Option 2: History is (Re)Written by the Victor

Natasha Romanoff shifted idly from foot to foot while she waited for the elevator to finish its journey to the bottom floor of SHIELD headquarters, her hips and shoulders swaying as she tensed and relaxed her body. She could still feel the lingering soreness from her last mission whenever she stayed still for too long, something that rankled the infiltration specialist something fierce; she couldn't reliably complete missions like this, so she was stuck on mission control duty - a glorified sabbatical, more like, given how little help the women of SHIELD normally needed to do their jobs - until further notice. At least she was cleared to use the gym, so she didn't have to add 'watching her diet to avoid putting on extra weight' to her woes. Rolling her shoulders as she felt the elevator beginning to slow, she tugged the zipper on the front of her catsuit down another inch until the tab - decorated with an image of a clenched, gauntlet-clad fist - was level with her navel, before stepping out as the doors slid open.

She drew more than a few stares as she made her way towards the Director's office, the biggest reminder - well, besides the total lack of men around the place these days - just how badly in need of a turnover the staff here had been by the time the Director took charge; busty, bootilicious, body-suited babes were hardly a rare sight here, and even a few weeks of experience were enough for only the most incorrigible kitty-lickers to give them such blatant attention. Others might have assumed that the roll and sway of her wide hips or the bounce of her braless chest, might have had something to do with it, but Natasha knew better - these women were professionals, and it was only novelty that had their gazes magnetised to her body like an easily-distracted human male's would have been. The thought of them brought a slight frown to her face, but she quickly regained her calm, composed expression as she approached the security checkpoint before her destination.

"Agent Natasha Romanoff," she informed the stern-looking woman behind the bulletproof glass, "here to see the Director."

"One moment," the other agent replied, and Natasha took the chance to admire just how packed her uniform shirt must be under her ballistic vest for it to bulge quite so much over her chest. "Alright, go ahead." The redhead stepped up to the panel beside the security door and gave the camera a sultry, teasing pout, then opened her mouth and let her tongue hang out as it accepted her facial ID and opened up a tray that stuck out under her chin. She focused on the purple light that winked into life just above the camera, her eyes crossing and rolling up slightly as she drooled into the tray. After a few seconds, there was a metallic chirp and the tray retracted, Natasha schooling her features back into poised indifference while she waited for the retinal scan and DNA sample to process. "You're clear," the agent in the booth informed her, "head on in."

Natasha pushed her chest out a little to ease the first hints of soreness that had crept into her back and shoulders while standing around, her hips rolling and swinging as she slowly strutted up to the actual door to the Director's office, a simple panel of frosted glass; she pushed it open and stepped inside, letting it swing closed with a sharp click, almost like snapping fingers, behind her. Natasha felt a shiver run up her spine as the crotch of her catsuit abruptly got much warmer and much, much stickier. "Ah, Agent Romanoff," the Director rumbled, setting a folder down onto his desk as Natasha stood at parade rest, "as punctual as always. How are you coping with your recovery?"

"As well as I can, sir," She replied, ignoring the unfortunate fact that the sound of the door latch - apparently close enough to one of her triggers to work - had left her absolutely soaking wet. "The doctors say I should be cleared for field duty again in a few days, a week at most." She paused. "I assume that's not the only reason you asked to see me, Director Thanos."

Well, why is she there?

Option 1: Thanos has a mission for her, one sensitive enough that she needs to be briefed in person.

Option 2: She's here for her first 'performance review' since the new Director of SHIELD took charge.

Option 3: Thanos is going to approach the first new candidate for the Avengers Initiative identified since the attack on New York, and Natasha will be accompanying him.

Option 4: Concerns have been raised about the mental triggers left behind by her time in the Red Room, and she's here for 'deprogramming'.

Option X: Something else.

Author's Note: This chapter takes place shortly after the events of The Avengers, before the events of Iron Man 3. All Avengers and potential candidates are either female equivalents or genderbent versions of the character. As always, feel free to suggest details you'd like to see and, if you select option 1 or option 3, which event or character you'd prefer them to involve.