Double Agent

Chapter 9

Maura was sitting on the couch in the main living area at Avengers Tower, reading a book and just enjoying the quiet. She had solidified the trust of Fury and the team after the events that unfolded in the weeks prior. Maura had all but tuned out the world around her, until she heard a set of little steps approach. Not looking up, she said, "Hiya, kiddo."

"Hi," said the little girl with a broad smile on her face.

"What's up?" Maura asked, putting a mark on her book's page and closing it, looking at her young niece.

"I know it's early in the morning. But, can I sit with you? No one else is awake yet."

"Of course you can," Maura said sweetly as she patted the seat next to her.

Morgan hopped up and sat right on the couch next to her aunt. They had only met a month prior since Tony felt the need to wait to introduce his sister to his daughter until he thought he could trust Maura enough. Since that first encounter, though, the two girls had become fast friends. Maura loved spending time with her niece, taking her out for lunch or milkshakes, and even playing dress-up around the Tower.

Morgan sat with her aunt and looked up at her with wondering eyes. "Can I ask you a question, Maura?"

"Sure you can," she smiled down at the little girl.

"Are you a good guy? Or a bad guy?" Her tone was innocent enough, but the question stung a bit.

"What do you mean?" Maura responded, hoping it would help offer her time to find the correct answer.

"I heard you and dad talking about the bad guys, about Hydra, and how you worked for them."

"Well, Morgan, it's not a straightforward answer like you think. I used to work for the bad guys, but now I'm here."

"So, you're good now, right?" She pressed.

"Well, Morgan, good isn't really a thing you are." Maura paused, smiling down at the questioning brown eyes that stared back at her, "It's the things you do. It's the choices you make."

"I don't understand." Morgan ran her little fingers through her hair, her brow furrowed as she thought about whether what Maura was saying was as confusing to herself as it was to Morgan.

"Try to look at it like this. We're not good or bad; we just are." Maura reached out a hand and touched her shoulder gently. "I know it's a strange thing to think about. But what I'm trying to say, Morgan, is that there aren't clear good or bad guys, and that's why you always have to be careful. " Maura's voice was soft and gentle.

"It doesn't make sense. People have to be good or bad. You have to be good, just like my dad is, and Uncle Steve. So, you are a good guy, right?" Morgan tried to reason.

"Sure, sweetie. I'm a good guy." Maura smiled and kissed Morgan on the forehead.

The little girl smiled and sighed with relief. She knew Maura was a good person. "Promise you will always be a good guy? And never hurt my dad, or his friends?" Her voice was soft, but Maura could hear the tinge of concern.

"I promise, Morgan."

"Pinky promise?" the little girl smiled, holding up her closed fist with just her pinky extended.

Maura couldn't help but grin and chuckle. "Pinky promise," she said, matching her niece's action, entangling their pinkies together.

Just as Maura was about to look down at her book again, they started hearing low-toned, muffled noises coming from the room across the hall. "Sounds like the others are finally waking up. So what do you say we make everyone some breakfast, huh? Want to help?" Maura smiled and stood from her spot on the sofa.

"Yes!" Morgan hopped up beside her. They made their way to the kitchen, and Morgan hopped up onto the counter stool, while Maura began looking for some coffee and all the things needed to make some chocolate chip pancakes from scratch.

----------------------------------------------------------------

As the months went on, Maura and Tony seemed to spend most of their free time together. They would take walks at night, spend time outside with Morgan, spend countless hours in his lab, or just in the Tower talking.

Maura would often cook their meals, always taking the opportunity to show Morgan how to fix simple things like scrambled eggs, pancakes, or mac and cheese. The little girl was getting quite proficient in the kitchen, and Maura wasn't complaining about the help.

As the days went by, it became clear that Maura was becoming a permanent fixture in the Tower. She had been there for well over a year now, knew everyone she came in contact with, was getting closer to each member and was finally feeling like she found where she belonged.

Hydra knew it would be an extended mission, and Maura still kept in contact with her superiors there, but she was beginning to have some small second thoughts about the end plan.

Tony had been working on a project for over a year now, and one night while in the lab, he finally decided to let his sister see his new armor. Maura loved getting to see the progress of his projects. As far as she was concerned, Tony ran an excellent lab and worked hard tirelessly at his craft. However, seeing his armor was something else.

It was beautiful. Its gray armor plates stood tall and proud. The metal glinted in the light, catching the shadows and life that Tony always strived for in his projects. Maura was fascinated by the technology just as Tony was, and he was very thankful for that. It was a small connection to her family that they could share.

This was precisely what Hydra had been looking for. The new Stark technology they had sent her to get information on. A project Tony hadn't shared with anyone as of yet, not even Bruce.

Maura wasn't told exactly what Hydra's plan was with the information, but she could certainly make a good guess. She was beginning to realize the snake-like organization was not to be trusted, but she had a job to do.

She looked at the armor thoughtfully, with her arms crossed over her chest and her back leaning up against the lab's white and gray full glass wall. Tony was in the center of the lab, his back to her, hands deep in some wires that were part of his project.

"So, what do you think?" Tony asked as he turned around to face Maura.

"It's beautiful."

"Thank you. I know, I know. It's not the most useful, combat-capable thing. It's just a prototype for now," Tony patted the armor on the chest, "But I'm sure it will be a success once I have all the kinks worked out."

"A success?" Maura walked up behind her brother, "A success for who?" Her voice was calm and subtle, but the tone resonated with impatience.

"Well, me, of course." Tony rubbed the back of his neck and began picking up random components that had fallen off the armor.

"Come on, Tony. What's the real reason to make something like this?"

"Honestly? It started as a simple fix. Something to help me - stay alive. But once I realized it could be sentient? I figured, why not?!" Tony chuckled to himself as he put the components in their proper places.

"Have you taken into consideration that this could backfire on you?" Maura threw down her arms, and her tone became more serious, harsher.

"Of course I have!" Tony yelled back.

"You've rebuilt that Ultron disaster. How are you-"

"Maura. It's not Ultron, okay? I took some precautions this time that I didn't before. Besides, I'm still working on it. It's not going to be put to use until I know it is ready." Tony huffed.

"I hope you're right, Tony. I mean, I have faith in you; I just worry. "

"I know, I know." Tony comically put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, much to her surprise.