Romanova [COMPLETED STORY]

29

"This is what you want?"

"May I see a copy of my contract?"

  "You want a lawyer to go over it with you, kid?"

  "No, but I'd like a copy. I'm sure that is my legal right?"

  "Yeah yeah, you can have a copy. There's one on file at SHIELD headquarters, I'll copy one for you and bring it to you personally."

  "Thank you. In the meantime, I'll be at Stark Tower."

  "Good."

  I don't think he could just arrest me. He had no viable cause. I'm sure it's stated somewhere in the contract that he can't arrest me unless I break a law, and I didn't do anything wrong. It's like... I'm going on strike. That's violating the contact? I doubt it. There also should be something in there stating I can't work with Natalia. I read it carefully before I signed.

  I couldn't work with her. I hate her. I don't want to have to see her all day, every day. I don't want to have to work alongside her and pretend nothing is wrong. I know that's being stubborn but... you wouldn't understand what I went through. She left me to die. She knew what she was going. She knew I had nowhere to go.

A few hours later, Fury came and dropped off a copy of the contact. Why was it so many pages long? I lost track of time and must have read over it about a hundred times before I realized, I had to work with Natalia. It said I didn't have to, so I wasn't crazy, but I had to.

  I had a choice, but at the same time, I didn't. I didn't want to forgive her, but it's been decades, I've moved on. I lived. She lived. We both lived, and we both became our own people. Fate somehow brought us back together, and I think I need to accept that.

I don't have to like her. I just have to work alongside her. I have to cooperate. I don't know how long this assignment is going to be for, but I think this is what I need to do. This is what is really needs to happen, I'll get to kick ass, which is what I love to do.
-
"Nick?"

"You know what time it is?"

"Uh," I glanced at my clock, "2:38am sir."

"This better be good."

"I'm going to work with Natalia. I was correct in saying that forcing me to work with her was a violation of my contact, section C, paragraph 2. Anyway, I'll do it."

"Glad to hear. Change of heart?"

"Needing to kick some ass."

"Hey, whatever works. I'll set up a meeting with Natasha."

"Whatever works."

"Goodnight, kid."

"Night sir."

He hung up the phone and I took a deep breath. My life was starting over. I'm in my 70's and I'm getting a second chance, that doesn't just happen. She deserved this, she was young and in love. I was a child. I wasn't her responsibility. It wasn't anyone's fault.