just bask in the sun often.
As soon as she gets home, she notices something is off. For one, the lights on the front porch are one, indicating someone had either knocked on the door and Daisy turned them on to see who it was, or Daisy herself had walked out the door. Secondly, there are drops of blood leading into the house. As quietly as possible, Nat sets down the bags and slides in through the window, just in case someone is waiting for her at the door.
Heart racing, she pulls out her favorite knife, good for both throwing and close combat.
What she sees is not at all what she expected.
Daisy is hunched over someone’s figure, hands stitching together a sluggishly bleeding wound. Nat tucks away the knife.
“ What the fuck are you doing? ”
Daisy flinches so hard she accidentally pokes the person she’s stitching with the needle, drawing out a groan from them. Nat winces, it probably wasn’t the best idea to startle her.
Upon closer inspection the figure is revealed to be a young boy, no older than 15. Then, Nat notices something else.
“Daisy,” She starts, slowly. “Tell me that’s not Spider-Man bleeding out on our floor .”