They remained in the alley as Clint pulled out his earpiece and brought it to life. "Barton here."

"Mission completed?"

"Yes sir, I have Romanoff. We're awaiting pickup and- oof!"


His breath was knocked out of him with a solid knee to his solar plexus. Winded, he finished his transmission weakly, "Hold that thought Coulson," and then clicked the device off again.

"You really need to stop attacking me" he coughed.

"I'm not going in with you," Romanoff's eyes were bright but her face was set and firm.

As with most women, especially in this profession, her actions spoke volumes over her words. The fact that she hadn't followed up her attack, taken him out when she had the chance and simply walked away meant that a part of her wanted to go with him.

His words, when he spoke, were quiet, "What else are you gonna do? You pissed off the Agency and pretty much every group before them. Your work with the Agency was the only thing keeping everyone else off your back so for you to do something to make the Agency want you dead either means that you're an idiot- which you aren't- or you have a death wish- which I don't think you do. You just can't see the secret third option. Which is why I'm here waving it in front of your face like a fucking red cape for a bull."

"I've killed SHIELD agents and ruined a lot of ops for you," she was grasping at excuses and they both knew it. That final realization brought a wave of calm rushing through him; he was glad he had read her right.

He'd been in her same place before, a little less severe to be sure, but no less terrifying. SHIELD had offered him a chance to do something good. To be useful. To be needed. So he knew beyond a doubt that she wanted to take this chance and get away from all the shit she'd dealt with because of the Agency. That didn't mean that she wasn't scared to make that leap though.

"Agents have gotten their partners killed and ruined missions. At least we knew you were a threat when we went into the field. It's the job. They wouldn't have sent me to watch you and bring you in if they weren't serious."

He was desperate to get her behind him on this. If she didn't agree and show that she wanted this there was no way he'd get Coulson and Fury to back him.

"I won't do any joint missions. I work alone." Her voice was flat and her eyes betrayed nothing but there was a subtle relaxation in her posture, as though a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"I gathered that much from your name, Black Widow," he mocked and reconnected his comm.

"Coulson."

"Barton, I want a sit rep now." Clint winced; Coulson was a little mad.

"Romanoff is with me and has agreed to come in." He had to be careful with his words since Natasha could hear everything he said.

"What do you mean she's with you? Your mission was to take her out."

"Yes sir, she's willing to talk about becoming an asset."

"Barton this isn't funny. Director Fury won't accept this, let alone the Council."

"I know Coulson. This was unexpected but overall I think it's for the best."

He could hear Coulson sigh, could practically see the man's deepening frown lines from here.

"Fine. Meet at the agreed rendezvous point. Transportation will be ready. I assume she doesn't know that you were sent to take her out?"

"Affirmative. We'll head to the location. Barton out."

He turned back to her, "See?" he smiled. "No worries. They'll be ready for us at the meeting point just outside of the city. I have a bike."

"So do I." He was gratified to see a smile playing around the corner of her lips.

He smirked predatorily, "Then let's see if you can keep up."

To his amusement, she ended up being better at handling a motorcycle than him by a long shot. She gave a little victorious smirk when they pulled up to the clearing and turned the bikes off.

They made it to the pickup point with no major incidents- minor traffic violations hardly counted- and made their way over to the helicopter.

The bikes were left behind, wiped for prints and quickly cleaned off, and they boarded the craft and took off almost immediately.

The pilot was familiar with Clint and gave him an irritated look for burdening him with an extra passenger. Clint just clapped him on the shoulder and pulled on the co-pilot headset. He tossed an extra set of ear covers to Romanoff but she didn't acknowledge him as she slipped them on.

He hoped she wasn't having second thoughts, but at this point it was out of his control so he focused on the flight.

The Helicarrier was on the water at the moment- easier to land aircrafts when it was at sea- and he could see Coulson as they descended.

The man never exactly looked pleased but as he got closer it was clear that he was more pissed than Clint had seen him in awhile.

Natasha followed him like a shadow as they walked onto the Helicarrier behind Coulson, who had turned without a word to enter the facility.

They walked though the halls to a conference room where Coulson finally acknowledged them. "Miss Romanoff, please wait in here. After we debrief Agent Barton Director Fury and I will be in to speak with you."

She nodded and went in without protest, although her lips quirked in amusement when an agent stepped into place by the door to guard it.

Coulson walked away again and Clint looked back to Natasha, unsure exactly what emotions he was portraying but knowing that she could read something from his face and body language.

He turned away abruptly and jogged to catch up to Coulson as he headed to Director Fury's private office.

Damn, that means the Council's involved.

Fury stood by his desk but the screen was not keyed up with the Council. Clint had only ever been in front of them once; from what Coulson and Hill told him these guys were real assholes and as a result he didn't have much respect for them.

"Barton. You wanna explain what the hell you were thinking?"

Director Fury's voice boomed throughout the room the second the door was closed.

Unwilling to do anything to piss Fury or Coulson off any more, he adopted the traditional soldier pose; legs at hip length apart, arms bent at the elbow, hands clasped behind his back, and addressed the director respectfully.

"In the process of carrying out my mission I became aware of some incongruous information which made me initially reconsider my orders, sir."

"Orders are not given to be reconsidered, agent."

"Yes, sir."

"What did you learn, Barton?" Coulson stepped in.

"I observed Romanoff for six days as requested and noticed that her behavior was not consistent with her usual MO. She was going back and forth between apartments, stocking each location carefully and always alert for potential tails. With your permission, Director Fury, I observed her for an additional ten days, at which point I knew for a fact that she had not made contact with the Agency or any agents at any point."

Fury chewed over that information while Coulson spoke again. "Why did you approach her?"

"Romanoff could be a valuable asset. I wanted the chance to evaluate the situation from a closer perspective before I made the call. Had she still been an Agency asset I would have eliminated her. I was able to make contact and control the situation at which time she confirmed my suspicions."

"Which were what?" Fury was losing patience.

"Romanoff is longer tied to the Agency. Her location in Warsaw was not a mission, it was a retreat. She was running from them and establishing potential safe houses to return to later." He savored the look of surprise on Fury's face and the brief flash of understanding on Coulson's.

"Why didn't you make contact with us immediately after?" Coulson again.

"After I spoke with Romanoff enemy agents began to close in on our position. We were able to get to the roof and establish a minimum safe distance before I contacted you, sir."

Coulson remained silent as they both waited for Fury's decision.

"You are aware that this could be a trick to get her in?"

Clint shook his head, "I don't believe it is, sir. I will take full responsibility for her presence here and any action she takes that is out of line."

He could hear Coulson's breath hitch and Fury spoke, "Think carefully about that decision, Agent Barton."

"I don't need to, sir. I believe Romanoff will be a valuable asset."

He saw Fury shoot a look at Coulson but neither man spoke for several mintues.

"Very well. I'll back this. But you'll face the consequences for anything she does. One step out of line, and it's your ass." Fury moved behind his desk to bring the Council up on the screen.

Coulson took several steps back to be out of the way; he was strictly an observer at this point.

Clint stood tall, aware of the bloody bandage around his arm, the fact that he hadn't showered or slept in over a day, and that he was still in mission clothes with his quiver on his back. Despite all that he looked at each Council member carefully, unashamed of his ragged appearance and silently observing anything which might be useful.

Fury addressed them, "As you know, Agent Barton was assigned the mission to take out Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow. He recently returned and brought her back with him as an asset."

Each Council member immediately sat up straighter and the man in the center spoke in a rushed voice, "That is unacceptable. Your orders were clear, agent. Director Fury, eliminate Romanoff. We will decide disciplinary action for Agent Barton later."

Clint stepped forward, uncaring if he was offending the social niceties in this situation. "Sir, I don't think you fully understand the situation. Romanoff came in willingly and has cut her ties to the Agency. She's agreed to become an asset."

That shut them up, although the Councilman eyed him angrily.

A woman on his left spoke, "When did she leave the Agency? We have no intelligence on this matter."

"At least three weeks ago, ma'am. She was in Warsaw establishing safe houses and supplying them for later. At this time I do not know why she left. But it is clear that the Agency has been keeping it quiet to prevent other organizations from learning about her defection and potentially moving to acquire her or taking steps against the Agency while it is temporarily weakened."

"If she's willing to become an asset then it would be a waste to kill her at this point. She's extremely skilled at what she does," the woman continued. A quick glance at the screen revealed nothing of the rest of the Council's feelings. A full minute of silence passed before they got a reaction.

The man spoke up again, "The Council will support this on two conditions."

Clint was immediately wary; Coulson had told him once that the Council had to have each member agree to a proposal before they would pass it. That system was part of the reason why Director Fury disagreed with them so often. Simply put it usually took some time before everyone was on board with a plan which led to complications in the field for the agents and for Director Fury.

The man speaking had been firmly against Natasha joining as an agent only two minutes ago. He'd changed his mind much too quickly for Clint to be entirely comfortable with these conditions.

Something was up. He knew Coulson and Fury were similarly alert, but they could only stand and listen.

"First, Romanoff is to be carefully monitored for at least four months, at which time all outside communication and interactions are forbidden, and she undergoes standard training to evaluate potential weaknesses that we are unaware of as well as to judge her dedication to this organization."

Fury stepped up, "Done."

"Second, Agent Barton agrees to a mission of our choosing both as punishment for defying orders and as proof of his belief that Romanoff will be a valuable asset to the organization."

There it is. First the carrot and now the stick.

Clint knew something would be awful about this mission, otherwise they wouldn't have held it in reserve and doled it out as punishment. They clearly had an assignment already in mind. But if they needed the mission done that badly he might have a little leverage.

He could feel both Coulson and Fury at his back and knew they'd want him to demand more information but at this point he had something he cared about more, "Done, with one condition of my own."

The man looked more than a little annoyed but it was the Councilwoman from before who spoke, "What is it, agent?"

"Romanoff is not aware that I went against orders to bring her in as an asset. I request that the details of this mission be kept confidential and that she is not told that I was originally sent to Warsaw to kill her."

"Very well. Agent Coulson, you are excused."

He felt Phil lightly pat his shoulder as he left, a promise to talk later, before he left the room.

A quick glance at Fury showed the man's anger, both at his own hasty actions and at the Council for putting them in this position.

"Agent Barton, you are hereby instructed to report to Dornbirn, Austria and monitor the recent activity along the border."

"Activity by who, sir?" He wasn't feeling so great about this all of a sudden.

"HYDRA." Yep, this definitely sucked.