Rick Mason

: "I'm a private contractor."
: ―Rick Mason[src]
Rick Mason is an international smuggler and independent contractor. Mason was an ally of Natasha Romanova while she was on the run from Thaddeus Ross following the Avengers Civil War and to Nick Fury while he was on the run from Interpol.
== Biography ==
=== Independent Contractor ===
==== Meeting Natasha Romanoff ====
A former soldier turned international smuggler, Rick Mason developed a friendship with Natasha Romanoff after having been rescued by her from a prison in Cambodia. Mason worked as an independent contractor, providing his services to armies and black market dealers all over the world, including Romanoff, to which he oweed a debt for his life.
==== Hiding in Norway ====
: "People who have friends don't call me.""And I don't pay you to worry."
: ―Rick Mason and Natasha Romanoff[src]
In 2016, Mason was contacted by Natasha Romanoff, who was on the run from the authorities after being accused of being Steve Rogers' accomplice. As Thaddeus Ross authorized a BOLO to find and arrest Romanoff, she hired Mason to provide her with a shelter and resources to hide from prosecution. Mason set up a campervan in Norway, where he fell asleep on the bed until Romanoff came back and woke him up. Mason also provided Romanoff with fake passports, entry visas and local driver's licenses, although Romanoff did not find "Fanny Longbottom" as one of her names funny, while Mason claimed that the name was legitimate. Mason also informed her about the generator and the septic tank, mentioning that he got Romanoff a basic hardware kit.
Mason then asked Romanoff how was she feeling in the wake of the Avengers splitting up, and althouhg Romanoff claimed that she is better off alone, Mason doubted that she was sincere. Mason noted that he is not the kind of person people ask for help when they have actual friends they can rely on, but Romanoff replied that excessive worrying will not get him paid. As Mason was about to leave, Romanoff asked him about the package lying near the door, and Mason told her that it was the letters and personal belongings from a S.H.I.E.L.D. Safe House in Budapest. He said that he got himself a client in Budapest, so he moved Romanoff's belongings, knowing that Romanoff would not return there, noting that if she does not needed, she can dispose of it.
==== Helping Natasha Romanoff ====
: "Supplies I can tally, but you bring me attention from the authorities, all my prices go up.""What's that supposed to mean?"Your mate, Secretary Ross, has been sniffing around my affairs to the point at which I've got contacts declining my calls."
: ―Rick Mason and Natasha Romanoff[src]
Mason was later contacted by Natasha Romanoff again, as she requested a jet, but without proper funds and time, Mason could only deliver a decommissioned Solovyov Air Helicopter. Yelena Belova criticized Mason for failing to deliver what they needed, which did not please Mason, as Belova was impunging his professionalism. Romanoff told Mason not to take Belova's words close to heart, mentioning that he did get her a generator that stopped working after six hours, when she was in Norway.
Mason then spoke to Romanoff, telling her that Thaddeus Ross has been sniffing around his affairs, which resulted in his contacts declining his calls. He then told Romanoff that her tab is running low, as he had to increase the prices for his services, to which Romanoff jokingly commented that he is rather delicate for a private contractor. She then promised to make it up for him later, but Mason found it hard to believe, as he has been getting nothing but empty promises as of late. Regardless, he did not complain any further and let Romanoff and Belova aboard, so they could carry on with their mission.
==== Captured by Thaddeus Ross ====
: "Working from the snow, it's cold out there. It's cozy inside."
: ―Rick Mason to Natasha Romanoff[src]
Eventually, Mason was apprehended by the authorities for helping Natasha Romanoff evade prosecution, and ended up in Thaddeus Ross' custody. Speaking with Ross, Ross told Mason that he is still serving, unlike Mason who sells his services to anyone who bids the higher price without any integrity. Ross then offered Mason a negotiation for a plea deal in exchange for a direct line between him and Romanoff, before one of SWAT officers brought Ross a phone left by Romanoff with a message that said "Come after me."
While Ross and his men wiretapped the phone to triangulate Romanoff's location, Mason received a call from her. As Mason noted that she was still alive, Romanoff said although she was well above her tab, Romanoff was in need for Mason's services at the moment. However, Mason used a code phrase to notify Romanoff that he had been arrested and their dialogue is being listened by the authorities, who are chasing after her. As Romanoff understood Mason's warning, she requested a lift for three passengers and gave a falsified coordinates to shake Ross off, before hanging up and destroying the phone.
==== Delivering a Quinjet ====
: "You've always been a really good friend to me.""That's what every man wants to hear."
: ―Natasha Romanoff and Rick Mason[src]
Two weeks later, after Natasha Romanoff terminated the Red Room and escaped from Thaddeus Ross, Mason met with her in Ohio. As Romanoff joked that she had found him sleeping again, Mason replied that he had been in six different time zones in three days because of Romanoff and her requests. Mason then showed her a Quinjet that he managed to salvage for Romanoff, which did indeed impress her. Romanoff sincerely thanked Mason for his help as a friend, to which Mason sarcastically replied that it was not exactly an answer he wanted to hear.
Mason then asked Romanoff what she was going to do next, tp which she said that she had two families and that one of them was in need of her help. Romanoff mentioned that she intended to break some of them from jail and patch things up, before bidding her farewell to Mason and departing on the Quinjet.
==== Helping Nick Fury ====
: "Feel a lot better if we were on the Helicarrier.""Yeah, that's been mothballed. A little bit like you should be."
: ―Nick Fury and Rick Mason[src]
By 2026, Mason was still operating as an independent contractor. Nick Fury contacted Mason and requested transportation to take him to Finland. Mason delivered on the request and met up with Fury inside a private jet. Mason remarked on Fury recently being issued a red notice, and he mentioned how he could not get hold of a Helicarrier. Mason then gave Fury fake identification documents and left, telling Fury to have a nap due to him acting grumpy.
== Personality ==
: "I take exception to impugning my professionalism."
: ―Rick Mason[src]
To be added
== Abilities ==
: "I thought you were supposed to be the best. Like a real pro."
: ―Yelena Belova to Rick Mason[src]
To be added
== Equipment ==
=== Weapons ===
To be added
=== Other Equipment ===
: "I've got your basic hardware kit stashed under the stairs."
: ―Rick Mason to Natasha Romanoff[src]
To be added
=== Vehicles ===
* Solovyov Air Helicopter: Mason got access to a helicopter which he gave to Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova to use in their attempts to fight the Red Room.
: "You see what I can get you with a bit of time and money?"
: ―Rick Mason to Natasha Romanoff[src]
* Quinjet: Mason was able to get a Quinjet for Natasha Romanoff to use while aiding in the Escape from the Raft. He delivered the Quinjet to her, commenting on his abilities as a contractor.
== Facilities ==
: "Was the free flat and lifetime supply of kissel not to your liking?"
: ―Rick Mason to Yelena Belova[src]
* Budapest Safehouse: Mason used a safe house in Budapest to provide refuge to people, including Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova.
== Relationships ==
=== Allies ===
* Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow † - Former Colleague and Friend
* Yelena Belova
* Nick Fury	
=== Enemies ===
* Thaddeus Ross
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Rick Mason, also known as the Agent, was a mercenary who became a highly covert operative and free-lance agent, who specialized in the non-lethal handling of superhumans. He is also the son of Phineas Mason.
== Behind the Scenes ==
* O-T Fagbenle reflected that Rick Mason is "a finder for people who aren't so affiliated with armies, like people who are part of the underworld", which describes Mason's relationship with Natasha Romanoff, and how he is an ally when Romanoff becomes a fugitive from the law.
* Although never noted on-screen, Rick Mason's first name is revealed in Marvel Studios' The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline and then later reflected by an edit on Marvel.com.
== References ==
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Rick Mason.
# ↑ Jump up to:1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Black Widow
# ↑ Black Widow Press Kit
# ↑ Black Widow Deleted Scene
# ↑ Secret Invasion: 1.05: Harvest
# ↑ Black Widow Star Tease Natasha's Romance With Mysterious Mason
== External Links ==
* Rick Mason on Marvel Database
* Agent on Wikipedia
* Rick Mason on Marvel Website