Partners

Bobbi Morse doesn’t scare easily, but as she strode down the pristine white hallway of Hydra headquarters she could feel bile rise up in her throat in trepidation. She had been deep undercover at Hydra for eight months following the fall of SHIELD, and she had yet to make waves that would risk her position. Her mission was clear: find out any information on Hydra that she could, and keep watch on her fellow agent in the science department. She knew she was executing that directive perfectly, she knew she was good. However, she couldn’t shake the fear as she got closer to the interrogation room she had been ordered to. The interrogation room where she knew the supreme head of Hydra, Daniel Whitehall, waited for her. 

Finally stopping at the door Bobbi took a moment to steel herself. She had no reason to believe her cover was blown, and she needed to keep composed. After a breath she entered the room. Daniel Whitehall was everything and nothing like she had imagined. He was tall with stark white hair. He wore an impeccably tailored suit and small round glasses that sat perfectly on the bridge of his nose. He was standing there, arms clasped behind his back as he leered through the one way glass. He didn’t turn to look at her before saying, “Agent Morse, come in.”

Bobbi moved to stand to his right. “You called for me Sir?”

Still focused on the window, he nodded. “I’ve read your file. Quite impressive. An impeccable mission record, a successful investigation of treacherous agents, and I believe a perfect sparring record in the training facility. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of you before..” 

Bobbi swallowed. “Thank you sir.”

Nodding, he gestured to the glass and the interrogation room on the other side. “I have an assignment for you.” 

Bobbie followed his gaze. In the interrogation room was a male agent standing at the table on the left side of the room. Using a rag to wipe blood on his knuckles. The table he stood over had an assortment of tools that Bobbi recognized as Hydra’s standard interrogation and torture kit. At the far side of the room, is a man she didn’t recognize. He was tied to a chair by his legs and arms. Bobbi could see the multitude of cuts covering his body, and his face was becoming distorted from the  swelling. Despite the severe damage to his body, he looked vaguely disinterested. She clenched her hands into fists and turned to Whitehall. “What information are you wanting me to get from him, Sir?”

Whitehall chuckled. “He’s not your assignment.” 

Before Bobbi could ask any questions, the door to the interrogation room opened. A woman walked in. She looked young, Bobbi thought, at least a little younger than her. She had cropped dark hair and she was wearing an all black Hydra uniform. When Bobbi squinted, she recognized it as the uniform for high level officers. She looked small, but there was a determination in her stance that was anything but weak. As soon as she entered the room, the other agent hurried to get out, leaving her alone with the man in the chair. Dr. Whitehall reached to turn on the speaker, allowing for them to hear what was happening. Bobbi turned to look at him, curious.

He nodded. “She’s your assignment.” He then gestured toward the other room, urging her to continue watching. Bobbi furrowed her brow but did so.

The woman pulled up the other chair in the room so it was sitting directly in front of the man being interrogated. The man, who before looked bored, now looked absolutely terrified. His entire body shook with fear as he leant back to get as far away from the woman as possible. A chill ran up Bobbi’s spine. The woman sat down, perfectly relaxed, and tilted her head slightly. 

Her voice was soft, gentle as she addressed the man. “Hi Agent Robins. It’s good to see you again. Let’s just get started ok? All you have to do is tell me what you sent them.” She reached forward, and placed her hand on Robbin's knee, her thumb slowly moving back and forth in faux comfort. “I don’t think I need to tell you what will happen if you don’t. ” 

Robbins went pale and tears began to leak out of his eyes. He began to frantically shake his head. “Please no. I didn’t do anything. Please… don’t do this.”

“Shhhh.” The woman soothed, standing up, stalking around the man like he was her prey. Once she was fully behind him she placed both of her hands on his shoulders, squeezing gently. Her eyes flickered up towards the mirror directly at where Dr. Whitehall was standing, not before she briefly glanced in Bobbi’s direction. Strange. Dr. Whitehall smirked, almost like they were making eye contact. “We both know that’s a lie. I know you took something, and I know you sold it to them. I just need to know what. Tell me. Don’t lie this time.” Robins began to shiver like he was in a snowstorm without a jacket. He was fully crying. 

“It was a video… of you… of you training with The Doctor.” He managed through sobs. 

The woman sighed, eyes closing as her shoulders sagged in disappointment. “Damnit Robbins.” She moved to sit back into her chair. 

Dr. Whitehall reached to turn off the speaker again. Bobbi’s eyes darted back and forth rapidly trying to catch up with what she just saw. This woman didn’t so much as scratch the man and yet he was deathly afraid of her. Who was she? What did Whitehall want Bobbi to do with her? She turned to him.

“Agent Morse. Your new assignment, until I tell you otherwise, is to report as her,” He pointed to the woman, “...partner.” He moved to meet Bobbi’s gaze. “You will join her in training, in field assignments, and any other project she is a part of. At the end of every week, you will report to me on your time together, so make sure to be observant. Feel free to fulfill your other duties at any other time. ” 

Bobbi had to physically stop her eyebrows from coming together in confusion. “What do you want me to look for, Sir?”

Dr. Whitehall chuckled. “When you find it, I’ll tell y–”

BANG!

Bobbi’s head snapped to the interrogation room. The woman was still holding the smoking gun, and the man was slumped in his chair, dead. Whitehall sighed next to her, before tapping the glass between the two rooms. The woman stood up straight, put her gun back in her holster, and left the room. Not long after the door to the room Bobbi and Dr. Whitehall were in swung open, and in walked the woman. She quickly met Bobbi’s gaze, brow arching in amusement, before adorning a stoic expression and turning to Dr. Whitehall. 

“Doctor.”

Upon closer examination Bobbi noticed that the woman was strikingly beautiful. Her eyes held strength and… something else, something Bobbi couldn’t put her finger on yet. 

“Morse, I’d like you to meet Agent Eighty-Eight. 88, this is Agent Morse. She’s going to be your new partner.” 

Agent 88 twitched, “Partner? Sir I–” 

Dr. Whitehall put his hand up, silencing her. “You’ll be spending a lot of time together, and I’m sure you’ll work together splendidly.” He smiled, pleased with himself. “Well, I'll be going. Morse, If you could see to the disposal of our dear Agent Robbins.” He gestured to the other room, where the dead man still sat. He turned to walk out the door, but before he did, he sharply twisted back around. 

“One more thing… 88, why did you shoot him?” 

88 startled, “Sir, you said to eliminate him once he had given up all of the –” 

“Yes I did. But why did you shoot him?” He interrupted. 

Agent 88 hesitated, “I… I don’t know why sir.”

He nodded, seemingly in thought. “Well I suggest you think on that, Agent.” Finally, he left the room, his footsteps slowly quieting as he stalked down the hall.

Bobbi let out the breath she had been holding. She turned to look at Agent 88. She was standing stiffly, fists clenched at her sides. She still stared out the door where Whitehall had just left. 

Bobbi cleared her throat, “Well, Agent 88 I guess we’ll be seeing each other.” 

The other woman snapped her head to meet Bobbi’s gaze. Skeptical eyes studied her. There was a small flicker of… something, before it quickly disappeared.“I guess we will. I have training at 0500 sharp tomorrow. Don’t be late.” With that she left the room. 

Bobbi sighed, overwhelmed from everything that just happened. It was all so confusing. What was so special about Agent 88, why was she going to be practically surveilling her? Was she rebellious to the Hydra ideal? Could she be turned? Or was this all a test to catch Bobbi in the act? Why was that highly trained agent so afraid of her? There was so much she didn’t know, but it was obviously something big. She needed to be cautious moving forward. She needed to notify SHIELD of her change in status as soon as possible. It was unlikely she would see as much of Agent Simmons now. She reached for her comm., contacting the Hydra cleaning department. She still had one more thing to do. 

“I’m going to need a crew up here at Interrogation room six.”

“Right away.” 

Bobbi took another moment, before moving to the room where the body was still sitting. Once inside she reached to cut the rope binding him to the chair. As her hand got closer to his wrists, she instinctively pulled away, a small gasp leaving her before she could stop it. Slowly she went to touch his arm. 

It was freezing cold.