'Why exactly do they have so much packaging?'
Back Widow - currently in a leather jacket and jeans - shrugged and watched as Preying Mantis pulled out package after package with an occupied frown on her face.
Mantis paused as she caught sight of the manic grin on the side of the bright box. 'And what makes this meal so happy, anyway?' She frowned.
Natasha's lip tipped up. 'I have no idea.' She replied and watched as her daughter inspected the contents of a little plastic bag of fruit.
Currently they were on an "enforced bonding trip" with any and all attempt by Mantis to escape had proven fruitless. Eventually she had accepted the inevitable. She was simply not good enough to escape her mother's radar. The trip was at a semi-finish with Natasha introducing her to the joys of fast food since they had achieved the goal of absolutely no death whatsoever in three whole hours.
A knife came into Mantis' hand almost purely by magic and she carefully slit a bag open to inspect the contents. 'That is fruit?'
Natasha resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the virtual disgust the young girl was adopting. Around them, other children screamed and hit each other whilst they were screaming - their parents paid little attention. At least those children never questioned the food.
Preying Mantis very gently tested the wrapper of her burger before she unwrapped it and peeled apart the bun and cheese.
She pulled a face. 'Eugh, I despise gherkins.' The knife very carefully shifted them to one side before very carefully cutting free a quarter of bun and burger.
Natasha was somewhat amused by her reaction. In some ways - Mantis was still just like a little girl; prone to picky eating and programmed with a preference for disliking everything that was good for her - even if she was developed enough to understand the need.
A ball from the tiny ballpit smacked into the back of her head and she turned with the knife, ready to carve apologies out of skin. Natasha coughed and she turned back to look at her sullenly. Retribution denied. 'Why are we here, anyway?' She asked.
'Because it's lunchtime.' Natasha replied simply.
'The food is garbage.' She complained.
'Oh? If it's so much garbage, then I'll just have to take this McFlurry and-'
'You wouldn't.' The little redhead snarled at the thought of losing her ice-cream.
'Eat your garbage, then.'
Both paused and the knife disappeared swiftly when a harried looking worker approached with a sheet of paper and a packet of sealed crayons. 'Hi!'
Mantis stared.
'We're having a colouring competition today! Do you want to give it a go?'
'I'd rather take a bullet.' She got a swift kick from under the table and received a glare from Natasha. She sighed. 'I suppose,' She amended at the confused looking worker. After all - it looked as though she hardly had a choice in it.
The woman beamed as though she couldn't believe it was that simple and slapped down a piece of paper bearing - joy of joys - another demented happy meal box.
Those things were unbelievably creepy - and she was quite well versed in creepy.
'You just colour it in the way you think the box should look!' She smiled and then wandered off to attempt to get one of the kids throwing balls from the ball-pit to stop long enough to refocus on the paper.
Mantis stared at the paper and asked faintly 'What exactly is the point in this? It's child labour, isn't it? They're making us do all the design work but make it seem exciting and fun.'
'Pretty much.' Natasha agreed and stole her chips.
'Never bring me back here again.'
A/N: A little something different this week - Mother and daughter bonding session. I have got to feel sorry for Natasha - She'd love to play a mothering role if Mantis would let her. Or Bucky. Attempts to be normal do not go too well in this family unit.