Greetings from Budapest:
A BlackHawk Prequel
What the hell did that asshole hit me with?
My body throbbed like a Mac truck hit me head on and what remained was my shattered corpse. My eyes flickered open, though they squinted at the bright light shining directly above me.
Where am I?
Familiar gray metal walls told me I was somewhere secure, somewhere guarded. Somewhere I couldn't escape. My head turned, hearing mumbling from under the steel door beside me, the voices growing louder as two pairs of shadows passed by. I could tell they were carrying guns, big ones, and they were wearing black uniforms. I could tell they were big guys too. I must be at S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was big time in the special defense brigade. I had evaded them for years and now I was finally captured by them. I wasn't defeated though. They can't keep me there. At least not for long.
Just like that, a pop jolted me from my thoughts and I quickly rose to my feet, ready for another spar with the enemy, although I was still dizzy and sore from being shot in the back. One loud click and the door slid open. Before I knew it, two agents came in and restrained me. I tried to resist, but my strength was too foregone at the moment to be of any threat.
They dragged me through the hallways of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters at a fast pace, as though they were afraid I'd morph into a giant angry monster before them. I'll admit I would have wanted anything to just escape their clutches.
At the end of the hall was a glass elevator. The men pulled me in and clicked on the button with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s symbol on it. It seemed to take forever as we rode the elevator at lightning speed. My body started to pump with adrenaline as I anticipated what awaited me at the end of the ride. I began to contemplate what I would do to escape, but I knew I was entering new territory. Territory I was not familiar with.
The elevator stopped and before me was a pair of tall white doors. With one motion, one of the guards pulled it open, while the other threw me at full force through it. I grunted at the pain as I landed on my stomach, rolling a few feet forward, before stopping to hear the door slam behind me.
"Natasha Romanov." A deep voice said before me. I looked up to see Nicholas J. Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, and a certifiable badass according to legend. I knew of his reputation and his no mercy attitude. I knew he was ready to destroy me. "I've been waiting for this day."
"I wasn't." I admitted as I struggled to my feet. I could see Fury before me, but something else caught me in the corner of my eye. There was someone else there, a man.
He stood against the bright window by Fury's desk, his demeanor like a soldier ready for orders. I recognized his type. Cold, solemn, brutal…and then I caught a glimpse at his eyes. His stance may have been stone cold, but his eyes were warm like fire. Blueish green pools of color that were paralyzing to look at. His eyes were wide, open, as though they were saying hello. He didn't speak, but he didn't have to. I could tell he was not as threatening as Fury, he was not ready to kill me.
"I can see you've met Agent Barton. Although getting shot in the back is a hell of an introduction." Fury said, interrupting our eye contact. And that's when it hit me. He was the one who hit me.
"You." I said, meeting his eyes again although I was fuming on the inside. He could tell as he clenched his fists like he was gearing himself to fight. At the state I was in, I'd be on guard too.
"I apologize for that, but I had to stop you before you escaped..." He said, his tone serious yet kind.
"Big mistake." I said coldly. "You just made yourself an enemy."
"Not anymore…" Fury said. "He is now your mentor. Now you've joined S.H.I.E.L.D."
I may have been out for the last few hours, but I knew I never agreed to anything of that nature. What is he talking about?
"I would rather surgically remove my own eyes." I remarked.
"Good, then get to it. Because those are the only two choices you have, Miss Romanov." Fury retaliated.
"And why on Earth would I join you?"
"Because if you don't, I will kill you myself. You should be dead right now, but seeing as skilled and lethal you are, I think you might be a great asset to the team. I will spare you if you are a good team player and works only for our interests. If you refuse, I will blow you to pieces right now. Choice is up to you."
Fury's tone was as hard as his stare, which were only inches away from mine. He walked past me, not hiding his content at his words, as I for sure thought he would've wanted to see my brain splattered at the end of his gun.
Barton himself was affected by those words, but not in a way I could fully read.
"Oh, and if you try to leave without permission," Fury called behind me "That security chip in your back will blow you to pieces before you can even say crap."
I didn't have to turn to feel his lips rise into a devilish grin as he watched me. I instantly reached behind me and sure enough, under my fingertips was a small chip fastened under my skin right next to my spinal cord. My bottom lip dropped slightly, while my eyes complimented my silent gasp, and I knew for sure, I was their prisoner.
"Your first mission begins tomorrow. Barton will take you to our Operations Director, where you will be briefed the logistics of it further. Hope you like the Middle East, Miss Romanov." Fury called as the white doors slammed behind him.
And there we were, just me and Barton. Alone. He didn't move for a moment as I tried to process my options now with Fury's threat lingering over me.
"Come with me, Director Hannigan is waiting for us."
As he started to walk away, I wielded my blade right across the room, till it landed against the wall, only an inch from his face.
He turned and instantly, he fixed his eyes on me.
"You missed." He remarked.
"Not entirely. You think I'd let you off that easy? That was merely to get your attention." I retaliated.
"I don't want to hurt you Miss Natasha…" He said, his voice said gently, yet stern. Mine was not so warm. More like spitfire.
"Not Natasha. Black Widow. Notorious Spy and Master Assassin. Emphasis on the last part."
"If you say so."
I kept my eyes on him, not flinching as he took a few steps around me, so he was in front of the pair of white doors. I watched him, while also keeping my eyes on something to use against him. That metal chair looked nice.
"Please…take a seat." I said, instantly tossing the chair with one arm right towards him. He dodged it, and as he did, I darted towards him, dropping low to the floor and swiping my leg under his, sending him to the ground in one swift move. He grabbed me back though and as I reached out to kick him with my free leg, he latched onto it too and dragged me across the floor until he was the one in control.
His hand quickly seized both of my wrists and he pulled them over my head and pinned me under him. His eyes met mine and as he took control, I was amazed to see I myself had found a worthy opponent.
"I'd say you have such incredible moves, but since you used them on me, I'm not obliged to call my remark a compliment, Miss Natasha."
"Don't call me, Natasha." I quipped, my heart starting to race as I felt his warm breath against mine. "I'd also be inclined to say the same of you if you weren't my reason for being trapped here."
"Despite what you may think, I want you to stay, seeing as you could help S.H.I.E.L.D. stop its most powerful enemies. Even if you don't want that, you could at least do it to save yourself."
And there they were, those blue pools of eyes meeting my green ones in a moment I couldn't quite describe. Despite my best efforts, I could not find a sense of weakness or vulnerability in them. Nothing to use to retaliate. For that moment, I didn't want to. All I felt was warmth, stamina, vulnerability on my own part. Myself blushing under him as I saw how close we were to one another, his body pressing against mine in a way more enjoyable than threatening. I was good at thinking on my feet, but under him, feeling my heart race at his presence, I was not prepared for this.
It took a moment for me to come back to my senses, but as I did, I quickly got the upper hand, twisting his hands above my head and reaching around so I was the one on top in an instant. With his hands pinned above him and my fit frame subduing him, I could tell just by the quick quiver of the corners of his mouth, he was quite impressed.
"I am. Just remember, Barton. I'm a lone wolf. I am not your ally. You are the end to a mean, no matter what Fury says. Got it?" I said harshly.
He didn't respond but for a brief moment, I realized he was looking at me the same way I feared I was looking at him when he was on top.
I definitely wasn't prepared for that.
I threw his hands back and swiftly got off him, not looking back as I headed for the door. I couldn't believe it-my opponent knew my weakness-and it quite possibly could be him.