Chapter 10
2013, date redacted
So, Mandarin happened. Stark moved back into Stark Tower with Pepper.
Maria was going to shatter something. Fucking Mandarin. Who knew the guy could cause more trouble than expected? But of course, with Tony Stark in the equation, it made sense.
Maria sighs as she continues with her paperwork. Paperwork, from all the Red Room related missions lately. Damned paperwork.
Of course, Maria loved her job. She liked that she could do something to protect the world. Stark once said that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were crazy. He was sort of right, you had to be a certain type of messed up to find a home or comfort in S.H.I.E.L.D.
But there were the small things. Like the face of a mother reunited with her child. Like the camaraderie of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents whenever they congregate for celebrations, or just in the cafeteria gossiping, or as Natasha would say, spill the tea.
Like the redheaded russian. Like their girls.
The path ahead may be dark and twisty or shit, but she's got S.H.I.E.L.D., she's got Nat and Yelena and Galina and Nick and Clint and Sharon and May and Coulson.
It's a good way to live.
2013, date redacted
Maria was wrong. So fucking wrong.
She knew that HYDRA had corrupted S.H.I.E.L.D., but the dirt Red Room had on HYDRA was not as much as what was to be revealed.
It all started when Natasha decided to visit Arnim Zola, or his computer brain. Yelena had mentioned it, and Natasha decided to go with Clint for a little spying.
Natasha uncovered a lot. Files, drives, with Zola's goading and his algorithim.
Maria had took one look at the files and had to take a break. Sharon had run off to the restroom to throw up.
HYDRA was one fucked up organisation, even worse than Red Room. Maybe.
Natasha had looked damn near to breaking down into tears, while Clint had stared into space.
They agreed that they would keep this between the five of them. Anyone could be a sleeper agent, they had to be alert.
Natasha had confessed that she was very grateful Fury considered her as trustworthy. There was a time where everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. lookde at her like she was a bomb.
They would deal with this. Expose HYDRA agents, slowly rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D.
Just normal Wednesdays for them, she supposed.
2013, date redacted
James Buchanan Barnes was transferred to Stark Tower for re programming. Banner and specialists were invited to help.
They had to make sure he was stable. Steve paced near him all the time.
Natasha was glad for James. He deserved to have a familiar face if when he woke up.
Natasha popped by, checked in with Steve. And talked to Tony, with him and the whole Mandarin business. And said a goodbye to James.
Natasha slips off into the shadows and to her home, ready for HYDRA. Come get me motherfuckers, as Sam would say.