Fated Marks

The good thing about almost overdosing and being completely dehydrated is that you don’t dream you just pass out. The downside is if you knock out during the day your sleep cycle is thrown out of wack and you can’t sleep when you want to. After about two hours of lying in bed I gave up and turned to my side. I saw my clutch and that when I remembered I had something I needed to do. I grabbed my laptop and connected the cloned phone to it.

“Jarvis?” I called out.

“Yes Miss Adams?” Jarvis asked.

“Make sure no one bothers me and let me know if anyone decides to head down here.” I said.

“Yes Miss Adams.” Jarvis said.

I grabbed my glasses that blocked blue light and got to work. I started going through the unencrypted files to see if there was anything. There was a voice mail that was almost a year old. I decided to play it.

“Hey babe, I know you’re probably really busy so this is the perfect time to do this because if you were here you wouldn’t let me. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t stay caged up in this house anymore. I love you, it’s always been you and no one else. Chris was just a friend but no matter how many times I tell you, you won’t believe me. My family had nothing to do with this so please just let it go. I’m leaving please let me go. I love you. Goodbye.”

Oh hell, this was Delilah’s goodbye message and from the looks of it Hadrian had listened to it at least once everyday since she left. Better leave that alone.

I went through his text messages and looking at the saved conversations between him and Delilah he was all lovey dovey the weeks leading up but slowly they grew colder and distant. I needed to look into this Chris guy. I looked at his contacts and there wasn’t anyone by the name of Chris. The name sounded familiar though. Then it hit me. I walked over to my suitcase and grabbed the deck of cards I had swiped off the quinjet. I started flipping through the cards reading all the names. I finally got to one that was marked with…

That fucking asshole of a manwhore Chris Maison

That was very specific. I took opened a google tab and looked him up. The first link was to a facebook profile. I clicked on it and it showed a guy in his late twenties or early thirties. His entire news feed of people posting condolences to his family and saying he would be missed. Apparently he was stabbed in a mugging gone wrong in Miami around the same time Delilah left Hadrian. Guessing the mugger was Hadrian and the stabbing wasn’t accidental. Sorry Chris.

Okay so Delilah and Hadrian were living in Miami when all this happened. I now know where to start. If she wanted to go off the grid she’d need a new identity and it had to be done by someone who knew what they were doing.

“Miss Adams, Doctor Banner would like to know if you’ll be joining him and sir for breakfast?”

“Breakfast?” I asked confused.

“It is nine fifteen am Miss.” Jarvis said.

“Shit, Uh tell him I’ll be there as soon as I’m out of the shower.” I said continuing to type.

“Miss after you’re incident yesterday it would be in your best interest to replenish your reserves of energy. It would increase your productivity.” Jarvis reminded me.

“I’m going just need to set this up to decrypt this weird firewall while I’m upstairs. I’ll be there in a bit.” I said finally putting the laptop down and going to get some clothes. The weather was nice so I chose some denim cut off shorts and a grey t-shirt that I’d pull a blazer over to cover up the bruises.

Tony and Bruce hadn’t noticed them yesterday so as long as I kept them out of sight they probably wouldn’t notice. After a quick shower and pulling my hair into a braid I was good to go. I grabbed my phone to know exactly when the decryption was done running before getting in the elevator.

“Sorry to keep you waiting just got distracted… Hi?” I said surprised to see Clint Natasha and Steve in the kitchen along with Bruce and Steve.

“Hey.” Steve said pulling me onto my tiptoes as he hugged me.

“What are you guys doing here?” I said surprised to see them. “I told you three I was okay.”

“How about you sit down? I made your favorite, stuffed French toast.” Clint said.

At the mention of French toast my stomach started churning.

“Any chance I can just have some eggs instead?” I asked.

“Sure.” Clint said giving me a concerned look. I went to sit down between Natasha and Tony.

“How’d you sleep?” Tony asked.

“All right.” I said. I didn’t miss how Tony’s grasp on his mug tightened.

“No nightmares?” Clint asked.

“Nope,” I said.

“Helen wants to check on your hand later.” Bruce said.

“I’ll stop by.” I said. Then things got quiet and the only sound in the kitchen was the bacon Clint was cooking.

I felt Natasha run her fingers on the palm of my hand. It wasn’t as sensitive as before but I could still feel her finger. “Not even a scar.” She muttered.

“Yeah, the before and after pictures are commercial worthy.” I said giving her a smile. She returned the smile but I could tell it was forced. Something was definitely off.

“How’d you end up falling?” Natasha asked.

“Not exactly sure. I had a mimosa and got up to used the bathroom when I tripped over Josh’s shoe and I was still holding onto the glass for some reason. My hand crushed it when I fell and well…” I said gesturing to my hand.

“Hm.” Natasha hummed. “What about these?” Natasha said lowering the sleeve of my blazer and revealing the bruises on my wrist.

“Probably from where Josh helped me up. For a scrawny he’s pretty strong.” I said.

“Right.” Steve said nodding along.

“So is that why the street cameras see you going in before mysteriously shutting down for an hour and then the first time you show up is this.” Tony said turning on the TV.

On the screen was me walking out of the restaurant looking like a zombie and very disoriented as I held on to the napkin slowing the bleeding on my cut. The feed continued to me rushing into the alley and throwing up before Josh appeared looking surprised. Oh shit. What did they know?

“You want to try that again?” Tony said looking livid.

“What do you want me to say?” I answered. I couldn’t tell them who was there or else they were all dead along with me. Time to deflect my ass off.

“Who did you meet in there?” Tony asked.

“I already told you who.” I said.

“Say it.” Tony said.

“Tony…” I said feeling the rage building.

“Say it!” He yelled making me flinch.

“I had brunch with my douche of an older brother!” I yelled.

“What the hell Hayley!” Tony snapped.

“Why the hell didn’t you say anything!?” Clint yelled.

“Because I had it handled!” I yelled.

“You call this handling it?” Natasha said she said lifting up my arm.

“I’m still here aren’t I?” I retorted.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Steve asked. Oh shit I really stepped on it this time.

“Nothing.” I said.

“Hayley.” Bruce asked.

“It’s nothing.” I said and Natasha looked me right in the eyes before she understood what I meant.

“You were expecting him to kill you.” She said. Damn it why did she have to be so damn perceptive.

“Hales, please say that isn’t true.” Clint said. “Tell me you weren’t dumb enough to walk in there knowing he was…” I looked at him and he knew the answer.

“How could you be so damn selfish?!” Tony yelled.

“Selfish? It was my business I’m not dragging anyone into my mess.” I said.

“You were walking in there ready to die Hayley!” Bruce shouted. “You lied to our faces making plans knowing that we probably wouldn’t get to go on our date because you’d be dead!”

“What was I supposed to do let you go green and smash him?” I said.

“Well there’s a thought.” Tony said.

“You could have died!” Steve said.

“But I didn’t. I’m here, it’s handled can we move on now.” I said.

“No, How long have you known?” Natasha asked.

“That’s not important.” I said.

“How long Hayley?” Clint asked.

“No.” I said.

“Answer the damn question!” Steve yelled.

“April thirteenth.” I said.

“You’ve known over a month and you didn’t say anything!?” Bruce said and I could feel the rage building.

“Bruce.” I said watching as his skin slowly turned green. Natasha quickly pulled me behind her.

“Bruce, now’s not a good time to let the jolly green giant out.” Tony said.

“Ah,” Bruce groaned.

“Tony move.” Steve said.

“Jarvis suit now.” Tony said panicking.

“That’s it.” I said moving from behind Natasha and Clint.

“No, you’ve done enough.” Natasha said. I felt a huge pang of guilt.

“Ah!” The Hulk growled.

“Big guy you need to calm down.” Tony said. Hulk just threw Tony into the wall.

“Hulk stop.” Steve said but Hulk just pushed him into Tony who was aiming at him. That was it I walked around the counter away from Clint and Natasha.

“Move!” Clint said as Hulk walked closer.

“Hulk that’s enough.” I said. At the he turned around and faced me. He growled before walking towards me.

“Hayley!” Natasha yelled but I put a hand up telling her to stop.

“I know you’re mad.” I said making him roar again. “I deserve that but they don’t. You’re hurting your friends so please stop smashing things and listen.”

He snarled but stopped. “Tin can shoot laser.” He muttered.

“Yeah well he was scared we all are.” I said.

“Urh.” He grunted. “Puny brother hurt birdy.”

“He did but it was nothing see?” I said lifting up his hand. “And if it’s any consolation I kicked his best friend in the balls so we’re kind of even.”

“hm.” That made him smirk. “Hulk Smash brother?”

“No.” I said making him snarl. “You can’t solve all your problems by smashing them, trust me life would be a lot easier if you could. He’s not worth it, besides it’s been handled. He won’t be a problem anymore.” I hoped not, at least I had seven months to think of something else.

“Pizza?” Hulk asked.

“I think that’s going to have to wait buddy. Right now I think it’s time to let Bruce back. I promise we’ll have a pizza and movie night before I leave.” I said.

“Pro-miss?” He said sticking out his pinky and offering it to me. The Hulk wanted me to pinky swear, so adorable.

“Promise.” I said gently putting a hand on his pinky and shaking it. He opened his hand and moved so my hand was at the center of his palm. “Come on big guy, the sun’s getting real low, time to go to sleep.” With that Hulk winced and started moving back as he started shrinking back into Bruce. Bruce was left butt naked lying on the ground.

“We should probably get him some clothes.” I told everyone who were just staring with their jaws dropped. “Oh right you’re still pissed. I’m gonna go do that.” I said walking away but someone grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. Natasha kissed me before putting a hand on my cheek as somewhere there was a weird click sound.

“What the…” I said as I felt something wrap around my wrist.

“You’re not going anywhere.” She said. I looked down and I was handcuffed to the oven door.

“Nat why am I handcuffed?” I asked.

“This is what we’re talking about. You voluntarily put yourself in danger without thinking of the consequences. I lost one soulmate I can’t lose another Hayley.” Steve said.

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell us everything.” Tony said. I took a look at the handcuffs and saw that they didn’t have a keyhole meaning they had a pressure lock. I moved it around until I saw it.

“You guys keep saying that you all have a past and that you understand that it might be pretty bad and I trust you guys even though you don’t tell me every nitty gritty detail of your past or your jobs why can’t you do the same for me?” I said undoing the handcuffs. “I’m going out.”

“No you’re…” Clint started.

“I wasn’t asking permission.” I said throwing the cuffs at him before taking the stairs down to my apartment I quickly checked how the decryption was going but there was no progress. “Shit.” I said. I disconnected the phone and put it in my purse before quickly grabbing my keys and heading to the apartment’s kitchen. I opened up the cabinet pulled out the bag full of money Marcel had gifted me for my birthday. I grabbed a few wads of cash and slipped them into my bag before closing the bag and pushing it back inside.

“Miss Adams, Captain Rogers is asking to be let into your apartment.” Jarvis said.

“Tell him I’ll be back later.” I said before taking the stairs. I took my phone and started dialing Rebekah.

“Bekah’s phone, her best looking brother speaking.” Kol answered.

“Put me on speaker.” I said.

“Hales finally sober are we?” Kol said.

“I need to you look up all your contacts and get me meetings with every forger in Miami.” I said.

“That’s a big list anything specific?” Kol asked.

“Anyone that specializes in creating new identities or helping people disappear.” I said as I pressed the button for an elevator.

“That narrows it down, there’s only one guy I would use. He’s fast and knows how to keep his mouth shut.” Kol said.

“Will he open his mouth for the right price?” I asked.

“Depends on what you’re asking for.” Kol said. “What’s going on?”

“I have a place to start just need to start sniffing her out. I’m on my way out just need to make a quick stop.” I said getting into the elevator.

“I have a jet waiting, pick me up at the plaza.” Kol said.

“Be there in thirty minutes.” I said hanging up as the elevator opened to the garage. I quickly unlocked the car and got in.

“Where are you going?” Natasha asked.

“Don’t worry about it.” I said slipping in to my car and turning it on.

“Hayley.” She said.

“No, I’m done talking to you.” I said watching as her eyes started watering but quickly disappeared. I backed out of my spot and drove off. I needed to ditch the car, Natasha wasn’t just casually waiting in the garage to try and talk to me she probably put a tracker on the car. I drove to Will’s apartment. I parked out front and ran upstairs. I crashed in during the middle of a game of football.

“Hayley.” Will jumped in surprise I ignored him and went to the fireplace and pulled out the decorative cover.

“What are you doing?” Nate asked.

“Don’t mind me.” I said reaching in and pulling out my stack of fake ID’s. I put them in my purse and got back up.

“Hales what’s going on?” Will said.

“Long story, explain later.” I said taking off my necklace and putting it on the table. I moved to hug Will and Nate before handing Will the keys to the bat mobile. I reached into my purse and pulled out ten thousand dollars.

“I have to go run an errand. I also need to buy a good coat and some rain boots, mind grabbing that for me and buy yourself something nice while you’re out. I’ll be back really late so just leave the car parked where ever and lock the car with the keys inside. Thanks.” I said walking out.

“What?” Will said confused as to what was going on.

“I’ll explain later.” I said closing the door and running outside. I waved down a taxi and quickly got in. “Quick stop at the Plaza and then JFK.”

“Yes ma’am.” The driver said.

I took my phone out and quickly plugged in a scrambler to it make it impossible to track.

“Plaza Hotel.” The driver said. I whistled and got Kol’s attention.

“Where’s the car?” Kol asked.

“Had to leave it, Natasha’s tracking it.” I said in French.

“What the fuck happened?” He responded in French as well.

“It’s been a really shitty morning.” I answered.

“Hang over?” He asked.

“Intervention.” I said.

“Oh, that sucks.” Kol said.

“What sucks is that they were right and I can’t say it because of the gun to their heads they don’t know about.” I said.

“Sorry.” Kol said.

“Don’t be, you’re not the one threatening to pull the trigger.” I said.

“So Miami?” Kol said.

“Just a few hours, I need to be back by tonight. They’re already worried sick don’t want to add fuel to the fire.” I said.

“Airport.” The driver said.

“Thank you, keep the change.” I said handing him a one hundred.

“Thank you very much.” He said.

We skipped through security and went straight to the hanger where the jet was at.

“Mister Mikaelson.” The pilot said.

“Change of plans Jeff, we’re heading to Miami.” Kol said.

“I’ll radio in.” He said.

We quickly boarded and buckled in as we taxied and waited for clearance.

“Why Miami?” Kol asked.

“I got into Hadrian’s messages and emails.” I said. “Turns out he thought Delilah was having an affair and he became unhinged. Killed the guy and made it look like a mugging gone wrong. Guess where that was at?”

“Miami.” Kol said.

“We have a starting point on the timeline. I’m starting there and going from there.” I said.

“Now we just need to find the guy she used.” Kol said.

“She used to be the Romani’s hitman. She wouldn’t half ass it, she’d need someone good who could do it all. Wipe her off the board, make her appear somewhere else without raising any flags, and have a place set up. The whole package and it wouldn’t be cheap.” I said.

“There’s only one person who could pull that all off and is within that price range. How’s your Spanish?” Kol asked.

“Perfecto por que?” I asked.

“We’re going into Columbian territory.” Kol said.

“Good thing they hate Hadrian more than me.” I said. “Let’s see if he’s had any luck in the past few months tracking Delilah.”

“He wouldn’t have let you live if he had.” Kol said.

“Thanks for that reminder.” I said opening my laptop and getting back to work. I couldn’t get that Chris Maison guy out of my head. There was something there. How was he close enough to Delilah to send him over the edge. “Kol, does this guy seem familiar to you?”

“Oh shit.” Kol said.

“What?” I asked.

“You remember how Delilah’s family disapproved of your brother not only because of how volatile he was but because Delilah was already set to marry that other guy?” kol said.

“Yeah, it was an arranged marriage.” I said.

“That’s the guy she was supposed to marry.” Kol said.

“He was Romani?” I asked. He didn’t fit the profile appearance wise.

“No, he was Czech. Chris Maison was probably his cover.” Kol said.

“Why would he be in Miami? Not their territory and as far as business goes, they’re in completely different fields.” I asked.

“There were rumors of an alliance being in the works a few years ago but nothing was ever confirmed.” Kol said.

“I don’t like this.” I said.

“We just need to get in and out. Our guy tends to stay in neutral territory we should be good.” Kol said.

“I hope so, I already have enough to deal with back home. Covering up gunshot wounds is not ideal.” I said.

“Good thing I packed these.” Kol said pulling out Kevlar vests from the over head compartment.

“Oh boy.” I said.