After the Triskelion Incident, the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA were laid bare, sending shockwaves through society.
The once-mysterious, almost sacred image of S.H.I.E.L.D. plummeted overnight, dragging public trust in government institutions down with it. In an effort to salvage credibility, a live-streamed press conference was held at the Capitol Building, addressing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s actions.
Only one person stood at the podium on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s behalf.
Natasha Romanoff.
"Can you swear that everything you are about to say is the truth, without deception?"
"Yes."
During the solemn oath, Natasha placed her hand on a thick law book and swore before the entire world.
"Why didn't Captain Rogers appear to give a statement?"
"I don't know what he would need to explain," Natasha replied calmly. "I believe the wreckage at the bottom of the Potomac River speaks clearly enough on his behalf."
"He could explain how this country plans to protect itself going forward—considering that he, and you, destroyed our intelligence apparatus."
"What HYDRA sold you was not intelligence," Natasha said flatly. "It was lies."
"Some of those lies appear to have been fabricated by you personally, Agent Romanoff. Given your service record, members of this committee believe you should be imprisoned."
"You won't imprison me," Natasha said evenly. "And you won't imprison any of us. Because you need us."
"The world is fragile—easily broken. And yes, what happened is partly our fault. But we are also the ones most capable of protecting this world."
"If you want to arrest me, come find me. You know where I'll be."
With that, Natasha turned and walked out of the Capitol Building.
Not a single congressman stopped her.
That was the reality.
They disliked the Avengers—but they could not live without them.
…..
As Natasha stepped outside, her phone vibrated. A single message made her smile faintly.
Domineering Queen! Love you!
…..
When everything finally settled, Fury left for Europe. HYDRA's files showed multiple hidden bases there, and if a monster was wounded, you didn't give it time to grow new heads—you finished it.
Recovered and restless, Steve set out to find the missing Bucky Barnes.
Sam chose to go with him.
Fury had considered bringing Sam along to Europe, but Sam preferred being a warrior in the open—not a spy in the shadows.
With her identity exposed, Natasha needed time to disappear and rebuild herself under a new name.
…..
Life gradually returned to normal.
Clara went back to her usual routine—school, homework, exams. The only difference was that Happy came around far more often than before. His relationship with Ms. Daisy had finally become official.
Clara still remembered the furious lecture Happy gave her after they returned from Washington—so loud and relentless that she'd practically shrunk into herself. Then, on her first day back at school, Ms. Daisy added another round of "moral education."
A few days later, Natasha's phone number became unreachable.
Steve's calls also started going through less and less.
After the Triskelion Incident, some things were quietly changing.
…..
With improved meals and regular care, Clara no longer looked like the skinny little radish she used to be.
She inherited the best of both her parents' looks—Tony's large black eyes and Laura's soft, lovely lips. As she grew, her features gained a delicate charm, still youthful but unmistakably striking.
At this age, boys tended to like girls for one very simple reason.
Looks.
Clara didn't lack those. Add to that a maturity far beyond her peers, and it was only natural that love letters began appearing in her desk.
Receiving her first love letter—across two lifetimes—gave Clara an odd sense of an old cow eating tender grass.
Some letters had names. Some didn't.
The anonymous ones were easy to ignore.
But those signed with real names clearly wanted answers.
In Clara's eyes, these thirteen- and fourteen-year-old boys were still children—watching a couple of movies and thinking they understood love. The florid, poetic lines in the letters were obviously ghostwritten.
She felt Ms. Daisy should really give these kids a lecture on morality—and the dangers of early romance.
….
"What a waste!" Jeresia Jonez complained. "You rejected all of them! You said you're focusing on getting into MIT and won't get distracted by dating—but really, you just didn't like them!"
After lunch, Clara and Jeresia strolled around the school track, chatting as they walked.
"How could I like them?" Clara replied calmly. "Do they have stable jobs? Can they promise they'll never like another girl? Can they take responsibility for their words for a lifetime?"
"No. They're too young. What they call 'liking' is no different from liking a game."
She had no interest in childish experiments.
"You always think differently," Jeresia said suddenly, hugging Clara tightly. "And I love that! Why aren't you a boy, Clara? If you were, I'd totally marry you!"
She rubbed her cheek against Clara's shoulder like an affectionate kitten.
"H-Hey—stop that!" Clara struggled. "I ate too much at lunch, I'm going to throw up!"
Clara pried Jeresia's arms away, barely holding it together.
…..
Just as the two girls were laughing, someone suddenly stepped out from behind a large tree, startling them.
"I—I'm sorry if I scared you!"
The boy was tall and thin, towering over most middle schoolers. He scratched his head awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
"It's okay… you are?" Clara recognized him vaguely but couldn't recall his name.
"I'm on the school basketball team," he said. "I got injured a month ago—you helped bandage me. Do you remember?"
"Oh! Right," Clara nodded. "You're a forward on the team…"
His name still escaped her.
"My name is Kade Davis," he said quickly. "Class 2–5."
"Oh, hello, Davis," Clara said politely. "Did you need something?"
"I… I…" Kade hesitated, then clenched his fists and blurted it out.
"I like you, Clara Johnson!"
"Huh?"
Clara froze.
She'd received plenty of letters—but a face-to-face confession was a first.
Jeresia covered her mouth in shock.
"I heard what you said earlier," Kade continued hurriedly. "I'm sorry—I wasn't eavesdropping, I was just passing by! I know you won't believe me because I'm young, but I'll prove it with time!"
"I'm not asking for an answer now. I just hope that when we both get into MIT, you'll give me a chance to be with you!"
He shoved something into Clara's hand and ran off, leaving both girls stunned.
"What… was that?" Clara asked blankly.
"I think he just… confessed?" Jeresia said uncertainly.
Clara opened her palm.
A slightly crooked paper flower lay there.
"Not even close to the ones you make," Clara commented.
Jeresia clicked her tongue. "So sloppy."
"Good enough," Clara said, tucking it into her pocket. "He clearly put thought into it. Let's go."
She pulled Jeresia toward the classroom.
"So… are you going to say yes?" Jeresia whispered.
"Is he an outstanding student?"
"No. I heard most basketball players' grades aren't great."
"Then that settles it," Clara said decisively. "Even if he somehow gets in, do you really think he won't fall for prettier seniors and freshmen in college?"
"People's hearts change the fastest."
"Come on, class is about to start."
Jeresia was dragged along, still trying to process Clara's brutally mature worldview.
…..
Behind another pine tree, Jubina Loxter, Clara's classmate, watched her retreating figure—teeth clenched tightly in resentment.
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