Nightrunner

A knock sounded on Natalia’s door, startling her. She looked up from her coffee and newspaper, before walking towards the french doors. This was her life, ever since she quit S.H.I.E.L.D. She worked for the CIA, lived in a very big penthouse in the middle of New York City, and she had gotten even more skilled.

She was only wearing a lose t-shirt, pajama pants, slippers, and her hair was up in a messy side braid. She opened the door, to be revealed with Phil Coulson’s smiling face.

“Nightrunner?” Phil questioned. Natalia’s ears perked up at her old codename.

“No,” she mumbled, shaking her head, turning to shut her door. “I’m not doing this again.”

“Please.” Phil begged. “Please, we need your help to find Agent Barton.”

Natalia glared at him. “You’ve already replaced me. With.. what was the girl’s name? Black Widow. You found Clint the first time. Why not get him the second? Besides, Natasha and him have some chemistry.”

Phil raised an eyebrow. “Is this jealousy I hear, Agent Hansen?”

Natalia narrowed her eyes into slits, defeated. She opened the door wider to let the agent in. “So what do you need me for?”

Phil walked in, passing a file in her hands as he did so. “Nice place,” he commented, before turning around. “I hear you got a spot in the CIA.”

“You’ve been stalking me all this time, Coulson?” the former agent raised an eyebrow in amusement. She scanned her eyes over the printings over the paper. She mumbled the words softly. “Loki’s back?”

“And he had compromised Barton again.” Phil mummered.

“It’s like Barton’s the only one getting compromised. I feel like he’s a favorite hmm.” Natalia attempted to joke.

“He chose Barton because he held the most information.” Phil said seriously. Natalia bit her lip.

“Take me to S.H.I.E.L.D,” she ordered. Phil raised an eyebrow at her attire. “After I change.” she said quickly, before scampering up the stairs.

--

“Agent Hansen,” Nick Fury greeted, the smallest of smiles tweaked on his lips. “Welcome back to S.H.I.E.L.D.”

“Yeah, i’m not here to stay.” Natalia replied hastily. She placed the file in front of him, ignoring the people at the back of her, known as The Avengers.

“You can’t just come and leave.” Natasha Romanoff intervined from the other side of the table.

“No, no she can if she wants to.” Nick Fury interrupted, obviously desperate for his best agent to be back in the headquarters.

Natasha was about to say more, before an explosion sounded on the ground floor. The heroes exchanged glances, before leaving the room immediately.