14636/I don't care if it's the most joyful time of the year!

I don't care if it's the most joyful time of the year!
Date of Scene:	14 December 2022
Location:	Operations, The Triskelion
Synopsis:	Maria Hill chews out Nat, while Alex did nothing wrong.
Cast of Characters:	Black Widow (Romanoff), Phobos

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Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
It had been a long time since they had set foot in this place. Months literally. The last day of June had seen Natasha Romanoff turning in her resignation in order to head for parts unknown in Europe after the disappearance of Agent Alexander Aaron. He had disappeared after volunteering to assist Interpol and been captured. Video evidence had been provided of his "death". Only Natasha had been able to determine it wasn't Alexander at all. And she was tired of waiting for anyone to do something.

Resignation turned in, weapons obtained from armory since people had turned their head the other way, and a Quinjet stolen.

She had found him. When they were safe, word was sent to Maria Hill. Then they had gone radio silent. The Quinjet had shown up at a SHIELD black ops site, programmed to return there. But no sign of the two agents.

Until now. They entered the building together, a united front. And were immediately ordered to Maria Hill's office.

Phobos has posed:
    Agent Aaron was updated on the SHIELD security suite, when he passed through the door the display told the security teams he was cleared, was still an active agent. There was no mention on the ops he rean over the last year while primarily working spec ops for SHIELD, but now his information as a Tactical Response Team operative was right back up there. Though it was also updated with the data about his heritage. So something had happened, but he didn't get any red flags as they walked up.
    Natasha, however, got a first flash of 'INACTIVE' listed on the display. Which caused some of the operators to look confused as almost instantly it updated her profile... and suddenly she was declared as ACTIVE on the data stream though both files had a tag connected to them glowing in red text.

    << SEND TO MARIA HILL'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. >>

    Which was why they got some weird looks as they stepped through that security checkpoint. Alexander, in his white sneakers, blue jeans, black t-shirt, and black leather jacket still looked to be in his informal wear. But a lot of SHIELD agents dressed in civvies at times. Though right now it might not set the best tone. But the'll have to see.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
The confused looks weren't a surprise. Natasha had left the employ of SHIELD officially for that time. Absent without Approval at that! Though she did have the tacit approval, though unspoken. After all, there were rules in play even if Deputy Director Maria Hill was not really blocking Natasha from her actions at the time.

Natasha continued to smile at the agent. For her part, she had dressed comfortably. One of those lovely sundresses she had bought when they were in Italy. It was in a lovely white with blue accents, showing off the fact she had a bit of a tan. She did at least take off the sunglasses and push them atop her head out of the way as they got their instructions.

The elevator trip was uneventful, the ever present annoying music something of a familiar if torturous thing. It had been quite some time since they'd been subjected to it. She did take Alexander's hand while there, unless he resisted. Giving it a little squeeze and holding it as they waited for their floor.

One there, they exited. Through operations, heading for that office on the end. Then Natasha took a deep breath, gave Alexander a look to ask if he was ready, and knocked. Only to immediately hear the call to Enter.

Phobos has posed:
    While they rode the elevator up he smiled a little and said, "You look good. Feels a bit like... the pricipal's office." He gave her hand a small squeze though once they reached the floor they were heading to he would release her hand and then walk along with her, a step slightly behind.
    As they walked by one of the visored sentries he gives the guy a nod and receives a nod back. Some old acquaintance perhaps. But then they get to the door to Maria Hill's office and he meets Natasha's gaze and smiles, "Whatever happens, we'll be alright." He offers that small insight.
    Then it's back, attention to the door, eyes focused. He takes a deep breath and opens the door to let Natasha precede him.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
The office was large as befitting someone of her rank. A big metal and glass desk with several modern looking chairs. Maria's chair was a big leather luxury number. There was also a small sitting area with a loveseat and cushy chair, allowing for a more informal meeting when she desired.

Today was not one of those days. She was behind her desk, the computer screen on front of her as she typed something then raised her gaze to the pair entering her office.

Natasha stepped in first then waited for Alexander before moving to approach the desk.

"Close the door," came the order. Natasha nodded and stepped back to close the door, getting one pitying look from a agent that was going by because it was probably never a good thing to be called to Maria Hill's office.

Then Natasha put on a smile and walked toward the desk, settling into one of the two seats in front of it. "It's good to see you, Deputy Director."

Phobos has posed:
    When the young agent entered he took a few precise and calm strides, moving around the reception area then Alexander entered and took up a place before Deputy Director Hill's desk. Not taking a seat quite yet and standing not quite at formal attention, but definitely with some ridgidity to his manner. He meets Maria's eyes and gives a small nod then the greeting. "Ma'am."
    A glance is given toward Natasha and his eyebrows rise slightly, then he looks back as he rests his hands at his side. Yet as he met the Deputy Director's gaze he seemed utterly at ease, no hint of trepidation to him. Which was one of the more damnably frustrating things about Agent Aaron.
    He could be getting a dressing down from God himself and would likely just watch with that same at ease gaze with that empty not smile smile.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Is it now?" Maria demanded as she looked at Natasha, no hint of amusement on her face. "While it is good to see Agent Aaron, I'm not so sure I can say the same to you."

Which got a nonchalant shrug from Natasha. "It was worth a try." And Alexander would sense there was a slight undercurrent of discomfort from Natasha. Not typically a thing for her. But while she suspected all would be well, and no one would ever know from looking at her, she wasn't sure she was getting out of this one unscathed. Course, if they tried to arrest her right now, they would not be happy with the results. Since she knew Alexander would help her make an escape. And so did Maria Hill.

The Deputy Director looked over at Alexander, giving him a terse nod and a brief smile. "Please sit, Agent Aaron. I'm glad you are back with us. We were worried when word came from Interpol about your capture. All agency resources are here should you need counseling." Because that was required to be offered.

Phobos has posed:
    Alexander moves and takes a seat, settling intoo the chair opposite the Deputy Director, "Ma'am, I'd like to say without Agent Romanoff's help I would likely not be here." A glance is given over to her, his pale hazel eyes meeting her gaze, then back toward Maria.
    "And a HYDRA base would likely still be operational in that theater." Of course he knows that he's speaking out of turn, but he felt it was important to get those facts put out there and to the fore.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"A base that had no survivors for us to interview for potential leads to other Hydra assets," came the reply from Maria, giving him a pointed look and then back to Natasha.

She pushed some more buttons and slowly a screen came down behind her from the ceiling. And then there was footage from a satellite showing the lower half of Europe and the top of the Mediterranean Sea. Then it scooted closer. And closer. And closer yet. Until finally there was a lovely yacht framed in the picture from above. With Alexander at the helm. And Natasha in a red bikini laid out nearby soaking in the sun.

"I trust you both had an enjoyable trip back?"

Another image of them swimming in while anchored off the coastline somewhere. Another of them sharing a meal, apparently feeding each other grapes from the looks of it. It was /that/ close.

"We have more. Including a lot of..." Maria paused then pursed her lips. "Snuggling."

Phobos has posed:
    SHIELD already knew he was volatile, they already knew it was possible for anger to take him, ever since what happened to Kelso. He frowned and said, "That was my fault, Deputy Director. I was... very upset about having been held as I was and undergoing a difficult situation. I wasn't thinking of taking prisoners at that time."
    Which, like before, was true. But perhaps not all of the truth.
    But then the screen came down and displayed what was... unmistakably satellite imagery. The revelation of such got Alex to bite the inside of his cheek in an effort to show nothing on his face. Though he did look toward Natasha to see how she intended to play this.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
She really shouldn't look amused. It was the opposite of what she should look like in this moment with everything on the line. The antithesis of how she should act when she was wanting to return to her position inside SHIELD. Yet, Natasha was playing this so it seemed it didn't really matter to her if she as allowed back or not. A dangerous game in truth.

She smirked. A bit of a smile and then a glance over to Alexander. Before she looked back to Maria. "Could we get a copy of those? Since we didn't have our phones, we didn't get as many pictures as I would've liked," Natasha said. "All of them. And the videos. And get the rest scrubbed because no one needs tapes like that getting out to the public someday."

Maria for a moment looked like she was going to pull a gun and shoot Natasha. Yet she didn't. And a moment later, the images disappeaered. "Agent Aaron, once you have received any counseling you might need, you may return to your duties." Still as a contractor since that was what had worked out for them all thus far.

Then she looked at Natasha. "You, are another story entirely. You've committed multiple felonies after submitting your resignation." She looked between them then finally to Alexander. "Your relationship aside, what would you suggest SHIELD do?"

Phobos has posed:
    Alexander fell quiet, frowning as he looked across the way. He sat up in his chair slightly and rested his right hand in his lap, the left settled on the arm of the chair. He took a glance toward Natasha, but perhaps used that glance to look past her, behind her. Then he shifted his attention forward again.
    If matters did go South his thoughts were running the numbers of the individuals they passed, likely counter-measures that they had on hand, what they'd have to damper possible effects. His brow knit and he lifted his right sneaker, then looked at Deputy Director Hill.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Perhaps allow me to return to my duties with a note in my file. Let me work off any transgressions made. They were done to get back one of SHIELD's assets," Natasha said then her voice became a little louder. "That everyone was dragging their feet about going to rescue. It was a load of shit and you know it, Director. There was no way I could stand by. I'd have done the same for a number of agents. Including you."

Maria Hill sat back in her chair, folding her arms across in front of her. All visible thanks to that desk being glass. Giving nothing away with her body language or her expressions. She had gotten to her rank for a reason. She was one of the best.

"Get out of my office. You will have a suspension of three months added to your record for your actions." And before either of them could say anything. "Retroactively taken as you've been gone longer than that. Your resignation will be erased entirely from the records."

She motioned to the computer in front of her. "All surveillance copies will be delivered to your home and scrubbed from SHIELD systems. And if either of you /ever/ pulls a stunt like this again, I will put you under the prison. Do we understand one another?" Cause she did not want Alexander getting any ideas from the bad influence of Agent Romanoff.

Phobos has posed:
    Rising to his feet, Alexander gives a nod and tells the Deputy Director politely. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you." He steps back and to the side, then pauses to make sure that Natasha is departing with him.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Thank you, ma'am." Natasha knew when to get out of dodge. She rose to her feet and turned with Alexander, heading for that door. And just as they were about to open it, there was the voice of Maria Hill again.

"Off the record, damn good job, Agents." And then she was back to typing on her computer as the pair left.