Disclaimer: I own nothing of Marvel/Disney. Anything else original is my own.
Authors Note: I'm BACK! Thanks for the patience. Super excited about getting this story up and running. The story is completely done and editing has begun. Shout out to my Beta RyotPixie, who is always the best. Now, without anymore delay, I welcome you back.
There's Been A Development
Steve walks over to the side of the Quinjet and begins to check the gear. As everyone is getting ready to dive; he walks around Natasha as he speaks into his wrist communicator. "Secure channel seven."
Natasha raises her wrist, "Seven secure." She begins to pack her things, "Did you do anything fun Saturday night?" She asks.
Steve puts a comm into his ear and looks over to his partner, "Well, all the guys from my barbershop quartet are dead, so... No, not really."
Natasha smirked, "You know, if you ask Kristen out from Statistics, she'd probably say yes."
Steve secured his helmet, "That's why I don't ask." He pressed open on the cargo bay doors.
Natasha stepped forward, "Too shy or too scared?
Steve walked backwards, "Too busy," then with a small smile jumped out of the jet.
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Kendra pulled into her parking garage beneath her apartment and swiftly located her parking spot. Putting the car into park and turning off the engine, she took the keys out of her ignition and grabbed the backpack from her passenger seat. She moved out of the vehicle and locked it as she walked to the elevator. Stepping inside, she let out an exhausted sigh as she pressed the button for her floor. She places her hands on either side of her and takes in the silence.
One would think after 5 months she would be used to this.
5 months.
It had been 5 months since Fury pulled her from the lab in New York and told her she was being reassigned to DC.
His only explanation was that they were creating a new research team and he wanted the best, so she was being relocated. She didn't press the issue. Just a week before she had been through another debrief about her past and abilities from the world security council, it made sense if Fury was heading to DC he would want to keep an eye on her, besides, their lab it turns out was top notch and she felt right at home.
The elevator doors opened and she swiftly made her way out, eager to change into something more comfortable and pour herself a glass of wine. She was sure there was some kind of leftovers just waiting to be reheated.
Pulling her keys from her pocket, she inserted them into the door and unlocked the bolt, the latch released and she opened it and stepped inside.
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Cap latched his shield to his back and Black Widow parachuted down onto the deck to join him as they walked across the deck.
"What about the nurse that lives across the hall from you?" Widow continued to pressure, "She seems kind of nice."
Cap wasn't having any of it, "Secure the engine room, then find me a date."
"I'm multitasking!" Widow yelled as she jumped over the railing to the deck below.
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The microwave beeps and Kendra took a sip of wine before walking over. She opened the microwave and grabbed her leftover pad thai before placing it on the counter. She opened a drawer and got out some untincils before picking everything up and walking into her living room.
She placed her food and wine on the coffee table and was just about to lean back into her chair when there was a knock on her door. Kendra looked at her watch and frowned, it was past 9 and she wasn't expecting company.
Dragging herself up she walked over to the door and stood on her tippy toes to look through the peephole to see who was on the other side. She pulled her face away and relaxed on her heels as she shook her head with a sigh. She reached and unlatched the door opening it. Director Fury stood on the other side.
"Director," She acknowledged, "House calls this late? It must be important."
"Agent Andrews, I need you to come with me. There's been a development and I need you back at the lab immediately."
Kendra rested her head against the doorway and stared at her boss. She closed her eyes and nodded.
"Fine. But I am bringing the food."
Fury rolled his eyes, "You have 10 minutes, I'll be downstairs." Fury walked down the hall to the elevator and Kendra shut her door; she turned and stared longingly at her TV and wine, knowing she wasn't going to get to relax tonight. She headed into her bedroom and began changing and packing her bag.
If Fury had come to her place without so much of a phone call, something was about to go down.
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...
It was late, Natasha and Steve were alone in the medical center redressing after getting checked out by the doctor.
Natasha pulled her jacket over her shirt and looked at Steve, "Look, Steve about the boat-"
"You could have blown the mission Natasha," Steve snapped, "I don't appreciate being a pawn in Furys game."
Natasha rolled her eyes, "You are being dramatic, you know if enemies had gotten their hands on our intel we would have a bigger problem."
Steve sat on the med bed and shook his head, "And if we weren't supposed to be there to begin with, what then Nat. At what point do you ask questions."
Natasha shrugged, "Asking questions isn't in my work up. There is a job to get done, I do it." She walked over to the door and turned back to Steve, "We don't have much room for error Rogers, sometimes secrets keep people alive."
"Keeping secrets does seem to be your expertise," Steve shot back.
Natasha bit the inside of her cheek and crossed her arms, "Funny, you want to talk about secrets. Why don't you head down to the main research lab, say hello to our resident demigod."
Steve blinked, "What?"
"Oh?" She pushed herself off the doorway, "You didn't know? Agent Andrews got reassigned. She's in DC. Has been for quite some time. Looks like Fury isn't the only one keeping things from you."
With that she walked out of the medical bay and was on her way.
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...
Steve walked with a purpose into Fury's office ready to fight with his superior officer. "You just can't stop yourself from lying, can you?"
Nick Fury stared out the window, refusing to acknowledge Steve as he walked into the room, "I didn't lie. Agent Romanoff had a different mission than yours."
Steve walked to the desk unamused, "Which you didn't feel obliged to share."
Fury kept looking away, "I'm not obliged to do anything."
Steve looked down to the director, "Those hostages could've died, Nick."
Fury finally turned to give a look of hard resolve at the good Captain, "I sent the greatest soldier in history to make sure that didn't happen."
"Soldiers trust each other, that's what makes it an army. Not a bunch of guys running around and shooting guns."
Fury stood up from his desk, "The last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye."
They took a moment taking each other in. Fury broke the silence.
"Look, I didn't want you doing anything you weren't comfortable with. Agent Romanoff is comfortable with everything."
Steve was determined to make his point, "I can't lead a mission when the people I'm leading have missions of their own."
"It's called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all."
"Except you." Steve points to Fury.
"You're wrong about me. I do share." Fury jokes, "I'm nice like that."
"Like letting me know you brought in Agent Andrews, transferred her to D.C."
Fury walked around his desk, "What Agent Andrews decides to share with her colleagues and friends is up to her. I'm just the one who gave her new orders. We have a huge new development center down in the labs and she was the best fit. Now, Mr. Rogers, follow me." He continued and walked into the elevator in his office. Steve followed behind him.
"Insight bay." Fury said aloud as they walked inside.
"Captain Rogers does not have clearance for Project Insight." The computer alerted. The men stood at opposite ends of the elevator.
"Director override, Fury, Nicholas J." He verified.
"Confirmed." The elevator starts moving down.
"You know, they used to play music." Steve joked.