Family Matters Chapter 22
"I thought I might find you out here." A voice stated making her turn to see her brother walking up to her as she sat on the hill.
'Look at all the stars.' Grace signed as Clint sat down next to her he looked up
"Definitely brighter than New York." He agreed "Are you sure you are ready for this?" he asked after a moment of silence.
'You are not going to talk me out of this. I am here, I will fight.' Grace signed 'I am not defenseless.'
"I know, god I know how strong you are Grace." He replied at this Grace leaned into him.
'You don't have to worry about me.' She signed
"I'm your brother, its in my job description. I will always worry about you." He replied, "Okay then tomorrow you will be working out with me and Nat." he stated at this Grace moved back from him tilting her head to the side. "we are not needed for the meeting tomorrow, get some rest we rise at dawn." Clint stated
'I don't know if you are joking.' She signed trying to read him
'No joke, at dawn.' He signed getting up "I will leave you two to talk. Don't stay up too late." Clint stated moving back Steve ended up taking his place. She ended up leaning into him as they watched the stars listening to the chatter of others.
"You got to meet Bucky." He mumbled into her head as he kissed the top of her head. Grace nodded and made the sign for friend. She had slowly been teaching him sign language but they both had busy lives and her teaching did not get very far. "You should get some rest, its getting late." He added at this she traced the letter U2 on his hand. "I'll get some after I drop you off at your room, call me old fashion." Steve stated at this Grace smiled thinking of all the times they hung out how he always ended up walking her to her door after each date.
'Join me.' Grace signed it was one he did know at this he felt himself blush
"Your brother would use me as target practice not to mention what Nat would do." Steve replied helping her to her feet they walked hand in hand to the rooms they were assigned, they took their time when they finally reached the door Steve pulled her in for a hug, Grace took it a step further by kissing him passionately. He made a groaning noise before stepping back. "You are making it hard for me to walk away." Steve mumbled as Grace ended up hugging him as he rested his chin on her head. Her door opened to reveal Natasha standing there the two of them broke apart as she looked at them innocently. Steve was blushing and Grace was glaring at her but she was immune to Grace's glares.
"Goodnight Steve." Natasha smiled sweetly making Steve nod and take a step back. Grace grabbed his hand stopping him from walking away he looked at her as she stepped forward and kissed him again before stepping back she signed good night before pushing Natasha into the room and closing the door, Steve stood there for a second longer getting his heartrate back down before heading to his room. He was not surprised to see Clint sitting on the couch waiting for him he rubbed his neck nodding to Clint before heading into his room. "Goodnight." He mumbled before shutting the door.
'You know I thought I was sharing a room with Wanda.' Grace signed looking at Natasha
"You are, Wanda is in her room, but with the extra people here we moved rooms. Clint is with Pietro, Bucky and Steve. I am in with you, Wanda and Carol." Natasha replied just as Carol came out of her room into the small lounge area that brought the three bedrooms together.
'Four in a three room apartment?'
"We're sharing a room." Natasha stated placing her hand on her shoulder looking her in the eyes "Is that a problem."
'Normally no…but you scared Steve off.' Grace signed
"I assure you I did not scare Steve off." Natasha replied
'Goodnight Steve? waiting up for me like that? All innocent?' Grace questioned
"This looks like a private matter." Carol stated heading back for her room.
'Wait.' Grace signed clapping her hands to get Carol's attention, it worked she turned to look at her. 'You are the one that Phil spoke of? You worked with Nick?' Grace signed Natasha translating for her.
"You call him Nick?" Carol asked remembering a certain conversation she would have to bring that up with him next time she saw him. What was this girls relationship with him anyway? Who was Phil?
"Who is Phil?" Carol asked
"Coulson." Natasha replied for her
"The promising agent that Fury liked."
'Nick is his name.'
"Everyone calls him Fury though." Carol pointed out and Natasha had to agree, only a select few can call him Nick and that was mainly the May's. Especially Grace, Skye and Maria.
'That is true, I am special.' Grace smiled Nick played the cool grandfather role, she had Yeye and Nick they have always been there. 'Anyway no matter how many times I have asked he evades the question or gives me a weird answer I know that if Phil's story is correct you know the deal behind the eyepatch.' Grace signed
"You want me to tell you how he lost his eye?" she asked for clarification at this Grace nodded "What did he tell you?" Carol asked trying to think of the relationship between them.
'That the Kree took his eye because he did not give up the cube. Another one was about space pirates wanting the ship…his stories changed as I grew older.'
"You grew up with him? He isn't…"
'Not my father.' Grace figured where she was taking this 'he is family though.'
"He seemed like the really paranoid private type why are you telling me this?"
'Because he respected you, trusted you.'
"How do you…"
'I know.' Grace signed looking at her with unwavering blue eyes that look alone had Carol unnerved slightly.
"He was the one to tell you about me, not Phil." Carol guessed at this Grace smiled
'He said you were smart. Here…he wants an update.' Grace signed handing Carol a phone she then turned to Natasha. 'Apparently I have an early morning so goodnight.' She signed heading into her room. Carol went to ask what was going on when the phone rang, the screen said pirate so Carol answered to come face to face with Nick Fury she took the call in her room.
The next morning she really was woken up at the crack of dawn by Natasha and Clint heading out for a warm up before they started on a morning exercise routine the two had down to a t. Grace felt out of place as she joined them, watching two masters when she knew she was an apprentice compared to them. After going for a run they began to work out, Natasha started off sparring with Clint who ended up losing but not right away seeming they were both so evenly matched. Grace paid close attention, over the years she had watched her family spar, she knew most of their techniques and styles. When she was being trained she was taught not just by her mother, but also Maria and Natasha. Clint was a big help also even though what he really wanted to teach her was archery, Skye was the only one to accept his archery lessons and she was now rather good with a bow not that she would use it. Grace was taught by Maria frequently enough that she adopted her fighting style which was in a way one of their mothers fighting styles but Melinda May was still the master in this family. When Natasha agreed to teach her to fight for defensive purposes she focused on defense not offence. Watching Natasha spar with Clint over the years however she picked up a few of her special moves and thanks to how she was made she figured she could pull them off not as flawlessly as Natasha but enough to work. As she watched Clint and Natasha spar today it was like they were dancing, they knew each other rather well and knew most of each other's moves that comes with being partners for so long.
"You are up early." A voice behind her made her turn to see Steve with Bucky and Pietro
'Go for your run?' she signed
"Something run?" Steve asked "We just went for our run." Steve stated and now that he was closer to her she could see the sweat marks.
'You need a shower.' She signed stepping back
"You…something water…shower?" He asked at this Grace nodded "I suppose I do need one." He added looking down at himself Grace smiled.
"How long have they been at it?" Bucky asked looking at them spar, Pietro was also watching cheering Clint on as it was clear he was losing especially when Natasha ended up flipping him onto the ground. He ended up tapping out.
"You distracted me." Clint protested
'You were losing five minutes ago.' Grace pointed out coming to Pietro's defence
"Your turn." He stated staring at Grace. "Pietro go wake up your sister, meet us out here in ten." Clint stated Pietro nodded running off to get Wanda.
"Do you ever win against Natasha?" Steve asked
"Do you want to go against Nat?" Clint asked Steve seemed to think over his answer before shaking his head
"No, I have this brut to spar with."
"What was that punk?" Bucky asked looking at Steve who only ended up laughing "did you want to go a round?" Bucky asked
"No, I want breakfast, you do too…seeming for the last mile you were talking about food." Steve retorted Bucky went to protest but his stomach rumbled. As they continued to talk Grace had moved into the ring.
'Do you not want a break? I mean breakfast does sound good.' Grace asked
"You get one hit in we will stop for breakfast…hand to hand before you go thinking of something else." Natasha stated that meant no powers.
'Okay.' They then began their spar, Grace let Natasha attack first after all she was more trained in defense not offence. However Natasha somehow seemed to coax her into going on the offence without Grace realizing it. She ended on the ground with a thud but that was not the end of it. She jumped back to her feet going on the defense blocking Natasha's strikes not letting her attacks get past her defense. When Natasha was close enough Grace tried the move she learnt from watching her…she was surprised it work, she somehow managed to get Natasha on the ground with that move. Natasha jumped to her feet Grace was still in surprise that it worked she couldn't help the smile that graced her lips.
"I didn't teach you that, where did you learn that?" Natasha asked Grace was surprised at that tone she tilted her head, she was now weary of Natasha who instantly pulled back. "A deal is a deal, breakfast." Grace nodded before walking off grabbing her drink bottle as Natasha made her way over to Clint the two of them began to talk Grace knew she was talking about her but she was too caught up in her own thoughts to try to listen in, was Natasha mad?