A/N: There was a lot of mistakes in the last chapter, I apologise. So I know I said the swearing would start in the previous chapter, but it didn't… because I just felt that it wasn't right *shrug* if you have a problem, I'm sorry. Anyway, I would like to make a note that on Saturday the 20th of October I will be going abroad to a lovely country called Spain, and won't be returning for a week :( It's the school holidays, so you know. Anyway, that's why I've updated so quick; to compensate for what's going to happen; please stay with me, I'll be back soon. Don't lose interest. :) Please leave a review :)
Chapter 4: Discovery
Agent Romanoff was well aware that Fury would have seen the footage of her talking to Agent Barton in his room. She was also well aware that he was not bothering to do anything about it. Maybe he thought that there was no use in protecting the secret, as it was already a lost cause. Or maybe he thought somehow… the Black Widow could help his archer…?
'God dammit.' She cursed. She felt so helpless. Barton did things for a reason, even if he didn't know it, and telling Romanoff about his illness had to have some meaning to it. And yet she was stuck.
She had no idea what to do. The first time in her life, she was clueless.
The only useful thing to do, in her mind, was to identify what this illness actually was. It made sense, logically, and from there she could get her head around things. But how? Other agents, even if Fury had approved, would get suspicious. If the council found out about Barton's condition (assuming they didn't already know) they would have him disposed of automatically.
Before she had had access to any data account that she wanted, but that was because SHEILD had backed it. If she researched an illness, unassigned, it would arouse suspicions.
But she wasn't a major in hacking. She knew almost nothing about technology.
She pushed her hands against her temples. She was desperate but not that desperate… was she?
The familiar smell of alcohol and petrol filled her nose. The familiar sound of heavy rock filled her ears. She smiled at herself, she wanted to deny it, but she had enjoyed this mission most, indefinitely.
Throwing her legs over a metal desk, she sat in wait. She wore a simple skirt suit. A blue pencil skirt, a white tailored shirt and a military style navy blazer over the top; it was undoubtedly the worst thing she had ever worn. She had no idea how everyday people found this attractive at all; it was itchy and uncomfortable. She guessed that right now, however, that it would suffice.
Beginning to get impatient, she muttered the three words that made the music stop. 'Turn. It. Off.' And then silence filled the air.
'J.A.R.V.I.S? What the fuck's going on…?' An angry voice mumbled as he looked up from his newest invention. 'Oh…' He smirked at Agent Romanoff. Placing down the tools he had clasped in his hands, he walked across the room in three big strides.
'Sorry, sir, but Miss Natalie Rushman still has her voice programmed into the instruction database. Would you like me to resume the music, sir?' The monotone English accent asked Tony Stark.
Tony Stark did nothing but grin to himself as he heard his AI's commentary. 'It's Romanoff JARVIS. You should know that the original name was just a… what is the word…?' He gestured his hand, rotating the wrist as he racked his brains.
'Alias?' Agent Romanoff finished, raising her eyebrow.
'That's it.' He grinned, as he reached her position on the table. He had tank top stained with car fuel and scotch. 'So… couldn't stay away huh?'
'I need you to do something.' She said, her face plain. She flattened out her smile into a single line, in an attempt to show Tony how serious she was.
'Ooh, no shit, just straight to the point are we?' He joked, mockingly hurt.
'I need you to look up the symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder.' She stared coolly at him.
Picking up and taking a sip from a glass of scotch, that looked like it had been sat on that bench for a long time, his eyes laughed. 'You need me?' He chuckled at her. 'The great Black Widow needs me?' He pretended to be surprised.
Then his eyes grew suspicious. 'Why?' He quizzed her. She just smiled. 'Oh no,' He shook his head. 'You are not using my genius for one of your SHEILD missions.' He said face stern.
'You think if it were for SHIELD, I would have to ask you to look up symptoms of a well-known illness?' She stood up, her heels touching the concrete floor. 'It's not for SHIELD. That's why I need the one computer that can protect it's hard drive from SHEILD.' She stated, knowing that telling him the truth was the only way to get him to trust her and she didn't want to waste any more time.
His eyes widened. 'Then defiantly no!' He boomed. 'Against SHEILD? Are you mad?! They'll kill me.' He said, once again joking, she knew he was not afraid of SHEILD.
'Not against Tony. Just not for.' She grinned.
He looked at her, eyes half closed. 'Don't give me that crap… okay, then who?' He again questioned.
'A friend.' She smiled. Walking over to the projected screen, she leaned over the table and examined it. 'Tony, before I ask your AI to do it for me, you might want to block SHEILD's database.'
Tony Stark looked at her for a moment, as if deciding what to do. He nodded. 'Why not help out a friend once in a while?' He smiled. 'JARIVS.' He ordered, gaze fixed on Agent Romanoff.
'Sir.' They heard the AI react, before a crypt code appeared on the screen. They remained staring at each other, each suspicious of the other's actions. Until Tony Stark broke out with a grin.
'How is it that you are wearing the most hideous outfit, but you still look, so attractive?' He began flirting, as she rolled her eyes.
'JARVIS, please bring up the main symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder.' She instructed the AI to load all the files on the illness that the Web owned.
'So who has this illness?' Tony quizzed from behind her. She wasn't surprised that he had been watching her. She remained silent, still flicking through the files for a brief outline of the mental illness. 'I mean, I'm guessing a SHIELD agent…' He mused.
She looked at him curiously. 'Well,' He raised his eyebrows, in a way to say I'm smarter than you. 'If you think someone has it, it will be an agent. I mean 'Their odd behaviour may look like that of people with schizophrenia. For example, they may also have unusual preoccupations and fears, such as fears of being monitored by government agencies.'' He quoted from the screen. 'But then I guess, that's what SHEILD want…' He sped up his speaking, now on a roll, happy to show off and tell Agent Romanoff everything he knew.
''More commonly, however, people with schizotypal personality disorder behave oddly and have unusual beliefs. They cling to these beliefs so strongly that it prevents them from having relationships'… now, that shows why SHEILD would have a fear for it… I mean, they could hardly have an Agent who gets paranoid… or latches onto something.' He grinned, but became serious when he noticed the lines appear on the Widow's forehead as she took it all in.
'I mean think about it,' He now shortened his remarks, trying to find a way for her forehead to relax. 'All these things, discomfort in social situations, inappropriate displays of feelings, odd behaviour or appearance, odd beliefs, fantasies, or preoccupations, odd speech… are typical in a SHEILD agent…' he began explaining, assuming the Romanoff didn't know what he was going to say, when in actual fact, the reason she was quiet was because she knew what he was going to say. 'But, that's only how you appear, otherwise, SHEILD agents adapt to social situations and you can put on an act… but if this Agent has ... this,' he gestured, 'Then they can't trick people or anything like that, then-'
Romanoff stood up and turned. 'Thank you, Mr Stark. That will be all.' She smiled, the corners of her mouth being forced up into a curl. She began walking out, until Stark gripped her arm. He peered into her eyes.
'I do remember how everyone… interacted… with each other, when we were in the Avengers…' He muttered, his eyes no longer laughing. She peered back, adjusting to her 'SHEILD act'; her eyes cold, her body stiff.
She blocked out the thoughts of Agent Barton's icy exterior, that he always tried to soften with a joke… the blocked out the sudden realisation, the sudden sense, of all the times he had laughed at serious things, all the times he had joked about in inappropriate situations, all the times he had been referred to as odd…
And the blocked out the slight nagging sensation, that this illness meant he wasn't comfortable around people. It meant he wasn't perticually happy around her...
'I don't know what you mean.' She pulled her shoulder away from his arm.
No longer masking her feelings with a cheerful strut, she stormed away from Tony Stark. He'd grown to accept that when 'The Black Widow' left, she left.
A/N: I know there was a block and a half of information; but I just wanted to make sure you were aware what the illness actually was, and also if you've seen Iron Man 2, Natasha introduces herself as Natalie Rushman when she becomes his assistance :)