The parlour rang with a cacophony of noise. Mostly chatter about what had happened and what they hoped to get. No one showed them any respect. She wanted it all to stop- it was too much. She was stuck in a vortex of emotions; most happy, a hint of anger, and a sliver of sadness. No one cared about them. All they wanted was to know the contents of the will. She seemed to be the only one who cared about them. The one who truly loved them. Neither the money nor the estates meant anything to her. Majalia just wanted to spend another day with them.

As the evening progressed, her stomach began to turn. It suddenly became real. Majalia would never see their smiling faces again, hear their banter, or watch them work on new projects. The fact had finally hit her. Not even the mark offered her any comfort. Tears forced their way down her cheeks, air restricted by the lump in her throat. She needed to get away. Without a second thought, Majalia raced out the door. No one would notice or care- for the most part- if she were gone. To them, she was the one thing that kept them from the wealth her parents had. No, she was better off away from them.

Once outside, Majalia took a deep breath and attempted to compose herself. The moment she had, the teenager took off. She absentmindedly wandered through the city she called home, thoughts racing everywhere and nowhere. She paid no attention to the slowly emptying streets. She was alone. Yet the solitude was better than being suffocated by her supposed family.

When Majalia finally began to pay attention, she found herself in the warehouse district and utterly lost. As she tried to find her way back, Majalia heard footsteps behind her. She refused to look back, but quickened her pace; the person did so as well. It wasn't until she realised she'd entered an alley did she begin to panic. The fifteen-year-old broke into a run, moving so fast that she didn't register the man in front of her. When she bumped into him, Majalia was glad there was a potential ally, even if her instincts told her to keep running.

"Can you help me?" She heaved a breath. Tried to calm down enough to speak clearly. "There's someone following me."

"I would, swee'art, but here's the thing. He works for me."

Majalia's heart dropped as she backed away from him. Her breaths came out erratically, eyes wide as she stared at him. Her retreat was cut short when she hit another body. She scrambled to the side and tried to put some distance between herself and the men. Her back to the wall. The man she spoke to watched her, an easy smile on his lips that caused her mouth to go dry. "Aww, don't be like that, swee'art. We ain't gunna hurt'cha."

Even in fear, Majalia couldn't keep her mouth shut. "I'm sure you say that to everyone." Internally she berated herself. Why couldn't she just be quiet? Why did she always have a response? Her dad always joked that her mouth would be her downfall and by all accounts, he was right.

"Just pretty lit'le things like you. Really," he held up his hands as if to placate her. The action did the exact opposite. "Just want you to 'and over your money."

"I don't have any."

He studied her for a moment before he heaved an exasperated sigh. It was obvious he didn't believe her. She was dressed up, it was nothing special, but she looked like she had something. That she came from wealth. Not that it wasn't the truth. Especially in the dress her aunt had forced her into. "Gimme the necklace."

Her hands instantly flew to it. The chain was silver and attached to it was a locket her father had made- amethyst and black opal insets- and held a photo of her parents. They'd gifted it to her on her ninth birthday, and now, it was one of the few things- if not the only thing- she had of them. "I can't."

"Sure you can. Jus' take it off an' hand it over. Simple."

"I'm not giving it to you." His eye ticked as she clutched the piece of jewellery.

"That so?" He pulled out a gun and nodded at his friend. A quick glance showed he'd retrieved his as well. Both were pointed at her. "I think ya'are."

Majalia stared at him for a moment. She'd lost the only people who'd ever care about her. What more was there for her to lose but her life? At least then she'd be with her parents. That was a small comfort. Steeling herself, Majalia hoped it would be quick. "I'm not afraid of you. So, if you're going to shoot me, then do it."

The man laughed, a full belly laugh that made her skin crawl. "You got guts, swee'art."

"I'd call it stupidity," said a voice from behind him. Majalia's head whipped to the newcomer, surprised that the man's friend had said nothing. Then it made sense when she saw the man lying on the ground. She couldn't help but wonder how no one had heard him fall, better yet, the fight that had ensued. If one had.

The main guy hastily whipped around, his gun now aimed at the newcomer. "An' who da hell are you?"

"I'll say this once so listen up. Take the gun off the girl and I won't do too much damage."

"Think you can get close enuff wi'out gettin' shot?"

"Pretty much," the newcomer lazily replied. "You going to move the gun?"

Majalia watched the two, her main captor's grip on their firearms tightening and the other man's relaxed stance. It was odd, almost as if he were used to staring down the barrel of a gun. "Fuck off."

The man sighed. "Hard way it is." With that, he reached for the main assailant. Within minutes the larger man lay in a crumpled heap. His accomplice came too and stared wide-eyed at her saviour. In seconds, he was on his feet and took off out of the alley. Majalia's saviour glanced at her as he straightened out his shirt, not that there was much to be straightened. The man hadn't been touched. "You were supposed to run."

She shrugged. "Guess I'm dumber than you thought."

"Probably." He put his hands in his pockets. "What are you doing in these parts anyways?"

"Got lost." Majalia shook her head. She should have paid attention. She wouldn't have ended up in this situation if she had. Then again, maybe she would have. Fate seemed to like messing with her.

"Where are you staying?"

Majalia observed him for a moment. He didn't seem like a bad guy- though she knew looks could be deceiving- and there was nothing telling her she could trust him to at least get her back to the hotel. Besides, he had just saved her life. "I'm at the Grand." He humphed and began to walk off. "What? Something wrong with that?"

"Nope. Let's get you to your folks," kid."

"They're dead," she muttered. The man didn't seem to hear her though. Before he left her in the alley, Majalia followed him. Feeling as much of a lost puppy as she was. They walked in silence for a few minutes before she gathered enough courage to speak again. "So, uh, what's your name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

She shrugged. "Don't know. Want to thank you. Isn't that how the books go?"

He snorted. Actually snorted! Majalia glared at him but remained silent. "Don't know what books you're reading, kid." Majalia pouted. Arms crossed as she glared at him. "It's Clint." She nodded and the two continued the walk in silence.

When they reached the hotel, Majalia saw her uncle standing by the door, his signature glower plastered on his face. The moment his eyes landed on her, the older man stormed towards her. Began to rant and rave about her childishness for running off. For bringing strangers to a family affair. Majalia tensed but said nothing. Clint stood beside her, his body shifted to be slightly before her. The fifteen-year-old's only move was to grab onto Clint's jacket-clad arm as she was dragged inside by the furious man.

The rest of her family, if they could be called that, were just as displeased by the blonde man's presence. Their voices loud and snooty, filled with nothing but snide comments. When questioned, Majalia stated that he was a friend of her father's. It was plausible enough as he made friends with all types of people. Her aunt, pulled away from her conversation, spat harsh words towards Majalia and her companion. The young woman's body shook in anger but Clint remained aloof. He showed no emotion but kept close to her. A sentinel against anyone who thought to approach her. She was grateful he had remained. She wasn't sure if she could have handled their anger.

Luckily, she was saved from further questioning and comments when her parents' lawyer ushered them into a private room. As her parents' wills were read, her relatives grew more and more restless. Little had been said about them. In the end, her parents knew exactly what type of people they were and left them nothing. Their money and estates going to their only child. Majalia kept the small smirk to herself as she watched her money-hungry relatives begin to lose their shit. Her uncle was furious, the loudest and meanest of the group. Eventually, the lawyer managed to get them all to leave. Yet a threat hung in the air at her uncle's final words.

"I don't envy you," the portly man stated as he walked back over to his desk. He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose before he returned them to his face. "Do you know what you'll do now?"

The teenager shrugged. What could she really do? Her family now had more reason to hate her. She was alone. There were things she still wanted to do, but she had no real motivation to do anything since that day. "I want to finish school. I know that much. It's what mom and dad would want."

"And living arrangements? You still have a few more years left of school. Is there anyone you could stay with? Any in the family who aren't so… unpleasant?"

"There's no one," Majalia huffed out, pulling on one of her coils. "You saw them. They're all like that. My parents… What you saw was how they've always been. They often tried to use mom and dad for financial gain. Get in with their better-off contacts. They have no use for me. I'm not young enough to be manipulated. None of them would take me in, and if one of those vultures did, I'd never be taken care of. Uncle Rasputin would probably have a convenient accident occur."

The man's expression became worried before he nodded and brought his gaze to Clint. He'd been silent the entire time, seemingly in a world of his own. He felt bad for the young Elsher. To be a part of a family which valued nothing but money. He suppose he was glad there was someone here that cared for her. The family friend that no one seemed to know. Mr Wells couldn't help but wonder why the man was there- still there. He continued to examine the man. There was nothing threatening about him. He had protected her. Silent as it was. Wells couldn't help but wonder if this had somehow been planned by his deceased clients. "Majalia said you were a family friend, correct?"

Clint flickered his gaze to the girl, taking in her near-pleading expression. His bleeding heart was always an issue. Especially knowing why the older man was asking. He knew he was going to regret this. "Yeah."

"Would you have any qualms about housing her? At least until her graduation, of course."

"Can't say no, can I?" Majalia held her breath at his words. She didn't want to put him in this situation. She had just hoped he'd be a good buffer, someone who would keep her family from being too aggressive. It had worked, to an extent. But she realised she hadn't thought the situation through.

"Well of-"

"No, I don't. Like Maj said, vultures. She'd be out of a home the minute they get their hands on her inheritance. Hell, she'd be out of one quicker if they couldn't. Kid would be better off on her own."

"She's a minor, Mr…"

"I'll look after her," Clint stated. Majalia noticed how he didn't give Mr Wells his name and couldn't help but wonder why. She wasn't going to say a thing. Especially if Clint was willing to take her in, something she was grateful for. "Not the first time I've brought home a stray." His lips quirked as he finished.

"If she's too much of a burden, I can have her placed somewhere else."

Clint shrugged his words off. "Nah, I got her." He then turned to Majalia. "Have anything we need to pick up?" She nodded, not sure she could trust her voice. She gently rubbed the mark inside her wrist as she tried to swallow the lump that had once again caught in her throat. She hadn't expected this to happen. Clint had no reason to take her in. Hell, he could have left an hour ago. Still, it seemed like fate had been on her side. "All right. Don't bring everything. My place is small." Clint paused, as if thinking of something to add. "Hope you like dogs." With that, Majalia Elsher found herself a home… a family with Clint Barton, a man who would soon be one of her closest confidants.

Edited 23/02/2023