Chapter Text
Natasha burst into the common room, dressed in her full tactical uniform. The other Avengers, sprawled around in various states of relaxation, all tensed at her sudden appearance.
Natasha’s eyes scanned the scene in a heartbeat. She knew where he was, but she couldn’t see him. “Barton!” she snapped
Clint’s hands shoot up from the couch in surrender. “I didn’t do it!”
At any other time, Natasha would have rolled her eyes. “I found another one,” she said.
Steve looked up from his sketchpad. “A HYDRA cell?”
“No, a Black Widow.”
Clint swore and bolted upright. He locked eyes with Natasha. “Where?”
“Another Black Widow?” Bruce echoed, his eyebrows pinched.
Natasha ignored him, her eyes still on Clint. “London, but she won’t be there long. I want to pick her up.”
“I’ll grab my gear.” Clint bounded up and out of the room.
Steve rose as well. “Natasha, what—”
“I’m sorry, Cap, but this is just a quick in and out. Clint and I can handle it.”
“How long?”
“I should know within 24 hours.” She turned and dashed after Clint.
“Another Black Widow?” Bruce asked again, his mouth hanging open. “How are there more of her?”
Steve crossed his arms. “The Red Room trained lots of girls. I just didn’t know there were any alive.”
“So she has a sister?”
“A comrade, at least,” Tony said. “But is she heading out for a tearful reunion or a kill shot?”
“Sir,” JARVIS sounded,” A quinjet has just launched with Miss Romanoff and Mr. Barton on board.”
“Get them on coms,” Steve ordered.
Instantly, Clint’s lazy drawl came through the speakers. “Sorry to run off like this.” He didn’t sound sorry at all. “We should be back in a day or so. Try not to destroy the city while we’re gone.”
“What’s your plan?”
“Well, Nat thinks—”
“I want to bring her in as an asset,” Natasha’s voice burst out.
Within Avenger’s Tower, three sets of eyebrows rose.
“Don’t worry, Cap,” Clint said cheerfully. “I’ve done this before.”
When Natasha and Clint called again the next day, it put the team on high alert. After JARVIS informed them of the quinjet’s landing, the Avengers gathered in the common room. Steve stood facing the elevator, Tony was at the bar, and Bruce took a seat on the couch.
The elevator pinged, and everyone froze.
The door slid open to reveal Natasha and Clint with a beautiful blonde woman sandwiched between them. She wore perfectly cut jeans and a dangerous smile. With the two returning Avengers still in their tactical suits, she almost looked like a prisoner. But prisoners never looked so comfortable among the Avengers.
“Well, don’t you all look happy to see us,” Natasha drawled. “Guys, this is Ira. We grew up together.”
“You mean in spy-sassin school?” Tony said. “Is that even her real name?”
The blonde stepped forward. “My full name is Irina Mikhaelovna Alexei.” Her voice was creamy. “I don’t want to cause any trouble between you. I want to help in your hunt for HYDRA.” Steve opened his mouth, but she waved a hand. “Oh, everyone knows it. I have fresh sources you may find useful.”
“Why? What’s in it for you?” Steve asked.
“I said she could stay here for a while,” Natasha said. “And she’s agreed to follow the rules.”
Irina stroked the long braid that hung over her shoulder. “I really appreciate the hospitality, and I promise not to go sneaking where I don’t belong.”
“How can we be sure of that?” Tony asked, jerking his chin up. “You are a spy, after all.”
“Of course. But Mr. Stark, you have the most advance security system in the world. Besides, Natasha has already found me once. I don’t want her hunting me down again.” She looked up at Steve with pleading eyes. “I’d rather not go back to running from HYDRA either, Captain. And to be honest, I’m intrigued by what Natasha has told me about her new life. She speaks very highly of you.”
Steve shifted his weight. “You’re doing this out of curiosity?”
“I’m doing this because it is in our mutual interest. And I’m a bit bored with my current employment.”
Steve raised his eyebrows and looked to Natasha. The redhead cocked one sculpted eyebrow in return. He looked to Clint, who nodded slightly.
“Well, I’m sure you must be tired after your trip. Natasha, will you get her settled in one of the open suites?”
Irina’s face broke into a brilliant smile. She took Steve’s large hand in both of hers. “Thank you.” Her grey eyes scanned the room. “All of you.”
Natasha led her away. Once the two women were gone, Steve turned to Clint.
“Do you really think this is a good idea? She could be playing us?”
“She’s definitely playing us,” Tony said. “The way she looked at you, Cap…it’s all a game to her.”
“But why would Nat vouch for her then?” Bruce said.
Clint was shaking his head. “Irina’s in deeper than even Nat was when I brought her into SHIELD. But she was surprisingly candid just now. I listened to them talking all the way back. I think she honestly wants to know what life as a good guy is like.”
“We can trust Natasha,” Bruce said. “She would understand her better than anyone.”
Natasha walked back in. “Ira’s settled and locked in. JARVIS will let us know if she tries to leave.”
“So you think she will?” Tony said.
“No, I think you think she will.”
“How did you even find her?” Bruce asked.
Natasha flopped down on the couch. “Whispers. I didn’t even know she was alive until recently. Most of the spy community thought she was me.” She winced. “I’m the famous Widow, unfortunately. Her specialty is deep cover work. I hadn’t seen her since the Red Room, but when I heard the stories I recognized the training. I found her at the same time HYDRA did. She could either come with us or go with them.”
“At least we know she’s not with HYDRA,” Clint said. “She could have handed us over to them.”
“No,” Bruce shook his head, forehead creased with worry. “If she’s an undercover master, she could be playing us all.”
“She’s a risk,” Steve said.
“That’s an understatement,” Tony muttered.
Natasha sighed and rubbed her head. “She’s just like me before I joined SHIELD.”
“Do you think she’ll turn like you did?” Steve asked.
Clint nodded, but Natasha hesitated. “She’s older than I was. More established.”
“But that’s really why you brought her in, isn’t it?”
The redhead nodded. “I told her it wasn’t too late to do some good with her skills. She said she would be willing to try it. It’s part of our agreement: under our roof, she acts like one of us.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Well, it’s worked before!” Clint said.