Dalia was led into a helicopter with Natasha. As she was seated, she noticed a man across from her, checking her out. She grimaced slightly and tried to smile politely before averting her eyes.
"So you're Harrington?" The man asked, eyes still roaming.
"Hayward. Dalia Hayward."
"Why the name change?"
Dalia sighed, "I didn't want to deal with nosey reporters."
The man snorted and grinned at her. "Maybe you shoulda' changed both yer names, you know?"
He stuck his right hand out. "The names Joey McAdams!" Dalia tentatively shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Joey."
"I'm from Brooklyn. Where're you from?"
"Ah."
Dalia didn't answer as she had no interest in holding a conversation with this man, He seemed too boisterous for her taste. She looked him over through the corner of her eye. He was lanky and slim, even in his bulky uniform. He looked overly comfortable, sitting slouched with his arms draped across his legs. And he was way too cheerful for a SHIELD agent. He must have been new.
As if he read her mind, "I'm a rookie." He said, flashing her a toothy grin before narrowing his eyes and scrutinizing her. "Y'know. You don't look like much."
Instead of responding to him, she raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
"Nick said yer' some kinda' super shrew."
Dalia burst into laughter. Joey furrowed his brow in confusion, leaning over he asked, "What? What'd I say?" She wiped her eye, as if she had shed a tear from laughing and peered up at him.
"Oh, is that what he thinks about me?"
Joey leaned back, confused. Natasha turned her head to look at the two agents in the back, from her passengers seat.
"Adams. Enough." She snapped.
"It's fine, Nat." Dalia defended. Though she didn't like him, he was just a rookie. And he didn't look more then, what? Twenty? He was a child in her eyes. She settled back into her seat and closed her eyes. The sooner they arrived at their destination, the sooner she would see Bruce.
I think I'm going to be giving Joey a semi-big role in this series. Or at least until a certain point. Loki won't be appearing for a few more chapters, I know, disappointment- I'm sorry. Stick with me, loves!