Having brought a beautiful woman to the restaurant, the two of them sat in a private area so they could discuss business undisturbed while Alex explained the situation. Although it would have been better to simply have dinner with her than discuss business, not everything goes as planned. Several plates of various desserts were placed in front of them.
- A few days ago, Alexey and his squad stormed a facility - Natasha studied the data on the tablet very carefully - a secret laboratory for mutant research was discovered there.
Listening to all this, she scrolled further, and the photos that were taken clearly weren't appetizing to the average person. Numerous dissected bodies lay either on tables or elsewhere, ready for cremation, and those who survived were caged like animals.
"According to the information we obtained, some of those in the photo demonstrated their abilities and then disappeared. Relatives reported them missing, but the authorities were unable to help."
- And where did the survivors go?
- They have been transported to a place where they can be taken care of.
"They traded one cell for another," a bitter smile crossed her face, but even so, she couldn't immediately come up with an alternative for the survivors. After all, if people who've been through this were simply let go, it wouldn't be better for anyone.
- Whatever you think, there are those who have difficulty acquiring these abilities, and some are too dangerous, so they contact me online and specialists try to help these people so they can return to normal life.
- So you yourself have a laboratory with mutants?
Alex looked calmly into her gaze.
"It's more of a shelter for those in need, for those who need help. Believe me, if you see it, you'll understand."
It seems she decided to trust him and put this issue off until later.
"I didn't think you and Dreykov were so close," she said, deciding to change the subject and try the desserts they'd brought them.
"I wouldn't say we're close. If we were left in a room together, only one would come out. But we have common interests on certain issues, so we're willing to tolerate each other for the sake of our mutual benefit. You, more than anyone, should understand that."
And she understood that her job involved frequently circulating in criminal circles to find a specific target, but at the same time ensuring that informants and accomplices did not end up behind bars or killed.
"He's difficult to deal with," he continued, helping himself to a piece of dessert. "He may call himself a communist, but he'll never give up power. If he had his way, he'd bring back the Soviet Union, because he used to be an important figure, respected by everyone, but now he hides and tries to act discreetly to avoid attracting attention."
"So what now?" Alex's raised eyebrow indicated he didn't understand the question. "What's not Elena's account?"
"I don't think the general will send her to me again now. Most likely, he will really keep her close to him, at least so that you don't act against him so openly."
- So it looks like it's time for me to return to the shield.
"That's your right, of course, but do you really want to come back?" Her expression clearly showed she was very interested in what he had to say. "As you can see, for some, mutants are simply opportunities and a resource, but I don't want to end up on that table in the future if I suddenly become an inconvenience, so I'd feel more at ease if you were nearby and had my back."
She understood his feelings. She'd been dependent on someone her whole life, and if she made a mistake somewhere , they could easily send a squad to eliminate her, and she didn't have many friends who could truly protect her.
"Just to cover your back?" Her gaze teased the man sitting opposite her.
"Your fame is no less than mine, and in some circles, even greater. I want to get people on our side. You can even guess why I do these streams; I work for the good of society."
- If intrigues are started against you, then the general masses will be on your side.
"Yes, and they're already underway. We're in the same boat, just like Tony and Bruce and even Steve. There are people who don't need us here, and they'll do anything to maintain power. I'm sure you'll be fine as long as you're under Fury's protection , but he has superiors too, and he follows orders, too."
The clear hint that they could get rid of her too did not escape her.
"You know, I could have kept hiding and operating on the rich and famous, who would have paid me and kept quiet after that," he continued, looking sadly and thoughtfully at the glass, "but the moment the Chitauri invaded Earth through the portal, I realized this was my chance to make a name for myself and not have to hide. If I do it right, I can live without fear of them coming for me tomorrow. I don't plan on spending the rest of my life proving my usefulness. I plan to start a family someday, and with such a legacy, I need to make sure people don't even think of using them against me."
Memories of the experiments Dreykov's people had conducted on him stirred a storm in his soul. For some people, starting a family and simply living without fear is a normal thing, but not for the people sitting at this table.
-What do you want from me?
"Right now, you're the most desirable woman in the world," her smile widened slightly as she recalled what she sometimes read online. "If you position yourself correctly, many will follow you. But if you return, Dreykov will let your sister go on missions again, and then who knows where or what she'll do. Unfortunately, I'm currently in a stalemate; I don't have enough influence to pressure his people in the Kremlin, and he can't do the same to me because of my actions as a national hero."
- There should be a but here!
"But you can help me increase that influence if you join my camp. I'm short on personnel with your expertise, and what happened in the governor's house was just a test." His gaze grew a little dreamy. "Just imagine my potential combined with your beauty and people-management skills. We could build the future we want."
"That's all very flattering of you, of course, but you're probably forgetting that I work for a foreign intelligence agency, and they won't let me go that easily. They already called me and said the director isn't happy with my work, and the only reason they haven't brought me back is because there's so much chaos going on with AIM and the former vice president that they simply don't have time for me right now."
They looked into each other's eyes, clearly thinking about their own things.
- What if I can come to an agreement with Fury ?
- And what will you offer him?
- That's my problem. But I can't do anything if you don't agree, so it's up to you to decide.
And then Natasha realized that for the first time in her life, after the red room and the shield, she had a choice of which path to take next.
The door to Stark Tower opened and a black man walked in, walking confidently until he found his target working in his lab.
- Tony
Applause broke out in the room.
- Our national hero decided to honor us with his presence.
Having broken away from his work, the genius stood up and they greeted each other.
-What do I owe to your arrival? Have they really finished presenting your awards?
Rowdy's cheerful mood disappeared.
- Tony, where is my suit?
"What do you mean?" The colonel had known his friend for a long time and understood when he was blatantly lying to him, but the question remained: why was he doing it?
"You know what I'm talking about! After the president was released, the Patriot suit departed for an unknown destination. It's appeared in several parts of the world since then, and many people think it's me flying around and trespassing."
Crossing airspace with such an armed object could lead to many problems, so he was sent to the only person who could help with this issue.
- What do you want from me, Rowdy ?
- So that you can help find him and return him?
"I'm sorry, but I can't," he said, throwing up his hands innocently.
- How can you not?
- You probably forgot that when you were given the prototype armor, you wanted me to be unable to influence it in any way, and therefore Stark Industries could only carry out repairs and nothing more.
- Tony is a completely different case, without a suit we will have problems.
- We? Personally, I'm doing fine in this regard, except for the fact that a rocket I designed landed on my house.
Rhodey looked at his friend, confused. After all that had happened, he'd completely forgotten how it all started. Now everything had fallen into place. If the government had done it once, what was stopping them from doing it again? So his inaction was due to him leaving them to deal with the problem themselves. And when they exhausted their options, Stark himself would set his own terms and take as much as he could from the government, and then some.
- I understand you Tony, I just hope that you don't overdo it with what you do.
- Don't worry, I have a vacation planned for the near future. So I'll be full of energy and ready for whatever comes next.
After talking a little more and finding out about the planned vacation and resolving other issues, the colonel left his friend's laboratory.
Returning to his desk, Strak decided to continue his work.
- Jarvis, contact Yumiko and tell her she's doing a great job and to keep up the good work.
- Yes sir.
In a small settlement where cell towers had not yet been installed, several hundred people lived their lives.
The men of this tribe went hunting very often and had just returned with a good catch, which is why the tribe had a feast.
The sun was already setting below the horizon; some fires were being lit to cook the carcasses caught during the hunt , while the rest were being lit to provide light for the tribe.
Predators had not come to this area for a long time, so people felt at ease, at least if they watched what was under their feet.
The tribal chief sat and enjoyed life, clearly enjoying his position surrounded by women.
Everything was fine until an unknown sound began to grow louder from somewhere above.
At first, no one heard it, but over time it began to get louder and then people began to look for a possible source.
- Buk bak chik pak - noticing something in the sky, one of the tribe members pointed his finger up and everyone paid attention.
A flying machine was descending from the sky towards them.
Seeing something strange but dangerous, the leader began shouting commands. Everyone who had been watching before began to act.
The women began to grab their children and run to hide in all the secluded places that were in the settlement, and the men grabbed their weapons and went with the leader to a meeting or, most likely, to a battle.
When the leader and his entourage came out into the open, the bright light from the ship blinded them and it was difficult for them to understand how such a beast ended up on the ground.
Everyone shuddered when this iron monster, unknown to many, began to open its mouth and people unfamiliar to the tribe began to emerge from it; they were all wearing different shabby clothes and their faces were not visible behind the masks.
The leader understood that if a battle began , they would not win, but there was a chance to come to an agreement due to ignorance of what all these guests wanted.
But before he could say anything, all the guests began to raise their weapons, and a moment later the leader and his entourage began to fall and their bodies began to convulse.
The only child who was able to distance himself from the tribe watched as his tribe was thrown into cages and sent inside this iron monster, after which it took off and left nothing behind but empty huts.
- I can't believe I agreed to take part in this.
- You talk as if I sent you to hard labor. I think you look great.
The traditional red dress with white sleeves and a red headscarf created a completely new image for the femme fatale that the whole world knew.
- You'll owe me for this.
"I have no doubt about it." Dressing the Black Widow in such clothes was clearly worth it, judging by the Russian hero's smile.
Besides the two of them, there were several other girls in similar outfits and several men holding a balalaika, button accordion, and wooden spoons.
Industries private jet landed at the airport. When the plane pulled into the hangar, a greeter was already waiting for them inside.
Stark was in complete shock as he exited the plane . Aside from Alex, who was there to greet him, the billionaire wasn't prepared for such a welcoming party, so as he and his girlfriend descended the steps, they encountered several pretty women in red sundresses holding a large loaf of bread with a small space in the center for salt.
- Welcome to Russia, my American friends. This is for your future well-being.
The American guests watched this with a bit of shock, while nearby music began to play. After greeting each other, they were both forced to observe tradition and eat a piece of the loaf as a greeting. Of course, this wasn't exactly the right place for the loaf, but then, that wasn't its purpose. Just a few meters away, a shield spy stood, trying to blend in, taking photos of everything that was happening.
- It's quite cold here now, so this is for you.
Out of nowhere, Alex suddenly appeared with an ushanka hat, which he quickly placed on the billionaire's head. The guest also found a bottle of vodka. Pepper was given a nice hat and a stylish coat.
The American guests were shocked by what was happening; they had just gotten off the plane and were already showered with gifts, albeit strange ones, for which neither of them were prepared.
As soon as Alex walked away from them, Natasha came up and took a good photo.
A billionaire in an expensive suit with an earflaps hat and a bottle of vodka, with a woman in a coat and a large fur hat.
- Ledov, if this photo turns out to be...
- Believe me, this photo will end up all over the world.
Pepper suddenly ran up to Natasha and started looking at what had happened, and then they started editing something.
Looking at this, Tony could only ask one question: Are you kidding me?
- Just a little bit - and then he put his arm around his shoulders and led him towards the limousine - you Americans imagine Russians exactly like this, well, all that's left is to pick up the bear that's waiting at the exit and we'll close several topics at once.
Before they left the meeting place, a group photo was taken, and already leaving the airport, Iron Man was afraid that he would actually meet a bear waiting for them, otherwise after such a greeting, one could expect anything.
Literally a couple of minutes after the car was posted, the photos taken on social media were flying like hot cakes.