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Natasha wasn't one for feelings, especially ones she couldn't shake no matter what she tried to do. And right now, after hearing about Loki and speaking to Clint, it became apparent to her that she's too close to this.

She may not have known Loki, but if Thor was correct, then she was Loki. She hurt people, so many people, just like him. But the difference between him and her is that he was forced to do it, while Natasha liked to do it.

She liked to please her superiors, she liked to be at the top of her class, she liked to do whatever she could to follow the rules. Clint had told her many times that those feelings were from the brainwashing and torture she was put through, but still, she didn't believe it. She also knew that if Loki was under the control of something or someone, then it would take a long time to get him out of control. And that it would cause a lot of memories to resurface in her.

Knowing all this makes Fury calling to speak with her less intimidating, as she knows what he wants to talk about. Fury hadn't called Clint, so whatever this is about is either an assignment for her or someones compromised. Someone being compromised is about as close as Fury gets to being personal.

The door opened in front of her, and there stood the Director himself. He was staring out the window at the clouds, and she walked forward silently, waiting for instructions.

"You know, sometimes I like to just look at this view," Fury said.

She continued to walk until she stood beside him, staring straight ahead and out the window towards the clouds.

"You know the best thing about this view Agent Romanoff?"

Natasha remained silent, knowing that whatever Fury would say wouldn't involve any fluffy clouds.

"The birds. Them peacefully flying, free and all, until they run straight into the Helicarrier and are killed."

Fury turned towards her, and she continued to stare out the window.

"Before that meeting, we all were that bird, flying high and free, and now any second, we will hit into something we can't see and get ourselves killed. Do you understand?"

Natasha finally turned to look at him.

"You want me to keep an eye on Clint, seeing as you asked Steve to watch over Thor. And me being Clint's partner and friend also helps," she responds.

"It does," Fury began. "But you are also an agent, and agents watch over each other, especially when the mission involves a psychopathic god that your partner is connected to," he says.

"Was connected."

Even after saying it, she knew that it was a lie, and the look Fury gave her showed he not only disagreed with her but knew that what she said was far from the truth. If anything, the conversation she had with Clint proved he was connected to Loki. Her partner may not want anything to do with Loki, but having him be a part of this has already compromised Clint. There are still so many unknown things about mind control. Even if Clint wasn't in danger of being controlled, if he spends too much time with Loki he'll either grow attached or lose himself.

Before she could say anything else, the door opened, and Clint walked in. He looked at the two of them as he walked towards us, stopping beside her.

"What'd I miss?" Clint asked.

"I brought you both here to discuss-," began Fury.

"Me being compromised."

"No, Agent Barton."

Fury walked to the screen, pulling up pictures of all of them.

"You know what you and these people all have in common? All of them, and you are compromised. And yet all of you are on this assignment."

They both remained still and silent.

"Only one member of this team is actually related to him, and everyone is still compromised in some way," Fury continued. "And I don't trust any of them to keep an eye on things, and I don't trust you both either. But I don't need trust when I tell you both that you will alert and inform me of anything you discuss, see, or do with the others. Because I know if you don't, there will be consequences, and you both are too smart to disobey orders. Then there's the god himself. I know you both aren't dumb enough to believe that he's not a threat. If anything were to become suspicious or dangerous and no one is doing anything about it, one or both of you deal with the situation. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir," said Clint.

"Good, now get going. There's work to be done."

She and Clint both left the room and walked down the hallway silently.

"He told you to keep an eye on me, didn't he?" Clint said.

Natasha didn't answer, knowing that Clint already knew and that there was no point.

"Great. Guess he trusts you now."

"It's nothing about trust Clint," she began. "It's the fact that I'm close to you, and no one else can directly ask you personal questions and get away with it. You and I both know we'd do the same. Plus, what he's asking of me is something I've been doing already."

"Spying on me?"

"No, making sure you're okay. Which you're obviously not."

Clint groaned. "How many times do I have to tell you and everyone else: I'm fine. Yes, I was controlled by that bastard, but I'm not anymore."

"There are too many unknown factors Clint. And you know I can see through your lies, and you've been lying to me since you were released from his control. I know you're not fine, you know you're not fine, but neither of us is going to do something about it because we either can't or don't want to."

Clint remained silent.

"Anyways, we need to decide our next move," she said.

"You don't think this 'spying' assignment should be carried out?"

"I think if we are going to get any results, we all need to be on the same page."

Clint nodded. "So we tell them about what Fury said, how do we do that?"

They both stopped walking, now in front of the staircase.

"Go to my room, I'll be there in a few minutes," she said, ignoring the question.

Clint gave a questioning look but continued down the stairs. Natasha went up, knowing exactly where she was heading to. Once in the room, she saw the two men working silently. She walked in, and neither acknowledged her entering.

She smiled. "Why so quiet Stark?"

Tony jumped up and turned towards her. "Jesus Christ Romanoff."

Tony turned to Bruce, who was still working and who calmly closed his computer before turning towards the both of them.

Tony stared at Bruce, confused. "How were you not frightened?"

Bruce sighed, obviously understanding the question underneath the question. "If I was able to 'hulk out' simply by being startled, then most of the world would be severely destroyed by now."

Tony continued to stare. "So you learned not to be frightened."

Bruce shrugged. "It's rather simple when you really think about it."

"So what did you do?" Tony asked, clearly intrigued. "Have a bunch of people scare you to see if you'd turn big or-?"

"Boys, we have more important things to discuss," she said, interrupting the conversation.

"I will be hearing about this later," Tony said to Bruce before turning towards her. "Anyways, what's so important? Some secret meeting your setting up?"

"Actually, yes."

Tony smiled. "Knew it. What are we waiting for then?"

"The others."

"Let me guess, Capsicle and Pointbreak?" Tony said with a sigh. "Those old men and gods never can keep track of time or stay up to date. Don't worry, I'll get them."

"You better hurry."

Tony got up and walked out.

"How long until he comes back?" she said.

Bruce looked at her, confused. "What?"

"I didn't tell him where this meeting is."

Realization spread over his face. "Oh, uh, probably a few seconds."

Just then, Tony came back, sticking his head into the room. "And where exactly would this not secret meeting-"

"4th floor. Room 126."

Tony nodded. "Okay. See you at the not secret meeting-"

"Stark, you better leave now or else."

Tony smirked. "Or else what?"

Natasha returned the smirk. "Do you really want to know?"

The smirk disappeared. "Nope."

Tony then left the room, again, and she turned back towards Bruce.

"Ready to go?"

"Uh yeah, sure," he answered.

The pair exited the room, heading towards the stairs.

"I never got to apologize about what happened with the Hulk," Bruce said, breaking the silence.

"There's no need to, it wasn't your fault. It was a stressful situation."

"Still doesn't change that I hurt you and risked everyone's lives on this ship."

"Everyone on this ship went through the training. The minute they sign up, they know the risk and know that they may not come home one day. The agents here especially know that, as the things that happen here aren't normally the safest. And you don't have to worry about me, I've gotten way worse injuries from way worse people."

Bruce sighed. "It just doesn't feel like I should be on here. I only thought it would be a few days, but the longer I'm here, the worse I feel."

She put her hand on Bruce's shoulder gently, stopping and making him turn towards her. "Every person on this ship fought and deserves to be here, including you. I can't authorize you to leave, but if you want to find someplace interesting on here, I can show you some spots."

Bruce smiled slightly. "I would like that."

They both reached her room and entered. Natasha's room was larger than the others, as she spent a lot more time on this ship. Clint was there, organizing her weapons. She walked up to him, watching.

"Took you long enough," Clint said without looking up.

"Well, it will be even longer with Stark going to get the others."

Clint continued to check her gun, making sure it was fully loaded.

"Hey," she said, putting a hand on his. Clint stopped and looked at her.

"It's okay."

"What?" he responded, confused.

"You always do this when you're stressed."

"I do not!"

"You do, and every time I have to reorganize them because you like them by size, I like them by power."

"It looks better by size."

"Well, it's not your room. I don't go around messing with your bows and arrows."

Before Clint could respond, the door opened, and Tony, Steve, and Thor entered.

"Sorry we're late, I had to explain what a lightsaber was to these clueless people," said Tony.

"It is the most interesting weapon that could be very useful to Earth," said Thor.

"I could probably make one. Just need to figure out how to power it and direct the-"

"Stark, time to shut up," she said.

"Okay."

The group sat down, some on the floor while others on the pieces of furniture around the room. She sat on the couch next to Clint, knowing that this meeting was either going to go well or to hell. Either way, she would still have her partner and best friend. And maybe that is the difference between her and Loki, why Loki right now is a mass murderer in a cell, and she's a SHIELD agent who just helped save the world. Loki was alone, while she had people who helped save her. Natasha had never fully believed in second chances, sure she would give them, but she would never trust that person the same again. So she knew that giving Loki a chance wouldn't change the way she felt or what she was to do if things go wrong. But she can't not give them.

Second chances show the true side of someone, show if they are willing to change.

They can even be as detrimental as life and death.

Second chances saved her from the dark path that she was on. So she can't help but wonder what it will do to Loki.

Will he change? Will he become who he really is?

Or will the side they see him as reveal to be his true self?