OOM: 2011, Helicarrier

[redintheledger]

It's good to be back on the Helicarrier.

Even if - once she's showered, changed into comfortable civilian clothing, grabbed something to eat - there is a massive amount of paperwork to get started on. She'd started drafting her after-action reporty in her head on the flight over, but she wasn't looking forward to writing the real thing.

Then again, she was pretty sure no one enjoyed writing those things, no matter what had happened.

But before she can start, there is one person she needs to talk to.

"Sir."

Comments

[the_man]

Fury glances up from his own paperwork, both hard copy and digital.

"Agent Romanoff. Why don't you come in and have a seat."

It isn't a question.

But it isn't quite an order.

[redintheledger]

Romanoff nods, adding a "Yes, sir."

She moves into his office, letting the door slide shut behind her. The seat is...comfortable enough. Not uncomfortable, anyway, and she sits with her back straight, but leaning against the chair.

Hands in her lap, but only lightly clasped. No real signs of tension, unless the sheer neutrality of her expression tips that off.

(Or she could just be tired. Or thoughtful. It's sometimes hard to tell.)

[the_man]

He gives her a flat look. "Talk to me. What's going on in your head right now?"

[redintheledger]

"Right now?"

The question actually throws her, and she tilts her head a fraction. It takes, maybe, a little too long for her to answer.

"I panicked. I made the wrong call. And I'm angry about it. My head is also feeling old, and tired. And I badly need to see my therapist.

But I don't regret the call I made in Sofia, Bulgaria, fifteen years ago.



What do you want me to clarify?"

[the_man]

"I think that's clear enough." Fury leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers.

"Next time, save us all the headache and just tell HR you want to use some vacation time."

[redintheledger]

The corner of her mouth curls a little wryly, but whatever she was going to say (that was my plan after the mission), she keeps to herself.

At least, that part.

"Can I tell HR that I need a break from field-work?"

She doesn't add 'except in emergencies' - that bit is written into the contract.

[the_man]

"The hell with HR, you tell that to me."

He stares at her for a minute or two before continuing.

"Take a week anyway. Go home and sleep. After that, we can work on getting your head screwed back on straight. If you need a break from field work, well." He shrugs.

"That's better than losing my agent."

[redintheledger]

The set of her shoulders loosens - not in preparation for movement, but in something approaching relief.

Not putting on someone else's personality and mannerisms for a while would be...good.

"You haven't lost me."

Then,

"I'll be in San Diego for that week." No more going AWOL for her.

(She misses Clint, and his place works as well as her own apartment in Chicago. And maybe, just maybe, after a homicidal stalker, Natasha does not particularly fancy being alone until her nerves settle.)

[the_man]

He points one finger at her. "That's what you can tell HR. Though I appreciate the first part.

"You almost made Coulson lose his shit, I hope you know."

[redintheledger]

Blandly,

"It's nice to know people care. I'll buy him something on Ebay."

Her posture has, maybe, just gone a bit defensive.

[the_man]

Fury crosses his arms.

"Natasha." That's a statement in and of itself. "You worried him."

"I won't admit to being worried, because I trust my best agents to know what they're doing at all times. You might get me to confess to 'concerned', but only under intense interrogation. Got it?"

[redintheledger]

The last time he called her 'Natasha', it was solely for Tony Stark's benefit. Now, he's talking only to her, and her name actually sounds like what it started as - a diminutive, to be used by those she trusts.



(And it's not as if she can protest that they never should have worried even if she wanted to, not when she just asked for time off the field.)

In her lap, her hands twist slightly, and then still again.

"I got it."

[the_man]

"Good."

The silence stretches.

"All right, get out of here, I'm starting to feel like a high school principal. Come back when you're ready."

[redintheledger]

She wouldn't go so far as smiling at his principal comment, but there is a faint curl around her mouth.

"Yessir," she says, getting to her feet and moving quickly out of the room.




Under the circumstances, she's fairly certain that that went as well as could be expected.

[the_man]

Once she has closed the door behind her, Fury reaches into a Top Secret desk drawer and pulls out a flask.

"Kids," he mutters, and pours himself a drink.