"So we're doing what exactly?" Clint asked, looking around at his team.
"There are things we must accomplish together before we can successfully capture The Femme Fatale, and they involve all of your cooperation," Fury clarified, staring at Tony.
"I'm offended," Tony huffed. He laughed and slouched in his chair. "No, I'm actually not. I'll cooperate."
"This involves a great deal of Captain Rogers' attention, though. And we'll only go forward with it if he agrees," Fury stated, shifting his attention over to the man in question.
"I'm willing to do anything," Steve acceded.
"Then I have a plan."
"Finally. After six damn months," Tony grumbled, throwing his hands up.
February 2014
"Captain, I do believe you are planning something for me," the voice sighed, surrounding Steve.
"I don't understand, Fatale," he said, leaning back against the chair.
"I know you all plan to apprehend me tonight. I suppose I'll unveil myself tonight, whether I want to or not?"
"I guess so, Fatale," Steve assented.
There was soon a young girl seated next to him, likely a few years younger than him when he was administered the serum. She was of Korean descent, Steve figured. He looked over at her smile.
"It's nice to meet you in person, Fatale," he murmured, extending a hand towards her. She gripped his hand firmly, the sly smile never leaving her face.
"My pleasure, Captain Rogers,"
She placed her hands on her lap and soon a fire-headed woman came over swiftly, securing a S.H.I.E.L.D.-grade body restraint band over her body and handcuffing her. Fatale looked down at the specialized handcuffs, noticing how they wouldn't let her dissipate. They paralyzed her powers. With a quiet chuckle, she feigned despair.
"Damn it," she muttered, raising an eyebrow at Natasha. "So you caught me, Rogers. I suppose you and your league of Avengers can finally have me."
She shifted her gaze from one Avenger to another as they walked in and read them carefully. Fury followed in leisurely, smugly smiling at the captive.
"It's been a chase, Miss Fatale. I hope you realize that."
"Oh, I know. I thought, 'Why not? I have nothing to lose,' after being alone since what, World War I?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, how things have changed. Will you allow me a proper introduction?"
Fury regarded her cautiously.
"I won't do anything to hurt you all. You all have my word and I'm not one to let down anyone."
Romanoff released her from the chair, but left the handcuffs on her. Fatale stood before Fury.
"What have you got in store for me, Bossman?"
"A spot on the team. With the work that you've done, it would be a shame not to have you with us from hence forth."
"But will you be able to put up with me?" she laughed.
"We've dealt with Tony's antics, and I'm sure he's far worse than you could ever be," Fury conceded.
Fatale regarded the infamous billionaire engineer and locked eyes with him.
"Anthony Stark."
"In the flesh."
The right corner of her lips flickered as if to simulate a smile.
"Agent Romanoff, would you show Miss Fatale to the S.H.I.E.L.D. holding unit? I'd like to keep an eye over her for the next few weeks. Let her consider our offer," Fury said.
He gave the newly-apprehended asset a look and watched as Natasha escorted her away from the area, and out of the room.
"This shouldn't hurt, but it won't feel good either," Natasha said, holding the gun to her neck.
Fatale sat in the chair silently with vibranium cuffs on her wrists and held still.
The gun let out a sharp squeal as Natasha pulled the trigger and implanted the fail-safe into her neck.
Fatale shifted in her seat as Natasha stepped back and set down the gun on the table beside her. Natasha scanned over her as Bruce approached cautiously.
"I won't bite," Fatale assured, a flippant undertone lacing her voice.
Bruce gave an uncomfortable smile and examined the fail-safe. He nodded after a while, and glanced back at Natasha.
The assassin stepped forward with another device and raised an eyebrow.
"I'm going to remove your handcuffs, Agent Fatale. Now that the fail-safe is implanted into your neck, we have the ability to activate the fail-safe. Any behavior concerning to us will trigger the activation of the fail-safe. Director Fury has jurisdiction over the removal of your fail-safe. Understood?" Natasha explained.
"Yes."
Natasha reached for her wrists and allowed the device to unlock the mechanism holding the cuffs together. She pulled away the cuffs and paused, as if expecting the need to activate the fail-safe. Fatale smiled curtly and stood. Bruce backed away as soon as he noticed her moving to stand, then hesitated to extend his hand out to her.
"Welcome… to the team, Agent Fatale."
"Glad to be of value," Fatale returned, shaking his hand briefly.
Natasha stood back with her arms crossed and observed the interaction.
"Director Fury would like to see you now."
"Agent Fatale, I hope that my invitation to this team is not a wasted one."
Fatale gave a nod and cleared her throat.
"I'd like to tell you about myself. I know you have no files on record of me, at all on the surface of the earth, and it may be helpful to you if you knew things about me. So that you might one day not feel the need for a fail-safe."
Director Fury seemed intrigued.
"Please, begin."
