When she said 'go home to live,' she was referring to the small family Penny had lived with Uncle Ben and Aunt May since she was a child.
It was just that Penny had rented a new apartment.
Besides being more convenient for work, it also allowed her to stay away from her neighbors… But seeing Aunt May's somewhat expectant expression, Penny said, "Alright, I really should go back for a bit."
"That's my good girl!" Aunt May happily ruffled Penny's black hair.
Penny helplessly let her mess up her hair and unintentionally caught sight of the white strands mixed in Aunt May's hair… A wave of guilt quietly emerged.
— Uncle Ben's death had made Aunt May lose her beloved.
— And my departure made her even more lonely.
— Maybe I shouldn't continue to be so willful.
Of course, in reality, she was also running out of money for rent.
Forest Hills community, New York.
Penny and Aunt May returned to Parker Family.
It was a two-story ordinary residence, plain in appearance, with a small yard in front of the house.
It was the most common style of house in the Forest Hills community and the only property Uncle Ben had left behind.
After paying the taxi fare, Penny took down her suitcase.
As she was about to enter the front yard, a large moving truck next to them caught her attention: "What is this?"
Aunt May asked, "Are the Benkenses moving?"
The Benkenses were one of their neighbors.
"Yes, Mrs. Benkense is moving to San Francisco to live with her son."
A low, soft, and magnetic voice spoke up.
Penny looked at the newcomer in surprise: "Nata… *cough*, Miss Romanoff?"
Aunt May was a little puzzled: "You two know each other?"
A beautiful woman with shoulder-length auburn hair, soft and symmetrical facial contours, and delicate features, about one meter seventy tall and dressed in business attire, introduced herself to Aunt May.
"Hello, I'm your new neighbor, Natasha Romanoff."
"You can call me Natasha," she added, her gaze subtly flickering towards Penny.
"May Parker, you can also call me Aunt May." May's face showed a gentle smile.
Penny quickly handed her the luggage: "Aunt May! Natasha and I have something to discuss, could you go home first?"
Taking the suitcase in a hurry, Aunt May found her niece's eagerness a bit strange.
However, recalling that the two seemed to know each other before, she dismissed her doubts.
"Alright, you two chat first, you can also come over to the house later."
Aunt May smiled and invited Natasha, then opened the gate to the small yard and walked in.
"Why are you here?" Penny looked at her in surprise.
Natasha retorted, "Shouldn't I be near my new residence?"
"Of course not! I mean, why did you move here? Is all this a coincidence?" Penny pressed.
The Red-haired Agent always maintained a faint smile, appearing both charming and unapproachable.
"Although I'd love to trick you into thinking it's a coincidence, unfortunately, it's not."
Penny wasn't sad or anything because of this; she continued to listen.
"In fact, the Director ordered me to continue observing you, or rather, to see your willingness to join the Avengers. He doesn't want his initial recruitment to fail."
Natasha said honestly.
"But I'm currently living in Hall Apartments; today I just happened to come back to stay for a few days." Penny was a little exasperated.
Natasha, however, smiled: "I know. I originally just wanted to use May Parker to get close to you."
Seeing Penny's expression change slightly, she added, "Not to do anything to harm her, but just to build a good relationship with her and slowly persuade you."
Penny relaxed, then said with a wry smile, "Then you're really overthinking it. Actually, you don't need to do that at all. I already intended to join S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Oh… that's truly unexpected."
Her words expressed surprise, but Natasha's expression showed no trace of it.
"Well, actually it's because I got fired and need a new job to support myself."
Penny succumbed to Natasha's deep green eyes and voluntarily revealed the reason.
Natasha chuckled: "I don't know whether to congratulate you, or rather, thank your former boss."
The black-haired girl said resentfully, "Please don't mention him again! All my recent misfortunes stem from him! Iron Man!"
Natasha suppressed her laughter, then very tactfully changed the subject and mentioned that she had just moved in today.
"Well, although my mission is already complete before it even started, who wouldn't want free accommodation on the public dime?"
"Then how long do you plan to stay?" Penny asked with some anticipation.
"As long as I can, of course."
Natasha gave her a White, as if she thought Penny had asked a foolish question.
Penny wasn't angry because of her White; she just thought the other person's White was also very beautiful.
"Oh, right! Aunt May just invited you to our house for a visit, do you want to come?"
The Red-haired Agent looked at the movers who were still busy, estimating that they wouldn't finish anytime soon, and nodded with a faint smile.
Just as the two were about to enter the small yard, someone called out to the black-haired girl.
"Penny?"
She turned her head and her expression froze: "MJ?"
Mary Jane Watson, another neighbor of Parker Family.
She had long, soft red hair that shimmered with a coppery luster in the sun.
What Penny remembered most was her clear and bright eyes, and her infectious, warm smile.
After high school graduation, Penny deliberately avoided her, making their meetings rare.
The last time they met was when Penny was just about to move to Hall Apartments and was bumped into by Mary Jane.
By a rough calculation, it had been almost a year since they last met.
"Are you moving back in?" Mary asked with a smile, shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks.
Then she greeted the beautiful woman next to Penny: "Hello, I'm Mary Jane Watson, Penny's neighbor."
Natasha nodded and returned a friendly smile: "Nice to meet you, I'm the neighbor who moved in today, Natasha Romanoff."
"That's truly fate, it seems we'll be seeing each other often now." MJ enthusiastically shook her hand.
Penny remained silent.
"Penny, Natasha, how much longer are you going to chat?" Aunt May's voice came from the doorway.
Her gaze fell on Mary Jane: "Oh, it's MJ!"
Aunt May's voice was noticeably more enthusiastic.
"I just baked some cookies, would you like to come in and sit down?"
Mary Jane closed her eyes and sniffed: "Of course! These cookies smell so good."
"Come in, everyone come in." Aunt May opened the main door and waved them in.
"Penny, quickly bring out the cookies. I'll go make some tea and coffee."
Penny obediently went into the kitchen: "Instant cookies, no wonder they're so fast."
"Shut up." May glared at her.
Penny took the plates, cutlery, and cookies and walked into the living room.
MJ looked at the house's decor and sighed: "Still the same, nothing has changed."
"It seems you used to come here often?" Natasha asked.
"During high school." MJ's voice carried a hint of nostalgia: "Penny was such a nerd back then."
"Hey!" Penny protested, placing the cookies on the coffee table.