Mission Ski Resort

Clint was well aware that he needed to pay attention to the advice Agent Coulson and Agent Hill was giving them about how not to blow their cover but he couldn't help mulling over that sentence that Coulson had said a minute ago. You two are a newly engaged couple on holiday and your lodge will be bugged, as is everyone's so you'll have to pretend to... Hill had cut him off at that point but Clint knew what the senior agent was implying.

"Agent Barton, can you please follow me to the men's bathroom?" Coulson asked, smirking. Clint exchanged a look with Natasha who was looking as confused as Clint felt. He followed Coulson to the restroom then looked at him.

"Why are we in a restroom together?"

"I need to wash my hands." Coulson suddenly announced. Clint frowned and watched Coulson splash water everywhere. Water landed on his face and he jumped from the sudden shock of cold water and the static blaring away in his ear.

"Ow, my ear piece!" Clint pulled it out and then realized what Coulson was getting at. "Oh!"

"Yeah. We'd better put it in the bin if it's ruined." Coulson took it off him and flushed it down the toilet. "Precautionary measures." He said.

"Why?"

"Natasha can hear everything you and people around you if they're being loud are saying. I need to tell you something...in private." Clint waited, eyebrow raised. "It's about Natasha and the mission."

"You don't need to tell me to be careful. I already am. I know I shouldn't trust her but a bit of me does and I'm trying to kill that bit of trust. She's an ex-Russian-spy, Coulson, I know what I'm dealing with."

"But you don't. She's a master at concealing her emotions and pretending to be real. She is dangerous. Don't let her get to you, Clint."

"I won't, Phil."

"Barton I am very serious about this. That woman could be betraying us all or be in love with us all and we'd never know. This mission determines her true loyalty to us. And to you."

"I understand."

"No, you don't. And I doubt you ever will. You're too entranced by what everyone else sees. The outer layer of a pretty face and sharp words but her insides are poison, Barton. Killing everyone around her for her own gain."

"Coulson, she is not poison."

"She will infect everyone around her with that spider venom. She cannot be trusted."

"Natasha is not poison!" Clint yelled then took a deep breath. "I have to go. Do not try to approach me like this again, Agent Coulson. Agent Romanoff is my partner and I wouldn't like anyone to get on the wrong side of me or her. I like you fully intact."

Clint walked away, satisfied that his threat would be enough for Coulson to stay away from their relationship; both professional and personal.

...

Natasha watched Barton walk out of the bathroom. He looked furious and she wondered what Coulson had said to him. No doubt something about the mission. Not to trust her...not to believe a word she said...not to get personal...

"Agent Romanoff." Clint said. "Can we have a talk while the senior agents are somewhat preoccupied?"

Natasha nodded and followed him to the training room. Clint shut the door and turned to her. She didn't want to know what he had to say next. Or maybe she did. She didn't even know if she liked him or not. He was all cocky and annoying the day before but today, he seemed serious. Maybe the mission was making him more bearable.

"What did you want to talk about?" Natasha asked.

"Coulson told me not to trust you."

"I guessed that he would."

"I told him that he was wrong. That maybe there was some goodness inside of you. You are still human, after all."

"Humans can be pure evil."

"But not you."

"How do you know, Agent Barton?"

"I'm not sure but...when I look at you, I just...can't help but think that you're just misunderstood." Barton said. He looked at Natasha. "Or am I wrong and you're as cold and fake as you seem?"

"You're not right. But you're not wrong either."

"I'm not sure what that means."

"Trust me to a certain degree, Barton, because even I don't know where my loyalties lie."

I just wanted to end it on a dramatic sentence and I'd just like to say that it will be getting less psycho and more nice Natasha soon. The romance won't come soon, it'll be more a build up of friendship and trust then maybe some romance. MAYBE.