FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 1/2workerbee73August 14 2012, 00:08:31 UTC
A/N: More in the 'small acts' verse. This one just would not leave my head. Set right after 'the sweet taste of sugar' and before 'it's a long way down.'
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Politics is war without bloodshed.
***
"Have a seat."
She gracefully drops into the chair on the other side of the desk, a perfect study in detached politeness. "Director?"
"I didn’t bring you in here to talk about Caracas, although I’ve read the report. I don’t need to tell you it’s impressive."
"Thank you."
"Have you talked to your partner lately?"
"Barton?"
"Is there another one I should know about?"
She ignores the quip and keeps her expression neutral. “Is there a problem?"
Fury leans back in his chair. “Good question. I’m sitting here looking at a recommendation of disciplinary probation and an incident report which says that your partner put two of my agents in the hospital."
There’s a crack in the surface, and he watches her physically check herself to keep her jaw from dropping. “He did what?"
"A concussion and two broken ribs, respectively."
"Who?"
"Mitchell and Bridges."
The shock fades into something that looks like understanding and her composure tells him everything he needs to know. "Bystanders said there was a conversation--"
"I’m sure there was."
"Some unflattering remarks were made--"
"I’m sure there were."
"I don’t make a point to pry into the personal lives of my agents, Romanoff, but it seems to be common knowledge that Mitchell had attempted on more than one occasion to turn his attentions--”
"--and been soundly rebuffed," she finishes. "Sour grapes, I guess."
He gives her a half smile. "I guess. But that’s not my problem. I don’t think I have to tell you what is."
Her face is carefully blank, courteous disinterest so well cultivated it’s almost an art form. Time for a change in tactics. He places a ream of paper in front of her.
"Tell me what you see."
She studies the numbers. "Logarithms. Algorithms. Encryption code."
"Very good. It is encryption. Our encryption to be precise. Coding for the security cameras on the training floor. Now look again and tell me what’s wrong with it."
She looks at the paper for a good five minutes, but not long enough. It took his best analyst two days to figure it out. She’s good, but she’s not that good.
"Here." She points to the middle of the page. "This sequence repeats itself."
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2workerbee73August 14 2012, 00:22:18 UTC
"Correct, Agent Romanoff. Someone went into my security feed and went to a great deal of trouble to tamper with that coding. Tampered with it so precisely that there’s a dead span of footage that lasts about an hour at recurring intervals. Would you like to know where this blank spot occurs?"
"I’m sure you’re going to tell me."
"It’s the staff gym. But you already knew that." Even now, her face gives away nothing. He slides the paper back across the desk. "I don’t think I need to tell you that I also pulled the daily logs for those times and dates and that the same two agents show up in each and every one."
She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. "Is this the part where you put me on probation too?"
He slams the folder in front of him closed. "Agent Romanoff, in the past two and a half years I have known you, you have never once treated me like other people. Don't start making that mistake now."
He can see her biting back the next response; she watches him warily instead.
"Frankly I don’t care what you do in your off time or who you do it with. But when it poses a threat to my agents, to team discipline and cohesion, when I have a senior agent who assaults two of his own colleagues--well then your extracurricular activities have suddenly become my big goddamn problem.”
He lets the words sink in, waits for some hint of a response. "The way I see it," he continues, "you have two choices. You end it, or you get it under control."
She stays quiet for a long time, watching him. He can almost see the mental arithmetic, see her analyzing the various scenarios and possible outcomes. There’s no emotion, just strategy. She’s a professional to the core, and he’d expect no less. In a way, he respects her more because of it.
"Consider it over," she says. The abruptness startles him, and inexplicably he finds himself trying to offer comfort.
"I didn't mean to imply that the only option was--"
"No," she says, more to herself than to him. "You're right. It’s gone on too long anyway.” Before he can respond, she stands up. "Will there be anything else?”
Fury just shakes his head. “No.”
She nods. “Sir,” she says and walks out the door.
He stares down at Barton’s file, tries to make sense of it. For a man who's supposed to have all the answers, he feels suddenly adrift.
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2sugar_feyAugust 14 2012, 00:35:13 UTC
It's gone on too long. In the gym. :P
This gives me Thoughts. Did Natasha intend to break it off when she visited Clint later? And then seeing him changed her mind? Or was she throwing Fury off the scent and is just that good?
"Agent Romanoff, in the past two and a half years I have known you, you have never once treated me like other people. Don't start making that mistake now."
Fury, you BAMF. Keep being awesomely clueless. More Thoughts, though- is he implying that Natasha is treating Clint like other people? Does he think it's all a game to her?
He stares down at Barton’s file, tries to make sense of it. For a man who's supposed to have all the answers, he feels suddenly adrift.
HA! Fury, you should know better than to try to anticipate Natasha Romanoff. She's like the Spanish Inquisition.
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2workerbee73August 14 2012, 00:57:16 UTC
How did you get here so fast? I was about to shoot you an email. :D
Hmmmm. it's a good question. I kind of left it intentionally ambiguous, although in my mind, she went over there to break it off. This encounter just kind of brought home how stupid and reckless (and potentially dangerous their little routine was for her. This gave her the perfect excuse to run except... she didn't. :)
I'm not sure if Fury thinks it's all a game or not. I honestly think he doesn't know what the hell is going on in her mind, only that she is not to be underestimated. And I kind of love that he takes the info Coulson gives him and basically figures out that Nat holds all the power.
She is TOTALLY the Spanish Inquisition. Totally. ;)
here, have some verbosityinkvoicesAugust 14 2012, 01:01:54 UTC
SQUEE and LOVE and ALL THE YAY! :D
Fury being all deadpan Boss-man and Natasha all 'yes, I know how your sentence is going to end, I'm not waiting for you to finish'. The fact that the only thing that throws Natasha is Clint is fantastic and the fact that it's something that Clint has done, harking back to this verse being all about actions and not what's said <3 Which, thinking on that, the fact that Fury doesn't know their actions because of the security camera blackouts. The fact that what Fury gets is the words and not the actions, so he's left 'trying to make sense' of a file when we as the audience know that that's a pointless excercise. Coulson, of course, looks at that file and makes sense from it - 'Agent Barton is in love' - but I said in comments to the fic where that happens that it's over-simplified, perhaps again because Coulson doesn't get to see the titled 'small acts'.
As sugar_fey says: It’s gone on too long anyway. In the gymn. Exactly what my mind jumped to LOL. But yes, also this throws it's a long way down into a new light of was this another point of retreat from Natasha? So again he has to hold her still and she wants him to, but she's not quite yet at volunteering that stillness, what she actually has to ask him is to 'ask her again' to stay. Always that ask and the answer <3 and moving to Natasha wanting the ask so that she can answer.
...which when I think about Natasha interacts with Fury here, not really ever answering him so much as interupting, questioning, making a descion and informing him of it...and Fury says that she doesn't treat him like other people, so can I think that she doesn't even come this close to 'answering' other people? But with Clint there's the ask and the answer. The answer being in an act because words are not important.
Also, Natasha and Fury interacting here amuses me greatly :D
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2workerbee73August 17 2012, 15:38:47 UTC
:D
I'm really glad you liked it. I have no idea where this all came from or what it means; I just wanted the two to have a little sit down and see who'd come out on top.
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2zippitgoodAugust 16 2012, 21:39:27 UTC
Wow, that's an unexpected gut punch but then I'm not surprised. Natasha won't risk the life and you could almost say family she's adopted while being part of SHIELD for one person. Even if that one person means a hell of a lot to her. I do like how Fury was expecting her to get it under control and when she doesn't he's trying to make her reconsider. He's a hardass but only to a point.
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2workerbee73August 20 2012, 21:17:27 UTC
He is-- but yes, only to a point. And this is a total game of trying to out-bluff and out-manuever the other. And she kind of pulls the preemptive strike as a way to stay in control. I think her sense of self-preservation is so strong that it's kind of her default switch.
Re: FIC: zero-sum game, PG, no warnings, 2/2workerbee73August 20 2012, 21:14:45 UTC
Thank you! I wanted it to feel all sneaky and spy-like and badass (b/c basically these two are the best spies to ever spy so you'd hope their chess match would be good.)
He's not! I think he might even be a bit of a c/n shipper. But she totally called his bluff. Oh Nat. Such denial. ;)
----------------------------------------------
Politics is war without bloodshed.
***
"Have a seat."
She gracefully drops into the chair on the other side of the desk, a perfect study in detached politeness. "Director?"
"I didn’t bring you in here to talk about Caracas, although I’ve read the report. I don’t need to tell you it’s impressive."
"Thank you."
"Have you talked to your partner lately?"
"Barton?"
"Is there another one I should know about?"
She ignores the quip and keeps her expression neutral. “Is there a problem?"
Fury leans back in his chair. “Good question. I’m sitting here looking at a recommendation of disciplinary probation and an incident report which says that your partner put two of my agents in the hospital."
There’s a crack in the surface, and he watches her physically check herself to keep her jaw from dropping. “He did what?"
"A concussion and two broken ribs, respectively."
"Who?"
"Mitchell and Bridges."
The shock fades into something that looks like understanding and her composure tells him everything he needs to know. "Bystanders said there was a conversation--"
"I’m sure there was."
"Some unflattering remarks were made--"
"I’m sure there were."
"I don’t make a point to pry into the personal lives of my agents, Romanoff, but it seems to be common knowledge that Mitchell had attempted on more than one occasion to turn his attentions--”
"--and been soundly rebuffed," she finishes. "Sour grapes, I guess."
He gives her a half smile. "I guess. But that’s not my problem. I don’t think I have to tell you what is."
Her face is carefully blank, courteous disinterest so well cultivated it’s almost an art form. Time for a change in tactics. He places a ream of paper in front of her.
"Tell me what you see."
She studies the numbers. "Logarithms. Algorithms. Encryption code."
"Very good. It is encryption. Our encryption to be precise. Coding for the security cameras on the training floor. Now look again and tell me what’s wrong with it."
She looks at the paper for a good five minutes, but not long enough. It took his best analyst two days to figure it out. She’s good, but she’s not that good.
"Here." She points to the middle of the page. "This sequence repeats itself."
Reply
"I’m sure you’re going to tell me."
"It’s the staff gym. But you already knew that." Even now, her face gives away nothing. He slides the paper back across the desk. "I don’t think I need to tell you that I also pulled the daily logs for those times and dates and that the same two agents show up in each and every one."
She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. "Is this the part where you put me on probation too?"
He slams the folder in front of him closed. "Agent Romanoff, in the past two and a half years I have known you, you have never once treated me like other people. Don't start making that mistake now."
He can see her biting back the next response; she watches him warily instead.
"Frankly I don’t care what you do in your off time or who you do it with. But when it poses a threat to my agents, to team discipline and cohesion, when I have a senior agent who assaults two of his own colleagues--well then your extracurricular activities have suddenly become my big goddamn problem.”
He lets the words sink in, waits for some hint of a response. "The way I see it," he continues, "you have two choices. You end it, or you get it under control."
She stays quiet for a long time, watching him. He can almost see the mental arithmetic, see her analyzing the various scenarios and possible outcomes. There’s no emotion, just strategy. She’s a professional to the core, and he’d expect no less. In a way, he respects her more because of it.
"Consider it over," she says. The abruptness startles him, and inexplicably he finds himself trying to offer comfort.
"I didn't mean to imply that the only option was--"
"No," she says, more to herself than to him. "You're right. It’s gone on too long anyway.” Before he can respond, she stands up. "Will there be anything else?”
Fury just shakes his head. “No.”
She nods. “Sir,” she says and walks out the door.
He stares down at Barton’s file, tries to make sense of it. For a man who's supposed to have all the answers, he feels suddenly adrift.
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This gives me Thoughts. Did Natasha intend to break it off when she visited Clint later? And then seeing him changed her mind? Or was she throwing Fury off the scent and is just that good?
"Agent Romanoff, in the past two and a half years I have known you, you have never once treated me like other people. Don't start making that mistake now."
Fury, you BAMF. Keep being awesomely clueless. More Thoughts, though- is he implying that Natasha is treating Clint like other people? Does he think it's all a game to her?
He stares down at Barton’s file, tries to make sense of it. For a man who's supposed to have all the answers, he feels suddenly adrift.
HA! Fury, you should know better than to try to anticipate Natasha Romanoff. She's like the Spanish Inquisition.
Reply
Hmmmm. it's a good question. I kind of left it intentionally ambiguous, although in my mind, she went over there to break it off. This encounter just kind of brought home how stupid and reckless (and potentially dangerous their little routine was for her. This gave her the perfect excuse to run except... she didn't. :)
I'm not sure if Fury thinks it's all a game or not. I honestly think he doesn't know what the hell is going on in her mind, only that she is not to be underestimated. And I kind of love that he takes the info Coulson gives him and basically figures out that Nat holds all the power.
She is TOTALLY the Spanish Inquisition. Totally. ;)
Have you seen inkvoices' prologue for this verse? And bob's professor/student AU? Check out the updated master post:
http://be-compromised.livejournal.com/79072.html
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Fury being all deadpan Boss-man and Natasha all 'yes, I know how your sentence is going to end, I'm not waiting for you to finish'. The fact that the only thing that throws Natasha is Clint is fantastic and the fact that it's something that Clint has done, harking back to this verse being all about actions and not what's said <3 Which, thinking on that, the fact that Fury doesn't know their actions because of the security camera blackouts. The fact that what Fury gets is the words and not the actions, so he's left 'trying to make sense' of a file when we as the audience know that that's a pointless excercise. Coulson, of course, looks at that file and makes sense from it - 'Agent Barton is in love' - but I said in comments to the fic where that happens that it's over-simplified, perhaps again because Coulson doesn't get to see the titled 'small acts'.
As sugar_fey says: It’s gone on too long anyway. In the gymn. Exactly what my mind jumped to LOL. But yes, also this throws it's a long way down into a new light of was this another point of retreat from Natasha? So again he has to hold her still and she wants him to, but she's not quite yet at volunteering that stillness, what she actually has to ask him is to 'ask her again' to stay. Always that ask and the answer <3 and moving to Natasha wanting the ask so that she can answer.
...which when I think about Natasha interacts with Fury here, not really ever answering him so much as interupting, questioning, making a descion and informing him of it...and Fury says that she doesn't treat him like other people, so can I think that she doesn't even come this close to 'answering' other people? But with Clint there's the ask and the answer. The answer being in an act because words are not important.
Also, Natasha and Fury interacting here amuses me greatly :D
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Oh. This was *perfect* and *awesome* and I love you so much for this!!!
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I'm really glad you liked it. I have no idea where this all came from or what it means; I just wanted the two to have a little sit down and see who'd come out on top.
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And I love Fury's reaction in the end. He's not a completely heartless bastard. I knew it. :)
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He's not! I think he might even be a bit of a c/n shipper. But she totally called his bluff. Oh Nat. Such denial. ;)
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