Covert Affair Oneshots | Natasha Romanoff

Hers

An: School hasn't even started and im already dying.

The world had barely recovered from the seismic shockwaves of the Thanos event, and now, the news of Jenna Grey Sinclair and Natasha Romanoff's recent marriage had ignited a new firestorm. Jenna became the beloved figure in New York—her company's research and philanthropic efforts had transformed countless lives. During the chaos of the snap, she'd focused on rehoming displaced people, a gesture that only deepened her public admiration.

However, the media landscape was far from united. The global reaction to the Avengers was polarized. On one side were those who harbored resentment towards the superheroes for failing to prevent the initial devastation. They criticized the Avengers for their perceived shortcomings, blaming them for the pain and loss inflicted by Thanos. On the other side, a significant portion of the population saw the Avengers as saviors, grateful for their role in restoring the lost half of humanity.

In the midst of this media maelstrom, Jenna and Natasha's marriage became a focal point. The couple had always kept their personal lives private, but their union had now become a symbol of the broader societal divide. The news outlets were rife with speculation and debate. Some praised Jenna as a beacon of hope, highlighting her dedication to helping others and linking Sinclair Industries' cutting-edge research to the Avengers' legacy. Others criticized the couple, framing their marriage as a distraction from the real issues and a symbol of the media's obsession with celebrity over substance.

Jenna sat in her office, looking out over the New York skyline with a sense of weariness. The once-familiar cityscape now felt like a battleground of opinions. Despite her efforts to stay focused on her work, the constant barrage of media scrutiny had taken its toll.

Before her, spread across the desk, was the morning newspaper. Its headlines screamed with sensationalism, a cruel reflection of the media's frenzy over her marriage to Natasha. Jenna's gaze was fixed on one particular article, its words a stinging indictment of her wife.

Jenna's gaze remained fixed on the newspaper, the headline searing into her mind. "Sinclair's Perfect Image vs. Romanoff's Controversial Past: A Marriage of Convenience or True Love?" The words felt like a sharp dagger, aimed not just at their relationship, but at the very essence of Natasha's being.

The paper had scrutinized Natasha's past with a relentless fervor. Articles delved into every corner of Natasha's life, dredging up old controversies and casting a shadow over her heroism. They painted her as a figure mired in complexity and darkness, contrasting sharply with Jenna's almost saintly public image.

Jenna's eyes flickered over a section comparing Natasha's tumultuous history to her own. It was a calculated attempt to pit the two against each other—Natasha's history with the Avengers, her past actions, and her roles in previous conflicts were laid bare, while Jenna's background was depicted as pristine, almost unreal in its perfection. The media painted Jenna as the quintessential heroine—flawless and benevolent, while Natasha was portrayed as a complex, morally ambiguous character.

The media had taken Natasha's complex history and twisted it into a narrative of villainy, ignoring the profound heroism and sacrifice that had defined her life. It wasn't just a hit piece; it was a personal attack.

Jenna had always known that Natasha viewed herself through a harsh lens, seeing her past actions and choices as proof of her own inadequacy. Natasha had often referred to herself as a monster, a term Jenna had come to detest. She'd spent years unraveling the tangled threads of Natasha's self-perception, trying to show her that she was not the monster.

The media's portrayal felt like a betrayal, a cruel misrepresentation of everything Jenna had fought to change. She had witnessed Natasha's struggle with her past—the long nights spent questioning her worth, the self-recriminations that seemed endless. Jenna had been there through it all.