Disclaimer: not ours yadda yadda if we did own it we'd be hanging with Stan Lee instead of sitting at home like Introverts

Clint crashed onto the sofa in his room at the Avengers tower. Their previous mission had been long and hard with little rest, he was glad to take a break from all the commotion. Natasha, however, couldn't rest. Clint hadnt seen it, but there had been a letter a shadowed figure had handed to her while she was infiltrating the enemy base. She read it, but couldn't believe. Worst of all, she couldn't tell Clint. She'd hid her preoccupation well on the way back, .but now she was becoming more frantic, less inconspicuous. Clint had picked up on it.

"Whats up with you today?" He questioned once they'd settled back in. She shrugged, trying to come up with a viable lie to tell him. "I'm just a little jumpy ever since that man in the alley attacked us.." Natasha smiled shyly. Clint didn't entirely believe her, but left it, figuring it was nothing. His eyes were slipping shut as he flipped through channels, so Natasha decided to go into the bedroom to check if the letter was still hooked within her belt. She read it through again, wishing the words weren't real. There was a shuffling behind the door and she quickly folded the paper again, shoving it back into the crook of her belt as Clint walked in. He leaned against the door frame, locking eyes with Natasha. Why couldn't he get a read on her today? She smiled sweetly, desperate to cover her face with an innocent mask. "You alright?" Natasha asked, trying to keep his mind away from her. She seemed to have interrupted a deep thought.
"Hmm? Oh, yea..I'm fine." He smiled back. Natasha walked up to him. She could see he was confused, but in a way, was glad he was. If he knew what was happening.. "Are you sure?" Her voice was soft, trying to comfort him. "Really" he proceeded "I'm fine" She realized what was distracting him:
Her.
She gently placed her hands on his chest. 'One more night,' she promised herself. 'One more night in his arms. Then I run.' She then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a perfect kiss. 'I need to protect you' she thought.
She didn't want to leave.

The moment he woke he knew something was wrong.
First of all, Natasha wasn't there. Unusual, but not unheard of, especially when he looked at the clock. Nine am. She was up already.. That was it. But something was off, way off. He threw off the sheets and heard a small ruffling sound, like a sheet of paper had fallen to the floor. He walked around the bed, tired and slightly sore. There was a small envelope laying on the ground. It was labeled for him in Natasha's perfect, neat handwriting. He sat back down, and opened the letter.. It was addressed simply to Clint Barton.
Simple, but completely like her. Slowly, he read the letter.
'Clint,

Don't be frightened, I'm not hurt. I haven't been taken.

No, I did this on my own account.

It hurts me to leave you, after all we've been through. I wish I didn't have to leave, but if I want to keep you and the others at SHEILD safe.. I have to leave.

Yesterday, I know you were confused. I wasn't telling you something, you could see that. But what?

During our previous mission, I received a short letter from a strange man. The letter I have enclosed in this envelope. It will not lead you to me, but it will help explain what is happening. I'm sorry, Clint. I wish I didn't have to do this.

Я люблю тебя.
Natasha'

Clint stared blankly at the paper that was now hanging limply from his hand.
Я люблю тебя..
Then why did she leave?
He remembered the other paper. He ripped through the rest of the contents of the envelope. It wasn't long before he found the second sheet of paper. It was torn at the edges, wrinkling with some of the pen marks smearing the words. It was obvious Natasha had read it over and over.

'Natalia Alianovna Romanova,

We know where you are.

We know who you fight for.

You have disappointed us.

We will be sending our best to look for you.

Prepare to die.'

"Natalia.." he whispered to himself.

He knew who they were.

The Red Room had found her.

She wouldn't face them alone.

He wouldn't let her.