Hello, everyone. This is a short story that is the result of me listening to certain songs too many times. The ideas ganged up on me, and for some reason I write very well when I'm sick.
I've been reading lots of stories about Hawkeye and Black Widow meeting for the first time, and I was getting really annoyed with the Black Widow. On one hand, she's a great character. On the other, I just don't like her. She's so . . . inhuman. No, really.
So I dreamed up a more human assassin, a different partner for Hawkeye. One who I can actually believe in.
In case you haven't already figured it out, this does not tie in to my Riven stories at all. And I effectively eliminated the Black Widow entirely, not to mention I have written a very different version of Hawkeye than the one I wrote for my Riven stories. This is set before the movie, and it's a different format than usual for me. I hope you like it, and I'll shut up now so you can read the story.
Disclaimer: I'm only going to say this once: I don't own Hawkeye, just Erian.
Enjoy!
K.S.
Airplane #1
Erian Ross was tired, and her feet hurt. It was dark, and raining, and her formerly starched white blouse was ruined. The high collar had wilted, and her black skirt was soaked. Her black tights were thoroughly saturated with warm rain, and the sidewalk was splattered with puddles.
She was walking back to her apartment from her rehearsal, and she was exhausted. Erian's throat hurt from contesting the soprano lead, and the black heels were killing her.
But it was a warm rain, and she didn't mind being wet. Erian paused in the faint, coppery glow of the streetlights, and took off her shoes. She stripped off her tights and stuffed them in one shoe, and then continued down the sidewalk, carrying her high-heeled shoes in one hand. Erian took great private pleasure in stepping in each puddle in her path, soaking her aching feet to ease the pain.
She smiled at the warmth, and raised her arms over her head, twirling under a streetlight, barefoot and brilliant in the lonely, late-night rainstorm. Erian's waves of golden brown hair were melting out of their pins and running down her back, leaving hairpins scattered behind her as she walked.
Out of the darkness, a small white paper airplane soared toward her. The tiny glider was beaten by the rain, wet drops splattering across its surface and driving it to the ground. Erian watched the paper plane in fascination as it alighted just in front of her.
Her quick fingers darted out and rescued the paper plane from a puddle, and Erian paused, soaking her feet in the water as she gently unfolded the soaked plane. Her dark eyes widened in surprise, and she stared about her in alarm.
Erian could see no one. Rain fell in sheets, reflecting the metallic glow of the streetlights and obscuring her surroundings. She knew where she was, of course, but that's not what worried her. After a moment of hesitation, Erian began to run, and didn't slow down until she had reached her apartment.
Written in the paper airplane was the word Hello.