Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“What have you been up to? You came to New York for some mission you were on, right?”</span> you asked.
Anastasia seemed to sigh at that. <span class="mu-g">“That is true, yes. My father wished for me to track down an old enemy of his. I have found him easily enough, but he’s given me strict orders to observe him until he can arrive to deal with it personally.”</span> she said, trying, and failing to suppress a scowl.
<span class="mu-r">“You don’t seem too happy about that.”</span> you observed.
She shrugged. <span class="mu-g">“My father has extremely high expectations. And sometimes…sometimes it feels like meeting them is next to impossible. It is as if he doesn’t trust me to see this mission through on my own.”</span> she said, violently hacking through a particularly thick patch of briars and brambles.
If you were being entirely honest, you were kind of happy that she was being told to stay put. It meant that you got to spend more time with her. Not that you would dare to say that out loud right now.
<span class="mu-r">“Maybe this mission is actually super important, and you’re the only one he trusts to get it right.”</span> you suggested.
That got you a derisive snort in response. <span class="mu-g">“Highly unlikely. If he trusted my judgment, he would allow me to see this mission through to the end, without his supervision or having to hold my hand. I am not a child.”</span> she said, angrily. Then, she seemed to calm down some as she made a physical effort to rein in her emotions. <span class="mu-g">“I feel as if this mission was only an excuse to get me out of the way.”</span>
A heavy silence descended upon you and lingered there for a while, until you decided to be the one to break it.
<span class="mu-r">“Tell me more about your family.”</span> you requested.
Anastasia gave you a speculative glance, seemingly weighing the risk of divulging your curiosities. After about a minute, she nodded.
<span class="mu-g">“My family’s wealth comes from Russian Royalty. My father and his father before him were members of an aristocracy long gone now. By the time the Soviet Union came into existence, he had already lost much of his wealth and prestige. And so, he used his hunting prowess to relive some of the glory that was denied him. He really leaned into it, gained a reputation for being as fearsome as the beasts that he would pursue.”</span> she said.
The Soviet Union!? How fucking old was her dad!?
<span class="mu-g">“For a while after that, he did some work for the organization you call ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’. My father was recruited by Nick Fury himself to be part of a specialized unit. He was one of the original ‘Avengers’.”</span> she continued, an amused expression on her face.
You stopped dead in your tracks.
<span class="mu-r">“Your dad seriously worked as a government agent?”</span>
(Cont.)
