Natasha stepped into the restaurant.
The conversations didn’t stop, but more than a few heads turned.
She was stunning.
The kind of woman who seemed to brighten the entire room simply by walking into it.
Darya caught Alvin’s eye from across the counter.
Without making a sound, she mouthed a question.
She’s here for you?
Alvin gave the slightest nod.
Darya sighed under her breath.
“She’s trouble.” Behind the counter, Jessica was mixing another pitcher of lemonade.
She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, muttering a few choice words that all seemed to begin with the letter b.
Matt, halfway through his steak, suddenly lifted his head in her direction.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Jessica froze.
Like a child caught doing something she shouldn’t.
She smiled awkwardly before remembering…
Matt was blind.
Just as confusion crossed her face, Matt’s smile broadened.
He gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
The expression practically said: Good one.
Keep going.
Jessica couldn’t help laughing.
She refilled his lemonade.
Then, with quiet satisfaction, switched the positions of his salt and pepper shakers.
As she walked away, she shot Foggy a warning glare.
Don’t you dare.
Foggy immediately covered his mouth, struggling not to laugh.
Natasha approached the counter with the two police officers.
The officers greeted several regulars before taking an empty table.
Every seat at the counter was occupied.
Natasha leaned toward a middle-aged man who had been openly admiring her.
After whispering a few words, the man eagerly gathered up his steak and moved to another table so she could have his seat.
The rest of the restaurant rewarded his gallantry with loud boos.
Jessica set a glass of lemonade in front of Natasha.
“Our steaks are sold out.” Her voice was noticeably colder than before.
“If you’re hungry…” “We still have sandwiches.” Natasha smiled pleasantly.
“I think you’ve misunderstood.” “I’m not here for dinner.” She turned toward Alvin.
“I’m here to apply for a waitress position.” Her smile widened.
“Do you happen to need someone cheerful?” Jessica stomped one foot before grabbing a cleaning cloth.
She immediately began furiously scrubbing a countertop that was already spotless.
“I don’t need a spy as a waitress.” Alvin didn’t even look at Natasha.
Instead, he turned toward Foggy.
“You’re a lawyer.” “Ever heard of a government agency called SHIELD?” He gestured toward Natasha.
“This woman claims to be one of their agents.” “She also threatened to fabricate charges against me and force me out of my own restaurant.” “I’d appreciate some professional advice.” The atmosphere changed instantly.
Every man in the restaurant looked at Natasha differently.
The warmth vanished.
The room became ice cold.
Foggy blinked.
Before he could answer, Matt quietly spoke up.
“SHIELD operates under the authority of the World Security Council.” “Their stated mission is to deal with individuals and organizations that threaten global security.” “Their headquarters are located at the Triskelion in Washington.” “That’s all public information.” He folded his hands calmly.
“Their operations may be classified…” “But unless you’ve developed a habit of eating people, Alvin…” “I don’t think you have much to fear.” A faint smile appeared on his face.
“If SHIELD’s actions interfere with your life, Nelson & Murdock would be happy to file suit.” “Of course…” “We’d first need to verify this woman’s identity.” “Because, frankly…” “This isn’t how a professional intelligence officer behaves.” He paused.
“If necessary, I can call a few friends at the FBI.” “They’ve spent years cleaning up SHIELD’s messes.” “I’m sure they’d enjoy returning the favor.” Natasha’s expression stiffened.
The moment Alvin had exposed her identity, the undercover assignment had effectively ended.
That wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
She’d never wanted to spend weeks undercover here in the first place.
She wanted this assignment over so she could hunt down the people responsible for the attack that had nearly killed her.
Still…
Alvin Satō had become unexpectedly interesting.
Perhaps she could push him a little further before Phil Coulson arrived.
That sounded entertaining.
She smiled at Matt.
“I only asked Mr.
Satō to cooperate with an official SHIELD investigation.” “We’re authorized to do that.” “If he refuses…” “We can legally requisition his restaurant as an operational site.” “The Supreme Court has upheld that authority.” Matt chuckled.
“Then your first challenge would be proving necessity.” “You’d need to demonstrate that someone nearby poses a genuine threat to humanity.” He tilted his head slightly.
“With all due respect…” “You’ve already blown your cover so thoroughly that continuing this operation serves no purpose.” “And I can confidently say…” “There isn’t a single criminal within two blocks who falls under SHIELD’s jurisdiction.” Natasha shrugged.
“My mission isn’t your concern.” “You’ve already interfered with it.” “If something goes wrong now…” “Will you take responsibility?” She glanced toward the two officers.
“Or will you leave it to those timid police officers?” “We’ll take responsibility.” The older officer rose from his seat.
His hand rested calmly on his holster.
“Miss Romanoff…” “We’re going to need to see your identification.” “We have reason to suspect you’re impersonating a SHIELD agent.” “A real agent wouldn’t conduct herself like this.” The younger officer, Scott, hesitated only briefly before standing beside his partner, one hand on his own sidearm.
Natasha ignored them completely.
Instead, she looked directly at Alvin.
“Your actions have compromised my operation.” “So I’ll tell you the truth.” “My target lives in the building across from your restaurant.” “His name is Zebediah Kilgrave.” “Also known as the Purple Man.” “He’s a Croatian national.” “We believe he possesses the ability to control people’s minds.” “SHIELD has linked him to multiple suspicious suicides in Washington, Miami, and several other cities.” “My assignment was to observe him undercover.” “Because of you…” “Our field teams will have to move in immediately.” Alvin relaxed ever so slightly.
So that was it.
Kilgrave.
The man had already become fertilizer for one of Alvin’s Corpse Vines.
Along the way, Jessica had been freed from his control.
“Then arrest him.” Alvin spread his hands.
“If you already know how dangerous he is, why observe him instead of taking him in?” “Because that’s SHIELD protocol.” Natasha answered without hesitation.
“When enhanced individuals appear, we observe them.” “We evaluate the threat they pose.” “Only then do we determine the appropriate response.” “That’s why I was here.” “And you ruined the mission.” Alvin gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Observe.” “Evaluate.” He shook his head.
“Sounds less like law enforcement…” “And more like a recruitment agency.” He turned toward the younger officer.
“Scott.” “If the police learned someone like that was operating nearby…” “What would you do?” Scott barely needed to think.
“We’d develop an arrest plan.” “If arrest wasn’t possible…” “We’d use deadly force.” “Exactly.” Alvin nodded.
“Our local cops understand that.” “But SHIELD’s first instinct is observation and evaluation.” He looked back at Natasha.
“Let me guess.” “If he turned out useful enough…” “You’d recruit him.” “And don’t blame me for ruining your operation.” “You never looked particularly interested in carrying it out.” Natasha met his gaze without flinching.
“SHIELD has the authority to rehabilitate criminals.” “If they can be reformed…” “They can contribute more to society.” The words had barely left her mouth when— Bang!
Jessica slammed one hand onto the counter.
The three-inch-thick hardwood surface splintered beneath her palm, leaving a deep handprint pressed into solid wood.
She pointed toward the door.
Her voice was colder than winter.
“Get out.” “We don’t want you here.” Silence settled over the restaurant.
Matt and Foggy exchanged a glance before quietly shaking their heads.
Neither of them could accept SHIELD’s reasoning.
Allowing a dangerous criminal to continue preying on innocent people simply to observe, evaluate, or eventually recruit him…
That wasn’t justice.
And it certainly wasn’t the behavior of an organization worthy of the public’s trust.