𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐄━︎━︎ C. Barton

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞

CHAPTER FIVE:
❝︎Expecting More❞︎

SHE WAS AMAZED BY THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS ON THE QUINJET ALONE. She had carefully placed her bag down, looking around at the wide open jet before glancing back towards Clint who had been watching her with amusement. He closed the door to the quinjet before he made his way to the pilot's seat, getting ready to take off but waiting for Theodora to finish exploring the plane before he did so. He graciously allowed for her to sit in the co-pilot's seat, and couldn't help but watch as she looked at the flying surrounding in amazement.

It was clear that the woman didn't go out a lot. He wouldn't be surprised if the only reason she ever went out of her home was to make sure she had enough food to survive for a month before going back into hiding again. He was curious about her, that was for sure. He wondered why she had decided to lock herself inside a cabin in the middle of the woods. Was it because of what had happened with her brother?

Theodora messed with her gloves, something she did without realizing that she actually did it. Sitting there in that quinjet with a man that claimed he could help her, that he could protect her, it was a lot for the dark haired woman to take in. So she was doing everything in her power to distract herself, to ignore her thoughts that were screaming at her and to instead focus on the scenery and on the clouds that barely moved in the wind. She had always enjoyed the sky, both during night and day. And the desire to want to reach out and touch those soft looking clouds was taking over.

She wanted to speak. She wanted to ask the questions that were roaming through her head, but she kept her mouth sealed. She decided that she wasn't going to say a word until she knew what exactly it was that she was walking into. For all she knew this could be a trap and she was stupid enough to walk straight into it. Or maybe these people were really trying to help her, trying to help her understand and control the powers she was burdened with. She would just have to keep her guard up.

"You alright over there?" Clint's voice brought her from her thoughts. She turned her head to look at him and offered a tight lipped smile as she nodded her head. She was fine. She was just on edge. Uncomfortable. And most of all, she just wanted to be back inside the one place that gave her a sense of safety. Her home. The place where nothing bad had happened. The place in which she could chose not to wear her gloves and be okay with it. But she always did. Because like her home, her gloves brought her safety.

"Just nervous and anxious is all." Theodora answered, a deep breath leaving her lips. She could feel her hands shaking, causing her to clench it into a fist. She couldn't show them her fear. She couldn't walk into this place, express all of her emotions, and allow them to believe her as weak. Because she wasn't. Theodora Knox was a strong woman, stronger than most would think. She'd been through hell and back, and she knew what she was talking about most of the time. Spending years cooped up in a cabin alone made you bored, and reading seemed to become her favorite thing.

The ride was only a few hours long, something that Theodora could easily sit through. Watching the clouds from up above, the occasional bird flapping it's wings as it sored gracefully in the wind. Something that Theodora couldn't help but silently wish she could do. To sore freely in the wind, not a care in the world on her mind. All of her worries flying within the wind the farther and farther that she sored. That seemed like a peaceful life, and Theodora couldn't help but long for it. And then that longing was over.

She watched as the clouds started to disappear as the ground grew closer and closer, letting her know that they were to land soon. And she didn't know how to feel. How to act. So, she took a moment to close her eyes, taking a deep breath before calming her racing heart. She had to expect whatever she could when making her way into this place. And as they got lower to the ground, she cocked her head slightly when she saw the building. One of which wasn't as big as she had expected.

"This is it?" Theodora questioned, cocking an eyebrow as she turned her head to look at Clint, watching as the man lowered the quinjet down with ease.

He glanced towards the woman, smirking slightly. "You were expecting more?"

"Yes, actually, I was." Theodora nodded matter-of-factly. "I thought it was going to be this ginormous building with S.H.I.E.L.D. printed largely and exaggeratedly on the side of it. It looks like a regular work building." She pushed her hair off of her shoulders as Clint started to turn off the jet. She watched him for a few moments before sighing and unbuckling herself. And then she stood. "So, where to first?"

"My boss." Clint simply answered as he made his way from the jet. Theodora followed him with her eyes before muttering silent words under her breath before standing up and making her way towards the edge of the quinjet. She looked at Clint when he offered his hand towards her, and she hesitated for a moment before accepting it and then letting his hand go as soon as she was free from the quinjet.

"Be prepared." Clint warned her. "My boss isn't a likeable person. Most of the time." And then he was walking off and Theodora reluctantly followed behind him.