"Nicholas... Reynolds was one of my trainers in the Red Room..."

"What?" Nicholas asked, his grey eyes blazing as he looked at his lover.

"Reynolds. He was the youngest of the Red Room trainers," Lorraine whispered, her whole body shaking as she closed her eyes and shuddered at her memories.

Nicholas took a deep breath before pulling Lorraine closer to him. He placed his chin on her head while she buried her face in the crook of his neck. He was fucking livid. One of the bastards that had hurt his girl was working in S.H.I.E.L.D. Right under the Director's nose.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you Nat. I'll make sure he can never hurt you again," the twenty-seven-year-old whispered into his lover's ear.

Lorraine nodded childishly against Nicholas's neck. She kept her eyes closed as she breathed in his scent, taking comfort in his protectiveness.

"We need to tell Fury and Coulson, Nat," he whispered after a while. The archer was gently stroking her back, providing comfort for his red haired partner.

"Tell them what? That we're fucking?" Lorraine asked, raising her head and looking at the archer with wide eyes.

"I had meant your memories about Reynolds but I think that we should at least tell Coulson about us," Nicholas stated, watching Lorraine carefully. "Unless you're embarrassed by me, that is," he added, unsure of why his partner was so frightened of the idea of their handler knowing about them.

"What?" Lorraine frowned, noticing the hurt look on her partner's face. She cupped his face and leaned forward, leaning her forehead against Nicholas's. "Nicholas, I'm far from embarrassed about us. But I don't want to lose you as my partner. You're my best friend and the only person I truly trust. I don't know what I would do if I lose you."

Nicholas frowned slightly and moved his hands to copy Lorraine's hands. "You're stuck with me Nat. I'm not leaving you," he whispered, rubbing his nose against hers gently.

"Nicholas, I-..." she started before deciding to just kiss him deeply, putting all of her feeling into the kiss. She wasn't ready to admit her feelings for him. Yet.

Nicholas groaned into the kiss and pulled her closer, dragging his hands over her perfectly proportionate body. "Need you," he mumbled into her mouth, his chest tightening with emotions at the thought of losing her.

Lorraine replied by reaching down and taking his hard cock in her hand. Slowly, she slid the head of his cock along her slit, showing him she was more than ready and willing to take him, before slowly sinking down on him. "You have me," she mumbled, bringing her hands to his hair and kissing him deeper.

Nicholas brought his hands to Lorraine's ass, firmly palming her ass as they stayed as still as possible. They continued to kiss softly, only breaking apart to catch their breath. Slowly, the red-head began to rock her hips with her lover's help. Together they rocked each other over the edge, calling out each other's names...

Nicholas looked at Lorraine when they heard the knock on the door, signalling that their handler had arrived. They had agreed that it would be a good idea to mention that their relationship had progressed into what it now was. As well as discuss the revelation of Reynold's true identity.

"Ready?" Nicholas asked as he stood up, watching Lorraine carefully. The red-head was wearing his black T-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and her face was void of any make-up. And the archer thought he had never seen anything as beautiful as his partner.

Lorraine took a deep breath and nodded, watching her man walk to her apartment and opened the door, allowing their handler inside. She nodded at Phil when he entered the living-room, the suit pausing as he took in her appearance. She was wearing Dark's short. If that wasn't a claim enough, said archer made his way over to her and sat down beside her, placing his arm around her waist possessively and protectively.

"Okay, before we even speak about Reynolds, what is going on between you two?" Phil asked, cutting straight to the point. "Are you sleeping together?"

"Phil, we're together. Not just sleeping together but actually together," Nicholas answered as he pulled Lorraine closer to him. "We agreed that, as our handler, you deserved to know."

Phil stayed quiet for a few minutes, silently worrying both of his agents. And then he surprised them. "About fucking time," he stated, smirking at the shocked looks on the assassins' face. "And I've won the pool between Fury, Hill and myself too."

"You three had a bet on us?" Lorraine asked, glaring at her handler.

Phil smiled and nodded. "Yup. I bet that you two would get together within two years of your partnership. Fury and Hill bet more than two years. It's only been a year and a half. Therefore I win."

"You are impossible," Nicholas stated, shaking his head.

"Well, it explains why you beat Reynolds so badly that he won't wake up," Phil replied, making both agents pause in surprise.

"What do you mean won't wake up?" Lorraine asked, taking one of Nicholas's hands in her own.

"Dark beat Reynolds so badly that there was severe swelling in the brain. Reynolds received multiple broken bones including his legs, arms, rib cage, spine and face. There is several organs damaged. His skull is fractured in several places and most likely would never heal," Phil listed, watching his agents carefully.

"So what are you saying? I killed the bastard."

"Basically, yes Dark, that's exactly what you did. Reynolds is brain dead. He has 0.093% chance of surviving his injuries."

Lorraine glanced at her partner who had a blank look on his face. Then he looked at her with concerned eyes.

"You okay, Raine?" he whispered, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

The red-head nodded before turning to Phil. The suit then began to repeat the info S.H.I.E.L.D. had found about Reynolds' real identity.

"Reynolds real name is Stefan Alexandrov. Born the 12th September 1976. He was one of three boys. Attended school with Alexei Shostakov aka Red Guardian. Was recruited by Ivan Petrovitch to join the Red Room when he was eighteen. Partnered with Shostakov and Winter Soldier in the training of the Black Widow programme," Phil read, keeping an eye on Lorraine as she stood at the window. She was staring out at dark skyline of the city that never sleeps.

Slowly, Nicholas stood up and walked to Lorraine. He placed one hand on her shoulder while wrapping the other around her waist.

Phil watched in amazement as the red-head let her partner pull her back against his chest. He couldn't help but listen to the conversation of the two assassins.

"Nat? Baby?"

"I'm remembering everything. I had thought the Red Room had blocked some of my memories. I was right."

"I'm never going to let them or anyone else do that to you Nat. You have my word."

"I'm scared."

"I've got you Raine. You're safe. I'll keep you safe."

"You can't always me safe. Solo missions. If I get -..."

Nicholas caught Lorraine's chin and turned her face so she was looking at him. "I will do, to the best of my ability, keep you safe. Until death stops me."

Lorraine bit her bottom lip and nodded, resting her face against the crook of his neck. "Nicholas," she whispered, unable to say three more words.

Nicholas tightened his arms around Lorraine, grounding her to him. He turned and nodded to Phil who was watching them curiously and with concern.

"Guys, I'm gonna leave now. I need to inform Fury of Lorraine beginning to regain old memories. And both of your decisions to take a few days off before your next mission. Which is Tuesday," Phil stated as he stood up, noting that the female agent in front of him was more relaxed in her partner's arms.

"Thank you Phil," Nicholas replied for both he and Lorraine, continuing to hold his partner close.

Phil nodded and let himself out, knowing by Lorraine's quietness that she needed space and time alone with her partner.

Immediately after the door shut, Lorraine turned in Nicholas's arms, flinging her arms around his neck. She sobbed and shook in his arms, letting out all her emotions in his partner's arms.

Nicholas continued to hold Lorraine close. After a few minutes he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Lying down with her, he held his lover close as she let out all her pent up emotions. And he stayed awake, keeping his eyes on his partner for the rest of the night...