Red stains darker in the snow
The white lights blinded you as they took you to questioning, every cold hall the same sad shade of grey, and at every corner a guard posted. So monotonous.
Your arms ached from the pressure a random agent was applying, and you couldn’t help but notice the stares coming from every inch of the room.
Everyone but her.
On one of the never-ending corridors they opened a steel door into an interrogation room, where they left you there for some time.
There was close to nothing in the room. One metal table to which you were cuffed to, one very uncomfortable chair on each side of said table, and a mirror.
As you fiddled with the cuffs the door opened, letting Bailey- or Bell- Barton in with a frown, who looked at the mirror after sparing you a glance, and sat.
“y/n l/n, is that even your name?” He asked, dropping the file.
“Who knows,” you shrugged.
“...fugitive in fifteen countries, twenty two states, wanted for terrorism, murder and the hijack of a high tech plane,” he started as you reminisced on previous assignments. “Where did you take it, the plane.”
“Plage de Carras.”
“Hmm, France. Was it nice?”
“Lovely,” you said with a smile. “You should go, you look like you need more sun.”
He smiled, “I wouldn’t gloat much if I were you. Where you’re going there’s not that much sun.”
“Well, I doubt you found anything at the apartment,” you said as his smile dissipated into the straight line it was at the beginning. “And there’s nothing you can trace me to… So, how would you arrest me? Unless SHIELD has fallen into the dark side of intelligence, alongside Hydra and the CIA-”
“The CIA isn’t Hydra,” he interrupted.
“How not? Hidden government organization, check; based in world domination, check; has multiple hidden bases and severe human rights violations, check and check.
“Would you stop with the mind games,” he said, resting back in the chair.
“They’re not mind games-” you started.
“You’re a liar,” spat Barton as you looked at him.
“Am I, though?” You nonchalantly asked.
“You told her you’d change, you’d be better.”
“Oh, that you mean. No, yeah, that was a lie,” you chuckled. “But it’s not like it was a ‘lie’ lie, I mean, she knew I wasn’t going to change. I don’t think it counts as a lie that way, do you?”
“Yes!” He snapped, hitting the metal table. He pinched the bridge of his nose and spoke in a calmer voice, “It counts. Maybe not to someone like you, l/n, but it does.”
“Ooh, not to someone like me,” you mocked. “We’re all the same, Barton. You, her, me. We all sell ourselves, our information, our skills. You do it for your precious America, she used to do it for Russia, I used to do the same. It doesn’t matter who you do it for, you do it. Your SHIELD is not so different from the Red Room, or where I grew up.”
“Where was that?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” you stated. “The point is, Barton, in this line of work, you have to lie, or you die. It’s that simple. And if you think Natasha over there, behind the mirror, doesn’t lie, you’re dumber than I thought.”
She had to be behind it, or listening somewhere. She should’ve had the courage to sit in front of you, but apparently she didn’t. Madame B. would be disappointed.
Barton said nothing, and you continued, “She is behind there, isn’t she? Waiting, calculating. Trying to crack what I’m doing.”
“Maybe,” he said.
“Well, there’s no need to dwell too much on it. I can tell her myself.”
“You can tell me,” he said as he scraped the chair to the floor, making you wince.
“Now, where’s the fun in that.”
At that he left, maybe thinking you would crack under the pressure of nobody… What a dumb plan.
A few hours passed and as you were stretching your muscles, the door opened again, this time, with a familiar tone of red walking in.
“I was beginning to think you were a no show, Red,” you said while she sat in the chair.
She said nothing.
“What’s wrong, cat got your tongue or something?”
“No, I’m fine,” she said, reading the file Barton had left there.
There was not much in it, only a few minor inconveniences; still, there were some things that you’d rather forget there too.
“Your new team sucks at making files, by the way. There’s nothing there,” you started, tapping an old rhythm on the table. “I’ve noticed you, Red. You’re becoming sloppy.”
“Maybe I wanted you to notice, hmm. Ever thought of that?” She retorted.
You scoffed, “Now, why would you want that? Got a death wish or something?”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I’m a changed fella, time does crazy things,” you snickered.
“Why are you here, y/n?” She finally asked.
“I mean, it’s not like I chose to be here. If I had, there would be less cuffs and more beaches,” you said, tugging the restraints. “Although I do enjoy cuffs under the right circumstances… Remember?” You smirked.
“Fondly,” she met your eyes for the first time since she walked in, making you smile. “So,” she started. “What’s your plan?”
“There’s no plan,” you shrugged.
“Bullshit.”
“I’m serious, no plan. Not a single thing, nada.”
“No plan,” she said, as you nodded. “So, you knew the team was there…”
“Yup. They’re very sloppy.”
“You let them capture you…”
“Clearly.”
“All for nothing,” she finished.
“Well, not for nothing. I just said I had no plan,” you said.
“So what for then?”
“I was bored,” you stated, wandering your gaze around the room.
“Bored?”
You nodded, “Bored.”
“What, do they have a bad retirement plan at Hydra?”
“Very funny,” you said, a resigned smile on your lips.
“I’m going to ask again, then, and don’t lie to me. Why are you here?”
You took a deep, sharp breath before saying, “I need help.”
“Help?”
“Yep.”
“I’m sorry, I thought you said you needed help,” she said in disbelief.
“Well, there’s no need to be smug about it,” you said. “I’m only human, Nat.”
“Doubtful. Go on, help with what?”
“As you know, I’m a wanted criminal in many places,” you said, stopping for her to nod. “And, as you also might know or figure out, some of those places want me to go to their little dark prisons.”
“Which is understandable, considering everything you’ve done.”
“What about what you’ve done, huh Red? You don’t get to pay for those?” You accused, and when she didn’t say anything, added, “Joking.”
“Anyway, as I was saying, some of them want me imprisoned, most want me dead. And it’s catching up, and I can’t avoid it all on my own. So, I’m here in search of help,” you concluded.
“Why should I help you, y/n? We haven’t seen each other in years.”
It was a fair argument.
"I mean, you don't have to help me. By all means, you're free to let me go. In fact, you should. I don't bring anything good to this situation. I'm a fugitive with zero information on anything and a target bigger than my back. Just me.”
She stared at you for a second, “It's not like we had much before.”
“True, we were great,” you mused. “Whatever happened to us?”
“You kept working for Hydra as I left the KGB and joined SHIELD,” she reminded you.
“Well, it’s not like I had much of a choice, Natasha,” you said, getting serious. “You left without saying a word and I had to deal with the consequences. That mission was mine too and you messed it up. Just packed and left. I was left to fend for myself, and try not sell you out.”
She was quiet. Probably had no idea you had suffered for her departure; or that you didn’t sell her out, even if it would’ve meant much less pain for you.
“I thought about doing it,” you continued. “Sell you out. It would’ve solved many problems.”
“Why didn’t you?” She asked without a second thought.
Now you were quiet. Very quiet.
“I- I guess I wanted something good to come out of that mess. I don’t know, I wanted to think you were out, and it was something less to worry about. But it backfired,” you finally said.
“Backfired how?”
“Well, you became the mission after your little escape. And who better than me to find you,” you scoffed. “I mean, they knew everything, Red. Every single thing. Every secret code we had, every place we met at.”
She shook her head, “There’s no way, how would they know?”
“I have no fucking idea how! But they knew,” you shook your head. “Now, there’s no need to get into that. Will you help me?”
She took a deep breath and nodded, “Yes.”
As you were thanking her a knock on the glass stopped you. Natasha left the room and met with a very angry Clint Barton.
“What are you doing, Tasha?” He asked while pinching the bridge of his nose.
“They need help, okay. I have to,” she said.
“You don’t have to do anything. They made their choice a long time ago.”
Natasha only shook her head.
“Why do you still have their back?” He asked.
Ah, the million dollar question.
“We go back, Clint. They've saved me countless times.”
“They’ve tried to kill you as many times as well,” he added.
“You don’t get it. It was my fault,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow for her to continue.
“When I left. When I decided to go with you, I- I didn’t even think of bringing them with. And they suffered because of that choice I made.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said and she looked at him. “Whatever happened to y/n when you left is not your fault.”
“But it is!” She shouted. “It is. And now they need help, and I’m not gonna turn my back on them again, Clint. I can’t.”
Barton was about to say something but he stopped himself. “Okay,” He started. “We’ll help them.”
-
Natasha entered the questioning room some time after leaving you with your thoughts, this time accompanied by Barton.
“We’ll help,” she only said.
“We?” You asked.
“We,” said Barton. “I’m not going to let you be alone with her.”
“Scared I’ll steal your girlfriend?”
He grabbed the collar of your shirt, “Now, let me be clear with something l/n. Just because we’re helping, doesn’t mean I’ll let you run around like a child in a park. Do you understand me?”
“I understand,” you huffed, throwing your body backwards to get out of his grip. “So, when are we leaving?”
“Leaving?” They both asked in synchrony.
"You didn't expect us to stay here, right? There's gotta be a safehouse somewhere harder to infiltrate than this place,” you said.
“This place isn’t easy to infiltrate,” Barton defended.
“It is. I did it twice,” you admitted. “Hypothetically speaking, of course.”
Barton unclasped the cuffs, "Hypothetically speaking, huh? Was that a confession?"
“No, simply a statement on the security of this place,” you shrugged.
“There’s a safehouse up north,” Natasha said. “But it’s cold this time of year.”
“Please, Red. You grew up in Russia, you gonna tell me a little snow is too much for you?”
“I don’t remember it was me whining about the cold in our stakeouts,” she retorted.
“No, that was because you stole all my jackets and covers and I was left with nothing but light sweaters,” you bickered back while Barton cursed to himself for getting in this mess with you both.
“Alright you two,” he interrupted. “We leave tomorrow.”
You shook your head, “Now.”
“We need to prep everything for the trip, and tell Fury about-”
“You’ll tell no one nothing,” you almost shouted, banging your hand on the table. “You can’t,” you said more calmly.
“Why not?” Natasha asked.
“Because- It’s imperative that no one knows about this.”
“We can trust Fury,” said Barton.
“You can’t trust anyone,” you spat. “Not if you want to live. We leave tonight. Is there a car we can take?” You asked, looking at Natasha who was silent.
She knew you were right. After all, not long ago, SHIELD was infiltrated by Hydra.
“There’s a car,” she said, while Barton stared at her. “That’s how we stayed alive.”
He sighed loudly in defeat as you stared blankly at the metal table. “Okay, we take the car and head north to the safehouse. Then what?”
“Then we wait,” you said.
“Wait for what,” asked Natasha.
“For my contact.”
The mildly hard part of the plan was escaping from SHIELD headquarters, but even that wasn’t so hard. Next, you all found your way to a car parked at the last level of a parking lot, under some dusty blankets.
Natasha started driving and when she got tired Barton took over, while she slept on the back, which made the car’s habitacle a tense place.
Neither Barton nor you said a single word for the time Natasha was asleep; there wasn’t even a single stare between the both of you.
When Natasha woke up you decided you were going to drive a bit, to get your mind busy on something; so with Natasha as the copilot you took the wheel, and it wasn’t until she was sure Clint was asleep that she spoke.
“Okay, what are you not saying?”
“What,” you asked.
“Something is different,” she started. “What is it?”
“You mean besides the fact that multiple governments want me dead?”
“I don’t buy that. Countries have wanted you dead for years, why does it matter now?”
You sighed staring at the newfound snow on the route, “It’s nothing.”
She wanted to say something, to protest against your lack of answer but she didn’t.
You got to the safehouse after almost an hour of thick, sickening silence, and Natasha would’ve preferred a millennia of quiet instead of what she heard.
One piercing bullet sound, and you falling to your knees.
While Clint left to find whoever had fired the gun Natasha froze still in the white before falling to her knees with you, cradling you.
“You’ll be okay,” she said, applying pressure on your abdomen. “Everything will be okay.”
You managed a crooked smile and a reassuring look before placing your hand on her cheek, “It’s okay, Red. It’s okay.”
She held your hand and kept repeating the same four words on and on, and she didn’t realise when you drifted off to sleep until it was too late; when she was covered in your blood on the white snow.
She stayed there, by the car, covered in a mix of blood and snow and hugged you. It wasn’t until she saw Clint coming back with defeat plastered on his face that she realised what’d happened.
He helped her into the safehouse and brought your lifeless body, covering it with a sheet.
“Did you find whoever did this?” She asked after a long time of silence.
“I only found the gun,” he said.
“We’ll find them.”
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The 10 Best Beaches in Nice
01 of 10
Opéra Plage
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Formerly known as the Opéra Pavillion, Opéra Plage is Nice’s oldest private beach, originally debuting in 1889. Run for generations by the Maiffret family, Michel and his wife, Chantal, have taken the reigns and transformed the private beach into one of the most popular in Nice, where your wish is the staff’s command. Forgot your bikini? The sales assistant will glide over and give you a peek of her collection. Dreaming of a seaside massage? A masseur can be sent straight to your beach bed, which conveniently sits across from the Old Town on the Promenade des Anglais. The waterfront terrace also serves food from noon to 5 p.m. daily, offering cold plates that can be eaten beachside in one of 400 new deck chairs, available for rent from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
02 of 10
Le Galet
Le Galet
One of the newer private beaches to debut on Nice’s shores, Le Galet, named after the Côte d’Azur’s galets, or pebbles, is the epitome of Riviera chic. Think zen-like wooden shutters, navy beach beds, and sleek white parasols extending down to the sea. Officially open during season (April to October), the restaurant and beach bar welcome the lunch crowd as soon as the weather gets warm, which happens quite quickly in Nice. Located in the heart of the city across from the Old Town and Albert 1er gardens, this beach offers up one of the best views of the parade during carnival season in February. The location is one draw, but the food is definitely worth the visit alone. Take your pick of Italian-inspired fare from truffle-topped pizza to creamy slices of Buffalo mozzarella, and be sure to save room for a scoop of chantilly-topped homemade ice cream.
03 of 10
Castel Plage
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Open from 10 a.m. until midnight from April to September, the private Castel Plage, which sits at the far end of the Promenade des Anglais under Castle Hill, is a top pick for those looking to spend an entire day basking by the water, pausing for lunch in between dips in the sea. Beach beds can be rented for half (17 euros) or full days (20 euros), but if you want to ensure you’ll have a bed ready and waiting when you arrive, call and reserve the day before (specifying which row you’d like). This is the kind of spot that’s perfect for lingering on Sundays in summer, sipping Provençal rosé while dining on the restaurant’s Niçois-inspired menu (which can be ordered seaside) with ingredients pulled right from the local market.
04 of 10
Ruhl Plage
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The family run Ruhl Plage debuted back in 1920 along the Promenade des Anglais near the Théâtre de Verdure and Albert 1er gardens. The Old World-inspired private beach features a saltwater pool for children (with a lifeguard on duty) and 80 private cabins equipped with showers. The beach opens daily from 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., and beds are available for rent (22€) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The tucked-away lounge offers a menu of upscale beach fare (think salade Niçoise and burrata-topped pizza) from noon to 4:30 p.m., transforming into a tapas bar at 6 p.m. Diners can also find an extensive wine list heavy on local French favorites like Château Minuty’s infamous rosé.
Continue to 5 of 10 below.
05 of 10
Beau Rivage
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Open in season from May to September, Beau Rivage is a private beach with two very different sides: a zen outdoor restaurant opening up to sun beds and the lively lounge area with a new tapas menu and DJ spinning themed nights. Sitting at the foot of the Old Town on the Promenade des Anglais, Beau Rivage (which is open from 10 a.m. to midnight) draws a crowd of locals and tourists thanks to its prime location and sun-lounger menu courtesy of new seaside bistro, The Beachstraw. In the evening, the beach takes on a St. Tropez vibe with seaside soirées featuring themed parties and live music.
06 of 10
Blue Beach
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Water sports fans can get their fix parasailing, wake boarding, and waterskiing at Glisse Evasion, which sits right next to the private Blue Beach on the Promenade des Anglais. Blue Beach itself also offers water sports and is one of the few private plages open year-round, featuring beach beds, a children’s swimming pool, and a seaside restaurant. During summer, the beach is open from 8 a.m. to midnight, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. The rest of the year the beach shuts down by 7 p.m.
07 of 10
Bains Militaires
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Located near the Corsica ferry terminal near the port, Bains Militaires is more of a local secret since it’s in a residential side of town away from the bustling Promenade des Anglais. The former private military beach is now open to the public, but you won’t find any facilities (except for a shower) like on other beaches in town. The small strip of beach hugs the Club Nautique, which offers sailing lessons and lunch along the seaside terrace. While the beach lacks eateries of its own, you’ll find a few restaurants sitting a short stroll away along the port.
08 of 10
Le Voilier Plage
Thierry Tronnel/Corbis/Getty Images
The closest beach to the AC Hotel Nice, Voilier is considered one of the wider beaches along the Baie des Anges, with both public and private space for sunbathing, as well as a playground for children. The beach is open seasonally from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., but travelers can visit the restaurant year-round for lunch, dining on Italian- and Mediterranean-inspired dishes like the infamous tagliata. In the evenings in summer, the beach club opens up for soirées that linger until 10 p.m.
Continue to 9 of 10 below.
09 of 10
Carras Beach
Aanjhan Ranganathan/Flickr
Carras Beach, nestled near the airport on the western side of the Promenade des Anglais, is the only official pet-friendly beach, as well as one of the only handicap-friendly plages with wheelchair accessibility. From May to September, Jet Evasion offers jetskiing (making it the only in Nice to feature this water sport). The public beach lacks bathrooms and a restaurant, but there’s a lifeguard on duty daily during the summer and two free public parking lots near the port and La Lanterne beach.
10 of 10
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Vasil Nanev / EyeEm/Getty Images
Drive east toward Monaco, and the first town you’ll come across is Villefranche-sur-Mer, whose crescent-shaped beach is a favorite for locals since pebbles are on the smaller side, resembling sand more than rocks. From the main train station in Nice, the ride is just 15 minutes to the beach, Plage des Mariniers. The shore is dotted with snack bar stands and a few seaside restaurants like Palm, but it’s worth venturing up to the Old Town to one of the stand-out eateries like Les Garçons. The beach in Villefranche is great for swimming (and snorkeling) since it’s easy to get in and out of the shallow water, but you won’t find facilities like bathrooms or lifeguards.
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