WE'RE HERE!! WE'RE F I N A L L Y HEREEEE!
I HAVE REACHED 1,000 VIEWS AND I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER :') By the way, next week i will be in a place with sparse internet and cell towers at a family reunion :) Ill have to commandeer a relatives WiFi xD BUT if it doesn't work, i might upload 2 chaps the week after as a lil apology. Please enjoy the latest chapter! as always I do not own the Marvel Cinematic Universe or their characters, I do own my OC's! :)
The smell of waffles overrode Nova's anxiety, grabbing her stomach and sending her hunger into overdrive.
The repeated chant of 'foodfoodfood' in her head, Nova bustled into the kitchen and zeroed in on the piles of waffles stacked on a pair of plates.
Ignoring the newcomer, Nova loomed over the plates like a vulture circling a dying animal.
"I was told you have a higher metabolism?" Nat asked.
Midway through stuffing a waffle in her mouth, Nova looked up and nodded.
"I feel offended. I'm worth less than a plate of waffles." The newcomer commented.
"Food is at the top of my hierarchy." Nova shot back over her shoulder, in the process of stacking her plate high with waffly goodness.
"So food is my competition?"
"Yup." Nova replied.
Nat stared at her in amusement.
Nova looked at her, confused.
"What?" She asked.
Nat looked over to the counter.
Nova followed her gaze, spotting Hawkeye watching the two, entertained.
"Oh!" Nova exclaimed, then looked between the two confused "oh?"
"You don't remember? I'm hurt." Clint didn't look hurt.
"Wait!" Nova exclaimed, pointing at Clint.
"I'm waiting?" Clint grinned.
"No!" Nova gasped to Nat.
"Yes." Nat confirmed.
"You didn't warn me?!" Quicker than either expected, Nova smacked Nat on the arm with her good hand, a little harder than she intended.
Reacting on instinct, Nat grabbed Nova's wrist before letting go.
"Oh, shit! I'm so sorry!" Nova gasped, "I hit you too hard, didn't I? Oh gosh, hang on!"
Nova bumbled about, grabbing the kitchen towel and dumping ice into it.
Nova handed the towel to Nat, "it'll help the bruising, oh man, I'm so sorry!"
"Nova, relax. I've had worse." Nat reassured her.
Nova froze mid-rant. She was apologizing to a superspy. Of course she's had worse.
"You might want to use it." Clint warned, his gaze on his bicep, "it's swelling up pretty bad already."
"My brother swears it feels like being shot with a paintball. You should probably put it on it to help with the swelling." Nova said, pressing it into Nat's hands.
Relenting, Nat used the ice to stop Nova's ranting.
"You've got a brother?" Clint asked, redirecting Nova's attention.
"Yeah," Nova fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.
Clint patted the counter beside him.
Halfway over, Nova remembered her food.
Food and syrup in hand, Nova approached the seat and paused.
"I don't bite." Clint said.
"Much." Nat threw in.
Nova snorted while Clint rolled his eyes.
Nova set her plate down and sat, unsure of what to do with herself.
Nat watched her two Soulmates interact, painfully awkwardly.
Nova turned, offering her hand to Clint.
"Novalie Williams. I usually go by Nova."
"Clint. Clint Barton." Clint said, taking her hand.
They Linked, a feeling of home and comfort radiating out through their chests.
They shared a warm smile, their hands lingering for a moment too long.
"Careful now, we don't want anyone to jump anybody's bones… yet." A voice made Nova jump away.
The sharp movement jostled Nova's ribs and made her wince.
Nova turned and glared at Destiny.
"Dee…"
"Yes, Novalie?" Destiny asked with mock innocence in her gaze.
"Kindly go fuck yourself." Nova said, eyes narrowed into slits.
"Why I never! How vulgar!" Destiny gasped, her free hand on her chest.
If Destiny had a string of pearls she would have been clutching it.
"Like you aren't the same way?" Nova retorted, her voice dry.
"Destiny, Clint. Clint, this is my asshole friend Destiny." Nova gestured between the two.
Clint grinned in amusement.
Destiny darted forward in an attempt to smack Nova.
Nova quickly gathered the wind around them and sent it straight into Destiny's chest.
She went stumbling backwards, feet scrambling to find balance in her fuzzy socks.
Destiny went down with a tumbling crash, shopping bags thrown into the air before falling onto Destiny.
Destiny sat up, glower in place.
"Once you're healed, windy, you're so gonna regret that." Destiny threatened.
"I'll kick your ass, sparky." Nova snickered.
Destiny gathered the bags, a smug grin on her face as she handed them to Lorelei.
With a resigned sigh Nova took a peek in one of the bags.
Lace…? Nova shut the bag when she realized what it was.
Nova gathered the bags, cheeks a hint of pink.
"Nat? Can I store the bags in your room for now?"
"You can put them in the closet, it's the door to the left of the bathroom." Nat said with amusement.
Nova stood, walking past Destiny.
She spotted a piece of paper in her back pocket.
She snatched it up, stuffing the receipt into her sports bra, knowing Destiny wouldn't grab at it with her ribs still healing.
"Buzzkill." Destiny grumbled.
"Shopaholic." Nova shot back.
Annoyed and eager to return to her food and her Soulmate, Nova deposited her new clothes and acquired receipt in the closet.
She turned to walk back to the kitchen but paused, catching sight of herself in the mirror.
It wouldn't hurt to take a peek…
Pushed forward by the thought, Nova approached the mirror and turned, taking off her shirt and turning her Marks to face the mirror.
Her gaze caught Nat's Mark first. Nat's Mark took the form of an hourglass, the symbol mirroring the buckle that sat on Nat's belt which Nova had seen during the attack.
The mark was striking, it's contours traced with fine lines that shimmered with a subtle iridescence, the upper chamber of the hourglass had a small, delicate spider web pattern, a stark black against the red that filled the chamber.
Nova looked over at Clint's mark next.
The hawk, once black and white was now in color.
Etched into her skin, the intricate details brought the majestic bird to life.
The hawks' plumage was now deep brown and golden yellow, which mirrored the color of an actual hawk's plumage.
The hawk seemed to be mid-flight, its wings were outstretched in a display of strength and grace.
The hawk's piercing purple gaze seemed to lock onto Nova's with unwavering intensity, its beak was slightly open, as if mid-call.
The details and lifelike appearance of the bird made it seem as though it could take flight off of Nova's skin at any moment.
"Admiring your muscles?" Nat asked.
Nova jumped, flushing.
"Uh, no, sorry." Nova said, scrambling to put the shirt back on. "I just hadn't seen the Marks yet so…"
"Relax, it's normal to be curious." Nat said, leaning on the door frame.
"What's your routine?" she asked, nodding to Nova's figure, having seen the defined muscle tone on Nova's figure.
Nova shrugged, "Speakers have to work out their energy some way. Fighting is a good way to do that."
"Huh." Nat replied, "wanna spar sometime?"
Nova paused, "well, I wouldn't mind, but I'm stronger than the average woman, or man for that matter."
"You can get practice in pulling your punches, you never know when you need to be non-lethal."
"On you? I'd rather not break a bone." Nova said, shaking her head.
"I can take it." Nat said, unbothered.
"Are you a masochist?" Nova asked, concerned, "I've broken a guys femur before. I'd rather not do that to my Soulmate."
Nat gave her a look that Nova had become intimately familiar with.
Nova snapped her mouth shut with a click.
"Come on. Clint's waiting." Nat said, leaving.