UNKNOWN GUEST

#9 Agent of SHIELD

The glass door automatically slid open, letting me in, and as soon as I stepped inside, I felt trapped on my own feet. I couldn't move. My eyes were only on her, and her eyes were on me. Her evergreen gaze moved from my head to toe, and I couldn't help but feel so overwhelmed. My mom, right in front of me. I had no idea what she was thinking, though. For a moment, I wished she would call me by my name—"Jamey, baby, come here." Oh, how much I missed it.

Uncle Clint's words brought my senses back. "Jason, this is Agent Romanoff. It's her I was talking about."

She raised her eyebrow faintly and spoke, "Hello, Jason."

I started, "Mo—" What am I doing? Her eyes narrowed. I swallowed a tight lump in my throat and added, "Ma'am."

Uncle Clint sighed in relief, and Mom only nodded. Then she followed up with a question, "Where do you live in D.C.?"

I had no freaking answer. Thankfully, Uncle Clint was there to rescue me. "We're gonna talk about that later. I have to introduce him to Fury first."

He walked up to me and urged me to follow him outside. I did so, but I could feel her stare on my back, even though I didn't turn around. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever as we walked away from the room. I couldn't shake the feeling of her eyes on me, a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Clint leaned in and whispered, "You did good in there. Just keep it together."

I nodded, trying to steady my breath. We continued down the hall, the hum of activity around us a stark contrast to the emotional storm raging inside me. Every step took me further from her, but I knew it was just the beginning. I decided, I would stick around her. No matter what happens, I was not going away from my mom again.  

Uncle Clint and I walked towards Fury's chamber, each step heavy with anticipation. The memory of seeing Fury killed right before my eyes was fresh and raw, and now, facing him again after so many years felt surreal. Uncle Clint pushed open the glass door, and we stepped inside. Fury had his back to us, focused on something on a huge monitor in front of him.

Uncle Clint called out, "Director Fury."

Fury turned around, his signature eye patch catching the light. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a once-over, then turned to Uncle Clint. "Agent Barton, when you said you're bringing someone in, I didn't think it would be a kid."

Uncle Clint rolled his eyes, "Director, he might seem like an ordinary kid, but he's really capable. I bet he would impress you in any task you'd ask."

Fury sighed, "Task? I got nothing for him. You can leave him where you found him."

I exchanged a worried glance with Uncle Clint. He nodded in reassurance, then looked at Fury again. "Oh come on, not like we don't have any agents younger than him."

Fury shot back, "But they don't work here, do they? They're students, so they're in school."

Was he suggesting I get into a school? No, that's not possible. Uncle Clint seemed to understand both my thoughts and Fury's implication. He looked at Fury again, "Come on, Director. He can't get into any school without documents. Just keep him in some coordination position till I take him under my wing. I won't let his potential waste behind a desk."

Fury sighed, shaking his head, "Alright. You take responsibility for him. But..." he looked at me, then turned to Clint, "I don't like him."

Uncle Clint smirked, looking at me, "That's a compliment."

I looked at Fury and nodded, "Thank you, Director."

He waved us off, "You're dismissed."

Uncle Clint and I walked out of the chamber. Relief washed over me. It worked. I could stay at the SHIELD facility.