Judy Hopps (fluffy_cop) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-09-13 21:25:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, judy hopps, natasha romanoff (black widow) |
Who: Natasha & Judy
What: Run-In #2
When: Thursday
Where: Random alley
Rating: Low
Status: Complete!
Things were finally getting back to normal. Alex was a free man and despite the rather strange circumstances surrounding it, she was happy. Leon had been away and she hadn’t realized how much she had come to rely on him through the work day. She was also able to see how more relaxed he seemed that Alex was no longer locked up. Yeah, things were getting back to normal.
It was her day off and she was on a coffee run, texting a few people she had ignored the last couple work days. It felt like she couldn’t do anything else but paperwork, patrol, and coffee. At least she only had to worry about one of those today.
She had just turned the corner when she saw the quick glance of a familiar face turn down a street. She hesitated for just a moment before she started to follow after her. It was the same woman who had given her that fake badge number! She had been on the lookout, but all the leads she and Leon had kept coming up in a dead end. This woman was good.
She tried to stay far enough behind that she wouldn’t be spotted, hurrying down the street after she saw her target make a decision for her next turn.
This cop might be good, but she was no spy. And Natasha had deliberately made sure she’d been seen before she turned down an alley. Before Judy could follow her down the alley as well, Natasha jumped, catching onto a fire escape and climbing up to perch there in the shadows and wait.
Judy had seen her go down the alleyway and hurried after to catch up. She stopped halfway through, realizing she wasn’t there. She stopped, frowning and looking back behind her, before she decided to look up.
But by then, it was too late.
Like some kind of vigilante, Natasha dropped down, landing in front of Judy with a small pistol pointed between her eyes. “For a beat cop, you’ve got a good sense of your surroundings. I can use that.”
Judy instinctively started to reach for her firearm until she found herself looking down the barrel of a gun. She slowly held her hands up, scowling at her. “Yeah? Thanks for the compliment.” She looked the woman over.
“You’re not really with the FBI. Who do you work for?”
Natasha waited until she was sure Judy was not going to draw, then holstered her weapon. “I’m in human resources.”
She flashed the cop a teasing smile. “I’ve researched you. Judy Hopps from Wichita. Top of her class at the Police Academy and far too inquisitive for her own good." Natasha paused, then added. "Dreams she's a rabbit."
Judy felt more comfortable once her weapon was holstered, but she still couldn’t help the look of surprise that passed over her face. She thought back to the conversations she had on the Network and realized all of that could have been pieced together from various conversations. She turned her head, giving Natasha a once over.
“Who are you? Really.”
Natasha smiled. “I’m a ghost, technically. You won’t find me in any file, I’ve made sure of that. But call me Natasha. I’m the Director of the Agency. Which also, technically, doesn’t exist.”
Judy pursed her lips together, studying the woman in front of you. “The Agency?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “What’s that?”
“Ever wonder why no one seems to notice when giant robots run amock or demons invade through portals?” Natasha asked, quirking her eyebrow. “Or why no one from DC or Boeing comes down here to find out why we have men in flying suits and women who can throw a tank?”
Judy was surprised at this admission, the shock apparent on her face. “So you guys are the ones convincing other people that it’s all a hoax?” She couldn’t help but laugh a bit, shaking her head. “Guess it makes sense. Could have used your help awhile back.” She raised an eyebrow. “Good to know local enforcement is treated the same as federal. But you’d think you could be more trusting, especially since some of us could be dreamers ourselves.” There was a little bit of snark to Judy’s tone, but she didn’t like being lied to.
“Exactly.” Natasha smiled, but shook her head. “I don’t trust easily. Not without a lot of spying and background checks. There are those who would use dreamers against us. Torture them, try to learn the secrets of their powers. And some of those people are Dreamers themselves.”
Judy frowned, but didn’t argue against it. She would have thought all Dreamers would try and help each other, but then again...she shook her head, not wanting to think about it. The recent situation with Leon and Alex made her wish she had known about these guys sooner. “So you’re saying I passed the test?” she asked instead, an eyebrow raised. “Do I get a certificate stating I’m apart of the club?”
“Mostly. Consider it probationary type thing. And I’m in no mood to deflect your questions.” Basically the sheer thought of it had worn Natasha down.
“How lucky for me,” she sniffed, but she was happy that Natasha could be honest with her. At least to a certain degree. Judy definitely got the feeling this woman didn’t open up lightly and wondered how much of what she said would be the truth. “So you keep tabs on everything running around here? Where were you guys when Alex got in trouble then, huh?” Or maybe they had been the reason why Alex had gotten out.
“Certain records will mysteriously disappear,” Natasha said. “But we don’t track everything all the time.”
Though she was surprised they’d missed that. How many times had they covered up injuries or battles?
“Seems like if you don’t do that, then you miss out on opportunities to help some of us.” Yeah, Judy might have been a bit bitter about it. “If we need something, is there a way to contact you guys?”
“We’re all mostly human,” Natasha said, with a soft smile on her face. “I’ve already dropped a contact into your phone.”
Judy reached for her phone, keeping her eyes on Natasha the whole time. She opened up the contacts and finally glanced down, looking to see a new one pop up. ‘The Agency’. She laughed, tucking the phone back in her back pocket. “So we’re what, like partners now? If I ever need you, I just gotta flash the bat signal?”
“No, just call me,” Natasha said, rolling her eyes. “I don’t run around in a catsuit committing vigilantism like some people around here.” Not that she’d name Kitty or anyone else to a cop.
Seeing Natasha roll her eyes made Judy feel a bit bad for being so hard on her. She dropped her arms to her side, giving a slight shrug as if to apologize. “Well...thanks for actually telling me about it. I’m sure your number will come in handy.” She felt a little more secure in knowing she could get help if anything happened again like with Leon and Alex.
“And, uh...I guess if you ever need any help? Just let me know.” She wasn’t sure what service she could possibly bring, but she figured she’d offer. Plus, she couldn’t help feel just a little bit curious to know more about the Agency.
“I’m sure we’ll need more help than we want.” Natasha would be very happy to have just a few weeks or months with nothing happening, at all.
“Yeah...well, then cool.” Judy was satisfied. At least she knew this was an organization that could help her the next time something weird happened in this area. And she had a name. “I guess you know how to get ahold of me if you need something.” She had a feeling she wouldn’t have to put her number in her phone. “And...thanks.”