Summary: A collection of little snippets from Ben and Nat's living together. A/N:This was probably the most cumbersome chapter yet.
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A Spy's Life
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THE TALK
...
It had been just over a month since Ben and Natasha had their heartfelt conversation, they'd finally given into their feelings and decided to try being with each other. It was on the whole, a pleasantly new experience for them both and definitely a step up from the strained sensual tension that seemed to permeate their earlier interactions before that night. Afterward, the duo had both taken the plunge and found themselves on the other end, soon they were waking up to each other in bed.
Of course, they'd decided to take things slowly. Or at least, as slowly as the ill-defined boundaries of their quasi-relationship could accommodate. They were both keen on testing the waters first, while Ben was eager to oblige at every given turn. Of course, taking it slowly didn't wholly apply to the more…physical aspects of their relationship than anyone might expect, being the two virile adults they were who were just as attracted to each other.
Natasha's eyes fluttered open she woke up in her, or should she say their bed, a familiar aroma wafting from her apartment's kitchen that she'd been getting used to ever since he'd unceremoniously moved in. With her. Truth be told, the Omnitrix-Wielder spent more time in her apartment than in the million-dollar penthouse he'd been house-sitting for Tony. It felt surreal, having someone actually live with her, filling the vacant silence that once defined her environment.
Stretching her limbs with a soft sigh, she looked around before grabbing one of his discarded black tees (the nearest item of clothing she could find) and making her way to the kitchen. The redhead was subsequently greeted to the sight of Ben Tennyson, his back turned to her, humming to himself while making their breakfast. Like the silent spy she was, Natasha made her way towards his back and embraced him gently, the shapeshifter stiffening in surprise before relaxing as he realized who it was.
"Morning", Nat murmured, feeling his body shudder at her touch. He chuckled lightly before craning his neck to glance at the redhead over his shoulder. She simply hugged him tighter, deeply breathing in his scent while snuggled into his back.
"Morning to you too, sleepyhead", he joked, "guess there goes my Breakfast in Bed surprise...".
"I'm a spy, Ben", Natasha kissed his shoulder softly, cradling his back in her hug, "you'll have to do a lot better than that if you want to surprise me"
"Is that a challenge, Agent Romanov?", Ben raised an eyebrow
"Maybe", Natasha drawled, eyes flittering innocently with a devious smirk "...or maybe it's just an observation".
"Well, you can observe without distracting me"
"Am I distracting you?...", her fingers crept upward, lightly teasing the muscles on his back, her breath heavy on his neck. He squirmed a little before straightening, whipping his head around with half-serious glance at the smug redhead.
"What about now?", she whispered, her breath hot on his ear, causing him to blush profusely. It didn't take the spy long to know his vulnerable points, the one behind his ear the most prominent.
"...not helping, Agent Romanov"
Natasha shrugged, grinning mischievously before finally relenting. Her curiosity finally got the better of her as she peeked over his shoulder, "So what are you making?"
"Nothing much, just pancakes and bacon...you're out of milk by the way". Ben offhandedly remarked as he tossed the empty carton.
"Well...didn't realize how much I needed a nanny", a saucy smirk crept on her features.
"Ben Tennyson, totally hunky nanny, at your service", he turned around fully, meeting her face to face, dorky grin and all.
"Hmmm...", She murmured, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. Ben was the first to break away, urgently turning back to the stove.
"Now let me get back to work before I accidentally end up burning down your apartment". They both shared a chuckle as they parted, Ben resumed his cooking while Natasha observed in relative silence, biting her lip as she pondered on their unique situation.
Taking it slow and feeling things out was supposed to be their goal, but here he was, in Natasha's apartment, making her breakfast. Could they even be called casual anymore?
She couldn't lie, the prospect of a steady, serious relationship was as enticing despite the dangers involved. The hectic lives they led, especially her lives, made the prospect of any long-term relationship seem like a distant dream, a blissful mirage of hope and desire.
"Hey, Ben?"
"Yeah?"
"We need to talk", she said. Ben halted at the ominous words, detecting the somberness in her voice. Normally those words would often spell the end of a relationship, especially those ill-defined by circumstances.
"About what?", he asked tentatively, adjusting the temperature of the stove. He turned to face her, leaning on the counter opposite the redhead.
"It's about the Task Force"
Months ago, Steve had come by the Tower and recruited the shapeshifter into his counter Terrorism unit, and the shapeshifter obliged without much resistance. This was Captain America after all.
"What about it?", He asked after a brief pause. Then again, he shouldn't be surprised that Natasha knew. She was a spy, after all, a scarily good one at that. A big tangled ball of secrets, Tony had once said.
They both knew that for their liaison to deepen into something more defined and less like a workplace affair, Natasha's past would need to eventually be confronted by them both.
"I don't think you should join"
The shapeshifter raised a puzzled eyebrow, "...uhh, why not?"
"Because it's not exactly like your line of work"
"My line of work is saving people, Nat. Doesn't matter who asks", he said pointedly. It irked him that despite
"It's not just about saving people Ben", The redhead was quick to remind him, "You'll be working with us, with SHIELD. And we do a lot of things that you might find questionable. I know that sometimes I do...", she half-muttered, her eyes momentarily downcast.
"I mean, Cap's gonna be there..."
"C'mon Ben, do you really think he became the symbol of America by doing charity work in soup kitchens?" She rolled her eyes in exasperation, the implication hung in the air. Captain America was a good soldier, but he was a soldier nonetheless. That meant he still followed orders, many of which would be at odds with what passed for a conscience back in his time.
The shapeshifter took a long look at her before turning back, his focus now on the pancakes, "Welp too bad, it's not like I can just back out anymore"
"Yes you can, Ben"
"Well I can't, I already promised Cap"
"Then just tell him that you changed your mind"
Ben chuckled lightly as he moved the golden brown cakes on a plate with the bacon, switching off the stove with a sharp twist of the knob, "And what would that make me?"
"...this isn't about pride, Ben", she folded her hands as he turned back to face her.
"You're right...it's not about pride, Nat", Ben snapped, taking a moment to heave a frustrated sigh, "I mean sure, a part of it is. But I figured being on Cap's task force can also expand my repertoire"
"Your repertoire?", the Agent queried
"Y'know, exposure and stuff", he explained, "Plus I'd make a badass agent, dont'cha think?"
"Ben, I need you to be serious for once.."
"I am serious, Nat", his voice rose an octave. The tension hung in the air, thick and palpable. His eyes softened as he met her worried gaze, a swell of emotions hidden behind the calm blues.
She folded her arms, sighing deeply. Ben was nothing if not stubborn, just like her. Of course, his stubbornness could easily be attributed to the shapeshifter's indomitable will and dogged determination to do the right thing. It was part of what she found attractive in him, after all.
But the spy life was played by a different set of rules, rules that severely clashed with the Omnitrix Wielder's grounded views. She'd seen the spy life good people turn into monsters, drain every last bit of rectitude and decency, leaving them nothing but warped and hollow shells of themselves, easily bent to the will of the powers that be.
How much of Ben would remain if he ever became an agent? How would he perceive her, after seeing the full extent of everything she'd done?
Keep him out of your mess, Banner's words echoed within the walls of her mind . Despite the fact they weren't official by any means, Natasha couldn't help feeling like the worried girlfriend. How would she be able to put all of this, everything she felt, into mere words? At the very least she could find some common ground to operate on
"Ben, look me in the eye and be honest", she urged, unfurling her arms while holding his gaze, "why do you want this? Why now?"
The teen's shoulders sank as he let out another sigh, hesitation halting his words momentarily. "I...look, I know I'm not exactly spy material, and I'm not saying I'm gonna be okay with everything SHIELD does..."
He reached out and softly tucked away strands of hair from her face, "I'm doing this because I want to help...and I also want to understand you more"
Stunned, she looked up at him with a querying look, "What do you mean by that?"
Ben shrugged, "It's just...you already know how my life works, guess I just wanna understand yours too. I mean...this is a big part of your life Nat, I wanna be a part of that"
So much for taking it slow, the redhead mused, nonplussed as she listened to his confession. Part of Natasha couldn't deny her heart to flutter a little at his words, at the shapeshifter's relentless attempt to know her, all of her, simply because he cared. Her other part, the agent side of her was filled with trepidation. How much did he need to know?
She took another breath, "Ben–just promise me..."
"I'll be fine okay? And I'll be on my best behavior, scouts honor!", Ben joked, hand raised in a mock pledge, eliciting a chuckle from the redhead. It felt oddly comforting, how the shapeshifter could get on her nerves and lighten her mood simultaneously, within the same instance.
"Somehow I doubt that", she rolled her eyes playfully before her visage clouded once again.
"Ben, what I do...what I've done, I don't expect you to be okay with all of it", she sighed wearily, barely able to keep eye contact as she addressed the shapeshifter. "I don't expect you to pretend to be okay with it. There's a gonna be a lot of compromises. It's part of the spy life, it's part of my job".
She inched closer, letting him see the warm blues in her eyes as she faced him with a grim visage.
"And I need to be able to do my job and know that you'll be able to deal with it. If we're gonna work together on the same team, we have to be the perfect handler and asset. And my job as a handler is to keep you out of trouble, and yours is to listen to your handler"
Ben nodded slowly. Maybe not as enthusiastically as she'd hoped, but nonetheless, he silently voiced his acquiescence
Sensing more of his hesitation, she continued, "Hey, just because you can deal with it doesn't mean we can't talk about it later. But I need to know you can get over it, occasionally, if there's no other way"
"There's always a way, Nat", Ben pointed, perhaps too quickly. She shook her head, fixing him with a hard gaze.
"I trust that you'll find one Ben, you always do", she replied, laying everything on the metaphorical table "just...trust me, okay? Whether we're on the field or alone together"
"You know I do", he whispered.
"I need you to promise me. I promise I will always be here by your side to help you along the way, but you have to promise that whatever happens, you won't let it change you. Promise me that I won't lose you, Ben"
"I promise, Nat," he said, this time without hesitation. Ben finally relented, the tension dissipating from his shoulders. She beamed, reaching upwards to grab the sides of his face in her palms before kissing him softly, her soft lips on his. The moment of sweet bliss lingered before they parted, a slight blush on the shapeshifter's expression.
"Dunno about you, but I could go for some breakfast right now", Ben announced with a grin.
"M'lady, your breakfast awaits", an exaggerated flourish accompanied his invitation, "prepared by your very own overly handsome butler slash pancake chef!"
"Hmmm...my hero, saving the day one pancake at a time", she mused, joining him in the cozy confines of her living quarters, indulging in the simple breakfast, the atmosphere radiating with the soft glow of the morning that seeped through the windows.
Neither of them was, of course, under the impression that one passionate, emotional discussion would solve all of their issues as far as relationships in general, and their relationship with each other in particular were concerned. They were not naive by any means, and they were both going into this with their eyes open.
They both knew, especially Natasha, that sometimes it would be hard, and there would be difficulties and misunderstandings and fights. But she also knew that if they had each other, somehow, they'd find a way to work it out
Together.
...
TRAINING DAY, PART 2
...
WHAP!!!! THUD!!! BOOM!!!
"Again!"
Ben couldn't help feeling a sense of deja vu as he clutched his ribs, once again questioning how he got here. Not too long after his talk with Nat about the task force, the superspy had approached him with a proposition: a full sparring session to gauge his level of preparedness and get him in the right mindset
"Nat, do I really have to do this?", Ben lamented, "I'm a superhero for crying out loud!"
"Well, show me what you can do, hero", she simply replied, before practically dragging him to the Tower's gym. The plan was simple, Ben needed to get the spy basics drilled into him, and what better than a physical demonstration by his handler?
Which of course led to the current sparring session between Ben and his handler. The shapeshifter barely throwing on a shirt over his sweatpants, while she was already in shorts and a training bra, hair tied up in a loose ponytail.
"Seriously Ben, you actually have to try and hit me or we'll be here all day", she scoffed in amusement as he staggered back to his feet.
"Why do I feel like this is a tra–"
WHAP!!
"Ow! I wasn't ready!"
"You're not supposed to be" Nat stalked the Omnitrix wielder, her piercing gaze never leaving him as she circled. "The bad guys won't take it easy on you, and neither will I". Ben huffed, staggering to his feet before getting back into his fighting stance.
On some level, Ben knew that he was in over his head. Much unlike Steve, Natasha wasn't holding back, or even trying to. Sure, she wasn't firing off kill shots but her strikes still hit hard, fast, and accurately. Despite towering over her and having the reach advantage (Ben had finally hit his growth spurt), she seemed to be the one all over him in a flurry of red and black.
"Again!!"
WHAP!!!
The redhead snapped another roundhouse kick to his midsection, temporarily ripping the air from his lungs. Somehow she was even faster than his ability to read her movements, using feints and elusive footwork to keep him off balance. He knew she was always good, but experiencing a Natasha Romanov beatdown firsthand was completely different
Natasha wasn't physically imposing, but her movement and accuracy were on superhuman levels. In terms of raw martial skills, Nat simply outclassed any one of his rogues, including actual cyborg ninjas like Six-Six. Fast, precise, not to mention overwhelmingly distracting in her workout outfit, Nat possessed every possible advantage in their heated engagement.
"Aww…ready to quit yet?", Nat cooed as she relaxed her stance, hand on her hip. Her breath was slightly ragged but still free from exhaustion, a light sheen of perspiration coating her skin.
"Pfft, I haven't even shown you my moves yet", Ben retorted, trying to hide his exhaustion as much as possible.
"Moves huh?", she mocked, her lips twisted in a sly grin, "well they better be pretty damn amazing if you've been keeping them all this while"
Hands raised, Ben opted to approach Natasha, trying to recall the defensive techniques he'd learned from his time with Steve. As it turned out, Nat could also read him like an open book. A jab here, a follow-up there, Nat parried and threw counters of her own, nearly tagging the Omnitrix Wielder save for his athleticism and evasiveness.
"Oof!", Ben groaned, "Nat, you don't–"
WHOOSH. He ducked under a right cross, her punch breezing past his head.
"--have to–"
WHAM! He didn't duck under the second fast enough, catching a kick to the midsection while throwing his hands up in defense.
"--take my head off"
WHOOSH
Ben sidestepped a dangerous body kick before swiveling to his left, launching a counter kick of his own. Like something out of a movie, the redhead simply threw back her head with swan-like grace, easily avoiding the kick.
"Looks like the kid's got some moves", Nat joked, "not bad, Tennyson"
Ben started pressing forward, throwing light jabs and hooks in a bid to wear down the superspy's defenses. As expected she made short work of his attacks, easily parrying his strikes while her footwork kept her on the move. The Omnitrix wielder was anticipating this, Nat was a striking wizard after all. He simply bided his time, setting up his trap.
WHUMP!
Nat's eyes widened temporarily as Ben shot for a takedown, using a full frontal charge he slammed into the redhead. Attempting to escape from the tackle, she realized he'd backed her into a corner, using pressure to keep her pinned. Driving forwards with a pile driver, the wall serving as leverage, Ben heaved her up before taking the fight to the mat, a loud THUMP echoing through the walls of the gymnasium as the redhead got slammed hard on the ground
She was caught completely off guard, the move so unexpected coming from him after the last two hours of parried attacks, broken holds and awkward tackles, finding herself lying on her back, staring up at his smug face only inches from hers, the breath completely driven from her lungs. Natasha was sure it wasn't just the fall that gave her trouble breathing.
"Heh, toldya", he jeered, bearing down on her with a cheeky grin.
Effectively sandwiched between the shapeshifter's frame and the mat, Natasha simply looked up at him, grinning coyly, "I guess got me, hero...what are you gonna do now?"
"Guess it means I win this round", Ben managed to pin her movements down keeping her grounded. She was surprisingly stronger than she looked, her tight-knit biceps flexing periodically while she squirmed underneath the shapeshifter.
"Getting a little ahead of ourselves aren't we, alien boy?", She cocked her head amusedly, still panting slightly as her heart thumped loudly from their exercise.
"Nah, just stating the obvious…", Ben shrugged, a lot more worn out than she was. "...and don't feel bad for losing, I had a pretty great teacher"
The superspy chuckled, a low rumble that sent shivers down his spine. She snaked up an arm, dragging a finger from his cheek down to his chest. "Looks like the student has become the master"
"So do I get a reward?"
She hummed in response, her face inching closer to his as she whispered,".. lean closer"
Ben paused in suspicion, regarding the redhead with a critical eye. She merely threw him an innocent smile, subtly gauging his reaction. On some level, he knew she was baiting him. On the other hand, she knew that he knew. The cat and mouse game between them seemed to fuel their interactions, skirting the line between training banter and brazen flirtation.
Before he knew what he was doing, the shapeshifter leaned in, guided by her skillful hand. Within an instant, her legs shot upwards from under him, wrapping around his shoulders before flipping their position in a perfectly executed reversal technique.
"Ooooff!!!!", Ben felt the wind knocked out of him as the redhead ended on top, smirking down devilishly on the shapeshifter.
"Looks like the student has a lot to learn", Nat commented, straddling the Omnitrix Wielder, pinning both arms over his head.
Dammit, Ben mentally groaned, Of course it was a trap! He'd merely the illusion of gaining the upper hand only for he redhead to literally pull the rug under him, trapping him as he once did her. Naturally he could blame it on her superior skill, but also on the surprising sense of vulnerability that came with simply being around the redhead. Her monkier was earned, not given.
"No fair!", Ben lamented weakly, a crooked smile plastered on his face. Despite his vulnerable state, he couldn't help but be in awe of her prowess. Natasha was as dangerous as she wanted to be, as lethal as she was beautiful. The shapeshifter couldn't help but be drawn even closer to her, the thrill of danger juxtaposed against the allure of her presence and it's obvious effects on him.
"All's fair in love and war, Tennyson"
"And what's this?", he snarked, feeling the atmosphere heat up, "love or war?"
"Hmmm", she leaned in close, "what you think, Alien boy?"
"I...uhhhhh", Ben felt his mind shut down as her familiar musk clouded his senses. Her luscious red locks slung over her shoulder, hastily tied in a crude braid.
She smirked in response. Like a Widow holding her prey, Natasha decided to tease him a bit, keep the game going. She released his hands, slowly placing them on each side of her hips. The redhead could practically hear him gulp in excitement, his verdant eyes dilated in arousal as his fingers caressed her warm skin.
"What's that? No more fancy quips?", She murmured, lips hovering over this ear. Ben could barely remember what they were doing there, the brilliant vision of the redhead was all that occupied his thoughts.
"Looks like I win", her voice dropped lower as she closed the gap, their lips caught in a seating kiss. It wasn't long before their hands roamed, their heated interaction practically turning the gym into a sauna.
BEEEPBEEPBEEP
Nat's communicator blared warningly, interrupting their impromptu makeout session. Ben groaned inwardly, a low whine that made the redhead grin beside herself.
"Duty calls", she got up, pulling the shapeshifter along before going for the communicator, placing the device to her ear in concentration. Needless to say, Ben could not hate Nick Fury anymore than he already did at that moment.
"If it's Fury, tell him he's a douchebag"
"Don't be a sourpuss, Ben", Natasha said, silencing his protests with another chaste kiss, "you'll just have to be patient for your reward, won't you?"
His resentment quickly evaporated as the redhead sauntered past him, communicator in hand. Ben could swear she put an extra sway in her hips as she walked past, almost like she enjoyed dragging out his torture.
She was going to be the death of him, but at least he'd die happy
...
MEETING THE TEAM
...
It had been a week since Ben had been introduced to STRIKE, or Special Tactical Reserve for International Key Emergencies, a Special Ops unit created by SHIELD as a Counter-Terrorist Agency that carried out the most confidential of operations under the purview of the clandestine organization.
According to Natasha, there was another branch of the Black Ops unit codenamed STRIKE Team: Delta, which consisted of specialist S.H.I.E.L.D. agents including herself and Clint Barton. However, prior to the events leading up to the Battle of New York, STRIKE Team Delta had been disbanded.
Currently, Ben mused on the current members, each supposedly representing the best of the best, handpicked by Fury himself. Aside from Ben, Natasha and Steve, the team was comprised of SHIELD's own elite. Needless to say, the shapeshifter's opinions on the team were... interesting to say the least.
First up was Melinda May, codenamed the Calvary. A veteran pilot and a good friend of Phil Coulson, she was as tough and professional as they came. According to reports, she'd withdrawn from field duty after a tragic incident that seemed to have affected her on a deep, personal level. Her cold gaze seemed to constantly sweep over the shapeshifter (or anyone in her vicinity) as if she constantly assessed anything and anyone as a threat. Melinda seldom spoke and when she did it was in measured, clipped tones. Regardless, she possessed a warm yet fierce protectiveness for her team that radiated on missions, always looking out for each and every member of the team with the vigilance and fervor of her other moniker: Mama Bear.
Grant Ward, aka The Cannon, reminded Ben of a younger, more juvenile Kevin both in looks and attitude. He was tall, gruff, and anti-social, with a healthy dose of anger issues to boot. While their personalities clashed, Ben and Ward maintained somewhat of a friendly rivalry, the latter doing his best not to be outdone by Ben's prowess on the field. Needless to say, it was an uphill battle against the shapeshifter.
Unlike Kevin however, Ward displayed a rigid moral code, never wavering no matter the situation. Cool and calm under pressure, with a somewhat mean streak to him, the typical agent package. Yet something about him ticked Ben off, for whatever reason the shapeshifter couldn't place his finger on it.
"Coming through, hotshot!", a blonde's voice rang out.
Barbara "Bobbi" Morse, codenamed "Mockingbird" was nothing like the textbook spy. Tough as nails, sharp-witted with the curiosity of a bloodhound, Bobbi was surprisingly the team's resident scientist. Despite her background, she was a capable fighter, with a ferocity Coulson had likened to "a Hell-beast Amazon". Interestingly, the blonde was the only Agent who reacted with wide-eyed amusement upon seeing the Omnitrix Wielder transform for the first time during the training, promptly warming up to the shapeshifter. Much to Ben's chagrin, Bobbi's easygoing nature also came prepackaged with the darkest sense of humor he'd seen.
"DID YOU see that guy I shot? Heyoo!!!", Barbara exclaimed as her eyes lit up with glee, "His head blew up like a watermelon! Crazy amiright?!"
Needless to say, she could easily unnerve anyone around her. Anyone except Lance, who simply hung his head in embarrassment.
"Do you always have to remind everyone in such graphic detail?"
Amadeus Ravenclaw "Lance" Hunter, former British soldier and mercenary and also Barbara's ex-paramour, was the team's munitions expert. Ben found him surprisingly chill and down to earth despite his background as a hired gun, the two getting along pretty easily.
While they were divorced, Lance and Bobbi still maintained their relationship, always flirting with each other as the team's resident couple. A fact that made Ben a little jealous, keeping his relationship with Nat under wraps.
Bobbi shrugged nonchalantly, "Hey when you're as good as I am, you get to brag. Unless you're Rollins, then you're just good...and weird"
The dark-haired man in question gave no expression in response. Jack Rollins, the team marksman, was the very epitome of silent-but-deadly. On missions, he was no-nonsense, taciturn, and stoic. Always all about "the mission". Much as the same when he was off-duty. Ben assumed Rollins probably wouldn't brush his teeth if it wasn't in " the mission".
"Alright, team, mission debrief! I need everyone on point for this!"
Of course, there was the team hardass, Brock Rumlow. Professional yet abrasive, he served as the unofficial "right hand" to Cap himself. While a highly trained, highly professional operative, Brock Rumlow had the personality of a power tool. A tool in every sense of the word.
Out of the three Avengers on the team, Rumlow always seemed to only have a problem with Ben himself, their clashing ideologies sparking a deep rift between the two. Rumlow preferred to follow the mission at any cost, Ben would always seek some kind of compromise no matter the situation. Nevertheless, tensions never reached boiling point owing to Cap's overbearing presence and timely intervention…most of the time.
Overall, Ben seemed to find his stride with the team, making acquaintances with some and steering clear of the others. Being the youngest on the team ( story of his life), he had a chip on his shoulder. He was the Anomaly, the odd one out, despite not being the only superhuman on the team. While some like Rumlow expected the shapeshifter to be out of his depth, others like Bobbi were curious enough about the shapeshifter
What exactly was his own place in all of this? With them?
"Hey", a familiar blonde broke Ben out of his thoughts as she approached him, a warm hand softly nudging his shoulder.
Sharon Carter, aka Agent 13, was the team's Intel and Communications specialist. Ben wasn't sure why SHIELD had a thing for oddly specific numbers, but then again this was SHIELD, they probably had numbers for everything.
If Ben remembered correctly, Sharon had been one of the few who held her own against the Circus Freaks during the attack on the Helicarrier, an impressive feat in itself. The blonde often carried herself with an air of self-assured confidence, while not being as combat heavy as the rest of the team she definitely proved she could hold her own in a fight.
"You okay? You were oddly silent during the debrief...which says a lot", she asked. Sharon, in stark contrast to everyone else, seemed the most normal, if that even applied anymore.
Ben couldn't help but be affronted, "Hey what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, just making sure you were actually paying attention", she commented wryly. Despite her friendly demeanor, Sharon looked like she knew more than she let on.
"I have you know I was paying attention this time!"
Sharon smirked as she folded her arms, "So you're gonna be writing the reports then?"
"I...uhh...", The shapeshifter fidgeted uncomfortably as he absently scrambled for a way out of the quagmire he'd inadvertently created for himself. Paperwork was the bane of Ben's existence, the very notion of slaving away at some desk of drudgery made him squirm. He'd rather listen to another god-awful Shag Carpeting album on repeat. Nonstop.
"I think I'll take it from here, Agent 13...", Natasha seemed to appear out of nowhere, the redheaded savior to the rescue. The blonde shook her head as Ben was practically dragged out of the meeting room.
"That was close", Ben sighed in relief once out of earshot, much to Nat's chagrin.
The redhead was quick to notice that despite Ben being a natural on the field, being able to pick up things people twice his age had difficulty with, stuff like paperwork served as a foil to his Unsurprising, considering his background, the spy life wasn't all glamor and perks as he'd assumed.
"Don't mention it, hero...just put on my tab", she whispered conspiratorially.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm gonna regret this later?"
"Probably cuz I'm always gonna be saving your ass"
"Well, it is an ass worth saving...", Ben joked, Natasha rolling her eyes in response, her lips curved in a slight smirk. The two made their way through the facility, before reaching the observation deck. On a normal day, the facility would be swarming with SHIELD Agents, today it seemed mostly vacant save for the few maintenance crew on the ground. It wasn't much in terms of privacy, but at least the duo could converse without the impending threat of unwanted ears.
"Y'know, I don't think Rumlow likes me very much...", Ben leaned on the railing overlooking the site.
"Well Rumlow doesn't like a lot of people...and a lot of people don't like him", Natasha placed a hand on her hip as she queried the shapeshifter, "and since when do you care?"
"I don't...", Ben shrugged, "figured I'd just get that outta the way".
"Where are you going?"
"Well, technically I'm a freelancer, so I don't have to stay here longer than I'd like to be"
A knowing smile crept on her face, "You still don't like it here do you?"
"And I don't think that's ever gonna change". There was always going to be baggage between him and SHIELD, time notwithstanding. The new team certainly had its quirks, and Ben could admit a few of them were growing on him.
"But hey..there's no shame in quitting now..", Nat remarked, a mischievous smile on her features.
"Not on your life, Agent Romanov", Ben replied cheekily, "sorry to disappoint you, but this asset's going nowhere!", she smacked his arm lightly in response, which he countered by sticking out his tongue at her.
"Besides," Ben asked, "since when did I ever quit on something?"
"Maybe cuz you're too stubborn for your own good?"
He winked, "Part of my charm, red". The two shared another grin before the shapeshifter turned to the railing, dialing up the Omnitrix.
"Welp, better get going then...",
"Ben?"
"Yeah?", He paused, his hand hovering over the Omnitrix.
"Are you...doing anything tomorrow?",
"No, why? Do we have a mission you didn't tell me about? Cuz I totally zoned out at the debrief," he said, wracking his brain before groaning, " wait, are we going to inventory the armory again? I thought that was Lance's job!"
Natasha chuckled at his antics, not that she found his discomfort funny, or anything, it was just that she couldn't help herself teasing the shapeshifter.
"No, we don't have a mission and we don't have to inventory the armory," she rolled her eyes amusedly
"Alrighty then, looks like my schedule just opened wide up!", Ben grinned.
"Great, let's get takeout together…go someplace new". While she enjoyed chili fries and burgers as much as the next New Yorker, there was only so much greasy food she could take.
"Ohhh nice! We could totally try out the new Sumo Slammers-themed restaurant! Y'know the one with the pagodas and stuff!"
"You're a dork, you know that?"
"And you love me for it", Ben shrugged while returning her smirk with one of his own as he slammed on the Omnitrix, taking off as Jetray.
Ben had to admit, he always enjoyed these lingering interactions between him and Nat, the casual banter that bordered precariously on flirting but never seemed to inch over the line. Sometimes he'd hoped there was more, under the surface.
But these little moments, few and far between, were amongst his favorite.
...
ROUTINE
...
The Spy life was indeed unpredictable and uncanny, affecting all aspects of the agent in question. The same held true even for the superspy and the Omnitrix Wielder. Though their lives were far from normal, the duo still managed to establish some grounds of normalcy in their daily routine.
It first started off simply, a mutually agreed on the fact that they couldn't be seen with each other due to the nature of their professional relationship. One of them would go home, to her apartment, before the other.
Then it followed that the one to go home first would ask the other what's for dinner. Depending on what time the other would come back to the apartment, the first person would prepare either takeout or whatever was left in the fridge. Sometimes both.
Often times Ben would get home first, making sure to avoid the numerous bugs he knew littered the apartment. Removing them would do little to allay suspicions, so he simply weathered through by using an alien to bypass them, either Big Chill or Nanomech.
Naturally, the last person home would get Smoothies. Natasha would often shudder at the memory of Ben with over 50 different flavors of the beverage in her apartment, practically begging her to sample each one.
"It's for the Mr Smoothies brand, they need me!", He said, making the most adorable puppy face ever. Of course, she couldn't refuse when he was being all cute and persuasive. Despite her reservations, she grew a certain fondness for smoothies after that experience.
However, things tended to go awry with the routine. For instance, Natasha trying her hand at a home-cooked pasta recipe. Needless to say, things took a dire turn for the redhead.
Natasha Romanov had accomplished many feats over her lifetime and was capable of even more. And yet, it seemed that the culinary arts somehow escaped her grasp. Frustrated, she huffed at yet another failed attempt, the smoldering fruits of her labor safely disposed of away lest the remains gain sentience and consume them all
To Ben's credit, he was doing his best to be supportive."Nat, it's just pasta and it's not going to explode...again. And hey, at least it won't taste like Grandpa's cooking! Trust me: you don't wanna know what his cooking tastes like"
She remained statuesque, her hollow stare focused on the stove in front of her.
"There, think we got everything we need", Ben said as he laid the remaining ingredients on the counter.
"This is seriously NOT a good idea, Ben", Nat protested. Growing up as she did, cooking was never her strong suit. The Academy didn't help either, as most of their training was focused on less…domestic activities. And before she'd met Ben, that would have been enough. More than enough, even. The personality she had cultivated made her the perfect agent; the perfect weapon. It would have been enough to know that she had done well protecting innocent people for the greater good. But with Ben, it no longer seemed enough, after he had gotten under her skin and wormed his way into her life.
"Why not? It's just spaghetti", the shapeshifter stated, absently chopping the vegetables"We're not even going to go organic. All you have to do is sauté the ingredients a little, we add the sauce, simmer it then little touches here and there. Easy peas–oh God these onions are hurting my eyes!"
Nat giggled into her hand, watching Ben clutch his face
"It's nice to know, that my pain amuses you, Miss Romanoff", Ben huffed, finally able to cool off his eyes in the sink. He turned back to the redhead in mock frustration as she resumed another bout of giggling
"Sorry…", In truth she'd just found his reactions adorable to watch. She turned her attention back to the pot, her discomfort bubbling back to the surface. How could she be stumped by something so rudimentary?
"Just trust me, yeah?", Sensing her unease, Ben tried his best to allay her worries by kissing her on the temple. He handed over the recipe before nodding in satisfaction, "Okay...I guess we have everything".
"Now just follow the instructions, and you'll be fine", Ben made his way out of the kitchen to the pantry, "I'm gonna put away the other stuff"
"Ben?"
"What?", he peeked around the corner
"How long am I even going to cook this?
"Till it's ready!", Came the cheeky reply as he walked away again. Somehow the redhead couldn't help but feel Ben was somewhat enjoying this, watching her squirm. Then again, it could just be payback for the quite recent onion episode.
"That…that doesn't even make sense!", Nat protested, starting to slightly panic. Somehow this was worse than taking down an entire Terrorist group in a submarine with nothing but a pen knife. And of course, Ben had decided to abandon her in the direst of situations
"Deep breaths Romanov..". This was going to be a challenge, but Natasha always rose to the challenge. She wasn't backing out, nor backing down, her determination was strong. This was just another test and she could…
"Errrrr what's that smell?", Ben sniffed, "is something burning?"
CRAP
Half an hour later, dinner was finally ready, Nat heaving a weary sigh of relief. The ordeal was mercifully over and Nat could honestly say it truly wasn't that bad, both the process of cooking and the end result.
Maybe next time they could avoid nearly burning her apartment down.
The duo ate in relative silence until Ben chuckled out of nowhere.
"What?", she asked, a little apprehensive. Ben was technically the first person she'd ever cooked for. Was he finding her culinary attempt humorous?
"Nothing much", Ben replied, "I just…I dunno; I guess I always just assumed you were practically perfect at everything. Who knew cooking was your one weakness?"
"Well, sorry to disappoint, hero", she rolled her eyes sarcastically, "not all of us can be perfect like you"
"No, no…It's just–I guess that means there's a normal girl inside you after all", Ben joked as he swirled his pasta, eventually the redhead's demeanor broke into a fit of chuckles.
"Well, I'm also a handler for a guy that turns into aliens…that's as normal as it gets", Nat retorted, poking fun back with her fork in the air.
"Heh, fair enough Agent Romanov…"
"But hey, I guess...life is just really full of surprises…", she added, causing the shapeshifter to beam brightly as he gleaned down at the Omnitrix.
"You have no idea". The past year felt like a distant memory, with the happenings in between. Yet it had altered their lives irrevocably, bringing the most unlikeliest of change
Another moment of silence passed before Ben spoke up again.
"So what are you gonna make tomorrow?"
"Don't push your luck, Tennyson"
...
THE FIGHT
...
The chill atmosphere in the car accompanied a tense silence as Ben and Nat rode home, the redhead focused on the road as she manned the wheel.
Ben would momentarily steal awkward glances at the redhead while she drove them home, observing the minute changes to her disposition. More flared, eyes unblinking, a death grip on the steering...Ben couldn't help but feel like his 10-year-old self at the principal's office.
"You're mad, aren't you?", He tentatively asked.
"I'm not mad"
"You sound like you're mad"
"You haven't seen me when I'm mad, Ben", her tone was acerbic but measured, gripping the wheel even tighter, "trust me–you don't want to"
"Look, I know it's about what happened earlier..."
"Ben–just let me focus on the road, alright?", Natasha snapped, shutting down the conversation. The duo resigned to ride in silence, Ben's mind traveling back to the earlier events that put them in this position.
It was yet another STRIKE mission, and the team was tasked with a simple retrieval of valuable SHIELD tech from a Sleeper Cell faction. STRIKE had made it in without a hitch, no small thanks to Ben's vast arsenal of useful aliens. Upgrade to handle all alarms, Lodestar to disable heavy artillery, and Armodrillo to clear out obstacles.
However, a major hitch came in the form of an unexpected complication; the Terrorists had civilians on board. Undeterred, Rumlow wanted to finish the mission, regardless of what happened to the non-military personnel on board. Needless to say, Ben was anything but agreeable on the matter. It didn't take long for everything went downhill from there.
A few more tense minutes passed before they arrived back home, Nat practically storming into the apartment before pointing to her sofa
"Sit"
"I'm fine, Nat you don't have t-"
Nat abruptly pulled a chair in front of him, her cold gaze freezing the words in his mouth.
"Ben, quit being immature and sit"
"All right, fine jeez. No need to be so bossy about it", He muttered, raising his hands in mock surrender before taking a seat.
"Stay here", Nat stepped out of the living room momentarily, before returning with an icebag and taking a seat in front of him.
Ben already began to protest, "Nat, I can do th-"
" Stay still", she clipped, causing Ben to sigh as she started dabbing the ice pack on his face. An uncomfortable silence filled the room as she continued to tend to him.
"Oww, hey! Can you take it easy–"
"I'm pulling you out of the task force", Nat interrupted causing Ben's eyebrows to narrow.
"No, you won't"
She stared blankly at him for a second, before resuming her ministrations, "I will, and there's nothing you can do about it"
"You don't get to make choices for me, Nat", Ben retorted coldly, snatching the icepack from her before climbing to his feet in a hurry. The leftover rage from earlier today started bubbling to the surface and he didn't need more to fan the flames.
"Yeah, then who will?", the redhead snarked back, her gaze following him to her room. Ben shrugged off his SHIELD Jacket and shirt before donning a more comfortable old tee. One of many he'd "forgotten" at her apartment.
"Y'know, you were real reckless back there...", Nat stood at the door, leaning with her arms still folded
"Is this about the mission? Is that what–"
"You know damn well it's not about the mission, Ben!", it was her turn to raise her voice, the coldness giving way to mild aggravation. Natasha's calm stoicism in the face of any situation pretty much defined her reputation, yet the shapeshifter found ways to make her throw whatever semblance of self-control she'd built up out the window.
Ben stood in silence before sighing heavily as he sat on the edge of her bed.
The aftermath of the mission saw tempers reaching their very peak as the team came back to base, Rumlow yelling at Ben for nearly jeopardizing the mission. To Ben's credit, despite the mission going off the rails, he'd managed to save both the hostages and retrieve the asset in record time using XLR8, but the team ended up in enemy crosshairs and had to hold their position for fear of being overrun.
"That was completely out of line, Tennyson! We had a mission and you nearly screwed us!"
"Our mission is to help people ", Ben retorted, " Isn't that the job? To stop the bad guys, and protect innocents?! If we're just gonna ignore those people then what's the point?"
"The point is not to put your entire team in jeopardy over your sanctimonious bullshit, Tennyson!", Rumlow retorted, "I have half the mind to cut you for insubordination and sabotage! If you can't handle orders then get the hell off my team!"
While the two went back and forth, Lance and Bobbi watched on in amusement.
"Should we do something or…", asked Lance
Bobbi shrugged nonchalantly, "Nah, I wanna see where this goes"
With tempers nearly reaching a fevered pitch, Sharon had intervened, stepping in between the two with a stern gaze directed at Ben. At first, it seemd as though the blonde had succeeded in keeping the duo apart, that was until Rumlow couldn't resist the final biting remark, setting off the shapeshifter's powder keg.
"And you wonder why we wanna put a muzzle on you freaks…"
WHAM!!
Ben struck first, sending Rumlow back a couple of feet. A silent moment passed as everyone looked on, surprised and shocked faces all around. A moment later, Rumlow retaliated with a strike of his only to eat a hard counter to the left. Soon, it devolved into a slugfest, fists flying and swings taken.
While Rumlow was the bigger man, Ben was more agile and precise in his shots, his regular training sessions with Natasha had truly paid off. The tides changed however, when Rumlow tackled Ben to the ground, using his position to land a series of blows on the shapeshifter. Ben did his best to cover up while Rumlow poured on the pressure, Tennyson keeping up his defense whilst he sought an escape
"How'd you like that huh?", Rumlow taunted as he continued his onslaught, before Ben lashed out blindly, rearing back and swatting the agent across the face with the metallic faceplate of the Omnitrix device.
THUNK!
Rumlow reared back, allowing Ben room to escape. Ben managed to scramble away, staggering to his feet, panting heavily with a venomous gaze aimed at the agent
"Sonofa–", Rumlow examined the newly formed cut on his face, "you little shit!"
Making a beeline for the shapeshifter, Rumlow ended up colliding with a wall of solid muscle, ricocheting off Steve Roger as the Captain intervened at the last moment, stepping between the Agent and the Omnitrix Wielder.
"STAND DOWN!", Steve ordered, his voice booming with authority," both of you!"
"Keep your pet on a leash, Rogers!", Rumlow retorted, still clutching his face as he roared, "this team ain't a fuckin' daycare for snotty nosed brats like that freak!"
Before Ben could lunge at Rumlow in response, Natasha sprung into action. Out of nowhere, the redhead made her appearance behind him, slinging one arm under his armpit and the other around his neck, trapping the shapeshifter in a vice-like grip. The rest of the team finally sprung into action, dissipating the confrontation while Cap fixed Ben with a disappointed stare.
"What you did was stupid", Nat reminded him, "stupid and unprofessional. You're lucky no one arrested you for insubordination".
"Look I'm sorry okay? I lost my temper and it could've gone more badly" Ben admitted, wincing slightly as he glanced over a sore spot. "But if I leave the team, then I basically let him win", he continued, receiving a signature Nat glare as the superspy snatched the ice from his grip.
"Is this what's this all about? Winning? Is that all you care about?"
"Nat, it's not–"
"Then what is it, Ben? Why are you keep forcing yourself on doing something that you don't want? I told you that this life isn't f-"
"Giving up on this life...also means giving up on a part of who you are", Ben cut in, his expression somber as he finally returned her gaze
He admitted with a sigh, "And I don't want that"
She stared at him in disbelief, her anger rapidly deflating seemingly in an instant. A moment passed as she sighed, before taking a seat right beside him
"You can't always just pull something like that, you know", she huffed, causing Ben to chuckle lightly
"Sorry...", The shapeshifter awkwardly massaged his neck.
"I'm serious, Ben. I'm not forcing you into this, Ben. I understand, if you're not okay with this life and I'm never going to hold that against you"
"I know...", He took her hand in his, "and you're not forcing me into anything...I'm doing this because I want to".
Nat looked on as their hands slowly intertwined, deftly taking the icepack and damping his face again. This time she was more gentle with him, more measured in her approach.
"You were right, I was mad", she admitted, "what if...what if something happened to you? Or you got seriously hurt?"
Natasha's fingers glided over his face as she examined bruises, causing Ben to flinch before catching her fingers in his, a teasing grin appearing on his face
"You mean that you're worried about me?"
"No its...of course I...that's not what i'm saying!", she responded vehemently.
"You know, you're so cute when you lie"
"...shut up", Nat bumped her shoulder with his, her mood beginning to lighten. He grinned in response as she giggled, looping an arm around her before pulling her closer. Somehow she couldn't stay mad at him forever, despite the fact that she should be mad for needlessly getting into scuffles as it were.
"You're such a dork", she snorted. She softly rested her head on his shoulder, both fully content to sit and bask in the warmth and comfort they received simply from being in each other's presence.
He softly kissed her hair, "And you're beautiful, Nat".
She raised her head to smirk at him, "You're not so bad yourself, hero". She squeezed his hand reassuringly, before staring into his verdant orbs.
Before Ben could lean in for a kiss, she'd already stopped him with a finger to his lips. "Nuh-uh, you're still in the doghouse for this one, hero", she warned, "don't think I'm not still mad at you after the mission fiasco"
"But you'll forgive me cuz I'm so adorable?", he offered.
"We need to finish your treatment first, then I'll think about it", Natasha pressed ice pack back on his head, "and then we'll have a longer talk about mission protocols and how to handle complications. Looks like you're gonna be needing some...private lessons"
"Soo... hanky-panky later?"
She slapped his shoulder playfully in response, "Don't get ahead of yourself, hero"
"Story of our relationship", Ben said, causing them both to share a laugh in response. Their foreheads met as he whispered.
"Let me make it up to you".
"What?", she gave him a confused look.
"Let's get out of here...", he slowly tilted her face with her chin between his thumb and index, the redhead smirking in response.
"...and where do we go exactly?
"Hmm I dunno, maybe somewhere...where we don't have to hide?", Ben shrugged, causing Nat's expression to sober up.
"And...I unlocked a new alien...wanna to try him out"
"Was this before or after you nearly got your ass kicked by Rumlow?"
"Hey, I held my own in that fight", he straightened, "I had a great teacher after all...who also happened to be a super-sexy spy"
She grinned, "well I'm glad you learned something...I was worried you were getting too distracted"
"And whose fault is that?", He leaned in again, this time capturing her lips with ease. Her fingers crept behind his neck, deepening the kiss. The sensation was simply electrifying for the shapeshifter, no matter how many times they'd kissed.
"Heh..", he murmured after they broke apart for air, "guess that means I'm not in he doghouse anymore?"
"Maybe...", she smiled, "but no flying until you get yourself sorted mister...you got busted up a little back then"
"Hey, nothing's broken, so I'm fine...", He stood enthusiastically, offering her a hand, "it'll be fun, don't worry...c'mon, do you trust me?"
"Did you just quote Aladdin?"
"...maybe", Ben drawled, "wanna see my magic carpet?"
"That sounds kinda dirty"
"Get your mind outta the gutter, Agent Romanov", Ben smirked, "besides, it's me doing the flying, so it's technically safe..."
Nat bit her lip in contemplation."Fine, but only so I know you're okay. And we keep under the radar, away from populated areas"
"That's the spirit", Ben grinned before lowering his gaze conspiratorially, "so, Agent Romanov...how do you feel about dragons?"
"...come again?",
Ben's grin only widened.
...
COMPROMISED
...
Nicholas Joseph "Nick" was indeed quite the rare breed of spy. An enigma to many, he was both a pragmatist and a cynic, one who could make the rules and yet not be afraid to break them if the situation need be.
The SHIELD Director had one of the most colourful and storied – not to mention, successful – operational records of any soldier or agent current or past, in the army and even the CIA during the Cold War. It came to no one's surprise that he was one of the toughest bastards in the business, cutthroat and paranoid.
Bearer of many secrets, truster of no one, he got his current position – and stayed there – by being able to see the big picture. By being able to see, and where necessary, manipulate, things for the big picture, for the greater good. Fury always saw things as they were, not as they could be. Cold reality always trumped wishful optimism.
He knew how the game was played, and was as good a player as anyone else. As an ally, Fury was invaluable. As an enemy, he was to be feared.
Ever since the world changed, new individuals with power that couldn't be matched by anything humanly possible, Fury maintained the stone cold philosophy of the silver bullet, arming the world with dangerous weapons of mass destruction all for the sake of security. And one of said individuals that seemed to pose a threat greater than any was of course his biggest headache, Benjamin Kirby Tennyson.
Fury had been keeping tabs on the boy ever since that blasted meteor crashed on to earth, young Ben stumbling unto the alien device that remained attached to his arm for the better part of the last few years. He'd made plans to retrieve the boy, only to realize he wasn't the only one: every maniac in town and their alien sidekick wanted a piece. Not having enough power to deal with them and Tennyson at the same time, SHIELD decided to back off, continuing their shadowy vigil over the group while keeping to themselves.
Ben's feats only becoming more terrifying as his power seemingly became more vast overtime, to the point of eclipsing any other threat SHIELD kept in their crosshairs. Not only that, he was apparently a protege of the Plumbers, rendering him near untouchable. Tennyson was simply a puzzle that grew in complexity over time. A boy that could turn into aliens only cemented the idea of the need for stronger security, bringing together a team of superhuman individuals to face the even more dangerous external threats at the door.
Overtime he'd grown to tolerate the kid, with an inkling of begrudging respect. Tennyson had done a lot of good, much like his Grandfather had insisted he'd do. Despite the hiccups along the way, the shapeshifter had indeed delivered on multiple occasions, saving the world and possibly the universe with every dangerous foe he faced, human or no.
The decision to bring Tennyson into the fold under the Avenger's program was a no-brainer, the kid was raw power and showed some promise. He was often naive but seemed to possess heart and experience, not to mention an uncanny ability to inspire everyone around him. Like Coulson said, the team had something or someone to rally with. The team overall was volatile and still required Fury's guidance on some level.
Speaking of the team, Fury's attention went to Natasha Romanov. Serving as his eyes and ears within the team, Fury had also assigned her the extra assignment of being Tennyson's handler. She was a consummate professional by reputation, and Fury's best agent (or enforcer), depending on the task often accepting "off the books" missions, doing the dirty work that no one else would do. Natasha was truly the best at what she did, often employing her myriad of skills to dispatch numerous targets in any given mission. She was a lethal combination of brains, beauty and brawn, with a ledger drowned in red.
Which is why it made no sense to the outside eye that she'd be seemingly open, empathetic, even going as far as having some sort of relationship with him. Natasha was a spy through and through, spies never fell in love. To the SHIELD Director, it made even less sense, unless Tennyson's powers of persuasion had been dangerously underestimated. Furthermore, why would Natasha go through great effort to hide their dalliances from Fury himself?
And now the two were on the same team once again, under the STRIKE Initiative. A risky move, as Tennyson was nowhere near accustomed to the spy life and the team could serve as a hazing. Despite his reservations, Fury reasoned Ben would either adapt or drown. If he adapted, it could open up his perspective somewhat, perhaps even mould him into something resembling a true agent, although that was mere wishful thinking. If he did drown, all the better; he'd leave SHIELD alone.
Besides, the field Black Ops was no place for childish beliefs of heroism.
Tennyson needed to be kept close, but not too close.
Especially not with their "guest" still locked up beneath their feet.
While Coulson had maintained that the shapeshifter could be a valuable asset and a necessary ally, Fury could see the forest for the trees. If Tennyson could be an ally, he could also be controlled, as he was already wrapped around Romanov's finger. What better way to tame the beast than with the beauty?
Speak of the devil, Fury's ruminations were interrupted as the agent in question made his entrance into his office, as one of the few people with a high enough clearance to reach that level on the Triskelion.
"We're reviewing the rest, but the important details first ", Phil brandished the files he'd produced from his suit, laying them on the director's desk with a soft thump.
"Report?"
"Another incident. Tennyson got into a fight with Agent Rumlow. Apparently there was a on the mission, they both happened to have differing ideas on how to go about it. Agent Rumlow simply wanted to follow the mission and leave the hostages behind...while Ben had other ideas"
"I see", Fury folded both palms on he table before examining the files, his meticulous eye poring over the contents with stoic indignation, letting out a satisfied grunt.
Project Eagle Eye had so far bore some fruit, with Fury (and SHIELD to some extent) possessing a stranglehold on all available intel regarding superhumans. Locations, abilities, bio-data, everyting.If you couldn't control the field, you controlled what your enemies knew.
Coulson shifted, a little on edge as he continued,"Ben's a good kid...he's proven himself over a million times. We'd all be dead if it weren't for him"
The Director could sense his unease,"...but?"
"But sometimes...sometimes its like he's an immovable object mixed with an unstoppable force, so tenacious, even I think it's scary. Dangerous at times"
Fury merely sighed in response, "I can tell. He's the real danger, and not just because of his abilities. No matter what power you use to suppress him, no matter what kind of threat you put infront of him, he would never submit to anyone. That's just the kind of person he is"
Fury paused, "And that's what scares me more than anything"
Coulson fell silent for a while before speaking up, "What do you want to do sir?
"Nothing, for now. Keep more eyes on him. We don't need him snooping around, especially with what he have lined up"
"And Romanov?"
Fury regarded the Agent with a hardened d gaze before directing his attention to the window that overlooked the hangar.
"Agent Romanov is already...compromised. That makes her just as dangerous as Tennyson"
"Compromised? But sir, she's the best we got"
"She was, and even Tennyson's gotten to her: they've been...involved for a while now. As far as I know, we can't trust her anymore". From what he could glean, this wasn't some throwaway long-term seduction plan or sleight-of-hand. Natasha was good, but no one was that good.
Ever the shrewd one, Coulson noted.
"You always said you could count the people you trusted on one hand", the agent remarked, watching the Director remain motionless as he observed the activities below. The facility was still in need of more overhauls, but the improvements so far had been impressive to say the least. Of course, they needed to be, for the task at hand.
"And I'm not afraid to cut off fingers", Fury stated grimly. Being in charge of an Operation this magnitude means little to no room for error, especially with compromised agents and problematic assets. While the kids played house, Nick was doing his job ensuring National Security by all means possible. No small feat even in a world where gods flew over cities and monsters roamed below.
His pet project, financed by the World Council and assisted by Stark, was finally coming to fruition.
Time to get back to work
.
.
.
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A/N
Damn, I can't believe I made it this far! Thanks for the reviews and the likes, you guys are awesome! Don't forget to review! Seeing you guys engage with my work gives me motivation to continue, whether it's criticism or ideas, I don't mind.
Well, we've basically reached the last chapter before the next story, but series isn't going anywhere. I still have a lot more ideas in store.
Next up: The Winter Soldier crossover. Probably gonna take a while, I need to work closely with my assistant for this one.
Till next time,
EXCELSIOR!!
