Agent 20: Astryd Carter (Descendant)

Yelena And Budapest

Astryd's eyes widened when she saw the stranger in the black suit enter the bar. A sense of unease rippled through the room as the patrons exchanged nervous glances. The man's presence seemed to cast a shadow over the otherwise laid-back atmosphere of the establishment.

As the stranger scanned the room, his gaze settled on a photograph he held in his hand. His voice cut through the murmurs and hushed conversations like a sharp blade.

"Has anyone here know this person?" he asked, holding up the photograph for all to see. Astryd felt her heart skip a beat when she caught sight of the image. It was a picture of her from her days as an Avenger, taken during one of their missions. This was not good. Not good at all.

Astryd quickly downed the last of her drink, her mind racing as she weighed her options. She couldn't afford to be caught by Secretary Ross's agents, not when she was still trying to stay off the grid. She knew that her presence here had just been compromised.

"Oppsss... time to disappear," Astryd mumbled to herself as she slid off the barstool. She handed the bartender the payment for her drinks, along with a subtle nod of gratitude. He had become a trusted friend during her time frequenting this place.

With practised ease, Astryd made her way towards the bar's rear exit, hoping to slip away unnoticed. The agent's arrival had disrupted the peace she had briefly found, and now, she needed to vanish once more into the shadows. 

One thing was clear: she couldn't stay in London any longer. She needed to disappear once more, find a new place to hide, and continue to evade the authorities. Astryd had grown accustomed to life on the run, but it was a life that had left her feeling increasingly isolated and alone. 

****

Astryd groaned as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed with the dull ache of a hangover, and the world around her seemed to spin. She was lying on a couch in a dimly lit room, and it took a moment for her surroundings to come into focus.

As her vision cleared, she recognized her surroundings. She was in Natasha's safe house in Budapest. The memories of the previous night started to flood back, including the unexpected person in front of her. Light hair, green eyes. She looked at her with confusion as the person in front of her was ready to attack Astryd but in doubt seeing the vulnerable state of her. 

"Who are you?" Astryd furrowed as she couldn't take the world spinning around as she fell on the couch.

"Well, who are you???!" The woman said and left Astryd sprawled on the couch. It was Yelena as she thought interestingly about Astryd in front of her. But Yelena sensed that someone was at the door, trying to open the lock.  

"I know you're out there," Yelena's voice carried a mixture of uncertainty and conviction.

Natasha's response came, her words measured and cautious, "I know you know I'm out here." Entering the apartment with a gun. 

Their exchange was laced with an underlying distrust that hung heavily between them. Yelena's voice returned, her words dripping with sarcasm, "Then why are you skulking about like it's a minefield?"

Natasha spotted Yelena in the living area. Natasha's reply was firm and straightforward, "'Cause I don't know if I can trust you."

Yelena chuckled, the sound slightly muffled, "Funny, I was going to say the same thing." She said and a gun pointed at each other. 

The room was charged with tension as the two highly skilled operatives stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. Natasha's attempt to break the ice was met with a cautious response from Yelena.