Work Text:
Sasha Mason's POV
I stepped off the train that I had snuck on to New York City, while my dog, Destiny walked away from the blind man she sat next to. The only reason I'm in New York is because it's a great place to explore and it has really pretty sights. The streets are always crowded during the day, making it easy to "earn" some money. Yes, it is full of dangers and such but I was in Morristown and it's just an hour away by train so I had to. I mean it's not like I can't take care of myself. I've been on the streets ever since I ran away from the orphanage 8 years ago. I found Destiny as a puppy around a month old in Miami, Florida. She was malnourished and dehydrated plus she was a stray, kind of like me. So ever since, I have had her back and she has had mine.
When you are all over the place like me, you end up getting a multitude of "friends". They made me a fake ID and passport and gave me a computer and phone to contact them with. In return of all that they wanted me to help them rob a bank. I was almost 18 when that happened and ever since then, I've done some bad things. But the new ID of Sasha Mason has helped me a lot plus it's a way better name than Dorothy Maybelle. That was the name the nuns gave me when they got me from someone who found me as a baby wrapped up in a blanket on the sidewalk. They said it was an honorable name because that was the name of the person who found me. But ya, I was found on the street as a baby. I guess that's why I'm an adventurous, nature loving person. I still look for my birth parents to this day, for what reason? To be honest, I don't know.
Normally in the spring is when I travel the most. From my experience traveling by train or in the back of a truck are the best ways of travel, while plane and boat are always the last options. Traveling by plane sucks because of the amount of security just to get onto the plane. Plus, I got a dog and I'm sure as hell ain't going without her. Boat travel is fine but the thing is, I like staying in America. Summer, is something I like to call money season because school is out and the theme parks are filled with people, making it super easy to get good cash pickpocketing. In fall or autumn is when I just hang about doing parkour and annoying the crap out of the cops. And when worse comes to worse I end up raking leaves to get some money for food and water. Winter is the worst season of all, I try to stay in the warmer states like California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Destiny always snuggles up to me though when I'm cold. It was spring now, so it's not surprising I'm in New York. My belongings included my computer, phone, knife, wallet, ID, and Destiny's old stuffed animal shark that all fit into my backpack. The other things I had on me was a fold up dog bowl, a water bottle, a med kit, and some granola bars.
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I took someone's NYC tourist cap and an apple from their grocery bag. While Destiny wondered off somewhere I walked into a little side shop called Avie's Tech and Supplies. Snatching an expensive phone, I dropped it into a lady's bag after she paid. When she walked through the doors the shoplifting detectors went off making the store manager come on out. I was able to grab the phone out of her bag and sneak away into the streets of New York unnoticed. It was a tactic I liked to use called the place and grab. I then walked into a local bar and sold the phone for a grand, a hundred dollars less then it normally is. I put the money in my bag knowing I could use it to spend a few nights at a hotel. And after drinking my Bloody Mary I headed out to find Destiny.
I found her eating a sausage in an alleyway. I had to put a tracker on her bandana after she somehow ended up in a dog fighting ring. When I got a hotel room, I let Destiny in through the back door. Then once I had dropped my bag onto the bed I went into the bathroom. Getting undressed I saw my soul mark in the mirror. The words "Hey, are you okay? Let me help you patch that up," laid across my front right shoulder in nice feminine writing. I liked to look at it whenever I got the chance. Every time I saw those words the thoughts: Do they like dogs?, I wonder how they feel about traveling?, and What will happen if she finds out about my past? ran through my head. The thing was, I didn't even really want a soulmate to begin with. I like my life how it is. And a soulmate would probably put me in jail anyways.
Destiny walking into the bathroom broke my rambling thoughts. I then took a quick shower and hopped on out getting into some pajamas. I ended up eating the apple I stole from earlier for dinner. Jumping into bed I cuddled up next to my dog. I heard some rain drops hitting the window. Rain meant everything was going to be wet. Meaning if I tried to do some parkour, I would end up slipping and hurting myself. "I guess we'll have to find something else to do tomorrow," I complained, "Goodnight Destiny."
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I woke up to Destiny licking my face at 8:30 in the morning. "Get off," I said pushing her off of me. I got dressed into my usual gray and black hooded tank top, tight black jeans, black tactical boots, and an identical blue tie dye bandana to Destiny's that hung on my neck. I snuck Destiny out through the back again and checked out of the hotel. I was still gonna spend a few nights in New York, but I wasn't going to stay in the same place. I get restless, plus I didn't want the hotel to find out I had a dog in there with me.
The rain had long gone by now, but everything was still wet and muddy. It was a nice day out to walk around pickpocketing people. So naturally that is exactly what I did. I first went to Central Park using Destiny to 'accidentally' knock people over making them drop their purses and wallets. And then I helped them with picking up their stuff and grabbing a few things for myself as well. I then took the subway to Brooklyn where I was able to stick my hand into a couples' bag and take 100 in cash out of their wallet. Afterwards I pretended to be a homeless person (which I basically was) and ended up getting 27 and a whole pizza that I shared with Destiny. I additionally went to the Brooklyn Mall where I was able to break into some arcade machines using a bobby pin and paperclip. In total I was able to get around three thousand.
You see I'm not really 'poor and homeless' per say. I could totally be living in a mansion on the coast somewhere. But the thing is, I like doing what I do. I have a bunch of safehouses and money stashes all over the place in case I need it, but I don't. Plus, I have my friends, Faith and Benjamin that I have to take care of. Sure, I don't see them very often, but I pay for their food and take care of their escape plans. We three grew up and escaped the Lepher Orphanage together. I'm like a big sister to them and we keep in contact and call all the time. While they rob banks and buy and sell stuff in the black market, I steal and travel. The media calls Faith and Ben the Tricksters. They know, the name is dumb, but it’s not like they can just walk up to the people who run the News and say, “Bitch, give us a cooler name!”
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Finally, when the sun started to set, I took a taxi back to the same bar I sold the phone at. With Destiny waiting outside I bought a margarita, taking my time to drink it. Once I finished my drink I sold some phones, medicine, a camera, and some keys that I stole from earlier. When I was finished with all of my business, I headed on out. And because most people get drunk at this hour, I had to avoid needy drunk men pulling my hair and slapping my ass. Whistling for Destiny to follow, I noticed she wasn't where I left her. I wasn't to worried though because she always comes back. Suddenly a large man grabbed me from behind and forced me into an alleyway.
“Hydra has been looking for you,” the man in a gruff voice said as he pointed a gun at me.
Hydra? I worked with them awhile back. They hired me to steal some important information from the government. After I gave them the USB that contained the info, they betrayed me. Hydra realized what a great asset I could be so they decided to take advantage of me. I knew better though and got out of there as soon as I saw an opening.
But now Hydra is back and trying to use me again. I stopped struggling as I saw Destiny had now entered the alleyway. She growled viciously and was about to attack the man when he pointed his gun at her.
I screamed, “No!” as a shot rang out. I was able to use my body as a shield to protect Destiny. In doing so, I ended up with a bullet in my shoulder. Destiny then saw the opportunity and leaped at the man. I just stood there and watched as Destiny bit his arm and then aimed for his throat. She thrashed side to side as she ripped out his flesh and ultimately killed him.
I stopped struggling as he talked. Hydra? They're after me now. And they know who I am. Although he said 'their' meaning he's probably only a mercenary. But before I could say some snarky remark and kill him, I saw a flash of red. They moved to disarm the man, but the mercenary was able to shoot my upper left arm before getting his gun knocked out of his hands. The second I was able to get out of his tight grip I jumped onto the side of the dumpster and kicked him in the head. His head hit the ground hard enough that it killed him instantly. I then grabbed a long strip of cloth out of nowhere and wrapped it around the wound, momentarily slowing the bleeding.
"Hey, are you okay? Let me help you patch that up," exclaimed the woman who had tried to help.
I paused upon seeing her face, not only because this woman was THE Black Widow aka Natasha Romanoff, but she was her soulmate. "Listen, I don't need your help or will I ever. So, I suggest that you leave me alone," I cautioned, "Nor do I even want a soulmate." I stalked off to find Destiny and go as far as I can away from New York.
3rd Person
Natasha knew the second she saw those words marked across her skin that her soulmate wasn't going to want a monster, a killer. Even though Clint always said that "maybe your soulmate is just going through a tough time" or even "you're not a monster and I'm sure your soulmate will love you". She prepared herself for the time that she did meet her soulmate yet hearing those words in person, did some damage. Plus, love was for children anyways. Natasha was analyzing the way that the woman dealt with the situation. She was skilled that's for sure. And killing the man with such ease meaning she has killed before. Natasha wanted to go after her soulmate, but she ended up staying still and walking back to the tower.
Clint of course being Natasha's best friend knew something was different about her. So, he dragged her into his room and inquired, "Natasha what is going on with you? Ever since you returned from the tower last night you've been acting strange."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Natasha objected calmly.
"Oh, don't give me that shit. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Natasha sighed giving in, "Fine, I met my soulmate!"
"W-What, Nat that's great," Clint sputtered.
"No, it's not Clint. It's just like I thought, she doesn't even want me. The second she recognized my face and who I was she ran." Then Natasha just marched off. Her walls building back up again.
Once Clint saw that Natasha was out of view and earshot, he asked Friday to track down who Natasha's soulmate was and where she met her.