Again, I don't own Marvel.
I know it was rude, just teleporting away with no warning, but I had to get out of there, it was just too like something we had been stuck in before. Agent Barton and Stark were on their hands and knees, retching and heaving. Despite my extreme phobia of vomit, I could understand that. Teleportation is an awful experience the first few times - it feels like someone has stuck a tube into your body and is trying to suck the content of it out, but something has gotten stuck and everything is piling on everything else, before everything going back to its normal place when you materialise at your destination. However, after the first few times, you build up an immunity - which explains why Agent Romanoff had collapsed on the floor with laughter at the sight of her colleagues, although that would be considered out of character if we didn't know it's how she acts when she is comfortable with those with her. I'm taking it as a huge compliment.
After a minute of watching the Agents and Stark on the floor, I mentally reminded myself that we still weren't safe and Cody was still out cold in my arms. Passing him to Nancy, I pulled a set of silver keys from one of my many pockets (not that you'd notice them if you saw me) and started pacing off towards an old, grey, block of flats, smiling a terrifying smile. We used this place for emergencies and if this wasn't one, I don't know what it is. I reached an ageing door with a Mano Cornuto painted on it, with an identical charm welded into the door handle. Taking the eldest possible key - which was almost as rusty and faded as the door - from the ring charm, I slotted it into the charm on the handle - which seems impossible, I know - and turned it, opening the door to an old, but almost pristine spiral staircase. Now, this staircase may look cool, but it is a killer to walk up, especially when you are injured or are carrying an injured - or dead - person or even both at once. I didn't envy Nancy. Eventually, after a lot of complaining, we reached a faded black door. I made a mental note to get it repainted as I searched for another key. However, as I slotted it into the door, I heard someone calling my name.
"Nic? Is it you?" I ushered everyone else into the apartment and turned to greet the landlady, a 60-year-old woman with four cats and two children with grandchildren that visited her during the holidays.
"Hi, Mrs Pirlo, it's good to see you." I smiled at her, not my chilling smile obviously, she's too nice to do that. She rushed forward and gave me a bone-crushing hug.
"Nic! I haven't seen you in forever! Are you keeping the apartment? Are you going to be using it more often? How is Mark? Is he enjoying himself? Have any of you gotten a boyfriend or girlfriend yet? Have you-"
"Mrs Pirlo, Calm down! One question at a time!" I laughed. "Yes, we're keeping the apartment and we are going to be using it more often. Mark's good, and yes he is enjoying his job and college - thank you for recommending it by the way. No, none of us are dating anyone, we're a bit too busy with our work." She sighed.
"You guys are just married to your job aren't you." Smirking, I leaned towards her, whispering
"Bit hard to date people when you kill on a daily basis." She thought for a second, screwing up her face and looking towards the floor.
"Good point. Are they coming at any time?"
"They might be coming down in the next couple of months." I admitted.
"Oh, that's good! I'll have to come down and see you guys when they arrive. Anyway, I'll let you go and relax, you must be so tired!" She smiled warmly and I returned it.
"Thank you, Mrs Pirlo, it was lovely to see you." She shuffled off down the corridor. I watched her go before abruptly turning around and walking into the apartment, looking around me before closing the door and locking it. This apartment was my mother's when she died, so naturally, since we had no father by then, my brother Markus and I received it. My eyes reached the blood-red wallpaper, which almost camouflaged Agent Romanoff's hair, and the black furniture which was occupied by the Agents and Stark. I scanned the apartment to see if I could find my two missing siblings, discovering that Nancy had taken Cody into the bedroom to check he was okay and get him rested so that he would wake up soon. I sat down in front of Agent Romanoff. She was watching me intently - like she was trying to make sure I was okay.
"Sto bene, va bene, non c'รจ bisogno di preoccuparsi per me, quindi smettila di farlo." She nodded.
"What was that?" Agent Barton leaned forwards looking from me to her.
"Oh, nothing." Was my quick response. I got up and walked over to our surprisingly new Radio station. I'm not sure who changed it. Probably Momma. I turned it on and found it was already tuned to the radio I wanted - Kusr Broadcasting. Definitely Momma. The song it was playing was one of my favourites: House of Wolves by My Chemical Romance. I sang along to it whilst making myself a Coffee and Code a Hot Chocolate for when he woke up. After all, this had been a difficult day and it's only, like, 1 pm.
"You have a nice voice." I spun around to see Agent Barton leaning against the 'doorway' looking at me impassively.
"Thanks. "
"So... why did you bring us here?" He looked at me, obviously wanting an answer. I shrugged.
"You said you wanted somewhere secret. This used to be my mother's house, but when she died, it went to me and my brother. It's secret enough. Only extremely close connections and now you guys know it exists." He nodded slowly.
"So who are you exactly?" I smiled coldly.
"I'll say when I'm certain we'll be working together." He nodded again and walked back to Agent Romanoff and Stark. I picked up the hot chocolate and walked into the bedroom and placed it on the black, wooden bedside table. I looked over at Nancy.
"He gonna be okay?" She looked up at me.
"Yea, he should be." I sighed with relief.
"I'll go talk to Clint, Tony, and 'Nat'. See what we're gonna do." She nodded, so I walked out. We're actually familiar with the Avengers, it's just what happens with us, don't ask. I wandered into the lounge to see the three of them discussing something with Warriors by Imagine Dragons playing in the background. I picked up my coffee and took a sip.
"We need to talk." They looked up in shock at my statement. I don't think they had realised I was there.
"Okay." Agent Romanoff raised an eyebrow as she agreed, obviously wary of what we needed to talk about.
Soooo I'm back after, like, 4 months or whatever. I'm currently in my GCSE year, and my drama and photography coursework/final exam are taking up all of my time, aka slower updates now. I'm sorry... Anyway, the other Zanetti's will be arriving in the next couple of chapters or so, I might delay it a bit longer than originally, so... Wait for it. It'll be fun. Also, I have a small habit of connecting books/fanfics, so if I mention a random OC, that could be a hint for a future fanfic/book. And I know I said I'd translate what I want something to say in other languages in case it doesn't say what I want it to, but this is, like, major spoilers, so I ain't gonna do that.
Please tell me how I can improve this!
MK
