Did You Really Think Black Widow Got into the Avengers Because Her Superpower Was Kicking People?

Chen Mo shifted position and hung upside down from the ceiling.

Black Widow remained seated beside the filing cabinet.

The two maintained this very polite arrangement and looked at each other for several seconds.

Natasha set down her coffee.

"He does."

"Then why are you still here drinking coffee?"

"Because I don't want to go."

Chen Mo blinked.

"Skipping work?"

"Allocating work sensibly."

Natasha indicated that a little verbal finesse was required. She would let it slide this time on account of his youth.

"Are all you S.H.I.E.L.D. people this good at making excuses for skipping work?"

"A reminder: you're currently hanging upside down in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s archives, stealing files."

Natasha looked up at him.

"I don't think you're qualified to criticize my professional ethics."

"Then let me correct you, too. I haven't stolen anything yet."

Chen Mo pointed at the red warning on the nearby screen.

"At present, this only counts as attempted theft."

In his earpiece, Reed spoke with spectacularly bad timing:

"The decryption's complete."

The red warning vanished from the screen.

Chen Mo fell silent for a second.

"All right, now I'm qualified."

Natasha lowered her head and chuckled.

"Come down."

"Put your gun farther away first."

"I'm not holding a gun."

"I bet you've got at least six things hidden on you that could kill someone."

"Seven."

"See? Now you're showing off."

Chen Mo dropped from the ceiling, his toes barely making a sound as they touched the floor.

Chen Mo still kept his distance from Natasha.

Natasha didn't move either.

The archives were quiet.

Human Torch was still asking quietly over the comms:

"Black Spider, what's going on? Are we fighting?"

Chen Mo lowered his voice.

"Hold on. She's willing to talk."

"What if she suddenly attacks?"

"Then I'll shout, 'Stark's behind you!'"

Natasha raised her