Disclaimer: All recognisable characters, places, and plot ideas belong to their respective owners. Not me.
A/N: Hey. So I wrote this fic, because I didn't want to finish writing my 'Othello' essay for English or go to bed. Please read on and enjoy. Feel free to leave me a review or not. Whichever feels right to you. And if anyone does enjoy reading this. Thank you!
The red hair wasn't real.
Neither was the face of calm after she turned around.
She wasn't scared. She was affected. She was angry. She lied. The God of Mischief hit a sore spot with her, one that had led others to being maimed and often the loss of people's lives. But she didn't crack, not for him. She showed no feelings.
But.
She was compromised. She was compromised to Barton. He gave her a choice. Saw past her façade,
saw that she was being manipulated. Saw that she wanted help. Wanted someone to see what she needed so desperately. He gave it. He gave her a reason to live and fight. He gave her a second chance. He fucking chose her over his organisation which was supposed to hold all his loyalty.
She feared. God she feared. But not for her or for Barton (Oh God! Barton, he'd better be okay otherwise she'd kill him, or kiss him, but probably both at the same time while punching him in the face for blaming himself. She knows he's going to blame himself. He's too soft. But that's why she likes him. That's why he saved her.). He was her partner, the stupid birdbrain getting himself into trouble again. Like Budapest. She feared for those she would kill, those she would use to get him back. She'd lost control before. And most of all she feared what would happen if she lost him, or if he lost her. She feared for what lengths she'd go to this time.
She'd fight tooth and nail for him. She'd hurt him if it meant that she'd save him in the end. Even though it physically felt like she was in pain too.
But in the end she got him back. Not completely, he wasn't all there. He felt guilty. But he wasn't. It wasn't his fault.
The red hair wasn't real.
But her loyalty, her partnership to Clinton Barton was. He was her partner. And nothing hurt her partner.
The Black Widow wasn't real.
But the compromised woman, the living proof that second chances existed and that love wasn't just for children. Was real. The love she had for Barton was real.
And in the end, that's enough.
Because the fight she'd give to make sure he was watching her back, like she was watching his, always. That was fucking real too.
fin.