A few moment before ouside the building. Natalia Romanova AKA The Black Widow.

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"This is a really bad idea." Natalia wispered too herself. Looking up at the building she hated these kind of decision, but she was in a quagmire of trouble. This might be her last chance, before turning to some much more drastique and illegal action. That may or may not, have her suffer some prison time, at the end of the day in a deep dark hole somewhere.

A few days prior she and Clint were in Balkans, trying in getting a certain asset out of the country. If they were successful it would be a great boon for SHIELD, in getting some good intel in the area. Along with some dirt on all the major player's, as well as info on many hidden illegal deals. That for years SHIELD, had tried and failed in getting even the tiniest bit of concrete evidence in their hands. 

Well by the time they had arrive at the meeting place, the asset was almost at death door. Someone had somehow leak the rallying point. She and Clint arrive during the final stage of the interrogation the asset was suffering under. After killing all the assailant, the asset told them about were they could acquire a usb key that had all the info on it. 

Afterword it was a series of cat and mouse games, that spanned all over the country. It took a while but they figure out that the game was rig against them. When every safe house that SHIELD send them over, was breach in a matter of hours. 

So being the kickass spies that they were, they keep taking all of theirs pursuer down. Also they found it impossible in getting in contact with Fury. So the idea of a mole and traitor, in the department was becoming even more obvious at that point. Left with little to no choices they went dark. 

Unfortunately, things didn't go exactly as plan. For one, the last team they fought had a mutant in their group. This mutant had a poison ability, Clint was hit with it as he was pushing Natalia out of the way. As he was slowly dying, she desperately needed to find help one way or another. 

They would normally would've gone to SHIELD for help. But not knowing who inside was working extra hard in getting them killed put them both in danger. So then the first thing they did, was try in getting in contact with once of there private asset who could help with the poison. Turn out to be a bad idea since, the mole had that list in hand. 

Neither could they trust their usual list of contacts inside of SHIELD, since they weren't sure how deep this went. Natalia needed to figure who she could approche that would not only help her but wouldn't be on SHIELD radar. 

As for Clint, she had come to the grim conclusion of him having maybe another twelve hours, before dying a very slow painful death. Until then, his nervous system was being tormented in constant pain, all the while he was doing his best not to scream his throat raw.

"This isn't how I had hope we would meet, but desperate times." Natalia look up to the sky, in a faint corner of her mind, she hope that if their was someone or something up their. They or it would give her the small miracle she needed, in order in saving one of her only friend in the world.

Sneaking in the place was a breeze, keeping her presence erase from everyone was even easier for her. She waited a whole hour before coming out of hidding, several time she almost just left. But she needed help, and saddly he was here best shot. 

Years ago she found out, that the charity she had place for Branden and Peter. Had been tampered with, when she investigated she found the culprit coming from SHIELD. Unsure on her standing in this new organization, that she had barely joint for a few months. She decided in cutting the funds in hope of smoking out who ever was responsible. 

It didn't work, after a little sleuthing she found some weird stuff, unsure who to go with it she sat on it for now. Saddly she didn't have enough in order to win over her new boss on her side, without it looking like she was up to any tricks. So instead she figure to focus a little more on Braden and Peter, this way she might find something in order to help them out.

She was please at first sight, both Braden and Peter were good kids, then she took a closer look. What she found astounded her, Braden was the mythical legendary hacker Sandman. At first she thought of bringing this up to Fury, it would go a long way in securing her position. But she decided against it, once she remember the promise she made too a certain dying mother.

"Please protect my boys." Was the last thing Mary Parker had said as she bleed out from the torture they had inflicted on her.

Something she had a hand in placing her in the first place. The Parkers was the last mission her old Russian handler had given her. Before selling her out to the highest bidder, Clint Braton show up and save her ass. Something that over the years they had both stop counting, instead in him she found a brother she never had.

 For a short period she had toyed with the idea of making him hers, before she could place her plan in action she met his wife and family. Once that happen and the kids started calling her aunty Nat, well she decided to give up that plan. Finding love and acceptance in Clint family, meant much more then a quick shag under the sheets.

For a few months prior to the Parkers, Clint had been working on trying to flip her to his side, convince that she wasn't a lost cause. This quest of his, was the only reason she hadn't put a bullet in his head at their first meeting. Before he showed up, she had already begun to have doubt about her life, unconsciously she had been looking for a way out.

The mission was a snatch and grab, delivering the Parkers to a shady group. After the handler betrayal, Natalia and Clint track down the Parkers location, and mounted a hasty rescue. Unfortunately they arrive to late, Richard was long dead and Mary was barely hanging on. Using whatever strength she had left, she force a promise out of the Black Widow in protecting her children.

In a rare moment of weakness Natalia promise to watch over them and protect them. All in a mest up sense of atonement. Ever since then she had a weird big sister or aunt outlook on them both. Hell once she figure out Braden secret, she had even tampered with a psych evaluation that could have place him under the attention of Fury.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

And now she was going to go to this person, even if she was the one that had debt toward him. Hopefully she could live with the guilt that lying to him would cost her. Her greatest fear was of losing her cool over this, she hadn't spoken to anyone about this. How could she, since speaking to much about it, would've place Braden under to much scrutiny.

Anything else she could've tackle easily but for whatever reason, the guilt over her part in their parents death. Had become a recurring nightmare for her, most of what was done to her and what she had done to other, she could live with. But this, it spark something inside of her that no matter what, still haunted her to this day. 

"Ok, I can do this, just got to walk over and place the deal. Don't get to chatty, time is of the essence. Just hope I'm not going to loose it half way." For a veteran in the spy business she felt nervous. Keep getting weird thought like hoping he liked her. Nothing sexual just wanting him to like her. 

She was struggling with some odd new feeling, after taking a deep breath she stamp these feeling down with her iron will. Putting on her metaphorical mask of the Black Widow on she sauntered off in her usual confident walk.

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Looking at the gently smiling demon in front of me. My mind was spiraling in trying to find something to say, only to notice to late. It had been a good silent pause of at least 25 seconds, long enough for her to confirm her doubts. That is if she even had them in the beginning. Sure I could trie to bull my way out, but I had the sinking feeling that the moment of denial had sailed away long ago.

"Aaaahhhmmmm.....wwwhhhoo iiiss thhiss Sssssaannnnddman you speak of." Oh dear God, that was horribly, I wouldn't even believe me, in that denial. My head hunch down in shame, at trying and spectacularly failing in bluffing my way out.

Without even looking, I was sure she had that smirk she would have, whenever she manage to one up on someone. 

"Really was that the best you could do?" I could just hear the snicker in her voice.

Gathering all the pieces of my shattered pride I look up. A shit eating grin and some barely containe sparkling amuse deep bleu eyes, were looking over at me. Just like a cat that had just gotten their paws on a whole bag of catnip. I groan as I realise that in my surprise and panic, I had delivered myself on a silver platter to the motherfucking Black Widow!

I was just praying that this was a good version and not one of the more darker version that I was dealing with. Cause if their was a list of comic book heros, that I didn't want too fight at my current state. 

Black Widow would be in the my top ten, the damage she could do to me was minimal, at least on the physical scale. No the biggest danger came from her spy talents, if she decided to place my info on the dark web, then my life as I knew it would be over. 

"How... How the hell did you find out? I was so careful...so how?" Looking over I hope of getting some info in order to patch up the hole, no matter how large it was now in order to contain the leaking. Especially in order to prevent a certain one eye pirate, breathing down my neck with his damn avenger initiatives.

Just before she answered I smelled a whiff of something, also I barely caught something in her eyes. Before once more the confident vibe was back. (What was that? Was it sorrow, about what?Did I somehow remind her of something? At the very least, so far she haven't pulled out a gun to my head so, hopefully this was a good signs?)

"That a trade secret, now as I've mention I need your help." Her voice was as musical as she was professional.

Whatever it was she needed me for, it had to be pretty damn urgent, for her to come to me. I refuse to believe that I was on her regular contacts list. So this could mean a few things, number one this could be unsanction mission from SHIELD. She could also still be a free agent, or this was SHIELD way of forcefully recruiting me.

Numerous reasons floated in my head but the reality was, that until I learn more. I was under her thumb until I gather more information, so first off. " Who else know about me?" I composed myself as best that I could as I lean in toward her. Placing my elbows on my desk, and laying my chin on my fists. Waiting to see just how much shit I was in.

"Beside me, only my partner." She answered in a clear tone, without breaking eye contact either.

"And pray tale who migth this partner be?" 

"An agent of SHIELD, and the one with who I need your help with." 

No sign of haste or panic, I got nothing. I felt like I was playing a game on easy against a someone who was living their daily live on hard mode. So I was surpass on almost every level, hopefully she would give me something in order for me to pin point which Black Widow I was dealing with.

"Care to tell me his or her name?"

"No, his name isn't important, I just need to know if you will help me or not."

Now I was confuse, usually the Black Widow was more ruthless with her targets. But so far I wasn't getting that vibe. Hell it was weird, I felt like if I refuse she would simply leave. With this attitude it was safe to say, at the very least she seem to be one of the 'good' Black Widow. I felt myself relax, this was good I didn't want too have to make an enemy out of Natalia Romanova. 

"Okay, so what can you tell me about him? And yes I will help you if its possible." 

I saw her shoulder release a little tension she had, that was odd it seem my acceptance meant alot more then she had let on. What the hell was going on? It was like my opinion had made a big impact for her. But that shouldn't be possible unless we were somehow link? But how, why? Damn I had almost no clue on what was going on right now.

"He was poison by some mutant power. I need a way of curing it. He also doesn't have alot of time he need help quickly."

"I don't get it? The two of you should be SHIELD agent, so why seek out some outside help. Hell SHIELD should have a literal army of scientist and doctor, ready in helping your partner. So why come to me?"

She lightly bit her bottom lip, looking back into my eyes I felt like if she had come to some sort of decision.

"We tried, but we have a mole or moles in SHIELD, who has been somehow blocking all are attempt at contacting anyone else we trusts. So not being sure who we can turn too, without having some mercenary crawling all over us, at one of are know listed contact. I came to you knowing who you are, since the chances of you being watch was zero. I'm here hoping that you can or would know anyone who could help us."

I sat back in my chair and tap my finger to a rhythm I could only hear. I needed a minute in composing my thougths, this wasn't how I had ever imagine my interaction with Natalia was ever going to be like. This felt more like a friend in a prickle situation asking for help, compared to a complete stranger demanding my cooperation. 

The only logical conclusion that made any lick of sense, was that for some unknown reason. The Black Widow had been keeping tabs on me for some time now. And yet it didn't feel oppressive, in fact I was getting a almost family protective vibe off of her. Like if I was important enough that she didn't want to us force in getting me to help her.

I had a moment of a silly thought that somehow my mother was the Black Widow. Shaking that nonsense away I return on the problem she was facing. In order to give her my best answer I would need to see her partner. (Hrm, why was I trying to give out a hundred percent for what was in a very real way a stranger?)

Looking over at her I got the weirdest gut feeling, that she was important to me, and that she knew something I needed to know. "I can't give you a firm anwser until, I have seen your partner current situation. Can you take me to him?"