Return to Russia

Chapter 3

Erin opens the door, slight surprise registering on her face. "Natasha? What are you doing here?"

"Didn't Bucky tell you I was coming?"

"No. Bucky?" she calls over her shoulder, "Natasha's here!"

"Already?" He walks up behind his wife. "How many traffic violations did you have getting here?"

"Only a few, I swear," I grin.

"Bucky, what is this about?" Erin whispers.

"Ask her," he replies. "She wouldn't even tell me on the phone."

"Can I come in?" I ask impatiently.

"Oh, yes, of course." Erin opens the door wider, allowing me to pass by her. I sit down on their couch, motioning for them to join me. They share a concerned glance before closing the door and making their way over to a couple chairs across from the couch.

"So, as I said, I have a proposition for you two."

"Are you okay, Tasha? You're much more... energetic than you were a few days ago when you came over to tell us... um... about the... you know..." Bucky awkwardly rubs the back of his neck, trailing off.

"I know I've been all over the place lately, but I may have a solution. First of all, I need to know how you're doing, Bucky."

"Me? I'm fine, I guess. I feel a bit better after going to see Jemma, so I'm, I don't know, normal-ish?"

"Fantastic. So, I don't know how much you guys were told about what happened when I killed Dmitri, but there's something going on that we never expected when we left for Russia originally. He was part of a secret society, and with his dying breath he told us we'd never be able to stop them. I know we haven't been home very long, but I need to go back and get some closure on this."

"Okay, first of all, I'm not sure that's the best idea after everything that's happened to you lately, but why exactly are you here?"

I sigh. "Clint and I got into a fight, so Nick told me he wouldn't let me go without Clint's support."

"You guys are fighting? Is this about the... um..." Now it was Erin's turn to awkwardly trail off.

"Yeah, it was. We sort of made up this morning, until I brought up my plan to stop the secret society. He won't let me go unless I get you guys, Steve, and Jenna on board. We also have to team up with Agents Becker and Huffman, and Clint won't let me stay longer than two weeks. So, what do you say? Want to take on a secret society before they do something crazy?"

"Wait. If Nick already sent agents, why are all of us needed?" Erin asks.

"Technically, it's probably a bit of overkill, but Clint doesn't want to take any chances after the whole thing with Dmitri. After all, if he could do that much damage by himself, imagine what a whole group of them can do."

"I'm game," Bucky grins. "I'll admit, I have been thinking about all those weapons. Where did they come from, and where are they now? What would this secret society need them all for?"

"Exactly! Erin?"

"Sounds dangerous, so hell yeah I'm in. You know I rarely get to go on missions, which really sucks, but someone here," Erin shoots Bucky a look, "is a little too overprotective."