LAURA

A deal was a deal.

When I had signed off the employment offer letter back to the billing address with my acceptance, I realized that I still had my end of the bargain to uphold with Stark. Peter was not officially in business as of yet but given his track record was impeccable, I knew that should fairly be simple. I used Eddie, for a better situation this time, to pull a few strings at the Queens division for providing the kid with part-time, full pay and NDA approved job right under our noses. Of course, he had got it. The head of the department was thoroughly impressed with Peter's achievements and fell into the beat with Eddie's motion.

After all of that was cut-and-dried, Stark would precisely be the second-last one to know and the one to disclose it to Peter. I knew it would mean so much more if it were coming from his mentor, Tony himself, and hold so much more credit. 

'Knock, knock.'

I blinked up at my visitor, doing a doubletake. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

'Is this your idea of a surprise visit?' I teased, raising from my seat to greet Tony with a wide smile. I didn't how to address him since we never had a formal meeting such as this one, so I just approached him face to face. Weirdly enough it felt too strange to be normal.

'I mean there is an arrière-pensée to it,' he said, mimicking a perfect French accent and making me chuckle. 'But I came up to say congratulations on the gig and that Banner misses you.'

'Awn, thanks,' I cooed. 'I miss him, too. You're not joking though, right?'

'I speak of the truth only, sweetcheeks. You can count on me on that one.'

'You can say that again,' I scoffed, leaning onto my desk with a fold of my arms across my chest. His eyes raked over me for a second, taking in the plum zipper dress and nude heels. I even wore eyeliner, not without sticking the pen in my eyes two or three times. I actually took heyday to choose my clothes for that week, so Tony was visiting me on a good time.

'Is it me or did symbiote wrenching make you ten times hotter?'

It's us. I made us hotter.

It was my paramount response to puff out an irritated breath and blush profusely. I turned away to conceal my raging cheeks, reaching across my desk to grab the manila folder that held my glory deal with Stark. I glanced at him to see him smirking in all his grandeur, making me roll my eyes hard.

'Okay, tinfoil boy. You got me with that,' I deadpanned, shaking my head. 'We've got set some arbitrary rules of talk around here.'

'After four months of utopian relationship? I think not.' 

I sifted through my desk clutter for another folder related to Peter's job details, sighing. 'Well, things aren't the same type of utopian now,' I said, thinking of my engagement, suddenly my ring weighing a hundred pounds. 'I've got mainstream stipulations, responsibilities blah blah blah...'

Married, you mean.

I nearly hooted when I spotted the document between a few reports, pulling it out with a tug. Tony watched on as I struggled, pushing my hair away from my face with an exhale.

'And so do you.'

'Let me get this straight,' he mused, pocketing his hands into his most plausibly designer ensemble. He was a walking pot of gold, yet aimlessly strolling into my office like nobody's business. 'My harmless philandering is a hassle?'

I nodded with a so-so expression on my face. 'Naturally.'

'That's my zest factor,' he shrugged. 'Can't fight it away.'

'Well, not with me. Not anymore,' I pressed on. 'I told you, matters are different.'

'I can't understand with all these cryptic delusions,' he confessed, making himself comfortable on my chair in my office. Well, it wasn't an office as such but it was more a cubicle but more privatized. I had a door everything but too teeny to be a room. 'Tell me what's up.'

Tell him you're engaged. 

'Let's handle the more important matter,' I stacked the folders together, calming my visage with a proud smile. I had successfully changed topics, extending the folders towards him which he took skeptically. 'My end of the deal. Peter's part-time job was approved by the Queens HQ in New York. He can start work anytime next week.'

Now tell him.

'Oh my god,' I hissed under my breath. 'Give it a rest, Sin.'

He set it down on his lap, glancing up at me with an expression I couldn't configure. 'That's it?'

'Yeah,' I nodded, in all obviousness. 'He just needs to show the papers - '

'That's not what I meant,' he said, rising to his full height and locking his gaze with mine. The scent of rich cologne stormed into my nostrils and I scrunched it slightly. 'You're going to put a full-stop between us?' 

I ran a shaky hand through my wavy hair, stepping aside to leave a bit of distance between us. I walked around my table with wavering glimpses in his direction, not knowing how to let the cat out of the bag.

'There is no us,' I said, exactly. 'There never was. You're a good friend and nothing more.'

'There could be,' he stressed on, moving closer without missing a beat. 'You're not denying that.'

'We are not having this conversation especially when you have a girlfriend out in the midst,' I made a stop motion with my hands, to make it seem more sincere. 'Get out.'

'Fine, it's not possible anymore and yes, I love my girl to death. But, you,' he breathed. 'It's never been fortuitous with us. There's something there.'

'Get out, Tony,' I sighed, pressing my temples to calm myself down. I took in soft breaths. 'Leave.'

'You're hiding something, aren't you?'

'I'm not - '

'I can find out, but y'know it's better if it comes from you.'

'Because we've met before this, okay? We've met a very very long time ago and I - ' 

Pressure built around me so much, I burst out with the first thought that itched at the back of my mind. Wanda warned about this memory, telling me it could breed chaos into my life. But I thought it different. If I were to reveal to Tony, it would make things less awkward. Tony would be family rather than a stranger and that made the situation sanctioned.

I inhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of my nose. 'It's not infatuation, chance encounters of whatever bullshit, but we've just - ' I sighed. What's the point? Might as well get to the facts.

'Do you remember Catherine Sharipov?' 

Saying my mother's name out loud made me sour, my face paling with her thoughts pelting at me like painless bullets. Her smile, her eyes, her words - they all came back to me. And it didn't feel good at all. 

'Vaguely,' he said, his tone clipped. 'How do you know her?'

'I'm her daughter.'

His mouth flopped open, clearly appalled, his mind formulating my words. He kept running his eyes over my features trying to put two-and-two together. And when he did, his inhaled sharply and murmured. 

'Laurie. Laureline?'

I nodded softly. 'In the flesh.'

'What the fu - '

'Name changing is legal in multiple states,' I verified with a scoff. 'It's not that big of a deal.'

'What of her?' He asked. 'Catherine?'

'She passed away when I was fifteen,' I said, my gaze on my interlocked fingers. 'She never spoke about Howard and Maria after that night. My naive mother thought it was her fault all along.'

'Sorry.'

'Now do you see, Tony? You're like my family,' I said, mildly disgusted. 'We aren't bound by blood but we sure as hell have a relationship.'

He let out a chuckle, running a hand down his face. 'Wow. I feel like an idiot which is positively front.' His hands stopped over his mouth, taking my pursed expression in and I stretched out to squeeze his shoulder.

'Just between us,' I murmured. 'I promise.'

'I'm thanking you for something every time,' he mused, scratching the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. He waved the folder in the air, with a coy smile. 'But I can't promise I'll behave.'

'Hold on a second,' I said as he made his way to the door. I tackled him into a hug, my arms going around his neck gently with an exhale. He was hesitant, rubbing a hand over my back like a gentle soothing and soon, wrapping his hands around me.

'Okay, sloth hands, Elle's a Brit. Just sayin', they're fiery, little hotheads.'

I let go, facing him with a megawatt grin. Elle sounded like a fantastic girl and I was nothing but happy for the both of them. She was a commissioning editor for The Pulse magazine and from what I took of her, she was an intellectual beauty. And yes, given her English genes, she must've wooed this man with her accentuating charms.

'On the boyfriend note, I've got a scoop.'

'Spill.'

I allowed him to view my left-hand backward, flashing my engagement ring at him. Tony's expression was foreseen and very predictable. He raised his eyebrows. 'Not now but maybe later.'

I laughed. 'Tony!'

'Okay, wow, that is a serious rock. Congrats,' he said, his lips lifting to a small smile. 'When was this?'

'About a week ago,' I informed. 'Yeah, not too many people to tell. You're second to know on my behalf.'

'I'm honoured. When's the big day?'

'Not any time sooner,' I pursed my lips. 'Not a fan of fancy weddings.'

'I knew it. You're one of those weird clusterfucks who love their personal space.'

'Least appreciated. Butt the hell out.'

'Your word is my command,' he bowed shortly, finally leaving the door and into the hallway. 

'I miss Peter, by the way,' I called out to him. 'He can swing by, maybe?'

'Not ethical, Mrs. Brock! He's only fifteen!'

I grumbled, whispering to myself under my breath as the elevator door closed behind him. 'That's not going away anytime soon.'

The matter that he had just revealed to the entire floor that I had, in fact, become Mrs. Brock would rattle the building. Every pair of eyes in a ten-meter radius had turned to me; a woman near the water-cooler let the water wet her blouse, the man passing the crates of dauntless reports was rooted on spot and few co-workers had just frozen. Maybe it was the Tony Stark effect or that I had just been called Mrs. Brock.

Do something cool. 

I dumbly raised my hand for a short wave. 'Hi.'

And then news started to spread like wildfire. Just before I could turn around and kill myself in private, the reception desk at the entrance of the hallway called out to me.

'You've got a Beck Underwood wanting to meet you urgently,' she conveyed, setting the phone line down. Her dark eyes prodded, the bright lights dancing off her irritatingly wide forehead. 'Should I send her up?'

Why would Eddie's ex want to meet me urgently? And besides, what made her think I would talk to her personally in my office? Of course, me being the prissy over-thinker I am, disallowed any form of contact with intimate threats in my workspace.

'No. I'll get her in the lobby.'

- ♣ -

'Laura, thanks for meeting with me.'

One thing I got straight from every way this woman behaved in the last twenty-three seconds was a debutante, elite social and owned red-bottoms and McQueen A-line dress I'd kill for. Unlike the last time I'd met her, I was far primmer and leveled with her on the looks sector and my morn glam-time paying off. Not that I was anywhere as runway-esque as her but Beck looked like she ensued a keto diet from age four. She wasn't a flaunter, why parade what the world already knew? - rather a businesswoman, a lady with her eyes set on the prize. I had to send word that I wasn't the same insecure lady with a mouth like last time.

Sidestepping oncoming colleagues and smiling at a few acquaintances, the dull grey carpet sinking with the weight of my body on my point heels. She bent to grab her handbag from the glass-topped table, the sun from the long line of windows making the chains on her bag glint. I let out a breath.

'Beck,' I nodded at her. 'To what do I owe this joy?'

'You owe me more than joy,' she said, her perfect features coloring with a visible offense. 'An apology would be a great start.'

'You came to hassle me for justification?' I said, raising my eyebrows. 'If you have forgotten, you quite nearly left me despairing the last time you meddled with what's mine.'

'I'm not here for Eddie,' she stated, her bag sliding onto the crook of her arm. 'I'm here to call a truce.'

'What, so we spit in our hands and shake on it?' I scoffed. 'There's nothing there to make a pact, Beck. Stop wasting my time.'

I spun on heels with a roll of my eyes, making my way back to the row of elevators. A hand latched over my wrist and I was ready to lash out with a growl. Until a voice in my head warned me against, revealing her dark secret without Beck even telling me so. I was in perpetual hysteria, my thoughts trying to piece the facts together. Just as I was about blast about into endless discursive, she placed a hand over her lips and motioning me into silence. 

I swallowed, shaking my head. 'Impossible.'

She denied with a snarky smile. 'Anything's possible, Laura. You're just very disregarding.'

'Talk,' I ordered and sending an empty threat out. 'Before I make you.'

She nodded once, unfazed. 'Follow me.'

I snapped my hands out of her grasp, hissing to her about walking on my own. I matched her pace to the exit side, pushing the doors open. The heat of the evening sun hit my skin, warming me up and fingertips getting icky. I watched on as she trotted with the perfect gait into a wide cafe few strides beside the building, jingling the front bell as we entered. She spoke out in an unknown tongue - French, I presume - and seating at a booth at the end of the shop. The cafe was quite empty and missing evening rush, my gaze turning skeptical as I felt the dark-skinned man's gaze rake over my figure. The grasp on my phone tightened as I slipped into the booth, facing her.

I kept glancing at the few customers scattered around, vigilant to my surroundings. 

'Relax,' she drawled. 'I know the guy. Is cappuccino okay?'

I shrugged and furrowed my brows, wondering how she has all these contacts. 'You sure you don't run a side-by-side mafia business?'

'Do I look like a lowlife to you?' She pressed on. 'I'm a lawyer. My job is based on kinships.'

'Speaking of kinships,' I said, bringing the matter into perspective. The same man from behind the counter placed two piping hot cups of coffee on the table, shooting me a stare. I looked away, grabbing the handle of the marble mug and tweaking it close. 'You've been keeping extensive secrets.'

'The symbiote didn't choose me,' she clarified, clearing the mistaken thoughts after he left our earshot. 'It was burdened upon me. I didn't want it but he gave it.'

'Who's he?' Strangely, Sin was reticent throughout the conversation. He too was probably intrigued and wanting insight into this particular matter.

'Ronnie Lee,' she murmured under her breath, her voice dipping a few octaves. Her olive skin paled and lips parting to take in a deep inhale as if speaking of a huge tragedy. 'My fiancee worked for the Life Foundation and he was stationed in Malaysia for a few weeks. He was at the crash site when it happened,' she whispered. 'There were more than five symbiotes, Laura. They hid it; covered it up as crash site deaths.'

'How'd you get it?'

'It was killing him slowly,' she whispered, dreadfully. 'One thing led to another, and I ended up with this symbiote and a failed relationship.'

I was in disbelief, wondering how such an incredible subject never fell to our ears. Something as major as a symbiote out of containment couldn't have disappeared under Carlton Drake's nose. He would've sniffed it out from miles away.

'What do you take me for, Beck?' I scoffed. 'Eddie worked on this piece for half a year and none of this ever came up. You have no proof - '

She looked away sharply, fishing out a clear file from her purse and slipping it past the table. I glimpsed at her serious gaze and then at the folder, taking my chances to grab the folder off the desk. Her shrill voice droned in the background as I flipped through the ongoing investigations about the multiple missing cases around the city.

'Out of the nine murders,' she explained as I scanned through the first set of reports. 'The murderer harmed the civilians by either beheading them or extracting the organs from the midsection. Three were gory enough to be the latter because - '

' - symbiote harnesses your systems,' I finished for her, awed by these reports. It was the Xenophage's doing, I was sure of it. The three civilians were no commoners, they were symbiote carriers and this mystery hunter creature had killed them. It was falling into place.

It's true, Sin finally spoke up. The Xenophage has consumed these three hosts.

I used my thumb to play with the edge of the page, the name Paul Barnum stunning me to the core. I couldn't stomach seeing the pictures, the amount of gore and crimson repulsive to me. She peeped a look at my page, sighing after a beat.

'His case was different,' she shared. 'It was more of hate crime rather than a search. Like someone exacted an act of revenge.'

I showed her my palm, willing her to stop. His name tasted like acid on my tongue, a curse to say it out loud. 'I get it. He wasn't exactly in my good books.'

'Let's not get weepy now,' she said, squaring her shoulders. 'I want to get even with you.'

'I don't know if you would term it that,' I narrowed my gaze, closing the file and laying it askance the cup on the table. I folded my arms, grappling the edge of the table in a business-like gesture. 'Why would I willingly let you jeopardize my relationship?'

'I don't think I stand a chance judging by the stone in your hand,' she said, with a small quirk on her lips. I fisted my ring-clad finger instantly. 'Trust me, I would sink that low for a man's company.'

I glanced at her obliquely, fascinated. 'Oh? There are standards involved.'

'Eddie is a man of my past,' she said, sounding sure. 'There's a reason why I left it that way.'

For a moment, I idolized this female. Brave in the mind and level-headed with her values. Beck was not a character to be taken lightly, a woman of honor rather than strutting for a show. So she wasn't all bad, that didn't mean the slight twinge of hate for this woman would never cease to exist after this. I would always despise her but it would be an emphatic hatred, if that made sense.

'What's your purpose?'

She grinned, finally seeing to it that I had caved into her advances. 'It's pretty simple. I want to help you catch this killer and I'll let you take the reports.'

'I'm not catching anything,' I clarified with a wave of my hands. 'I'm not even street smart. So you've come to the wrong person.' I pushed the folder towards her. She caught it and slid it back.

'It lost a client because of that piece of trash,' she said, tapping her finger. 'I want to and I'm staying, whether you like it or not.'

'Listen here, Beck,' I pointed a finger at her riling words, threatening. 'If you want to come to terms on this, quit patronizing me. I have dealt with space beings more intimidating than you so I can pack quite the sting. And venom.'

Her lips moved to form words, her face finally falling into a little tremble. 'I'm still here, aren't I?' 

'I don't call the shots on this anyway,' I added, satisfied. 'I haven't heard of any sorties for days.'

'The worst strike last, Laura,' she said, pursing her lips. 'You should know.'

After that, it would make no sense for me to stay longer. I grabbed the folder off the table and approved, breathing out softly. 

'I'll buzz you if I get any leads.'

She nodded, surely. 'I won't tell.'

'Please,' I drew out with a scoff. 'You're not five nor a bitch. I think.'

'I'm not,' she clarified, rising from her seat with her purse in tow. 'You know, you grew on me, Sharp.'

'It's a thing,' I shrugged. 'Can't live without it.'

'How do you think you got to where you are?' She teased, making sharp contact with my eyes and clacking her heels facing me. She softly nudged her shoulder with mine, walking out with the same confident gait as before and blowing a kiss to the shop-owner. 

'See you soon, Sharp.'