The Third Widow - part two

Part 13. Questions and answers

"How are the kids? How's Laura?"

I kept bombarding Clint with small talk which he reluctantly answered as his patience kept shrinking. Kate on the other hand seemed to grow more relaxed around me and was now looking at me with curious eyes. The older archer got up from the couch and just pulled out his phone before walking off without saying a word. 

I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction but felt some compassion for him as I was definitely an other problem he had to deal with now. Instead I decided to distract myself with the girl beside me as she seemed to have a hundred questions burning to be asked.

"So..." I started to cut the awkward tension in the room. "I liked your work on that clock tower, or was it a bell tower" I mumbled the last part more to myself as I tapped my chin while squinting my eyes. She frowned a little when she heard my words and she was about to make some sort of snarky reply when I cut her off with a laugh "I'm sorry, I was just teasing you." 

She tilted her head slightly as she seemed to think over my words, realizing it was now her turn in the game I was playing. "You have a nice accent, where are you from?" her words took me by surprise and I furrowed my brows a little before letting out a sigh at the inevitable conversation we'd come across.

"Russia" I shrugged, hoping she'd take the hint and drop the subject. Instead I had shown her she had found my sore spot but left it alone in respect for a stranger's privacy. She made an effort to wave away the newfound awkwardness and continue her curious interrogation.

"So, how do you know Clint?" she asked with wide eyes, probably trying to guess my age and silently comparing it to her's. I let the room fall silent before bending over a little closer to her, waiting for her to do the same. I put a finger in front of my lips to which she nodded furiously, excited for the secret I was about to share with her.

"I'm his secret love child" I whispered as I watched her eyes grow wide before the shock covered her whole face. She tried to fabricate some sort of reply but all that she managed to bring out was incomprehensible stuttering. I tried my best to keep a straight face but her innocence made it impossible to which I burst out into laughter.

Clint angrily stepped back into the room as he accusingly pointed his finger my way. "Don't make up crap like that" he shouted out with a red tinted face which only made me wheeze louder. After I had finally caught my breath from almost doubling over on the floor I wiped away an imaginary tear and let my hand come down on the knee of the embarrassed girl beside me.

"I can't believe you bought that" I snickered to which she pulled an offended pout which almost had me slipping down the couch again. "And you! It's rude to eavesdrop you know" I called out to Clint who still stood awkwardly in the hallway, watching the scene before him unfold.

Both of my victims simultaneously crossed their arms and I tried to straighten my face once more before taking a breath to regain my seriousness. "He was my sister's friend" I mumbled quickly, answering her earlier question before Clint would throw me out the window.

Again a couple of curious eyes darted my way and I knew she was dying for more information, especially after my use of the past tense. Before she could ask further or I had the chance to change the awkward topic, Clint came out with the whole mystery.

"She's Natasha's sister" he said in a hurry, hoping maybe she didn't catch it and we could move on. The girl seemed reluctant to believe his words as it sounded just as fake as the first explanation yet when she saw my scoff, she seemed to connect the dots. I let out a 'tsk' as he swiftly created an end to my entertainment, calling upon a more serious conversation again.

"Alright, I was just having a little fun" I held up my hands in surrender but then realized my mistake. A small gasp could be heard beside me and I opened up my eyes again to follow her gaze to my soaked band aid which was now dangling half loose in my palm.