Boots on the Ground

Washington, D.C. January 23 - 2025

Recently confirmed CIA Director Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine otherwise known as Val stormed into the West Wing of the White House. She was not a particularly popular person with some people due to her brashness, and manipulation tactics. Yet, she was popular with certain well connected mostly wealthy groups which is how she obtained powerful jobs.

Val was at one time a skilled agent in her youth, she was decent but not excellent at intelligence gathering and she had sufficient tactical skills. She was a former SHIELD agent herself, but Val was no Natasha Romanoff or Maria Hill when it came to her skills. Val’s inability to advance at SHIELD put her at odds with Director Fury as Val had often imagined herself as the perfect person to take over SHIELD from Fury one day. When a very—very young Maria Hill became Fury’s right hand person, Val felt overlooked, ignored, tossed aside. Val moved on, she became a CIA analyst instead and worked her way up. It was the right move for her, SHIELD was basically nothing now, Fury was off in space dwindling his thumbs so who really won?

Despite her success as the CIA Director, some jealousy certainly lingered within Val that she never became the favorite daughter figure or prodigy of someone so respected like Nick Fury. It was this feigned rejection from Fury that Val simply could not accept. Recently when Maria Hill’s name appeared on a list of a potential hires for leadership roles in the agency, Val scoffed at the idea. It didn’t make sense to her, Hill was Fury’s girl, she would go with Fury, she would always and only be loyal to Fury, never to Val or Ritson.

Val wasn’t going even going to entertain the idea of hiring Maria Hill or anyone who did not have full loyalty to Val and the CIA. Val had no reason to extend any favors to Hill since Val could not imagine that Maria had anything to offer in return—skills aside she meant. Since Hill had blipped, it was clear to Val that Hill had nothing to offer that would be worth it for Val to bring her on. And yet, Maria Hill’s name reappeared on lists and was suggested repeatedly as someone who Val should be hiring, and quickly at that as government agencies remained critically understaffed during the blip and returning people to their positions and updating them to the current state of the world was a daunting process. The White House was pestering Val to get Maria onboarded.

Raava had realized that not knowing where Maria Hill was, was far more dangerous than making sure she was back at work where Raava knew where she was. Plus she definitely needed to be distracted with work before she started rooting out her own projects, and she was definitely the type to do that. So as Rhodey, he pressed Val to hire Maria now.

At SHIELD, Val butted heads with a young Hill, and even Fury himself, causing unpleasantness for the time she was there. Val definitely had remaining resentment for Maria Hill from all those years ago. Maria and Val worked in opposite ways. Maria was so much younger than Val too, and for Maria to have been so ahead of Val, Val thought it was frustrating.

Maria worked her way up the ladder at SHIELD far faster than any other woman ever could and this made Val extremely suspicious of her relationship with Nick Fury. But Maria’s relationships were built on trust and loyalty, Val’s were built on manipulation and propelling herself forward, the two women just didn’t mesh.

Val wasn’t an idiot though and it was undeniable to her that Maria had legitimate skills that the government should be putting to use but selfishly, Val did not want Maria around because she wasn’t as easy to manipulate as others, and Maria was someone who could easy succeed Val at her job. For reasons Val did not understand people liked Maria Hill, they respected her. Val thought Maria was barely a cardboard cut out of a human.

The skrull rebellion had not successfully replaced Valentina yet, but replacing Val or getting rid of her would have been so helpful. It was on their radar to go after Val or someone close to her. Raava and Rhodes hated Val and Val made waves on stuff that was not worth making waves on. If putting Maria Hill back to work pissed off Val, Rhodes had no problem with that, in fact, potentially it could even be leverage for him.

In reality, Rhodey wanted Maria as the CIA director instead, something he started to float to Ritson, too. At least Rhodey liked Maria and she was smart and didn’t play shady games, but Rhodey knew Maria hated public facing jobs. Maria had good reason to hate them too since she was a very private person whose personal information and details of her private life got dropped on the internet with the fall of SHIELD. Val was one of the few people who actually did a deep dive on the SHIELD documents that were dropped. There was a lot of leverage in those documents if you knew where to find it and how to use it, but Maria was always protected, if it wasn’t by Fury with was by Stark. Val had resentment over that too, Val had to find ways to protect herself, and Maria had people who looked out for her.

After Val’s refusal to bring on Maria right away, Rhodey personally intervened telling Val to bring her on already. He even scolded Val over voicemail for this embarrassing delay. When Val heard it she rolled her eyes so far into the back of her head. Yet again, another man ‘looking out’ for Maria Hill. Hill basically made herself into some feminist icon and all the people around her were always men paving the way for her, this was no different. Val ignored Rhodey at first, but he kept pushing. He did not take Val’s calls and he wanted it done. This was a brand new administration, the White House could not he having issues with an Agency director already.

After Rhodey left Val a stern message and ignored her again. Val stormed into Colonel Rhodes’ office, irritated beyond belief that she had to come in as Colonel Rhodes had ignored her calls. She would not be ignored by some man. She barged right in, past his security and his assistant, stopping for no one. What were they going to do her, really? Usually, Val had a playful way about her, but after being ignored by Colonel Rhodes who was ordering her to hire someone she did not want to hire, she was going to make herself heard even if he did not want to listen.

“Colonel! What a surprise to see you are here since you cannot return a phone call.” Val tried to speak in a pleasant tone but the snideness was clear.

“I return phone calls that are worth my time.” Rhodey muttered. He couldn’t stand this woman and he knew why she was complaining before she even got here.

“You want me to take Maria freaking Hill, are you kidding? Do you know what a liability she is?” Val huffed as she finally had Rhodey as a captive audience.

Rhodey groaned loudly, making his annoyance with Val clear.

“For what possible reason would you have to refuse putting one of our best people back to work?” Rhodey asked with raised brows, he would love to hear Val’s excuse for her adult temper tantrum, this was more of a reason to start thinking of a solid replacement for Val down the road.

“It’s a sad day when we’re calling Maria Hill ‘one of our best people’ isn’t it? Are we that desperate?” Val mocked.

Rhodey grimaced as the charge Val leveraged, he was offended.

“Do you think insulting people who serve this country is funny?” Rhodey asked in a serious displeased tone.

“If you make me hire her I’m going to send her to Siberia.” Val laughed at her little joke but she was serious.

“Well, we think she’d do well in a leadership role at a desk, downtown, but Russian is one of her languages, so I’m glad you agree she can be useful.” Rhodey said seriously and rolling his eyes at Val.

“I do love the power this job comes with to whisk the people I don’t like away to far off cold places. If my ex-husband starts pissing me off maybe I’ll ship him out there too.” Val tried to joke and laugh a little and get back on the chummy side with Rhodes.

“Are you so petty you can’t put objectivity and security first? Maybe you are ill suited for your current position.” Rhodey said seriously, he didn’t want skilled agents pulled and moved at the whims of this erratic woman. He was sick of Val, but he knew that Ritson and Val went back and were buddies. If he could drive a wedge between them that would be very helpful.

“Is that a threat?” Val asked in an irritated tone.

“No, just an observation.” Rhodey and Val exchanged an intense glance.

“You know, I am practically bleeding talented people, I really don’t need her and it’s inappropriate for you to get involved with my personnel decisions.” Val lied.

“You are critically understaffed putting the security of this nation at great risk.” Rhodey corrected sharply.

“We’re restaffing quickly!” Val defended.

“Not fast enough!” Rhodes snapped back.

“I want to see the President.” Val huffed in an angry tone.

“Oh not about this you won’t.” Rhodey dismissed Val quickly.

“It’s about something else.” Val lied through her teeth and Rhodey and just stared at her.

“President Ritson and I are old friends, he will want to see me.” Val added.

“Then call his secretary and schedule a meeting.” Rhodey again dismissed Val.

“I think I’ll just go take a little stroll over to his office and visit my life long friend.” Val bragged and Rhodey just glared at her. God he hated this woman and how she flaunted connections.

“It is a national security issue if you’d like to join me.” Val said with a playful laugh as this was really a power flex, Val wanted Rhodey to see the President and the people who surrounded him to bend to her whim not to his. It was early in the administration and Val was going to show Rhodey how it worked.

Rhodey sighed. Val and Rhodey walked over to the Oval Office. Val smiled brightly at the middle aged woman sitting at the desk outside of the oval office.

“Janeeey!” Val said like she was greeting a good friend.

“Director!” Jane, the executive assistant chimed back sweetly.

“You know to call me Val.”

“How are you? You’ve been busy I see.”

“I’m so well, Jane. Listen, I know the schedule is tight, and he’s so busy but since I was in the building and I know he’s in the building is there any chance I can just sneak in for a quick little chat, with my good friend, the President and Colonel Rhodes here? I am soo sorry to even ask.” Val said in a sickeningly sweet tone to get her way.

“Let me just give him a quick buzz.” Jane obliged smiling and Val shot a smug look at Rhodey and Rhodey sighed.

“You can both go in.” Jane smiled as she got off the phone with President Ritson.

Val marched right in like she owned the place. In the Oval Office Ritson was sitting behind his desk but he was throwing a toy basketball into a hoop on the wall near him. He was connected to Val but she was driving him bonkers already, she had so many demands, and Ritson was supposed to be asking her for stuff, not the other way around. Rhodey was right when he started planting the seed that Val was a short term director for them.

“Val.” Ritson muttered.

“Mr. President!” She said cheerfully but the sentiment was not returned.

“What hell do you have for me today?” Ritson said as he shot a basketball that circled the rim of the toy hoop and then fell off hitting the ground and rolling to Val’s feet. Ritson groaned.

“I thought that when I was appointed by you and then confirmed by the Senate of this country to run this agency, my agency, the CIA, that I would be able to run the agency without interference from your personal errand boy.” Val said vaguely as she picked up the toy basketball that rolled to her very expensive shiny black high heeled boots.

Rhodey groaned.

“I told you not to do this.” Rhodey muttered.

Val shot the basketball and it went right into the hoop and Ritson turned from his desk to look at her, his annoyance clear.

“Lucky shot.” Val shrugged like she was cute.

“What are you on about?” Ritson sighed.

“I didn’t realize that staff in your office could try and make personnel decisions for me.” Val clarified.

“As I recall the CIA is an Executive agency, and I am the Executive in case you forgot.” Ritson said in a slightly stern tone.

“It’s an independent agency within the Executive branch.” Val corrected in a condescending tone.

“An independent intelligence agency, not you know an orphanage for Nick Fury’s displaced and forgotten children.” Val smirked at her joke with a little laugh.

Ritson glared at Rhodey what was Val going on about now. She always had a problem with something they asked her to do.

“She doesn’t want to hire former Agent Maria Hill.” Rhodey clarified and Ritson really groaned. Normally of course personnel decisions at other agencies did not come to the President’s desk but Ritson and Rhodey wanted Hill to go the CIA because Ritson wanted to put Maria in a leadership position, potentially even in Val’s job, which he knew he had to replace a woman with a woman in this political climate.

“What do you mean? Is she serious with this?” Ritson asked Rhodey as if Val wasn’t there and Rhodey grimaced.

“Yes, Mr. President, I am, in fact, quite serious about this. Send her up to space with Fury, that’s where she wants to be anyway.” Val assured with a smile trying not to be annoyed.

“I have security agencies horrifyingly understaffed and talented people desperately trying to get their security clearances back and come to work in those agencies who need them to protect this country and you, one of the people charged with protecting this country are holding up one of our best people from being hired and have now decided to come into my office and whine that you don’t want talented people in your agency?” Ritson’s tone was sharp, biting as he scolded Val.

“If she’s so good put her anywhere.” Val shrugged. Val rolled her eyes to herself, there’s that language again ‘one of the best.’ Clearly Rhodes was putting ideas into Ritson’s head.

“No, she’s a spy she belongs in a spy agency.” Ritson huffed. Ritson had other reasons she wanted Maria in the CIA, as she was potentially a replacement for Val in the future. Of course he wasn’t aware that Maria hated those types of jobs now but Rhodey was sure he could convince her if she was asked.

“There’s other places who can utilize her skills.” Val said still in a fake nice tone.

“And yet, I’ve made my choice.” Ritson rolled his eyes.

“Why are you pushing this?” Val’s tone changed sharply as she started to become suspicious that this decision of who Val should be hiring was coming from the highest levels of the government.

“Why are you fighting it?” Rhodey asked with raised brows echoing Val’s suspicion.

“She ran a spy agency and I want to bet she’s far less annoying than you.” Ritson smirked at Val and Val’s expression soured and then changed to a softer tone quickly as she started to feel the tension in the room.

“Maria Hill is not Senate confirmable.” Val bragged she spoke with a little laugh in her voice. Ritson had to be kidding. He wouldn’t dare try to replace Val with Hill.

“She is in one month.” Ritson said confidently.

“We’re picking up four senate seats in the special elections, it’s going to be..” Rhodey started

“A bloodbath!” Ritson grinned as he interrupted Rhodey.

“Good for us…” Rhodey rephrased.

“And I think CIA Director Hill sounds right, doesn’t it?” Ritson teased and Rhodey nodded. “It does.” Rhodey agreed.

The two men played terribly on Val’s insecurity.

“So I can get her confirmed with a nice margin, one much bigger than what you were just confirmed by.” Ritson said joyfully knowing that would rub Val the wrong way.

“Uh… are you forgetting something? The last time she ran an agency, it literally crumbled into the fucking ground!” Val pointed out very annoyed.

“Yeah, and that saved the whole world, so, she’s an American hero.” Ritson shrugged, that was old news, he world was a different place now.

“She practically sold government secrets to Tony Stark.” Val exaggerated.

“She has ties in the private and public sector.” Ritson clarified with a smirk, they could spin anything they wanted successfully.

“Look, if I put her up for confirmation, I get a woman, a military veteran, and a gay, right? She looks gay probably somewhere under that umbrella or whatever, so I get three diversity boxes checked off in one appointment. Plus, people like her and they don’t like you. What do I get with you? An annoying entitled rich lady, barging into my office to complain about hiring skilled people. Do you think she’d ever do that? She really seems like a chain of command take orders kinda lady…” Ritson smirked.

Val paused with her jaw agape for a brief moment.

“You are … you are forcing me to hire someone so you can threaten me with her to take over my job and you are now trying to shame me for raising concern about it?” Val rephrased it to put a better perspective on the situation.

“Well, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if you had hired her like we told you to and if you don’t want to be replaced, do what I say and stop bothering me with your stupid shit.” Ritson explained with a shrug.

“Do you think she would even be loyal to you? She’s loyal to one person, Nick Fury, and that’s the exact problem I have with her coming to my agency because suddenly my agency won’t be mine anymore it will become Fury’s!” Val loudly scolded. Were these men this dense?

“It’s MY agency.” Ritson corrected.

“And if you replace me with her, it’s Fury’s agency, trust me.” Val snapped back.

“She doesn’t even work with Fury anymore.” Rhodey pointed out dismissing Val so Ritson wouldn’t be concerned with that issue.

“Like that makes a difference.” Val groaned and rolled her eyes.

“I want skilled and smart people in my security agencies, working to keep this country safe, I have too many of them waiting around trying to get back to work because people like you are playing favorites and games. National security is not a joke, it is not a game, and don’t think I won’t replace you in a second with someone who knows that.” Ritson said in a tense tone.

“She doesn’t even like me, she won’t come work for me. You are putting me in an impossible position.” Val added, it’s not like Val was going to try to extend something nice to Maria.

“For some reason, I feel like she’s capable of putting personal issues aside to serve her country, you know, like most adults.” Ritson snickered and glared at Val.

“Oh for christ’s sake!” Val yelled as she turned to leave.

“You serve at the pleasure of … me.” Ritson reminded his phrasing clumsy and Val rolled her eyes to herself.

“Don’t forget that.” Ritson muttered as Val stormed out of the Oval Office.

That really did not go as Val intended it to. Rhodey had really worked his magic and was turning Ritson to his whims now. That used to be her role!

As Val returned to her office she knew she had to make her Maria problem go away fast. Maria couldn’t be a candidate for Val’s replacement if she was working ‘in deep’ as they say, but at the same time Val didn’t want to be seen as getting her hands dirty, she had to play a safe line of giving Ritson and Rhodey what they wanted and getting what she wanted at the same time.

Val got a call at her desk phone and she answered it in a haste.

“What!” Val angrily huffed into the receiver.

“I have Sonya Falsworth on the line, this is her fifth time calling this week” An assistant meagerly said into the phone. 


“Oh. Shit.” Val groaned.

“Uhg. She wants people. I don’t have any people to give her, the whole world does not have people ready to go. Newsflash everything is chaos.” Val huffed at her assistant.

“Do you want me to take a message.”

“No. Just send her through so I can get her to stop calling me.”

Val took a deep breath she regained herself, trying to be a pleasant diplomatic self per usual.

“Sonya!” She said in a pleased eager tone as she was connected.

“Director, hello.” Sonya said she did not mimic the pleasantry but she was respectful.

“Please, it’s Val, we’re friends.” Val said reassuring Sonya. Sonya rolled her eyes to herself.

“Uh, Val. I’m so sorry to call again but you know we are down one CIA agent in our joint mission and I just don’t have…” Sonya started.

“Oh Sonya, I know, I know, trying to get people back to work and these vacancies filled and everything covered it’s just been a nightmare on my end too… even though I just started.”

“I would think this one has a bit of urgency, I have your agent Prescod and my own people working but…”

“Wait… in London?” Val fumbled for a minute trying to remember what exactly this joint workforce was.

“Well, the base is in London but the vacancies I need help filling are primarily in Moscow.” Sonya corrected Val.

“Moscow… you need an agent in Moscow?” Val repeated. Good luck filing that, Val could barely fill postings in places people actually wanted to go, filling a Moscow spot in winter?

“Please don’t laugh at me, I know that’s the last place people want to go especially this time of year but I promise it is ..needed… I can send the details, we need people on the ground there quickly and I am as extended as I possible can be.” Sonya explained.

"No no no, there’s no laughter here, I know we need people there, I just, uh uh…” Val paused and then she had an idea that wasn’t very ethical but Ritson and Rhodey told her she had to hire Hill, and amazingly look at that… a posting just opened up despite the many postings that already existed.

“Well Sonya, like you, we are short staffed and trying to recover everything since those who vanished returned, but it just so happens … that I am in the process of on-boarding a new agent who can speak Russian and has spent time in Eastern Europe before…”

“And what type of experience do they have?” Sonya asked curiously.

“Actually…” Val laughed a little under her breath.

“She’s one of the very best…” Val rolled her eyes as she spoke trying to sound sincere as she echoed Rhodey and Ritson.

“She used to work at SHIELD, military background, uh… very very skilled, extremely intelligent.” Val struggled to recall Maria’s background but she was going to sell her as well as she could.

“That sounds like someone you might need on your end…?” Sonya asked a bit surprised.

“Well…” Val sighed loudly acting like she didn’t want to give her up but really sending her away immediately was ideal.

“I think we have to start putting people where their skills will be at the greatest use for our security and I think teaming up with you and working out of Moscow, will keep us the safest, for everyone.” Val spoke sweetly but Sonya couldn’t help notice how fake her voice sounded.

“What is this agent’s name?” Sonya asked a bit suspicious.

“Uhm Maria Hill.” Val said her tone more serious and not sickeningly sweet now.

“Oh!” Sonya said surprised.

“Are you sure you can spare her?” Sonya asked she was totally stunned at the name reveal.

“I am only doing it for you, Sonya. Seriously. She did blip, but she’s back now, ready to take on the world and we’re ready to put her on out there… very talented, great agent, can’t wait to get her back on the ground, doing what she does best…” Val acted like she was doing Sonya a big favor, she wanted Sonya to think that so she could collect a favor from Sonya later. Of course Maria hadn’t even accepted a job yet but she probably would.

“Yes, I actually know of her quite a bit, I couldn’t be more thankful.” Sonya said appreciatively.

“Right, you’re friends with uhm what’s his name, uhm Nick Fury?” Val confirmed.

“Old chums, but it’s been quite a while. What do you think the uh turn around time is on filling this vacancy, time is of the essence.”

“You know, Sonya, as I said she blipped and we are just getting everything all straightened out, we are in the final stretch of it here and I can have her off to the depths of Siberia in no time, really, no trouble at all.” Val fist pumped to herself excitedly.

“You know Moscow is almost 4000 kilometers from Siberia…” Sonya pointed out.

“I was just joking about that, I know, I know.” Val laughed but rolled her eyes at Sonya’s correction. Sonya wasn’t convinced though Americans were terrible at geography.

“She’ll come by way of London first?” Sonya questioned.

“Yes, of course. Let me just call you back next week when this is all taken care of and hopefully we can pick up some of the mess that this world is in… huh?” Val asked she was dying to hang up the phone.

“Talk soon.” Sonya agreed and she hung up the phone. Sonya looked at her office, on her clock wall, and then sighed to herself.

“What an insufferable woman.” Sonya rolled her eyes to herself and was relieved that call was over. At least Sonya was getting a good person out of this, she faired far better than expected.

Val hung up the phone and she sighed loudly, she had much more cheerful demeanor than when she first got back.

“What an insufferable woman.” Val said to herself relieved that conversation was done and that she had solved two problems at once, and even though Sonya was doing Val a favor, Val pretended it with other way around so Val could collect later. But Val realized she actually now had a problem, she just offered Hill to Falsworth and she hadn’t even hired Hill yet. Val wasn’t a fan of Maria but Maria definitely wasn’t a fan of her either. There’s no guarantee she’d even want to come on and go disappear in the bitter cold for who knows how long. But there was probably some people who could get Maria on board and keep Val’s hands clean. Val could protect her own job and getting rid of a future problem and actually help the country all once. It was a win-win-win.

Val picked up the phone to call her assistant.

“I need that human leech Colonel Rhodes.” Val said to her assistant, he better fucking pick up. Val thought to herself.

Val waited to be put through her assistant came on.

“His assistant says he’s in a meeting, can I give him a message?”

“No, get me.. agent Ross.” Val mumbled if she couldn’t get Rhodes maybe someone else would work.

After awhile Ross entered Val’s office, a little intimidated by everything, he didn’t love to report to his ex-wife but here they were.

“I need you to do me a favor.” Val said to Ross, skipping pleasantries.

“You know, as old friends…” Val shrugged trying to be cutesy.

“Well you are my boss..” Ross reminded

“Oh, that’s right, so it’s really an order.” Val smirked and Ross tried not to roll his eyes.

“I need to onboard someone rather quickly and the thing is she doesn’t really like me and I don’t like her, but I am being told I need to hire her even if she doesn’t want to work here, also I did just promise her to fill a vacancy so, I do need her to come on quickly.”

“You promised to fill a vacancy with a certain person who doesn’t even work here? Who is it?” Ross asked with a frown.

“Maria Hill.” Val said with disdain.

“She’s not…” Ross paused and pointed up to the ceiling wondering if Hill was in space.

“Apparently not, do not ask why. I would shoot her up there in a rocket myself…” Val huffed.

“And you want me to…”

“Tell her to get to fucking work.” Val shook her head, in a frustrated tone.

“And you’re asking me because…” Ross stared at Val.

“Well you know those Avengers people and she one of those people, or knows this people or whatever.”

“I don’t know that they are too fond of me…” Ross mumbled

“I think you’ve grown on them. Really I think Colonel Rhodes should do it since he’s the one who wants her work here so badly. He’s one of them, he was friends with Stark. I don’t know how I am dealing with this mess. I’m not his H.R. assistant.” Val rambled on hatefully.

“I will see if uh we can convince her to come on.” Ross shrugged not knowing what to say.

“I am kind of surprised you didn’t try to recruit her sooner.” Ross mumbled.

“Why in god’s name would I want Fury’s mouthpiece to work for me?” Val sighed.

“Val, are you kidding?” Ross asked surprised that Val didn’t see the the potential.

“Do I sound like I’m kidding?”

“Fury is one thousand years old, he’s going to retire, Maria Hill is probably going to succeed him so maybe building a strong working relationship with her will have huge benefits for you.”

“She can’t succeed Fury if she’s busy succeeding me.” Val grumbled.

“Succeed you? As CIA Director?” Ross asked puzzled and he let out a laugh. 


“That’s why they want me to hire her.” Val threw her hands up in the air.

“Are you joking?” Ross laughed again.

“No. Ritson told me to my face.”

Ross shook his head no at Val.

“She would never.” Ross lightly laughed.

“Oh no, she’s the ‘lady bi or gay veteran American hero’ they are gearing up to replace me.” Val exclaimed loudly rolling her eyes.

“I think he’s uh pulling your leg, she wants Fury’s job, that’s the job they are going to give her when he retires. Which is going to happen any day, really.” Ross assured.

“If they are going to give her his job then why isn’t she up there with him?” Val pointed out, she was sick of men dismissing her concerns, she had enough of that today.

“Going to go out on a limb here, but could it possibly be bureaucracy? Or maybe they need her down here right now…” Ross proposed.

“Why do I feel like I am about to step into a huge pile of shit?” Val sighed.

“I think that’s the motto of government work.” Ross joked

“I don’t know why people like Hill, that rag doll of a human being, does she even have a singular thought in her head that Fury didn’t put there?” Val muttered.

“Authenticity, talent, loyalty, intelligence, very straight forward person, easy to work with…” Ross started to list off things but he stopped when he saw Val’s face.

“Why does every man go out of their way to defend that woman?”

“Authenticity, talent, loyalty, intelligence…” Ross started to repeat his first answer but he was just trying to annoy Val now.

“I’m those things and I don’t need men to protect me and go to bat for me.” Val huffed.

“You are very independent…” Ross agreed trying not grimace.

“Does she even have one female friend? There’s something wrong with women who don’t have other women friends.”

“Do you have one female friend?” Ross asked.

“That’s different.” Val snapped.

“Why?” Ross asked.

“Because women are intimidated by my… independence. Who is intimidated by Maria Hill?” Val rolled her eyes.

“You, apparently.” Ross pointed out with a little shrug, speaking casually trying not to offend but he did think it was funny. 


Val stared at Ross and she paused as she realized she she was being manipulated over nothing. Maria and Val both traveled in heavily male dominated fields. As Val realized the duping that these men were doing by pitting two talented women against each other she sighed angrily. But Val did realize there was an opportunity here, if she could show a good effort to Maria, Maria would probably show some back. If Fury left her behind for whatever reason maybe there was an opening and if Ross was right being in with her was clearly better than being out in case she did get a powerful position in government again.

Ross tilted his head as his former wife as she clearly was dealing with something and taking it out on other people. Val realized she was in quite a tizzy but they riled her up so much earlier, she was doing everything she was against.

Val stood up at her desk and leaned backward. Rhodey and Ritson were so awful, they were toying with Val to get her to do more shit Ritson or now Rhodes wanted. And they knew just the person to target Val that would get under Val’s skin, and it gave Rhodes and Ritson plausible deniability.

“Can you just, I don’t know, maybe Rhodes can talk to her. She definitely won’t do anything for me but people seem to like you for some reason and people seem to like her for some reason so maybe there’s something there I just don’t understand.”

Ross nodded.

“Okay, I’ll see what we can do.” Ross mumbled as he started to leave.

“If I never have to say or think the name Maria Hill again for the rest of my life I couldn’t be happier.” Val said as Ross opened the door to exit and she sat back down

“…and tell her to bring a coat!” Val yelled as Ross left.   ——————————-   February 4, 2025 - London, England
M16 Offices
Sonya Falsworth’s Work Office

Maria left to London with Agent Ross. But Maria departed from Agent Ross to meet Sonya Falsworth at her office who was going to give her the rundown on what was going on in Moscow. Maria walked with Sonya back to her office. Although they had never met before this, they had known of one another.

“I believe we have a friend in common, Agent Hill.” Sonya said as she motioned to Maria to take a seat in her office. Maria noticed all the clocks and owls, the drab interior design, it was all very British.

“I believe we do.” Maria acknowledged.

“How is he?” Sonya asked as she took a seat.

“I don’t know if I can speak on that, I haven’t heard from him in quite sometime.” Maria said with a shrug.

“Oh.” Sonya said surprised.

Sonya looked stunned, Maria Hill and Nick Fury ‘didn’t really talk anymore?’ Post blip the world was truly a different place.

“We work complicated jobs, we live in a complicated world, and we are all complicated people.” Sonya said professorially. Maria nodded in agreement.

“Well, you’re still here, though, so that’s a good thing, I’m amazed continental U.S. was willing to spare you abroad.” Sonya added and Maria again nodded.

“I’m amazed they remembered me after my prolonged absence.” Maria half joked.

“Did you get to take some time after the blip?” Sonya asked.

“Yeah, maybe too much.” Maria admitted.

“It is quite a trying time out there trying to get everyone hired back and documented and all that mess.” Sonya nodded.

“Five years is a long time to catch up on events in the world.” Maria added.

“I can’t imagine, but you’re here now, and ready now.” Sonya said in her cheery tone.

“How are you in cold climates?” Sonya said a little less cheerfully.

“Just fine.” Maria assured confidently, to be honest she didn’t care where she was going she was just happy to work again.

Sonya was a bit surprised she didn’t hear a complaint or a sigh, but then she realized she shouldn’t have been surprised this was Maria Hill after all.  

“You have a lot of clocks.” Maria pointed as she observed the wall.

“And I still never know what time it is.” Sonya smirked and Maria laughed a little.

“There’s a clock for each agent that’s died in the line of service in my tenure.” Sonya explained and Maria paused and looked at how many there were.

“That’s a lot of people.” Maria did not mean to say that out loud and Maria realized what she said and she looked apologetic.

“Mmm. It is.” Sonya agreed.

“Although, even just one is a lot.” Sonya added.

“Just one is a lot.” Maria agreed omitting the ‘even’ she knew Sonya didn’t mean that when she said it that way.

“Please don’t add to my wall.” Sonya warned.

“I can’t, there’s not any room up there.” Maria pointed out the area of the wall was covered.

“Now, that’s the attitude to have.” Sonya said with a little smirk. She did like Maria, she reminded Sonya of herself.

Maria and Sonya talked a bit, Maria was up to speed but Sonya gave her a bit more. Maria knew she would be working with a mix of CIA and M16 people, agent Prescod Maria kind of knew from way back. Sonya and her agents had a safe house for Maria to stay, it was only a few miles from the other safe houses where the other agents were spread out. It was a typical intelligence gathering spy posting. ———
February 5 - 2025 - London, England
9:42 PM
A local pub

In London, Maria met Agent Prescod for the first time, although the two were vaguely aware of each other from their many years of government service and running in slightly similar circles. Prescod was a gruff Scottish man, tall, with a light beard. He looked constantly overworked, he was an intense man, with a bit of a temper at times. He was here on a mission but he was onto something much deeper. He was curious to meet Maria Hill and to get to chat with Agent Ross for a bit as he had some suspicions about her of his own. He didn’t entirely trust her, and as he met her he became curiouser about her and what she knew but he didn’t know if she was someone he could trust.  

At the bar the two men joked and bonded over their past and working for the CIA at the same time. They spoke in vague coded terms since they were out in public. Despite his closeness and trust in Ross as former friends, Prescod had not shared his inkling with a soul, and he wouldn’t. It was just too dangerous, and when Prescod did reveal what he was unraveling he had to make sure when he did disclose the seeds of this invasion or what he believed was happening, it was to someone who could help and not someone who would make it worse.

Maria knew Ross just invited her to be polite, she almost declined joining him but she ended up going and these Ross and Prescod reunion sure turned into what Maria remembered from her former working in the field days a ‘can you hang with the boys’ test. She thought these kind of ‘hangs’ or tests were frustrating because she wanted to be honest about the things people said but then she’d get called a buzzkill or something.

Maria worked in male dominated fields her whole life and if she isolated herself she made it harder to do her job. She had to play on the team, and balance between roles as a ‘fun’ person and one who could stand up for herself or others. To the men these kinds of hangs were just casual, picking fun at each other, teasing, laughing, getting off steam, it was just a hang out and get to know each other, even if they didn’t mean the way they came across sometimes. Still, in 2024, things really did not change, and you either one of the boys or out of the club entirely.

Finally after the old chums caught up, Prescod turned his attention to Maria.

“What have you been doing since you blipped back?” Prescod asked.

“Catching up on everything I missed. Learning how to fix my mom’s car, trying not to think about the overwhelming scale of blip itself it what it means for life and security overall.” Maria tried to joke about the last part.

“Oh, so the same as everyone else, then, yeah?” Ross joked.

“Did you fix your mom’s car?” Prescod asked with a smirk.

“Sure did.”

“Is there anything you can’t do?” Ross asked.

“Cook.”

“Ohhhhh.” Prescod groaned.

“That’s definitely what you should have spent your time on, Russian cuisine is uh an acquired taste.” Prescod warned.

“I’ve been before.” Maria bit her bottom lip, it wasn’t her favorite but, she could do enough.

“You know it’s safer for women to wear wedding rings in Russia.” Ross said to Maria.

“Yeah, you might need to get one, huh?” Prescod said to Maria indicating what Ross said was probably a smart idea.

Maria rolled her eyes at the two of them.

“Are you two hazing me? Do you think there are no single women in Russia?” Maria asked with a twinge of seriousness.

Prescod nodded.

“Offering you security advice, more like it.” Ross said righteously.

“Security advice from you to me?” Maria snarked at Ross.

“I’d ring that left hand right up.” Ross warned.

“It’s the right ring finger in Russia.” Maria rolled her eyes at the two of them and Prescod and Ross laughed at her as she corrected them.

“So you did look into it.” Prescod teased.

“Shut up.” Maria rolled her eyes at the two of them, Prescod and Ross laughed.

“I’ve been there before.” Maria repeated glaring at them, they were just being brats and she knew that. The two of them glared back at Maria suppressing light smirks.

“Do you think men share information with women they aren’t trying to ‘impress’?” Maria said for a lack of a better word, Maria shook her head no at them. This wasn’t her first time doing this kind of stuff and they knew that too.

“That’s not the point, is it?” Ross said in his smug tone.

Prescod raised his brows at Maria.

“You wear it in public take it off when you work.” Prescod mansplained taking a swing of his beer and smirked at Maria indicating he was joking, which she understood.

“Where’s your rings then?” Maria asked the two of them the snark clear in her voice.

Maria looked at Ross and Prescod sitting across from her. Her eyes narrowed.

“Been there, done that.” Ross grimaced.

“Yeah, what is like working for your ex-wife?” Maria asked brows raised. CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was far from Maria’s favorite person, and yet here she was taking a job from her.

“Yes, what is that like?” Prescod added.

“I think she’s rather fond of you.” Ross mumbled to Maria with a smile knowing that was not not at all true.

“Oh, no. She’s definitely not.” Maria grimaced shaking her head no confidently. Val was not a Nick Fury and people who did not do well with Nick generally did not do well with Maria either.

“Yeah, yeah. I know, I was kidding. She hates women.” Ross said swiftly.

”I’m not sure if I can trust her.” Maria admitted.

”You can. I mean, just because she doesn’t like you doesn’t mean she doesn’t want security and safety.” Ross slightly defended Val.

Maria sighed loudly at that remark, but Ross seemed right about that.

“She only let you come on when Colonel Rhodes made her. Colonel Rhodes really let into her.” Ross revealed.

“Well that bodes well my future.” Maria mumbled since that was definitely a bad sign for Maria’s recently resurrected career if Rhodes was already stepping in to defend her to the director, and Maria was definitely not going to go out of her way to suck up to Val. Maria didn’t even think she should have that job.

“So, you have a lot of powerful friends, then?” Prescod asked.

“Maybe more like powerful associations, but it took me over a year to get back into the system, so I don’t know it does anything.” Maria mumbled. Really she didn’t know what to say, she did have powerful friends but she didn’t want them to do anything special for her.

“It took you over a year to get back into the system even after you asked for help?” Prescod looked shock, sure lots of people all over the world had this problem, but not Maria Hill. That’s crazy.

“Oh, I didn’t ask, I just joined the queue like everyone else.” Maria shrugged and Ross almost spit out his drink. Prescod raised his beer bottle to her.

“You didn’t pick up the phone and call your buddies?” Ross almost laughed.

“What do you mean? Who was I supposed to call, you don’t think every single person in their lives called them first?” Maria reasoned.

“Yeah, but…” Ross started.

“She’s right.” Prescod supported.

“Clearly, you have both had a lapse in judgment. I’m a little worried about you, refusing security advice, not using your connections…” Ross mostly teased.

“Rather sexist ‘security advice’ by the way.” Maria added calling it out.

“Russia’s a sexist country.” Ross shrugged.

“Name one that isn’t” Maria huffed.

“New Zealand.” Prescod said but Ross talked over him.

“England?” Ross said.

“England had the longest reigning woman head of state.” Ross declared but he was kidding.

“I don’t think that’s true, also you do understand sexism better than that, right?” Maria asked with raised brows as Maria and Prescod stared at Ross like he was delusional.

“You are saying that word a lot.” Ross pointed out with a playful grin.

“I wonder what is compelling me to say it so much?” Maria asked sarcastically with an obvious tone. Prescod laughed at Maria’s snark.

“Us? Couldn’t be.” Prescod joked.

“Imagine if Queen blipped?” Prescod joked and Maria raised her brows trying not smirk.

“I just mean, imagine the power struggle if the queen blipped and then returned, would she still be queen or would the newly crowned successor continue to reign?” Prescod proposed curiously, with smirk.

“Maybe you should write a screenplay, get into a new line of work.” Ross suggested

“Would you watch that movie?” Ross asked Maria.

“I only watch movies with Sigourney Weaver.” Maria joked.

“Could she be the Queen?” Ross questioned.

“No she’s too cool.” Maria smirked

“So you just watch Ghostbusters on repeat?” Prescod teased.

“More like the Alien movies.” Maria said like she was arguing with a brother.

“Okay but don’t knock Ghostbusters.” Prescod huffed.

“I’m not knocking it, just one of those franchises is clearly superior to the other.” Maria pointed out.

“Ghostbusters is a better movie than Alien.” Prescod almost cut Maria off.

“Okay, now you’re really hazing me.” Maria looked at Prescod in disbelief.

Maria and Prescod looked at Ross to break the tie.

“I was always partial to ‘A Fish Called Wanda’” Ross said offering no help.

“I don’t think Sigourney Weaver is in that movie…” Maria looked at Ross skeptically.

“You’re right, I was thinking of uhm Curtis I guess.” Ross shrugged.

“That’s not a movie on the same level.” Prescod huffed.

“Well, it is as Ghostbusters.” Maria argued.

“Take that back.” Prescod said pointing at her, the debate was getting intense but it was all in good fun.

“Not a fucking chance. You are blinded by youthful nostalgia.” Maria said confidently.

“I’ve gotta go with Maria on this one, sorry pal.” Ross frowned at Prescod. Prescod sighed loudly as he looked at Ross and then Maria.

“The problem with Ghostbusters…” Ross started

“There are no problems with Ghostbusters.” Prescod defended.

“Ohh well, there is for sure.” Maria added and Prescod shook his head no.

“I was going to say, it was because you want the ghosts to win.” Ross clarified.

“C’mon, you didn’t love seeing Ghostbusters in theaters?” Prescod asked Maria.

“Well I was 2.. when that movie came out, so, I didn’t.” Maria looked at Prescod directly in the eyes.

Ross and Prescod bit their bottom lips as they were in their teen years when that movie came out.

“Oof. I really didn’t want to know that.” Ross mumbled.

“How old were you?” Maria asked.

“Don’t answer that.” Prescod said to Ross.

“Both of the movies are good but you can’t compare them, it’s like comparing apples to oranges.” Prescod explained.

“Apples and oranges are perfect things to compare.” Maria pointed out and Prescod scoffed at her.

“They are! They are both citrus fruits, similar in shape and color, and grow on trees and have seeds on the inside.” Maria explained her reasoning.

“Huh, wow, I think you’re right.” Ross agreed.

“I know I’m right.” Maria said confidently.

“I’m glad you’re around so I can finally have conversations about stuff that matters with someone. Like movies and what fruits to compare.” Prescod laughed. Maria and Prescod clasped their beer bottles and smirked at each other. She could hold her own and still have fun, she could be grilled, she was fine, far from the rigid robot he had heard about from rumors.

“Well you two will be alright then.” Ross seemed pleased.

“Yeah we can both confidently agree that you are wrong.” Prescod joked and Ross rolled his eyes, he missed his old buddy but he did not want to be in Moscow in the winter toughing it out.