The Other Barton | Natasha Romanoff

Chapter Twenty

"Brielle, can I call you Brie?" An older, blonde reporter asked me as we both sat down for an interview Stark had set up. "I'd prefer not, but sure." I answered, already knowing she'll call me Brie even with my protests. "Great, so that public announcement you made really shocked everyone. Care to give any insight to how you felt during it." I'd been asked this countless times by other reporters today, my answer was basically rehearsed by now. "I was slightly nervous that i'd have to explain to a bunch of adults how the 'sex tapes' they all watched was actually recorded without my consent. But at least they took it well."

She kept eye contact the whole time I was talking, sharing a chuckle with me once I finished talking. "Now some on social media are saying you announcing you'll be joining the Avengers was bad timing on your part. What prompted you to want to announce that?" This had actually been a question I wasn't prepared for. Most interviewers moved past that part and just wanted the details on the main concern. "Uh, let me think... you know I believe I announced it then as a way of saying love me or hate me, i'm going to be one of the people protecting you at the end of the day."

"And I completely respect that approach. Now I don't want to take up much of your time so I have one last question for you and don't feel pressured to answer it. I understand it's still a sensitive topic. However, the CIA has had a warrant for your arrest for multiple years only to be believed you were dead. And now? I do believe everyone knows you're quite alive. What is going on with that situation? Are you able to spread light on it?"

The idea that Ross and the CIA now knew I was very much alive hadn't even crossed my mind yet. In the works of all of this they were my last concern. And even if they wanted to come after me again I had nowhere I was needed. I could run off again and Natasha wouldn't object to following. Running from our past is something we've done for years.

"If they want to put a warrant back out for me, have all their little ducks come looking, be my guest. I'm not afraid of them. But," I turned to the camera that had been filming this entire interview, "I'm still coming for you, Ross."

Without another word to the lady I stood up and left the studio. I went into a small hallway Tony and I agreed to meet after this interview. I quickly walked to the end of it where he had his phone out watching some sort of broadcast.

"Brie, the interview was great. But words of advice don't threaten people on national television. I learned that the hard way." He stated putting his phone into his coat pocket. "Ross is probably pissing his pants right now. I'm just trying to scare him. Not like he's a terrorist group." Tony mumbled something under his breath before retrieving a small envelope with a spider stamp on the front. He handed it to me which I accepted, not opening it quite yet. "So where am I headed?" I questioned, knowing if the kid was somewhere in New York I wouldn't be the one recruiting him. "Waverly, Iowa. Plane tickets are in the envelope."

"Tony?" I asked in a neutral tone. "Yea?" He quizzed confused. "You do know I'm from Waverly, right?" I pointed out. "No, but that gives you all the more reason to convince the kid to come do this 'internship'. He explained. "Look, i'll go but nobody tells Clint and don't be surprised if I come back like a world war two veteran." I sighed, knowing if I go back there making a stop at my childhood home would be inevitable. "Don't tell Clint, deal. I've got all the information you need in the envelope." He assured me.

"Great, I'll get the kid here one way or another." I assured back. "In one piece, alive, preferred." Tony said before he walked away leaving me to go off on this 'mission'. I opened up the envelope to see the tickets had no designated time on them, so I wouldn't need to do a dramatic run through the airport scene. Once I found a fire exit door and escaped to the blinding sun I pulled out my phone, pulling up Nats contact and pressing call.

"Hey babe, how'd the interview go?" She rasped, which was not normal due to it being the late afternoon. "It was good, were you sleeping?" I quizzed back. "Yeah, I had some free time and decided to fit in a cat nap. I figured you'd be back by now." I kicked a small rock that was beside my shoe trying to figure out how to tell her otherwise. "Well, actually Tony asked me to go recruit this kid for an internship, and it'll only take a day or two but I didn't want to go and not tell you because like we agreed we'd start communicating instead of-." Nat cut me off chuckling a bit as she did, "Hey, hey, it's okay. Just be safe. Don't get into trouble, or try to not. I know you have a thing for getting into trouble, but I wouldn't mind seeing you in some handcuffs." My cheeks immediately burned red, as Natasha teased at a new idea. "You're evil Romanoff, give me those thoughts as I'm about to leave for a few days." I replied. "You're welcome. But seriously be safe." She remarked back. "Yes, I will. I promise." I assured her. "Good, I'll see you when you get back." She agreed. "Yes, ma'am." I said back before hanging up.