Epilogue

Christian Grey Vs. Maria Hill

Video File Name: 11152013CG-MH

File Type: Classified

Clearance Needed: Level 9

Location: The Vault

Date: 11-15-2013

Agent Maria Hill, second in command of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, entered the Vault's main security bay from the exterior courtyard, moving on confident steps through metal detectors and radiology scanners. Her sidearm was checked with security guards, and then she passed through into the foyer. Not a word was offered during the process. She only acknowledged the highest-ranking guards with an inclination of her head. The knockoff Iron Man tech floating around didn't seem a surprise.

Commander Marcus greeted her formally and personally guided her to Warden Jeffries' office. The aged warden was seated behind his desk, a scowl deepening the wrinkles on his face, as he flipped furiously through a thick document. The cover page indicated it was the Vault's new proposed operating budget.

"This is outrageous, Agent Hill!" he exclaimed. "How does the government expect this facility to continue running when our operational budget has been slashed by twenty-five percent? They want to renegotiate my contract and are proposing a ten percent reduction of my salary! This is unacceptable." Jeffries' face was mottled.

Maria's expression remained thoroughly neutral. "Legal discovered you lied on your resume and application by inflating your years of experience and exaggerating your commendations. Be glad you are being given the opportunity to renegotiate instead of having your position terminated. The only reason you're still in that chair is in deference to your continued cooperation with SHIELD's agenda."

"I won't stand for this," he hissed. "You want me to continue working within your extracurricular guidelines then see to it this renegotiation goes favorable. If they don't, you could find yourself with an ornery old bastard who suddenly loves the letter of our prison system's bylaws."

The tiniest of smiles eased the severe angles of her face. She leaned forward and braced her forearm against his desktop. "You are not irreplaceable, Mister Jeffries."

"Are you trying to threaten me?" A bark of laughter followed. "Forgive me if I'm not altogether impressed with your attempts at intimidation. I don't cower in front of a walking vagina with a pair of tits."

Maria actually chuckled in response. "Is there anything else my vagina precludes me from doing?"

"Being the heir to Director Fury's throne. Didn't you know thrones are only passed from eldest male to eldest male? Read a history book some time. The pages are filled with the disastrous consequences of women attempting to rule in their own right."

A controlled burst of sudden speed ensued wherein Agent Hill seized the letter opener from the warden's desk. That point buried in the wood of the desktop between his middle and ring fingers. It's ed barely kissed the v between said outstretched fingers without drawing blood. Not a flicker of emotion registered on her face. "Try my patience with your misogynistic bullshit one more time."

The warden swallowed heavily and yanked his hand away. When he spoke, there was a slight stutter. "T-th-then what brings you to our facility, Agent Hill?"

After settling back in her chair, her grave façade cracked and allowed a charming smile to shine through. "I'm here to help you regain what will be your lost ten percent salary, of course."

"Help me? How? Why?"

"You understand of course that this conversation is completely off the books. When I leave, I will make a copy of all video footage of my presence here for my own personal records and then wipe your hard drives of the day's security footage. The footage I confiscate will be redacted and placed under clearance Level Nine and buried in SHIELD's archives. Do you understand what that means?"

"It means only yourself and Director Fury will be privy to this meeting, but you're retaining a copy of my cooperation to use against me should I ever become an irascible old codger with a conscience and want to expose your shenanigans."

Maria inclined her head before saying, "There is a prisoner in your facility by the name of Christian Grey. He's a fabulously wealthy individual. You are going to recoup your lost salary by establishing a deal wherein he pays you an obscene sum of money to arrange for his escape from your facility and transport to Australia."

"Why are we entering into the business of prison breaks?"

"SHIELD needs certain assets moved to Australia without mission orders linking us with the work they will undertake there. Christian Grey's presence in Australia will encourage said assets into relocating."

"Because Australia has a history of resisting SHIELD operations inside their borders. Clever girl, Agent Hill. Perhaps your vagina isn't as much a liability as I first thought. Everyone wins. I get to retire in the lap of luxury, and your assets are played out like chess pieces."

"Are my reproductive organs going to continue being an issue here?"

Jeffries was quick to hold up his hands in surrender. "So I'm to arrange for his freedom while making it look like a prison break and put plans in place to have him transferred to Australia. Are those your unofficial official orders?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. You acted alone."

Warden Jeffries offered the tiniest of smiles, and inclined his head.

The meeting disbanded then, and Agent Hill made her way from the warden's office to Cellblock C. A guard stationed inside worked the control panel at the head of the catwalk, extending metal grates to span a gap between said catwalk and the individual cells. Cell C8 proved her ultimate destination. Upon arrival, she stood with feet braced apart and hands clasped behind her back to look in upon the infamous Christian Grey.

He was lounging on a small cot and reading a book being displayed on a digital terminal mounted to the wall, but upon noticing her presence, his glance flicked in her direction. "The insignia on the shoulders of your uniform indicate you are a SHIELD goon. Finally come to your senses and decided to release me from custody?"

Her lips quirked ever-so-slightly. "Of course not. It isn't every day a normal human nips so effectively at the heels of his betters. One does have a natural inclination to clap eyes upon such an anomaly."

"A normal human? My betters? I refuse to be baited by your insults." Finally, he terminated the reader function of his terminal and rolled to his feet. Despite the bars and lasers separating them, he towered over her. Closer inspection caused creases to form at the corners of his eyes. "Have we met before? You look familiar."

Maria shrugged but didn't verbally respond.

"Something about the shape of your lips strikes a hazy memory. You are a pretty thing, though, dark of hair and eyes like my mother. Do you know what I would like to do to you right now?" he drawled in a voice rough and sensuous like dark-chocolate-and-caramel-and-raspberry-and-milk-chocolate-mousse-and-key-lime-pie-and-rainbow-sherbet-and-gravy-and-buffalo-chicken-wing-and-hot-sauce-and-jalapeno-and-salsa-and-taco-and-mango-and-tequila-and-pistachio-and-pineapple-upside-down-cake-and-peanut-butter-fudge-and-salt-and-vinegar-potato-chips-and-spinach-and-eggs-over-easy-and-sesame-chicken-and-honey-and-pecan-praline-pie-and-bubblegum-and-apple-and-country-fried-steak-and-mushroom-and-sugar-cookie-and-cheeseburger-and-bacon.

"I'm sure you're going to enlighten me," she purred in return.

"I'd like to strap you to the cross in the Red Room of Pain and listen to the thwack of a cane striking your flesh until small bruises litter your thighs and buttocks."

Maria didn't seem impressed. "And if we were to reverse positions?"

A bark of laughter was forthcoming. Clearly dubious, he responded "A woman as willowy as you would find being a dominant impossible."

"Truly? Is that your last word on the matter?"

"Of course. Everything I say is the ultimate truth in the universe. Your shape is tall but thin and your lower belly slightly rounded with softness which means you don't hone your physique as religiously as women like Natasha Romanoff. A dominant must be physically imposing. A dominant must possess the core strength to physically punish their submissive. You lack such qualities."

Maria smirked then. Clear amusement was openly emoted, and some of her tension eased. "That's not what you said at the Leather Lounge when you faced the Council For Appropriate And Safe Practice of Bondage And Discipline, Dominance And Submission, And Sadism And Masochism."

Christian froze and suddenly looked as though he had been punched in the gut by a battering ram. "That's where I know you from, the woman whose throne I was forced to kneel before when you attempted to give me instruction."

She didn't give vocal confirmation, merely offered him a last, lingering smile dripping with amusement before turning on a heel and leaving his cell. He remained in her wake looking bewildered and fearful.

END

Wow. I can't believe it's actually done. This has been more than a year in the making, and there aren't words to say how pleased I am with the outcome. This is some of the best writing I've ever done. I've learned so much about the craft from undertaking this project.

A great big thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. A special shout out goes to Nyx Wings and Sv4me, who have followed this story since the beginning. Thanks so much for all your support and helpful advice along the way. Cheers!