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Post by kingrico on Feb 23, 2021 15:02:14 GMT -7
Stop Your Moaning… I Know How Beautiful I Am. ----------------------------------------- Shevaun would follow Natasha's memory and transport them right to where they started the night off at, she would look at the sleeping Ava smiling before pulling out a necklace with a gold stone pendant. “ Here… I have an important mission in space I need to attend to, I wish I could have stayed a little longer. Tell her if she ever needs me do not hesitate to press the stone, or contact the Hellraisers we are here to help” she would drop the necklace in Natasha's hand before stepping back. “ You know for all the rumors I've heard about the Black Widow, none turned out to be true. I can tell you're a good person… Everyone has past sins; it's what you do going forward that defines who you truly are.” Shevy would smile before nodding her head, she would open a portal into space far away from the sights of what appeared to be alien ships in the background. “ Good Day Widow” she would say before she powered up a bright red and took off into the portal.
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Post by Gummy on Feb 23, 2021 15:16:14 GMT -7
Ava slept for a long time, again there was nothing really for her to remember. It was always the same, always nothing, always a time skip. One second she was feeling the raw power flow so fast from her that it hurt so much. The next split second she was aware of sounds around her. Sometimes this moment would drift or seem to skip a track. Although it was always the sound first. She wished the voice she heard first wasn't Aleixa but it almost always was. It was almost always his concern that he feared she wasn't going to wake up, that this time she had pushed one step too far.
This time was different, she felt more on edge and a little panicked as she started to come round. So much so that she sat bolt upright breathing fast, as if waking from a nightmare... wait there was something in there. She reached up to her head feeling the uncomfortable pressure that was fading. Her mind was 'rebooting' she had figured out something. What was it. Nightmare... electricity... mind...
Blinking she took in her surroundings and reached for a glass of water. That always helped especially as she needed to close her eyes and calm her breathing down.
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Post by Super Chick on Feb 23, 2021 16:04:51 GMT -7
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Natasha was surprised when Shevaun spoke to her with both invitation and a modicum of respect. She didn't assume to be known in supernatural realms, not yet anyway. Apparently, though, she was. Her reputation had precede her. That was both daunting and intriguing. Natasha filed that bit of knowledge away for later while accepting the necklace. "I'll give her the message," replied the Widow, also making note of the name of the group Shevaun seemed to be part of. She watched her go and considered a great deal in that moment before considering her present moment. Natasha carried Ava and made sure that her protégé was comfortably placed on the sofa where they had left their evening. She assumed it would be more disorienting to have Ava awaken in a room she had not yet visited in the safe house. It was bad enough she just lived through a very real nightmare and expended herself fighting off a bad guy who should have only been able to influence her dreams at best. Instead, the enemy appeared to have a reach into the mortal realm in a way that was discomfiting for the spy.
Again, Natasha resolved to speak with Strange when she was back in the city. She did not like the fact that Ava was involved with supernatural beings, let alone had made a powerful enemy in a demon. Why was Nightmare so interested in Ava? Even Shevaun did not know. And who was Shevaun? How did Ava know her? How did she make such an ally on the other side? There were more questions than answers at the moment, but Natasha was intent to discover as many answers as she could before this holiday was over.
Taking one last look at Ava on the couch, Natasha covered her in the blanket they had been sharing and went to get another from her bedroom. She changed into her pajamas, grabbed a pillow, too, then moved back to the main room. She curled herself into the recliner next to Ava and settled in for the night after checking with Jarvis that they were alone and instructing him not to allow anyone to disturb their rest. At least, she thought, no mortal would interrupt the rest of their sleep tonight. Her jaw tightened remembering that did not mean that they would be completely alone.
It was morning when she heard Ava stir. Her eyes opened from the chair and watched as the younger Widow reached for her water from the previous night. Natasha let her drink and begin waking before speaking from her comfortable reclining position. "I think that next time we should probably skip those extra slices of pizza. Too many bad dreams for my liking," she said. Natasha sat the chair up slowly, adjusting her pillow and blankets to accommodate her new position. "How's your head?"
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Post by Gummy on Feb 23, 2021 16:06:54 GMT -7
Ava started to think and shuddered once more. There was something about the previous night which was VERY confusing but at the same time completely intriguing. She looked over to Natasha and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she didn't laugh at the joke.
"Too much cheese? Never!"
Then she smiled whilst moving herself to a more comfortable position. She looked around the room and leaned her head back.
"My head is fine, buzzing with memories but settling down. Don't worry, it is your past not present."
There was no point lying about what she had taken from Natasha, she didn't mean to do it. The tiredness and exhaustion from Nightmare was enough for her to let her defences down completely. That combined with skin to skin contact and it was inevetable consequence of her powers.
"Sorry for pulling that memory up. Alexi has fond memories of it."
Taking some more of the water she looked at Natasha.
"I think I know why he wants me... or at least to ensnare me. The brain works through synapsis and produces electricity. Eugene and I have been working on using electricity to heal the body and do other interesting things. I think he is afraid because I could possibly disrupt his plans."
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Post by Super Chick on Feb 23, 2021 16:09:13 GMT -7
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It wasn't unusual for Ava to wake up gloomy when she had expended so much energy. "Gloomy" in the sense that she was somber, groggy and not at all chipper. Natasha assumed this is what Ava would be like when she was able to get hangovers - provided she lived long enough to drink alcohol in the United States. The thought flickered across Nat's brain that she would simply have to allow the girl a drink whenever they weren't in the States. Sometime like this vacation, perhaps. After all, in their line of work there was never a guarantee of tomorrow.
Then again, if Ava were to get drunk she'd probably just rage on Natasha and how much of a disappointment she was to her. Perhaps she wouldn't invite such resurfacing of feelings from the younger Widow again. That would not make for a stellar bonding experience.
The room felt better when Ava began talking, but Nat wasn't going to talk about the memories she brought up in. Not yet anyway. With Ava, it was inevitable that it would happen soon enough. Instead, Tasha focused on the other information she provided. Attempting not to sound like she already knew about her experiments with Eugene, Natasha spoke.
"His plans? Disrupt them how?" Did Ava know what Nightmare's plans were? Natasha wondered. Her answer would be telling.
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Post by Gummy on Feb 23, 2021 16:10:57 GMT -7
Ava looked at her Siesta a slim smile came to her lips. She drank from her glass in order to hide more of the smile. When was Nat ever NOT on duty? Ahhh come on! They were on vacation!! This was a good a time as ever for the pair to fully let their hair down. That made her think of Senna and their trips into clubs for various 'excursions'. Ohhh how she missed those times when she was 'freer' that she was now. Sometimes she wished that she had never met Alexia or that she had never got entangled with SHIELD but that was never her decision, never her destiny - she would always be tied one way or another.
What Nat said made her think. She looked into the glass and thought about what she had learned about Nightmare. There were his constant need to get hold of people in their dreams but then there was that incident at Easter. None of them had been asleep so how had that happened?
"I don't know for sure. I do know he wants people or at least to manipulate and control them. If not take over their minds. He had me twice now and the first time I collapsed, the second time I was conscious. Both times he tried to target people who were near me, weaken them. Unsettle them."
Pausing she looked at Nat.
"Perhaps, I intrigue him by what my memories hold. What he did... "
She frowned looked uncomfortable as she fidgeted once more.
"Demons want power, dominance, control. Jarvis? Is there any Matcha Ice cream here?"
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Post by Super Chick on Feb 24, 2021 20:12:24 GMT -7
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"So he is a fear-mongering demon," Natasha said to Ava's initial comment. "Nothing new there." It explained nothing about why the being targeted Ava on now, apparently, three occasions. The Widow didn't like the implications of that, but it wasn't until Ava stopped herself from relaying a story that Natasha knew for certain there was quite a bit more to understand about this predicament.
Ava attempted deflection and over-simplification as her defense. Natasha allowed it for the following six seconds while Jarvis answered her query. "No, Ava, there is no Matcha ice cream on the premises unless you or Natasha brought it with you. However, if you wish, I can request a delivery from SHIELD personnel at their earliest convenience."
"No, Jarvis. We won't bother SHIELD for such an extravagance when there is a perfectly good mint chocolate chip half-gallon in the freezer." Natasha made sure to reply before Ava had the opportunity, taking the proverbial reigns from Ava in leading this conversation so as not to get too far from the topic. She sat up and leaned toward Ava.
"What aren't you saying, Ava?" she asked. "What about your memories? What did Nightmare do?"
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Post by Gummy on Feb 25, 2021 13:37:34 GMT -7
Ava looked hopeful at the idea of getting some delivered but before she could say yes Natasha said no... that was SOOO unfair!!! Her voice sounded a little deflated for a moment but there was a smile peeking on her lips.
"You're such a spoil sport!"
The perk of smile may have been false but at least she was trying to be a teenager. Then Nat got closer to her and she knew that she was trying to find out what Ava was not saying and that was always a lot. A girl of few words but a lot of meaning behind the words. Less said the more she thinks until she really needs to say something. Like this very moment, a moment when Nat was trying to take the lead.
"I'm not saying a lot."
She shrugged knowing that it wouldn't stand up and when Nat prised more questions she quickly stood up.
"Ice cream first. I have a real need for frozen things."
It also gave her time to think through what she was going to try and piece together. She grabbed two tubs and two spoons, her mind focusing on not giving anything away to Natasha before she was ready. Sitting back down crosslegged a little further away from Nat she started to tuck in.
"This isn't a SHIELD debrief but us."
She passed the one tub over to Nat with the spoon sticking in.
"What he did... no.. that isn't where to start. It's what he did to others at first. Shevaun, he broke her down. Bobbi was there. He showed Shevaun what she might become and showed her weaknesses to us all. We stood up to him but when we started to fight in a type of arena..."
Ava found her words hard to say. She didn't want to go on. It was only a nightmare, only something in passing and she had done what she had done to them all. He showed her.. ... She ate more of the ice cream as a way of both hiding what she was going through in her mind and as a way to allow her to calm down. It wasn't working. Putting down her ice cream she curled her legs up on the sofa and looked at Natasha knowing that that answer was not what was wanted. Taking in a long breath she spoke quietly.
"It was only after we 'awoke' Shevaun's power that he turned on us or rather me. What I saw there... what I felt... I have overcome. What had just happened to me was him showing what I could have been like. Trying to manipulate me down the same path but it didn't work. I still showed mercy and kindness to others. I knew it wasn't real to start with but the longer I was there the more I believed it was real. It felt like I was there for a long time before you got there. Training they way you did with more... twisted training with some linking to my own past. To memories which I thought I had blocked. It didn't make me weaker but stronger. He wasn't torturing me or making me afraid just determined to be stronger to fight for what should be right. I think if I had been trained fully like you I would have been killed yet I am a red room creation. I was partly trained the way you were. Yet, I was also trained... no... experimented on by him."
She smiled to show her brave side but also showed how weak she felt.
"That is the short... now, unless we are doing a full SHIELD debrief... "
She looked at Nat in a way of saying she had had enough for now.
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Post by Super Chick on Mar 4, 2021 12:30:20 GMT -7
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She didn't blame the girl for assuming Natasha was simply trying to do her "job" by asking the probing questions, but it did strike Nat a little harsher than it should have. After all, her work was her life. And yet, when Ava passively accused her of merely attempting to get a debrief from her, it bothered her. Did even ava only see Natasha as some uncaring spy machine who invested nothing in relationships? Many had this view of the Black Widow, and perhaps that was earned, but Ava should know better. Of anyone, this girl who sometimes walked in her memories should know better. She was invested a lot more in Ava than she was in most people.
Natasha watched Ava go get the ice cream from the freezer. The elder Widow was well aware there was plenty of ice cream flavors in the freezer, including the mint chocolate chip she mentioned, so it wasn't really a surprise when Ava brought two separate containers back with two spoons. Nat sat hers aside on the end table beside her recliner. She wasn't craving it the way Ava was, but she told her, "Thank you," nonetheless.
Her protégé started in on her explanation, such as it was. She provided some details about Shevaun and Nightmare's history and a previous encounter wherein the demon tempted her with visions of who she could become. Ava assured Natasha that she was not going down that path and knew herself to be a kind, caring individual. Her explanation did little to shed light on why Nightmare continued to target Ava unless the being was simply too egotistical to leave a human alone who had overcome him. Perhaps Ava didn't know, either why he pursued and experimented on her, but Natasha had a sneaky suspicion that she did. The Widow always trusted her instincts, but when Ava made clear she would not speak of the issue further Natasha decided to let it lie for now. The topic was obviously uncomfortable for her adopted sibling.
"Good grief, Ava," Natasha retorted at her mention of a SHIELD debrief again. "Is that really what you think of me? That all I care about is the job?"
The Widow sat back in her recliner again, exasperated. She closed her eyes for a single breath before reopening them. She looked at Ava seriously. "When will you understand that I care about you? That I ask you questions because I want to help you? Yes, I have a job. Yes, I am a spy who asks questions to find the answers, but I'm more than that. We are more than that." She sighed. "You're my sestra, Ava. I may have failed you before but I'm trying to do better."
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Post by Gummy on Mar 4, 2021 12:52:48 GMT -7
Ava had noted the way Nat had said thank you and knew there was possibly more behind it. When the retort was spoken she wanted to scream at Natasha from here until the other side of the world, perhaps into space too. It was hard she traced the memories of the past and tried to put them all together. She absent mindedly ate her ice cream staying silent, holding her tongue for a little longer allowing Nat's pent up emotions to splurge out.
Raising one eyebrow she looked at Nat.
"I... I don't want to...."
She looked to the floor, it wasn't that she was being evasive just struggling to find the right words. Holding up one finger she spoke in a disconnected way. Each thing she added another digit.
"I know. I can't let people in, when I do they always get hurt, killed or put in a comma. All I have is SHIELD and Sasha Cat but she's old. The first time with nightmare I let it all out... I ... I know they weren't real but I had to do it.... I had to.... put them down to get them off of me. My dreams... our dreams of them dying... He can break me."
She lowered her hand which held five fingers up and her eyes moved from the floor slowly up to Nat. There were tears.
"I felt the darker side of me... us... and I had to go there to survive. I have to be strong no matter what. Stand tall, be as strong as a rock."
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Post by Super Chick on Mar 8, 2021 15:07:15 GMT -7
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Ava didn't mean to but she kept piling on the insults. She said SHIELD and Sasha Cat were all she had, ignoring completely that Natasha just told her that she had her. And if that weren't enough, Ava said Nightmare used Nat's darker side to bring out Ava's. Ava said she had to "put them down" insinuating Nightmare made Ava kill the only people she cared about while trapped in her dream. She said she had to go into their darker side to survive, implying Ava's soul somehow mirrored Natasha's and they were inextricably connected. To a point, Ava wasn't wrong, but in the full scope of things she was incredibly mistaken.
Natasha took a minute to process and not speak out of her frustration at being blamed for something (yet again) over which she had little to no control. Their connection was Ivan's doing, but Ava's mother's involvement with him was what ultimately put Ava in the line of fire, so to speak. The younger, self-proclaimed Widow was likely going to be forced into the Black Widow program had she not been rescued by SHIELD after the explosion. Then the girl would have had more to complain about - if the capacity to complain had not been beaten out of her in training. In some ways, Natasha wondered if she had done Ava a disservice by coddling her. In most ways, however, the Black Widow preferred knowing that Ava did not have to endure all she had as a youth.
That said, Nat's memories constantly infringing on Ava's mind had to have some corrupting influence. Of course, they also provided Ava many great benefits. The girl did not have to experience all Natasha had in order to learn the lessons taught by them. She knew maneuvers and skills she did not have to train to perform. She knew spy craft she did not study. She knew much about life experiences, as well. Ava would not have to endure as much heartache (and body aches!) as Natasha did if she could simply learn from her mistakes. But Ava was just a girl, an emotionally driven teenager who didn't have to learn anything the hard way. Coddled, yes, but not untouched by her own tragedies. She had to potential to be a better Widow than even Natasha, but there was much growth that would have to happen before that would come to fruition. And potential alone was no guarantee of success.
After a full minute of silence between them, Natasha decided not to stoop to the lower levels of emotionalism. She would take her charge's words as more of what she assumed she meant rather than what Ava actually said. Instead, she commented on the Ava's misconception that she said last. "You don't have to be strong all the time, Ava. Only when there's danger and people's lives depend on it. If you've learned nothing else from my memories learn that you only need to be a 'rock' sometimes. Being mud is fine, too, in the right circumstances - like when you're on vacation. Or alone at home. Or with someone who cares."
Nat gave a small smile that she hoped would be comforting and put her foot rest down on the recliner. She stood and stretched, leaving the blanket on the chair. "Come on," she gestured. "Let's get you some pancakes to go with your ice cream. I'm pretty sure there's even some whipped cream in the fridge if you want it."
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Post by Gummy on Mar 8, 2021 16:13:00 GMT -7
The silence was deafening. She wanted to speak but no more of the words came to her. She had said what needed to be said for a time. Enough to let in a little into her heart. Yet, when Nat said for pancakes she didn't move instantly she sat thinking. Memories of what had happened, of what Nat had gone through and having the strength at the end of the day. Ava tried to find a point when Nat had been weak... but then she found a memory it was old but then... ohhhh....! She looked back at Nat and suddenly stood embracing her Seister being careful not to touch her skin. "I don't want to see you hurt! I've lost too many! We've lost one who ... "
The tears started and she leaned her head on her shoulder. She didn't cry out loud or make a din but her breathing was affected. "Crying's not a weak thing kid. It's a human thing"Ava's breath shuddered as she closed her eyes allowing the tears to run. She didn't need to open them to know her ghost was trying to comfort her too. She spoke so quietly. "I'm sorry."
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Post by Super Chick on Mar 16, 2021 21:30:41 GMT -7
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It took Ava a bit of time to gather herself enough to move, let alone speak. When she did, she practically fell into Natasha's arms. Part of Natasha expected Ava to deny her feelings again and put continue to put up her stoic facade. It was a defense mechanism and a pretty common one, but it was what Ava continued to hold onto through thick and thin. Natasha knew that sometimes a defense mechanism was all that stood between standing up and breaking down forever. She didn't begrudge Ava that. She only hoped Ava could someday forego stoicism in order to form a real relationship because, frankly, friends were not as overrated as Natasha liked to pretend.
She held Ava while the girl wept silently. When Ava said the words verbatim that Ivan once said to her, Natasha felt herself stiffen. She hated that Ava was always in her head. Most of the time it was just annoying but sometimes, like now, having Ava find a memory so personal went beyond annoying. It felt violating. Natasha didn't shrug Ava off, however. The girl was struggling with her adolescence and so, so much more. Natasha had one kind of tumultuous childhood. Ava's was almost as tragic despite all she had tried to save her from by giving her to SHIELD.
Natasha shook off her frustration at Ava seeing her memory with her "father" and held her. When Ava said she was sorry, Natasha gave her a squeeze and released her. She wip[ed Ava's tear off her cheek and held her sestra by the shoulders. "It's all right." Nat smiled. "This is one of those spaces when it's OK to get a little muddy," she said referencing her earlier admonition. She gently turned Ava toward the kitchen. "Let's have a little breakfast and go skiing. It'd be a shame to miss doing something fun just because we had a little Nightmare."
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Post by Gummy on Mar 24, 2021 15:36:47 GMT -7
Ava felt the waves of irk coming from Nat but it didn't matter. She needed this more than she would admit even to herself. The feeble smile which came to her face when Nat wiped her cheek spoke of spoke of the hurt behind it all. That one touch. One single touch brought her heart crumbling. A touch was more than she wanted. Just one touch to be with him. Just once more. As she was turned towards the kitchen the most painful tear of them all escaped. Fell down her cheek. There in front of her, clear as day to her, was Alexi. Oh how she wished... oh how she hoped... maybe she was just hoping that it wasn't her imagination. Maybe he was real, an imprint or just lost. Magic had astrol projection why can't he be like that... a ghost... but that would mean... that would mean he was.... .... .... gone.
Was it her or had the world gone just a little duller and quieter? She daren't speak. She just moved to the kitchen and started to rummage again in the cupboards before retrieving pancake mix where you just add water. She never had mastered cooking. Never really had the opportunity when living on the street. You just made do with what you had or could get.
Pancakes though... she could make this type of pancakes. All she needed was.... ah ha!!!! She smiled a little bigger as she pulled down marshmallow fluff, chocolate sprinkles and ... well ... not the best combo but it would work... raspberry syrup.
"Skiing... sounds... like a challenge. What I'm really looking forward to is piloting training! Now that will be cool. As I've only just got my drivers permit I suppose I have to wait a little longer. Did you notice they tightened security around the hanger? You can blame me... I got in. They figured that if a teen can get into a high security area then anyone could! I think they are using me as a tester for their security. At least it gives me chance to feed Sacha Cat."
Her verbal barrage was more spread through her making pancakes along with trying to keep her mind busy. It was taking her a lot of effort to keep her mind on one thing. Work, training and cooking was the limits but there was always that annoying ghost who was just trying ... trying anything to cheer her up.
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Post by Super Chick on Apr 15, 2021 15:29:04 GMT -7
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Ava spoke quietly while they made pancakes. Well, while she made pancakes. Natasha put some frozen sausages on a plate in the microwave and called it good. She sat and watched as Ava flipped the pancakes and searched in vain for the kind of syrup she wanted. Once her protégé had given up and grabbed the raspberry syrup, Natasha went to the pantry and found the strawberry syrup for her, which is what she assumed the girl wanted. After all, maple syrup didn't seem to be a good fit with chocolate and marshmallow. Then again, this was Ava... Nat grabbed the maple and chocolate syrups as well. Who knew what this teen craved on her pancakes? Natasha set them on the counter for Ava to see when she turned back around from tending their breakfast.
"There's always more syrup," Natasha said. "Tony like the variety."
Ava mentioned that she was excited about pilot school, dismissing the challenge of skiing on world class slopes entirely. To be fair, Ava had to actually learn very little. Anything Natasha could do, Ava just "knew" how to do it, too. It was cheating in a very big way. Nat hoped those shortcuts weren't undermining to the development of Ava's character. After all, it was from failure more than from success that people developed their egos - their personhood. The Widow already knew it spoiled the girl to the extent that she often acted over-indulged and sometimes petulant. It annoyed Natasha on more than one occasion. And not just Nat, but others in SHIELD had mentioned her attitude. It worried her but not too much because personality, as much as it suited a spy's work like hers, was not as necessary in the world of SHIELD. Maria Hill was a shining example of this.
"Oh I know," Natasha replied, indicating that very little ever escaped her knowledge. "But to assume you are being used as an experiment beyond what we experience with our bond is presumptuous. The truth is they are well aware of the probability you'll thwart their security measures simply due to our link. You can know the passwords and all of the other measures with little more than a mind dive. It has little to do with you being an adolescent."
Nat retrieved the sausages from the microwave. They looked fine, not overdone, so she was happy enough. She sat back on the stool at the counter and popped one in her mouth. "That said, I like that you keep breaking into places whether its using borrowed knowledge or your own ingenuity." She smirked. "It frustrates Hill to no end." She chewed her sausage and swallowed. "But I didn't just say that." It was their secret that she basically gave Ava permission to test SHIELD. Neither Tony or Hill ever needed to know.
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