Chapter 648 - Acceptance of Proposal (1/2)
Nik loves proposing, not for marriage, but s.e.x.u.a.l adventures. In his real homeworld, the one he excelled with the art of prostitution and f.u.c.k.i.n.g mothers that needed tender attention, included his own, after hours of work, there was nothing akin to a marriage. Nik grew without a tradition known as marriage. In his world, it was called conquest. Women and Men, both, conquered the people they liked and held them close. Mate and live for the rest of their lives. No parties were arranged for the rightful passage to s.e.x since s.e.x was extremely common. Too common that a father could have his well-aged daughter from her current man if he has the strength and the charm or else, he'll just get a kick in the ass from his own daughter.
So, when he invited Maria Hill and Susan Storm despite the difference in the cultures they are raised in, Nik held little hope. He just called them out to make the mood in the room during that day tenser by a margin and to screw around. After all, he still hadn't forgotten that variation in cultures is always a barrier to s.e.x. However, with the day being Sunday, Anna and Natasha, for once, relaxing together and Mary out to do her job like usual, a slightly familiar figure knocked on the door. Cindy was supposed to head out to a lecture with her parents, so she couldn't be it. Ava would have growled while knocking if she wanted some of Nik, so she couldn't be it, either. To keep the element of surprise, Nik just refused to check up on the person on the other side of the door while Anna perked up, ”Is is Mj?” She inquired quickly.
”Let's see,” Nik shrugged. He wasn't appropriately dressed for welcoming anybody. Just boxers and vest but his clothes shifted, well, Pickle shifted into a casual attire as Nik opened the doors with a smile. ”Huh, I always thought Agents didn't get Sundays off but seeing you and Nat here... I guess Mary picked up the wrong profession,” Nik mumbled while gazing at the short-haired figure with sharp features. Slightly muscular and athletic frame than any average figure one could pick from the street and a stern expression on her face as if she came her against her volition.
”Agent Widow is here?” Maria raised her eyebrow in inquiry as Nik welcomed her in, ”Well, she hardly leaves now. I guess it's a quality of mine. My laziness 'spreads' like an infection,” he replied as both Anna and Natasha looked at the new arrival with a surprised expression. Anna was surprised because she didn't know the woman, meanwhile, Natasha was surprised due to her knowledge about 'daddy's brightest daughter' in the Shield. Everybody knew she was being mentored by Nick Fury including Maria herself!
Whistling in amus.e.m.e.nt, still in her skimpy clothing and her head on her niece's lap, Natasha inquired, ”Did you forget your way home, Maria? I didn't take you for a naughty one.”
Walking in while ignoring Natasha's jests, the tomboyish woman with an attractive figure looked around and observed the apartment. ”You must be Anna,” she then looked at the confused brunette who had a face quite similar to her redheaded mother. ”Your mother was a senior of mine,” Maria continued, ”And she taught me for a little while, too. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
”Don't listen to her, sweetheart,” Nat cackled with a smug grin as she nuzzled the back of her head against Anna's thighs, ”She's just saying this to butter you up... and wow, she's really bad at it! Isn't this your first leave in three years of service? You must be really... how should I put it without compromising your entire image? Yes, horny.”
Maria's expression turned bleak while Nik chuckled as he opened the refrigerator to pour Maria a glass of water. ”Should you really take a leave yourself, Agent Widow? The mission you're handed is quite high profile.”
”Oh, please. Mr. Stark already knows my identity. He's just playing along for the sake of his company— his platonic lover's gift.” She stated with a roll of her eyes and finally sat up. Still confused slightly about a few things, Anna sighed. She wished the newcomer to be Mj. After all, for quite a few days, Gwen had started to avoid her phone calls and invitations to hang out. Cindy and Ava were usually busy with patrols which said a lot about their diligence because Nik only jumped out to have fun if he had nothing to do. Which, by the way, he had a lot. After his chat with Newton, Nik would stay silent and lie on the bed without a single twitch of his body for hours. She was completely bored and while she didn't want to admit... her 'cool' aunt actually had nothing much to talk about except her missions.
It was like Natasha had only started her life now, which made Anna pity the redhead more than anything else.
”So...” Anna mumbled with a curious expression, ”Are you really horny? And can I call you just Maria or do I have to call you Agent Maria?” She inquired back to back as Maria's gaze sharpened. ”I'm not... horny. And that is no word to be utilized by a young woman. That old cougar, I can see her using illicit words like these in numbers,” Maria jabbed at Natasha while drinking from the glass before making herself comfortable on the couch. ”And you may not call me Agent Maria. We are not co-workers. Call me Maria, or Hill.”
Seeing such a formal tone, the aunt and niece duo was stumped for a moment but Maria felt like 'easing' on the situation. ”I have inquired a few sources and found that Nik's offer has been a genuine one. I don't wish to know the motives behind the act of mingling with a single man... and I don't have the right to judge the unethical act of a mother and daughter sharing one man. But that is not why I am here,” she explained, ”I wish to take him up on that offer. Am I right to assume that you two have no say in the matter?”
Anna and Natasha looked at each other before laughing out loud simultaneously with the lazily purring agent exaggeratedly gesturing towards Maria, ”See? She's horny... formally. Why don't we get a ledger to mark the time down, make a horny chart?!” Her words only making Anna laugh harder. Nik pursed his lips with a stare from Maria and he would have indeed laughed at her face, well, if he hadn't already perceived awkwardness and embarrassment from Maria that she tried to hide with her formal speech.
”Don't be mean,” Nik interjected with a smile, ”We don't wanna start how horny a person can get in a day, right?”
”Cause you are always!” Anna exclaimed with a laugh, making Nik's lips twitch. She wasn't wrong, after all. In fact, Nik considered his l.u.s.t a virtue of sorts. Who would want a man whose interest in their partners would wane gradually? Not Nik, he knew that. Well, in his case, it would've been a woman. ”This was a mistake,” Maria mumbled and finished the water before standing up, ”I shouldn't have done this in front of you two. So, get out. Let me have a chat with Nik.”
”But... this isn't your apartment,” Natasha tilted her head with a naive expression.
”Hmm? Let's see. Anna, you love to play video games but this is just a recent addiction of yours. How about I show you your mother's old office after all of this is done?”
Anna turned silent before looking at stunned Natasha. She had asked Natasha many times to show her mother's workplace but the redhead aunt of hers would dodge the request every time. Standing up with a nonchalant expression, she gestured towards her mother's room. Please, chat peacefully. Nik, be sure to cover the space so that my dirty aunt cannot disturb you.”
”Ah!” Natasha exclaimed in surprise, ”I said it many times. I don't have the necessary authority to bring a third-party into the quarters.”
”But I do, don't I?” Maria looked at Natasha with a peaceful expression.
Suddenly, Natasha realized that showing Mary's old office was nothing of importance. The base had shifted 'up' and even if Maria brought a stranger into that washed-up place, it would not leave a bad mark on her credits. Essentially, she bought Anna's favor with... nothing.