Chapter 13
Alex was not enthused with his current situation . After all, he had to talk with Alina, who was the first person that tried to kill him .
Alex kept his composure in check as he hid his fear . After all, there are some people that can smell fear, and Alex is not willing to let them sniff it out .
"Just talk to her normally, and everything will be fine . " Alex muttered to himself as he asked Clint something .
"Your friend… is she always wearing a mask?"
Clint gave Alex a nod as he said,
"Ever since I first saw her with her sister, she had been always wearing a mask . The only time that she does not have her mask on is when she's eating . However, Alina is making sure that's she's in a secluded place everytime she eats . "
"That's some excessive secrecy there . " This comment by Alex as heard by Alina, who swiveled his head to look at him .
Alina's voice sounded both cold and seductive as she said,
"That guy… he looks like someone I have met before…"
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, as Natasha and Clint both gave Alina strained smiles .
Alex winced inwardly, realizing that this Alina is not that good with people .
The whole crowd stayed this way for a few minutes, as only Natasha was the only one who had the courage to talk to Alina .
As for Alex, Natalia, and Clive, there were just standing there, staring at Alina .
The way Clive looked at Alina made it obvious that he has a crush on her .
"Well, he will grow out of it . " Alex thought as he ruminated on how to approach Alina .
Natalia on the other hand, seems to be giving Alina a worshipping look, which is just like the look that children give to their role models .
"Ehem . " Clint let out a cough, in an attempt to dispel the awkward atmosphere . He kept wearing his strained smile as he asked Alina,
"Alina, can I ask the reason for your sudden visit? You did not even mention to us that you will come!"
"It's because of my job . " Alina said as her body tensed slightly . "I am currently chasing a Class-S Intruder, and my hunch is telling me that the Intruder is staying here . "
"Oh, so that lockdown is out of your volition then?" Clint said as he scratched the back of his head . "Well, it might be a little inconvenient, but with you here, I am sure you can catch that Intruder in no time . "
"Actually, I am not sure about that . " This was the first time that Alex heard hesitation in Alina's voice .
"That Intruder, even though he just newly arrived at our planet, he was still able to dodge some of my blows . " Alina said with a hint of irritation in her voice .
"And when I am about to use one of my killing moves, he suddenly disappeared at that place . I can sense that he used some sort of spatial transmission ability that brought him to a different place . "
"That's a little worrying…" Clint said as Natasha's expression slightly dimmed . "If we are dealing with an Intruder that can move through space, then we will be in a lot of trouble . "
"Do not worry uncle . " Alina said as she patted Natasha's shoulder . "I can take care of him alone . If the worst comes to worst, then I will just ask for your help . "
"Hehehe, if my help is needed, then that Intruder should be really strong . " Clint replied with a light smirk on his face .
"She's your niece?" Alex exclaimed as Natasha and Alina went to the kitchen, probably to prepare something to eat .
"Why, is there something wrong with that?" Clint asked Alex with his narrowed eyes .
"Well…" Alex averted his gaze as he tried to think up of a reason that he can give right now .
"You have been acting weird since Alina arrived . " Clint said as he gave Alex a suspicious look . "I notice you sneaking glances at her multiple times earlier…"
" . . . " Alex's body began to turn sweaty as he started to feel the intensity of Clint's gaze .
A few seconds of awkward went by, and it was Clint who broke this silence .
"Don't tell me… that you like her?" Clint uttered this accusation with narrowed eyes as he stared at Alex . "Just tell me if that's true or not . "
" . . . . . " Alex was slightly stunned with that Clint just said .
The only reason Alex was looking at Alina earlier was because he was too scared, and he wanted to see if Alina was secretly looking at him .
"Hahaha! Now this is embarrassing!" Asteria laughed hysterically as she rolled on the floor in laughter . Her eyes had bits of moisture within them, showing that she had started to tear up because of too much laughing .
Clint seemed to be not in a humorous mood like Asteria, as his lips were set into a grim line .
" . . . . . " Since it had come to this already, Alex decided to just go on with Clint's assumption .
"Yeah… I think I like her…" Alex said as he made himself slightly blush . He then leaned forward awkwardly while his head slightly swiveled away from Alina's direction .
Alex just perfectly emulated the appearance of a shy guy declaring his crush to someone, and Clint seemed to have believed it .
"Do you want to ask her out?" Clint suddenly said as he dragged Alex away from the living room . He brought him into one of the spare rooms nearby, with Clint locking the door to make sure that no one will hear them .
The sudden shift in Clint's mood threw Alex off the rails . After all, this guy was Alina's uncle . Alex found it hard to believe that Clint would just allow his niece to be courted by some random male who liked her .
"I may have just known you for around a day, but I know that you are a decent person . " Clint said as he slapped Alex's shoulder . "I think your openness and Alina's stoic attitude will be a good match . "
"Wait, wait, wait . " Alex raised his hands defensively as he gave Clint a bewildered look . "Did you just encourage me to ask your niece out?"
"Why, what's wrong with that?" Clint tilted his head as he gave Alex a devious smile . "Even if you are a pervert, I think that you would not be able to do anything against her since she is way more powerful than you . So, you can say that I have no problems if you go out with her . The one that should be worried is you . "
"Do you think she will agree if I ask her out?" Of course Alex had no plans of asking Alina out . That will be just too risky for him!
Alex just asked this question to Clint to make it appear that he, Alex, is somewhat interested in Alina .
"Well, I am not sure too . " Clint said as he cupped his chin in deep thought . "After all, that girl had no experience with something like this . So you can say it will be an unknown territory . "
Alex heaved an invisible sigh of relief after hearing this statement as he said,
"Um, if that was the case, then it might be better if I do not ask her out . "
"No! That won't do!" Clint suddenly shouted as he glared at Alex . "Hmph, it seems like you are a wimp regarding females . Well, you have no need to worry! I will help you in your endeavor!"
Clint then dragged the hapless Alex with him towards the kitchen .
There he saw Alina and Natasha cutting up some vegetables .
Alex's eyes could not help but twitch as he saw Clint and Natasha giving mischievous smiles at each other .
"Alina…" Natasha's voice drawled as she looked at Alina . "Do you have any plans tomorrow night?"
"I only plan to sleep tomorrow night . " Alina said as she continued on cutting the vegetables . "After all, my only job here is to catch that Intruder . "
"Won't that feel so boring?" Clint suddenly said as he gave Alina a sad look .
"I feel like you two are onto something here . " Alina muttered as she saw the extremely eager gazes of both Natasha and Clint . She deftly ignored Alex, who was standing behind Clint awkwardly .
"Well… since this is your first time to visit the Dragon Esper City, don't you think that you should also enjoy its sight as a tourist?" Clint said, with emphasis on the word enjoy . "After all , you cannot be just always working!"
"I . . . " Alina tried to say something, but her resolve to answer failed as she saw the excited gazes given to her by her uncle and her aunt .
"Fine, I shall do that tomorrow night . " Alina said in defeat as she sagged her shoulders .
"Uh, uh, uh, I think a mere promise won't suffice here . " Natasha said as she smirked at Alex's direction .
Alex felt his body turning cold as he realized where the conversation had been leading to .
"I think someone should accompany you tomorrow, just to ensure that you will really do it . " Clint said as he smiled at Alina .
"Well, won't Aunt Natasha be the one to join me?" Alina said as she finished chopping up the vegetables .
"Nope, I think we have a better choice right here . " Clint then pushed Alex forward as he said,
"This guy right here is a new resident in this city . So just like you, this guy also needed to see some of the good places in the city . "
Natasha swung her hands over Alex as she gave him a small wink . "And since you are about to roam the city tomorrow, then it is better if Alex joins you . "
"Hey!" Alex shouted out with embarrassment as he made himself slightly blush . "What the hell are you doing?"
"Huh? Didn't you tell me that you want to roam the city?" Clint muttered as he gave Alex an innocent stare . "Since Alina will roam tomorrow, then you will just have to join her . "
"But the training!" Alex started to looked panicked as he glanced at Alina, who seemed to be unperturbed by the situation .
"Don't worry, I will make it so that you will gain a lot from tomorrow's training, while also making sure that your body will be fine . " Clint said as he seemed to be intent on shooting down Alex's opinion .
"Come on, you also need a break from time to time . Tomorrow night just turns out to be the perfect time…"
"Ugh . You did not tell me about having a break while your daughter was electrocuting me earlier . " Alex said as he rolled his eyes in exasperation .
"Well, since you two have no prior engagements tomorrow, then you two shall roam the city tomorrow night!" Both Clint and Natasha said these words with finality, which sealed Alex's fate .
"…Fine . " Alina seemed to be not disturbed by the idea of Alex joining her . No, being indifferent could be the better term .
As for Clint and Natasha, both of them were having silly smiles right now, while Alex tried to not look miserable .
As for Asteria, she was back in her laughing spree as she pounded her fists on Alex's shoulders .
"Hahaha! You have been forced by your master to date the woman who tried to kill you earlier! Hahahaha! Now I do not know if you are lucky or just plain misfortunate!"
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