WHATSHERNAME86

Warnings:  Bad Writing, Non-Con, Rape, Cheating?, Mind-Control, Gas-Lighting… Chapter 3 – The Investigation

 Summary:  Not everything is what it seems.  Nyx pulls her head out of her ass and starts asking the right questions.  Really, I’m just getting into the plot.  

Gabe cringes at the statement before taking it in.  ‘What do you mean?’

Nyx hushes him with a wave of her shaky hand ‘Natasha doesn’t like penetrating sex.’  

And she didn’t.  It was different with fingers or a tongue, but a strap was something Natasha wasn’t comfortable taking.  Nyx respected that and never pushed further than Natasha was comfortable with.  When it came to the bedroom Natasha would wear the strap, but she would never be a receiver of anything longer or thicker than Nyx’s fingers.

It was Natasha’s favorite strap because of what she would do to Nyx.  Not the other way around.

‘It’s a no-go area in the bedroom’

Nyx’s breathing is starting to rapidly increase as she thinks about all of the possible scenarios.

Gabe clears his throat trying to focus Nyx.  ‘Are you sure that you saw…’ He makes an off handed gesture. ‘You know...’

For a man in his early fifties its comical him being all awkward regarding sex.  Any other time, Nyx would be laughing at his expense.

‘I’m positive. It’s not something that I would forget.’  

It should have been a signal.  I should have known something was very wrong.

These were the only thoughts repeating in her mind.  

But the most important question, came to the forefront of her mind.  What the fuck is going on?  And what happened to Nat?

Nyx hisses out ‘The witch’

Nyx moves her hands quickly and starts typing.  Her focus is on the computer screen.  Completely ignoring Samson who is still sitting right next to her.  Until she barks out.

‘Commander I’m going to need all of the information we can get our hands on concerning Wanda Maximoff’ she looks up from her screen before stating in a clear voice, ‘I’m going to need you to reach out to your contacts in the ops community, Sir.’

Gabe knew it was Nyx’s mission voice.  She had been her own team lead for roughly five years now.  It appears that it is time to work.  And it was best to leave her to it.  

It also troubled him given Nyx’s revelation.  He had grown a soft spot for the ex-assassin over the years and doesn’t want any harm to come her way.

And if he is understanding all of the pieces that Nyx has put together.  Then there is no place on earth that will protect the witch from Nyx or the unit.

Nyx spends hours searching online and through military intel for information on the Maximoff’s.  But she is hitting roadblocks almost at every turn. She knew that Stark had covered up her Ultron involvement.

Probably due to some guilt trip Rogers presented to Stark.

But with the Hydra data leak a few years back Nyx thought that she should come a crossed at least something by now.

The data dump.  

What a mess.

Natasha and Rogers got caught up in the chaos that Peggy Carter and Fury created.  And of course, Fury entrusted all information pertaining to S.H.I.E.L.D. too Rogers on a thumb drive.

Rogers didn’t even know what to do with a thumb drive.

For some reason Rogers refused to call Stark or any other tech savvy contact.  Instead, what does he do.

He brings in his jogging buddy.

Then makes the decision with Fury to release all S.H.I.E.L.D. data files on the web.  These files would include employee records, mission reports, informant names, residential information, financial information and more.  

When that is going on Rogers was planning on crashing the Triskelion air ships as soon as each take off.

No surprise that Maria Hill followed Fury’s lead.  But at that point Natasha already had her world shook by the Hydra organization being exposed within the walls of S.H.I.E.L.D.

She turned to the only person she could trust.

Luckily Nat got ahold of me. Once she gave me the details of what was happening and what Fury and Rogers planned.  I immediately gathered the team.  Samson coordinated with the military and extraction groups for the innocent agents, families and contacts held under SHIELD’s witness protection.  Also, additional resources to clear out the surrounding area of the Triskelion’s.

I had gathered a few groups to bring in the S.H.I.E.L.D. field agents out on missions that had no idea of what was about to hit them.  A mass alert went out to all S.H.I.E.L.D. employee, families of all employees, informants and witness prior to the dump. Encouraging each to relocated to a safe location or populated environment.

We had contacted Stark’s AI. To perform a preemptive filter of the information being released online.  Ensuring that the data being release was Hydra and Hydra only.  The AI could work much faster than any human being ever could.  Stark was still recovering from surgery at the time.  He couldn’t do much but oversee the filtering of the data that Jarvis was conducting.

Nyx couldn’t understand why Rogers would risk so many lives.  

Fury was in a clean house mind set.  Start anew.  Just a plain asshole.  Trying to cover his own tracks while starting again somewhere else.  While everyone else is dealing with the chaos, he’s in hiding.

But that wasn’t an excuse for Rogers.  

Natasha was heartbroken with the Hydra fiasco.  

She had thought that she was doing good.  Making a positive difference with the lessons that the red room had taught her.

It took months for Natasha to regain her confidence in herself.  She started questioning everything that she thought she believed. With constant and steady reassurance from Nyx.  Natasha slowly regained her purposes.  

That included her dedicating more of her time with the Avengers.

She started spending a larger portion of her time at the Tower to be close to the team while still having the Banner angle going.  She also had, to keep an eye on Rogers.

Apparently, the Winter Soldier is in fact James Barnes or better known as Bucky.  This was another point of contention with Rogers that I had harbored.

Nat had told me of her experiences in the red room over the years.  That included a few of her interactions with the Soldier.

Natasha feared him, that was plain to see.  But refused to tell me why.  Her hesitation was enough for me to already be wary of the guy.  Natasha isn’t afraid of anyone.

While Rogers came and went from the tower on his search for Barnes with his puppet Wilson.  

Natasha refused to add any new detail or leads to Rogers’s search.  Nat knew that Barnes had killed Tony’s parents.  Nat and Rogers had found out at the same time while talking to Zola.

Steve had told Natasha that he would be the one to tell Stark.

Which reassured her.

Nat never really had a good history with Stark.  A large portion of the animosity was due to the mission Natasha was conducting when they first met.  She was undercover as a legal aid turned assistant at SI.  The smoke and mirror routine that Fury demanded to be done didn’t win her any favors with Stark.

The profile, that was submitted under Nat’s name was a joke.  

Another tool for Fury to use to hook Stark in.

I believe that Fury forgets that not everyone needs to be manipulated in order for them to perform tasks or agree to certain things.  

Fury has a problem; he looks at everything and everyone as pieces that need to be moved to the next stage.  Withholding all of the information and only hinting.

 With a frustrated growl Nyx pushes back.

Nyx is coming up empty with her search.  But she is recognizing a certain coding pattern a within the web.

Friday.  Stark’s work has a particular flow to it.

But why would Friday scrub the web on all information related to the witch.

An AI wouldn’t do it on its own.  It has to be because she was ordered to perform the cleanse.  And Nyx knows for a fact that there are four people with that level of access to order such a task.  Stark, Potts, Rhodes and Rogers.  

Potts & Rhodes would rather send Maximoff to prison than protect her.

Stark had already done his part with providing PR and protection from Ultron.  But would he go further…

Rogers definitely would. Wanda is a delicate flower in his mind.

The lot of them needs phycological help if they truly believe that woman is a delicate little girl.

Nyx did get a few leads.  

With Sokovia still in the process of rebuilding.  The government intelligence agency of the country has been under attack from outside intelligence hackers. 

 But the local government had started investigating rumors surrounding Strucker known base.  

Locals had been afraid for years but once Strucker was known to be dead, they slowly started opening up.

What information that is found in the system is corrupt and will take time to decode.  

And take a lot more skill than Nyx has.

She’ll have to direct the material to the DEMI’s teach expert.  

Moments later, Nyx sends the compressed files off to Sparks.  The DEMI’s techie.  Along with a list of specific items to dig into.

·       What are the limitations of Wanda’s Mind Powers?

·       The illusions are a known component.  What else can she do to one’s mind?  

·       What are the limitations on her telekinesis?  

·       Are there any known ways to block the mind power?

·       How close does she have to be to her target?

·       What is shown in her psych eval?  

·       Where are her mission reports with Hydra?  What do they include?

·       Doctor records, from the experimentations?  

·       How did she learn her skills?

·       How long has she had the powers?

·       Does she have a known history of violence?

·       Family history?

·       Find me all recent activity on the Avengers. Specifically, Rogers and Maximoff. Start tracking Natasha Romanov’s location 24 hours a day.  

·       Find me a loop-hole for Stark’s AI, Friday.

·       Wiretap the Avenger’s phone and data activity

·       Money coming in and out of the compound

This list should get the IT data techs busy.

Nyx makes herself an additional list for herself and Samson:

·       Schedule meeting with Stark & Rhodes.  Determine their level of involvement with the witch.  Gain insight into her powers and personality.

·       Start surveillance on Natasha.

·       Begin surveillance on Wanda once the range of her power has been determined.

·       Discuss counter measure

·       Power suppression options

·       Determine who Wanda’s alias are

·       Contact Clint to determine if he has noticed any behavioral differences with Natasha

The Protector 

Summary:   Natasha x Reader are in a relationship.  But Natasha starts to pull away.  Flirting with another team member.  She crosses a line and loses the reader.  When the reader returns, will Natasha get a second chance?  Or is it too little too late?

(Word Count 7122)

(Warning:  Bad Writing)

Have you ever felt the urge to just stay in bed?  

Felt like the alternative is just too daunting to even conceive…

That is how Y/N has felt for the last six months.  

Not to say that Y/N’s life was perfect before.

But these last six months just doesn’t seem to be worth it.

 Two years ago, this was a different story.

Y/N had started dating the one and only Natasha Romanoff.  

Everything was going great.

The both of you planned cute little dates in secluded locations, met for lunches and coffee breaks, planned outings around each other’s schedules, prepared for missions together, and trained together.  Most importantly you both were there for each other.

Y/N was warned by her co-workers not to get involved with the Avenger.  

That she was cold.  

That she had something already going with a teammate.

Back then Y/N didn’t listen.

How could Y/N turn Natasha away, when she asked Y/N to dinner one stormy afternoon?  Those green eyes shining with mischief and anxiety while she awaited Y/N’s answer.

Natasha told y/n from the very beginning that she wasn’t interested in anyone else.  That there were rumors about her because she is constantly surrounded by Alpha Males.  It was always misconstrued that she must be dating one of them.  That the public saw a story of the all-American hero’s getting the girl.

Y/N believed her.

Why wouldn’t she. That was then…

However, Y/N started to see a different side to Natasha when Y/N got transferred to the Avenger’s strike team.  Y/N relocated from her regular S.H.I.E.L.D. extraction group that she led.

That was a little over eight months ago.

Y/N thought the transition would bring Natasha and her closer.

Y/N was born with the ability to create a physical shield around herself and others.  It also made her skin impenetrable.

The mutation made Y/N one of the original candidates for the Avengers.  The offer was declined because Y/N didn’t want to be in the spotlight.

Over the years Y/N had worked with the Avengers in small doses prior to the transfer.  There wasn’t a lot of one-on-one interaction.  

What Y/N did notice was…They always had this aura though.  Y/N couldn’t pinpoint what it was until it was too late.

…

THEY WERE ALL ASSHOLES!

Well not counting Tony.

Clint was always to over involved in Y/N’s relationship.  Y/N let it pass because that was Nat’s best friend.  But it’s gotten to the point that he acts like he has a right to feel threatened.  Like he is the only one allowed to be so close to her.

Y/N and Wanda never really disliked each other but they didn’t go out of each other’s way to hang out.

Vision followed Wanda’s lead.  Enough said.

Bruce was constantly sending longing glances Natasha’s way and glares over to Y/N.  What really took the cake was last night.  

Bucky & Sam were always flirting openly with Natasha.  Something that she didn’t discourage.  

Telling Y/N that it was all harmless.

Steve by far is the worst.

Apparently before we started dating Natasha had been fairly close to Steve.  The group thought the two were dating type close.  He automatically had it out for Y/N.  He had even said point blank to Y/N’s face ‘Why would she choose you?’

Steve really can’t let anything, or anyone go.

Tony was a delight. Y/N and Tony felt like two outsiders. Always called into action and expected to perform perfectly.  If there is some sort of silver lining from this whole experience, it’s Y/N’s friendship with Tony Stark.

Natasha well… Y/N had never been so disappointed in her life.

Once Y/N was transferred, she found herself on missions at an alarming rate.  It seemed that once she returned, she was being called right back out.  These types of missions weren’t even her specialty.  There was no real reason for her to go.  Other than the fact that Steve kept assigning them to her.

Y/N could deal with the lack of sleep, the beaten down body and the snide remarks from the Avengers as long as Natasha was there upon her return.  

Nevertheless, after two months of the same routine, Y/N had noticed Natasha pulling away.  It was little things at first.  Then came the missed dates.  The empty bed.  Natasha hasn’t touched Y/N in six months.  Not even a friendly pat on the shoulder.

What does Natasha do you may ask?

Well…

She sleeps in her own room now, she stopped sitting next to Y/N during meals, no more training sessions, no more cuddles, no more love…

Instead, she seems to be giving that all away to Steve.

It all reached its boiling point last night.  

“Y/N had just walked out of the med bay after Banner refused her treatment.

Y/N might have bullet proof skin.  But her body can still break down when exhaustion hits.  Bones can still crack.

Banner didn’t even have the time to look up from his ipad.  Upon entering the exam room, he stated that he couldn’t help Y/N.  That she should just go to bed.

After that Y/N stumbled out of med bay.

Y/N was already fuming when she entered the lounge area on her way back to her room.  

Y/N paused when she, heard laughing.  A breathy laugh that Y/N would recognize anywhere.  The flirty laugh that Y/N thought was only reserved for her.

But here she was in the shadows.

Natasha on the couch with Steve, her giggling while he was planting small kisses on Nat’s neck.

Y/N would like to say that she was surprised by this turn of events but that would be a lie.  She wasn’t stupid.  She had noticed the two getting closer.

Y/N put on her best resting Bitch-Face before clearing her throat.

‘Is this what you’ve been doing while I’ve been away this whole time?’

The two Avengers nearly snap their own necks with how fast they turned their heads.  Natasha’s face had turned pale.  She slowly extracts herself from Steve’s arms as she stands.

Y/N holds up her hand to stop whatever excuse is about to leave Natasha’s mouth.  ‘I don’t want to hear it.  I tried to be patient with you and everyone here’  

Y/N shakes her head. Giving Steve and then Nat a pointed look before stating ‘You’re just not worth the effort any longer.’

Natasha started saying something.  Y/N could no longer hear any of the words coming out of Nat’s mouth.  She no longer cares, and her heart is pounding so loudly in her ears.  Whatever love she had for Nat is completely gone.  Honestly it started diminishing when Natasha started turning a blind eye to the behavior of the team towards Y/N.  Along with her encouraging whatever relationship Steve and her had going on.

Y/N turns around and starts heading out of the room.  But before she clears the doorway Y/N looks back at Natasha.

‘If it wasn’t clear before.’

Gesturing between the two of them while standing a crossed from each other.

‘We’re done.’

And with that Y/N left the red head.  She can still hear Natasha calling out to her.  But she is just too tired to care.”

After last night Y/N knows that she can no longer stay here.

Y/N had been planning on transferring for a while.  But had held off because of her relationship.  

That doesn’t mean she didn’t start gathering intel and making plans for herself.

With a little help from Tony and Friday, Y/N was able to gather enough evidence.  

Y/N gets to leave the Avengers with a giant F U.

And with that Y/N starts her day with a little smile.

She has a room to pack.

 Three Days Later – Avenger’s Compound

Tony is sitting at the head of the table as the rest of the team trickles in.  On his left side are two lawyers and on his right side is Fury. Hill is standing not too far away but still off to the side just behind Fury.  A few agents are hanging around outside of the room and security has moved closer to the conference room as a precaution.

He knows that this is going to be an unpleasant meeting for most of the group.  But it isn’t undeserving.

Still a little too late, truth be told.

What they put Y/N through was uncalled for.  Professionalism was out the window.  He was sorry to see her go but he couldn’t really blame her for leaving.  

This team had become toxic and entitled.

This event may be the change that is needed to wake everyone up.

The spider is the last to arrive.  Slinking into her seat next to Barton and the furthest away from Steve.

Possible trouble in those still waters.

…

Tony is just here for the show and tell portion of the meeting.

The real performers will be the two lawyers and Fury.

Rogers sits straight on the opposite end of the table.  Flanked by Barnes and Wilson.

Everyone is looking around the room.  

Most likely wondering why we have two newcomers.

They don’t have to wait long when… Fury raps his knuckles on the table to gain everyone’s attention. ‘Before I begin Mr. Burnes and Mrs. White have a few things to hand out to a few members.  Without further ado we should begin with Mrs. White.’  With a lift of the chin Fury directs his attention to the female lawyer.

The middle-aged attorney introduces herself as a representative of the Board of Medicine for the State of New York.  She grabs a stack of papers and sets them in front of Banner before beginning.

‘Mr. Banner it has come to our attention that you have withheld care from a patient, this is in direct violation of your Hippocratic Oath that you vowed upon completion of becoming an active medical physician.’

‘Due to your neglect a patient was not diagnosed.  And could have been suffering grave injuries.’ She pauses briefly before proceeding, ‘Furthermore, I am here to inform you that an investigation is pending to review your actions.’

Nobody in the room dared to interrupt the woman while she spoke.  Tony could see a lot of confusion on the faces of the team.

They didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.

It’s a shame that everyone was so self-involved to have not realized a teammate was in pain and hurt on multiple occasions.

‘While we gather our evidence for the case, I am officially serving you with documentation stating that until our investigation reaches a not guilty verdict you are hereby suspended from practicing medicine in the state of New York.’

‘If you are found guilty. Then your license to practice will be revoke’

Bruce has turned slightly green in the face.  Fury and Hill moved their hands under their coats most likely to grab some sort of tranquilizer gun.  

Tony also started playing with his gauntlet.

Bruce looks up to Mrs. White with an unbelievable look on his face while he asks ‘Who exactly did I not diagnose?’

Mrs. White sends a shark like smile Banner’s way and says ‘Come now, Mister Banner.  That will violate confidentiality and patient privilege.’

Mrs. White waves a hand at the documents in front of Banner, before continuing…

‘If this does go to trial then you will have a right to face your accuser.’

‘That now concludes our business regarding the Medical Board.’ She picks up her briefcase before nodding her head to Fury and her fellow attorney.

After a few silent moments for Brucey-Bear, he seems to have calm down from his near Hulk-Out.  He still has a pale-green tint to his face though. But it doesn’t look like he’s about to erupt.

Fury points to attorney number two.  

…

Now this will be Tony’s favorite.

A man in his late sixties stands.

‘Good Afternoon Avengers. I am Mr. Burnes’ he says as he moves around the table.  

He’s moving counter clockwise and away from the team physically.

‘I am an Attorney working in the Human Resource and Legal Department of the Avenger Initiative.’

He raises the pitch of his voice before continuing.  ‘Contrary to popular belief the Avengers are like any other employee or employer.  You each receive a pay check, medical, retirement and a human resource packet upon joining the Initiative.  In this packet Equal Rights of the Employees was a clear document that you all would have sign.  Along with a professional conduct clause.’

‘Evidence has come to our department regarding a very serious matter.’  ‘Abuse of Power, misuse of one’s authority over others, hazing violation, harassment and lastly physical & verbal abuse.’

You could hear a pin drop in the conference room.  

It took 30 seconds for the team to process what was just relayed before the explosions started.

After a few minutes. Tony looks down and notices that it’s been close to five minutes since the shouting started.

Steve leads the charge. Practically jumping over the table. ‘What evidence?’

‘This can’t be right.’

Mr. Burnes turned to Tony and motioned to the projector in the middle of the table.

‘Ladies and Gentleman. I typically wouldn’t play such evidence but I have gotten permission from the abusee.  It has also been publicly shared within the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency since they took part in the investigation.’

‘Mind you this isn’t all the evidence, just a small taste’

And with that Tony hit the play button on his tablet.

‘What the videos showed was the complete disrespect Y/N had to endure while on the team.

Snide, petty remarks from Clint, Barnes and Wilson.

Wanda and Vision looking the other way when Y/N was getting harassed.

Y/N being clearly uncomfortable.

Steve assigning mission after mission.  The dates displayed on each assignment.  Clearly showing the none existent down time.

Bucky and Wilson sabotaging Y/N’s gear prior to missions.

Bruce ignoring Y/N groaning in pain when he was the mission’s doctor.

Natasha doesn’t say a word through all of the footage as she witnesses the treatment of Y/N. Looking the other way every time Y/N enters the room.  

Natasha joking around with Bucky, Sam and Clint after they practically destroy Y/N verbally.

The final frame is a clip of Steve bragging to Bucky that he has kept Y/N away long enough now. That Natasha was his girl again or about to be.  Practically tickled pink when describing the last couple of dates, he’s had with Natasha while Y/N had been gone.’

As the projector slides back into the table.  

The room is completely silent.

Wanda and Vision have their heads down in shame.

Clint has locked his jaw, still gazing straight ahead.

Wilson and Barnes aren’t making eye contact with anyone else in the room

Steve’s face has turned bright red.  From anger or embarrassment, Tony can’t tell.

Natasha looks sick.

Mr. Burnes explains to the rest of the team that these incidences are under investigation.  Due to what his department has gathered so far, each member of the team is now under review.

Additional group class or reeducation for the team has been ordered.  Possible lawsuits due to the violations could be a potential result. Burnes continues on and describes why each and every one of these actions is a violation of the Avengers code of conduct.  Also, if pushed criminal charges could be brought against the team.

With that Burnes hits the bricks.

 As the door closes behind Burnes.  Fury throws a folder into the middle of the table.

‘Regrettably I’m to inform the group that Agent Y/N has resigned from the Avenger Initiative.’

‘Effective immediately’

He takes in the room.

‘It isn’t very surprising considering what was shown’

Fury turns his one eye to Steve and states ‘Rogers you are no longer team lead’

Steve stands up to argue. ‘This is my team.  I have always led it...’

Fury cuts him off and glares him down

‘You can’t be trusted to lead a team any longer.  What you did to Y/N violated the position that you were placed in.  You could have gotten her killed countless times.  The reason for your neglect and actions was to move in on her girlfriend.’

Fury sits down and leans back and states clearly

‘Your judgement is compromised.  And since the lot of you can’t act like adults then I’ll treat you like the children that you are.’

‘A new field commander will be selected if necessary.  Until then Agent Hill will now lead the team from command.  All decisions regarding tactics and personnel will now be filtered through her, and her alone.  Out on the field, Stark will take lead.’

‘S.H.I.E.L.D. will also be reviewing the team members for possible alternative placements.’

Fury and Hill share a look.

Hill continues on ‘The team is suspended while the pending review.’

‘Most likely you will all remain on the team’

She looks at the agents right outside the door ‘Y/N is very much a beloved agent.  She saved a lot of agents over the years.  The inner agency now knows what was done to her.  So don’t expect a pleasant greeting.’

… ‘You are all dismissed’

With a flare Tony smoothly stands up and breezes out of the room.  He makes a mental note to send a copy of the meeting to Y/N.

That should provide some entertainment.

A Few Days Later – At the Compound

Another lab day for Tony. These have been happening a lot recently.  Being around the team has been intolerable.  

Maybe a vacation is in order.

In the middle of tinkering with a new helmet prototype, Tony hears the lab doors open.

He finishes up before spinning around, having expected to see Vision.  Tony nearly falls out of his chair when it’s Natasha standing in front of him.

She is wearing a hooded sweatshirt and pajama bottoms.  Her hair is a mess and she has bags under her eyes.  He is also pretty sure that she smells but has no urge to get any closer to her to verify that theory.

After a few awkward seconds Tony breaks the silence ‘What are you doing down here Romanoff?’

She shuffles around in place.  Stuffing her hands in her hooded pockets before asking ‘Do you know where she is?’

Tony lets out a cruel laugh. ‘Of course, I do.’

‘I am her friend Afterall’

Natasha nods her head because she knows that it’s true.  Tony was the only member of the team that gave you a chance.  The only one that treated you decently.  

While everyone else was either giving you a cold shoulder or going out of their way to make your life hard. Y/N had retreated to Tony’s lab for comfort.  Comfort that Nat should have been providing.

Only if she wasn’t a coward.

She had fallen back into old habits.  Bad habits.

You were just so giving with your love, time, and affection.

Natasha didn’t know how to accept such dedication.  

When Y/N first joined the team, she had seen some of the looks you received, heard the comments and knew that Y/N was putting up with all of that in order to be closer to Natasha. Y/N was so patient with those around her.  And none of them were deserving.

Natasha knew that you would have stuck it out.  

But she’s a poison.  

She needed to push you away, in order to save you from herself.  

She looked the other way. She was distant, neglectful and just plain mean and uncaring in her outward appearance.

Natasha started flirting again in order to deliver the final push.  

She never expected Steve to eat it up and run with it.

Looking back on it maybe she should have seen Steve for the man he truly was.

…

Years ago, he would stutter and turn red when she was flirting with him.  No relationship ever came out of anything.  The kiss at the mall while hiding from Hydra was the most physical intimate moment that they ever had together.

Imagine Natasha’s surprise that night in the lounge.  It had started getting out of hand, slowly but steadily.  She had of course noticed that Steve was eating up the attention. He would puff up every time Y/N would enter the room.  Almost like he had won a prize.  Natasha knew she should have cut it off a long time ago.  Regret and Shame kept her going.  In her head her actions just proved how toxic she was.  And her intentions were true.  She was saving Y/N after all.

That night she had just started to get uncomfortable and was about to shove off of the couch when Steve started kissing her on the neck.  The only thing she could do was release a nervous giggle.

She should have known there was a line that had been crossed.  A line that once crossed she couldn’t return from.

When she finally realized this, it had already been too late for Natasha.  

Y/N had seen the position, and that was the end.  With everything else going on, she could see the once love in Y/N’s eyes were no longer reflected towards her.  

Natasha would never cheat. But what argument did she have with you.

She had been flirting for months.  Allowed Steve to believe he could get that close.  Allowed Steve to kiss her on the neck.  Stopped sharing a space, left the room they had occupied.  Changed her schedule in order to make it easier to avoid Y/N.  Went out of her way to appear close with Steve.  Allowed the others to put Y/N down, to abuse Y/N.  Allowed the others the chance to get in-between their relationship.

And she did this in some misguided attempt to protect Y/N.

But none of it was worth losing you.

Now it’s too late. You had left.  And you are in a better place for sure.  Because any place has to be better for Y/N than here.

‘I just want to know that she is alright’

Tony studies her for a minute, before Natasha says ‘I don’t deserve to know where she is but I just want to know that she is alright, somewhere safe.’

Tony shakes his head ‘Why should I tell you anything Romanoff.’

‘You were the worst one out of everyone to Y/N.’

‘You were the one in a relationship with Y/N.  Just to turn around and practically throw yourself at Rogers.’

Natasha starts to get teary eyed and says ‘Don’t you think I know that.  I was doing it for her.’

‘BULL SHIT, Natasha. How was anything that you did for her’

He points a finger at Natasha and states ‘Everything that you did was for yourself!’

She backs up a few paces.

‘I didn’t deserve her and will never deserve her.  The team didn’t deserve her.’

Turning to leave. Knowing Tony isn’t going to help her.

…

Tony yells out.

‘Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?’

‘You need help Natasha. If you ever want to be ready for a love such as the one Y/N gave you.  Then you need some professional help if you ever thought what you did was for her.’

She doesn’t have any response to that.

…

 Five Years Later

Y/N wakes with a fist to the mouth.

Jolting further when the sun hits her face.

She forgot to close the blinds in her new room last night.

Looking down at her sleeping companion.  She is still in awe at the sight.

Little Rye has been the light of her life since she laid eyes on the little brunette.

‘A year ago, Y/N was performing a search and siege of a known hostile human trafficking ring in Eastern Europe.  The ring was working out of an old abandoned apartment building.  

Once all of the combatants were taken down, y/n began to assess the victims.  

The ring’s cycle for the children was to ship off the smaller ones to underground testing facilities or child predatory rings.  The older children were being relocated to prostitution rings around the continent.

After transferring out of the Avengers, Y/N joined a collaborative cross agency endeavor.  The group is made up of S.H.I.E.L.D., MI6, CIA, Military and other agencies.  The purpose of the group is to investigate, track and eventually take down crime rings that cross between borders.  The investigations usually center around drug & arms smuggling, human trafficking, child pornography rings, terroristic groups and other large-scale crime syndicates.

A broken-down apartment is where I met Rye.  She was the baby of a teen prostitute that died in child birth.  The leaders of the ring didn’t see the purpose of bringing in a doctor while the mother went through birthing her baby, and she soon bled out.  

Little Rye was being cycled back into the dark and violent ring.

I had scooped the little squirming infant up into my arms as we were clearing out the building. She was just a few days old. Still alive against all odds.  But she was so small and barely moved in Y/N’s arms.

When she opened her eyes and looked up at me that first night.  I knew I was hooked.

I didn’t have the heart to pass her to another agent.  I could never claim to have had a particularly Motherly instinct embedded in me.

But Rye shot me like a bolt of lightning when our eyes connected.  A buried natural instinct to nurture and protect was awakened.

There was no way I could part with her.

I wanted to protect her, love her and watch her grow.

She became my world. And I became hers.

I made a vow to always put her first later that night.’

Which brings Y/N to her newest transfer.  

It was a hard decision. Y/N loved her work with the collaboration teams.  It was her place, she belonged there, and she was making a difference.  

But with little Rye now being in her life, she couldn’t take the long hours and traveling away from home.

So, with a heavy heart Y/N started looking for employment elsewhere.

In the end Tony came through for her.

They had remained close even after Y/N left the Avengers.  Y/N was even the godmother to Tony’s daughter Morgan.

Tony and Y/N had bonded further over the years over the mutual venting sessions about the Avengers.  

Tony had provided updates over the years and a lot had changed with the Avengers since Y/N left.

Steve was no longer the team lead.  

He could never shake the fact that he had risked Y/N’s life for his own selfish desires.  The S.H.I.E.L.D. strike teams refused to work with the captain.  The trust between the captain and agents had been burned one too many times.  Leaving him with partaking in Avenger related, world ending missions only.

Bucky & Wilson were both selected to transition to support roles, search & rescue and the occasional raid.  Working alongside STRIKE teams and law enforcement groups.

Clint went back into retirement.

Wanda & Vision hung around the Avengers lifestyle for a few more years but realized they wanted a steady home and peace.

Bruce was found guilty of patient neglect and his medical license to practice was revoked.  He still remained on as a scientist. Research and development only.  He is no longer allowed to work with or on humans in any medical capacity.

Natasha had taken Tony’s words to heart and went into therapy.  She didn’t really go out on missions any longer unless absolutely necessary.  She now dedicates her time with her sister and training the new generation of Avengers.

Tony had finally married Pepper and had a beautiful baby girl.  It’s safe to say that his Avenging days are over.  The public can still see him promoting the next generation.  He has taken on a mentorship role within the group.

During Y/N’s job search Tony put a plan together to bring Y/N closer and provided a new alternative with a different technical related combat job.

He knew Y/N would work any job available but wouldn’t be happy with just a normal job.  Still being heavily involved with the development of the New Avengers allowed him to create an opening that would fit Y/N’s skill set.

Mission Coordinator.

The job included all of the benefits of working normal office hours, and coordinating the execution phase of a mission.  Making sure that all of the T’s are crossed before deployment.

It was a perfect fit for Y/N.  

The only downside being that it required relocation to New York in order to work out of the compound.

And putting Y/N into direct contact with the original Avengers when the missions required their presence.

Y/N would be working along side Assistant Director Hill for the most part, presenting mission plans to the team during staging.

…

After years of reflection Y/N had come to the conclusion that the original Avengers were just a bunch of insecure and petty individuals.

Clint felt threated by Y/N’s role in Natasha’s life so he took it out on Y/N.  He made it his mission to get between Y/N’s relationship by inserting himself in every aspect.  The snide comments became harsher the longer the relationship lasted.

Wilson & Barnes were practically Rogers’ shadows & cheerleaders.  Natasha being with Y/N had thrown a wrench in Steve’s ideology of him being right & good.  And the good man always gets the girl.  With that thinking Y/N must have been the problem that needed to go.  Assaulting Y/N physically and verbally should have never been a step for either of them.  

Bucky had been emotionally stunted for years as the Winter Soldier.  He relied on Steve for guidance when it came to morality.

Sam had little excuse. He was once a counselor that fell into the trappings of the Legend of Captain America.  

Bruce was longing for Natasha to be his.  Y/N became an obstacle.  He had no ground to stand on.  Ignoring Y/N altogether was the solution in his mind.

Wanda & Vision didn’t want to make waves or be seen as going against the majority within the team.

Steve wanted Natasha no matter the cost.  Selfishly putting others at risk.

Lastly, Natasha didn’t know what she wanted.  Instead of ending things she chose to play a game.

Y/N would like to say that she is a forgiving person but in all actuality she’s not.  The team never really gave her a chance and each of them contributed to a very dark spot in her life.

That’s not saying that Y/N isn’t going to be professional when at work.  Just not friendly.  She doesn’t plan on going out of her way to interact with any of them.

Today is Y/N’s first day in the office.  She bought a house fairly close to Tony’s and the compound.

…

Rye was still getting used to the new environment so she has been extra clingy since the move.  

She’ll be spending the day with Morgan & Pepper while Tony and Y/N go into the office for introductions.

Morgan and Pepper adore Rye. Relocating has provided Morgan with a playmate; she couldn’t be happier.  Pepper and Tony still rotate SI duties so they alternate the care of Morgan between each other.  

Rye should be comfortable with Pepper for the day. Morgan can provide additional distraction.

After getting Rye settled in with the Starks.  Y/N & Tony arrive at the compound.  Only a few key people knew that Y/N had taken the position and started today.  The new lead of the Avengers Carol Danvers, Fury, Hill, Rhodes and the group of agents that will be working under Y/N are the only ones that had been informed of the new hire.

Y/N made Tony and Hill relay the history between Y/N and the old Avengers before taking the job.  She didn’t want any surprises to arise later. Danvers was very understanding of the situation and stated that her leadership style was completely different.  And the past conflict between Y/N and the original group wouldn’t become an issue.

The original members didn’t have an overwhelming role any longer.  In the event that the original members still carried animosity towards Y/N then a different mission coordinator or member could be swapped.

As Y/N walks the halls of the new compound she doesn’t feel nostalgic like she thought she would. The compound is so different than it was before.  The new design is more in line with a combat training academy than the Avenger’s only training facility and housing.

It had the feel of a learning campus verse a members’ only frat house.

New Job, New life…

Two Weeks Later – Avengers Compound

 Yelena came crashing inside Natasha’s apartment with Fanny hot on her heals.

Natasha just sits back while the chaos factory whirls around the room.  

It’s sisters’ night now that Yelena has returned from her mission after being away for a little more than three weeks.  With a leash in one hand and a bag of food in the other Yelena finally spots Natasha with her book on the couch.

This is a new routine for Natasha.

Part of her therapy was finding closure with her past.

A large portion of her guilt centered around abandoning Yelena all those years ago when she defected to SHIELD.  Leaving her behind.

It took some time but Yelena eventually forgave Natasha.  Yelena still holds some insecurities.  The cracks will always be there but at least those cracks have been patched.

Natasha over time changed her relationships.

She had gotten into the habit of relying on others for emotional direction.  Clint was her compass since the very beginning.  That granted Clint with a lot of longitude.  It put a lot of pressure on Clint always trying to guide Natasha in his mind.  When Natasha started relying on him less over the years, he became almost territorial, possessive of his role.  Instead of being encouraging he would be unsupportive or indifferent.  Laura and Natasha had to sit down with him and explain that boundaries needed to be set.  But Clint would always have a special place in Natasha’s life.  He would always be her best friend.

Tony and Natasha had become a little more friendly over the years but it never went anywhere beyond polite inquires or small talk.

Natasha refused to speak to Bruce for a long time.  Him withholding treatment from Y/N just propelled Natasha into an ocean of guilt and anger at herself.  How many times had Y/N been hurt and Natasha didn’t even notice?  A spy didn’t notice when her girlfriend was in physical pain.

When she finally confronted Bruce regarding his failure to do his job.  She found out that the core of the withholding of treatment was his feelings and hopefulness towards Natasha and his relationship progression.

Which is another thing Natasha blames herself for.  She flirted with everyone on the team.  With the exception of Vision.  That was her MO.  That was what was always expected of her.  The famous Black Widow, sexy, alluring, flirty, she was every man’s fantasy. And sadly, she fell into her own hype, the myth of the Black Widow.  People had expected these traits from her, and she met those expectations.  She would flirt, touch, and wink at all of the men and women in the near vicinity.  She played a points game in her head.  1 pt for a blush, 1 pt for a stutter, 2 pts for a nervous look around, 5 pts if they stumble away and 10 pts if they try to ask her out.

When she was in relationships, she would try to key it down, however that shadow of the widow persona was always there.

The trend though was when she started to get comfortable in a relationship then the flirt would come out to drive a wedge.  Every time it was the same pattern.

This also caused issues with Barnes and Wilson.  Both would eat up her attention.  Both were natural flirts.  Both felt more manly flirting with a pretty woman.  Both didn’t know when to stop.  And both were eventually set straight regarding there comments and behavior.

The sabotaging of gear in the past now requires each member to have special permission to enter the equipment room or armory.  

What really cause a change in them both was relocation of each.  Without Rogers to hide behind they both had to grow up.

Rogers…

Still tried to pursue a relationship with Natasha after Y/N left.  

He just couldn’t understand that she didn’t want him.  A hot-blooded, strong, attractive male.

It was the worse mistake of my life entrusting anything to Rogers.  Without the leadership role in the Avengers.  Steve attempted to lead a different group without much success. With Danvers we had a capable team lead and with-it Steve’s chance of returning to a lead position within the Avengers were crushed.

Natasha and Steve had an all-out fight after Y/N left once everything came to light.  They had to be physically separated.

Steve originally tried to play that it was all taken out of context, but with all the mission logs as further evidence there wasn’t much weight to his argument.

Over the years Natasha has thought about reaching out to Y/N.  To try and be at least a part of her life in some way and apologize for the mistakes that she had made in their relationship.  

To at least explain.

They were friends and co-workers before becoming lovers.  Natasha found relief in knowing that Y/N was doing well.  

Y/N had found something deserving in Natasha years ago.  It was Natasha that had proved that wrong with her actions.  Who was she to question Y/N.  Y/N was one of the most intelligent people that Natasha had ever known.  Instead of voicing her doubts.  Natasha actively found ways of pushing Y/N away.  And because of this Natasha will always wonder what could have been.

What would have happened if she was brave?  If she had set boundaries?  If she stood up for Y/N?  If she looked deeper?  If she didn’t find a need to flirt?  If she just let herself feel love and return that love without fear?  If she let go of the fabrication of the Black Widow persona? If she didn’t take things too far?

What could have been between them?

Would they be retired, living in a home together?  Would you had been married by now?  Would you have been happy with Natasha?  Would you and Yelena become friends?

If only…

What would have happened to the team?  Would they have still took out there frustrations out on Y/N, if Natasha had put her foot down? Or would they have just circumvented Natasha in order to get too you?

Natasha hasn’t been able to completely move on from Y/N.  

She has attempted to date others over the last five years but nothing ever lasted longer than a few dates.  No one was measuring up in her mind.  

She had a taste of the closest thing to perfect in a relationship.

A relationship that started as co-workers, leading to friends and them finally progressing into lovers.  The relationship had been near seamless.  The two of you just fit together.  Over the years of knowing each other, the relationship had a deep mutual understanding. You both understood the long hours, the distance after a hard mission, the need to hide in work or training and the reluctance to being intimate.  Y/N never pushed the boundaries, she allowed Natasha to go at her own pace.  

Y/N didn’t see Natasha as an object to be desired.  But as a person just needing support and love.  Y/N had loved Natasha so deeply.  And Natasha had loved Y/N before she even realized that love was even what she was feeling.  Maybe that was the seed that would lead to Natasha’s downfall.

It was hard to pin point when it had all started.  Self-worth was something that Natasha didn’t believe that she was lacking.  She was strong and capable in the field.  However, when it came to her personal self-worth, she was in the negative.

After years of being shaped into an object to be used, directed, and wanted.  Natasha wasn’t ready to be her own person in matters of the heart.  Love and companionship weren’t something that Natasha felt that she deserved.  Happiness was something unattainable to Natasha.

Therapy helped Natasha find the root of her self-worth issues.  She believed that the only thing she was truly good at and for was the job she was trained to perform.  It had taken many hours before Natasha came to the realization that she deserved happiness and love from others without any ulterior motives.  She learned techniques of identifying toxic behavior and traits within herself and her immediate friend group.  What to avoid and who to avoid in order to change.  It was still a struggle to get into a more positive mindset. Profiling oneself is incredibly hard.

It will be something that she will most likely always struggle with.  With the childhood that Natasha experienced.  It is not all that surprising.

Yelena being around has also help.  

It’s also funny to Natasha that Yelena never really liked Steve or Bucky.  Sam is a non-entity to Yelena.  And she tolerates Clint for the most part.  

Yelena and Clint’s relationship is full of animosity.  Yelena feels shorted compared to all of the years that Clint had gotten with Natasha. It also came to light that Clint had known about Yelena from the very beginning and had never encouraged Natasha to seek Yelena out or bridge the relationship.

This all goes through Natasha’s mind while Yelena is chatting her ear off about the new Mission Coordinator that took over the last week of the op.

Natasha finally gets a moment to speak when Yelena starts taking out a pot.

‘What do you mean? Why would the mission change coordinators in the middle of the op and what happen to Turner?’  

Yelena stops pouring Noodle’s in the pot before answering ‘We got a new Mission Coordinator, that saw a flaw in the mission extraction plan.’

‘She was able to identify a leak in the data across the crypto coming in.’

Yelena started the stove before adding ‘It shaved off about two additional weeks of the operation anyways, so who am I to complain.’

Natasha nods her head in understanding.  After a few years of going undercover and being away from home can be taxing.  Especially when Yelena and Natasha have finally found each other again.

Yelena thoughtfully adds ‘Yeah Commander Y/N N/Y is great.  She is probably just as straight faced and no-nonsense as Hill or Fury.’

Natasha whips around and coughs out ‘Y/N N/Y’

Summary:  Gaining some insight from an outsider's perspective.  Nyx missed a huge clue.

‘Head’s up, chow is here.’  Gabe grunts out as he drops a brown sack next to my hand on the console.  ‘You can’t keep your head in the files forever.’

Nyx pushes the sack further to the side with the tips of her fingers.  ‘I’m, not hungry at the moment.’

Gabe sighs, frustrated with how closed off Nyx has become since the incident.  ‘You’ve got to take care of yourself.’  He knew what had happen.  Nyx had returned to base that night after leaving to drive home.  He was still signing off for the night after overseeing cleanup of the gear so the team could go home for the weekend.

She was a broken mirror of what she was before leaving.  He knew something was wrong before she even spoke.

Gabriel Samson had begun his career as an intelligence officer.  Learning how to take in situations and reading people were all part of the job.  He soon found out that he had a knack for leading missions remotely and on the ground.  He can coordinate and plan with the best of them.  This eventually led him to the special ops sector.

But he wasn’t a natural combat officer.  It took work and learning from one’s mistakes.  The researching, planning and coordination was the pieces that he knew well.  The boots on the ground combat is something completely different.  Being a planner hindered him out in the field.  If the original plan changed while on the ground, he always had an urge to begin again with the alternatives.  Gabe didn’t have the same issue with split second decisions while watching from a bird’s eye view.  That is why he spends so much time recruiting the perfect candidates for his team.

Everyone of his people had a place in the whole of the team.  He knew the weakness and did what he could to re-enforce those walls.

As the years flew by one trial team that was made of enhanced became multiple teams making up different groups.  Until one day the DEMI’s were created.

A little word play about Demi Gods.  Looked down on by the Gods for being half-mortal but called on when shit hits the fan and things needed to get done.

Gabe was never afraid of his enhanced counterparts.  At first, he was envious of what they could do.  He had seen almost every single one of them perform what others would consider miracles before his very eyes.

But he also saw such a great sadness in every one of those miracles.  He was blinded by the shine of the performance until he had no choice but to look deeper.

Almost every single gift that was bestowed upon an enhanced, a majority received equal or worse amounts of abuse, neglect, fear or abandonment in return.

It took a few candite conversations or heart to hearts with his new comrades to come to this realization.  From then on Gabe vowed to be their shoulder.  A friend when needed.  He didn’t baby anyone or become a parent because in that regard it’s just offensive.  But he always strived to be a person that his teams could rely on.  He remained consisted and protective.  He had seen how some brass looked at his unit with greed.  The likes of General Ross and Director Fury.  And tried to guide the group away from dark waters.  Sometimes they still had to work with them, but it still heavily involved the Corps oversight.    Say what you will about the military.  But once the commitment is made that commitment should be given back.  At least that is what he believes.

Gabe still remembers the day ‘Nyx’s’ service record appeared on his desk.  She was fresh out of high school and looking for a purposed.  Orphaned and alone.  She received top marks on all of her placement tests and the physical aspect was a breeze.  What had gained her, his attention however was watching her in the self-defense drills.

She was doing too well and some of the males in her squad didn’t like being showed up by a young girl still wet behind the ears.  The drill instructor turned a blinded eye to the fact that a group of men cornered the young girl in the gym.  Most would expect something terror worthily to appear on her face when staring down the group.  But she was as calm as could be.

The result was four men broken and kicked out of the Corp and the instructor pulled from drill during an investigation.

A flag went off in Gabe’s head when reading the report.  This resulted in him digging into her background for any reason whatsoever for the outcome.  Even with years of experience, taking down a group of four men shouldn’t have been possible.

The reports didn’t list any specialized combat training or defensive classes.  Even with her mother being a cop didn’t really factor in.

So, he watched as she continued boot camp like she was walking through a crowd completely and untouchable.

He just knew that she was different, special compared to the rest in the platoon.  No matter what her gift was she would be out of place in a normal unit.  Her real place was within his command.

With a week left before her graduation ceremony he arranged a meeting.

Unlike most in his unit, she didn’t carry the same constrictive air around her.  She knew her worth and wasn’t afraid of herself.  He already knew her background, unlike a majority of enhanced she wasn’t shunned from her family or abused because of her differences.  She was just a lost girl, looking for direction.

Nyx sat a crossed from him with her short raven black hair, cut from the military barber just below her ears, one side just a tad longer than the other.  Her hair was so dark that it almost had a bluish shine to it, consuming all light.  What gave him pause was the navy-blue eyes with specs of silver.  He had never met someone who had eyes like that.  She was taller than average for a woman.  Around 5’9” with a slender muscular runners’ body.

She had studied him.  His body language, appearance, the timber of his voice.  Just like she did the files upon the desk.

He put it all on the table.

Gabe went over what DEMI was, how it worked with in and out of the military.  The training, the additional education needed, health concerns and purpose of the group.  Agreeing and committing to serve in such a group is not a decision to take lightly.  For one thing the person gives up who they are or were to be added into the group.

People usually took days if not weeks or months to make a decision as to whether to join DEMI or not in some cases.  It’s hard giving up what you know verse the unknown prospect of accepting such a dangerous job.  But not her.  She gave him her answer by the end of the third meeting.  He automatically assumed she was rushing into the decision to quickly.  So, he asked her why.

She had turned to him with those dark eyes and looked at him squarely before saying.  ‘Yesterday I had nothing.  Today I have a possibility’ she paused and quietly added ‘Tomorrow I could have something.’

Samson had watched Nyx grow into a more refined version of that seventeen-year-old girl.

When she became serious with Natasha Romanov, he realized that the something of tomorrow was Natasha for Nyx.

Of course, she always had the team.  She was a beloved part of the unit.  But they weren’t her something.

Not like Romanov was.

He was hesitant in the pursuit of her happiness when it guided her to the widow.  He thought she was setting herself up for heartache.

They had come from two completely different backgrounds.  Careers that involved no contact in missions that could last for long extended periods of time.

Emotionally both were reporting on different levels.

Somehow, they made it work.  He breathed a little easier when he saw how worried Romanov could become when Nyx was away.  Even when Nyx is one of the most capable people he knows.

Their introduction was startling to say the least.

When Gabe had first heard about Nyx going against mission orders to eliminate the widow and instead brought her into S.H.I.E.L.D.  He knew she wouldn’t have had made such a decision without seeing a potential in the widow.  What he did question was why Nyx brought her into S.H.I.E.L.D. and not DEMI.

He asked when she returned to command.  She then quietly relayed that the widow had so much already taken away from her.  She had recently chosen to be Natasha Romanov and Nyx couldn’t bare Romanov having to give that up to become a member of DEMI.  She allowed S.H.I.E.L.D. to make their offer.

Looking back now Gabe knew Nyx was smitten with Romanov after just one meeting.

The DEMI’s were on the side lines throughout the entirely of the relationship.  They had watched the ups and downs playout.  Natasha would arrive on base awaiting Nyx’s return every mission if she had the time available.

They had moved in together years ago.  And always made it a priority to spend time together if both were without missions.

Fury's manipulations had put a strain on the relationship throughout the years.

One being Fury had ordered Romanov to seduce Banner to keep him grounded within the Avengers.  Gabe couldn’t imagine ordering one of his people to do such a thing to another teammate.  Someone you go into battle with and having to trust with your life.

Nyx had been livid that Fury would put Natasha into such a position.  She trusted Romanov not to cross the line.  But it still hurt her when Natasha began her assignment rather quickly.  It brought up insecurities that Natasha had to then work on smoothing out.  It helped that Nyx knew that Natasha wasn’t attracted to men.  She had been around to many foul men, to ever truly be attracted to even a decent guy.

Natasha had begun her seduction mission rather poorly.  He could tell she was rather offended by the whole matter.  If she was male, Fury wouldn’t have asked her to perform such a task.  Romanov flirted badly with Banner to flatter him and pushed when she knew the outcome would be some convoluted awkward response.

What really pissed Romanov off was that her team knew she was in a long-term relationship with Nyx.

They had met Nyx on a hand full of occasions.

Natasha would come to base and rant to him and Nyx about the response the team had when Natasha was essentially cheating on her spouse right in front of them.  At least from the Avengers perspective it would have been classified as cheating.

No one was batting an eye at her behavior.  Or reprimanding Banner for chasing after a taken woman.  They practically patted him on the back for a job well done.

In Rogers case he was pouting for entirely different reasons.

She was disappointed in her team for even believing she would stray from Nyx.

That is why Gabe finds it so hard to believe that Romanov would stray now for a girl she hardly knows.  Why would she cheat?

He brings himself back to the present with a jolt.

He pauses before continuing in a softer tone ‘burying yourself in a mountain of mission prep isn’t going to change anything.’

Gabe put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed slightly to let her know he was there.  He knew she needed to talk about it.  It had been a week of her hardly leaving base or the office.  They currently didn’t have any mission that Nyx would be needed on.  All just small stuff, geared towards training the rookies.

He sat next to her and pushed the bag of food closer to her. ‘Eat and talk.’  Huffing he lets out ‘Don’t make me order you.  I’ll get the white board out if I have too.’

She cracks a small smile while slowly opening the bag of food.

Dark rings are around her eyes.  A give away that she hasn’t been sleeping all that well.

Leave it to her to start becoming a person again due to the threat of the famous whiteboard.  He’s a whiteboard kind of guy when prepping for missions.

‘What’s on your mind, Nyx?’

After swallowing a cheesy fry, she half heartly replies with, ‘everything, and nothing I suppose.’

He waits her out because he knows she has more to say.  She just needs to get it out into the open.

‘I don’t understand how this could happen.’

And she doesn’t.

Nyx knew that Natasha was happy with there relationship.  The commitment that they had for each other had never wavered before.  Looking back Nyx couldn’t find any cause for the affair now that she has had a moment to just think about it.

Yes, she knows that some people cheat for no reason or just some worthless excuse to justify their actions.  But Nyx thought she knew Nat.

Nat would flirt when it was part of a mission or to keep someone off balance.  She didn’t reveal her true self with hardly anyone.  Nyx was one of the privileged few.

Sex in their relationship came after trust was established.  Natasha had to use her body for the pleasure of a target while on missions for the red room.  She had no other option in those times.  If the red room commanded, she had sex with a target, then she did.  The red room had trained the girls to use their bodies for the sexual gratification of men starting at a young age.  This caused Natasha to have a rather complicated relationship with sexual intercourse.

S.H.I.E.L.D. allowed Natasha leeway when seducing targets.  There weren’t any repercussions if she didn’t have intercourse with a target to get close.  She ended up drugging the target leaving them none the wiser.

Nyx knows this.  And in knowing this, she can’t understand why Natasha would do this to her.

The last they spoke about the witch.  Rogers had assigned Nat the job of physical combat training to get the witch up to speed.  Natasha was relucted to even add Maximoff onto the team because of the Ultron past.

Rogers ended up making a group decision on his own and bypassed everyone’s concerns and added Wanda to the team.  That wasn’t including the Hydra angle which he ordered Stark to cover up.  But what Natasha couldn’t forgive was the nightmarish vision Maximoff had trapped Natasha in.

Natasha had broken down and told Nyx what she was shown when she arrived back at home after returning from Sokovia.

“She was back in the red room which was bad enough.

The grey walls.  Girls practicing fighting stances.  The moldy smell of the dank environment.  The bloody knuckles of her left hand stuck out to Nat as she slipped back into herself.

But her attention was pulled to the Madam whom ordered Nat to stand in the center of the room, with all the other girls watching in a circle around the training floor.

There was someone on there knees with a bag over their head.  Clothes covered in blood.  From just a glance she could tell this person has more bones broken that intact.

The Madam handed a gun to Natasha with a clip containing one bullet.

After a brief pause to ensure she had the attention of the room.

Natasha was ordered to execute the person for being weak and a traitor.

‘You have to understand Natasha was fully emersed in the mindset that kept her alive in the red room.’

Without thought she had pulled the trigger.

It wasn’t until moments after Natasha comprehended that the room had changed and she was in bed with someone.  It was Nyx in bed that she shot through the heart.  Gaining her senses again Natasha noticed that Nyx wasn’t breathing.

It shattered Natasha to be stuck in such a nightmare.”

Nyx knows that Natasha would never fully trust Wanda due to her own actions.

That’s why none of this makes any sense.

Fury wouldn’t have ordered Natasha to seduce Wanda.

He was smart enough to know putting Wanda on the team right away without any trial period was a bad call.  Plus, he was still ‘dead’.  Or in other words, he's off putting his nose into matters that have nothing to do with him.

Nyx turns to Samson without even noticing that he was already looking at her in anticipation.

She puts her food to the side again, ‘Natasha having sex with Wanda couldn’t have happened.’

Gabe goes to interrupt.  He remembers what Nyx told him that night.  And from her description it was pretty clear that sex was in fact happening.

She stops him with a hand on his arm ‘No, what I mean is.  I don’t know what is truly going on but something isn’t right.’

Nyx releases his arm before continuing.  ‘It took nearly nine months after us being together before Natasha and I became fully intimate.’

A feeling of dredge that wouldn’t leave Nyx since that night.  She couldn’t understand why.

She thought it was just due to the betrayal.  The end to what she thought would be her forever life with her person.

Until this very moment.

She should shoot herself for missing something so important.

Nyx was heartbroken after witnesses what she did in that bedroom.  And she was hurt and angry.  That doesn’t stop her from thinking on her own.  If she was thinking clearly that night, then something so big would have landed as a red herring on her radar.

Nyx sucks in a large gulp of air.  She feels like she under water.

Just trying to get the background set before the real story starts.  All Errors are my own.  I don't have a lot of writing experience and will never claim to be a writer.  Honestly, I’m pretty horrible at writing.  Pace is to fast in places.  Please be forgiving.

Possible triggers due to Rape/Non-Con First Chapter.  Also referenced in later chapters as well.

Summary:  Once upon a time a solid relationship is tested by many obstacles and antagonism. It finally shatters when an unforgivable betrayal occurs… Or was it? Not everything is as it appears.

This is a story surrounding Nyx. A special ops soldier, part-time S.H.I.E.L.D agent, friend, lover, protector of the one Black Widow. The character Nyx has an enhancement of Adaptability, so refined and perfected that she can bend even the darkness and light within any given room. She’s just an all-around BAMF.

The story will contain some Team Captain Bashing, specifically Steve Rogers, Wanda Maximoff, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. And further tags will be added to future chapters if needed.

But I had an idea, and it wouldn’t leave me alone. 

No one knows her real name just the title.  Nyx.  People who were around in Nyx's formable years are all dead or just lost touch for such an extended period that they are now strangers.

Nyx was born different.  Her mother noticed the differences from her birth.  Nyx learned things rapidly.  Milestones such as crawling, walking, talking were ahead of her age range.  Nyx grew up strong, had love, a solid foundation and support that would shape her into the person that she would become.

It’s been said that a person’s overall personality traits are shaped by the time an individual reaches the age of five.

When Nyx was in the womb her father was killed in his duties as a beat cop on the streets of New York City, her mother was a NYC detective who would eventually be the Lieutenant of her unit.  At the peak of her career, Nyx’s mother was killed by a stray bullet on her way home from work.

At the age of seventeen Nyx was essentially an orphan.  With no family left and looking for an excuse to get away from the city that had taken so much from her.  Nyx joined the United States Marine Corp.

Her plan was to become a simple soldier and contribute to society in any way that she could.

During boot camp Nyx gained attention from the brass due to her high marks.  Nyx wouldn’t be the first enhanced that had joined the service nor would she be the last.  What she didn’t know was that enhanced individuals were put into special categories or standards.  They were put under tighter scrutiny before they prove themselves.  Although this should be something that is objective from the commanding officer.

The reality is that the Commanding Offices opinion is very much subjective.

Nyx lucked out with her command.

Commander Gabriel Samson was in charge of a special unit called the ‘DEMI’s’.  This unit was deep within the shadows of the black ops' community.  Samson recruited, trained and commanded people to perform impossible tasks.  His group received assignments not meant to be successfully.  Unlike most Samson saw his people as individuals, or young adults who were used and abused in most situations.  So, he made it his mission to protect his unit from all that would cross the line and take away a person's right to choose.  With this protection the group had unquestionable loyalty to Samson.  Under his guidance the unit became stuff of legend.  The military who worked directly or as a result of situations cleaned up by the DEMI’s looked at the unit respectfully and admired the dedication.

Samson scoped Nyx up the last week of boot camp.  He pushed her to her limits and beyond.  He was the one that gave her the name Nyx.  Due to the work that the unit perform all former identities and aliases were erased.  It was an easy choice for Nyx to join the DEMI program.

Under Samson’s tutelage Nyx was motivated to improve and grow in her abilities in a way that hadn't occurred since her mother died.  She became the North Star for the group.  Samson helped Nyx identify her enhancement.

The best way to describe it is the ability to adapt to any situation and overcome it.  Nyx’s speed, healing capacity, strength, senses, fighting strategy, situational awareness and eventually light manipulation increased in any given challenge when necessary.  She rose through the ranks within the group quickly due to her abilities and determination.

The DEMI’s work with other agencies when necessary.  Agencies such as the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, S.H.I.E.L.D and other foreign military groups.

While working with S.H.I.E.L.D. Nyx found herself on a mission to take down the one and only Black Widow.  Director Fury put Nyx onto the mission with Agent Barton because all other agents sent after the widow before, came back in a body bag.

The mission was supposed to be a simple in & out.  Take her down and then comeback.  However, Nyx saw something different in her eyes when coming upon her in an alley.

Nyx had halted Barton when he was about to make his shot from the roof tops.  After debriefing with Barton, the decision to bring the now known Natasha into the fold of S.H.I.E.L.D. instead of eliminating her was made.

The romance between Nyx and Natasha was slow in the beginning.  Natasha was hard to get close to.  And with Nyx working primarily with her unit, her time with S.H.I.E.L.D. was very limited.  Over time a repour was made and with it more interactions.  A spark was lit that would grow into a steady fire.

When the two of them started their romance, it was like a trickle of water draining out of a crack in a wall.  Trusting one with your heart was a hard concept for the both of them.  But when it was finally given, it was forever.  Clint, Fury, Maria and the DEMI’s all were cautiously optimistic for you both.  As the relationship grew, they received the full support of all their closest friends.

Nyx had heard about Fury’s goal of getting a group of highly train and/or enhanced individuals together to fight world changing events, or in other words his very own version of the DEMI’s from Natasha.

Personally, Nyx thought it was a horrible idea.  The group would be overseen by Fury.  With no real designated leader for the group out in the field.  No cohesion.  Just tossing people together because it makes sense in the old man’s mind doesn’t mean that the group is going to work out in the long run.  He is purposely keeping everyone involved off balance so that they are easier to control.

Natasha and Clint were put onto the list of Avenger recruits from the start.  Nyx thought the two of them being added was stupid due to both working undercover as spies.  It was nothing to do with their skill level but the notoriety the Avengers would eventually bring them both.  Nyx expressed this concern to Natasha in the comfort of their home.  Natasha reassured Nyx that they both were added to even out the group.  Clint and Natasha were the only two with any kind of formal training.

For some reason they both followed Fury’s word as gospel.  He had given them both a shot at using the ill-gotten skills in a way that was making a positive difference.

Over the years Fury has tried to scalp or control the DEMI group.  But the military wasn’t stupid enough to allow a secret organization to get their hands on DEMI permanently.  S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t really completely trusted by other agencies.  With all of the underhand tactics a lot of the other branches didn't care a lot for S.H.I.E.L.D.

Steve Rogers aka Captain America was added to the roster when he was thawed.  Tony Stark was offered a consultant position within the group due to the Iron Man stint that he had going on.  Bruce Banner aka The Hulk was tagged as well.

Nyx saw a disaster in the making.

Rogers didn’t have any real training or experience leading a group of enhanced.  Lying on enlistment forms, becoming a walking tank due to experimentation after completing only three days of boot camp, then put onto the USO tour to support and sell War bonds.

He eventually led a group of soldiers who in reality were led by Colonel Philips.  Nyx had read reports from the Army Colonel.  Rogers had a short fuse which was a problem before the serum was injected.  Despised the rules and other ideals that he didn’t agree with.  And if you didn’t agree with his morality, then you were evil or a bully.  He had a habit for disobeying orders.  Favoritism within the squad was a known issue and supported by Rogers.   Steve never tried to get a better handle on his new enhancement.  Philips marked it as a concern once wartime was over.

Stark didn’t have any track record with working within any other combat group setting.  On the plus side he is a genius.  He is one of the top minds of the generation.  Though Stark has been known to coordinate with Military groups when tracking down some of his misplaced weaponry, so he had a general idea of procedures.

Banner is a runner, enough said.  He has no control over the Hulk.  He will never learn control as long as he is afraid of himself.  Intelligent but known behavioral issues or problems with anger.  A warped view of flight or fight.

Fury was relying on manipulation and Natasha to herd squirrels.  Clint was supplying backup and support.  The group came together for the attack on NYC.  And then stuck together for better or worse.  Natasha said she saw a potential or at least a reason for the group’s existence.  Her inclusion in the group put a strain on their relationship.  It tested it in more ways than the time and distance from each because of their respective careers.  But they always made it a point to be supportive of each other, even with the distant, a deeper love and understanding persisted.

Nyx refused to work on any missions coordinated by Rogers.  She disagreed with his leadership of such a group.  Due to the refusal her previous working assignments partnered with Clint or Natasha became almost non-existent.  She had minimum contact with the rest of the group after initial introductions.

The relationship remained strong through the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D.  With all the hurtles that they experienced Nyx never imagined that it would end like this.

Which brings us to the present.

With Nyx looking into the eyes of the women that she loved with her whole heart as the red head gets pounded into the mattress by one Wanda Maximoff.  She obviously didn’t expect Nyx to arrive early from the mission with DEMI.  That is apparent as she pushes Wanda off of her and scrambles to cover herself.

Nyx stands there shocked and crushed that this could happen in the first place.  But based off the location being their shared home and the fact that Wanda is wearing Natasha’s favorite strap, Nyx realizes that this has been a regular occurrence or at least that is what she believes.  She's about to lose her shit when the witch struts passed Nyx with a smirk on her face, she then made her way to the living room with her clothes.

The sadness is bypassed completely at this moment and replaced by unbridled rage as Nyx looks back at Natasha.  She has risen from the bed with the sheets around her.

Nat shakenly reaches her hand out to touch her long-time girlfriend, she has tears starting to develop under her lashes.  ‘Please…’ she whispers.

‘Don’t even think about fucking touching me!’ Nyx growl out between clenched teeth.

Nyx quickly makes her way to the closet to pack what she needed and what is most valuable to her.

‘It wasn’t supposed to be like this.’  Natasha says as she chokes out a sob as she freezes in place.  The magnitude of this moment is not lost on her.  She doesn’t remember how it started or why it continued.  But she knows that she has just lost something irreplaceable.  Something that could never be replicated with anyone else.  She is so lost in the thick fog of her mind; she doesn’t register that Nyx is nearing the end of her packing.

It’s like trying to get out of quicksand.  As she stands there losing what has been the most important person to her, she can’t get any words out.  Her thoughts are clouded.  She’s trying to scream but doesn’t know why it's a soundless scream.  No noise is coming out of her mouth.

Nyx looked over at the red head one last time before throwing the duffle onto her shoulder.  She couldn't leave without saying her piece.

With solid steps Nyx moves within an arm’s length away from Nat.  

‘I can’t believe that you could did this to me.’  She points to her chest and shakenly breathe deeply through her nose and blow it out of her month.  ‘Out of all of the shitty things you have done over the years this hadn’t crossed my mind as a possibility.’

‘I loved you with every piece of me.  I gave you all of myself.  My trust, loyalty.  Hell, I would have given you, my life!’.  Taking a step back Nyx expect some sort of reaction or response, but Natasha is standing there with her Widow mask on.  She’s no longer showing any vulnerability just a stone face.

Nyx briefly wonders why?  But she knows that it doesn’t matter why or how long.  All that matters to her is that she chose to do this to her.  An unforgiveable sin in her eyes.  After all of the years together.

The whispers and promises of a bright future, with a large house and children.  She can’t believe that Natasha would throw that away for a young woman that she has only been mentoring for a few months.  A young woman that Nat couldn’t trust or stand previously.  She shakes her head and walks out of what was once home.

If Nyx was thinking clearly or without the vail of hurt and betrayal so fresh.  She would have seen how uncharacteristic this whole affair was.  How Natasha’s behavior is just wrong.  Natasha is a fighter.  She wouldn’t just stand and take anything.  She is also the most loyal in their relationship.  It’s a result of years of needing to lie and manipulate all of those around her and being lied too in return.  The both of you had always made it a point to be open and honest in this relationship from the very beginning.

A glance back to her, Nyx might have seen a crimson color invading the once forest green of the redheads’ eyes.

Natasha is still locked into place, unable to speak.  She is just standing there in a prison with only a window to look out of as she watches Nyx walk away from her for what she knows will be the last time.  Her head is splitting, with one final attempt to reach out to Nyx she nearly blacks out completely.

The silence of the room is interrupted by the slam of the front door.

Moments later.

Wanda quietly walks back into the room, now dressed and a sympathetic small smile on her face.

She grabs Natasha’s cheeks as she glazes into clouded green eyes with the red from her magic flaring.

‘This was for the best’ she said.  While applying pressure she continues, ‘I can’t have her around.  My place on this team needs to be cemented.  And you will be easier to control now that your greatest strength, your protector is gone.’  She leans down to kiss Natasha on the forehead before pulling back and whispering in her ear. ‘If it's any consolation you fought the whole time.  But at last, you couldn’t fight me forever.’

Wanda pulls back with a sneer on her face but keeps Natasha’s face in her hands.

‘You will never speak of this encounter or what has been spoken.  You will never contact Nyx.  You will continue to act as you have been.’ she states after a pause.

Wanda should feel disgust or shame at her actions.  But she needs the protection of the Avengers.  She doesn’t want to be in prison or under the scrutiny of the government.  Joining the Avengers gave her money, power and a new shiny reputation as a hero.

Steve was easy.  He saw her as the first steps of bringing his precious Bucky back.  A young girl that made mistakes but would look up to him for guidance.

Sam followed everything Steve relayed and didn’t really concern her much.  He was an easy pawn.

Tony was already stepping back.  And with Ultron Steve used these excuses to get Tony further away from the Bucky searches.  And away from the truth of the matter.  Thor was already gone.

Bruce ran away the first chance he could after the fight with Ultron.

Clint retired but she had already planted the seed of being a young delicate girl that needs protection and a family to make up for her fallen brother.

She needed Natasha to open the doors within the team for her.  Wanda will be unilaterally accepted within S.H.I.E.L.D, Clint, Tony and Bruce if she gained Natasha support.

Natasha was looking into Wanda’s past and started questioning her place on the team.  Wanda couldn’t have that.

Natasha also had to be punished for not falling in line.

So, Wanda decided to take away what matters the most to Natasha.  The very reason she fights so hard.  And she had to do it in a way that would ensure that Nyx wouldn’t return or look any further than skin deep.

It was all a formality for Wanda really.  She had learned quickly that her power didn’t work on Nyx.  And it muffled the affect that is had on those in her viscidity.  She had learned that Nyx was coming home early from Vision.

She decided to put her plan in action.  Gaining entry into the home was quite easy.  Awaiting Natasha’s return allowed her to find the cherry on top of the cake and the rest is now history.  With Nyx permanently away, Natasha and the rest will be easier to control.  She’ll have to work on getting Natasha closer to Steve now.

Being with Nyx had always put a strain on Steve and Natasha’s relationship.

Natasha had always reminded Steve of Peggy in away, so he gravitated to her.  To Natasha Steve was what Nyx saw him as.  But she had to placate him in a way that he viewed her to always be agreeing with him, while she is in the shadows working around him without his knowledge.

Vision.  Precious and naïve Vision.  Easy to access, with some slight affection.  He is easy to maneuver.  With him and her together they will be unstoppable.  She just has to wrap up this mess quickly.

With one last thought of the now vacate Red Head.  Wanda makes her way to the bedroom door.

I had an Natasha x reader story idea if anyone is interested.

Natasha x Reader are in a relationship. But Natasha starts to pull away. Flirting with Bruce or another team member. She doesn't cross a line but came close.

The team was never very close to reader because they felt Natasha should have picked Bruce or Steve.

Reader calls her out and the relationship ends. FYI the reader is also a strong capable person, who doesn't tolerate such bs.

Natasha was pulling away because she felt undeserving.

By the time Nat pulls her head out of her ass, the reader had transferred. So she let's them go.

Years later reader ends up acquiring a kid. Possible a rescue experiment baby. So they pull back from field work and ends up working in a more stable mission role at the compound. And working with Tony who was the only one they were close too.

Reader doesn't tolerate the team in any capacity. They burned there bridges with them... But Natasha tries to make up for her mistakes.

Which may be harder for her since it's not only the reader but the reader's kid...

Future Story.  Not sure If I should continue or not.  So far, I have an idea and outline.  This would potentially be my first story.

Summary:  Once upon a time a solid relationship is tested by many obstacles and antagonism. The relationship finally shatters when an unforgivable betrayal occurs… Or was it?  Not everything is as it appears.  Not every choice made is your own.

This is a story surrounding Nyx.  A special ops soldier, part-time S.H.I.E.L.D agent, friend, lover, protector of the one Black Widow.  The character Nyx has an enhancement of Adaptability, so refined and perfected that she can manipulate the darkness and light within any given room.  She’s just an all-around BAMF.