First of all...I was depressed 'cuz I couldn"t figure out how to post this story, so I deleted it...then I went to my e-mail, and realized that lots of people had like this! SO, it's resurrected! *I don't own the Avengers...sob*

An Obsidian Necklace

"It used to be only destructive," Clint said softly, and with one hand, closed Natasha's eyes. The other, hidden behind his back, moved into the open, and he carefully clasped the slender chain around Natasha's neck. "But now, it is beautiful, perfect, flawless…yet still dangerous." He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Just like you," he whispered.

"Happy birthday, Natasha."

She opened her eyes and fingered the delicate chain, the clasp, the pendant itself. She had to admit, it was beautiful. Smooth as glass and dark as night, the obsidian had been fashioned into a pointed shard that curved gracefully and seemed to almost glow. She brushed a slim finger over the edges and points and smiled; they were razor sharp.

"I know it seems dangerous to wear something so…sharp," Clint said awkwardly, "But it just seemed…you. I just wanted you to know-"

Before he could finish, Natasha kissed him full on the mouth.


"Natasha!" Hawkeye screamed her name as loudly as he could. The leader of the Chitauri had pinned her down. As fast as thought, Hawkeye nocked, drew, and fired. Five arrows whistled through the air, directly at the Black Widow's attacker.

The Chitauri turned to look straight at Hawkeye's arrows, still holding the struggling Black Widow, and waved its massive free hand. Like ice cubes in the hot sun, the arrows melted and warped, falling to ground as metal rain.

Hawkeye screamed her name again as another, smaller, (but no less terrible) Chitauri knocked him to the ground. "Use the necklace!" he shouted desperately. "Use the necklace!" Before he could say anything else, his enemy clubbed him on the head, knocking him unconscious. The small Chitauri raised a knife for the killing stroke.

As the Chitauri leader's hand touched her arm, the Black Widow could feel cold spreading from his hand. Cold, followed by numbness. But the Black Widow had heard Hawkeye's frantic yells, and had understood. She put all her strength into freeing her arm. And, for a moment, her arm was not useless.

She ripped the thin chain from her neck, and held the spear of obsidian like a knife. For a moment all time slowed, and she saw Hawkeye lying prone, a Chitauri standing over him, knife plunging slowly down.

It was with all her anger, at every stupid creature that thought it could harm Hawkeye and get away with it, and all her frustration, and all her pain, that she drove the volcanic glass dagger into the alien leader's heart. As it died, she smiled, a smile of a she-cat that has won her mate.

As it died, all of the other Chitauri died too. The one standing over Hawkeye fell helplessly, and he easily kicked it aside.

"Natasha! Are you all right?" he asked her worriedly, hugging her to his chest protectively. She leaned in and kissed him, then murmured four words.

"Best birthday present ever."


Thanks so much for reading! I'm not that great of a writer, so if you could just poke that cute little review button and gives me some tips... :)