Kidnapped

18

I realize that I don't have the correct landscapes but otherwise it wouldn't fit the story.

"Everything go well?" Nori asked, glancing at me in the rear view. I kept my face turned toward the window, but I could still see them.

"Mhm," I hum. It's none of their business. I got what I needed, they got what they deserved.

"You know," they began, driving through the desert slowly. If they know the way back, I won't bother to interrupt, "you kinda scared me at first."

"This happen before?" I raise a brow at the window.

"Once," they admitted. They made it obvious they didn't like the idea of it.

I hummed again, palming the wound on my wrist. Dammit, that shit hurts. They took another breath, still watching ahead, "Maybe twice."

"So why the hell are you so scared?" I ask. I turned my face toward them and they caught my eye. It was then I realized my hood was down and I was completely exposed. I harden my glare on them.

They glanced back and forth, "Because it's always the same person, trust was gained,"

"Oh, trust," I nod like I care, "that's just so great, isn't it?"

"Well, at least I know I'm not gonna die. For now, anyway."

"Listen, Nori, I said I'm not gonna kill you, at least not for now. You don't have to remind me, and if you keep going, you won't be going back to this mystery assassin." I don't have my weapon, but it wouldn't be too hard to kill them with my hands. I beat the Avengers, mind you.

"I didn't say she was an assassin."

I kept silent. No, but who else comes back covered in blood? Who else threatens someone to take them places?

"We're close, that's why there's trust. I've only known her about a month, but it was enough. She-"

"I didn't ask for your life story,"

"She reminds me of you."

"Why? Because we both come back bloody after beating the shit out of people?"

"Somewhat. When we first met, nearly the same way as I met you, she acted pretty much the same. You know, now that I think about it, she talked about a room of killers, too. I never understood it, and she never went deeper into the story. But she mentioned someone else once or twice. Some relationship, something."

My mind immediately went to Nat. Would she still talk about me if she were here? Would she still care? Did she care?

"Stop talking."

"I'm not finished,"

"I don't care, I don't want to hear about her anymore."

They exhale softly and it's like the same process with Peter two days ago. But this time, they can't run away. We were getting back to the city, passing building after building.

I just need an answer. I don't care what the answer is, just as long as I get one. "What was her name?" Pathetic. Still hung up on a simple human that died months ago. Who am I?

"Ahhhh," their mouth hung open as they shrugged their shoulders, "she never told me, but I just call her Jo. She looks like a Jo."

Did Nat look like a Jo? No, no she didn't. Cropped red hair, crimped and full, glossy eyes and short, thin body. If anything, she looked like my soulmate.

But soulmates aren't real.

"Oh," was all I said.

There was silence as we drove farther into the city.

"You can't walk around like that," they warned, "You'll get arrested immediately."

"Well then, lemme just hop in the shower on the side of the road real quick," I sassed.

"You live on the streets?"

Where do I live? With the Avengers?

"No. Don't worry about where I live."

"Live alone?"

Fuck off. "Yeah."

"Well, why don't you stop with me and rinse off, get a change of clothes, and we'll fix you up, yeah?"

I thought about it. Well, I'm thinking about it. What are they gonna do? What's Stark gonna do? He can't reverse their deaths. No one can. Good.

"Fine." Their clothes looked like they'd fit me if that's what they're offering. The clothes I'm wearing are just fine. Well... I look down at the dark red and black stains spattered everywhere along my dark blue jeans, but almost invisible against the black fabric of my hoodie. I wonder how I look altogether. Probably badass.

They drove into the woods, where the light barely reached from the tall trees. There was a driveway that led all the way to a small house that stood alone.

Their hands were still sweating and shaking. Understandable. Kinda.

"Jo should be here, but probably holed up in her room."

"Kay."

~~

I close the bathroom door, catching sight of the full-length mirror attached to the door. I'm covered in red from head to toe. My hands look like I dipped them right into a bucket of red paint, my shoes spattered and ruined, fresh holes and tears in my jeans, currently being soaked through my cuts I didn't notice, my hoodie torn down the opposite sleeve than my cut up arm, blood smears covering my face from every time I'd touched it, probably smearing more of what Madam had dumped on me. My hair's matted to my neck, jaw, forehead, anything it can cling to, blood soaking it.

If only I could take a picture and save it.

I stare at myself for a moment more before peeling off my clothes. I start the water, leaving a bloody trail over the handle.

The second the water runs over me, there's a red river flowing along the warm basin of the tub-shower. The hot water is calming and I rub everything I can, more and more blood leaving my body. I've nearly stopped bleeding.

I scrub through my hair, stealing a little bit of their shampoo and conditioner. I scrub until my scalp hurts, until the water runs clear and until I can't think straight.

The mirror is fogged and my head hurts. I step out and dry myself off, shuffling into the clothes Nori left for me. A normal tee shirt for the hot weather with |-/ surrounded with a circle, and light shorts that covered what's necessary.

I wipe the full-length mirror off with my towel so I can see myself. No more blood.

Nori is sitting on the couch, elbows on their knees, watching the tv with interest. I can't see the screen, but they look between me and the tv.

"Bela?"