The bustling streets of Monaco, bathed in golden sunlight, stood in stark contrast to the cold, bleak memories of the Red Room that haunted both Snake Eyes and Natasha Romanoff. The grandeur of the Formula 1 Grand Prix filled the air with excitement, luxury cars roaring in the distance while throngs of spectators cheered. But amid the crowd, there was tension—an invisible undercurrent that Snake Eyes could feel as he moved through the narrow back alleys, staying hidden from view.
He had completed his reconnaissance of the area, neutralized the immediate threat of the mercenaries, and now it was time to follow his next lead. His mission was far from over. As the crowds celebrated in blissful ignorance, unaware of the dangerous forces moving beneath the surface, Snake Eyes had already pieced together part of the larger puzzle: Tony Stark was still a target, and the remnants of the Red Room were involved.
But this was not just another mission for Snake Eyes. Somewhere in this very city, Natasha Romanoff was operating under her alias, Natalie Rushman, deeply embedded in Stark's inner circle. Snake Eyes had always worked alone, but Natasha had been the exception to that rule. Their history together ran deeper than any assignment—deeper even than the trauma of the Red Room itself. They had fought side by side, had saved each other's lives countless times, and had shared something that went unspoken, yet undeniable.
Their reunion in Monaco was inevitable. And it was going to happen soon.
Snake Eyes stood in a shadowed alleyway, watching the crowds shuffle toward the grandstands for the race. He remained invisible to them, a silent figure that blended seamlessly into the background. His instincts told him to move, to find Natasha before things escalated further, but he also knew her well enough to realize that she was likely several steps ahead. Natasha never waited to be found—she was the one who always did the finding.
He had just begun to make his way toward Stark's suite when he felt it—the subtle prickle at the back of his neck, the quiet whisper of intuition that told him he was being watched. Snake Eyes paused, his gloved hand resting on the hilt of his katana. His senses sharpened as he scanned the surrounding rooftops and alleyways, searching for the source of the disturbance.
It didn't take long.
From the corner of his eye, he caught the briefest movement—a figure slipping from one building to the next, almost too fast to detect. Almost. The figure was nimble, moving with the grace and precision of a predator. Snake Eyes didn't need to see more to know who it was.
Natasha Romanoff.
His heart beat once, slow and steady. He hadn't seen her yet, not face-to-face, but now that moment had arrived. After all these years, they would stand in the same space again, no longer as enemies or mere partners, but as two people whose fates had been intertwined for far too long.
Moving with practiced ease, Snake Eyes climbed the fire escape of a nearby building, his movements fluid and soundless. He reached the rooftop in seconds, finding himself alone in the bright sunlight, the city of Monaco stretched out before him. But Natasha wasn't on this rooftop—she was waiting elsewhere, making him come to her. It was a dance they had performed before, one that brought them closer together with every step.
Snake Eyes moved from rooftop to rooftop, slipping between buildings with the silent agility of a shadow. And then, finally, he saw her.
Natasha stood at the edge of a wide rooftop, her silhouette framed by the blue sky. She was dressed in black tactical gear, her red hair catching the light as the wind blew it gently across her shoulders. Her stance was casual, but alert, like a coiled spring ready to release at a moment's notice. She wasn't trying to hide anymore—she had come to him, just as he had expected.
For a moment, Snake Eyes stood still, watching her from a distance. The years that had passed since their last encounter fell away, and he was transported back to the cold training grounds of the Red Room, to the missions they had completed together, and to the quiet moments they had shared when the world wasn't looking. Even then, she had been an enigma to him—a woman as deadly as she was beautiful, with a mind as sharp as her reflexes.
Snake Eyes finally moved forward, his presence now fully known. He crossed the rooftop in long, purposeful strides, stopping only a few feet from her. Natasha turned to face him, her green eyes locking onto his visor with an intensity that was as piercing as it had always been.
"Snake," she said softly, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Her voice was calm, confident, but there was something else in her tone—something deeper. It was almost as if she had been waiting for this moment, too.
Snake Eyes didn't respond. He didn't need to. Natasha understood him better than anyone, even when he said nothing at all. Instead, he simply nodded, a gesture that was both an acknowledgment and a question.
She let the silence hang for a moment before speaking again. "It's been a long time," she continued, stepping closer to him. "I wasn't sure I'd see you again after what happened in Saint Petersburg."
Saint Petersburg. The last mission they had shared before their paths diverged. The mission where Snake Eyes had saved her life, had chosen to cut ties with the Red Room for her sake, knowing full well the consequences that decision would bring. That mission had sealed their bond in a way that neither of them had fully understood at the time.
Snake Eyes nodded again, a silent confirmation of her words. Yes, it had been a long time. Too long.
"I heard rumors," Natasha went on, her voice quiet but firm. "You've been busy. S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps tabs on people like you. People who disappear."
There was no accusation in her words, just a matter-of-fact statement. Snake Eyes had disappeared after Saint Petersburg, leaving Natasha to forge her own path with S.H.I.E.L.D. while he vanished into the shadows, continuing his life as a ghost. She had always known he would never stop—his vow of silence extended to more than just his voice. It was a vow to himself, a promise to keep fighting, even when no one was watching.
Snake Eyes lowered his head slightly, a subtle apology. He had vanished without saying goodbye, and though it had been necessary at the time, he couldn't deny the small pang of regret that lingered. He hadn't meant to leave her alone.
Natasha, ever perceptive, seemed to read his thoughts. She reached out, resting a hand gently on his forearm. "You didn't have to stay away, Snake. I would've understood."
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from her, but it was brief. Natasha pulled her hand back, her expression hardening slightly as she refocused on the present. "We have a situation. Stark's in danger, and it's more than just Vanko. I've been tracking movements from what's left of the Red Room. They're here, and they're interested in Stark's arc reactor technology. I don't know why, but it's bad."
Snake Eyes stiffened at the mention of the Red Room. He had suspected their involvement, but hearing it from Natasha made the threat all too real. The Red Room never stayed buried for long, and now they were resurfacing, threatening to bring their deadly influence into Stark's world.
"You know I can't do this alone," Natasha continued, her voice low. "I need you with me on this. Just like old times."
She wasn't asking him for help—she didn't need to. She already knew his answer.
Snake Eyes nodded, a silent agreement that he would stand by her side once again. He would face the Red Room with her, just as they had faced it before. Together, they would stop whatever was coming.
Natasha smiled, a rare and genuine smile. "Good," she said softly, stepping back. "Then let's get to work."
Without another word, she turned and moved toward the edge of the rooftop, her movements fluid and controlled. Snake Eyes followed her, the silent shadow to her lethal flame.
Their reunion had been brief, but it was enough. They didn't need words to understand each other, not anymore. The bond that had formed between them years ago was still as strong as ever, and now, with the Red Room rising from the ashes, they would fight together once more.
As they disappeared into the chaos of Monaco, the city below oblivious to the danger lurking in its streets, Snake Eyes knew one thing for certain: this time, he wasn't just protecting Tony Stark.
He was protecting Natasha Romanoff.
And he would never fail her again.