So here I am, supposed to be studying for a midterms and instead I'm thinking about a storyline for a fic and then typing it on my phone. Whatever. If I fail I fail. I could always join the circus ;) I have no idea where this is going so be kind.

Warnings: well for this chapter I guess it's a bit dark and scary and mentions suicide but no one is committing but still, rated T for now
Clintasha 3
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-40 Days Missing, Captivity-

DARKNESS

That's all that the highly trained S.H.E.I.L.D. agent Black Widow has seen for the past 40 days. Not that she was aware of that; she had lost sense of time awhile ago. She seemed to be locked in a cellar of some kind, damp and cold. There was nothing in the approximately 12'x12' room except the floor and a small toilet. No window, no cot, no way out except a locked door with multiple armed guards. The concrete floor and walls were sandy and damp. Once a day someone opened the heavy door and set a slice of bread, some water and a piece of fruit on the ground while 3 others had their guns trained on her unwaveringly. Other than to eat or being dragged up and tied to a chair she spent most of her time sitting silently in the corner

Her once curly, vibrant hair sat in tangles on her head, dirtier than she'd like to admit, her mission cat suit in tatters.

At first she fought them, but not once did she even get close to half way out. There were so many locked doors, tight halls and trained guards. No matter how many guards she took out they overpowered her easily. The air in the cell was thick, definitely drugged with something to keep her weak. She took a small comfort and taking down a serious amount of hostiles.

Throughout the 40 days alone in the dark, they wasted a decent amount of time attempting to torture information out of her, but got nothing. She was good at torture. Silent and angry, but unlike her partner, good at not pissing off her captors. The cuts and bruises were numbed but still there, even her enhanced body too weak to heal its injuries. She found a small mercy in the fact no one seemed to have the nerve to approach her sexually. Natasha didn't want to admit it, but she was getting weaker. Malnutrition was taking over.

Today, she decided she was going to take control. She wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of watching her die in pain. She wasn't even quite sure why she was letting them keep her alive. She could kill herself with very little effort and no fear. Not that S.H.I.E.L.D. permitted things like that. The Black Widow was quite surprised when she learned that. Other places, especially the red room, expected and even taught spies to end their suffering when captured to protect intelligence.

She tilted the paper cup of water and watched it splash on the ground. Maybe she still had a little hope someone was coming.

-30 Days Missing, S.H.E.I.L.D. HQ-

Things were quiet today at HQ. No less hectic, no less rushed, but everyone was hushed and slightly solemn. Sure, agents died often enough, and it was depressing every time, but for an agent to be missing is slightly harder. Not knowing whether or not they are being tortured or if they are already dead is something more gut wrenching. The reality of the risk S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives take everyday becomes a heavier burden. Natasha wasn't the social type, didn't make friends easily or talk much. Something about being on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Most Wanted List at one point for her rampage as a hardened killer made conversation difficult. But everyone knew about her, and the pensive mood spread like wildfire.

After 30 days people started asking questions. "Is she dead? She has to be. But she's heavily trained. If they captured her she sure as hell wouldn't give anything up, I've seen her skill in interrogation." The whispers of people were hard to avoid, especially for Clint Barton.

Everyone left him alone, and he was ok with that. His partner was missing, and she was one of the few he talked to in the first place. After New York they were even closer if that could be possible. But now Coulson was dead, Natasha was missing and he was alone, and there was nothing he could do about it. Fury wouldn't let him join the search effort for a reason unknown to him, so he fumed alone on the roof looking down at the cars that looked like ants from his height.

She was more than just a coworker, but referring to them as a couple would result in something worse than death. He loved her and she loved him, but it was more than dating. They were partners with the ultimate trust. Their motions flowed together with deathly elegance; they could let their guard down around each other. She left her door unlocked for him, didn't tense up to his touch, and it went both ways.

30 days was a difficult number for Hawkeye to comprehend. They had been apart for longer periods of time, but he had assurance she was keeping herself safe. The day she was announced M.I.A. the other four Avengers stormed the building and made quite the racket. Well, Tony did. The others were more subtle.

Bruce left a soon as possible to go back to his lab, he wasn't one for words. He locked eyes with Clint for a moment in silent apology, knowing the bond that the two spies shared, then retreated. Nothing went unnoticed to him, not even the well concealed spark between the spy and the archer.

Thor and Cap didn't have much time to react in front of Clint, they nodded processing for a moment. This wasn't the first time The Captain had a friend M.I.A., so he kept a straight face, and Thor accidentally crunched his glass of water that he was holding, getting glass shards and water all over the table. Tony stood, rambling about satellites and funding, but when the team turned to Clint, he has gone. His chair at the conference table pushed back and the door open. He knew she was missing before they made it official.

Anger drove his movements to the roof. She was his partner, and he wasn't allowed to watch her back. The mission was announced not too long after New York. Natasha was cleared, but the psychologists weren't confident in his mental state. She left and he stayed. It wasn't that they aren't capable apart, but they are more effective together.

Hawkeye was still at his spot on the roof, refusing to mourn. Rain, sleet, wind, nothing seemed to bother him. And no one tried to disturb him. He was pushing his luck though. Sooner or later he was going to be plucked off the roof and into a mission by Fury, but for now he was allowed to be distracted.

-20 Days Missing, S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ-

50 days since they lost communication with The Black Widow, someone finally has the courage to approach him. Who other than the arrogant Tony Stark? In complete annoyance Clint didn't bother to turn around, but Stark chooses to ignore the hint.

"Clint, Fury is yelling for you." The entire time he worked with Tony, this would be the first time he referred to him as Clint. It was always something cleverly annoying that poked fun at his code name. He made no move to get up so the billionaire took a step closer. "Don't lose hope; if anyone would make it, it's her. I made it 3 months and then trekked through the desert with no training. She's more capable than I am."

The archer nodded and stood wordlessly, and followed him down a few flights of stairs into a hectic conference room. Papers were flying and orders were being shouted almost like they were filming a cheesy TV show. They were making a move, they had a location.

If the time-frames clash leave it in a review, I revised that a lot! Constructive criticism and ideas (especially ideas) are highly appreciated; I'm not much of a writer. Grammar (apparently it's my weakness) and spelling too. Really I appreciate ideas and inspiration even if it's a headcannon you saw on tumblr or something, DON'T BE EMBARRASSED, HELP ME AND MY MISSING CREATIVITY OUT (P.S. compliments are nice too)