"With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant.
The fact that you kept it does not."
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants
The American Dream
Green Grass Lawn
Three days passed with little incident. She had a news conference to keep appearances for the Avengers. The public needed another face besides Stark and Fury. Dr. Banner flat out refused. Clint could have done it, but he wasn't really a good talking in front of crowds. Captain Rogers would have been the next best choice, but he went MIA about three years ago. So, Agent Romanoff put on a smile, wore professional suits, and tactfully answered all the pointed questions. The reporters tried to wheedle her, but their efforts were pathetic and insulting. As if they could shatter her illusion. A minor mission in Pennsylvania to recruit a scientist from Three Mile Island shook things up. The rest of the hours dragged by through practice, training recruits, and sneaking about S.H.I.E.L.D database. Granted, technology wasn't her forte, but she had the highest clearance so she only dealt with minimal clean up.
Although she hadn't seen Claire, she began to piece the woman together: born and raised in South Carolina, went to school for education and never graduated; became a nanny for the blue blooded women of Charleston at 19; married at 26 to a heroin addict who went to jail four months due to multiple DUI's after she pronounced pregnant with her son, Maxy; went into protective custody when her husband was killed in their single wide by the local drug cartel a week after his release from jail on good behavior. She was moved to Colorado where she apparently fell in love again because a year and half later she married again to a Jason Schwann, a park ranger who lived on that patch of land for generations since the 1800's. However, both their bank accounts appear modest at best. Her story was boring. Fury's obvious interest in Claire was the only mismatched piece.
Agent Romanoff tried linking her to the Beginning. She wasn't visiting New York City during the attack. She had no family up there, either. The only way she was affected was the increase of taxes for this next fiscal year to compensate for the newly added extraterrestrial defense department (S.H.I.E.L.D). Even her husband's file was neat and boring: traveled a lot due to his affiliation with the National Park Services. No problems or involvement with what Fury was looking for. Well, nothing in highly secured documents. Which meant one thing: Only Fury knew the link. Damn him, she found herself cursing again. It wasn't as if she would interrogate him. She could, but he was her boss and a (normally) morally straight man, and she still had some red to bleach. Adding to it would be counterproductive and illogical.
She was in the shooting range, testing out a new gun when newer recruits rushed in, murmured to each other, and scurried off. A nervous energy flooded the area. Soon the range was clear and Agent Romanoff was left alone. She would have like that, should have liked that, but her desire for information (not to be confused with curiosity) won out, and she found herself stalking the oddly deserted hallways. The light ahead silhouetted the crowd standing silently around two men. Fights didn't happen. Unless Fury allowed them, and it seemed as if from his spot in the front of the circle he was enjoying himself, a cruel smirk creasing his face.
A S.H.I.E.L.D agent threw a punch, but the stranger easily dodged the attack and brought the man to his knees. Another agent stepped in. The same result occurred. Agent Romanoff shifted to get a better look at the opponent. He was tall and wore civilian clothing. Jeans. Plaid shirt. Hiking boots. Long, brown hair. Beard. She compared him to a taller, more lean, Thor look-a-like. The way he handled himself was familiar. Simple motions. Nothing fancy. Very unlike the complicated training and styles agents study. Yet he was doing admirably against these government trained men.
"Fury!" the man roared, his blue eyes glinting like deadly razors. "Stop this!"
"No," Fury deadpanned, amusement gone.
"You promised!" his voice cracked. It was a disgusting display of weakness in her opinion.
"And you, Jason," he sneered, "are going to have a child."
Agent Romanoff looked at the man again. The picture provided by the DMV in the database seemed to align with what she saw. This man was Claire's husband. But he knew Fury. How did a Park Ranger know Fury? Better yet, how did Fury let a Park Ranger come to know him? She stepped forward. The other agents made an easy path for her. She slid up to Fury. "Sir," she murmured, although her eyes were trained on the intruder.
"Agent Romanoff, wonderful timing," Fury growled.
The man took a threatening step forward. "Fury!" he tried again, "Where is she?"
"And I thought your mama taught you manners," the director of the Avengers mocked. The stranger strained to keep his mouth shut. "Good. Now, your dear little wife is perfectly fine. In fact, she agreed to come in. No one forced her. Do you think we are that horrible of an agency?" Sarcasm was obvious in the last statement. Everyone's face remained a stony mask, not daring to react.
"She doesn't know anything, though! You're only preying on her ignorance!" countered the man.
"This is true, but," Fury leaned forward scornfully, "It's not my fault now is it?"
"Just let me see her, talk to her," he begged, his broad shoulders sagging.
"Now that's a reasonable request." Fury grinned his toothy grin that didn't mean anything good. "Agent Romanoff brought her in. She'll show you where Claire is."
Jason bowed his head. Complete submission. After watching such a capable man bring multiple, highly trained agents to their knees it was shameful to see him collapse just for a woman. Frowning, she turned her back and began walking away. The murmur of the crowd dropped away and footsteps echoed behind her. They were heavy and steady.
"How do you know I'm not taking you to her?" she questioned.
"You wouldn't do that." He sounded confident, bold, obnoxious.
"You don't know me," she said, stopping in front of an elevator.
"Yes, I do. You're an Avenger."
Scoffing, she turned to stare at him. "And that means what? I won't disappear for three years, go create an alternate life, get married and lie to my wife?" She let her emotions slip through. She took a sharp breath in her nose. "Why'd you do it?" she asked when they were in the elevator. There was only so much files could tell you which is why she preferred the more personalway of garnering intel.
He scrubbed at his beard. There were horrible dark circles under his eyes. It reminded her of when Clint was under Loki's control. "I suppose I grew up. Stopped acting like a blind soldier." He scoffed, "Stopped acting like Captain America."
She hummed, "Ah, so you saw the darker side of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Nothing else was said until they got to a door when Captain Rogers immediately accused, "You locked her in here! Fury lied when he said she came here by choice. I knew it—"
The door flew open and a tired mother glared out from the shadows. "Do you two know what time it is?" she hissed, stepping out into the light. If there was any question about her being attractive it was dispelled by her current disheveled appearance: crazy, uncombed hair, an ugly t-shirt and sweatpants that looked suspiciously like a man's.
"Eight," he groaned.
"Yes, Jason, eight!" she accused. Obviously Agent Romanoff was missing something.
"Claire, I was worried! I didn't know what happened to you. Please, I'm sorry! But I'm here. You're here!" He reached for her, but she pulled away.
"Yes, you are here. Jason Kidd Schwann I think you have some explaining to do." She crossed her arms and looked mildly threatening. However, a cry rose up from inside the room. "But first, you get to go in and apologize to Maxy for waking him up an hour early and then explain to him—and me—why we're here," she snapped.
Steve stepped towards his wife, but rethought that impulse when she sent another burning glare and went into the room. "Hey, buddy, guess who it is?" his voice was soft and cooing.
Disgusting.
"Agent Romanoff," Claire said.
"Ma'am?"
"Don't listen at the door."
When the door clicked shut a surprising smile sprouted on her face. "I don't need to ma'am." The smiled died before it could bloom. Fury was done dodging Agent Romanoff.
Author: The next chapter will do some explaining. Not everything, of course, Fury likes to play, and he would never reveal everything at once! Thank you for all the reviews, and I look forward to further comments! They are both encouraging and insightful!
