"Fine but don't implicate me" I say. Then Clint opens the door.
"Director Fury I presume" I say before he has even had a chance to stand up from behind his desk. As he gets up I take the chance to learn all I can about him. He's tall and well built, he has an eye patch with scar tissue around the eye socket but it seems well healed and years old. I can only see one gun on his person but more wouldn't surprise me, and seriously the black leather trench coat is a bit cliché. His whole person exudes confidence and control; I wouldn't want to be on his bad side. Unless I already am, then I'm as good as dead.
"Yes, and you must be the girl who has caused such a fuss this last few days" he says walking over to me and shaking my hand.
"Yes that would be me sir" I say trying badly not to smirk.
"Agent Rushman has told me everything, is there anything else you have remembered or that you feel would be of importance? No matter how small" He asks staring me down. Wow he's better than Agent Sitwell, I can practically feel my mouth opening to tell him everything but I don't. I found it funny that he also used the red heads alias, and focused on that instead of the intense stare I was working under.
"I've told you all I know, and as I told Agent Barton I may be sarcastic but I'm not evil. This clearly has some serious life threatening consequences and also is quite personal for Miss Rushman. I want to help but there's nothing more I can do" I say.
"What makes you think this is a personal matter?" She asks.
"Well I don't know you personally but I'm going to say that 'The Black Widow' isn't afraid of much. You paled when I told you what I knew, I am sorry for upsetting you. Agent Barton has told me you won't kill me, and I hope that's true, I also hope that you stop the Red Room. You clearly hate them more than I do" I say to her.
"Natasha Romanoff" She says to the director surprise.
"Pleasure to meet you Agent Romanoff" I say with a curt nod.
"Now, before we get to assigning you a case agent I am going to need your name for our records" The director says.
"Sophia Burnes" I say, knowing that no one has believed that since day one but still, it couldn't hurt to try. He just stared at me.
"Honestly I just think it's funny that you need me to tell you. I mean Mr Stark has been running facial recognition since he met me on the stair well and you guys seem like you would have a tech department with some killer toys. All that and you still don't know one girls name" I say making no attempt to hid my smirk.
"Wait, what, how did you know?" Tony asked.
"Do you always take not so subtle pictures of girls you just meet?" I ask. Even though the question is rhetorical he has an answer for me anyway.
"Depends if there hot" Tony says, giving me the Stark smile.
"Well I believe I'm a little young for you Mr Stark and you have a partner, I don't think Miss Potts would be too impressed" I say sassing him. He looks shocked and is opening and closing his mouth.
"Oh my god, you managed to shut him up" Barton says. "Director, can we keep her?" he asks.
"Sorry Agent Barton but once I have my case officer, I'm going home. Which is on the other side of the planet" I say.
"Miss Burnes I am going to need your full and real name" the director asked me as if that whole conversation didn't happen.
"Fine, but remember our deal Clint" Agent Romanoff seems taken back when I call Agent Barton by his first name but doesn't say anything.
"Helga Madison Brooks" I say. Tony burst into laughter and Clint is trying his best not to laugh. Director Fury nods and walks behind his desk.
"Thank you Miss Brooks" he says and types it into his computer. "It says here you live in Australia, correct?" He asks but it sound more like a demand.
"Unfortunately yes I do" I say, the bitter tone in my voice clearly shown.
"Is there anyone who would require answers to your long absence?" He asks.
"Only my boss, my rent is paid up until December and I have no family" I say, without much inflection.
"What about friends?" Agent Romanoff asks me.
"I don't have any" I say forgetting that that's not normal.
"What none? Are you some sort of recluse?" Tony asked me.
"No Tony I'm not a recluse, I just don't like people and people don't like me. There's no one except my boss who will question my absence but I can easily cover that up" I say.
"You have been gone for almost a month it's November, how are you going to answer for that?" The director asks me.
"Well I can say I was in hospital, all I would need is a medical certificate which wouldn't be hard for you guys to get or fake and the cover is set" I say. He seems to be considering my plan when Agent Romanoff pipes up.
"What injury could you have sustained that would explain everything without having an external sign or scaring?" She asked.
"I had a car crash and was put into a medically induced coma to help my body cope with cranial swelling. Then I couldn't have called and no one would have known who to call since my second of kin has been dead for three years. Also the scar can be under my hair which I will cut to look like it's had to regrow. Then all questions are answered and I'm given a clean bill of health and the world keeps on turning no questions asked" I finish making it up as I go along but still, it should work.
"Well that will work" Clint says. Tony and Agent Romanoff just nod, the director scans over me and then goes back to looking at his computer screen.
"It says here your only 18" He says suddenly. "The doctor said you were 21"
"That's because that's what I told him, I was in America so I had to be of your legal age to minimise questions. If it helps I haven't drunk anything alcoholic or gambled so technically I haven't broken any laws" I say with my best innocent smile.
"Wow, now I feel weird about hitting on you" Tony says.
"You mean an 18 year old girl with no prior training managed to slip past you guards twice?" Clint asked laughter racking his chest.
"If it helps director, I did do Tai Chi and I am a dancer being quick and light on my feet is a necessity" I say. Tony and Clint just laugh, Agent Romanoff has been silently watching everything and it's starting to make me nervous. Director Fury just presses the blue button on his desk phone and shakes his head. Seconds later a brunet girl walks in dressed in a blue cat suit.
"Agent Hill, this is Miss Helga Brooks"
"Please call me Hel, everyone does Helga is an offence to my, you're and the German language" I interrupt. Fury glares at me and continues.
"You will be her case agent as she is being put on the index as a threat 2 asset" he says. She seems surprised by this but just nods.
"Um hi, still in the room" I say. "What do you mean threat level 2 assets?" I ask.
"It means you have abilities but they aren't dangerous, you should be on level one but you are too smart so level two. You also have an ability which can be of use to us, which means you are an asset" He says without taking his eye off Agent Hill.
"Yes sir" She says, wait wasn't he talking to me? Damn it, there one of those couples that have their own weird language that doesn't need words.
"What did you mean offence to my, you're and the German langue?" Agent Romanoff asked me. "As far as I can tell English is your first if only language yet you separated it to our language" She explains when Tony looks at her confused.
"My father was English, and I don't think the atrocity you call English should be classed in the same group the Queens English" I say smirking.
"That explains the accent" Both Clint and Agent Romanoff say. No one seems to be weirded out by how in sync they are so I just file it away for later.
"Now that's all sorted, Stark would you like to explain how you ended up in the medical ward and one of my labs is in ruin?" The director asked looking straight at Tony.
"Hu, well... I may have been tinkering and crossed wires by accident and it exploded. As a result of the explosion I knocked off one of the prototype weapons off the bench and when I picked it one of your goons came in. He misread the situation and shot me in the stomach, which I'm not happy about. But thanks to miss medic over here there won't be a scar and no bed rest so you're off the hook" He says. As he's explaining I move around to sit in the empty chair next to Agent Romanoff. Tony is still next to the door trying to get himself out of trouble, Clint is standing next to Agent Romanoff's chair and Agent Hill is sitting in the director's chair. Wait, what? Does she have a death wish? Agent Romanoff leans over after catching my panicked gaze.
"She is the Directors second in charge, and the only one who can get away with sitting in his chair" she says a slight smile playing with the corner of her lips. Oh well that makes more sense. Once the director has finished yelling at Tony he turns to face the rest of us. When he sees Agent Hill in his chair I swear his whole demeanour changed, his eyes were kind and he was on the brink of smiling. As soon as it came it left, but I knew it happened.
"Agent Hill will you please take Miss Brooks to do the necessary paper work then fly her home?" He asks again making it sound more like a demand.
"Yes sir, I just have to finish some emails" She says.
"Okay, dismissed" He says.
"Wait!" Tony called out. He turned to Agent Hill and I who were on our way out the door. "Kid you may have saved my life and since I'm the genius it's usually me who saves people" he takes a dramatic pause, which I fill.
"A little less ego Tony and get to the point please" I say smiling.
"I would like to invite you to have dinner at the tower, you can meet the rest of the Avengers and Pepper" He says.
"I'm flattered Tony but all I did was heal you and I'd hate to impose and the Director has made other plans" I say sadly. How cool would it have been to have shared dinner with the Avengers at Stark Tower!
"Well, do the paper work with Hill then come to the tower eat dinner. I'll get one of my jets to fly you home, they are much comfier then SHIELD planes" He says proud of his ultimatum. Both Agent Hill and I look to director Fury.
"Very well, but Barton because she's underage she is in your custody" He says and waves us out of the room.
"Hey Romanoff, you have a fan" Tony says as we walk back towards the elevator.
"Oh?" She asks and he points to me. I will myself not to blush.
"Tony asked me who my favourite Avenger was before he explained I was in the car with not one but two of them and had now met three and I told him the Black Widow closely followed my Hawkeye" I explain. "He wasn't happy it wasn't him" I say trying to shift the focus off me.
"I bet" She says smirking.
"Well kid now you get to meet the rest of the Avengers and when we get to the tower you can watch Nat and me spar if you want" Clint says grinning. I stop dead in my tracks just before the elevator.
"Oh my god really? That would be so awesome!" I say like the fan girl I truly am. Both Agent Romanoff and Clint grin at this, Agent Hill shakes her head but I know she's laughing on the inside.
"Well since I'm not your favourite you can't see my suits" Tony says sounding like a two year old.
"Okay" I say acting like I don't care just to annoy him further. As we get into the elevator Agent Hill selects the 22nd floor and down we go.
"Will Doctor Banner be there?" I ask.
"Yes but don't worry about the Jolly Green giant, he's perfectly safe" Tony says defending him.
"That's not why I was asking, I'm a great admirer of his work. I think I've read every paper he's ever published" I say smiling.
"And you understood all his science jargon?" Agent Romanoff asked.
"Yes, despite my age Agent Romanoff I have finished school and even university. Granted it's a Bachelor of Arts majoring in dance. I was always the nerd; I love Chemistry, Physics and Maths. His work is unparalleled and unmitigated, he was an inspiration" I say now feeling as though I have to defend myself.
"Impressive kid, well then you will love the labs" Tony says.
"I thought I wasn't allowed to see the suit" I remind Tony.
"I was kidding you may have the honour" He gloats.
As we get to the 22nd floor I leave with Agent Hill but everyone else heads down to the cafeteria. I spend the next half an hour watching Agent Hill finish her emails and studying her office. It's busy but also empty; she has four filing cabinets across one wall and a book shelf across another. Behind the door is a couch for two which looks like it's been slept on more than sat one. She has a desk like Director Fury's with a basic looking chair on the other side of the desk. Her chair looks like the Director's but not as fancy. There's no personal items I notice, not one picture or nick knack.
"Sorry for the wait, would you like a tea or coffee?" She asks, coming to join me on the couch.
"I'm alright thank you Agent Hill" I say smiling as she sits next to me.
"Okay then, as Director Fury said I will be you're case officer. This means every month we will touch base on what you have been doing especially with you powers. If anything happens you can call me at any time and someone will always answer. Now because I'm an active agent it means sometimes I go on missions if and when this happens another agent will look after you until I get back. I have chosen my assistant Agent Baker. He will be your contact if I am unavailable, here is his and my numbers" She says handing me two business cards stating their profession as doctors. Which I guess goes with my cover story.
"Okay is there anything else I need to know?" I ask.
"Yes, If you ever use your powers on anyone, or on yourself significantly, you will need to report it" She says and stands up. "Since we will be talking more often you can call me Maria unless we are with other agents then I ask you call me Hill"
"You can call me Hel, or Miss Brooks, but most people call me Hel" I say smiling. Wow everyone seems to actually like me here. She gets me to sign a couple of forms and then takes me to meet up with Clint and Agent Romanoff. As we enter the firing range both Agent Romanoff and Clint are practicing with their preferred weapon. They work through there last load of ammunition and stop. As suspected nothing but perfect shots, Agent Romanoff even did a pattern on one target.
"Wow that was amazing" I say drawing their attention.
"Come here kid" Clint says. I look to Maria and she nods.
"Have you ever shot a bow and arrow before?" he asks.
"Once at camp when I was about eleven" I say.
"Well give it a go then" and he hand me a wrist guard and his bow. Both Maria and Agent Romanoff look stunned but I fasten the wrist guard and take the bow. It's heavier that I remember but no matter, Clint hands me an arrow and brings the target slightly closer.
"Okay you get one shot, take aim" He says. I bring up the bow and load the arrow trying to steady my hand ready to fire.
"Okay steady, now fire when you're ready" he says. I take aim against the target and go for the heart instead of the black centre. I fire, and get a direct hit.
"You missed" Maria said.
"No I didn't" "No she didn't" Clint, myself and Agent Romanoff say at the same time.
"I wasn't aiming for the circle I was aiming for the heart, if you give me another arrow I'll get the circle" So Clint hands me another arrow; I aim and fire quickly and get the centre but slightly left of perfect.
"Okay so I'm no Hawkeye but I did get centre" I say happily.
"Nice shooting kid" Clint says. Wow no one has really complemented me honestly before. I look at the ground and mumble thanks before giving him back his bow.
"Wanna try with a gun?" Agent Romanoff asked me.
"Romanoff she can't fire a gun she's underage" Maria says.
"Now that I have done before, there's an indoor firing range not far from my flat I frequent" I say proudly, I may not The Black Widow but I can shoot.
"Fine, but don't tell Fury" Maria huffs. Agent Romanoff hand me a glock nine millimetre and there's a full magazine on the table in front of me. Before she can instruct me how to, I pick up the magazine and load it, take the safety off and aim to shoot. She smirks and raises her hand, waits a moment then lowers it telling me to fire at will. I shoot the full mag, half into the heart, double tap to the head and the remaining three into the centre.
"Wow" Both Clint and Maria say.
"She's like a minnie you Nat" Barton says and I smile proudly.
"I've been going there since I was sixteen, that took me close to a year to learn and perfect. I can also do moving targets now, but not well" I explain.
"Alright then come on, let's get to the tower before Tony manages to blow it up and ruin your opportunity to see it" Clint says packing away his bow. Agent Romanoff takes the gun and packs the rest of her equipment away. Maria walks us out and I get into the car with Clint and Agent Romanoff who is driving.
"Were you really worried I was going to kill you?" She asked me.
"Well when Tony told me you were the Black Widow, I panicked because not hours before I was sassing you, and then proceeded to give you bad news. So I guessed you didn't like me" I say trying to get it all out in one nervous breath. Both Agent Romanoff and Clint chuckled at that.
"No I'm not going to kill you, and no I don't dislike you. Actually I do like you; you've impressed and surprised me. Not many have done that" She says smiling, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
"Thank you Agent Romanoff, like Tony said you're my favourite Avenger. You and Clint actually saved my life in the battle of New York though I doubt you remember" I say.
"Really?" Clint asked.
"Yeah, my mum and I were there for my Ballet concert as I was on temporary lone to the New York Ballet company and our car was hit in the first wave. My mother died instantly, but I managed to get out of the car with just a broken wrist. When I got out I ran into a nearby shop, just to get off the street but they were taking down buildings. That's when I was a black plane crash not far from the store. Then you and Agent Romanoff started shooting the aliens giving me the time and distraction to run past them and out of the way" I say recounting the story with ease, but it was anything but easy.
"Oh I'm sorry about your mother" Clint says.
"Were you wearing a blue jacket black pants and hair in a bun?" Agent Romanoff asked me.
"Yes, Why?" I asked confused.
"I remember you, you took down one of the chituri as you rounded the corner with a bin lid right?" She asked. Clint turned around to look at me impressed.
"Err yeah, I just came around the corner and there it was. I panicked and started hitting with the first object I grabbed which was a bin lid. I bashed it around the head and just ran" I say blushing.
"Nice kid"
"Thanks Clint, but would you please stop calling me kid?" I ask.
"No, before sure, but now I know your 18, nope" He said popping the 'p' and grinning like an idiot.
"Here we are" Agent Romanoff says as we pull up in front of Stark Tower. It's much bigger than I remember, as we get out of the car Agent Romanoff turns to me.
"Oh and Helga, you can call me Natasha" She says not even smiling but I gather this is progress.
"Please call me Hel, I hate Helga" I say smiling nicely. She just nods and we walk into Stark Tower.