Shadows of Red: The Lives of Two Assassins

Chapter 6: Between Life and Death

It had been a few months since the Battle of New York, and life had started to settle into a new normal for Natasha. The Avengers had grown into a cohesive team, and while their lives were far from ordinary, there was a sense of routine in the chaos. But through all the missions, debriefings, and training, something gnawed at Natasha's mind—Kylar.

Kylar had been sent on a deep-cover mission for SHIELD, the kind of mission that required radio silence for weeks at a time. Natasha had grown used to the periods of no contact. They had always lived in a world where silence meant survival. But this time, the silence felt different. Too long. Too heavy.

Natasha had reached out to Fury multiple times, asking for updates, but his responses had been vague—too vague for her liking. She knew how this game was played. SHIELD had its secrets, its layers of deception, but Kylar wasn't just another agent. She was Natasha's wife.

A knot of worry had settled in Natasha's chest, growing tighter with each passing day. Fury was hiding something, and Natasha wasn't going to sit back and let it slide any longer. The quiet fear that something had happened to Kylar was becoming unbearable.

That evening, after pacing the length of the Avengers Tower for what felt like hours, Natasha made her decision. She grabbed her jacket, slipped her gun into its holster, and headed straight for SHIELD headquarters. Enough was enough.

The halls of SHIELD were bustling, agents moving about their business as though the world wasn't slowly falling apart. Natasha moved through the building with a purpose, her heart racing as she approached Fury's office. She was done with the runaround. If Fury knew something, he was going to tell her.

The door to Fury's office opened before she could knock, as if he had been expecting her. Fury sat behind his desk, his one good eye flicking up to meet Natasha's. He didn't look surprised to see her—he rarely ever did.

"Romanoff," Fury greeted her, his voice calm. "You here for an update?"

Natasha stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She crossed her arms, her expression hard as she fixed him with a glare. "I want to know what's going on with Kylar. And I want the truth this time."

Fury leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before looking at her. "Natasha, you know how this works. Kylar's mission is classified, deep cover. She knew the risks—"

"Don't give me that," Natasha snapped, cutting him off. "It's been weeks, Fury. I haven't heard from her. No comms, no signals. You're keeping something from me, and I need to know what's going on. Now."

Fury hesitated, his gaze flickering with something Natasha didn't often see in him—regret. He stood, walking around his desk to stand in front of her, his voice softer this time. "Kylar went dark a few days ago. Her last communication said she was in contact with the target, but after that... nothing. We've been searching, but so far, we haven't found her."

The words hit Natasha like a punch to the gut. She felt the world tilt beneath her feet, her heart racing as the cold dread took hold. "You should've told me."

"I didn't want to pull you off your work with the Avengers," Fury said. "But I've got people out there looking for her. We're doing everything we can."

Natasha shook her head, anger and fear rising within her. "She's not just another agent, Fury. She's my wife."

Fury looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I know. But you need to let us handle this, Nat."

Natasha's fists clenched at her sides, her body vibrating with frustration. "No. I'm going after her."