Mind Games (Avengers Wrong Number Fugitive [Natasha Romanoff x teen])

34. Office Emotions

A/n calling this the lana del rey chapter cus i totally wasnt on a plane with shuffled lana del rey playing

August's POV

"Is it enough to go on?"

Maria's been leant back in her chair for the past couple minutes, quiet. I just want to get this over with. If this is what she needs - no, wants - then I can get out of this. I can't be the one bent out of shape because Natasha doesn't want to be found. I'm not in any reasonable situation to stress that she's safe. But Maria's her girlfriend, and Maria desperately needs to feel in control.

"What did you say his name was?" She turns the chair to face me head on and it's all I can do not to shrink. Not because she looks intimidating (though she does) but because she looks hopeful. Hopeful and tired.

I want to lie and make up a name on the spot, but that would defeat everything. It gives no purpose except to get her out of my life. And truthfully, I think I need somebody to hold on to. "I don't know his name, but my brother's friend was Mason. Mason- uh, Mason Banks? Something like that."

If I'm not sure that's his name, all she has is Mason.

She sits up, grabbing her computer off the table and opening it right up. "Your brother went to the same school as you?" She asks pointedly.

I know what she's doing.

"No. I went to the all girls school and took a bus over to his school for pick up. He went to US. Well, it's University School we just called it US."

"That's fine. He was class of...?"

I shut my eyes, holding onto the table in front of me. I'm sitting across from Maria in her office. There's a desk in between us and it feels so oddly professional, but that's not fair because it isn't. It's personal business being taken care of professionally. "I don't want to think about this right now. Please stop. You've got all you need, I'm gonna go." I take a deep breath, using the back of my wrist to wipe whatever droplets of water are starting to appear from my eyes. I'm done. I'm done I'm done I'm done.

I push my chair away but I don't stand up. How can I?

Maria looks up. She doesn't look kind right now, but I take it as a win that she doesn't not look kind. That's the best I'll get. "Look kid, you don't need to answer any more questions, just searching up your school I got what I needed." It takes her a second to really look at me. I'm surprised she even does so. "Are you alright?"

I know that's rhetorical. My breathing is anything but together even if it's quiet and I keep wiping tears before they can fall. "Just fine."

She doesn't press and it's nice. But then it's not so nice when I realize she can read me.

Maria turns back to her laptop and doesn't say anything more until she finds what she's looking for.

"Jason Baker."

"That's the dad's name?" The joy and fear that cross my mind simultaneously is terrifying. "Is he Hydra?"

"No."

"Oh, okay. AIM?"

"No." This is getting nowhere.

"Does he work alone?"

"I'm not sure." Seriously woman, give me something!

"Okay... okay. Is he our guy?"

"I think so. I think you should go for now. I've got some work to do."

That's it. That's fucking it.

I stand up opposite Maria and slam her laptop down. I stare at her, biting the inside of my lip to not show anything. It's not working well, the tears that only just dried are slowly making an appearance. This isn't fair. This is too much. But she can't kick me out just now. Just because we've actually gotten somewhere. Somewhere that she doesn't want me to be a part of. I don't want her here at all! In my story- in my past! We don't always get what we fucking want.

"What the hell, August!?"

Mood swings.

"I'm part of this. Don't kick me out now!" I must look insane.

"Jeezus. You didn't have to push my laptop down just for that!"

"What, if I just said something you would've been like 'yeah fine whatever'?" I really should stop.

"Yes! You're exhausted and I was giving you an out! Oh my god."

Sure. I don't say anything, I don't know what to say.

Maria looks up at me, heavy air leaving her. She can't really feel good about all this. "Want to pick this up later and I can tell you what I learned? It really isn't all that comforting information."

It's not an easy yes or no. I know that much. "No, let me help now."

"Are you going to freak out on me again?"

Maybe.

"No. I just need to know what's going on."

"Well, that's what we're going to figure out. He and his son disappeared soon after the bombing on your house."

It sounds so casual like that. That's my life that got bombed.

Hill opens back her laptop and goes away clicking and scrolling.

I sit back down in my chair, scooting it closer. My eyes flash up to her face, concentrated on her screen in front of her. "He wasn't involved though. That was SHIELD."

Please... why is the puzzle being taken apart?

"It was SHIELD, yes. But his entanglement with you goes further back into your survival."

"What? I was with Abigail, Natasha screwed up not killing me!"

Abigail isn't bad, that's all I'm getting from this. Because Abigail had nothing to do with this.

"Abigail isn't part of this conversation. He didn't mess with Abigail and your playdate, he messed with the SHIELD intel. He wanted to make sure you survived." She sounds almost monotone, as if this is just basic information.

I rub my temples in circles. The tears are carving a pathway down my cheeks. It's not heavy, but it's enough to draw an animation. "How are you just learning about this, Commander?"

"These files are accessible, it wasn't in my interest to look into it until now."

"Great, my life is just easily modified and it's all written down."

"It's more complicated than that, Miller, and you know it. Your life isn't easy, and that means it's never simple and straightforward. But this is the guy Natasha's following." She grabs a piece of paper from the left of her desk, a pen making its way into her right hand. After scribbling something down she pushes it to me.

So let's set a trap.

<33

Maria's a boss bitch and im obsessed with cobie smulders. I just watched Stumptown like where on earth is s2 like excuse me???