Based on the one-shot I posted on here a few weeks ago, decided to make a go of it as an actual story :) Check it out before you read this if you want, its called 'Not A Monster' and you'll find it on my page. The story starts off before the events of the Avengers movie and will eventually lead up to those events. Rated M just to be on the safe side. Hope you all enjoy reading and I'd appreciate any form of feedback :)

Thanks X

It was a cold calm night, only a slight comforting breeze gracing the air every so often. The time was 2.37am, the streets were quiet and deserted. The city of New York slept while Agent Clint Barton was perched on the rooftop, deadly still for the past hour since he arrived. Barely moving or even blinking, just waiting for his mark to come into view. Clint had been put on this mission by S.H.I.E.L.D. his mark being 4 agents, working for an overseas agency, who had in their possession an extremely dangerous weapon stolen from a US military base two days ago. Clints task was simple, execute the agents, retrieve the weapon and return to S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ.

This is what Clint Barton did best. Perched in the same spot for hours on end only to carry out his mission within seconds. In the blink of an eye he could have 3 arrows drawn and fired to his target which he never missed. It was truly effortless for him. Many would see him as a loner but that was how he preferred it in his line of work. Having someone else there would only distract him and he could not afford to have his attention diverted from his work. In the past he had worked in partnership with his fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and friend Natasha Romanoff and had no trouble in doing so again if need be, but mostly he worked alone. Unfortunately his 'alone' status followed him outside of his work, he had few friends, no family, no hope of a relationship. He managed to push all thoughts of that to the back of his mind but could not deny to himself that it did bother him.

With no time to think about any of that, his vision sharpened as four figures appeared in the spot he had been staring at for the past hour now. After matching their faces to the descriptions he was briefed on he was certain it was them he had been waiting for. They were definitely shady looking and the silver briefcase in the hands of one of them confirmed his suspicion. Just as he reached his arm back to retrieve one of his bows his eye caught movement. From his spot on the building on the street opposite from his target, Clint noticed a fifth form make an appearance from the shadows, as if from nowhere. It was a woman. Carefully watching, he observed the scenario unfold before him, still ready to retrieve his bow when he needed. The fifth individual, still undetected by the other four men quickly took them by surprise and was now behind the man with the breifcase, the extremely dangerous weapons technology, in his hand. With a swift movement her hands grasped the sides of his head and in a fifth of a second she had snapped his neck to the side killing him instantly, had the briefcase in her hands and had a gun pointed to the remaining three individuals.

"Shit." Clint hissed and quickly rose from his spot and made his way down from the roof of the building to intervene in the situation personally. While he ran down the stairs quicker than the average human, he contacted S.H.I.E.L.D. "Coulson, we have a situation." he spoke into his earpiece, "We are not the only ones after this, send someone to get me NOW." he urgently spoke.

"On our way." came the response.

By this point Clint was already out of the building, on the street quickly approaching his mark and the unidentified woman. Fast on his feet he was soon at the scene. Laid out before him, the four agents lying dead on the ground and the woman standing with her back to him. Dressed in all black tight clothing hugging her slim frame. She had killed them all in what couldnt have been longer than 3 minutes without firing any shots from the gun she had in her hands. Clint had to act fast, obviously this woman was dangerous and to his knowledge no friend of S.H.I.E.L.D. She could be anyone, working for anyone. Without wasting anymore time, he quickly fired a bow at the woman while he had the advantage, his presence stil unknown to her. Suddenly everything changed.

Unphased by the sudden threat Clint posed against this woman, her body shifted and her arm shot out to catch Clint's bow in her hand. It all happened so fast in a split second, Clint was stunned as he watched what her next move would be. Slowly, her head turned to face him, her long dark hair falling around her face. She had a deadly stare in her eyes but a small smile crept onto her face as she seen Clint standing before her, another bow already in hand and drawn ready to fire. She had now fully turned to face him as he stared at her, ready for any form of threat so he could release another arrow.

"I take it this belongs to you?" she asked amused holding the arrow out to him.

"I take it you're the reason these men are dead." he challenged, his stance never once shifting.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I do your job for you?" she asked with a chuckle, then her laughing ceased. "Do I have to kill you as well?" Clint knew this wasnt a question and instantly released another arrow. However, again she had caught it in her hand. Seeing his hand release on his bow she dropped the first arrow and caught the other in her hand again, no effort needed. Unable to think of something else, Clint released yet another arrow, which she caught again with extreme reflexes.

"How the hell are you doing that?" he yelled frustrated and she laughed in response.

Her other hand moved so quickly he only just managed to realise what she was doing, the gun she had was now in her hand and Clint found himself staring down its barrel. His instincts now went into over drive. He swiftly kicked the gun from her hand and grabbed her arm twisting it behind her back. Her free arm elbowed him strongly in the stomach and he instantly released her as the pain shook through him, she was definitely strong. She approached him, fist raised ready to strike him again which he blocked, then another and another as she attempted to punch his jaw. Failing this her hands reached for his throat but she was soon on the ground as Clint kicked her harshly in the stomach, sending her onto the pavement on her back. She let out a small groan in pain before both her legs raised up and she quickly flew to her feet. The look on her face showed she was no longer amused at the situation and more frustrated.

"I am taking that case." she yelled out throwing more punches, a few of them hitting Clint but he reamined as composed as he could.

"Then I'm sorry to be the one who disapppoints you sweetheart." he somewhat smirked attempting to block her hits and get a few of his own thrown in there. She let out a frustrated scream at his statement and kicked him solid in the knee sending him to the ground, yelling out in pain. He returned the gesture by punching the side of her knee also sending her down to his level and she quickly reacted in flying toward him, straddling him to the ground.

"This has been fun handsome but I have to get going." she said now more calm, now she had the upper hand. She reached for her gun lying next to them on the ground and at this moment Clint took his chance. With all the strength he had left he turned over so he was now on top of her and secured her to the ground.

"Sorry sweetheart," he replied sarcastically reaching for the small instrument he needed, located in a small compartment in the back of his belt. "You're going nowhere." he finished before taking the small needle, filled with a strong tranquilliser, and piercing her neck.

"What the fu-" she trailed off as a small groan left her mouth before her eyes rolled shut and she went limp beneath him. Clint let out an exasperated sigh before getting back on his feet, ignoring the pain from the new bruises he had likely recieved from his fight from this woman. She was definitely stronger than most and put up a good fight. He studied her form on the ground now more intrigued, he had to know who she was.

His attention was drawn from her as three familiar S.H.I.E.L.D. agents appeared on the scene and Clint took the breifcase, which had been carefully placed to the side prior to their fight , in his hands and retrieved his bow and arrows. Two of the agents began to study the deceased men on the ground and were most likely planning on removing the bodies as quickly as possible. The remaining agent, Phil Coulson, approached Clint.

"Coulson, you guys certainly took your time." Clint greeted in annoyance while handing over the briefcase to the more senior Agent.

"I see there is a bit of a mess here Agent Barton." he replied ignoring his previous comment.

"Four enemy agents deceased and an unidentified woman unconcious, she was also after the case." he explained "Thought you boys might like to take her in for questionning." he said as he watched Phil Coulson look over the woman carefully, the look on his face suggesting he recognised her or knew of her in some way. He smiled.

"Yes. Director Fury will definitely have a few questions for this one."