Hoo boi, this took a while to write. I apologize for the late update, i haven't been feeling well, and events outside of writing took priority. But please enjoy the lull in action. Lil bits of fluff and lore (!) to come.
Can you tell I love world building the Speakers? xD
Please enjoy! I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe or their characters, I do own my OC's!
The gym was lit by the orange and red glow of the morning sun, bathing the floor in an orange and red glow. The room was devoid of people, with the exception of Nova. The sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the gym, which were unheard by the running blonde. The sound of pounding bass filled her ears as she worked the anxious energy out.
She had been informed of suspicious people sniffing about the Base, of which the Elder had taken countermeasures.
Nova stopped the treadmill when her earbuds started ringing. "Williams." She answered, slightly out of breath.
"Novalie." Came the sharp reply from her mother, Tiffany.
Nova stilled, recognizing the tone of voice. Her Ma was pissed.
"Why is it that I have to hear about your life from everyone except you?" Her Ma demanded.
"Uh, Ma, I've been-" Nova stalled, trying to come up with an excuse.
"You fell off a building, fought in that- that battle and nearly died! And then, I learn that you're going public?! From your Elder no less!" Her Ma's voice raised with each word.
"I'm not gonna be in much danger! I'll be protected! I'm a grown adult!" Nova was irritated that her mother was treating her like a child.
"Novalie Williams." Her mother's voice was dangerously low, "your decisions affect us as well-" her mother cut off, a brief, frustrated silence came over the other end, "you know what, we're coming to you."
"Absolutely not!" Nova snapped.
"Either we come to you or you come to us." Her mother insisted, leaving no room for argument.
"Fine. I'll come to you." Nova relented, throwing her head back in frustration, staring at the ceiling as it could give her the answers.
»»————««
Clint found her aggressively folding her clothes and stuffing them into a suitcase. "Is everything okay?"
Nova scoffed, stuffing another piece of clothing into her suitcase.
"Oh everything is just perfect." Nova's voice was filled with sarcasm.
"Why are you packing? What happened?"Clint approached her, concern furrowing his brows.
Nova huffed. "I have to go to Wyoming. My parents have gotten it into their head that I'm no longer a thirty two year old woman who can make her own decisions!" Nova punctuated her last words by tossing her toiletries into the case.
Clint watched her grumble her way to the closet.
"Well, they're concerned about you." Clint said.
"They're always concerned. I'm a Speaker, on her own." Nova turned to face Clint, angrily throwing up her arms, a shirt clenched in her fist, "there's always a risk, being a Speaker." Nova said the fact plainly, tossing the shirt haphazardly before moving to her bathroom.
Clint eyed the messy suitcase, the clothes strewn about her room in a fit of anger, a stark contrast to the usual neatness her room usually was. He sent a text before he followed Nova.
"I'll come with you." Clint said, leaning against the doorframe.
"You don't have to do that, Clint." Nova sighed, shaking her head while looking at him.
"I'd be more than happy to. I was getting bored just hanging around the Tower." Clint shrugged. Nova eyed him, noting his eagerness and phone in his hand.
"It's in the middle of farmland in Wyoming, no cell reception, you may be enlisted to help." Nova said.
"I don't mind." Clint replied, unchanged by her warning.
Nova straightened, shampoo in hand.
"I was planning on staying a few days." Nova said.
"A vacation is definitely in order." Clint said with a grin.
Nova sighed.
"Fine." Nova backed off. She had a hunch he would have followed her anyways. Nova eyed Clint, who was engrossed typing on his phone.
"Looking up flights?" Nova questioned.
"Getting us a ride." Clint said.
Nova gave him a confused look while zipping the suitcase shut. Clint grinned, refusing to elaborate.
"We'll leave as soon as you're ready." Nova said, moving to the kitchen to make something for her to eat.
"That's perfect." Clint said. "I'll be back."
Nova nodded as she prepared her grilled cheese sandwiches. Nova was still frustrated, but she was determined to convince her parents and herself that what she was doing was important for the future of the Speakers, and the children that would be born into it.
Nova showered and changed into a loose blouse and jeans, putting on her steel toe boots so she wouldn't forget them.
Clint returned not long after that, the morning turning into afternoon.
"Ready?" Clint asked.
"Yeah." Nova replied.
"Wanna swing around and get coffee before we leave?" He asked.
"Sure, sounds good." Nova said.
They came across Nat while they left.
"Going on a vacation, without me? I'm hurt." Nat said, eyes glinting with amusement, suitcase in hand.
"We're getting coffee, wanna come?" Clint asked and Nova couldn't help but laugh.
"You always want coffee." Nat retorted, falling into step with her other Soulmates.
"What can I say? Coffee is life." Clint shrugged with a confident swagger.
"Coffee is life." Nova agreed with a solemn nod.
Nat rolled her eyes at the two's antics, a well manicured hand pressing the elevator button. "That doesn't mean you should be drinking thirteen cups in one day." Nat jabbed, sending a pointed look in Clint's direction.
"That was one time!" Clint protested, throwing his free hand into the air. He had already heard Nat's lecture hundreds of times before.
For Nova, however, that was the first time she was hearing about that fact. Her jaw dropped in shock.
"Holy shit Clint! That's enough to send you into a heart attack! How are you alive?" Nova exclaimed, gaping at the archer in horror.
"I managed." Clint tried to brush off her concern.
"If by 'managed' you mean you vomited and passed out, then yes, you managed it well." Nat retorted.
"Clint!" Nova exclaimed. "It's a shock you didn't have a seizure!"
Clint ducked into the elevator, the other two following.
"Like I said, one time." Clint sighed.
"You, Barton. Are a Disaster. Person. One time too many." Nova jabbed.
Clint groaned, mumbling something about there being two of them.
»»——*——««
The trio took Nat's car, Nova recalling her adventure in the backseat with embarrassment. They grabbed coffee before driving a few hours south.
"Okay, where are we going?" Nova asked, bursting with curiosity.
"To get a ride." Clint repeated his previous words.
"That's not helpful." Nova sighed, taking a sip of her sweet drink.
"You'll see." Clint said.
They arrived at a S.H.I.E.L.D. base and went to the hangar. Nova tried to ignore the curious gazes that followed her. Clint and Nat went to the supervisor that oversaw the… weird aircraft thingy. There were dozens of the things, they were the same ones she had seen during the attack on New York.
Nova hung back as her Soulmates chatted with the man, idly tapping away at a game on her phone. She didn't really mind the wait, she would take any length of time to postpone her Ma's lecture. She may be in her 30's, but a mother's wrath was hard to ignore.
She was so engrossed in her phone she didn't see the guy until he tapped her shoulder. Nova yelped, accidentally tossing her phone in surprise. She fumbled with it until she caught it. Composing herself, Nova turned to the man.
"Can I help you?" Nova asked, a bit annoyed that someone was interrupting her game.
"Eesh. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I would if I had to work with Barton and Romanoff." The guy said.
Nova raised a brow.
"Are you on a mission with them?" The guy asked.
"Something like that." Nova replied, evading the question.
"I'm Joshua, Joshua Brown." The guy, Joshua said.
Nova sighed internally, eyeing her two Soulmates and wondering when they would board the aircraft.
"Destiny. Destiny Williams." Nova lied, taking his hand and shaking it, squeezing tight.
Joshua snatched back his hand, nursing it as he chuckled awkwardly. "You've got a strong grip. Do you work out a lot?"
"I do." Nova said.
"What's your routine, if you don't mind me asking?" Joshua asked.
Nova did mind, but recalling Ma's words to mind her manners, Nova gave him a simple rundown of her 'average Joe's routine.
Joshua seemed surprised by her routine. Nova definitely didn't look like she worked out that much, or did weightlifting.
She could see him doubting her abilities regarding weightlifting.
"Well, I could give you a few pointers at the gym. I could be your spotter." He offered.
"I'm not interested." Nova said, gaze on Clint and Nat.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun! Romanoff and Barton are a total bore. I could take you out after you get back from your mission." Joshua insisted.
"Buddy." Nova said as condescendingly as she could, "I am not interested in you. So please, stop trying to shove your things where they don't belong."
Joshua flushed in anger.
"By the way, you should probably know that Barton and Romanoff are my Soulmates. I don't think Clint would be too pleased to hear you hit on his Soulmate, do you think?" Nova gave him a sweetly cold smile.
The red drained from his face.
"By the way, if you ever try to touch me, I will break both your femurs. Don't believe me? Try touching me." Nova said, gaze daring him to do something.
Brown quickly turned and fled the hangar.
Nova sighed, pulling out her phone to return to playing her game.
"Whoa, what's got him running?" Clint asked behind Nova.
"He learned that no means no. No exceptions." Nova shrugged.
"What'd he do?" Clint questioned.
"Decided to insult my Soulmates, and my strength." Nova smiled smugly.
"Remind me not to piss you off." Nat said with a laugh, shocking observers.
"C'mon, the Quinjet's ready." Clint said.