Chapter 3: Bookstores and Iron Man T-Shirts

            I wake up around 9 the next morning and look over at my closet.

            “Don’t look at me like that.” I say to my mask that happens to be looking right at me.

            “Coffee first.” I say sleepily, out loud as I walk to the kitchen.

            I realize that being an international criminal and leaving all my gear out in the open isn’t the greatest idea. But in my defense, no one other than me has been here in over a year. Sitting on my kitchen counter, sipping my coffee, my mind wonders to some of the more normal things in my life. I should really go grocery shopping. I’m actually surprised I had enough coffee this morning and didn’t have to run to Starbucks. After coffee, I go back to my room.

 I crouch down to my bag and pull out the diamond. I wonder what this is for? The guy who hired me didn’t really go into detail why he needed it and I learned a long time ago not to ask questions. I guess I’ll learn tonight when I deliver it to him. 117 S. Emerson St., Queens. 10:00 pm. He said his name was Simon Decker and that he was in charge of a very important organization. He also said he’d pay me the cost of the diamond plus 50,000 dollars. I couldn’t pass it up, considering the diamond was about 6 carats. Easy rob plus 8 and a half million dollars you do the math. For now I would hold the diamond with the rest of my gear, but in a secret compartment in the chest, that’s in another secret compartment… What, I do have to take my precautions.

Putting on one of my claws, I run my finger across the left wall of the chest. My nail slips into a crack and I push it in farther to pop out the wooden plank. I place the diamond there and quickly put away everything else. Standing up I ponder over what I want to wear today.

I don’t really need to be anywhere until later tonight, but I do want to head to the bookstore. They just got a new shipment and I want to see what books they have. I walk to the window and look outside. It’s a nice day, not too hot, and that’s saying something when it’s August.

 Walking back to the closet, I grab a blue tank top with a black Union Jack on it, black skinny jeans and head to the bathroom to get ready. Brushing my blond, wavy hair out and applying minimal makeup, I groan to myself, never really enjoying my appearance. Sure I have a good body, but only because I run around on rooftops and am forced to work out. I have pale skin that burns way too easily, a crooked smile, and button nose. I did, however, love my eyes. Because I was wearing blue, they were a dark stormy blue-grey, but when I’m not, they are a bright, vibrant blue. Grabbing my bag and a pair of black vans I walk downstairs and out onto the street.

            I pushed the door to the bookshop open and heard the familiar ding of the bell above the door, notifying the employees of my presence. I walked to the section that said ‘New’ above it. Wow, there really isn’t that much. I guess the shipment was mostly Divergent and Hunger Games replacements. Ugh! I already own those! I pick up a book titled ‘The Book Without Words’ and read the summary.

            “Excuse me” a voice behind me says. I whip around and find myself in front of Hawkeye. Well Clint Barton. I almost choke on the air breathing alone at his presence.

            “Ah, yeah sorry.” I manage to say as I get out of his way. What is he doing here? Could he know I’m Viper? Of course not, that’s kind of the whole reason behind me wearing a mask. But still, what is Hawkeye doing in a bookstore? Shouldn’t he be trying to beat Katniss’ personal record or something?

            “Pretty dull selection this week, huh?” he says.

            “Um, yeah, but this one seems pretty good.” I say while handing him the book in my hands. He reads the back and then flips through the pages before handing it to back me.

            “But it has words.” He says.

            “What?”

            “It’s titled ‘The Book Without Words’, but it has words.”

“Oh, ha yeah, I guess that doesn’t make much sense.” I breathe and laugh out. He goes back to looking at books and I try to, but oh my God! Did I really just make small talk with one of my, apparently, new enemies? I walk to the cash register, wanting to leave, and wait for the girl behind the counter to notice me. I haven't seen her here before, so she must be new. She looks like she's about 17. I clear my throat after a few seconds and she looks up from her magazine.

            “Oh, yeah, can I help you or whatever?” she asks in a nasally voice. Really this girl works at a bookstore? Okay then.

            “Yeah, just this please.” I say putting the book on the counter. She scans it and I hand her my card. After putting the book in a bag she hands me a receipt. I sign it, but when I’m putting the pen back in the marble filled cup, I knock it over, spilling marbles everywhere. Sighing, I bend down and pick the marbles. Way to go Leiton, I think as I’m cleaning.

            “Who’s Leiton?” A voice above me asks. I look up and see Barton bending down to help me clean up the marbles. Guess I thought out loud.

            “Uh, me. Jade Leiton.” Crap! Did I really give away secret identity to one of SHEILD’s top agents!? Oh, right he doesn’t know…

            “Well, Jade, you might want be more careful.” He says standing up to empty his hands of marbles back in the cup. I do the same and say,

            “Yeah, well I’m kind of a klutz.” Viper might be elegant and graceful, but Jade… Not so much. Unless I’m training or something like that.

            “I see.” He says. I grab my bag and mumble a thank you to the clerk, who’s glued back to her magazine.

            “And thank you…” I say waiting for him to say his name.

            “Clint.” Of course I know his name, but I have to keep this stranger helping stranger thing up.

            “Clint.” I repeat and hastily exit the store. Huh, didn’t take Hawky to be much of a book worm, but then again I’ve only read his SHIELD file, not his Instagram page. I walk to a diner to get some lunch.

            “Hey there, sweetie, what can I get you?” a busty, middle-aged women asks me when sit down.

            “I’ll have… An iced tea, philly cheese streak sandwich and fries, please.”

            “Sure thing, sugar, be out in a jiff.”

            As I wait for my food, a group of teenagers walk into the diner. They take the table across from me and I mentally groan as I notice one of them wearing an Iron Man t-shirt. I let my fore head fall onto my arms and I shake my head. Am I going to be reminded of that glorified ‘superhero’ group all day?

            “Hey, did you guys hear what happened in Paris last night?” I hear the girl ask. I lift my head to hear better.

             “Yeah, that chick, Viper, robbed one of the biggest museums and got away without a trace.” I smile to myself and continue listening.

            “The Avengers showed up and everything, but she got away. Girls badass.” Again I smile, a bit smugly.

            “No, she’s mental” the boy in the Iron Man shirt says.

            “Alright, she does seem a bit mental, but either way she’s badass.”

            I shrugged as I considered my mental state. I mean, I did talk to my mask this morning. The waitress brings my food and I lose interest in the teenager’s conversation as they argue as to who would win in a fight, Captain America or Iron Man. Captain America obviously. Stark may have his suit, but he’s arrogant and Rogers actually thinks about what his plan is. He’d take down Iron Buns easily. After lunch, I head back to my apartment and lounge around until 10:00pm. 

A/N: Woah! Another chapter! So this week is homecoming week at my school, and I wanted to update sometime this week, but there is something happening everyday, except today, after school, and with homework and such, I wouldn't have enough time. So I decided to update a little bit earlier than planned! And that isn't exactly a bad thing. 

Attached is a picture of the book Jade finds, The Book Without Words. It's one of my favorite books, by one of my favorite authors, A.V.I. If you've read it, your awesome, if not, do so. It's kind of small, but is a great story, so if you like fantasy and magic and stuff like that, check it out! 

Moving on, so the chapter! What do you guys think? It's kind of just a filler, but I like it, and her meeting Hawkeye comes in later. I also am trying to develope Jade's character. She is a book nerd and fellow fangirl, so watch out for those moments. I am also trying to sqeeze in that although she's Viper, Jade is a normal human being with a normal(ish) life. I hope everyone enjoyed it and comment and vote away! 

[=_=] }{:"?>