You pushed the key into the doorknob of your shared apartment with Natasha Romanoff. You sighed as you pushed open the door, feeling the warmth of the apartment surrounding you. It was mid-December, so it was fucking freezing. You'd just come home from your interview at Barnes Law Firm for a Paid Assistant. You weren't quite sure who you'd be working under yet, but you hoped it wasn't too close to the CEO, James Barnes.
"Y/N?" Nat called out from the kitchen. She popped her head over into the living room. "How'd it go?" She smiled at you.
"I got the job." You replied, setting your keys on the coffee table. You placed your purse on the couch and flung your coat off your shoulders.
"Yay!" Nat yelled out, handing you a cup of coffee to help warm you up. "I knew you'd get it. Now we get to work together!" Nat was super excited about you getting the position, obviously. She's worked at Barnes Law Firm since she was 18; she's 26 now. She very quickly became your best friend after you moved here two years ago.
"Yeah, I know." You replied, feeling a little overwhelmed.
"Be excited!" Nat yelled, grabbing your arms. "You can finally quit your job at the coffee shop, and maybe get yourself a car." She smiled. "We're going out tonight. Go change."
"Nat, I don't want to go out."
"Shut up, we're going out. I'll call Wanda; I'm sure she'd love to go too." Nat grabbed her phone, immediately dialling Wanda's number.
You rolled your eyes, smiling at how enthusiastic she was being. "Okay, fine. We'll leave at 7."
"Eight!" Nat yelled back as she was waiting for Wanda to answer her call.
It was 4pm, so you still had some time to rest. You grabbed your phone from your back pocket, unlocking it. You had four missed calls from the same unknown number. You sighed, knowing who it was. You blocked the number, and deleted the notifications. You created a mental note to get a new phone, along with a new number once you had the money.
You were excited to start working at the Law Firm, but you were also super nervous. This is the first time you'd be able to provide for yourself in a long time. This was the first time you'd have a good enough job to be able to have some sort of security blanket in case you ended up getting laid off, or forced to quit.
You plugged your phone into the charger while you relaxed on your bed. Your eyes were growing heavy as you laid there, encased in the warmth of your room. Your walls were creme, with yellow and blue accents on the walls. A shelf held some of your favorite books and some fake plants to tie part of the room together. Your desk held your laptop and some stationery items - a clock, file organizer, pencil holders, etc. You had pictures of you and friends you've made during your time in New York. Nat, Wanda, and an old friend Thor from where you lived before in Los Angeles, California. Making the move to New York was risky for you, but it was what you needed.
Thor visited as often as he could, and tried to keep in touch every few weeks. He often traveled for work to come to New York previously, so you don't see him as much as you used to.
You laid in your bed, letting your mind drift off. You finally felt relaxed, as you were so tense from the cold outside, and the stressful interview at Barnes Law Firm with Steve Rogers, the Co-Founder of the company.
-
DEC. 2019
You groaned as you felt your sides burn from not being fully recovered. You were on bed rest and shouldn't have been moving as much as you had been. You had packed a bag earlier that day and hid it in your closet so he wouldn't find it. You sighed in relief when he'd finally passed out on the couch, drinking way too much to even realize you were making way too much noise.
You grabbed your suitcase that was shoved in the back of the closet where he couldn't see. You took out the SD card from the hidden camera you had in the bedroom, you made a mental note to buy a flash-drive when you got the chance. You took the camera with you, knowing that if he found it, he'd send out a fucking search party. You unzipped the suitcase, making sure everything you needed for now was there. Spare clothes, hygiene needs. You pushed clothes out of the way to get to the bottom of the suitcase.
The Evidence box.
You felt the edges of it with your fingers, surprised that you remembered to pack it. You'd been so drained recently with trying to find an escape plan, you had to double check what you packed.
The box was like your security blanket. If he ever found you again, you'd be able to create a case against him. You'd be able to have some leverage on him in case he tried to hurt you again. You weren't ready to share it with anyone, but when you were you knew you'd have it.
You rummaged through some drawers in the kitchen, you did your best to keep your eyes on him as he snored on the couch, a bottle of half empty whiskey next to him. You managed to find your stashes of cash you'd kept underneath the cupboards, stuffed in old pans you didn't use anymore.
$5000.
It wasn't very much, but you kept having to pull from it the last few months. You'd been in such bad shape, and he didn't like you going out without him, so you had to quit your job. Five thousand dollars needed to be enough to get you as far away as possible. You made sure you had your phone and a charger. Even if you had nothing else, you knew you would need to contact someone. You groaned softly as you did your best to pull your suitcase down the stairs of your apartment building. You chucked your apartment key into some bushes as you put your suitcase in your car.
You got into the front seat, worried that he would wake up before you had the chance to leave. You turned the key in the ignition. The engine stalled.
"Fuck." You groaned. You turned it again, and again. It kept stalling. It wasn't helping that your car was old, and it was freezing outside for December in Los Angeles. He refused to get you a new car, probably for this reason.
You got out of the car, popping the hood. You kept glancing back up at your apartment, the door hadn't opened yet. Your heart was caught in your throat as you heard someone speak up from behind you.
"Elaine?" It was your neighbor, Thor. His hair was pushed into a bun, and he had a hoodie and sweatpants on. He lived in the apartment across from you. "What are you doing? It's three in the morning."
"Can you jumpstart my car?" You asked, looking back at him with wide eyes. You pulled your hoodie as close as you could to yourself, trying to keep the warmth you could.
"Where are you going?" He asked, grabbing his jumper cables from the back of his car.
"Away. I don't know where." You admitted, starting to feel even more overwhelmed with the conversation.
"I tried to come visit you, but your—"
"Can you just hurry, please?" You begged, bouncing on your toes a little bit to help you move around without making it apparent that you were hurt; that the man upstairs, blacked out on the couch, had hurt you.
"Yes, I'm sorry." He opened his hood, connecting the jumper cables. "I just haven't seen you for weeks. Is there anything I can help you with?" He connected the cables to your car.
You shook your head, silently screaming at him in your head to hurry the fuck up. Your eyes kept darting between Thor and your apartment door.
You got back into your car, waiting for the signal for you to start yours. He started his up, letting it run for a minute before he gave you a nod. The car finally started and you sighed deep in relief. You kept your eyes on the apartment door when you knew you didn't need to look at Thor. You weren't sure what you were going to do if it opened, but you knew Thor would be there to protect you.
It wasn't until Thor had detached both ends of the jumper cables that you noticed you were crying. You wiped under your eyes, hoping he wouldn't see.
Thor sighed, looking down at you. He pulled open your door. "Elaine, come on. Let me take you back upstairs. You're tired and you don't look like you feel well. Please."
Thor reached out for you. You frantically shook your head, pushing his hand away and shoving yourself to the passenger side of the car. "I'm not going back up there. I can't go back up there." You sputtered out. Thor backed away slightly, before he pushed himself into the driver's side.
"If you won't let me help you back inside, then let me take you where you need to go." He replied, closing the door. He pulled out of the parking space, and out of the apartment complex. "Where are you wanting to go?" He asked.
"Far away. I'll buy you a ticket back home if it's really far." You shifted in your seat, keeping your gaze on him.
The car was silent for a while before Thor spoke up again. "How come I haven't seen you? It's been weeks, and even before that, I've barely heard from you. You never call." He sighed. "I missed my friend." He gave you a small smile from the driver's seat.
You and Thor had grown close soon after you moved in with the man still asleep in your apartment. "I've been... busy." You lied. You shifted again, leaning forward to turn the heat down. It was getting really warm. "Why are you helping me?" You asked. You winced, trying to keep your face turned to the window so Thor wouldn't see you in pain. Nobody could know what the horrible man in your apartment did to you.
They would pity you, see you as weak. You didn't need that. You needed to get out of LA, as far away as possible. You needed to start a new life.
"Because you're my friend, definitely one of my favorite people." He chuckled. He gently reached out to rub your shoulder. You coward away from his touch. "I-I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"
"No, Thor. I'm sorry." You looked away from his gaze. His eyes were wide, and he looked scared. "Did Aldr—" you cut him off.
"Just drive, please."
He nodded, turning back to the empty road in front of him. That's all he needed to confirm what he thought. He knew you would tell him exactly what happened, but only when you were ready.
Thor drove for hours, making sure you got some rest. You'd offered to drive but everytime you asked he said no. You'd thought about telling Thor the truth, but what he asks next deters you from saying anything at all - like he'd figured it out in the several hours you'd been in the car together just sitting.
You'd been on the road for hours when Thor turned to you at a stop light. "So, what should I call you now, then?"
"Y/N Y/L/N."
-
You were jolted awake by Nat and Wanda jumping on your bed. You groaned, covering your face with the comforter.
"Y/N, let's go, sleepy head." Wanda smiled, grabbing the bottom of the sheets and pulling them down. "We need to get ready to celebrate!"
Nat grabbed your arms, pulling you up out of your bed. "Do we want slutty, or classy?" She looked over at Wanda.
"Definitely slutty." Wanda giggled, starting to rummage through your closet.
"Girls—"
"Don't argue. We're going out. We never go out, Y/N! You always have an excuse, you don't get to get out of it this time. Maybe you'll find a cute guy to bring back here." Nat winked at you, smiling. She bit her lip as she started going through your closet with Wanda.
You rolled your eyes, strolling into your connected bathroom. You brushed through your hair while Nat and Wanda found dresses for you and themselves. Nat lived with you, so it was normal for her clothes to be with yours, but Wanda was often over here as well, so she had clothes in yours too.
Hours passed as the three of you got ready. Nat slipped on a skin tight black dress, her hair in soft curls and dark makeup to accompany the dress. Wanda wore a sparkly, red dress that stopped at her thighs. It was strapless so her long hair covered her shoulders. She paired it with red heels and a red purse. Her makeup was minimal with a deep red lip. You wore a lilac silk mini dress. You paired it with cream colored heels and light makeup and clear lip gloss. Your h/c hair was styled into soft curls and flowed down to your back and over your shoulders.
The three of you agreed to eat at the bar, that way the only thing you'd really have to worry about was getting home safe rather than throwing up in a stall at the bar. You all piled into your Uber that Nat had ordered for you. The drive was filled with loud music, and the driver asking you questions about what you were going out for.
"She just got hired at Barnes Law Firm." Nat told the driver, Jake, with a smug smirk on her face as she looked over at you.
"I tried getting a job there, the CEO was so stuck up, I ended up refusing his offer." Jake replied, chuckling. "I'm sure you'll do great though." He gave you a smile from the rear view mirror.
"Thanks." You replied, smiling back. Nat nudged your side, eying you to give him your number. You shook your head vigorously at her, as she laughed a little.
Soon, you arrived at your destination. The three of you pulled out your ID's to give to the bouncer at the front of the club. The bouncer barely even looked at their ID's before pushing them through the line and into the door.
The music bumped deep against the walls and the floor. The strobe lights danced around your face as the three of you scurried quickly to the bar. Nat waved over the bartender, ordering tequila shots for each of you.
"One, two, three!!!" Wanda yelled after you clinked your shot glasses. You all quickly downed the tequila. Nat took it like a champ, Wanda scrunched up her face and you shivered as the clear, cold liquid rolled down your throat.
Four shots and two martini's later, the three of you were out on the dance floor. Nat smiled at you as she pointed out a blonde head of hair walk in. He walked over to the bar and his eyes met yours as you stumbled off the dance floor. You smirked back over at Nat, pulling down the front of your
"Thor?" You yelled over the music.
"Y/N!" He yelled, noticing it was you. "How are you?"
"I'm okay, what are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming to town." You slurred.
"I'm in town for some business for the weekend." He replied, waving down the bartender. "I meant to call, but I figured I'd just come by tomorrow, but you're here." He smiled, looking over at the bartender and ordering his drink. "You look great by the way." He winked, smiling.
"Well, I've missed you." You smiled, tapping his chest with your hand. "You don't look so bad yourself."
"I've missed you too, Y/N." He grinned, rubbing your arm with his hand. You hummed in response. He leaned forward slightly after taking a sip from his bourbon. "He's been looking for you." He muttered, making sure only you could hear.
You cleared your throat, finally starting to sober up at this information. "You haven't told him anything, right?"
Thor shook his head. "He thinks you're in Europe. Be careful when you start that new job, by the way." He warned. You gave him a questioning look. "You're going to be working at one of the best Law Firms in the city, and Aldrich hasn't stopped looking for you since you left."
You overlapped his speech. "Don't say his name. They don't know anything." You looked over at Nat and Wanda.
"I'm still the only one that knows about what that asshole did to you?" Thor asked, getting a little irritated.
"Yes." You replied, swiping his drink from his hand and downing it.
"Just be careful, please." Thor replied, rolling his eyes as he ordered another drink. "Lay low."
"I will, Odinson. Don't worry." You smiled. "I'll be so low, I'll be laying on the floor." You giggled, followed by a chuckle from Thor.
"Go have fun." He pushed your shoulder to get you to turn around. "You don't get out enough."
You rolled your eyes, moving back out to the dance floor. You grew confused, screwing your eyebrows together as you searched for Nat and Wanda. You saw a hand wave you over from the corner of your eye. You looked over, seeing Wanda smiling at you.
You grinned, walking over to them.
"Who was that, Y/N?" Wanda asked, looking over your shoulder where Thor still was at the bar.
"That's Thor." You grinned. "You remember him right?"
"Oh, yeah!" Nat yelled out. "Your friend from LA?" She was sitting over at a table near the entrance.
You nodded in reply.
"He's really hot." Wanda giggled, smiling, still looking over at him.
"Shut up." You smiled, pushing Wanda toward a table Nat was sitting at. "I don't need to be dating right now, and Thor and I are so close, it'd be really weird." You noticed her eyes roll as you and Wanda sat down at the table with her.
The night continued with drinks, and eventually remembering that you needed to eat. You shared some sliders and a basket of fries as you all continued to drink.
"Do you girls need a ride home?" Thor spoke up from behind them.
"Please." Wanda spewed out as she tried standing up. "This one," she pointed at you, "starts her new job tomorrow. So, she needs to get to bed." She smiled as she leaned into Thor who had caught her to keep her from falling.
"I think you do too, Wanda." Thor chuckled, helping her out of the bar and to his car.
"Are you sure you're okay to drive?" You slurred out, making sure you had everything as Nat followed closely behind you.
"The only drink I had was when I first got here." He admitted, helping you and Nat into the back seat. "Please try not to puke in here." He smiled before he closed the door and jogged to the drivers side.
He slid into the seat, making sure everyone was buckled in before he drove off, heading to your apartment. "Wanda, are you staying with them tonight?" Thor asked, and she replied with a hum and a lazy nod.
He nodded, returning his gaze to the road. He pulled into the apartment complex and kept the car running while he helped the three of you back into the apartment. He grabbed some blankets and a pillow for Wanda in one of the linen closets and placed them on the couch for her. He helped you and Nat into your bedrooms, knowing that if he stayed any longer, he would also be staying the night, and in a lot less clothing than he'd like.
He slipped out the door while you, Nat and Wanda all got ready for bed. You climbed under your sheets, letting the alcohol continue to fade from your system as you drifted off to sleep.