Starling (OC x Loki & Steve Rogers) MCU OC Story

Ch. 2: Who Are You?

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters 

February 10, 2009.       11:00pm

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"Any updates?" Agent Romanoff walks up to Barton, handing him a cup of coffee. 

"She still hasn't said a word," Barton replies, shooting Romanoff a grateful grin as he takes the cup from her. 

Romanoff takes a sip from her own cup as the two of them stare at the girl sitting in the interrogation room on the other side of the window. Her legs are bouncing with anxiety as she fidgets with the sleeves of her sweatshirt. The agents gave her a pair of sweats along with some socks to try and warm her body up. There's no telling how long she was stuck in that cold room. 

"Should we try to go in and get some answers out of her?" Barton asks his partner.

Agent Romanoff nods as the two make their way into the interrogation room. As they enter, the girl jumps at the sound of the door creaking open. Agent Romanoff slowly walks across the room as Barton carefully shuts the door so they don't scare her again. 

The girl stiffens when she hears the two metal chairs scrape against the floor as the agents settle into them. Barton takes a sip of his coffee as Romanoff leans forward. The girl shifts her gaze back and forth between the two of them. 

"Is there anything we can get you?" The girl turns her attention to Agent Romanoff as she continues, "Coffee? Some food?" 

The girl glances at their two cups. She can't remember the last time she had a hot beverage, and her last meal was a scoop of cold oatmeal two days ago. She nods slightly, looking up to see the agents' reactions. 

"Okay! We can get you something," Agent Romanoff smiles. Barton gets up to retrieve some food and coffee for the hostage, leaving his partner alone with the girl. 

The two sit silently in the interrogation room. The hum of the air conditioning unit fills the quiet void; the sound of fabric rustling adds to the background as the girl fidgets with her hands more. Agent Romanoff opens her mouth to speak when she's interrupted by Barton's return. He has a tray with a cup of coffee, water, and a sandwich with a bag of chips. 

He sets the tray down in front of the girl, "This is all I could find." 

The girl looks up at him expectantly. She has never just been given a meal. She always had to work for it. 

Barton, noticing her hesitation, tells her, "Go ahead. Eat up. You won't bother us."

Without waiting another minute, the girl digs into her food. She begins devouring her sandwich like a ravenous animal, occasionally taking large gulps of water. The two agents watch her, surprised at how much energy she has suddenly gained by the presence of food. They glance at each other before returning their gazes to her.

After she finishes her sandwich, chips, and water, the girl grabs the coffee cup with both hands and takes a slow sip. Her face softens as she feels the warm liquid slide down her throat. The two agents sit up in their seats. 

"Are you warmer now? Do you feel okay?" Agent Romanoff asks. The girl nods in response, still clutching the coffee cup.

"Good. I'm glad," She starts, "I'm Agent Romanoff, but you can call me Nat. This is Agent Barton."

The girl looks from Nat to Barton, who responds, "Clint."

"We both work for S.H.I.E.L.D.. That's where we are now," Nat leans forward, smiling at her, "Can you tell us your name?"

The girl still doesn't say a word. She looks down at her coffee cup, unsure of what to do. She wants to open up about everything, but she doesn't know these people, this place. What if they hurt her too?

"Would you like some more coffee?" Clint asks the girl, taking the pressure off of her to tell them her name. She looks up at him then back down at her empty cup and nods. She slowly hands him the coffee cup, and he exits the room once again. 

A few minutes after the door shuts, Nat speaks up, "I know it's scary. It can be hard to open up about something so painful. Especially when you don't know who we are or where you are."

The girl bounces her leg and pulls on the sleeves of her sweatshirt. Her gaze is on her own lap. 

"I know how you feel."

The girl freezes, still staring at her lap.

"I've been where you are. I know you may not think I can understand, but believe me, I do. For most of my childhood, I was fighting for my life. I was caught in a cycle. Clint is actually the one that rescued me." 

Nat doesn't say another word. Instead, she sits in silence, clasping her hands together and staring at the table. The girl looks at her, surprised at the story she was just told. Maybe she could trust these people. 

Silence falls in the room again. Nat reflects on her own words, getting lost in some of the flashbacks of the Red Room. 

"Madelyn," The girl finally speaks, "My name is Madelyn."

Nat perks her head up swiftly, in shock that words just came out of the girl's mouth. She smiles as Clint walks through the door.

"What'd I miss?" He sets the coffee cup down in front of the girl. 

"Clint, this is Madelyn." Nat turns toward him as he sits down, widening her eyes and tilting her head.

Clint makes a face of realization as he turns to look at the girl, "It's nice to meet you Madelyn."

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Author's Note:

AHHHH Chapter 2! I hope y'all liked it! I am so excited to write some more! Please let me know what your thoughts are!

XOXO,

Mackenzie