For those of you who review, thank you! It is really encouraging! Thank you dear 'guest', I'm glad you're enjoying this story, and I'm glad My OC is not a complete disaster!
Here is Chapter 6, that I'm publishing under Enji's duress (sorry, the lawyer in me is speaking...), I hope you'll enjoy it!
Chapter 6
New Friends And Revelations
Have you ever wondered if an event was mere coincidence, blind chance, or if it was meant to be, destiny, decided by someone else up above? Whatever was your answer, you know we all go through such questioning. Maybe not exactly when it happens, but perhaps later, when you pause on your life, and look back to realize: « wait, if this did not happen, then I wouldn't have lived this? »
That is the question that would come to Natasha and Anna-Grace's mind, when they would think about the day their lives connected. Indeed, Natasha's first day undercover at Neverland was also Anna-Grace's first day as a receptionist, and on that day, their first meaningful action was when they met. Coincidence or destiny? We'll leave this to the reader's discretion but the fact remained: the Black Widow was meeting Bruce's keeper when Anna-Grace was meeting her first client, and this encounter was fundamental for both of them, as if it could and would somehow determine how their situation would evolve.
However, here stops the symmetry. Indeed, if Black Widow prepared cooly for her infiltration, Anna-Grace was a bundle or nerves.
Natasha packed, choosing carefully the perfect attire for a spy pretending to be a tourist, including the listening devices and the camera. She phoned Captain America so he would warn the team, and arrived in New York via Tony's private jet - he owned her so, so much for the ULTRON mess - but afterwards managed like a true tourist, or more accurately, a tourist knowing New York inside out.
As for Anna-Grace, she was so nervous Bruce chuckled several times at her clumsiness, firstly unintentionally, then more naturally when he realized it calmed her. When she finally made it alive to the counter down the lobby, she knew it was mostly due to Bruce, who had been helpful and relaxing. He even reminded her to take a book for her and color pencils and papers for him, thus anticipating the wait.
After Peter's last indications before he left for their soon-to-be apartment, she sat behind the counter, Bruce by her side with a drawing already on the way.
Then, before Anna-Grace could open her book, the sounds from the city - honking, cars, and people talking - were heard as a lady entered the hallway, before the silence came back when the door closed behind her. The first client was thin, muscular, and not very tall with a very pretty face and curly, short ginger hair. She was dressed like some hipster on her holiday, with jeans and sneakers, a T-shirt with some meaningful inscription, and a brown leather jacket. She had a really pretty and fashion purse on her elbow, and an I-phone in her manicured hand, the other one carrying a black wheeled suitcase. The purse, I-phone and suitcase kind of ruin the « I don't care about material possessions » effect Anna-Grace couldn't help but remark with sarcasm before she reprimanded herself for her criticism. Then the blond woman smiled at the ginger one - who smiled back at her when she spotted the receptionist and came to the counter.
- « Hi, I'm Natalie Roshman, I made a reservation here » she said, grinning, while observing the lobby.
- « Yes, Miss Roshman, we were expecting you. I'm Mrs Lorien, at your service » Anna-Grace answered, smiling gently but with a professional reservation.
While Roshman was pulling her wallet out of her purse, Anna-Grace took the key chamber and, after being paid for the week in cash, gave it to her new client.
At the same time, Bruce had left his drawing, and was staring in awe at the ginger lady, as if struck by grace or revelation.
Anna-Grace only noticed it when Natalie glanced at him and chuckled. The blond woman turned to her 'son' just in time to see him blush deeply after being caught admiring by the object of his sudden adoration, even though he didn't stop marveling at her. Anna-Grace's hand coming to tangle itself in his curls, his 'mother' said:
- « Miss Roshman, let me introduce you to Bruce, my son. Bruce, this is Miss Roshman. »
Natalie laughed, and giving her hand to shake to him, said:
- « A pleasure, Mr. Bruce. But you can call me Natalie. »
Said Bruce blushed deeper, if that was possible, but as the ever polite boy, shook hands with her.
This little incident eased the atmosphere, even if no one really realized the air had been thick with tension, except for the Black Widow of course.
If Anna-Grace was thankful for Natalie's gentle reaction, Natasha was satisfied by this event because it answered several questions. If the boy was Bruce, he obviously didn't remember his adult life or he would've never made his crush so evident. He also didn't recognize her, which she wasn't really glad about. Moreover, Anna-Grace seemed to care about the kid, and Bruce wasn't afraid of her. She must've found him. Why didn't she bring him to a hospital, or contact the police or social services? If this is Bruce Banner, can he hulk out? And what does she know?
Smiling at Anna-Grace, the ex-russian spy winked at the boy:
- « Well, have a nice day, Mr. Bruce. Good day to you too, Mrs Lorien » she said, turning to Anna-Grace.
Natasha left for her room, Room 2, 1st Floor. Anna-Grace was relieved of her successful first meeting. Well, successful mostly because of Bruce. Speaking of…
- « She's real pretty, don't you think? »
- « AG… » was Bruce's only answer, his red face focused on his drawings.
But, he didn't deny it thought Anna-Grace and Natasha at the same time. The spy had, of course, already planted a listening device under the counter.
The blond woman chuckled and started her book, leaving the kid at peace, after quickly ruffling his hair.
Natasha put on the recording mode of her device so she could listen to their conversation later, and once in her room, called Nick Fury and the Captain to keep them up to date on the child and his keeper. Keeper was the right word indeed, as Mrs Lorien could be keeping Bruce to help him or to sequester him. Natasha was always careful with the terms she employed, part of the job requirements, but she also liked to have double meanings behind her words, it made life so much more fun and deadly.
The Captain and Nick told her how they were still looking into the woman, which wasn't reassuring because given how much resources they had, human, monetary and technological, they usually were able to discover everything there was to know about someone in a couple of hours. To still not be able to know the woman's identity - of course, Lorien wasn't her real name, and her papers were fakes - after more than 12 hours wasn't a good sign.
Natasha was able to help them out on that point, as she told them about the little scar Lorien had near her left ear, a scar which was old and had necessitated surgery. From personal and past experiences, she knew the injury had been deep and severe because of its location, and was only so neat because an army surgeon had operated, using a military method not yet generally used, and probably in a charity hospital were they were more lenient on methods employed as long as lives were saved, which the surgeon did for the false Mrs. Lorien. It was still like looking for a needle in a haystack, but at least they had found a haystack.
Moreover, the woman had arrived with Bruce at Neverland, and it was recent as the kid was a child for less than 15 days, which meant they could with security cameras retrace her steps from when she arrived at the pension to when she found Bruce and even maybe when she arrived in New York.
While Natasha was giving her report, one thought kept lingering in her head, as she remembered how Bruce didn't deny his crush on her: it means he feels safe enough around her…
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The first thing the Black Widow did the next day was take DNA samples from Lorien and Bruce's room, so SHIELD could positively identify the child, and luckily, the woman. The spy also bugged the room, only to discover the 'family' was moving out when Anna-Grace talked to Bruce about his room design.
Natasha thus sent the DNA samples to Stark - which were at last positive for the child, but unknown for the woman - and went to the lobby the next day, her mind set on causally discovering where they were going to live while also observing them as a 'family'.
What she didn't expect was to be second in line on that project. An other client - Rosie; 62 years old; white; white hair, with ginger threads, nice…; hippy style with far to many bracelets observed Natasha - was already talking with the blond woman and Bruce about that, and Anna-Grace was explaining she would live at Neverland, in an independent apartment, with Bruce. The owner was there too, dust covering him, and in working clothes, to intervene from time to time when the client he obviously knew for a long time was too indiscreet for his liking, while talking with Bruce about his drawings.
While the Black Widow started her spying and reporting on their daily whereabouts to Fury and the Captain like a ghost, the 'family' settled in the Neverland Community. For example, they met Rosie Carpenter, the first client Natasha saw them with, and one of Peter's faithful customers that came every year at the same season. She indeed knew Peter for a while now, and Anna-Grace and Bruce found interesting to see them interacting. As a very outgoing person, she loved to tease Peter and was never impress by his rudeness or grumpiness.
Her first day back at Neverland, she was surprised to see a receptionist which is why Anna-Grace was explaining part of her deal with Peter, with him on the side to intervene when Rosie, as she insisted to be called, was too indiscreet. Bruce, particularly, enjoyed her easiness and cheerful manners as her friendliness. She was just leaving after Peter when she saw Bruce's drawing:
- « Well, boy, you're good at art! »
Surprised, Bruce blushed, and almost inaudibly, thanked her. I preferred her manners when she was talking to AG or Peter…
Anna-Grace intervened:
- « Yes, he loves to draw. »
- « Well, if he does, and if you're interested, I can teach him some technics » the elderly person answered her.
- « Oh, Rosie, that is very kind of you but you are on holidays, we can't… »
- « Nonsense! I wouldn't mind at all, I miss it! I was an art teacher but they forced me into retirement. Was too old, if you can believe it! I'm telling you, this government will take us all down! Anyway, I wanted to continue as a private one, but not enough clients on Wyoming. »
Anna-Grace didn't know what to say. A glance at Bruce was enough to tell her what he thought about it. His face was half delight half dread at the idea of drawing classes and being alone with a stranger. Which was kind of what she felt too, so she told her client, frankly:
- « Listen, Rosie, you seem really nice, but I cannot leave you alone with Bruce, even in Neverland. You must understand, I barely know you, so does Bruce. And I'm not even sure we have the money for it. »
- « Oh, those arguments aren't valid. I don't need money so I won't be asking you a penny. I'm a real art teacher, I only teach because of Art, because the love must be passed on to the younger generation! » she said to Anna-Grace, almost exalted by her speech. Calming down, she added « I can teach him here, at the counter, no one would mind, I can assure you. It's that kind of place. »
She finished by a nod of her head, as if it could make them believe more in the veracity of her speech, her earrings clicking in the sudden move.
Anna-Grace looked at Bruce again. This seemed to calm his fear. He was looking at her, uncertain but also intrigued. She made up her mind:
- « Alright, what about we give it a try? You teach him one lesson and we see if both parties want to go on. »
Rosie looked at them, grinned and gave her two hands to shake to them
- « Deal » she said
Anna-Grace laughed, shook hands at the same time as Bruce, who was barely containing his excitement now.
- « Well, I've got to prepare for this, kids! See ya! » Rosie said before leaving.
- « Have a good day, Rosie. See you soon! » answered Anna-Grace, relieved and happy with this new development.
She turned to Bruce, who smiled at her:
- « Thanks, AG. »
- « It's my pleasure, Bruce. »
Their conversation ended there, and Natasha learned nothing more from spying on them, except that they seemed to be very close and to trust each other, which was odd considering they only knew each other for less than two weeks, and that Bruce Banner loved to draw, something which she was kind of offended to have had no idea of.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The next day, Peter had finished several improvements in the apartment. It took him some time, but he was motivated and liked the physical work so he was confident he could start painting the rooms soon. He decided to ask his tenants now what colors they wanted in their apartment so he could look into prices and brands, hopefully allowing him to have the tins when he was ready to start painting. He had to go to the counter in the lobby for that, and it had nothing to do with hoping to see Rosie, nothing at all.
Thus, he went down the lobby, ready to greet happily the kids when he noticed Rosie chatting with Bruce. What he intended as a warm « Hello, kids! » came out as a grunting « Ho ». He tried to convince himself it wasn't out of a sudden but 'inexplicable' anxiety but failed miserably.
However, and he was extremely grateful for it, Anna-Grace and Bruce grinned at him when they saw him, welcoming him warmly.
- « How are you, Mr. Stradivarius? » asked Anna-Grace.
- « Oh, come on, kiddo, call him Peter. You know he prefers it » interrupted Rosie, winking at him.
- « 'He' can speak for himself, Rosie » he retorted, an exasperated hint in his voice.
It didn't erase any of the smiles - or smirk, for Rosie - it made them wider. Anna-Grace's kind smile did however remind him of simple politeness:
- « But, yes, you can call me Peter, please » he said casually, going to lean on the counter in front of her, with Rosie and Bruce on his left.
Their smiles were enough to tell him it was the right answer.
Rosie stretched out and said:
- « Well, kids - and yes, I'm including you Peter, considering Bruce is being more mature than you, all the time… »
Peter rolled his eyes but stayed silence as Bruce and Anna-Grace chuckled lightly.
- « … as much as I'd like to stay, I have a meeting in the city » finished Rosie cheerfully.
She waived goodbye as they all wished her a good day, Peter more grumpily than the others.
Then Anna-Grace turned to her boss:
- « So, Peter, how are you? »
- « Good, kid, good, the renovation is going well. That is actually why I came down here. You need to choose a color for the paint. Here is the spectrum. » he said, putting the object from his pocket to the counter.
- « Oh, don't you want to choose? » she answered embarrassed
- « I trust you to choose well » he retorted.
Bruce and Anna-Grace looked at the spectrum, and Peter had a great idea.
- « Bruce, would you like to help me paint the apartment a little bit? »
The woman and the child raised their head, surprised. She looked at the young boy, who was looking at her, hopeful. He obviously was enthralled by the project. To see him at ease with Peter was so comforting she couldn't say no. She knew Peter well enough now to trust him with the kid. And it was only painting.
- « Alright » she said, « but on one condition. » She paused, making eye contact with Bruce to have his full attention.
- « I want you to have breaks regularly and to do as Peter asks you too. I know you are a responsible young boy. Can I trust you with that? »
He nodded frantically.
- « Yes, AG, yes! »
He was grinning so she turned to Peter, saying:
- « Well, it's settle then. »
They chose the colors. Bruce picked a light purple for his bedroom, with yellow so he could draw suns with Rosie on the walls. Anna-Grace chose several tones of sky blue for her bedroom, a combination of yellow, orange and green for the living room and beige for all the other rooms. Peter noted the orders, and then told Anna-Grace he would pick up Bruce when he would be painting, probably tomorrow afternoon or the next morning, and left for the apartment, after wishing them a good day.
Bruce went back to his drawings, practicing on his suns and ducks so he could paint correctly the suns in his bedroom and the ducks in the bathroom, thus allowing Anna-Grace to reflect on how well things were going.
She had known Bruce for 10 days and they lived at Neverland since then. How is it possible to feel so at peace in such a short period of time when I've been looking for security for so long? I know why I got attached to him so quickly, no need to be a shrink for that, but this kind of peaceful atmosphere… Moreover, life was organizing itself. She had found a job and a secure place to live, and was starting to find activities for Bruce that did not involve her. As much as she loved being with him, she also knew it was good for Bruce to be around other people, to help him with his shyness. Look at you, thinking of his well-being like a true mother! She laughed awkwardly, and starting reading to take her mind of something she wasn't sure to be ready for.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Two days later, after Anna-Grace's morning shift, Peter went to take Bruce to the apartment, so his mother could also have some personal time, even if she didn't seem to mind being with the boy all the time. While they were painting, Rosie joined them, so they could draw on the walls, and before they knew it, Bruce's bedroom was full of suns.
In the meantime, Anna-Grace went to the grocery shop, and while looking at the shelves, she spotted some school books for children. That could be nice for Bruce. He seems like the kind of kid to appreciate such exercises. She didn't know for sure his age because he refused to tell her, so she took a math book for four and five years old children, and a reading book for beginners, even if it said it was for first graders. He's smart, I'm sure he can learn, even if he's closer to four than to five. Either way, he will always be able to do the first few pages, and it will entertain him. And it's not really expensive. Little did she know Bruce was smart enough to do both extremely easily.
She went back to Neverland, grocery bags and exercise books in hand, pleased with her discovery. Once at home, she put everything away and joined the group in the apartment, in which she was surprised by drawings and frescos in all the rooms except the living room. She was amused by the kitchen utensils in the kitchen, the suns in the toilet and in Bruce's bedroom, the ducks in the kid's bedroom. But what really touched her were the little ducks and dolphins in a corner of her bedroom, near a rocking chair.
- « I thought you would appreciate the reading space » told her gently Peter.
- « Dolphins are my favorite animals along with ducks, how did you guess? »
- « Bruce told us, of course. »
Then, Bruce took her hand and led her to the bathroom, where little ducks were playing on some walls, but above all, dolphins were swimming on the ceiling.
- « It looks like freedom, don't you think, AG? »
She looked at the ceiling, then at the young boy by her side, and nodded, smiling at him. Freedom, appropriate for a place called Neverland… This was like punching her husband in the face for all of the times he denigrated her tastes, going as far as mocking her 'childish' love of dolphins.
Yes, Bruce's hand in hers, looking at the dolphins on the ceiling definitely felt like Liberty.
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Later in the day, during her afternoon shift, Anna-Grace would give the books she bought in the morning to Bruce, before she took care of new clients.
It's only then that she would put two and two together. Watching him solve the math exercises, flying from one to the other, rarely asking her to help him understand the question, she would realize how smart Bruce actually was. This would remind her of the dolphins event. She would mused at how he figured out they were her favorite animals. And when he would've finished the book, in less than three hours, she would only congratulate him.
And this, in turn, would finally make Bruce understand something fundamental. Anna-Grace's rules were not the same as his father's. He had the right to be smart without this making him smarty-pants, as he had the right to act as a child without this making him childish.
So, when in the evening, Anna-Grace would give him the second book, he wouldn't hide how much he loved it, and how quickly he learned the first lessons.
And when he would practice on the newspapers, finally reading the date on it, he wouldn't hide his stupefaction at the discovery. He would just say:
- « AG, we are in 2015?! »
Tada! Here was chapter 6!
So, what did you think?