A/N: Hey guys, I haven't really written anything in a while, but I came up with this idea, so hopefully I'll continue this... Hope you guys enjoy this, and if you like this please review and follow so I have motivation to keep writing!

[Siaren]

Chapter One

"Are you my new employer?" Natalia Romanova was seated in a chair in an interrogation as Hawkeye, a.k.a. Agent Clint Barton, walked in.

"No." Clint was wary as he approached the chair on the opposite side of the table. He had crossed paths with the Black Widow on multiple occasions before; the last time was when she had defected to the states, but Red Room had found her whereabouts and brainwashed her back into loyalty.

This time, however, was quite different. On this particular occasion, Natalia had managed to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base and had incapacitated a few new recruits before being knocked out and detained in the room they were in now.

"If I were your new employer, though, I probably would've appreciated it if you didn't take out the rookies."

"They were rookies, they don't matter too much. Besides, I got bored." Clint shot her a look, "How'd you get in here anyway?"

Natalia shrugged, looking down at her nails with complete disinterest of the topic at hand.

"Natasha, do you remember me?" The assassin tensed momentarily and relaxed again, but that small movement was enough for Barton to notice."

"How do you know my name?" Natalia's voice turned harsh.

"I've met you bef-"

"That's not possible," Natalia shook her head, "I've never laid eyes on you before."

"Did they brainwash you again?"

"Who?"

"Red Room." There was a moment of silence, Clint unsure of whether or not she was planning on defecting again, or was there to do reconnaissance and possibly kill. Slowly she responded, "I've never heard of Red Room before."

"Then why did you come here?" Clint could feel his pulse quickening. If she really didn't know what Red Room was, did that mean S.H.I.E.L.D. could use her?

"I… I don't know," Natalia looked vulnerable, something Clint had never seen from the Black Widow, "I just felt drawn here."

"Do you remember anything besides your name?"

"No."

Clint stood up suddenly, causing Natalia to raise her eyebrow questioningly. "Wait here."

"It's not like I have any other options."

Clint shot Natalia an are-you-serious-look. "Knowing you, you could escape easily and as of right now, you have at least ten different methods of killing me and fifteen methods of knocking me unconscious.

Natalia remained quiet, silently agreeing with his statement. Biting his lip, Clint left the room quickly, making sure that the door was locked before he head up to Director Nick Fury's office.

"Director."

"Barton, did you get anything out of her?" The two were standing in the director's dimly lit office, Fury's eye focusing intently on Clint. "She didn't remember anything other than her name, sir."

"And you're telling me that you believe that?" Fury paused to shake his head, "Natalia Alianove Romanova is Red Room's Black Widow, and probably the best spy and assassin from Russia."

Clint was about to argue but stopped himself, realizing that he hadn't thought of that. He felt stupid for not taking into account the spy's background and training.

"Sir, she didn't recognize me."

"So what? She's been brainwashed dozens of time in Red Room. Besides, why would she remember you?" Before Clint could respond Fury shook his head, "Never mind, don't answer that agent."

They both knew why Clint was a significant figure in Natalia's life. He had saved her on multiple occasions and he had been the reason why she had defected once before.

"So do you really think that Russia's best spy can't remember a thing?"

"Yes, sir."

Fury sighed, sitting down in his chair. "I guess we can't use her for information," he paused, contemplating options, "What do you think we should do, Barton?"

"She has assets, which S.H.I.E.L.D. could use." Fury nodded, "Exactly what I was thinking," he glanced down at his watch, "Go back to the interrogation rooms and get her; I have a meeting with the council in five minutes."

"What should I do with her?"

"Get her a room and make sure she doesn't kill anybody." Clint wasn't sure if Fury was joking or not, but knowing the Black Widow, Fury was probably dead serious.

Clint hurried back to where Natalia was, almost completely certain that she had escaped. To his surprise, however, she was still there, looking calm and collected as he entered.

"So have you been sent to kill me?"

"Actually, I was instructed to give you a room." Natalia scrunched her nose, "Why not kill me? It seems that I, a Russian assassin, invaded an American secret base, which most likely contains a lot of sensitive information, and you're not going to kill me?"

"You still remember your training, which S.H.I.E.L.D. can use to their advantage."

"Fair enough… Now, let's go to that room you were talking about."

Clint had led Natalia to a barrack section of the facility reserved for special recruits, which was presently completely vacant. On their walk there, Natalia noticed that Clint had taken them on a route where they crossed paths with no one else.

"Here," Clint stopped walking, "This is going to be your room for now. I'll send for someone to bring some clothes for you later." Clint opened the door with his access key. Natalia was fully aware that she would not receive one.

"I'll come check on you later this evening, but in the meantime, do whatever you want in the room."

"In other words, don't leave the room, even though you know I'm capable of leaving without an access card."

"Precisely." With that, Clint turned and left, the metal door sliding close behind him. Natalia would be alone for the next several hours; plenty of time to process everything that had happened.