The Lives of Two 19 Year Old S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents

Chapter 6 - Coping. Barely.

A week later I was at the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, about to walk into a training room when Chloe burst out, pushing the door into me and knocking me to the floor.

"Watch where you're going, liar," she stalked off.

I felt tears spring to my eyes as I scrambled to my feet and ran towards 'my corridor'. It was a usually deserted corridor that used to lead to the avengers' 'suit up rooms' but was now deserted as they hadn't assembled in 5 years. I usually went there when I was upset or needed to be alone.

When I got there I sank down in a corner with my knees up to my chest and my head in my hands and cried. I had only been there for a few minutes when I felt a hand on my shoulder and a male voice said

"Hey, what's the matter?"

I looked up to see Captain America Peering down at me. I hadn't seen him in months. He'd been in Alaska looking for his best friend Bucky who he'd thought was dead since the 1940's.

"Relationship issues," I answered, wiping my eyes and standing up.

"Tell me about it," he said. "I'm going out with my first love's niece who I thought was my neighbor for a year until 4 years ago when Hydra came out and I found out that she was actually a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent put there by Fury to protect me and is now doubling as a CIA agent."

"Did you find him, Bucky?" I asked.

"Yes. And he found himself too. The Bucky I knew from the 40's is back but he said he's going to lay low for a while because of Hydra and all the things they made him do," he answered. "So what's up with you?"

And so then, I told him the whole story from beginning to end. He knew some parts of the story already but I filled in the blanks right up to what had happened today.

"That, is very complicated and no doubt awkward seeing as you're still her S.O.," he said. "If I were you I'd ask Fury if you can take her on a mission just to prove that you do care about what he wants and that it's not all about you."

"Thanks," I said. "I should probably get going but I'll consider it."

"Happy to help," he said before turning and walking towards his 'suit up' room.

I decided to go to Fury and make my proposal. I was walking towards his office when a breathless Maria Hill came running towards me and said between breaths

"Anaiya. Fury's office. Now."

Maria and I ran to Fury's office together and burst through the door without even knocking. Fury gestured for me to sit down opposite him and for Maria to exit the room. When she was gone Fury said

"Anaiya, I have some information about Tayla. She is alive and I know where we can find more information."

A tear rolled down my cheek as I said "Where?"

He handed me a tablet with a mission summary on it. It was a mission to steal a hard drive that was under high security at a known Hydra base in Wales. It said the mission was for two people.

"Who's the second person going to be?" I asked.

"Chloe," he answered.