Breathe

Chapter seven : Mishap

"What happened out there?" Steve asks. Not exactly accusingly, but not kindly either.

"I froze up." I admit.

"This is e-"

"I remembered something." I cut him off loudly, several others turn to look at me.

"What was it?" His voice drops in volume and the others continue talking.

"It was during the first year I was undercover." I look at my shoes, "I never knew electrical shocks could do that much damage."

"They made you-" He misinterprets the information. I shake my head.

"They wanted to make sure I wasn't a double agent." I sigh, "I guess I passed."

"You're a good agent." He reminds me.

"And I think that'll be the death of me." I smile sadly at him.

"We won't let that happen." Natasha walks up to us.

"Nat's right, we all have each other's backs." Steve replies, I just nod and fiddle with the items in my lap.

"We land in ten." Tony calls up from the pilots seat in the quinjet. Natasha and Steve both walk away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I twist the petite engagement ring around on my finger, and look down at it. It's a small silver band with tiny diamonds all the way around. It wasn't specially picked out, it shouldn't even be on my finger. He was my best friend and he was HYDRA, but he was kind. Much kinder than any HYDRA agent I've ever met. I stare at the ring for what seems like only a minute before a voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Vera." I look up to see Tony, he hesitates, "Are you okay?"

"Just fine." I reply, "Why?"

"We landed an hour ago." His eyebrow raises.

"I got lost inside my head I guess."

"It happens." He shrugs and leaves the quinjet. I sigh and get up slowly, deciding to talk with Jarvis about redesigning my suit. I pass Banner walking through the halls, but not much talk happens as we both have destinations to get to. I close my door as I enter my room.

"Hey J." I say.

"Miss Vera, it's good to have you back. I'm assuming the mission went as planned?" He asks as I drop the items on my bed.

"It did, thanks. But I still want to make adjustments to the suit."

"Of course." The A.I. replies and I take a seat at my desk, "Would you like me to pull up the hologram?"

"Oh." I sigh and look at the desktop carefully. Will I be able to use it? Technology has changed in the past seven years, "If you help me operate it."

"Not a problem." Jarvis replies in his own happy way as he activates the hologram. After a few minutes I understand the whole interface. Typing a few modifications in, I edit the fabric.

"J?" I question, "Can I make the top looser?"

"Yes, but I advise you to remember combat situations."

"I know." I say mindlessly, trying to figure out a design that'll work efficiently during combat, but also allowing me to breathe, "Hold on a second." I whisper to myself.

"Miss Vera?" Jarvis asks, confused.

"I have an idea." I type quickly, pulling up an electronic file from my old records, "Gotcha."

"I'd advise against pulling old records onto the mainframe. It migh-" He pauses, and I finally realize that Tony can influence an A.I. as Jarvis starts up again with annoyance, "Never mind then."

"Sorry Jarvis." I apologize sheepishly, "But I created this design my second year in SHIELD."

"It's alright Miss Vera." The A.I. sighs.

"Can you upload this onto the module?" I wait as he does exactly that, "Thanks."

"This design seems to fit all your requirements." He seems surprised.

"Thanks for your faith in me, J." I say sarcastically and make a couple adjustments before deciding it's done, "Can you have this made?"

"Right away." Jarvis happily complies.

Someone knocks on my door, and before I even can get up, Stark opens it, "Did you just have Jarvis send out for another suit?"

"Yeah." I raise an eyebrow.

"You just got a new one the other day."

"It's not my style."

"But it adjusts to your abilities and has armor." He whines.

"It was skin tight."

"It's the same as a standard SHIELD uniform."

"I specially ordered mine to be a little bigger so it wouldn't cling to my skin." I give him a look as he rolls his eyes.

"Whatever makes you happy, Copycat." He sasses and leaves my room.

"Copycat?"

"I believe that was referenced towards you, Miss Atrox." Jarvis says.

"I think I got that." I look at the wall in thought, "But Copycat? Really?"