3rd Person POV:
Somewhere over the continent of North America...
"Report, Agent Romanoff." The director of Shield started, heat in his voice.
A lone figure walked out from the shadows. It was the Black Widow, in all her glory.
"I'm going to need a good motherfucking explanation on what happened here, agent. Care to explain to me how these two new vigilantes took down an entire professional crime organization and defeated, no, killed Benjamin Pointdexter? A world-class assassin? Someone even the best shield operatives can't handle?" The director of Shield spoke with not a single change in his tone.
"Director," The Black Widow started, with a blank face. "By the time I arrived at the situation, they had already broken into the docks; they seemed to know about a human trafficking deal going on beforehand."
Nick Fury looked visibly shocked, a rare occurrence, with his proficiency in pokerface.
"A human trafficking deal? How did I not know about this?!?! I'm the director of SHIELD for heaven's sake!" Nick Fury yelled out, singular eye bulging. "We're supposed to know everything, especially something at this scale!!!"
"That's what I thought too," she said, pulling up her phone. "Until I found this."
A soft ping echoed through the Helicarrier's command deck. Fury's tablet lit up with a photo. A file, old, stamped with the S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia, detailing funding allocations to an unlisted overseas partner. The signatures traced straight back to the World Security Council.
"...Motherfucker," Fury muttered, already typing furiously into his terminal. Data streamed across the holographic screens. His brow furrowed deeper with every line.
After several tense minutes, he leaned back, expression hardening."I found the file. It's buried six layers deep. Encrypted. Council clearance only."
"So, this operation was off the books," Natasha said.
"Apparently so." He stared out at the clouds beyond the glass. "Which means we've got a leak sitting at the top of the food chain."
The silence hung heavy for a moment until Fury swivelled back toward her."Now, about our new friends. These vigilantes- Ursa and Spider-Man."
Natasha nodded, her face unreadable. "They took out over forty armed men, rescued all the hostages, and neutralized Poindexter. Spider-Man's movements suggest enhanced agility, wall-crawling, and web-based weaponry. Ursa's strength and durability far exceed baseline human. I'd classify both as mild to moderate enhancers."
"Mild?" Fury arched an eyebrow. "Because the autopsy photos of Poindexter say otherwise. You ever seen what a body looks like after being hit by a car crusher?"
"...He was out of control," she said quietly. "He was doing everything to protect the hostages. You know how a bear gets around its cubs."
Fury's gaze narrowed. "So Ursa loses control. Interesting. You know, I've seen that before. Big guy, green, tends to smash things. Ring any bells?"
Natasha didn't respond. Her posture didn't shift, but something in her expression hardened.
Fury stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Now, I'm no doctor, but I read the report from forensics. They found your blood all over that dock. A lot of it. Enough that you should be dead."
Natasha met his gaze evenly. "I was injured. Lost consciousness during the altercation."
"Uh-huh." Fury's tone was flat. "And yet here you are. No scars. No burns. Not even a limp. Almost like someone gave you a miracle cure."
Natasha stayed stone-faced, facial muscles completely still.
Fury leaned back, crossing his arms. "Tell me, Agent. Our bear friend wouldn't happen to have any other powers, would he?"
Natasha paused and hesitated for a millisecond. A millisecond too long to go unnoticed.
"No, not that I know of," she said firmly. "If he did, I didn't see it. I told you, I blacked out after the fight."
He studied her for a long moment, the air between them heavy with unspoken truths.
"...You really gonna play this game with me, Romanoff?" he finally said. "Because I already ran a facial match. Peter Parker, Stark's little 'intern.' And Alex Lee…"
He tapped on his screen again. Alex's photo appeared beside hers, from a SHIELD training file.
"Your student," Fury said, voice almost amused. "That the same Alex Lee you vouched for? The one you said was just a normal kid with lots of potential?"
Natasha's jaw tightened. "He was normal. I don't know what changed. Something happened that night. He wasn't himself."
Fury hummed, walking back toward the window. "Sounds like Banner all over again."
"He's not like Banner," Natasha shot back, a bit too quickly. "When he was out of control, he always stood between me and the hostages. He's out of control, but he has a purpose."
"He's still out of control." Fury repeated, his smirk widening. "So, we've got a kid who can rip steel apart and does anything to protect, and a spider-boy Iron Man's been babysitting. And both of them saved over twenty lives, shut down a trafficking ring, and exposed corruption in our own ranks."
He clasped his hands behind his back, staring out at the rolling clouds."Sounds like potential to me."
Natasha blinked. "You're considering them for the Initiative?"
"I'm thinking about it." Fury turned back, the corner of his mouth curling. "We need more than mindless soldiers. We need people with willpower. People who will sacrifice anything to do what's right."
Natasha exhaled softly, her expression easing. "They're not ready."
"And war," Fury said simply. "Don't wait for you to get ready."
The silence stretched, only the low hum of the Helicarrier filling the space.
When Natasha finally spoke, her voice was quieter.
"If you do bring them in… don't make them weapons."
Fury's one eye softened. Just a little. "Not planning to. But you know how this world works, Romanoff. They either find the fight… or the fight'll find them first."
The clouds outside rumbled with thunder as the Helicarrier drifted onward, cutting across the sky.