SHIPPER OF ALL

“Just wait.” Okoye tells you as you watch in wonder.

Your anxiety rises as the jet makes a sudden turn and seems to be descending closer and closer to the jungle in the heart of Africa.

Closer and closer they get to the trees. You’re gripping the harness straps around you and gasp as the jet flies into the trees and the trees disappear. The blue lights of a shield ripple away, giving way to the prosperous land of Wakanda. The sprawling farms, sheep grazing, and homes built as clay huts with the sparkling city itself standing tall in the backdrop surrounded by mountains and waterfalls.

“The Emerald City.” You sigh in awe to no one.

“Pretty much.” Natasha smirks at your first experience here. “It gets a lot cooler than this.” She warns as they come to the landing pad, and the jet smoothly touches down.

Much to Natasha’s surprise when you walk off the plane, Shuri is there waiting to greet you both. But you’re both taken by surprise when she doesn’t go to Natasha, she merely waves to Natasha. Instead, the princess jumps in excitement, giggling as she goes to hug you. Natasha is all smiles when she sees genuine pleasure on your face as you hug the princess back. Shuri is telling you in Xhosa how Okoye has made her jealous that she got to be the first to meet you in person. You and Shuri had been interacting together, and coordinating with Okoye for the visits to SHIELD. It was your idea originally to involve Wakanda in the project and make it a joint operation between the Avengers, Fantastic 4, and Wakanda. You respond in kind at finally being able to meet the princess in person after the many conversations you’ve shared. All the discussions you’ve had over screens, you’re delighted to be able to meet a friend in person, like meeting a penpal for the first time.

Natasha watches this all, impressed and delighted to see this side of you. “She was all big eyes and surprised when we flew through the shields.” Teasing you, doing an exaggerated expression of your surprise. Her eyes sparkle with pleasure at watching your interactions with friends.

Shuri laughs. “Gets everyone every time.” You roll your eyes as Shuri sticks out her tongue with her smile. “I’m going to have fun teaching you how to speak more in Wakandan while you’re here.” Shuri is almost vibrating with excitement. “Come inside, I’ve got some cool things to show you.” Shuri pulls you along but stops and everyone bows when you see the queen and her mother come out.

You curtsy yourself. You hear her laugh. “I am not the Queen of England child. A simple bow of your head is enough respect for me.” You look up in awe and she smiles. She slips into Xhosa telling you that Shuri told her you speak many languages and switches to Swahili to ask if this is true.

“Your majesty.” You smile and respond in kind, telling her in Xhosa that you’re still learning but look forward to learning Wakandan during your time with them. And you tell her in Swahili that it is an honor to meet her and see her beautiful kingdom.

“You’re right Shuri she is delightful.” You can’t believe that the leader of a country knows so much about you. She waves to everyone to follow her inside. “I trust Shuri will be able to show you around the palace but please if you need anything, feel free to ask anyone for assistance. You are most welcome here. I will see you both at the meeting. We shall have to go over our plans this afternoon. For now, I must attend a meeting of the tribal council.” She presses a kiss upon Shuri’s forehead.

The queen leaves your mouth hanging open. “Your mom, the Queen, is…”

“I know! She’s very cool.” Shuri laughs, pulling you along to her labs. You and Natasha are shown the latest spy tech they’ve been working on. “I was working on a new battle prototype for Barnes. He’s not here, is he?” Shuri looks around at the group.

“Not this trip. Strictly spy work and reconnaissance.” Natasha explains and Shuri sighs, rolling her eyes in disappointment.

“And diplomacy!” You interject making them both laugh.

“That’s what Natasha said.” Shuri winks.

“By any other name.” Natasha smirks, her eyes alight at getting to use her skills.

Instead, Shuri pulls out three discs that float at her command. “I’ve been working on these.” Shuri waves her hand. The discs hover and then fly, going to strategic positions in the room.

“Cameras?” You question, stepping towards them as they move.

“Oh, not just cameras, girl, I would never have them do just one thing. Watch.” When her hand makes a fist, the discs turn their flat side towards you, and become nearly invisible. “Spy drones.”

“What are they made of?” You ask, moving so that you can see the edges of them, as the slightly rounded edge of them is visible like an OLED television screen. But you wouldn’t know the discs were in the room unless you knew what you were seeing.

“A specialized shatterproof glass, metal polymer. It is solid, but in a liquid suspension, so that when it is in position the lens appears translucent.” Shuri smirks, watching your fascination. 

“It isn’t, it’s reflective.” You conclude yourself. Shuri claps to herself.

“Exactly! Girl, you totally understand the way I think. The reflective surface is translucent. Think of them as if they were a floating two-way mirror, that is nearly invisible. But look here.” She looks over, pointing to her screen and they’re not just recording, the discs are data mining. “They become a closed, untraceable WiFi connection that triangulates to the mobiles and computers that are in the room and sends all their data back here. This is only the first prototype, I want to make it so that when they’re up and running that will be able to mine date for a whole city block. I control them with an app on my watch, my own prototype. Completely untraceable and nearly undetectable. If you don’t know what you’re looking for.” Shuri gives a sneaky laugh. “I already have three other governments interested in the purchase of it.” You can tell how proud Shuri is in the sparkle of her eyes. This must be one of Wakanda’s main exports. Their advances in technology make Stark Industries nearly pale in comparison. Shuri’s creativity is clearly on display and technology is her art form.

“You’re a genius.” You say in awe, walking over to the discs again to see the discs were almost invisible if you didn’t notice it. You come back over and see the data already being gathered by the discs being collected and sorted by the program.

“I know!” Shuri smiles and starts laughing when you bump her shoulder with a smile and an eye roll.

“We also have your typical spyware, but with a twist. Undetectable trackers,” she peels off a gauzy tape like square from a strip that barely covers her finger. “These disappear into the fabric of the clothes of the target binding to the threads and also become a mini speaker. It will work on your person too so if you get caught and need to be found, you can put this on yourself without detection. It’ll record your conversation and also act as a microphone like a wire. A completely invisible wire, no more compromising informants. It also is undetectable by metal detectors.” Shuri is very proud as she walks you through all of the rest of the weapons and how to use them.

“It is time, Princess.” Okoye calls out, her spear staff hitting the floor to gather your attention.

“Girl. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Shuri!” She groans gesturing for you and Natasha to follow her.

“Almost as many times as I remind you to call me General. When we’re not in the palace, surrounded by outsiders,” Okoye glares in your direction, “you can call me whatever you want, just like I will call you Shuri, Princess.” Shuri rolls her eyes at this, begrudgingly walking towards the meeting hall with heavy shoulders. You have to hide your own giggles at this.

The council are still gathered around the dais as you enter the room. Both you and Natasha bow respectfully to the tribal leaders around you. This is why you learn languages, to be able to experience all the diversity and beauty of the human race.

“Tell us. Why are you here?” M’baku is rightfully defensive at your presence.

“We’re here at the request of SHIELD.”  Natasha speaks, standing at attention before the council.

“What gives SHIELD the right to make demands of our people? Can they not handle their own affairs?” Shuri mocks, taking her seat among the council as Princess of Wakanda. The mocking of one of the council members sends the Wakandans into laughter, everyone except you and Natasha. Here, you’re reminded that Shuri is not your friend, as a princess her loyalty lies with her country. It’s true what they say, for her, diplomacy and goodwill stops at the water’s edge. Or the jungle’s edge in this case.

“We make no demands, only ask for cooperation and assistance in gathering the cooperation of other nations and its leaders. This is an intergalactic crisis, and we need the cooperation of the human race. This is an emergency that concerns everyone on planet Earth.” Natasha further explains.

“We do not need a turncoat, Russian spy working for an American government agency to tell us what we as a country should be concerned about.” M’baku sneers at her, stomping his staff into the ground. Such a staff, you can tell, is not for ceremonial purposes at all. The council members speak amongst themselves in a mixture of Wakandan and Xhosa, their sentences are hard to keep track of, but you can get the gist of their petty squabbles as they argue the value of your presence when they can take care of the matter themselves or simply let the rest of the world burn.

“We come as representatives of the American government to request the cooperation and assistance of Wakanda and its people. We are fighting an intergalactic threat bigger than Thanos. That is why we need your help.” You jump in speaking in Xhosa. The council members are immediately silenced by your talents with a language they think you would never speak or understand. You switch back to English. “We do not want to interfere in your own politics. We humbly ask that your nation assist us in gaining the cooperation of other nations that are not interested in the preservation of the human race and need assistance in finding it in themselves to cooperate with global efforts to protect Earth, as you yourselves have done so far.”

“What kind of assistance?” The Queen asks. She’s giving you an opportunity to explain yourselves.

“We are on a mission to gather the cooperation of the world for the incoming intergalactic threat. We can’t pinpoint the creature’s landing zone and have to assume it could be anywhere. Nor do we have a motive for its journey here. We have resources but the assistance of Wakanda in intelligence gathering and reconnaissance to foster cooperation would be invaluable on a global scale.” You explain. The others look around amongst each other, and you take their silence as a step towards their approval.

“What assistance could Americans possibly need? Do you not have enough of your own drones? And plenty of spies too.” M’baku mocks you and Natasha with a guffaw that ripples through the council.

“Your technology is unmatched. Even we admit that, and we are not so proud as to admit there are things we as Americans can’t do that Wakandans can. We would appreciate any assistance your warriors are willing to offer us.” Your attempt at flattery to gain their understanding of the situation at hand seems to be slowly persuading the council members.

“You would ask us to waste our resources?” W’Kabi questions.

“SHIELD acknowledges that this is an international emergency of epic proportions. We thought that Wakanda would happily step forward as a leader of international peace and cooperation to assist us. As your King so happily did to defeat Thanos.” You challenge the council. “If your resources are too precious, I understand.”

“We understand.” Natasha confirms.

“But if this threat is truly as powerful as to be believed, it is not just our enemies and our allies that are in danger, it is ourselves as well.” Shuri stepped forward to protest their objections.

“Your people do not have to participate in the fight, but if intelligence is to be gathered, your government will already have access to it, so it can only help you to have this information for yourselves as well.” You look over to Natasha and understand that offering to share intelligence gathered was probably not part of the offer, but you had to offer them something in exchange for their assistance. Sharing data gathered during this time in Wakanda was already part of the plan since Shuri would likely just hack into SHIELD’s databases to get the information just for fun.

“So, you want us to spy on your enemies in order to leverage their cooperation and in exchange you will share all of this information with us?” M’Baku questions in culmination of what was discussed.

“We would not have it otherwise. As allies, there’s more that we can do together sharing information than withholding it.” Natasha agrees with your strategy, and it seems to be working.

“The crisis facing the world is more important than petty squabbles.” The queen speaks and the other council members speak amongst themselves, nodding,

You hope it’s in agreement as M’Baku knocks his staff on the floor to get everyone’s attention. “It is decided, gather your leverage to persuade unruly enemies to cooperate. We will see if this intelligence proves useful to us.” He barks a laugh, and you see the amusement in his eyes of the Americans coming to the Wakandans for help.

When the council members leave the room, you breathe a sigh of relief. Their cooperation was hard to win, and persuasion was not one of your strong suits. The queen comes over and kisses Shuri on the forehead again. Shuri smiles knowing her mother was proud of her skills as a princess on display to help her friends get approval from the tribal council.

“Enjoy your evening, I shall see you in the morning. Okoye will accompany you.” She nods to you and Natasha before sweeping out of the room.

“Evening?” You question, watching Shuri smirk.

“We’re going out to the clubs! It’s the best way to get information. We need a place to start. We’ll go out around eight o’clock. Be ready!” Shuri waves to one of the guards. “Show our guests to their rooms.” Shuri lets one of the guards escort you and you realize you had no idea you’d have to dress to go to a club.

After several hours of panicking, and knowing there was nothing for you to wear, you dress yourself in what looked relatively suitable, which amounted to the head-to-toe black gear that you packed. What shocks you when you appear before Natasha and Shuri is that they’re dressed like they’re going out partying. You blush looking down at their clothes compared to yours.

“I wasn’t aware of what we would be doing tonight, I didn’t pack clothes for clubbing.” You hang your head in defeat, and you do hear Natasha stifle a laugh. Great.

“Oh girl, I cannot let you go out like that!” Shuri rolls her eyes, and takes out another gadget from her pocket. A pocket you didn’t see she had. It’s in the form of a beautiful necklace. She pulls the magnetic clasp apart and you hear her press a button on it as she wraps it around your neck.  You feel an electric hum cross over your body. Looking down your body and clothes are enveloped in a mesh not unlike the shield over Wakanda. It uses your clothes to project the image of a beautiful dress on your body, hiding your clothes, it hits you above the knees and the legging you were wearing disappear revealing your legs as they would look in the dress. “Much better!” Shuri sighs almost in relief. The pattern and style is definitely Wakandan, the African stylists and fabric designers surpassing the western styles you’re used to, and the colors are dynamic against your skin, and curls.

“Amazing!” You gasp in awe spinning around, the projection moves with your body like fabric does and doesn’t break down in form at all.

“You look good!” Natasha smiles, watching as you three are called to the elevators by Okoye. There’s a spring in your step, and you don’t catch Natasha taking a pic of you to forward to Steve and also to Sue Storm. She was betting there was a certain fiery fantastic man that would enjoy seeing you this way and is missing out back in New York. It was a pleasure to watch you have so much fun even though they were supposed to be working. Away from the repressive bullying of the compound was doing you a world of good. It was what Steve and she were hoping, that the fieldwork would help build your confidence and self-esteem. Natasha only realizes in watching you and Shuri talk to each other, how young your spirit truly is in comparison to how serious you usually act.

“I hope you ladies are prepared for this evening, the target in question is only in Wakanda for a short period and unlikely to be meeting with his target again. Tonight, will be your only chance to get the information you are seeking. If we miss this opportunity, you shall have to go in search of more targets which will extend your time here in Wakanda until we can locate new informants.” Okoye’s words have you straightening your back, your expression turning stern.

“Okoye! Girl. Don’t be ruining my good time! I was going to show my new best friend all that Wakanda has to offer.” Shuri objects, pouting that Okoye was a kill joy.

“Unfortunately, your friend didn’t come here to tour Wakanda, she came here to work. She’s an Agent of SHIELD, not apart of your clique.” Okoye snaps, as Shuri rolls her eyes.

“I can be though, if you ask nicely.” You whisper to Shuri so that the princess laughs. You share more whispered jokes until Natahsa has to stifle a laugh as well and Okoye lets out an audible sigh when the elevator opens and you all pile into one of the cars the palace allowed you to use as you and Shuri giggle all the way to the club.

The thumping music of the club only presses deeper into your chest when you enter. Shuri and Okoye walk in naturally, as the club recognizes their status. A whisper in an ear and you are admitted with Natasha but their looks make it clear you’re the outsiders, letting the four of you get in past the velvet rope. You hear them mutter a Wakandan slur towards you and Natahsa, implying that you’re less than for being outsiders and English speakers. You give the bouncer a greeting of humble respect in perfect Wakandan and their surprise is considerable, and the security of the club is pointing fingers in your direction. Natasha shares a look with you and you both scan the crowd as you move along to the music thumping in the building.

Shuri and Okoye call over to you and Natahsa, and pull you along to a table, and a waitress offers to serve you.

“What will you all be having?” The waitress asks in Wakandan not caring that you and Natasha might not understand Wakandan, though you do. Shuri asks the table in English and you both shrug.

“What’s good here?” You ask, with a laugh and Okoye does laugh at that.

“Don’t worry, I’ll order for everyone!” Shuri decides and can’t hear what she says to the waitress over the music, but she goes to the bar and comes back in a few minutes bringing you the very colorful drinks ordered by Shuri.

“Shuri, we should not drink.” Okoye warns, and they share an exchange of looks.

“We’re spying! We can’t afford to look conspicuous by not drinking! We’re in a club!” Shuri rationalizes.

“Who are we looking for?” You question. There was a dossier on a list of viable targets but no word on which one of those targets would be here or if there were Wakandans with connections to those targets. You realize as you take a tentative, fake sip of your cocktail, that there are uncertainties of fieldwork as a spy you’re not comfortable with, but you can’t let yourself appear nervous. You try to remind yourself to act the part, you’re having fun with the Princess of Wakanda.  

“It’s not a question of looking for, but who is looking for us!” Shuri smirks, looking up to the upper floor of the club and seeing who was giving your presence their attention.

You look to Natahsa and see her giving some of the men above you the eye, flirting with them as if she were just out with her girlfriends. You try not to jump when Okoye slips something into your hand. It’s a small speaker with an antenna, you see Natasha, push hair behind her ear. But that’s when you notice, she’s put one in her ear as well. You mimic her hand motion and then realize that you’re both now wearing earwigs.

“Can you hear me?” Natasha whispers and you nod, Okoye and Shuri nod as well. Natasha stands and goes off in the direction of the stairs. “Watch and learn.” You hear her voice and watch her climb and go in the direction of the bar upstairs. She poses as a Russian socialite and soon has put trackers on several men in the room. When the crowd thins and she no longer is gathering potential targets, she comes back down to the table and sips her drinks as Okoye and Shuri applaud her. You can’t help but be amazed. It wasn’t very long that Natasha had most of the men in the room tracked.

“How did you…?” You ask in amazement but Natasha just shrugs.

“I play pretend and flirt. Most people like to be complimented and if you give them attention will hardly pay attention to what you do with your hands. It’s simple psychology.” Natasha smirks, her eyes glittering with danger. You gulp when she turns it onto you. “You’re turn.” She demands and you know you can’t refuse. So, you take a breath and a long drink of liquid courage before standing up. You follow Natasha’s lead and instead of going to the bar you go to the opposite end of the upper floor, leaning over the railing in sight of the table. “Relax a little more, you look like you’re interviewing for a job, not going to a club.” Natasha scolds.

“I am interviewing for a job, and one of my bosses is watching my performance.” You murmur.

“Exactly, so show me you can do it.” Natasha’s scold has you vulnerable, putting you on your guard. But you take a breath and try to look relaxed, rolling your hips in time to the music helps. Soon you’re catching glances of men around you, hoping for a chance to real in your target with a smile.

You hear over your shoulder, standing near you, someone speak in Wakandan, “I’m telling you man she spoke perfect Wakandan.”  

“No way, she couldn’t. You’re lying.” You hear them laugh.

“50 Inus, man. I swear.” You see them shake on it. That’s when you decide to ruin the other’s night. They’re not prepared for you to turn and look directly at them.

“Instead of wondering you could just ask her, she can speak for herself.” You speak to them in nearly perfect Wakandan. The disappointment and satisfaction on their faces makes you genuinely laugh as they exchange their bet.

“Where are you from that you have learned to speak Wakandan?” The one that lost his money asks, leaning over next to you. You look him up and down and notice the subtle shift in his body language as he leans into you more. Reeling targets in is easier than you thought it would be.

“I’ve traveled a lot, and love learning languages. It means I’m good with my tongue.” You smile, a teasing smile that makes the man laugh.

“Yet you are in Wakanda, you stick out like a wounded gazelle. Where would someone like you have learned Wakandan?” He questions again, his firm tones nearly angry as he insists you tell him the truth and not flirt.

“Alright…” You sigh, sliding your hands up his chest. Placing a tracker on him as you look up at him through your lashes as you speak in English. “I didn’t want to say because I didn’t want you to judge me but I’m here with Princess Shuri. I know her from my dad’s work. He’s a diplomat and has worked with Wakanda before, so you’d probably think I’m a rich girl.” You pout looking away, trying to look shy. The two men compliment your clothes, and you speak with them some more before they are pulled back to their group and you go back to the table. Using the crowd to disappear and return to the table to applause and loud laughter.

Shuri and Okoye laugh at the Wakandans assuming you can’t speak in their tongue and the surprise on their face.

“Very well done.” Natasha approves of your efforts It’s then you notice over your shoulder the target that Okoye said to look for, a face connected to one of your other targets. Shuri offers to go put a tracker on him, and Okoye tries to object but the Princess is gone before she can object. Instead of doing what Natasha or you did, the princess solved the problem by bumping into the guy once he was holding his drink. She was able to use the excuse of patting him dry to place the tracker and returned to the table with a victorious cackle.

Okoye breathes a sigh of relief, scolding Shuri. “If anything were to happen to you, the queen would have my ass!”

“Like a lioness on a water buffalo!” Shuri can barely finish before laughing. Okoye glares at her, which only makes her laugh into her drink more.

“Come on ladies! It’s time to go, we got what we came for, we’re going. Now.” Okoye stands up, leading you all back to the car. The whole night was much less eventful than you thought.

“One day at a time.” Natasha explains smiling to you in the back seat as you go back to the palace. You’re impatient to get what you need and get back to New York, but you reflect on what you’ve learned. By the time you get to your room, the jet lag has caught up with you and you flop onto the bed, forgetting to undress. Sleep consumes you before you even get a chance to check your phone and see if you receive texts from anyone.       

The next day you’re woken up by someone knocking at the door of your room. One of Okoye’s subordinates stands at attention telling you to dress and come to breakfast. You nod, unable to locate the ability to speak as you try to shake off the cobwebs of sleep. You go through your ablutions as fast as possible and are led to a long table with breakfast prepared, and Natahsa already making her way through her own meal.

“Oh good, you’re awake. Eat up. Shuri told us she might have news for us soon, and after that we might be on the move. I hope you packed your bag.” Natasha smiles as you nod and pile food onto your plate. You don’t know if you’ll be able to make your way through it, but you’re hopeful that you can eat. Like she said, if you’re going to go chasing after targets, you’re going to need some fuel.

She’s kind enough to pour you a coffee as you take your seat across from her. “Mmm… coffee.” You murmur, taking long, grateful sips of a Wakandan blend of coffee that is the best you’ve ever tasted. Your eyes widen in surprise and look at her in shock. It is one of the best cups of coffee you’ve ever had in your life. “Can we get the beans of this blend back at the compound?” You moan, grateful for the excellent taste as your body absorbs the caffeine. Natasha giggles into her cup.

“You already do.” The voice of the queen startles you into nearly standing until she waves for you to stay seated. “Dr. Stark has it flown in, unfortunately it doesn’t store very well, even roasted, and loses its delicate flavor during transport. It will never be as good as it is right here in Wakanda.”

“There are very few things that will be as good elsewhere as where you will find it.” Nastasha smiles when the queen acknowledges her with a nod of her head. “That’s why I love traveling to beautiful countries such as Wakanda.” The queen laughs at Natasha’s open flattery. She speaks to one of her assistants.

“Where are we going today?” You ask Natasha, wondering if she was told anything by Shuri.

“We’ll find out when Princess Shuri gives us an update. I have a feeling we’re not going to be traipsing on the queen’s hospitality much longer.” The queen laughs at this.

“Well, you are both welcome here. My Shuri enjoys the Avengers visiting and considers you both her friends.” The queen smiles, as a breakfast plate is placed in front of her.

You smile and go to speak before Okoye comes into the room. She pounds her stick onto the ground. “Forgive the intrusion your Majesty.” The queen nods and Okoye looks to you both. “Agent Romanoff, you, and Agent Y/L/N, are needed in the lab once you have concluded breakfast. Princess Shuri believes we might have an answer for you.” She concluded and you’re quick to finish what you can of your breakfast, taking a roll with you as you both nod to the queen. She is quick to wave you both away. You follow Okoye and move in her wake, to the lab where Shuri is practically dancing in excitement.

“Girl!” Shuri pulls you over leaving Natasha to look over your shoulder. “You won the jackpot for the night. Those bouncers at the club, the ones that came to talk to you, were so impressed by you speaking Wakanda that they can’t stop talking about you. Especially to their friend, someone who is most definitely not Wakandan but is currently in Wakanda.” Shuri smiles down at you proudly and plays the recording for you. You hear the voice in Russian over the video recording and watch as Natasha backs away as if she were slapped.

“I know that voice.” Natasha nearly jumps back as if she were burnt. You’ve never seen Natasha’s expression shutter that way.

“I thought you might as Black Widow.” Shuri jokes, raising her eyebrow.

“I do but not as the Black Widow.” She shakes her head as Shuri runs the voice through her own recognition software, triangulating with Interpol and international databases. Until she pulls up an old recording of an interrogation at MI6. “I was working with the KGB then, right before Putin disbanded it to form the current government at the Kremlin. When that regime fell my occupation in Russia became… inconvenient for some former members, and for some of the higher-ranking officers under Putin. I knew too much, killed to many people overseas to put them into power. I suppose it was decided that I was a little too close and they wanted to tie up loose ends. By that time, I had already had a few run ins with the Winter Solider, and I assumed they put a bounty on my head, so I turned myself in to Director Fury and he was working his way up the ranks at SHIELD and noticed my talents. I wanted to stop cleaning up the messes pathetic little men made and wanted to do something good for a change.” Natasha shrugged. “Yuri Stampovovich was one of those messes I thought I cleaned up, but he’s like a cockroach.” Natasha sneers looking at the picture of the man on the screen.

“But will he have the information we need to get Russia to cooperate?” You look at Natasha with a raised eyebrow. You’re not interested in her past, just that you can complete this mission as fast as possible. Natasha nods and looks at his photo. You’re watching her expression and putting a hand on her shoulder. “Natasha?” You ask and she shakes her head looking back at you.

“Suit up and meet me back here. Shuri we might need some supplies for dealing with him. I need to make a few calls.” Natasha stomps away before you can argue and disappears.

“What is she doing?” You ask yourself and look back at the target. You look over to Shuri who is trying to look very occupied. “Shuri can you please send me the information you found out?” Shuri hands you a folder with all of the dossier compiled and sorted to read chronologically. “What would I have done without you on this project?” You lament pulling her into a hug.

“I know right?! You would be lost!” You and Shuri share a laugh as you run back to your room to dress and pack, you have a feeling you’re not staying in Wakanda much longer.

Fifteen minutes later you’re talking with Shuri as you sort through the dossier in front of you. You don’t think that this Yuri guy knows anything, but he knows someone and that will lead you to your next target. Neither you nor Shuri are sure about what you need to know so you’re going over as much as you can. Somewhere lies someone with the information you need. But you’re not even sure what that is right now. What will be enough to get cooperation of the Russian government that won’t destroy diplomatic relations that would start a war? Avoiding that as much as possible would make your part in the mission a success. Natasha comes back in still on the phone.

“Yes, yeah, I know. Yes, she’s right here. We will. Yes, Captain. You too, see you when we get back.” She hangs up with a smile, in a much better mood.

“Was that the Captain of your heart?” Shuri teases Natasha before you can say anything.

“Funny. I was giving Captain Rogers a status update. He thinks we have enough to move on Stampovovich but he wants to be cautious. Pulling on this particular thread could cause an international incident we’re not prepared to handle right now. We will have to thread this needle delicately. We’re squeezing for just enough information to get Russia’s attention and ensure their cooperation.” You and Shuri nod. She tugs over a long, heavy black case and hands it to you.

“You’re going to need this.” She turns eagerly to Natasha. “Can I come? My gloves have been gathering dust.” Her pout is met by a firm shake of Natasha’s head.

“I think getting a Wakandan princess involved is exactly the international incident Steve is worried about.” Natasha smirks. 

“We promised our assistance and what the captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Shuri smirks. “And the targets won’t even know its me!” Shuri shows you both as she hits a button on her necklace and you watch a mesh cat suit crawl up her skin and envelop her until she disappears. “A nod to Stark’s second skin technology with a few of my own modifications.” Her voice echoes and then you feel a tap on your shoulder and you spin around as each tap or touch makes you turn around in circles until Shuri reveals herself standing next to Natasha with a cackle. “So what do you think Agent Romanoff? Can I come along? You need all the help you can get.” Shuri pulls off the hood of the costume with a proud smile.

“Okay. We leave in ten minutes. We have to get to Yuri before he leaves Wakanda.” Natasha rolls her eyes as you grab the gear Shuri insists is needed and help her walk to the car you’ll be driving. The two of you are talking together excitedly as you hand her the case and your bag and store it in the trunk. Natasha follows with her bag in tow, and Okoye comes with her, dressed down.

“Oh come on!” Shuri laments. And Okoye raises her brow.

“If you think the queen was going to let you go running around without some form of protection you are madder than a stampede of elephants.” Okoye scolds, holding her hand out as Shuri hands her the keys with a pout. “I shall drive, and the princess will ride shotgun.” Okoye gets into the driver’s seat, and you smile at Shuri as you all get into the car. Natasha is quick to remove the dossier from your hands.

“Anything important you need to know you’ve already read, and I can fill in the rest as needed. Reading and studying won’t help once we get there. Ask me questions.” Natasha insists as you look down at your hands. You were hoping to read to quell your nerves.

“Do you know why he was in Wakanda?” You ask.

“No.” Natasha concedes.

“Will finding that out lead to information we need to know?” You ask.

“I’m not sure but we’re going to find out.” You raise an eyebrow and Natasha sighs. “Yuri is a cockroach; he has a thousand lives. Much like me, he’s survived the fall of regimes and governments but unlike myself, he makes money off them. He’s made a lot of money helping and ensuring regimes collapse and help the next movement gain power. The world is constantly in motion because trash like Yuri Stampovovich profit from it. He knows something and there’s a reason why Russia is in Wakanda, they’re gathering information or weapons or both. I’m thinking; both. Either way it’s going to be embarrassing for them when we find out what it is, and SHIELD will make a deal.” Natasha explains.

“You mean Director Fury will make a deal.” You correct as Natasha smirks.

“Correct. You’re quick to see the bigger picture, that will definitely help you. Yes, Fury will cut a deal with someone, probably the Kremlin’s security general, that if they stop what they’re doing and help us with the intergalactic threat we’ll look the other way, and they’ll live to fight another day. Russia will always do what’s in her best interests. Russians so understand that discretion is the better part of valor.” Natasha gives you a smile that lets you know she’s not just talking about the government she’s talking about herself and her experiences working in the Red Room and working as part of the KGB.

“We’re here.” Okoye look back to Natasha her eyebrow raised in question. Natasha leans forward to talk strategy.

“Okay, I need you and Okoye to go up to the roofs, get to a position that leaves your eyelines open and undercover, so it doesn’t give you away.” She pulls up a map and shows a street leading to an ally and points to two rooftops. “Here and here. But don’t stay on the ground, go high. Shuri will be with me on the ground. If I break away Shuri, don’t follow me. Keep up your pursuit and chase him towards the alley.” Natasha instructs.

“What will you be doing?” You ask Nstasha, and Shuri looks back at her with a frowning moue of confusion. 

“Yeah?” Shuri asks.

“I will be doing what I do best.” Natasha smiles, opening the car door and stepping out. She’s quick to drag Shuri off in the direction of the last location Yuri was at and Okoye hands you the long black case Shuri gave you. She takes out her staff and with a press and twisting motion she turns the staff into a sniper rifle.

“Go up to the west side, I will take the east side. The alleyway is roughly half a mile from here. Follow me I know where it is, and which direction they will be heading.” You nod, she points up and you see you can climb up a fire escape to a roof. Once you reach the top, you put together the rifle Shuri brought for you and with a nod across the street you and Okoye move across the roofs. She’s a lot quicker than you expected and it takes you a little bit more time running around clothes lines, garbage, and pipes until you get to your location.

“Took you long enough.” Okoye’s voice sounds in your ear.

“My work usually isn’t in reconnaissance.” You bite back in a snark, putting your eye to the scope.

“It is now.” Okoye fires back. “I have eyes on the Princess. Do you see Agent Romanoff?” Okoye asks, as you look across the roofs and back down.

“Confirmed, target in sight. Friendly approaching from behind.” You murmur.

Shuri was able to put Yuri into the alley like she said and trap him there. There’s nowhere for him to run to and you can practically hear his desperation as Natasha uses the shadows to her advantage.

“Yuri…” Her voice pierces through his panic. The contrast in her calm and his fear is palpable.

“I know that voice.” Yuri pants out in Russian.

“You should. I remember you.” Natasha answers back in flawless Russian. You’ve never heard her speak it before, and can hear it fall from her lips like stories of her past.

“Show yourself!” He demands, falling into English. Nervous enough that he loses track of what language he is speaking.

“What have you been up to Yuri?” Natasha asks from the shadows. “Who are you working for now?” Natasha asks, and Yuri backs up until he’s against the brick wall with a whimper.

“I don’t have to tell you anything!” He whines in Russian.

“But you’re going to,” Natasha reveals herself at last, speaking in English again as she struts over to where he’s standing and puts Yuri down on his knees. “You’re going to tell me everything you know Yuri. Then I’ll let you go.” Natasha explains, as she threatens to use one of her Black Widow bites. “Don’t make me use this. I assure you; they hurt.”

“Alright! Alright! I’ve been dealing in weapons!” Yuri whimpers, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Who? Who was making the deal?” Natasha asks, pulling him back by the hair.

“Come on! If I say anything, they’ll kill me.” Yuri moans, trying to jerk away from her hold but Natasha only pulls harder.

“You think I won’t if you don’t tell me?” Natasha warns and you clench your jaw as you watch her. The temptation to stop her from torturing him is at war with your mission.

“Alright! Alright!” Natasha leans over and Yuri whispers the name in her ear. He was leaving to go meet the buyer to ask for more money. The payload they were requesting is too hot for him to hold onto without suspicion, there were also too many people in Wakanda asking for the weapons. He was flying to Turkey to speak to them. 

“How do they talk to you?” Natasha demands, as Yuri whimpers.

“Come on, I can’t tell you that! I gave you a name!” He whines as Natasha twists his hair. “Number on my phone, unregistered. That’s all I know!” Yuri moans almost in pain as Natasha gets his phone off his body and tosses it to Shuri.

“Get what you need off that.” Natasha waits for Shuri to scan the phone, and she tosses it back to Natasha. “Guess what Yuri, this is your lucky day! I’m letting you go.” Natasha smirks and then you watch Shuri reveal herself. “But the Wakandans won’t, since you’re hiding illegal weapons in their country. They’re going to want to talk to you. Tell them what they want to know, and they might let you go.” Natasha smirks as Shuri steps forward and puts cuffs on him.

“You said you would let me go!” Yuri is aghast as Shuri brings him into custody.

“I did, but I didn’t say I would let you go free.” Natasha smiles, putting her finger to her ear and looking up directly at you. “Did you get that?” She asks, as you lift the rifle back onto your shoulder with a sigh.

“Yeah. We’re going to Turkey to track down arms smugglers. Someone’s pulling the strings, and we have to find out who is doing it.” You sigh, running back to the case to break down the rifle and then climb down to the run to the car.

You are driven to an airfield and there is a quinjet waiting for you both. You were hoping it could wait but when there’s a lead, you have to go before the trail gets wind of it and goes underground. What you’re not expecting is Okoye and some of her soldiers to follow you.

“We don’t expect you to follow us into Turkey. We accepted your help in Wakanda, but we can’t ask you to pursue this with us. You’ve done so much for SHIELD already.” Natasha tries to wave off their assistance as they bring their packs and weapons on board the quinjet.

“Wakanda has been the source of international arms smuggling for too long. Too many countries think that just because we are kept secure behind an invisible wall that they can get away with their crimes. This is an international crime committed during an intergalactic crisis. We want the countries involved with this to be held accountable for using an international crisis to bankroll their countries’ weapons stores with stolen weapons kept in our country. The queen demands our involvement. This is no longer SHIELD asking for favors, and to play with Princess Shuri’s technology. We shall help you because the queen and tribal council demand answers.” You and Natasha nod as you board the quinjet.

“We might be chasing down leads before we find the source.” You warn them in Wakandan.

“Then that is what it shall be American girl with many tongues.” One of the soldiers smiles in your direction. The others snicker and elbow each other, as you’ve become quite legendary within the palace walls, and a favorite among the community. Like the white wolf, Wakandans love to collect Americans.  

The week that follows for you is a blur. You don’t remember the countries you’ve been in, the highways you’ve driven on, or the food you’ve eaten. You have done what Natasha has told you. If she passed you food you’ve eaten it, if you had a coffee placed in your hand you drank it. When there’s a roof over your head, if sometimes you could call the little huts roofs, you slept. You’ve spent just as much time chasing people and running away from bullets.

“Are we any closer to an answer?” You question Natasha and the women across from you. You huff, as you take a seat in the passenger car of the train the Wakandan soldiers booked for you. You’re on a train heading from one country to your destination, which is England. Okoye and the two soldiers that accompanied you were doing all of the intelligence gathering while you and Natasha have done most of the hard work chasing people down. Each name leads to another name, leads to another group of arms dealers. It seems never ending. “Where is this all leading?” You ask, but doubt this will get you answers.

“London. The contact we need to track down is on the run and we’re going to corner him in London. He’s the missing piece. Andrew Pierce. Actual name?” Natasha asks you.

“Andrei Petrov.” You bark at her, nearly snarling. You’re running out of energy, and she still looks bright eyed and bushy tailed. You know she hasn’t been sleeping. Even with you sleeping in the bed next to her she hasn’t relaxed and just keeps moving.

“We need him so we can put the squeeze on the Russians. My guess is he’s the last lead, the missing link between the weapons and the Russians. My guess is that he’s been selling Russia the weapons by way of Iran. I know of a few very wealthy princes that have fun increasing their wealth through Russia.” Natasha has put the pieces together long before you started this international marathon.

“And this is supposed to not turn into an international incident that will hurt diplomatic relations?” You ask as the other three women in the car snicker at your argument with Natasha.

“Neither country will want this exposed on an international scale. They will ask us to keep it quiet and in exchange we will all promise to cooperate with each other until after the alien threat has been dealt with, then Wakanda will quietly handle the international arms dealing ourselves. Leaving SHIELD and the U.S. Government out of the entire thing to avoid a diplomatic crisis. Problem solved.” Okoye answers for Natasha who gestures to her with a raised brow and a smirk.

“My suggestion is that we all use the train ride from here to London to sleep. We will all need it.” Natasha announces and you let out a heavy sigh and curl into the window. You don’t need to be told twice, though you doubt you’ll get much sleep on a moving train. You grumble about it as you fight to get comfortable. It takes an embarrassingly short while before you fall asleep.

Natasha shakes your shoulder to wake you hours later, and you see its just you and her in the train car. The seats in front of you are empty. “Where did the Wakandans go?” You murmur stretching.

“I sent them along to the hotel with our stuff, they’re meeting us later once we’ve secured the target to take him into custody. I figure we can get something to eat and then walk around town a little bit before the sun starts to go down. Then we can go to the rendezvous point and do our job, then this will all be over.” You scoff to yourself but smile as Natasha drags you along to a café. You order something hot and delicious, grateful for a normal looking plate of hot food after all the times you had to eat on the run and shoved down snacks wrapped in obnoxious neon-colored wrappers.

“So how have you been enjoying your first field mission?” Natasha asks, smiling into a glass of Pellegrino.

“That it isn’t glamorous, or sexy, or anything like you see in a James Bond movie.” You growl, taking a bite of food. Natasha laughs into her glass and goes back to her own meal.

“No, it’s not, in fact it can get a lot worse than this. If the weather doesn’t cooperate and you have to run quiet, you’re lying in snow or slogging through mud with rainwater in your boots while you lay low and wait for orders. This has actually been pretty fun so far. But you? You’ve been a bear for at least half of it.” You sigh, shaking your head.

“I’m sorry, it's just been hard to see how the pieces are being put together and you make it so easy. Even Okoye has been seeing the truth, and I didn’t.” You’re nearly ready to pout, but opt for drinking from your own glass of water.

“You were doing the hard work alongside me, and she’s been looking at the intel. I’ve had you doing most of the legwork so that I could be looking at the bigger picture with Okoye. There hasn’t been a lot of information floating your way during this part of the process. I wanted to test your focus. You’ve been working really hard and haven’t wanted to quit once. Now that we have time to talk, I’ll show you the pieces so you can see the bigger picture.” You nearly preen under Natasha’s compliments and let Natasha share with you what she knows. You see what she saw almost immediately and see how the pieces come together. “Next time you’re working in the field, you’ll be able to see the pieces that come together like this when you’re given information. I wanted to keep you focused on the tasks at hand so you wouldn’t lose your train of thought. Getting too inside your head with the pieces of the puzzle is when you get dead. That’s when the enemy sneaks up on you.” Natasha explains as she pays for your meal, and you leave the cafe. “Now let’s explore the city!” Natasha smiles as she pulls you along.

The two of you spend the afternoon walking through London, talking, joking, and laughing. You relax and lose yourself in the rhythm of it, letting Natasha show you vendors and shops, putting on hats and sunglasses. Even stopping to watch buskers, and tin men pose. It feels familiar, like New York or Boston, or Philadelphia, but a lot more settled and mature. Unlike the promised weather of London, there isn’t one dark cloud in the sky, and you enjoy the bright sunny day as you spend time together with Natasha. It isn’t before night begins to fall that you realize that Natasha has been slowly working you both towards the rendezvous point a more quiet, isolated side of town away from the crowds.

“Was someone watching us?” You question her with a murmur as you fight the temptation to look behind you.

“Only for the last three blocks.” Natasha murmurs back and smiles at you before she goes off in another direction. She’s leaving you exposed but you know what she wants to do. You don’t turn around and keep going forward. Until you find yourself on an abandoned street alongside the Thames. Finally, you stop walking and turn around, you’re impatient and ready to stop playing these games.

“Got a problem there, buddy?” You ask, lifting your chin in challenge.

“No, not with you. But I know who you came with, and I don’t appreciate being followed by her. Where is she?” The man growls at you his Russian accent thick as he stomps over to you. You don’t spare a second to guess what he intends to do and go charging forward. He and you become locked in a fight. His arm tries to go around your neck but you’re quick to bend backwards and then lock his legs up with yours and twist your torso. You twist around in a circle and have him pinned until he spins you both and pulls on your wrist behind your back. “Now where is she?” He asks, while his arm comes around your neck, holding you in a head lock.

“Right here.” Natasha murmurs into his ear over his shoulder, before punching him in the ribs. He lets you go and when he sees you both. He takes off at a run.

“Go!” Natasha shouts, and you react immediately, on your feet and give chase. Your boots pound against the paved roads and cobble stones as you wind your way through the streets of London, following him from the Thames to the factories. Every time he moves to enter a building, Natasha is there, throwing a knife to stop his movements and keep him moving.

“You’re not going to get away Petrov!” You shout, your legs gaining on him. He throws a barrel at you and you hit the ground on your knees, sliding underneath it, and use the momentum to send you forward. Natasha is right behind you. “I got him!” You tell Natasha, progress sending him down a narrow street with no escape.

“Wait! Y/N don’t! Let me take it!” Natasha tries to stop you but you’re already flying towards Petrov, pulling him by the jacket lapels, you both fall into the dumpsters in the narrow alley, and you roll. When he stands up with you in front of him, he holds a knife.

“You keep running but there’s no where for you to go.” You sneer, and you hear Natasha’s footsteps behind him. He makes a lunge for you, and you try to stop him. He pulls you down. And you roll again, trying to keep his knife hand away from you, but he’s too strong. You let him fall forward and trap his wrist along your body. You feel the slice on your side but it’s superficial. You flip yourself again, tumbling backward with him, and his momentum forces you to stand. He pulls his hand away from your grip where his wrist was trapped against your body, dropping the knife and you stand back up. You push him away and fight, taking punches with your hands and forearms and using his massive size to your advantage. Just when you think you have the advantage, Petrov turns you around by your jacket this time when he gets too close, throwing you against the brick wall with all his strength. You collide with the wall, knocking the wind out of you as you fall down. He kicks his knife up off the ground. He catches the knife with a smirk, moves towards you again with a sneer of victory, and is not prepared for you push up off the ground to run after him. You may be bruised and winded from being thrown but you won’t let him get away. You ignore Natasha’s protests.

You tackle him with an elbow to his throat, into the ground and with a roar of frustration you punch him out. Panting, your give a breathy laugh at it finally being over. You look up to Natasha, and look to where she’s looking at your abdomen where his knife is sticking out of your ribs. “Shit.” You sigh, before the sight of your own blood and the knife makes you faint. You catch yourself, and Natasha leans you up against the brick wall.

“Stay down.” She growls over you with a scowl, firing a text off to Okoye.

“I’m fine… I’ll be fine.” You don’t understand why your vision is starting to narrow and hear the muffled tones of Natasha’s voice telling you to stay with her until everything goes black.

The lights of the quinjet greet you as you blink against the lights and the wind whips around you, as you’re carried up the gangplank. You vaguely hear Okoye’s voice demanding answers and asks if you’re with them. The darkness consumes you again.

When you wake up again you see more lights but you recognize them as the lights of the compound and Captain Rogers looking at you on one side, and Johnny Storm on the other. There are doctors around you and Natasha’s voice is talking to Steve over his shoulder.

“You two gotta get a different look, I can barely tell you apart.” You murmur with a laugh as you cough, blood coming out of your mouth. “Uh oh, that’s not good.” You groan, as the medical team pulls you into the med bay. Leaving both Steve and Johnny looking after you while Natasha sighs.

“I thought I told you two nothing risky, no guns.” Steve scolds Natasha.

“We didn’t use any guns Steve, none of our own. I can’t actually predict that someone is going to pull a knife. I left Petrov with the Wakandans, they’re going to give all the information they get to Director Fury, and he should be on the phone with Russia in the next twenty-four hours. She accomplished the mission she was sent to do and sacrificed herself to do it.” Natasha and Steve share a look and then turn to Johnny Storm, his hands making fists at his sides.

“You let her attack a guy with a knife?” He asks, the fire in his eyes forcing Steve to step between him and Natasha.

“No, I didn’t. I told her to let me handle it, and she lunged before I could stop her. I couldn’t stop him without maybe hurting her in the process. I wanted to see if she could handle it. It’s her job. She wants to do this job. She did it. We just have to work on her fighting techniques. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve taken a knife in the ribs myself. She’ll be alright.” Natasha’s dismissive tone nearly sets Johnny off as the rage in his eyes grows to his fingertips.

“Storm get control of yourself! This was part of the mission! She knew the risks, we all did!” Natasha snaps. Johnny growls, setting a fireball off against the wall before stomping away.

“That wasn’t helpful.” Steve scolds Natasha as she shrugs. You wanted to be an agent in the field, and Natasha wasn’t going to let two men try to question decisions you both made in the field.

“He must really like her a lot.” Natasha smirks, both her and Steve looking at the scorch marks in the wall and the potted plants that were on fire, burning and smoldering near it.

“I think he loves her.” Steve decides, taking Natasha’s hand with a warm look in his blue eyes, and pulling her into his arms. “Like I love you.” He murmurs into her hair. “Don’t take risks like that again.” He demands with a growl, combing his fingers through her hair.

“Are those orders Captain?” Natasha leans her head back smirking as she looks into his blue eyes. He growls, covering her mouth with his as she gives him a throaty chuckle.

When you surface from the dreamless sleep you were under you blink awake and find yourself in a room in the med bay. You’re laying on the bed and try to take a deep breath but hiss when your abdomen protests and feels like its on fire.

You look down and lift the shirt you’re in and see the bandages covering your torso. You let out a sigh that’s more of a pant of pain and look around the room. Your eyes go wide seeing Johnny Storm in a chair by your bed.

You blink a few times and rub at your eyes to make sure it’s not a dream or hallucination. You don’t know what to make of this and instead use the quiet and his lack of awareness to observe him. You see the fuzz of a five o’clock shadow covering his face. Your confusion mounts as you take in the state of his clothes. From the shirt to his sweats, you can tell he has slept in them and, hasn’t moved from your room. You hope he’s showered or at least gotten something to eat.

“…Johnny?” You croak, your voice finally catching up with your thoughts. He stirs hearing your voice like you tripped a wire tied between the two of you.

“Hey!” His smile a hopeful sort of small thing that makes it suddenly hard to swallow. He’s by your side in an instant.

“How long was I asleep?” You question, looking down to see him take your fingers in his hand.

“Just a little over a day. You came in the day before yesterday and didn’t wake up until today.” He huffs a laugh as he looks you over. 

“You’ve been sitting here all this time?” You ask. Now your even more confused. Why would Johnny Storm sit by your bedside for all this time?

“Well… not the whole time. Sue came by and made me go to the cafeteria with her to eat.” He rolls his eyes as if this were a bother to him.

“What was wrong, what did the doctors say?” You ask. Your own confusion mounting.

“Nothing, nothing that won’t heal in time. The asshole that did this to you stabbed you pretty hard, bruised a couple ribs, cracked another one, and the tip of the knife nicked your lung a little. That’s why you were coughing up blood. It wasn’t much but they had to go in drain the blood and suture it closed. You were only in surgery for three hours. So that’s good news. You haven’t been running a fever so the doctors don’t think you’ll get an infection. They said you were very lucky.” Johnny frowns at this.

“I don’t feel very lucky.” You groan, trying to move around but huff when you can’t even lift yourself up. “Everything hurts…” You whine.

“Well, wrestling a two-hundred pound Russian and getting stabbed in the ribs will do that.” He jokes. Johnny comes over and hands you the controls for the bed and uses it to show you how to lift up your bed.    

You huff a laugh and sigh, shaking your head at the state of your body, knowing this might be the end of your chance to prove yourself a valuable asset to SHIELD. You rub at your eyes to dispel the tears of disappointment. “Johnny, you don’t need to be here. I’m sure you have better things to do than look after me.”

“What do you mean?” You look over to Johnny and see his blue eyes glistening with anger, maybe even a little hurt.

“You don’t need to look after me, I know we’re friends but does that girl you’re trying to go out with know you’re here with me? You’ve been here with me for almost three days; you should see her. Go get your girl.” You smile flopping your arms on the bed. “All you can do is stare at me all day.” 

Johnny is about to open his mouth to say something when Natasha and Steve come in with the doctor in tow. Instead of telling them to leave, you watch him sigh, rolling his eyes and he leaves the room. You open your mouth to call after him, but he’s gone. You don’t know what you did wrong, but you don’t have time to wonder as the doctor pulls your focus. Captain Rogers stands next to your bed on the other side while the doctor gives you a detailed report of your injuries. It’s nothing new to you as Johnny told you everything you needed to know. Captain Rogers excuses the doctor, and you can practically see the steam pouring out of his ears.

“What were you thinking Agent Y/L/N? Look at you. I told you and Natasha not to take any unnecessary risks.” You’re surprised this doesn’t come with a wag of a finger.

“I didn’t, but I wasn’t going to let the asset get away. This was our chance to connect the weapons to the Russians. I wasn’t going to lose him, we don’t have that kind of time.” You huff, wincing as you try to straighten up but huff when both Natasha and Steve press you back into the bed.

“She’s right Steve. She’s been a big help through the whole two weeks we were away. She was very good, and held her own against Petrov. It’s not her fault he had a knife hidden on him. That could have happened to any of us. She just needs some more combat training. That’s all.” Natasha smiles down at you, patting your leg.

“You’ve got a week of recovery, that’s one week until you can move around then another week of physical therapy to make sure you don’t get pneumonia. You’re benched from field work until the doctors clear you for active duty. In the meantime, you’re going to be working with the Fantastic 4, Stark, and Dr. Banner on the alien transmissions that have come in. We need you to be up and mobile as soon as possible.” Captain Rogers orders before marching out of your room.

“What Steve meant to say was, good job. And he hopes you get better soon because we need you.” Natasha shakes her head and rolls her eyes as he leaves. You giggle and immediately wince.

“Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.” You complain.

“We’ll work on not getting stabbed in places that hurt next time. Next time when I tell you to back off, listen to me. We work as a team. I could have helped you stop him.” You nod with a sigh.

“I was just trying to prove myself. Prove I could do it.” You thumb at the stitching of the blanket on your legs.

“You did it alright. Proved you can take a knife to the ribs.” You give Natasha a glare and she smirks, giving you another pat on the leg before she leaves you alone.

It is a grave understatement to say that you hate being alone in the hospital room. You never made for a particularly good patient when you were sick. Clingy. Miserable. Weepy. Now with you prone in bed and in pain, you find yourself only getting worse. Captain Rogers offered to send for your family, but you refuse. They’re so far away and older, the trip might be too much if your parents are nervous about your health. The less they know about your government work the better. Instead, you’re alone, except for when someone decides to visit, and all of whom are immediately put out when your disappointment shows.

You would never admit to wishing for Johnny Storm’s presence, but you want to know why he left and hasn’t come back. It’s been nagging at you and if he wants to be your friend shouldn’t you at least receive a visit? Your anxiety ratchets up with the hours you spend laying down. The medication they give you turns your feelings and paranoia up to eleven, and you’re unable to do anything. You were never a very athletic person, but you enjoy working and dread stagnation. The pain makes you sensitive, and the pain medication magnifies all these feelings.

Everyone is so busy there isn’t much time for visits. The Avengers stop by and to your surprise you get a visit from Sue Storm and Dr. Richards. They thank you for all your hard work, as this has helped resolve a multitude of issues they were having as they now have access to the entire globe’s satellites. Russia was very keen to cooperate. They applaud your efforts, and Sue looks puzzled when this brings tears to your eyes. They’re the first people other than Natasha to congratulate you on a job well done and not criticize your efforts as stupid or reckless or to remind you that you don’t have to be an Avenger on your first field assignment.

“Have you seen Johnny?” Sue asks and frowns in confusion when you shake your head no.

“You’d think that being my friend, one of the only friends I have in this compound, he’d visit at least once now that I’m awake.” You scoff, and pointedly don’t mention that your feelings hurt, and that you miss him. You’re not able to hide your feelings as you usually do and Sue and Reed notice your pout of disappointment. You don’t understand their shared look when you tell them this. You also don’t have any answers from them for Johnny’s absence. He left the hospital room in a huff and in your confusion don’t understand the cause. He doesn’t come back.

The doctors try to get you up from the bed to walk around, after nearly a week of this, but when you try to move, your entire body screams in pain. The ugly blooms of bruising on your body now show across your skin and was more extensive than they realized. The doctors must prescribe more to alleviate the pain which causes you to sleep a lot. The pain is threatening to extend your recovery period longer than they expected. Natasha comes into your room while the physical therapist is in the room for your evaluation and she sighs.

“You can move. What…? Are you going to be in bed for the rest of your life? There’s work to do. I know it hurts but you can do it. The more you move the easier it will be for your body to recover.” She refuses to let you wallow in your misery, which may or may not have caused by the absence of a certain Human Torch. She refuses to leave you alone when you groan in pain, and growl at her. Natasha pushes you and makes you sit up, then it’s a slow-motion crawl to get off the bed to put your feet on the floor. She proves you can get up and walk around, though you need both Natasha and the physical therapist, who is impressed but annoyed with Natasha.

“She’s not a super soldier.” The therapist warns Natasha.

“No, she’s a SHIELD Agent and there’s an intergalactic threat hurtling towards earth.” Natasha snarks back at the therapist as you limp your way through your first steps.

You take about five steps from the bed, and back to the bed. You’re breathing like you ran a marathon, and your chest feels like it’s on fire. Natasha nearly bounces from excitement for you, and you roll your eyes even as her cheering for you makes you smile.  

“That’s progress! Don’t worry, you’ll get better. But at least you know you’re not going to be bed-ridden forever.” Natasha gives you a genuine smile of relief. You’d think she was almost pleased. With extensive prescriptions for anti-inflammatories and a physical therapy schedule more demanding than your actual workout schedule, you’re cleared by the doctors to return to your room.

The day after your perilous ten steps, the doctors approve of your release. You can’t walk far enough to get to your room, so you must use a wheelchair. You’re trying very hard not to be embarrassed by this as you’re going to be seen by the entire compound. Natasha comes into the room the next day ready to push you back to your room within the last stroke of your pen on the release forms. She offers to take you back to your place and you smile in relief, but just when you get ready to roll your way to your room, Johnny appears in the doorway.

“I heard you were released today.” Johnny smiles brightly, happy with the news. His ears are red. You’ve never seen him like this, shy, awkward. He’s trying too hard to be confident in front of you.

“Yeah… Natasha was just taking me back to my room.” You bite your lip and looking back you favor Natasha with a smile.

“She took some steps yesterday proving she’s on the mend, so they said she’s good to go!” Natasha smiles moving your chair to the door where Johnny stands, blocking your way out of the room. 

“I can take her!” Johnny offers and your eyebrows rise in surprise.

Before Natasha can object, you turn back to her and share a look. “Natasha, can you give us a minute?” You ask and she leaves you with Johnny with a sigh of frustration.

“Johnny… what are you doing?” You question, looking up at him from your chair makes the Human Torch very tall.

He saves your neck by kneeling next to the chair. “I wanted to offer my help. I’m worried about you.” 

“Well… you’ve got a funny way of showing it.” You don’t mention the reason for that. You both know what he did, and for the first time ever since you’ve known him and known of him, Johnny Storm looks contrite.

“I know… I know I should have visited you… I was… I was upset. I don’t like seeing you hurt. But I’m here and I wanna help now.” He told his sister everything about the day you woke up, how you kept reminding him that you’re only friends, saying he didn’t need to be there, which angered him after he had slept by your bedside and held your hand, and Sue promptly yelled at him for almost fifteen minutes straight. He came back when he heard you were being released to make things right.

“Well, Natasha already came down…” You look from Johnny to Natasha unsure of what to do.

“I’ll push and she can help you in your room. You’re gonna need help getting around in the bathroom.” Johnny offers with a grin of satisfaction as he makes the decision for you and pushes your wheelchair out of the room and starts progressing down the hall.

“But--! Wait! You’re busy you can’t be here. I know you don’t have time for this. To take care of me!” You protest trying to get him to stop pushing you down the hallway.

“Nowhere I’d wanna be than right here.” Johnny presses a kiss to your head and that renders you mute for the whole of the ride back to your room. Natasha is forced to make conversation with Johnny until you arrive at your room.

You wonder how you’re going to maneuver around your room in the wheelchair or walk to the couch, and you gasp when Johnny solves that problem for you. Johnny is giving you a soft smile that causes you to look away when he carries you from the wheelchair into the room. He huffs a giggle as Natasha moves around you both and into the room.

“That’s not… necessary. I can walk.” You bite your bottom lip as he brings you back home. You can’t help the sigh of relief that ends with your head on his shoulder. You hate being away from your familiar surroundings for long.

“Humor me.” Johnny’s voice drops into a deeper tone you’ve never heard from him and you can’t help but shiver. His ears start to turn red and you look away to hide your smile.

“Cute!” You hear Natasha’s review of your private space as she moves around it, looking around. You nearly thought she was saying your own thoughts aloud, but she was looking around at your décor.

“Haven’t you been in her room before?” Johnny asks and Natasha shakes her head with a smile as you look down at your knees in Johnny’s arms for no better place to look.

“You’re the first person I’ve ever had in my room. Natasha is the second. I’m not exactly a favorite among the agents.” You give a weak lift of the corner of your lips in an imitation of a smile.

“Should I feel honored?” Johnny questions.

“I know I do. Don’t worry about the others, you’re a favorite amongst the Avengers.” Natasha promises with a toothy smile.

“And the Fantastic 4.” Johnny agrees.

“I think there’s partiality on both your teams with that one.” You quip as Johnny sets you down on the couch. “Do you think you could help me shower?”

“Sure!” Johnny’s mouth snaps shut and his face colors as he realizes what he just said.

You smile looking up at him in confusion as Natasha looks to him with a quizzical brow. “I was talking to Natasha.” Your eyes sparkle with amusement as Johnny backs out of the room.

“Sure! I’ll leave you ladies to hang out.” Johnny shoots you finger guns before leaving you alone with Natasha.

“Did he just shoot us finger guns?” Natasha looks to the doorway, and this makes you laugh until you whine.

“Don’t make me laugh it still hurts!” You complain as Natasha helps you to stand. It’s getting easier to get up every day, every time you do it. You’re happy to be back in your rooms, looking forward to continuing your work and the next phase of your mission.

Phase II: Transmissions & Translations

You’re expecting to be left in your rooms to recuperate, so it’s to your shock and awe that both Tony Stark and Reed Richards are at your door in between your physical therapy session and lunch.

“What brings you both here?” You question, looking between the two of them as Reed looks apprehensive and Tony looks confidently up to something he shouldn’t be doing.

“Well, you’re supposed to be resting. We… well. Tony… figured you would want to be working in the lab with us while you recuperate.” Reed explains with a tight-lipped smile.

“You must be bored out of your skull.” Tony concurs.

“Not bored at all, I spend most of my time lying down with my face in a pillow, passed out from anti-inflammatories until Natasha gets me for physical therapy or Johnny brings me something to eat. I think Natasha would have a problem if I disappeared.” You explain.

“If I promise to handle Red Scare, would you come with us? There’s something we want you to check out… pretty juicy!” Tony suggests with a tempting lift of his brow.

You look from Tony to Reed. “I know why he’s here, but I don’t get why you’re here.” You question, leaning into the door for support as you wince trying to take deeper breaths to stay standing.

“Tony argued that my presence might… soften his appeal. Since you like my wife’s brother.” Read explains and you shake your head. You glare at Tony when Reed tells you this.

“Word of advice, don’t let Tony pull you into his schemes.” You joke, accepting the seat in the wheelchair outside your door. The physical therapists don’t want you go walking long distances yet. Tony smiles proudly as he and Reed march you to the labs they’re using for this project.

When you get there, they attempt to push you into the lab and you aren’t expecting Johnny to be there, or for him to stop your forward progress.

“Woah woah woah, what are you two doing? I told you she needed to rest.” Johnny crosses his arms looking at them both.

“Well, she needs to see this. We need her help.” Tony argues, matching Johnny’s stance.

“Does Natasha know she’s here?” Bruce asks, looking from the screens in front of him back to you. You wave at him, and he smiles warmly to you, nodding his hello.

“I’ll worry about that.” Tony insists.

“Johnny, we can really use her help. A couple hours, just to listen to the recordings. She might hear something we don’t. Her ears are attuned to languages if we could just let her listen… a little bit.” Reed insists.

“Do you think she has the energy to do this yet?” Johnny argues.

“Do you think you all can ask her what she thinks and how she feels?” You question. The three men around you look down, properly contrite at your scold.

“Sorry… I wasn’t… we weren’t.” Johnny crouches to your chair again, and you wave off his apology.

“I wanna take a look.” You and Johnny look to each other and he nods, letting you do what you want. He pushes you further into the lab. “Let’s see what you’ve got Dr. Banner, Dr. Stark, Dr. Richards.” The three scientists in the room brighten and stand taller. You go to stand up and Johnny is at your elbow helping you. When you step forward, Sue comes to your other elbow with a beautiful smile that sets you at ease. Her hand softly touches your back in support.

“We were excited to have you here. We can really use your help.” She insists, pulling out a chair for you to sit in.

“I don’t understand how I can be of any help.” You wonder aloud. Tony and Reed stand at your shoulders and Tony expands a screen in the air in front of you.

“By listening to this.” Tony presses play and the lab fills with a sound you’ve never heard before, it’s nothing but garbled noises. But you recognize it for what it is, immediately, as the sounds become apparent to you.

“I hear languages!” You shout over it until Tony presses pause. “I hear languages.” You state again. “I hear… what sounds like a recording. Garbled languages all mushed together.” You explain.

“Well, you are the foremost expert in languages in this building.” Reed looks at you with a pride that makes you feel like they were already accepting you as part of their team, but you don’t understand why. You’re a SHIELD Agent.

“You’re right.” Bruce agrees. He shows you the recording again and slows it down. “They are languages. Our languages. Earth languages. A message.” Your eyes widen when you hear it.

“The Voyager Space Probe!” You look around at the doctors in the room, your eyes wide and smiling in amazement. “It worked! It reached extraterrestrial life! They sent the message back to us!” You laugh in astonishment the implications making the hairs on your neck stand up. Thinking about it gives you the shivers. “Like in the movie Contact.”

“Well done, Carl Sagan.” Tony smirks indulgently at you.

“But that isn’t the question.” Banner goes over to the bigger screen. And you can see two lines of sound recordings. The frequency of each recording and sound waves completely different.

“Why does this, and this, look completely different if the extraterrestrials sent our message back to us?” Reed asks the question for you. You look at the two bands of sound and your brow knits.

“Friday?” You ask.

“Yes Agent Y/L/N? How may I help you?” Friday asks.

“Can you isolate the original Voyager message from the second recording that was sent back and isolate what’s not part of our original message?” You ask and the computer does as you request. There is a sound bite left behind. “Can you play it?” You ask, turning up the volume. You’re not expecting the frequency of it to be so high pitched, and you break a lot of glasses in the room before Tony smashes the pause button.

“Okay, she’s one of us. No more spy nonsense, you’re officially part of the tech crew. I need her.” Tony says as Reed and Banner both laugh.

“What is going on down here?” Natasha asks, pulling her hands away from her ears.

“Uh oh.” You bite your lip looking to Banner, Reed and Tony, then looking to Johnny. “Did the whole compound hear that?” You ask.

“Unfortunately, the frequencies of the recording overwhelmed the PA system and broadcasted the high frequencies over the speakers. Recording several reports of shattered windows and minor wounds from shattered mugs and glasses. Shall I send for a technician to replace the glass?” Friday asks as Tony confirms.

“I thought I told you that she needs to recuperate. She’s got to attend physical therapy, which, by the way, you’re over an hour late for!” Natasha scolds you, coming over to help you up.

“We need her help!” Reed insists.

“This is important.” You look to Natasha with a stubborn lift of your chin. She sighs, as you both walk back to your wheelchair.

“If I don’t figure out how to schedule this with your therapists you’re just going to come here anyway.” Natasha sighs. “Fine, you can start working on this for a few hours in the afternoon. But you still have to go to physical therapy until you’re cleared. Deal?”

“Deal.” You smile up at Natasha as you sit in your wheelchair.

“I can help. Make sure she’s getting to her therapy on time and then taking her here.” Johnny offers.

“That will be helpful Johnny. Thanks. I have a lot to do myself on my end.” Natasha pats his shoulder in thanks.

“Anything I can help with?” You offer.

“No!” “No!” The entire room shouts, silencing you before you can say anything more. No one wants you to help Natasha with spying or reconnaissance anymore.

Johnny is serious about ensuring you stick to the schedule you were given. Every time you open the door, he’s there waiting. Eventually he walks you there, after you’re able to walk longer and longer distances without getting winded. He doesn’t let you skip a session for any reason, not even when you’re pulled into the lab by Reed or Tony, deep into listening to the recordings while they work on adjusting satellites to get a better listen to the message.

He even goes as far as to carry you out of the lab over his shoulder when you don’t listen. You’re cackling over his shoulder and begging him to put you down and only does so when you’re on the elevator to go to the medical floor.

To everyone’s encouragement, you’re able to decrease the days of physical therapy down to three days a week. You’re off the pain meds, except for using it as needed. The burning in your chest is now a stitch in your side, you can laugh and almost take a deep breath without wincing in pain. Johnny celebrated by bringing you to your favorite milkshake and burger joint outside the compound.

“How did you know?” You wonder, as you look down at the menu.

“You mentioned your love of movies, and talked about the food in movies. It made me think of the burgers and milkshakes in Pulp Fiction, then I saw it was on your shelf in your room. I put it all together. Then I heard you talk to Sue about where Reed should take her on a date. Then I knew this was your favorite place.” You smile and it makes Johnny’s ears turn red.

“You’re very sweet when you’re not being a horndog.” You tease him and Johnny flicks water at you from his glass, making you dissolve into a fit of giggles. His face is completely red as he offers you a handful of quarters to go use the jukebox. 

“That’s another reason why I like this place. Good jukeboxes are hard to find.” You smile happily as Buddy Holly and the Crickets play “Oh Boy!” over the speakers.

Even if Johnny was using your time in the lab and volunteering to take you to your therapy sessions to hang out with you, you can’t say you’re disappointed. The less time you spend getting physical therapy, the more time you can spend in the lab, and then the more time you can spend with Johnny.

You’re trying not to feel this way, there’s an alien hurtling towards earth and Earth’s mightiest heroes are preparing for war, but all of this has been fun in a way you didn’t anticipate. Everyone in the compound that has worked with you is getting the opportunity to watch you blossom in front of them. That is a pleasure. What’s not fun is seeing the lovesick puppy attached at your hip. Every chance offered up to pry a confession from both of you is met with a wall of ignorance and obliviousness that is quickly becoming legendary.

Watching it all unfold before their eyes is painful for everyone involved.

The time you do spend in the lab is taken seriously, as you dedicate as much time as possible to helping Tony, Bruce, and the Fantastic 4. You’re listening to the recording again, and decide to play with the levels. You know very little of sound techniques, but know there must be something you’re not hearing. There’s something there you have to be able to hear.

“Friday, can you isolate the noise from the frequecy?” Removing the static shows you the pulse of the frequency within the noise. “Oh my god…” You gasp, looking at the way the pulse moves. “Count the pulses of frequency for me Friday, for the whole recording.” Friday does as she’s told and you don’t have to wonder if what you’ve found is interesting because the entire lab is looking at your screen. “Just like in the movie.” You look and see the numbers counted out. “But these numbers are random.” You squint. “Aren’t they?” That’s when you see the pattern of the numbers come together like words. The pattern comes together like a code of numbers. “Friday can you make anything of it?” You ask.

“Of course I can, these numbers are a break down of a more complex code of numbers that I a computer language that made me, and it’s not difficult to see the pattern at all. I will have the message translated, one moment.”

You nearly jump when a heavy hand pats your shoulder. “Good job, Sagan. No one here solved the problem. No one except you, not even Friday could see it and solve the problem.” You preen under Tony’s praise.

“Completed. Here is the message, Agent Y/L/N. Only I don’t think you’re going to like it.” Friday announces, showing you the finished translation. When you, Reed, and Tony read the message sent by the alien, they both run off to speak to Director Fury. Tears fall down your cheeks, you’re left behind with Sue, Johnny, and Ben reading the message aloud over your shoulder.

“Make peace, your end is near. Your Earth will be destroyed. The end is near. It is decided.”  

Intermezzo

(A/N: This segment contains sexual coercion of an adult, bullying and very directed personal physical and emotional violence that may be traumatic for some viewers, but is pertinent to the plot. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Author is available for hugs afterwards in the comments.) 

The revelations of the alien messages have been unraveled, but Director Fury refuses to go quietly into that good night.

He demands you prepare for battle, and continue on as normal. There is no room for panic at SHIELD or at the Avengers compound. Fury demands that every Agent keep a cool head. You only wished that were possible for you.

Your closeness and interactions with Johnny have not gone unnoticed. You were too happy. You should have known it was only a matter of time before something erupted and destroyed your own life.

You wished impending doom of an alien attack could compare to this. It doesn’t.

You’re in the process of following Fury’s orders to prepare the other Agents for what’s ahead. They’re going to handle evacuation protocols and field aid where needed. You’re helping where you can, even though you’re on medical restrictions. You’re talking to subordinates when your phone beeps. You’re not prepared when you look down and see the message.

Someone has sent you a pic of Johnny. He’s not alone. In the picture, he’s chatting up one of the girls that harassed you. Agent Ives is clearly flirting with him. You swallow back on your derision and lock your phone, going back to work.

Some habits are hard to break.

When you walk back to your office, a moan breaks your concentration. You’re forced to jump back when the break room door falls open and you wish you hadn’t looked and just kept walking. You find them kissing. You know this was strategic on her part, because instead of her eyes being closed in bliss, or looking at him, she’s looking at you, her smirk into the kiss is for your benefit. Johnny pushes her away, his eyes flashing in anger ready to set himself on fire, when he sees you’re looking at him. Then it hits him like a freight train, they’re next to your office.

You stomp away from him, feeling like an idiot.

He’s following you trying to explain. “Please! Please listen, I’m begging you!”

You shake your head as you distribute files with tasks for each Agent to complete. Its busy work but you’re happier doing desk work than doing nothing at all in your room while the end of the planet is hurtling towards you. You only wish it were so easy to occupy your mind from the hurt you feel. “I don’t need an explanation. You’re my friend Johnny. And the girls here are beautiful, so I don’t blame you for being unable to resist. You’re only human.”

“You’re not going to fight me on this? You’re not at least going to listen?” Johnny looks at you, his brow raised in confusion, as his eyes blue eyes blaze with frustration.

“Should I? Why? What do you want from me? I’ve been pulled in on this mission alongside you as a member of this team. Why would I want to jeopardize the safety of the entire world by being unprofessional? My becoming emotionally involved with you and letting personal matters pull my focus will not help save the world. I don’t know why you want that from me, but we can’t afford to do that right now.”

You’re not going to give Johnny the satisfaction of proving you’re already emotionally involved. You swallow back the cries and keep walking.

“You don’t have anything else you want to say to me?” Johnny wonders aloud like he can’t understand your lack of anger. He’s completely innocent but your nonchalance towards this disturbs him. He wants something from you, something to prove you’re not as indifferent to him as you appear. He needs something to reassure him that you like him. He saw the way you looked at him in that hospital room when you woke up. The way the both of you have been talking and interacting, he’s been having the time of his life. Johnny doesn’t understand why you keep refusing to open up about your feelings and continually close yourself off. It’s been frustrating for him, but he didn’t do what you’re thinking he did, and knows the truth. That he was coerced into that break room on purpose.

“It’s not my place! Johnny you’re my friend. We’ve never been anything more than that. You’re a mature adult and can make your own decisions. I’ve got no business telling you what to do. I think you could do better. But that’s your business. I thought you were trying to do better. I thought you were trying to be serious with that girl you mentioned. It’s her I feel sorry for, and she’s the one that doesn’t know you’re behaving like this. What about her? I thought that’s what you wanted, not this. I thought you wanted more from your life.” You argue, despite your determination not to, the words, the doubt, come spilling out.

“I did! I do!” Johnny doesn’t have any better explanation for himself, at least not one that you’ll believe so you just scoff and walk away. Your disappointment tastes bitter on your tongue.

The next several days after what you’ve dubbed the incident, are some of the worst you’ve experienced at the compound. The whispers have reached a fever pitch and go noticeably quiet when you enter a room. You’re forced to eat at odd times just to avoid the people around you and their stares. The Avengers and Fantastic 4 are either uninformed about the gossip circulating the compound or too polite to say anything as you continue to work with them. Everyone preparing for the alien does notice your presence is frosty as you work. Your warmth has disappeared, and you refuse to chit chat about anything more than the weather as you complete the tasks handed you, which you do quietly and efficiently.

You get quieter when Johnny Storm is in the room, your shoulders going up into your ears and your jaw tightening. You’re only too glad when Tony Stark isn’t in the room because he has a habit of pointing this all out when you would rather it go unnoticed. The less you talk the more Johnny attempts to get your attention when you’re there, much to everyone else’s dismay. Johnny constantly hovers around you, trying to engage you in conversation which fails. The more he tries, the more you try to find reasons to not be in his company. If you must be your anger rises, and your focus disappears. You’re working but not able to concentrate with him around. It reminds you of the first week you met him when he infuriated you, like now.

Eventually the tension leeches into everything the rest of the team is doing and the Avengers and Fantastic 4 exchange looks. It must end so they can continue to work. Tony recommends you go train a bit to relax.

“We can’t deal with the tension in the room. Why don’t you go do something to rechannel all that anger into something useful. Then we can get back to work.” Tony makes the order framed in a suggestion.

“You know, you might be right Mr. Stark. I’ll do that.” You sigh, knowing that you must do your physical therapy.

You go to the gym and do it. You keep moving until the sweat drips down your chest, and it helps. It helps to refocus your resolve to work, just work, and complete this mission. You’re able to breathe again.

You work through the frustration and come to the realization that you weren’t as immune to Johnny as you’d like. Working through your own feelings that you realize were hurt that Johnny was with someone else, again. You grab a towel with a growl of frustration. You wished it was you, you finally admit it to yourself. You don’t know why it’s never you. You wanted it to be you, and you didn’t want Johnny to want to be with anyone else. But despite your own feelings of inadequacy, you’re pissed off that once again those girls are using Johnny Storm, but this time not for their own personal enjoyment, this time the attack feels personal. They’re pointing their sex in your face. It was so easy for them to manipulate him into doing it. Whether or not Johnny was a willing participant, you couldn’t say. You hoped not, but you know he wasn’t party to those pictures, but he did look like he was enjoying himself... you think.

A more reasonable part of your brain speaks up, wants to ask Johnny about it. Damn your curiosity’s need for answers. Give him a chance to explain what really happened. Remembering lessons Natasha gave you in the field, they might have been manipulating him the entire time. Somewhere deep inside you wished he could see you in that light as well. You were good enough to be his friend but not good enough to be desired. Yes, you were shorter than some of the other agents, curvier, with curlier hair, but you could see things in yourself worth admiring. Self-doubt eeks into your thoughts from the depths as you wonder if maybe you just weren’t good enough for a man as beautiful as Johnny Storm. With a growling sigh of defeat, you give up your quest for answers that will never come internally.

“I am well and truly fucked.” You admit to yourself and the gym equipment. You have fallen deeper for Johnny Storm than you desired. You also decide that you will talk to Johnny and listen to his side of it, hoping his denial of the events will satisfy your desires.

You go to the showers with a clearer head, but the frustration still sits in your stomach, hot and raw. Not just with outside forces trying to pull your focus but with yourself for getting distracted enough to let it affect your work. Frustration with yourself for getting pulled into Johny’s orbit and loving it. You’re an adult, an agent, and need to act like it. This is not the time to lose focus. You turn off the valves of the shower with a determined nod. Now is the time to get serious. You’re going to prove your worth once and for all.

You’re wrapping a towel around you, and when you turn around to leave the cubicle, you’re shoved back into the plumbing of the shower, the shower head dripping cold drips down your neck. Cornered in the shower, Agents Keller, Ives, and Fukushima have you right where they want you. You didn’t anticipate they would take such actions, right in the middle of the compound. As agents, you’re always under scrutiny. You don’t hide a roll of your eyes, as their actions are getting bolder with no end in sight.

“Did you enjoy our little present?” Agent Keller stands tall, her hair glossy as she tosses it behind her. Even in the leftover steam of your shower, not one hair is out of place.

“How bold of you to approach me like this and admit what you did to Johnny out loud. You’re not even pretending to hide your guilt.” You scoff trying to move past them, but they shove you back into the shower harder. You fall forward, but don’t fall. The pain echoes through your still healing chest but you’ve experienced worse. You wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of falling to the ground and stand back up to your full height, your chin held high in defiance.

“Still so damn high and mighty even when we proved to you there’s nothing you have that he wants, and you shouldn’t even be one of SHIELD, you should go back to the Bureau and be insignificant.” Fukushima sneers. Their jealousy of you is nearly laughable.  

“You still don’t get it, do you? I’m not interested in anyone. I don’t want that. Why are you doing this to me?” You’re snarling with rage. You’ve had enough. This entire attempt to get at you is pointless. They’re making their insecurities your problem.

One of the girls, Ives, eyes you up and down, and sneers at you. “You think you’re hot shit better than the rest of us, but you’re nothing but a boring ass nobody that can’t even get a guy to like you.”

“Touché. You win. You can have Johnny Storm to yourselves. I won’t interrupt your playtime again. I can’t promise that he won’t try to talk to me, and I won’t discourage him. He’s my friend. But I’ll let you guys have him all to yourselves. Enjoy… with my blessings. Can I go now?” They shove you into the shower fixtures hard enough to make you cry out. That one is going to bruise. You honestly, feel numb to it now. Your head is slapped and slamming back hard enough that it bangs into the tile behind you. Your temple hits it hard enough to make you see stars. Your vision goes dark, and you blink until you’re able to focus again. Your vision swims until you press your hand against the wall. Your temple hurts.

“Remember that the next time you’re thinking about dating above your pay grade. He’s too good a fuck for you, for anyone, to tether down.” Keller finishes with a cackle that the girls join in on. You get to breathe when they finally leave. You listen for their footsteps and let out a shaky breath in relief at the sound of silence to finally find yourself alone. You smile, laughing at their outrageous actions before dissolving into tears. You cry for a good ten minutes before you take a breath deep enough to stem the worst of the tears.

When you stumble your way back to your locker, you find everything inside it hanging open and your clothes all over the floor and wet, covered with (sniff) not pee thank goodness. It’s sticky, so you assume it’s some sort of drink. A juice, maybe, that will stain your clothes. But this also means that you have nothing to wear back to your room. You go to the closet in the locker room and find it empty. There’s also no robes, the rack is empty. You scoff with a shake of your head as more tears pour down your cheeks. They took them all. You don’t have a choice and can’t remain in the locker room forever until someone else comes to find you. You clean up the mess they left, and close your locker, squaring your shoulders with a determined lift of your chin.

You’re forced to walk back to your room through the compound to the dorms, putting on a show for all the agents. Every step of your flip-flops echoes through the hallways. You’re dripping wet, covered in nothing but a towel. You can tell there are angry bruises already blooming on your back. You hear the snickers and even catcall whistles as people whisper. Your ample curves are on display as you take every measured step you can to keep your towel in place and from riding up or down. Your eyes fill with tears you will not allow to fall as you trudge back to your room.

You’re thrilled when of all people Steve Rogers finds you on your walk of shame. He sees the state of you, shivering, eyes filled with tears. He reaches out to touch your temple and sees the blood on his fingertips as you hiss at the sting. “Agent Y/L/N, are you aware that you’re out of uniform? You’re not even dressed. I don’t want you to face disciplinary action for this display. But I’d like to know why you’re not wearing your clothes.”

Your jaw tightens as you bite back the words. You can’t say it. You won’t give those women the satisfaction of having another reason to go after you. You shake your head and look down. “My clothes got wet and I couldn’t wear them back to my room.” I murmur low, looking down at the Captain’s boots. You hide the bag with your clothes behind your legs so he can’t see the way they’re leaving a dripping mess behind you. You were forced to throw out the rest of your locker, including a very expensive pair of Bluetooth earbuds you were given by your parents two Christmases ago. All those items were too wet to save.

“Can you tell me why they got wet?” Steve asks and again you shake your head. “Can you tell me why you aren’t wearing a robe? There are plenty in the shower to avoid situations like this.” Steve crosses his arms and looks around to see several agents looking just a little too interested in your embarrassing predicament.

“There were none—” you whisper, your vision now swimming with tears.

“I’m sorry? I can’t hear you, Agent.” Captain Rogers isn’t trying to be stern with you, but his ire is rising as your situation is becoming clear to him. You cower a little when faced with the temper of a man that never loses it.

“They were removed from the women’s locker room before I could get one for myself. There were none in the locker room available at the time. Sir.” You try to hold it in but your shoulders shudder from the cold and the sobs you’re trying to swallow down.

There are snickers heard from down the hall and that’s when Steve snaps.

“IS THIS FUNNY FOR ANY OF YOU?!” He shouts and it echoes off the walls. Everyone immediately stills. The entire compound has never seen Steve Rogers lose his temper. You shudder, a tear slips off your cheek and down into your towel. “WE ARE NOT BULLIES HERE; we fight bullies! If you want to be like that, and treat your fellow agents like this, hand in your resignation letters because when we can’t trust each other that is when we are finished! SHIELD agents must be able to trust each other in the field. Where is trust when you need to worry about this? When you need to worry about your own teammates stabbing you in the back. We deal in life or death. I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR BULLSHIT LIKE THIS.” Steve is practically blowing steam from his ears. “Friday make an announcement. I want all agents to run ten laps around the perimeter of this building. I don’t care what you’re working on. If one of us bullies another agent without anyone else speaking up or defending them, we’re all guilty. Running laps, now! Avengers, outside. Make sure the agents are running.” Steve watches the agents in the hallway scatter. “If anyone not out in the field running an op is absent, we’ll run another ten laps. MOVE!” He roars.

You go to step away, you’re moving to the doors to follow them, but Steve stops you with a hand. He can hear the Avengers grumbling as they follow the agents out to the front lawn where the agents wait for the command from them to start running. Bucky and Sam are already shouting at them. If they want to behave like children, the Avengers will make sure they run every lap.

“Where are you going?” Steve asks, holding you in front of him with two hands on your shoulders. The warmth of his touch makes you shiver.

“I have to run the laps, sir.” Steve’s eyes bug out. But you lift your chin with determination. “I’m one of the agents, Captain. I’m one of the team.” You can’t get out of running the laps.

“You’ll do it in the gym, later. You’re also on injured leave technically, so it will count towards your physical fitness check. Not now. You’re bleeding. You need to get checked out.” Steve argues and you open your mouth to contradict him. “This is not open for debate.” Steve growls.

Natasha appears from behind him around a corner you didn’t know she was lurking. “I’ll take care of it, Steve.” Steve nods and turns away, running out the door where Sam and Bucky are, shouting at the agents he saw snickering in the hallway for jogging and not running. The rest of the Avengers join in to lap the agents, you even see Tony and Bruce outside and if you weren’t already in tears, you’d see that Bruce is fighting back his rage and the other guy from coming out. The Avengers chase after the agents, shouting like drill sergeants for them to keep running. You wince and list sideways where you stand a little. “Do you need to go to the med bay?” Natasha asks, her eyes scanning you, making note of your condition, as you shiver.

“I’m fine. I’d just like to go back to my rooms.” You plead. You see Natasha’s hand gesture in the direction of the elevators. You sigh when she follows and doesn’t leave you alone.

When she gets you back to your room, she sits on the bed patiently, waiting with a first aid kit. You don’t know where she got it. You take another shower to hide the tears you cry while in the bathroom. You turn the hot water to scalding and let it pour down your back. It relieves you at the same time the shower drowns out your thoughts. The pain caves in your chest. You didn’t do anything to deserve their hatred and derision. You just don’t want anyone to be used by others, it grates on you the wrong way. You try to breathe and find you ribs are hurting again as they did. The bruising on your back feels like it did before, sending your progress nearly back to the beginning. Who knew that getting shoved into shower fixtures hurt as much as getting beat up by a two-hundred-pound Russian? You don’t bother drying your hair, just brush it out, after putting on your comfiest pajamas. You sit on the bed; your legs curled under you.

She examines the cut at your temple. You hiss and wince with every touch.

“Why are you doing this for me?” You ask.

“Steve doesn’t like bullies.” Natasha sighs as if this righteousness in her lover bothers her.

“What does that have to do with me?” You question again.

“Do you think I’m helping you because you took a knife in the field instead of me?” You shrug but Natasha scoffs at this. “I don’t have misplaced guilt if that’s what you’re thinking. What you did wasn’t heroic, it was desperate and stupid. I was right beside you. Taking that knife may have allowed you to subdue the enemy, but you compromised the mission. Instead of following the informant, and getting the rest of the information we needed, we were forced to abandon the mission and return to New York. That left the information in the hands of the Wakandans and not SHIELD. Even though it was cleared through Steve, I still had to get chewed out by Fury for that. Because the situation got out of my control which never happens. It made me look just as sloppy as you.” Your shoulders go up towards your ears. “But… letting the Wakandans take over helped in ways Fury couldn’t see until now. Also, your injury while infuriating, allowed us to be strategic about our diplomatic efforts.” This made you smile, hissing when Natasha presses into your wound. It’s bigger than you thought. “Do you know who did this to you?” She asks and you nod your head but don’t say more than that. “Are you going to tell me who they are?” You both share a knowing look, and you smirk shaking your head in the negative. Why you defend them isn’t clear to her, but you’re not, it’s just none of your concern. If you do anything, it will only escalate. You’re attuned to the behavior of bullies. Soon the truth will come out and they’ll be forced to accept the consequences. She puts a butterfly bandage on your head, then a second, and then covers it with some tape. “I need to know who they are, we can’t have people like that as members of SHIELD. If you tell me who they are, I’ll make sure no one knows it was you that turned them in.”

You shake your head in the negative again. “Steve was right, I’m loyal to SHIELD, and my job, to jeopardize that and the trust of the other agents. I trust them… most of them. If I rat them out, then they can’t trust me in the field. All of this then means nothing.” You are confident in your choice. They’ll see justice come to them soon, but she doesn’t get anything from you.

The door to your rooms bursts open and Johnny comes running. You smile at him, even as your chin and bottom lip wobble. You’re a mess, and your relationship is the cause of it. You didn’t want him to see you like this and feel guilty about it. He comes over to you and looks you over. He even lifts the back of your shirt to see the bruises forming. Wordlessly he goes to your medicine cabinet and pulls out one of your anti-inflammatory pills left over from your prescription and a glass of water. You swallow the pill and drink the water, not even protesting his insistence that you take it.

“She got knocked on the head pretty hard, she needs someone to stay with her. For a little while.” Natasha announces after packing away the first aid kit. She looks between you and Johnny and offers to see herself out. You hear Natasha call out to you to feel better and leaves you sitting on the bed, Johnny standing over you.  

You reach out and take his hand in your smaller one, his thumb presses gentle circles over the top of your fingers as you let out a watery sigh. “I’m sorry.” You tell him through your tears. “You were trying to explain yourself and I didn’t listen. I know none of what happened was your fault. I should have trusted you when you told me.” You admit your faults with weeping cry you swallow down.

“Are you going to tell someone who did this to you?” You shake your head and decline to do it. Johnny tries to keep calm but he can’t help but feel his temperature rising. “Look what they did! They should pay!”

“Yes but not by me. I don’t want to be the SHIELD Agent that turned against her teammates. Please try to understand Johnny, that makes us no better than they are. Focus on being my friend, not just protecting me.” You ask of him, until he’s able to regain his temper.

“Can’t I do both?” He asks and you shake your head, with a smile. “Does this mean we’re okay?” Johnny asks.

“Yes… but… for the time being, I don’t think we should spend too much time together. I think you should forget about being my friend.” Your mouth turns down in a flat line as you brace yourself for his response.

“What are you talking about? You’re going to let them push us apart?! But then they win!” He roars.

You look down on your bed, tears in your eyes. The pain in your temple is giving you a headache. “We need to stop pretending. We can’t go on like this, fighting a war on two fronts is impossible. Please… I’m asking you to leave me alone. Don’t be selfish. From the first moments you came here you’ve been trying to get with me, so stop pretending you’re my friend. That you only want to be my friend. All your presence has done is bring me pain.” You let out a sob. You knew this was hurting him, it was meant to, since he wouldn’t put you down so that the other agents could focus. You have to do it for him, for the sake of the mission. So that you both can focus on that and not this. “None of it is you fault but I can’t be their target anymore.” You pull him by the hand towards your door. He moves on autopilot, still in too much disbelief to react. “You’re leaving when this mission is over, back to your life as the Human Torch. Let’s be professional, finish this mission, and be done with it. I probably won’t see you again. I don’t want to pretend this was ever more than that.” You push him through and close the door, heaving a stuttering, wet sigh of despair. This was the hardest thing you ever had to do, but you couldn’t hold on to him. You had to let a man like Johnny Storm go.

Johnny shouts at your door and goes running to the nearest balcony. You look out your window and watch him fly away in a blaze of fire, away from the compound in anger. Everything in you is in pain as you cry in your rooms, as you realize you’re pushing away the one person you want the most.

You crawl into bed that night, with your head pounding, vowing to complete this mission and do it without allowing any further distractions. If you dream about blue eyes filled with fire and feel warmth pressed against your back, that’s fine. They’re only dreams and don’t mean anything at all. Not even when you swear you feel fingers thread through yours where they rest on the bed.

In the morning, you wake up alone, the bed cold, and lament that warm feeling in your dreams and in your heart is gone.

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