Sorry it's been so long! I've had, and still have a lot on my plate, but I'll try to get better at posting. Trigger warning: Hinted abuse, Hinted ocd, Hinted/previous eating disorder. I think that's it but read with caution.

Disclaimer: I don't own marvel, this is just for fun.

Chapter 3 Natasha

Her phone buzzed under her pillow. She was already awake, so she hurried to turn it off. She always kept her phone under the pillow so no one else would wake up from her alarm. Next thing she always did was to make her bed, the people at the orphanage is nice enough to take care of them so the least she can do is make her bed. She looked over at the other girls beds, they all were still asleep. She slowly tippi toed her way out of the room and made her way further down the hallway, over to the boys' rooms. When she reached the room where it said "Peter, Tommy, Derek, Clint and Mat" she slowly opened the door. Then she silently made her way over to Clints bed. He was still sound asleep, and curled into a little ball. She carefully touched his shoulder and shook it slightly, until his eyes opened.

Natasha always woke Clint up, because if someone did it wrong they may end up on the floor in a headlock. He couldn't exactly set an alarm either...

Morning, sunshine. Natasha signed with a smirk.

Morning... What time is it? Clint signed tiredly back, while yawning.

About 5.30 am... We need to hurry if we want to make it to the showers before the others wake up. Clint nodded in agreement and started to drag himself out of bed. Natasha saw how he had to put all of his energy into keeping himself upright. They sat up and "talked" until 3am, so it wasn't that weird.

They brought their shower bags, and headed for the bathrooms. Ms. May was standing outside of the bathroom, just waiting for the two of them. She cast them a glance before throwing the key to Natasha.

"Be quick please, I could use some help with breakfast" They both nodded and separated to go in to the bathrooms. Natasha had always liked Ms. May. She was one of the workers at the orphanage that knew sign language even before meeting Clint, and she had always helped (and given them perks) through the whole time they had been stuck there. They were the only ones who wasn't just staying for a couple of weeks. The rest of the kids got sent away or adopted usually after three weeks or so, but not them. They were too old and "involved" in the town they lived in now. And if Natasha was honest with herself, at this point she really didn't even want to move.

There was also Ms. Simmons, Mr. Fitz and Mack, they were the only other employees that actually made time to learn some ASL, and some Russian for when Natasha had panic attacks. Natasha didn't pay much attention to Fitz-Simmons, but they were always there to help with homework or injuries.

Mack had picked up a few basic signs and could hold a small conversation in Russian. He was a little like a big brother to the both of them (even though Natasha wouldn't be caught dead saying that), he always offered a helping hand with the homework or anything else really, he made sure that an afternoon snack always was ready when they got back from school and he took them out on road trips and small adventures in the holidays/weekends (he only did that for Natasha and Clint, which she appreciated more than she could ever tell him)

The hot water ran down her neck and back. She tried her hardest to avoid it running over her arms, because that would always burn and bring back memories. After she'd stood under the water and just thinking for a while, she grabbed the shampoo and started to wash her hair.

She picked up her clothes from the sink, and started to get dressed. Her outfit consisted of a burgundy red sweater with black "leather" tights, as well as a pair of worn out red converse. She then proceeded to blow drying her hair and putting on a thin layer of mascara. It was now 6 o'clock, so she went down to the kitchen. Clint was already sitting on the kitchen isle there studying an apple. Both of the two struggled a little with food, Natasha a lot more than Clint, and for anyone else it would look like the two of them starved themselves but for a person who knew them it would look like they both had gotten a lot better since the first time they got to the orphanage.

'Eat' She signed while walking past him to get the bread, and get it into the toaster. May was alredy standing there and packing lunch bags.

"Mack will have the night shift because I have to go to a conference, but I'll take the day-late evening shift to make up for it" May said while putting the lunch boxes down in the little kid's backpacks.

"Okay... Have you informed him on the routines?" Natasha said while cutting up apple slices.

"Yes, and Simmons will be here at the evening and morning. So it's just sleeping that's going to be different, okay?" Natasha shrugged while continuing to cut the apples into slices.

"You three looks like this isn't a good morning" One of the workers- Cloud or Daisy or something like that- said. Natasha turned to Clint, who stiffened up a bit and putting on a mask that was impossible to read.

'Can you get the plates out?' She signed towards him, he didn't respond but he jumped of the isle and to walked over to the cabin.

"Is that some secret language, that's really fun of you two" Flower-something said and grabbed one of the apple slices Natasha had cut up.

"It's sign language" She said while carefully placing the apple slices on a plate before Sunflower? could take any more.

'Someone grew up without much diversity' Clint signed and smirked. Natasha smiled back and pushing him lightly on his good side. May had taken out all of the toast and placed them on the table along side the rest of the food.

"Daisy go get the others, they are going to be late if they don't finish up soon" May said and ushered Daisy towards the stairs.

"I'm going to make an exception today and say that you two can start eating" May then turned around to the stairs to help Daisy get the other kids ready. They picked up a toast each and then sat on top of the kitchen counter. Natasha put her toast down so she could sign.

' May told you that she isn't going to be here for the night shift?' Clint shook his head and took a bite off toast before putting it down in his lap too. May's name sign was the sign for hard, but with two M's. Clint came up with it after their first meet with Ms. May. Little did they know that she was fluent, but she just smiled at them- actually smiled- and signed that 'it was sweet of them to even bother giving her one'. But ended it with; 'But if you two ever try to speak behind my back again'. So it was the last time they did that.

'You okay with that?' He signed and furrowed his brows together to emphasize that it was a question and not a statement.

'Mack's going to have it instead, so he'll probably not come until late afternoon either' She signed without really answering his question. 'They changed the entire routine' She continued. Clint nodded and grabbed a hold of her hand. Mack's name sign was brother with a M. He didn't know that much and would probably never figure out what it meant anyway, it started after he tied Natashas shoes when her wrist was broken. And then it just stuck, because in many ways he was like a big brother to the both of them.

'You okay?' He signed without letting go of her hand. She looked down at the toast in her lap, before carefully nodding her head.

' I'm fine, it's silly that I can't deal with a little change like this' She didn't look up from her lap. She slipped her hand out off Clint's to break off a piece of toast. He knocked on the counter to get her attention, before starting to sign.

'First- it's not silly, you have every right to like routines. Second- I know that you can deal with it, don't doubt that' She gave him a little smile before continuing to nib on her toast.


The bus was three minutes and twenty-two second late, not that she counted. May and Dandelion? followed all the kids to the bus stop. Their bus left seven minutes ago and Tulip had left,but May insisted (like she always did) that she was waiting with them. Clint and herself were the only ones who went to avengers high, all the other kids went to shield elementary.

'You think they're going to change any off our schedules after last week?' Clint signed after touching her shoulder gently. She got what he was trying to do, he always tried to get her to think of other things than routines.

"No" she said before looking back at her phone. He heard Clint sigh, before he too pulled up his phone.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to be a bitch' She signed after getting his attention.

'Sure you didn't' Clint smirked while he signed. Sarcasm didn't translate very well into ASL, but he made the same face very time. He smacked the back of his head lightly, and continued to sign.

'Well if youare going to be like that' She smiled shyly at him before changing the topic. Their conversation continued for a couple of minutes before the bus arrived. They entered and took their usual seats all the way in the back. She took up her study cards and began quizzing herself, until Clint wanted to join in and they started to quiz each other.

'What is a chemical reaction, and what is it characteristics?' He asked. She rolled her eyes and took the cards away from him, to find a harder card.

'You know that we haven't even reach that subjected in class' He signed when she took out a card on atomic connections.

'Well I learned the stuff we learn in class in kindergarten' He chuckled quietly before pointing to the green (easy) cards.

'Well I learned that' he gestured toward the green cards 'last year, so don't go around and show me with my homework instead so I don't have to be hold back a year' He signed while smiling.

'Idiot' She signed while smirking, and packing away the cards and gathering her stuff.

They started to head to their lockers to meet the rest of the gang, when they ran into principal Fury. He was walking the opposite direction and barely stopped to say:

"I expect you two and the rest of your group to meet me in my office after second period" He seemed normal, but then again that guy was impossible to read. She was dragged away from her thought when Clint nudged her shoulder.

'Did he say we should see him after second period?'She nodded. 'But we haven't done anything wrong in at least two days' He signed smirking.

'We did technically break the vending machine' She signed while they continued to walk to their lockers.

'Technically, did Tony break the vending machine' She made a sound of agreement and gave a little sideways nod with her head.


"Hey lovebirds, you two are blocking our lockers" She said when she saw Tony and Bruce making out in front of their lockers. She couldn't help but smirk when she saw Tony's expression, it was pure fear. Clint put on a smile to match the environment.

'Should we tell them about Fury wanting to see us?' Clint signed after they had gotten their books. She nodded.

' We should, yeah' She signed before they turned to Tony and Bruce.

'We ran into principal Fury on the way here. And he said that he expected all six of us to come to his office after the second period today.' Clint signed a lot slower than he usually did, so those two birdbrains could understand. Tony still ended up with giving a pleading look to Natasha. She rolled her eyes before saying:

"Principal Fury wants to talk with us after second period today" She said, while her hands signed: 'Tony is an idiot' to Clint.

"Why... We haven't done anything wrong in at least three days" Tony said whining but still smirking michiviously. Natasha found herself smiling a little at the resemblances what Clint had said outside.

"I don't know, he didn't say" She said before turning back to her locker to find a pack of gum.

Bucky and Steve walked in a little later. They parted ways, but she didn't miss the little look and wink Bucky gave her. They've never really been on a date or anything like that, just occasionally hooking up in the janitor's closet. To be honest- Natasha didn't really know anything about Bucky, besides that he was a good kisser.


They gathered their stuff and went off to ASL class. Her mind was filled with thoughts on the budget cut, why did they need one and what was this going to hold for the future? Her thoughts came to a halt when they reached their classroom. It looked almost exactly like their homeroom, just that the color of the walls were different. She took a seat silently next to Clint on their regular seats. She also got her books from her bag, as well as her pencil case. This was one of the few classes that she actually put some effort into, because this class was her best friend's class. This class was the only one Clint had an advantage in, and she knew that it was the only one he enjoyed. This was like a free space for him, because everyone signed here, no one was allowed to answer questions without signing, and a lot of the students even answered without talking too.

The time went slowly, but after fifteen minutes the teacher still hadn't shown. This wasn't like Mrs. Morse at all. She had a thing about times too, if anyone was just a little late to class they would get detention. She looked up at the watch again and saw that twenty minutes had passed. She started to subconsciously organize the books on her desk, as well as laying out her pencils to count how many she had. She bit down hard on her lip when she realized what she was doing. She quickly packed her pencils back into their case, and pushed the books a little so they wouldn't lie so straight. Clint gave her a knowing look, but he didn't say anything on it.

After pretty much the whole class had gone by, Vice principal Coulson came in. He had a weird look on his face, one that could resemble the faces she had learned to use in Russia to hide an emotion. But his "mask" was done poorly.

"This class will no longer be an elective at this school. I am really guys" Vice principal Coulson said, and left the room. Natasha imitiadly began interpret what was said, but Clint stopped her before she got far. He laid his had over hers to stop her motions.

'I got it' He sad while keeping a stern expression that two seconds later turned into the well known mask. They got the rest of their stuff and started walking to the principals office.

The others slowly but surely got there too. They sat outside of the office, in a small circle. She looked to the floor trying to keep up with signing, but it was har when everybody talked at the same time.

"Guys" She tried but no one listened. "Guys!" She tried again, and this time she got their attention. "One at a time please" she said with an expecting look. Like they should have got this by now, not just for Clint either, when everyone talked it was impossible to follow the conversation for any sain person.

"They are cutting a bunch of classes" Tony said. Natasha filled in the words he didn't know.

"And e-x-t-r-a-c-a-r-r-i-c-u-l-e-r-s" Steve said. They all nodded in understanding.

'ASL got cut' Clint signed. He hadn't really contributed much to the conversation before.

"Dude, seriously?! " Tony said surprised.

"That's like the one class they should keep" Steve contributed. Both Clint and Natasha shrugged.

"I guess we will just have to wait and see what they say" Bruce said. Everyone nodded and the silence grew. After a couple of minutes of nervous silence the door to the principals office opened.

"We are ready to see you now" Principal Fury said.

This was going to be interesting Natasha thought.