She's not a match-girl, nor a jilt

[windwrackedstar]

So my dear friend Mae and I were on the losing side of an AU week vote, but we already had this thread in mind, so we're going to go ahead and play it out here~

So please, if you aren't her, don't comment.

Comments

[agenthawk]

He wasn't having a good day. In fact, if Clint were to be completely honest, he was having a downright horrid one. His father hadn't been in the most cheerful of moods. Clint had long since learned to read the atmosphere of his home to judge whether or not it was safe to stick around for the evening or if it was better to come back after dark, when the danger had passed. An empty beer bottle balanced at the end of a table and agitated mutterings had warned Clint away. So instead he dropped of his backpack in his room, grabbed his wallet and climbed quietly out the window

[red_in_ledger]

Natalya didn't bother looking back before breaking into a run; the cries and cursing behind her could only mean one thing. She used her size to her advantage, slipping through spaces between people the larger boy couldn't follow without bumping into them, drawing attention to himself and slowing himself down.

Damn it all. Today really wasn't her day. She was in enough trouble with Alex just for the cock-up last week--even though it wasn't her fault, she told Yelena not to go for that mark--and she would be in deep shit if she got pinched.

Making a sharp turn, Natalya darted down Budapest Avenue. If she could get out of sight, just for a second, she could dump the hat and coat. And then escape was all but guaranteed. Someone chasing a fleeing, grubby boy wouldn't look twice at a girl in a pale green top walking the other way.

She put on another burst of speed. She just needed to get out of sight. Just for a moment. Then she'd be safe.

[agenthawk]

Despite all the people blocking his way, Clint was able to get through in time to catch sight of the little thief darting quickly down another street. People cried in protest behind him but he hardly cared, he had to get back his wallet. It was all that Clint had left of...of Barney.

He put on an extra burst of speed and managed just barely catch the end of the thief's coat and he pulled back with more force than probably necessary, driving the other off balance. His anger and anxiety getting the better of him.

[red_in_ledger]

A stream of Russian cursing slipped out of Natalya's mouth as she was yanked backwards. And she was so close.

Still, the situation wasn't completely without hope. She managed to twist as she was pulled toward the boy, using the movement to add force to a blind punch. She couldn't help a grin as she felt it connect with the boy's face; she hoped she got his eye. He deserved it.

Another twist added to a wriggle had her mostly out of her coat. One arm was still in the sleeve, and she found herself torn. Yes, she could yank that arm free and run. But winter was here, and she was realistic about her chances of surviving for long if she relinquished the garment. Stashing it for later was one thing; losing one of her only barriers to the elements was entirely another.

So instead she fisted her hand around the cloth and pulled, hoping to slip it out of the boy's grasp.