A/N: Hey my dear readers. I have a new story for you. Inspired by the fan fiction story called "The Project" by Muara89. I read it and had the opportunity to discuss it a little with the author. The idea was appealing to a certain point to me and since I'm a comic book/Marvel/Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fan I just had to combine these two.
As the story progresses I will try to explain certain things but if you have questions just ask them.
One more thing. I have notes in this chapter and probably others to follow. If you find a number behind a word, i.g. Bobbi (1) - it means you will find an explanation at the end of the chapter.
Prologue
Background: For years the secret spy agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division) worked from the shadows to protect all humanity against terrorists successfully avoiding attacks and wars. When aliens descend upon New York City SHIELD calls in special individuals to fight back the extraterrestrial enemy. These individuals are the Avengers – billionaire Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, the sweetheart scientist Bruce Banner who turns into the green raging monster known as the Hulk, revived national hero Captain America a.k.a. Steve Rogers, legendary Norse god Thor and two of SHIELD's finest agents, Natasha Romanov a.k.a. Black Widow and Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye.
After New York the world not only learned of the existence of aliens, but the agency was now revealed. This didn't stop them to continue operating, albeit a little trickier than before. Most agents had several aliases to keep their identity a secret. Many of them were often send on covert missions.
Two years after the events in New York a secret group, an old enemy of SHIELD, called Hydra, who were worse than the Nazi, emerges from their ashes and reveal they had infiltrated SHIELD from its inception seventy years back. Captain America and Black Widow successfully stop Hydra from launching a weapon of mass-destruction, but in the process the very foundation of SHIELD is shattered. The agency is labeled as a terrorist organization and therefore hunted. Agents who once worked and fought alongside turned traitors and killed each other.
There are still agents who are true SHIELD followers and would die to protect the innocent; their job just turned harder.
The months following the revelation of Hydra brings uncertainty and panic among the civilians and governments alike. And to everyone's surprise and somewhat annoyance a new threat/challenge appears. The Inhumans. Alien-human hybrids they have special powers and therefore hunted by everyone. SHIELD's mission is to contain them, keep them safe, train them if they prove to be assets or at least monitor them for everyone's safety.
Chapter 1: Meeting the future husband
Tris is so pissed. Her parents just told her they want to marry her to some rich guy. Apparently his mother, Evelyn Eaton, wife of billionaire Marcus Eaton, decided that Tris is a fine young lady and wants her to join the family. How could they even suggest that? What is this? The middle ages? Reluctantly, Tris agreed to meet the guy, but they didn't really like each other. Yeah, he's handsome, but a complete douche. He doesn't want to get married and neither does she.
When she told her older sister Christina that there's no chance in hell she'll ever marry a douche bag like Tobias Eaton the older sibling told Tris about the financial trouble their father's company goes through and to top it all off their father had a minor heart attack. Minor heart attack… the man had a heart attack. What's so minor about that?
Tris tried to find out more. Christina told her that Marcus Eaton, casually, offered to help Andrew Prior with his company, apparently regardless of his daughter's decision. Yeah, right. Unfortunately, Christina didn't know the amount of money their father needed to save his company and implicitly himself from stressing out and having a second heart attack.
But Tris is a trained spy. Obviously, her family has no clue about that. During the same night she went into her father's home office to check his laptop. The man seriously needs to find a better password than "worldsgreatestdad" no spaces. She checked the financial records and her jaw dropped when she saw that her dad needed 24 million dollars. What the fuck? Tris was never really interested in her dad's work, she only knew he was the CEO of his own company that developed gadgets. She, better than anyone, knows that it's a tough business and many companies go bankrupt if poorly managed. No wonder her dad wants her to get married to this rich motherfucker.
"You look pissed," Bobbi(1) says coming up to her as she punches the bag furiously.
"What tipped you off?" Tris asks sarcastic.
"Relax there, Rambo."
"I'm not in the mood."
"Well, if you need anything, my shoulder's free," the spy says and leaves her younger colleague be. Tris wondered if she should confide in her friend, but decided against it. She stopped pounding the bag and grabbed her water bottle, drinking it almost empty.
"What's up, buttercup?" Uriah asks her entering the gym.
"Nothing," Tris says not looking up.
"Come on, Tris. We've been friends since the Academy(2)," he says and sits down on the bench next to her.
"Uri, I wanted to retire, you know that," she says looking at him and he nods. "I've been shot, stabbed, blown up, drowned, tortured and whatnot. I just had it. I fucking died one time. If it weren't for Coulson(3) pulling some freaking alien voodoo on me I would be dead right now," she says frustrated and Uriah nods again.
"Then why are you here?" he asks. Tris sighs.
"My folks wanna marry me to some rich dude, a real pain in the ass, a deluxe douche bag, a fucking son of a bitch," she keeps listing. Uriah chuckles.
"Sounds like a keeper," he says and they both laugh. "But seriously now. If you don't want to marry the guy just tell your folks. I'm sure they won't get mad," he says encouragingly.
"They won't, but there's more. I found out that my dad's company is about to go bankrupt and to top it all off he had a heart attack a year ago and is still recovering. My future father-in-law offered to help my dad, never issuing that it has anything to do with me marrying his idiot son. But I'm not stupid. I talked to Coulson see if there's any chance I could get a loan or something, but unless I start a career as a killer for hire I won't make the money in time to avoid marrying that douche," she says sighing in frustration.
"How much do you need? Maybe I can help," he says.
"Do you have 24 million dollars by any chance?" Tris asks smirking. She knows her friend would take a bullet for her, which he did and she did for him, but he can't help her now.
"Ouch. That would burn a hole through my budget – my lifetime budget," he says jokingly.
"I know. I checked all my savings, even checked how much I would get if I sell all my safe houses but I don't even come near it. I would reach maximum two million and that's only if I'm really lucky. And the worst part is I'm running out of time. Even if Coulson would send me on high paid missions for the rest of the year I still wouldn't make the necessary amount I still need, not to mention I need to meet with my parents, the douche and his parents on Saturday to give them my answer."
"What are you going to do?" Uriah asks sympathetically.
"I don't know. Unless I can get the cash by then I'll have to get married."
"What about your job?"
"I already talked to Coulson. He knew I wanted to retire and he knows my situation. He said he would try to help me, but with all the shit that's going on he has his hands full." They leave it at that. Tris is tired of thinking of how hopeless her situation is and Uriah doesn't know how to help her.
Unfortunately, Tris couldn't gather the money and now she's sitting in a nice café with her parents, the douche and his parents.
"Have you decided yet, Tris?" Evelyn asks sweetly. She is a nice woman and Tris feels bad.
"For the record, I do not appreciate it that you lied to me," she says looking at Evelyn, but meaning her parents. "Mom, dad," she adds upon seeing the confused look on Evelyn's face. Both Marcus Eaton and his son, Tobias, look at her curiously. Tobias only met the obnoxious young woman once and didn't think much of her, but something in her voice makes her sound deadly now. He watches her carefully, intrigued by her.
"What do you mean?" Natalie, her mother, asks with a nervous laugh.
"I mean what's going on with dad," Tris says. Tobias already knew from his father that Andrew Prior had financial problems, that's why, he assumed, Mr. Prior asked his youngest daughter to marry him.
"I told you, Tris, that I will gladly help your father, regardless of your decision," Marcus says smiling.
"That's nice of you, Mr. Eaton, but hard to believe that a business man like you would do so much for a stranger without expecting anything in return," Tris says sternly and takes everyone by surprise.
"I assure you," Marcus starts but Tris raises her hand silencing him. She leans back in her seat, turning her body to face her parents, she looks at both of them with a both angry and disappointed expression.
"You ask me to marry a complete stranger, but you can't find a moment to give me a call and tell me that you had a heart attack?" Tris asks her dad angry. Both her parents and the Eaton's, including Tobias, look at her shocked.
"How did you know?" Mr. Prior asks.
"Seriously, dad? That's what you have to say? How did I know? Suffice to say I know. So, what's the deal with that?" she asks. Tobias looks from her to Mr. Prior and back to her. He had no idea that Mr. Prior had a heart condition. No wonder her parents pushed her to accept the deal, but it seems she isn't playing along, which is good news for him.
"Sweetheart, I didn't want you to worry," her dad says.
"Really? But it's okay to sell me to the highest bidder," she says bitter.
"That's not what this is," her mother says.
"Tris, I assure you that no one will force you to do anything you don't want to," Evelyn says stretching out and grabbing Tris' hand gently. Tris looks at her and her expression softens.
"Look, Mrs. Eaton, you seem like a nice person, unlike your asshole of a son," she says glaring at Tobias who seems taken by surprise by her bluntness, but quickly regains his wits.
"Like you are so charming," he bites back.
"At least I had the balls to tell my folks I don't wanna marry your sorry ass," she snorts and Marcus starts laughing.
"You have a feisty one, Andrew. I like her," he says and Andrew smiles a little embarrassed at his daughter's bluntness.
"As I was saying, you seem nice, both of you," Tris says looking first at Evelyn, then at Marcus "Mr. Eaton, I know you keep saying that you would help my dad regardless of my answer, but I'm not so sure that is true. Besides, it would really interest me why you picked me. I mean there are so many women who would throw themselves at his feet. Why me?" That's a question Tobias wants answered too. Why her?
"You are a lovely young lady, you are smart, kind, you are good with kids," Evelyn says. "I have a good feeling about you."
"No offense, ma'am, but how exactly did you reach this conclusion?" Tris asks.
"I was there when your brother got married and saw you with your nephew and nieces. You are a natural," Evelyn says smiling.
"So, you want a grandchildren incubator," Tris says under her breath but it doesn't go unnoticed. Marcus laughs again, but Evelyn frowns.
"No, we think that you would be the perfect wife for our son," she says.
"You don't even know me. In fact, my parents don't even know me," she says vaguely and at that Natalie looks at her daughter with a curious expression. Tris closes her eyes and sighs. Last shot. "Mr. Eaton, you are a business man," she says and he nods. "There any chance I could do anything else to ensure your help?" she asks.
"What could you do?" he asks amused by the young woman's attempt to negotiate with him.
"I'm fluent in several languages, I'm good with computers and I have a gun permit," she says.
"Really?" Marcus asks intrigued now, leaning forward on the table.
"Gun permit?" both her parents ask in disbelief.
"What languages?" Marcus asks, ignoring the Prior's.
"German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic, Farsi, Persian, Japanese and I'm currently learning Cantonese, Korean and Dutch," she lists.
"Impressive," Marcus says. Tobias' jaw hangs open.
"What about the computer skills?" Marcus asks.
"I'm a very good programmer," she says.
"What about the gun permit?" Marcus inquires further.
"Self protection, obviously. It's not like I'm running around killing random people," she says but adds in her mind only terrorists, mobsters and the occasional alien.
"You're kidding," her father says in disbelief.
"No. See? You don't really know me," she says looking at her parents. "So, Mr. Eaton? Any chance we can reach an arrangement or do I need to get a job as a professional assassin?" she asks with a straight face.
"You are a tough negotiator," Marcus says impressed, leaning back in his chair.
"So I've been told," she says smirking, copying him.
"Marcus," Evelyn says. "She is obviously joking."
"I don't think so. You really love your father and you hate the idea of getting married to my son," he states the obvious.
"In a nutshell," she says.
"Counter offer. You and Tobias get married and I help your dad not only to pay his debt, but back on his feet. As a matter of fact, he can retire if he likes."
"I knew there was a catch. There's always a catch with you rich guys," she says.
"Honey," Evelyn says, placing her hand on her husband's arm, but both Tris and Marcus ignore the rest of them.
"Your son hates me and doesn't want to marry me. Why even go there?"
"I have my reasons. How about a trial period?" Marcus suggests.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tris asks.
"You get married and if it doesn't work out you divorce and none of us will be against it," he assures.
"Let me sum up. You'll help my dad if I marry your idiot son?" Tris asks directly.
"Yes."
"Do I get a say in this?" Tobias asks furious that they decide his future.
"NO," both say glaring at him.
"How long's the trial period?" Tris asks.
"Two years," Marcus says.
"Six months," Tris replies.
"Twenty months," Marcus counters.
"Eight months and I'll be on my best behavior in public," Tris says.
"Eighteen months and you really try, both of you," Marcus says.
"Try what?" Tobias asks.
"Making this marriage work," Marcus says glaring at his son. He is sick and tired of Tobias' escapades with models and actresses.
"One year, I'll be on my best behavior in public and I will give it a try. I promise. But, I have one condition," she says and Marcus raises an eyebrow.
"What?"
"I'm under employment right now. I might be asked to consult every once in a while. I'll try to not let this interfere with my marriage."
"What if I say no to that?"
"Then I'll have to ask my dad when the last term for his debt payment is and find some high value target to kill," she says with a straight face. Marcus chuckles, probably thinking she is joking, but Tris is dead serious.
"Alright. You can consult for your old work place. But I'd like to have you in the office as well," he says surprising everyone, including Tris.
"Why? Isn't it enough I have to marry her? Now she'll be at work too?" Tobias whines.
"Be quiet, Tobias," Marcus scolds his son. What the fuck? Tobias isn't a kid anymore.
"What would I have to do at your office?" Tris asks suspicious.
"I have many foreign clients and it would help if someone with your linguistic talents would be around. You would only be called in for meetings that are pre-scheduled."
"That's acceptable. Do we have a deal?"
"Yes. One year and if you both say it didn't work everyone at this table will accept your decision," he says looking around. He didn't ask, he just stated. Marcus stretches out his hand and they shake to seal the deal.
"Tobias, could I have a word?" Tris asks and gets up. She starts to leave the table without waiting for him.
"What do you want?" he barks, when they are far enough as to not be heard by their parents.
"Drop the attitude, Eaton. This is as upsetting for me as it is for you. I tried to get the money for my dad but I just couldn't. I know you don't want this, neither do I. But this is our situation now. It wasn't my idea to marry you in the first place, so stop glaring. And it wasn't me who chickened out after we both agreed to tell our parents this isn't happening. Maybe if you would have told your dad you didn't want to marry me he would have still helped my dad," she says and looks away. Tobias looks at her curiously. He tried to tell his parents no, but they are hard to persuade.
"What do you suggest? Why did you call me here?" he asks not very politely.
"Deal's been made. We'll get married, stay married for a year and then part our ways," she says.
"What about trying to make it work?" he asks.
"Tobias, come on. We both know this will never work. We'll just say we're trying and try not to kill each other in the process. Think of me as your college roommate and that's it. I don't want this, but I also don't want my father on my conscience. Your dad might say he would help regardless, but it's a shit load of money, even for a billionaire. Besides, I'll keep working until I have all the money to pay him back," she says and Tobias scoffs. Where would she even get the money from? Tris raises an eyebrow. "You don't think I can get it? We'll see about that. So, you in?"
"Like I have a choice," he says grunting.
"Stop being such a wuss. It's just a year. You can go fuck your precious model girlfriend if you like, but make sure not to be seen. I don't give a fuck. In the end it's not my reputation that will be tainted," she says and Tobias raises an eyebrow. How did she know about Nita? I've been careful. He only nods. What's one year? At least like this he will get his folks off his case. Besides if anything goes wrong he can blame her, especially after this so called negotiation.
"Alright. I'm in," he says.
"Good. Let's go back and tell our parents the good news," she says sarcastic. God, she's annoying.
They walk back and sit down. For the remainder of the meeting Evelyn discusses mainly with Natalie, Tobias reading something on his smartphone, Marcus discussing with Andrew and Tris playing with a throwing knife under the table. Just as Evelyn asks Tris something regarding the wedding Tris' phone rings. She looks at the caller and sees it's Coulson.
"Yes," she answers.
"We've got a situation. Can you travel?" he asks knowing she is meeting with her future husband and in-laws.
"Where?"
"Paris," Coulson answers.
"Hang on," she says and looks around. "I have to go… some place," she says and they all look at her curiously. "When do I absolutely have to be here?"
"We were hoping to have the wedding in a month," Evelyn says smiling.
"That's cool. So, when do I have to be here?"
"Where are you going?" her mother asks.
"That's classified," she says smirking.
"Tris," her mom says in a scolding tone.
"Just answer, please," she says exasperated.
"Well, we need to talk to you about certain things regarding the wedding," Evelyn says.
"I'm sure between you and my mom you can make this event as painless as possible. I trust you to organize everything. Just give me a call when and where I have to be and I'll be there," she says. "I'm good to go," she says into the receiver.
"Good. Extraction in ten, pick-up point via message," Coulson says and hangs up.
"I have to go. Nice seeing you all. Bye," she says and leaves without leaving anyone a chance to say something. That was rude Tobias thinks.
A/N: What do you think? Do you want more?
1 Barbara "Bobbi" Morse a.k.a. Mockingbird, SHIELD agent, spy and friend of Tris.
2 SHIELD Academy – Location: Classified. Three branches: operations, science and communications. Two-year training at least.
3 Phil Coulson, Director of SHIELD. Boss of Tris. Successor of Nick Fury who was "killed" during the revelation of Hydra