𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴𝑺 ━━ 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜

12 Nobody's Son, Nobody's Daughter

THE NEXT MORNING, the atmosphere at the Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D., headquarters, was tense. The sleek, futuristic corridors were filled with agents going about their duties, but the usual hum of activity seemed muted, overshadowed by the previous day's events. Steve Rogers walked with purpose, his expression set in a determined frown as he made his way to Fury's office. Reaching the door, he didn't bother to knock. He pushed it open and stepped inside, his gaze locking onto Nick Fury, who was seated behind his desk, reviewing a stack of files.

"Fury, we need to talk," Steve said, his voice hard and unwavering.

Fury looked up, his one good eye assessing Steve's demeanor. He set the files aside and leaned back in his chair. "Morning, Cap. What's on your mind?"

"You know exactly what's on my mind," Steve replied, stepping closer. "Why did you assign Natasha a double mission without notifying me? We're supposed to be a team. We need transparency to function effectively."

Fury sighed, steepling his fingers as he regarded Steve. "Look, Rogers, there are things that need to be done that sometimes require a bit of... discretion."

"Discretion?" Steve echoed, his frustration growing. "Is that what you call it? Sending her on a mission to extract data while we were supposed to be taking down those pirates?"

"Yes, discretion," Fury replied calmly. "Natasha's mission was crucial. We needed that intel, and she was the best person for the job."

Steve shook his head, his eyes blazing. "You didn't think I needed to know? What if something had gone wrong? What if we needed her, and she wasn't there because she was off on some secret assignment?"

Fury stood up, his demeanor as calm as ever but with a hint of steel in his voice. "I trust my agents to do their jobs, Rogers. Natasha is one of the best, and she knows how to handle herself. I make the calls that I believe are in the best interest of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world."

Steve took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. "We can't keep operating like this, Fury. If we're going to trust each other, we need to be on the same page."

Fury's gaze softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. "I understand your concerns, Steve. But sometimes, compartmentalization is necessary. You may not always agree with my methods, but they're designed to keep us ahead of the threats we face."

Steve stared at Fury for a long moment, the tension palpable. Finally, he nodded, though the frustration didn't entirely leave his eyes. "Just make sure this doesn't become a habit. We're stronger when we work together, not when we're kept in the dark."

Fury nodded in acknowledgment. "Fair enough. I'll do my best to keep you in the loop. But remember, sometimes there are things you might not want to know, even if you need to."

With that, Steve turned and left the office, the weight of the conversation still heavy on his shoulders. As he walked down the corridor, he resolved to keep a closer eye on things, knowing that the trust within their team was crucial to their success—and their survival.

IN THE debriefing room, the atmosphere was tense, the air heavy with the weight of recent events. Kalum sat upright in a stiff-backed chair, his posture rigid as he awaited the debriefing officer's questions. The room was stark, with plain white walls and a single table between Kalum and her. The only source of light came from the fluorescent fixtures overhead, casting harsh shadows across the room.