CH: 003 - Conversation With Black Widow

{Chapter: 003 - Conversation With Black Widow}

After following the Quake for a while he saw her entering a white commercial car which looked old and very worn out.

This is Quake's car and also her home.

Aiden had been focused on watching Quake—Daisy Johnson, or Skye, as she called herself—so much so that he barely noticed the sleek sports car tailing him. He spotted her slipping into her car, making a mental note of the vehicle before getting ready to drive off.

But just as he was about to step on the gas, a figure sauntered into his path, blocking his way.

Tight-fitting jeans hugged every curve, a snug T-shirt emphasizing a figure that could make any man forget his destination. Long, flowing red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and those piercing green eyes held a challenge wrapped in allure.

"Hey, handsome," she purred, leaning just enough to tease. "There's a bar nearby… How about buying me a drink?"

Aiden's lips twitched in amusement. He hadn't expected her, but he wasn't about to complain.

"Well, that depends," he said smoothly, eyes flicking over her, lingering just a second longer than necessary. "Am I having a drink with Natasha… or Black Widow?"

Yes, it was the Black Widow. With a figure that could make statues weep and a face that belonged on the cover of legends, she wasn't just a goddess—she was in a league of her own among divine beauties. Engaging with a spy was rarely a wise move, but when it came to physical communication… well, that was a risk worth taking.

Natasha's lips curled into a smirk, full of secrets and danger. "Well, I guess you do your homework." She tilted her head slightly, studying him like a puzzle worth solving. "Which version of me do you want to talk to?"

Aiden leaned back in his seat, letting his gaze drag over her form with slow appreciation before locking onto her eyes.

"A woman. Just a woman. That's the best version."

Natasha chuckled, stepping closer, fingers trailing lightly over the hood of his car. "If this sports car was actually yours… maybe I would talk to you as just a woman. After all…" She gave him a once-over, voice dropping a little lower, "you are very handsome."

Aiden sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Women really are so materialistic," he teased, though his eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Men are so predictable. Sure enough men will be men, all are the same, they will always think about vulgar things" Natasha rolled her eyes and she countered smoothly.

Her words were playful, but Aiden knew better. She was still assessing him, reading between the lines, peeling back the layers of the enigma he presented. His identity—or lack of one—was a problem for her. He didn't exist in any known database. He had no traceable past, no clear intentions. He had helped Pepper Potts, sure, but he had also taken money and a car from a gangster. He was a question mark, and Natasha Romanoff didn't like unanswered questions.

"I have to admit," she said, crossing her arms under her chest, making the movement look entirely casual but deliberate, "I'm very curious about you. Your origin. Your abilities. You absorbed Extremis and didn't self-destruct. That alone is impressive. But the fact that you don't have a background, as if you just appeared out of nowhere? That's even more intriguing. So, Mr. Aiden Graves…" She leaned in slightly, her breath teasing the air between them. "I think we should be talking about you."

Aiden glanced toward Quake's car in the distance. Looked like she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. He turned back to Natasha, grinning.

"A beautiful woman's invitation? How could I possibly refuse? Besides…" He let his voice drop just a little, his smirk turning devilish. "I've always wanted to know you."

Natasha arched a brow, feigning curiosity. "Oh? And why is that?"

Aiden let his gaze slowly wander, taking his time before meeting her eyes again.

"I could tell you," he mused, "but I think you'd rather feel the answer."

Natasha rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest flicker of amusement in her smirk. "Men," she sighed. "So predictable."

Aiden grinned. "And yet, here you are, standing in front of my car, starting this conversation."

She chuckled, stepping back with a teasing sway of her hips. "Well then, Graves… let's see if you can keep up."

---

At a quiet bar in the afternoon, the dim lighting cast a warm glow over the polished wood and scattered bottles lining the shelves. The place was nearly empty, offering a rare moment of privacy. In a secluded corner, Aiden leaned back in his seat, watching Natasha with an easy smirk as he took a sip from his beer mug.

"You know," he mused, swirling the liquid in his glass, "I was wondering who SHIELD would send to dig into my business. Didn't expect it to be you, though." He let his gaze linger, a playful glint in his eyes. "Dangerously beautiful and incredibly skilled… I have to admit, I'm having a hard time resisting."

Natasha arched a brow, her lips curving into a teasing smirk. "Well, aren't you a charmer?" She rested her elbow on the table, chin slightly propped on her palm. "Does that mean you'll actually answer my questions?"

Aiden chuckled, setting his mug down with a soft clink. "For you? I'll at least pretend to be cooperative."

Natasha laughed softly, tilting her head. "I'll take what I can get. So, Mr. Aiden… can you tell me who you really are?"

Aiden leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough to make it feel like a secret between them. "Name's Aiden Graves. Half Chinese, half American. And the reason I don't have an identity?" He spread his hands, a devilish glint in his eyes. "I simply didn't exist in the world's eyes before. You, of all people, should know there are plenty of ghosts walking around without a paper trail—some even in SHIELD itself."

Natasha nodded slowly. She was familiar with people like him. SHIELD had its own share of operatives who existed in the shadows, their names erased, their pasts rewritten. SHIELD has even trained such people for spying in different parts of the world. Aiden was likely one of those wild cards—someone useful to the right people, dangerous to the wrong ones.

As for the future, he said he doesn't have any malicious intentions and he won't hide his identity as he doesn't give a fuck about his nationality in this f-world.

"And what about your abilities?" she asked, twirling a strand of red hair between her fingers, feigning casual curiosity. "You can absorb the Extremis virus. That's not something just anyone can do. Every documented case ends in self-destruction, and yet here you are—completely intact, looking far too relaxed for someone who should be a ticking time bomb." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice, her emerald eyes locking onto his. "If the wrong people find out what you can do… you do realize what kind of attention that'll bring, right?"

Aiden smirked, resting his chin on his fist as he studied her. "Oh? And this is the part where you suggest I join SHIELD for my own protection, right?"

Natasha laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not saying that… but if you wanted to, SHIELD would be happy to have you." She leaned in just a fraction closer, her lips curving into a knowing smirk. "Personally, I wouldn't mind working with someone who can keep up with me."

Aiden exhaled a soft chuckle, his eyes never leaving hers. "Flirting with me, Agent Romanoff? Careful, I might get the wrong idea."

"Who said it's the wrong idea?" Natasha teased, before taking a slow sip of her drink, watching him over the rim of her glass.

Aiden chuckled, shaking his head. "Haha, persuasion isn't really your strong suit, huh? But with a beauty like you making the pitch, I have to admit, it's tempting. Just not right now. Give it some time… who knows? I might just end up powerless against your charm." He flashed her a teasing grin before adding, "Honestly, my ability isn't all that special. It's not like I'm walking around with a big 'danger' sign on my forehead. As long as I behave, what's the harm? Besides… you could always try bringing me over to your side. With your kind of charm, who knows? I might just surrender willingly." His gaze flickered briefly to her chest, the tight fabric doing little to conceal its generous curves. "Though, if we're being honest, I'd say the real superpower here is your ability to make anything you wear look like a crime against self-control."

"Well, I always thought the Chinese were all about subtlety and politeness," She mused with a small smile. "But it seems that's not always the case."

He leaned in, his gaze laced with playful mischief as he slid a sleek card across the table. His voice dropped just enough to make the moment feel charged.

"Let's call it a day, Mrs. Natalia Alianovna Romanova." He savored the way her name rolled off his tongue, watching the flicker of surprise in her sharp eyes. "This is my number—I have a feeling you might need it. Whether it's for a favor, a little excitement… or something a little more personal needs!, don't hesitate to call."

With a smirk that danced on the edge of arrogance and charm, he gave her a knowing wink before rising smoothly to his feet. Unhurried, confident, he strolled away, taking care to settle the bill——because charm is great, but leaving a lady to foot the check? Now that would be a crime.

Natasha remained still, her fingers resting lightly on the card as she watched his retreating form, her expression unreadable. Beneath her composed exterior, a flicker of unease coiled in her gut. Natalia Alianovna Romanova.

She hadn't heard that name in years. A name buried deep, one that existed only in the shadows. It wasn't even in her SHIELD profile.

Taking a slow breath, she tamped down the instinctual tension in her muscles, her voice calm but edged with steel as she whispered into her earpiece.

"Identity unknown. Goal or purpose unclear. He possesses extensive knowledge of SHIELD, superheroes… and my true identity. His abilities remain uncertain, but he appears capable of devouring and stabilizing Extremis. At present, it's difficult to determine whether he's a threat or an ally. Recommendation: maintain close observation."

"Your name...?!"

A heavy silence hung in the air before a voice finally crackled through Natasha's earpiece, calm yet laced with intrigue.

"Mmm... this could be trouble. But isn't he interested in you? That makes things easier. You'll be responsible for him. I want a full investigation into his identity and motives. If necessary... use any means at your disposal."

Natasha's lips pressed together as she processed the order, her thoughts circling back to Aiden—his smooth words, razor-sharp mind, and that insufferably confident smirk. But it wasn't just his charm that unsettled her—it was his knowledge. The man was a riddle, wrapped in an infuriatingly alluring enigma, and that made him all the more dangerous.

She exhaled slowly, masking the unease stirring beneath her composed exterior. Getting close to him? That wouldn't be the hard part. The real challenge would be keeping her distance—not physically, but emotionally.

If he knew her full name, then there was no doubt in her mind that he also knew the other things—the ghosts she had buried, the past she had spent years trying to escape. And if he was bold enough to bring it up?

Natasha wasn't sure if she was prepared to relive those memories.