Chapter Text
Criminal activity was becoming more and more if a problem on this side of town, and the owner of Infinity Jewelers, Tony Stark, had finally put his foot down when enough of his employees brought it up with management.
Many of the other owners and businesses were setting up better and higher forms of security and even hiring body guards to watch over not only the store itself but also the employees who worked there.
"It's about damn time," commented Gamora the Monday they were given the news, "not that I can't take care of myself, my dad is the Mad Titan after all, but still." Thanos, or as many people called him, the Mad Titan, was a well-known wrestler throughout the city and his competitors knew better than to mess with his family.
"Sure, Gamora. But those of us who can't train with a legend on our off days need to have a sense of security," said Scott Lang, one of the newer hires that surprisingly knew his way around not only metals but also gems and precious stones.
"What about you Natasha?" asked one of the managers, Peggy Carter, as she came onto the floor from the back room. "What do you think?"
Natasha just turned back to her inventory sheet with a shrug, "We'll see." She looked up from the page when a black car pulled up in front of the store. Natasha was one of the longest working employees for Infinity Jewelers, having pretty much grown up with Tony, and although she was offered several higher positions, she would rather stay on the floor in one of the locations to keep an eye on other staff members and direct in her own way if things weren't done correctly.
She already knew her way around several forms of martial arts, but agreed that the store needed better security after the incident that happened to the store across from them last week. She didn't want that kind if burglary to happen here and urged Tony to hire guards not only for this store but his other locations too. "Great idea," he eventually accepted.
And even though Tony suggested she could take the lead on it since he knew the extent of her training, she would rather keep that aspect of her life to herself, which confused him. In the end, he agreed that it would probably be the best option for everyone, and asked Peggy if her husband still worked for that company she vaguely mentioned several months ago at their Christmas party.
SHIELD Security was one of the best forms of security in the City, no, this corner of the state, and he would be stupid to not hire them to protect his friends and company. Not to mentioned, he would also be stupid to not hire, at Peggy's insistence, her husband and his best friends for "the safety of the family he built." Tony had rolled his eyes at this, but relented and was eager to see the team in action.
"Oh perfect timing," Peggy said, eyeing the two men who exited the black car, which drove off almost immediately. The tall and rather muscular men entered the store and the blond one went straight to Peggy, while the other just stayed back, hands behind his back in parade rest until introduced.
"Everyone," Peggy began, announcing to those present for their attention, and once all eyes were on her, she continued, "this is Steve, my husband. He will be the lead on this operation and the one you go to if there's ever an incident regarding theft, harassment, or anything else under the criminal, violent, or aggressive umbrella." She squeezed Steve's hand and turned to the man behind her as Steve took up the parade rest stance.
"This is Sam. He and Steve will be starting us off today, and they will be switching off with 9 other men during the month. You will get to know them all soon enough."
Once introductions were made, and the store was ready to open, Natasha kept her eye on the guards as they took up their posts near the entrance, one on either side.
"Ok wow," said a blushing Wanda as she walked over to her place next to Natasha having just come in and eyeing the new recruits. "If I knew they were coming today, I would have coordinated my jewellery better."
Gamora laughed. "Honey, we work in a jewellery store. You should always make sure to coordinate it."
Natasha snickered quietly as Wanda glared at their coworker.
Within a matter of hours, and little to almost no activity, it was time for lunch and two other men came over to replace Steve and Sam, their suits matching, and although they weren't as big as the previous two, Natasha knew better than to underestimate their size. She was usually underestimated herself with the fights she had to participate in.
Peggy ushered the four of them over to the two new guards and made quick introductions since it was getting a bit busier now. "The blond on the right is Clint, while the Brunette is Peter."
The four of them waved to the two guards and were quickly urged back to their own posts behind the counter, and Natasha couldn't help but wonder how she might know Clint - he looked a little too familiar for her liking. And the way he was looking back at her made it seem like he might know her too.
Lunch came and went and another trade off was made four hours later. The final two men were the two of the biggest and most muscular men Natasha had ever seen. She motioned for Peggy to join her before her shift was done, noticing that they were just sitting in a car, waiting for 4pm. "That's Drax," Peggy motioned to the man in the passenger seat, "and that's Thor," she said about the man on the driver's side. There was a man sitting in the back though that Natasha couldn't seem to take her eyes off of. The way his long dark hair fell over, from what she could tell were, stormy grey eyes, made her breath catch in her throat and her heart skip a beat.
"W-who's that?" she barely managed to ask through a suddenly dry mouth.
Peggy eyed her amusedly and said, "That's Bucky. Recently came back from the war with Steve. Had to undergo extensive surgery and physical therapy but he's better now and needed the job, but he's pretty new, so take it easy on the poor guy," she chuckled and Natasha composed her blush and expression before leaving the store, smiling to herself.
This was a great idea indeed.