DAYWALKER | n.romanoff ✔

NINE

CHAPTER NINE
' AND THAT'S NOT
MY PROBLEM! '

They dropped him onto a chair, the Blade nearly falling on top of him before she saved herself. Letting out a sigh, she pulled his legs around and strapped them down. She moved around, yanking the buckles around his wrists and straightening.

'Why are you both so wet?' Romanoff asked after a moment, moving out of a bathroom with a towel and she launching it at her.

The Blade raised an eyebrow before adjusting her helmet. She moved out of the way of the chair and flipped her head over as she ruffled it with the fabric. Glancing at the redhead through the gaps of her hair, she smirked slightly, causing Romanoff to roll her eyes.

'You set off the sprinklers,' Romanoff sighed out. 'When will you realise that it isn't as cool as you think it is?'

The Blade let out a scoff as she straightened, throwing the towel onto the bed as she searched through her pockets. 'It's practical-' she cut herself off as she pursed her lips. 'Nevermind.' She pulled out a cigarette and let out a quiet cheer.

'How the fu-'

'-I have waterproof pockets!'

Romanoff blinked at her for a moment before she slowly raised an eyebrow.

The Blade grimaced as she brought her hands to her side with a shrug. 'It's practical,' she repeated in a quiet tone.

'You are in no way capable of judging on practicality,' Romanoff deadpanned.

The Blade scoffed as she brought the cigarette between her teeth and dug through her pockets once again. She pulled out a lighter and flicked it open, a flame erupting from the casing and manifesting the pale piece of paper. She let out a sigh as she blew out a long stream of smoke, her shoulders relaxing. Falling into a chair, she kicked her legs up onto Barton's bed as she reclined.

Romanoff sunk into a chair to the side of his bed, her eyes focused on the lilac-haired woman as she blew smoke rings into the air off the room.

'If you knew Barton was going to the detention room, why didn't you stop him?' she asked quietly, but the Blade remained impassive.

'I did,' she replied shortly, not making eye contact as a puff of white haze curled into a ring and floated around the room. 'Turns out pooling of water isn't as practical as it sounds.' Her eyes flickered up to capture Romanoff's as a smirk - slightly half-hearted - formed on her face.

'Blade-'

She shook her head, putting the cigarette between her teeth, and Romanoff's eyes dropped to the ground.

Lookie!

He's awake!

Kill him!

Revenge!

I don't want to be here anymore. Mother! Take me home!

Barton convulsed, his eyes snapping open as he thrashed in the seat.

The redhead leapt to her feet, moving to his side as she placed a hand on his chest. 'Clint, listen to me.' He continued to rage in his confined space as the Blade watched with a raised eyebrow, taking occasional inhales of her cigarette.

'Nat?' he asked, and relief flooded within the redhead's eyes.

'Clint, you're gonna be alright,' she spoke gently, placing a hand on his arm as he shook his head.

'You know that? Is that what you know? I got...' He let out a breath. 'I gotta go in, though. I gotta flush him out.'

'We don't have that long, it's gonna take time,' Romanoff reminded.