No Strings Attached

7

Minutes ticked by into an hour and Tony still hadn't emerged from the infirmary. People walked by Angela and gave her strange looks, but none of them bothered her.

After all, it was strange to see a random teenage girl sitting in the hallway with tear tracks on her face and matted hair. Angela couldn't care less though. Her first friend ever and he was dying. The only thing worse than that was that she couldn't do anything.

No. Not couldn't. Wouldn't.

The fear of them finding out was overwhelming. She battled with herself, wondering if they could save him and if they couldn't, then it would be her fault.

There she was, spouting about how just because someone is odd they are still a person. And now, she was too afraid of what others would think of her if they found out.

"Pathetic..." She whispered.

"What is?" Someone asked.

Angela barely lifted her head to see a man leaning against the wall next to her. She jumped slightly, but otherwise, gave no indication of shock.

"I am."

"Why?" He pressed.

"Because my best friend is hurt and I... I'm stuck out here." She said, not fully telling the truth.

Clint scanned the girl, looking for any indication that she was lying. Once He found none, he slid down to the floor next to her. "You must be Angela. Barnes told us about you."

"He did?" She asked, not really caring but also not wanting the silence to return.

"Yeah. Said you and Peter fixed his arm." Angela cringed and wondered if he knew Peter's identity. "So, you found out your best friend of one week is a web-slinging spider kid in spandex. You must be freaking out on the inside right now."

Whelp. That answered that question.

"Does everyone know?" Angela asked.

Clint shook his head. "Just the Avengers, certain scientists and a selected few outsiders."

"Outsiders?"

"Yeah. Ned and MJ know, but they found out on accident. I guess I can add you to that list." He looked down at the distressed teen. "He's fine by the way. Peter got out of surgery over half an hour ago."

"Then why hasn't anyone told me?" Angela asked.

"Tony didn't want them to. Said not to trust you." Clint said.

The ex assassin wanted to see for himself why Tony found her so untrustworthy, and seeing her reaction would be the best way to gage it.

"Oh thank god." Angela breathed, a fresh set of tears falling from her eyes.

Clint was not expecting this response. The way that Tony talked about her, made Angela sound like some villain disguised as a teenage girl. But all Clint saw before him, was a girl concerned for her friend, nothing less.

"You really care for him, don't you?" He asked.

Angela nodded without much thought. "Peter was the first person to show me any kindness in years. Even though I've only known him for a week, he's done so much for me. Because of him, I made some friends and feel like a normal girl for once."

Clint didn't know what to do. Angela began crying, her tears staining her seater as she wiped the salty droplets off of her red cheeks. He had little experience with teenagers, let alone teenage girls. He had a little girl of his own, and hoped that it would be enough to help him through this interaction.