❝I'll wipe that goddamn smirk off your face in a minute.❞

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Aurora

"What happens after we sneak into the party?" Natasha questioned as she stopped at a red light.

The redhead was wearing a simple black, shoulderless dress that hugged her waist and frilled out a little at the skirt, and I was dressed in a tight silver dress that had a slit up the side, revealing the side of my thigh. Natasha had commented on the slit, asking, "Isn't that too far up for your liking?" I had given her a mocking look and asked seriously, "You don't think it's too revealing?" The assassin had shook her head, cheeks flushing red.

"We hang around for a little while, have some drinks, not get too drunk, then sneak into the main facility after changing into the clothes of the workers," I answered the driver's question simply.

Natasha had insisted on driving, why I didn't know, but I didn't question it. I didn't exactly want to be a getaway driver if things went wrong.

"Be careful with your wrist," she told me, to which I nodded silently.

To hide the bandage, I'd covered it with bangles on bracelets. There was no way I was going bare-wristed. I was still ghosting Nat. Well, as best as I could. I wasn't mad at her for the handcuff situation. I was terrified of her judgement. What she would do when we got back to the Triskelion. My instinct was to go silent. I couldn't give her any more information she could use against me. If she told Fury... My heart broke thinking about his reaction. All he'd done was try to raise me right. I didn't want to be a let-down to him. I wanted to be the fearless, strong, fit field agent I had been before I went to Dreykov. Fury could send me away if he didn't think I was able to carry out my agent duties. I didn't want that.

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Natasha

"What now?" I asked as I sipped my drink, placing it back on the counter and pushing it away from me when I'd finished.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Aurora declared. "And you're coming with."

I met the Swede's gaze, confused.

"Just follow me," she sighed, standing up and skirting around everyone at the party.

Once we were in the bathroom, I asked her, "What's the plan for getting into the main facility? We can't exactly walk in dressed up pretty."

"Exactly," she said. "Turn to face away from the sinks."

I narrowed my eyes slightly, suspicious of what she was going to do, as her face gave nothing away and she was still being curt with me, but I turned anyway. I tried to listen, but something set the hand dryer off, so that was all I could hear. After waiting what was probably a good minute (my patience was wearing thin), the girl cleared her throat and spoke.

"Turn back around."

I turned around, and blinked when I saw two pairs of worker's overalls.

"Wha-" I cut myself off, staring at them in shock. "How did you get those?"

Aurora looked at the ground, hiding a small smile.

"I don't usually like to manifest things, but this is our easiest way in," she said, putting on her stoic mask and looking back up at me.

I took one of the overalls from her.

"Is this my size?" I inquired.

She shrugged.

"It'll fit."

The Swede went into one of the stalls, shutting the door loudly behind her.

"This should get us in with no problem, but you might need to wipe your lipstick off," she called.

I smirked.

"How about you wipe it off for me?" I joked, going into the stall beside Aurora's.

When I heard no response, I chuckled slightly and asked in a low voice, "You know I was joking, right?"

There was a moment of silence, before she replied in a tight voice, "Of course. But we're on a mission, you can't make those jokes here."

"But you don't deny that you'd wipe my lipstick off?" I asked, still smirking.

"I'll wipe that god-damn smirk off your face in a minute," she muttered, annoyance in her tone. "Ärligt talat." (honestly)

I could feel the atmosphere shift. I fell silent as I changed, not saying another word. When would Aurora catch on that I wanted more than this love-hate friendship? It was difficult to admit, but the Scandinavian woman had grown on me, more than I would've liked. She put me in an impossible situation. I was in a relationship with Fury's second in command. She was already suspicious of me and how I felt about Aurora. I couldn't bring myself to tell her how I really felt. I couldn't get out of this situation easily, and I hated it. I couldn't break Maria's heart, but I couldn't help but get entranced by Aurora.

A rapping at the stall door pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Hurry up," the voice accompanied by a thick Scandinavian accent ordered.

Zipping up the overalls, I grabbed my dress and opened the door of the stall. Aurora snatched the dress out of my hands and opened a cabinet under the sinks, tossing it in with her dress. I went over to the sink and took some paper towels, wiping my deep red lipstick off.

"Ready," I sighed, turning to Aurora, who nodded, satisfied.

Aurora

I led the way through the facility. It was surprisingly easy to find our way through towards the server room. We passed quite a few workers, none of whom seemed to question us - who we were or where we were going.

"Can you keep watch?" Natasha asked me as we quickly walked down the long corridor, keeping her voice low as everything echoed here.

"Sure," I mumbled. "You're better at the tech stuff. I'm better at kicking ass."

The red-head chuckled.

"Yes you are," she agreed quietly.

We continued towards the server room in silence. I was still flustered from Natasha's comment in the bathroom. How about you wipe it off for me? I knew it was a dirty comment, and I knew how she liked to joke, but I couldn't help but feel flustered by the comment. What was she trying to say? Was she trying to say anything? Or was it just her flirty-jokey attitude? I couldn't fathom why she was acting like this - she hated me. Or so she made out. Natasha's whole attitude since I told her about Dreykov had been so confusing, and I couldn't make sense of any of it.