A year had passed since Majalia Elsher had found herself in the care of Clint Barton. She could barely she was about to hit her second birthday with him in a few months. During their year together, she had the pleasure of meeting his elusive and amazing partner and soulmate, Natasha Romanoff. The day they met had been a bad one for Maj. She had still been mourning the deaths of her parents and had taken up residence on Clint's sofa. Once comfortable, she had been reluctant to leave the apartment.

She'd spent the majority of the day curled up with Lucky, her one-eyed, four-legged baby. It was during that time, Maj woke to a gun pointed at her face with the redhead towering over her. The 16-year-old managed to get away from her long enough to call Clint, and eventually, the situation was diffused. After that day, and after A LOT of mistakes on her part, the two women grew to be incredibly close, with Natasha becoming the sister she never asked for but ultimately needed.

Months passed in what could be called familial bliss. She had Clint and Natasha although they often travelled for a week or so. She had graduated from high school. An event she happily celebrated with the bonded couple. Maj had even brought them to her parent's gravesite that day, wanting to introduce the pair to her parents. Maj was excited to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. She enjoyed reading and art and wondered if maybe she could start working at a gallery or sell her own work. Continuing her education wasn't something she wanted to do. She worked hard enough to graduate early as it was.

On one of the weeks Natasha was away, Maj decided to explore the city. Clint had made plans with some friends and wouldn't be home to entertain her so she figured it would be good to get out. As she wandered, Maj felt the first raindrop hit her. With a glance to the heavens, she cursed herself. That's what Clint had been saying before she left. She was in such a rush to get out that she hadn't heard a word out of his mouth. It was time to do her hair anyways.

When the light rain turned into a downpour, Maj rushed to find cover. The first place she found was closed so she made her way down the line until she found a door far off. She gave no look to the sign at the door's side as she walked in. The moment the door closed, she let out a relieved sigh. Maj's eyes widened when she realised she was in a dive bar full of men. She didn't really feel uncomfortable- she just found it shocking. A few men stared at her as well, some lazily, others in interest, and some hadn't even looked up. The place was silent, a quiet that was slightly unnerving as she figured the place never had a moment of silence. Still, Maj squared her shoulders and went to sit at the bar.

"You lost?"

"Nope. I'm good. Can I get a vodka sprite?" Alcohol was never something that was shied away from as a child. From all the travels she did with her parents, Maj was opened up to different customs and practices. In some, children were allowed a glass, small as it may be, of a drink. It was just how she grew up. After moving in with Clint and ultimately Natasha, the pair never really had an issue with her having a drink. Sometimes- at least Clint- would forget her age as she tended to act a bit more mature. She watched the man as he examined her. "Please." With a huff, he went off to make her drink.

The longer she sat on the stool, the louder the room began to grow. A small smile crossed her lips at the men getting comfortable with her presence. It actually wasn't too long before one of them approached her. Maj just gave him a look, answering a few of his questions. He offered to get her a drink but she politely declined. One drink was enough for her. He hadn't taken her hint, but before she could rudely tell him to shove off, another man stepped in.

"Leave the kid alone, twinkle toes." The larger man let out an annoyed grunt before he went back to his seat.

"Thanks."

"Shouldn't you be in school?"

"Shouldn't you be at work?"

"Touche," was his reply as he reached over the bar and grabbed a drink for himself. Maj watched him, feeling a quiet comfort with him. She rubbed her mark, a self-soothing habit, but remained silent. She was curious about the people around her but remained silent. A part of her knew every man in the bar was dangerous. It would be stupid to pull the same stunt as she had with Clint, not that she needed this man to be anything.

Maj stayed at the bar for a little over an hour before she decided to make her way home. The rain had lightened, which was perfect enough for her soaked coils. Despite understanding the dangers of those within the bar, she did like the atmosphere and planned to return at some point. With a quick glance throughout the room, and after throwing down some bills, Maj was on her way back to Brooklyn.

When Maj arrived back at the apartment, she found Natasha pulling something out of the oven and Clint walking out of their bedroom. It wasn't odd to find the redhead in the kitchen, but she was sure Nat had been away for work. Maj quickly greeted them before she made her way to her room to change out of her damp clothes and throw her hair in a bun. Returning, she helped with anything that was needed. There was mindless chatter, but mostly the three watched some mind-numbing show that seemed to have the two hooked. It wasn't long before Maj said her good-nights and went off to bed.

The week passed generally easily, with the two spending more time than usual. Maj knew things weren't going to stay that way. At some point, one or both of them would be off on some business trip. That's what they called them… business trips. It was bullshit. Maj knew neither of them were 9-5'ers. Their mannerisms alone gave them away. When out, she could see them scanning the area, both on high alert although they seemed relaxed. After the first few months with Clint and Nat, she learned not to ask. They never got upset with the questions, but they also never answered. In her mind, she came up with an entire story about them being James Bond-type international spies. She never said it to them, but it was fun to think of all the adventures they possibly went on.

It wasn't until a few months later when Clint came home bloody and bruised that she really questioned their jobs. The man could barely walk, and Natasha was no better. She sported a busted lip and was favouring her right leg. Maj raised an eyebrow but remained silent. They had been gone for two weeks- not the longest they'd been absent- but the first they'd returned that beat up. She didn't question them until the next day, and even then, the pair played it off like nothing had happened- like she hadn't seen how they came in. Maj gave an annoyed groan before storming out of the house.

After that, she spent the next few days with her best friend. Alec had been in her life since she was twelve. They met in the seventh grade and have since become inseparable. Since her parents' deaths, they had only grown closer, sharing dreams and hopes about their futures and what fate had in store for them. He was the only one who knew about her mark, and unlike others, never felt sorry for her. As a child, she was teased about having an old soulmate, but he never cared. Instead, throughout their school years, he would say that it just meant that hers was mature and better equipped to take care of her. She hated those words, but she understood where he came from.

The duo spent most of the time watching some of their favourite films, mostly action films, with The Lord of the Rings trilogy thrown in. Both drank way too much, courtesy of Alec's older brother Sean. Sean tended to be out of the house most of the time, and their parents were celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary travelling through Asia. Outside of movies and alcohol, the friends once again brought up their soulmates. His was MTC061392. Alec couldn't wait to meet his bond. He had watched a lot of films depicting that first meeting, most of it overly cheesy and romantic in Maj's eyes, and was happy to indulge in that fantasy.

That Tuesday morning, Maj woke to her phone going off. With a groan, she reached over and answered, hearing Natasha on the other end. Clint was heard in the background, but she grumpily asked Nat what she wanted. The news she heard was not something she was looking forward to. Nat had to leave again. At those words, Maj, jumped up, almost falling over Alec's prone form and rushed out the door.

When she reached the apartment, Natasha and Clint were just about to leave. Although she was still peeved with them, she rushed into the redhead's arms and told her to be safe. Natasha seemed taken aback, but she patted her back and promised she would. Both women took a step back before Maj turned to Clint. "Are you leaving too?"

"You're stuck with me, kid."

Maj nodded and turned back to her sister. "How long will you be gone?"

"Not sure. I'll call."

"You better." Maj bit her lip contemplating her next words. Eventually, Natasha's raised eyebrow caused her to speak. "We have to talk when you get back." The duo shared a glance before they nodded and Nat pressed a kiss on her forehead before walking out.

Once they were gone, Maj went back to Alec's. She didn't know how long Clint would be gone and she really didn't want to be alone. She'd run off from the house more times than Alec could count, so he wasn't surprised when she walked back in an hour after he'd woken up. Instead of questioning her like he used to, he pulled her into the kitchen and the friends began to make breakfast.

Three hours into another movie marathon, there was a knock on the door. The friends shared a glance, with Alec saying he wasn't expecting anyone before he stood and answered it. To her surprise, it was Clint. He had met Alec a few times, but he always showed indifference. Alec invited him in, and after a moment, he entered and moved over to Maj, plopping himself down beside her.

"Um, Clint? What are you doing here?"

"I was bored."

"You could have played with Lucky."

"He's fine at home. I wanted to hang out with you."

She tugged his ear, not that it caused a reaction. The man was a steel fortress, although she saw the mirth in his eyes." You could have just called me. I'd have come home."

"And keep you from your boyfriend? I would never."

The two friends rolled their eyes at his words. He had called her from his house for a lot less. Maj examined him for a moment before she turned and asked Alec if he was okay with Clint staying for a while. Alec didn't care. He knew Clint didn't like him, for whatever reason, but the two tolerated each other for Maj's sake and Alec had a feeling Clint could murder him with a rusty spoon if the situation called for it.

Two movies later, Clint stood and grabbed Maj's things. When she questioned him, he responded that he was ready to go home and he wasn't going alone. With an apology to Alec, Maj threw on her shoes and followed Clint out. Upon reaching the apartment, Maj punched his arm- no reaction- and wailed into him. She wanted him to be nicer to her friend… her only friend really. He needed to get over his stupid feelings and suck it up. Alec would be a permanent fixture in her life.

The two had an easy dinner of pizza while watching a documentary about ancient warriors. Clint loved those shows. He found it interesting and he was definitely into weapons. He liked to say he was a weapons expert, that if anything, he preferred long range. Maj never believed him. Clint was definitely knowledgeable about weapons, but she didn't think he was an expert. Still, it fuelled her idea that he and Natasha were spies. Especially if this was his way of dropping hints.

A few months passed before Clint had to leave. Natasha was still gone, and something was going on with Tony Stark. The billionaire was currently in Monaco or somewhere and was driving in some race. Maj paid little attention to it. Tony Stark was the least of her worries. Granted one couldn't escape anything to do with him, but she tried. Alec was smitten with the man. She was more concerned about the two she considered family.

The day Clint left, she found herself at the skeevy dive bar she had visited so many months prior. She finally got a look at the name, Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Children, a name she found oddly fitting for the place. As she walked in, she received the same reaction, although the silence ended maybe five minutes later. She walked up to the bar, ordered the same drink and enjoyed the atmosphere. As skeevy as the place was, she liked the place. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her pad and began to sketch some of the patrons.

As she moved on to the bartender, a man whose name was Jack- he preferred Weasel- a man took the seat next to her. Maj paid no attention to the conversation between Weasel and the man, she was too busy trying to capture his essence. As she was shading the nose, the man beside her bumped his elbow into her. She glared at him, before going back to her drawing. The man bumped into her again and Maj let out an irritated groan before erasing her mistake. When he did it a third time, her head snapped up as she bumped him, making the man spill his beer onto his pants. She gave him a smug grin as their eyes met. It was then she realised it was the same man who had stepped in when one of the men wouldn't take a hint. "Oh, it's you."

"Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Not this again. Is there a reason you tried to ruin my drawing?"

"Draw me like one of your french girls," he replied as he stuck a "sexy" pose.

Maj broke out into laughter. "You're not cute enough to be one of my girls." The man looked stricken for a moment before he wrapped an arm over her shoulder and asked if he was then. Maj did her best Natasha face. "Nope. Sorry sir but nothing you do could change my mind."

"I could buy you a drink." Maj thought for a moment before she shrugged and downed the rest of her drink. He quickly ordered her another, although Weasel was already making it. "So why are you drawing these assholes?"

"Practice. I enjoy drawing them. It's a challenge to draw these guys and getting their beards, scars, and other details right. I like challenges." From that point on, she and Wade- she did finally learn his name- traded quips. The longer she stayed, the drunker she got.

It was around three in the morning when Maj stumbled into her apartment. Wade had been kind enough to give her a ride. Wade and Weasel kept her glass full, and she did a few shots with the other guys. She was even drunk enough to show them her artwork. They seemed to love it, with one taking a picture to show one of his buddies or something. Ten drinks and seven shots later, Maj was thoroughly done for the night. It was the most fun she had in a while. She knew the hangover would be shit in the morning, but she didn't care. It was worth it. When she finally made it to her bed, she cuddled up with Lucky and was out like a light.

Edited 13/03/2023