The first time the Delta Strike Team met Charlotte was in the dark halls of a mission in Vienna, Italy. The time was 0400 hours and the mission was scheduled for an extraction of a man by the name of Khalid Johari. The team was gearing up, Clint pulling his bow across his shoulders, his guns and knives in their holsters. Anna was her usually quiet self as she nervously ran her poker knife along a sharpener, a habit when she wanted to keep herself awake.

"Team" Fury's gruff voice called them to attention. The older man regarded them with his customary black trench coat, eye patch, and scowl. "You have 12 hours to extract the target, Agent Carter is running point on this and you will be meeting them at the location." A chorus of ' yes sir' followed and Agent Coulson passed out the briefing packet. The Director eyed them all and then with a turn of his "cape" left them as the jet's doors closed.

—

Vienna, Italy

2100 hours

The grand ballroom was alight with dancers; millionaires, billionaires, and businessmen. Women from all over the world in dresses that cost more than most people's fortunes milled about the room. The small orchestra played low music, the champagne flowed freely.

A very nice place to set eyes on their target.

Khalid was in fact supposed to be at this event, his date for the evening a supposed high escort he has been doting in for the last three months or so. The pictures of her had been non conclusive at best, flashes of blonde hair, she certainly knew how to hide her face. Anna's theory of turning her as an asset was denied repeatedly by their handler at SHEILD.

As of now, Clint was very very uncomfortable. The suit fit him perfectly, a product of the agency having his measurements on file no doubt. The black jacket, tie, and loafers made him feel out of place, personally, he preferred a good pair of jeans, a flannel maybe. He did not feel as comfortable as Daniel appeared to be. The older agent's suit was similar to Barton's, only he had a lovely burgundy gowned Remington on his arm.

"Target spotted, Barton on your 9" came Rumlow through his comms.

Using the waiter with a glass as a means to turn his head he found the

'Debonair' businessman. Khalid was laughing with a group of other men, all dressed in suits seemingly made of the finest, he was almost clearly intoxicated. His laughter was a little too loud, his face a little too flushed to be entirely sober.

"Make an approach?" Remington looked up to Daniel, flashing a smile as if what she had asked was funny. Rumlow answered " Negative, Keep an eye for our contact, they haven't been spotted, Hawk doesn't have his date" Their observatory agent chuckled, Clint had to urge to whack him.

When they had arrived at their safe-house earlier the day before they were surprised to find it was empty, although it seemed they have been occupied by a female only the night before. Their outfits were laid out neatly and a note told them all they needed to know. Agent Carter was a female and would be attending the event with them. Meeting them there later that night.

So far, no indication she was here. The laughter of the night and slow music made Clint glad he help a glass full of the bubbly liquid. He wouldn't get drunk of course, it took hard liquor for that. But it quelled the uneasy feeling he had at the back of his neck.

From where he was he could visibly see Khalid's whole demeanor change, his back was straightened, a borderline malicious smile passed his lips. His gaze towards the other end of the room.

At that moment, Clint Barton's stomach dropped.

The moment she walked into the room it was as if she had her very own gravity

The moment she walked into the room it was as if she had her very own gravity. Moving people out of the way with a sweep of her eyes.

A deep royal blue dress flowed around her as she walked, striding forward as if the sea would part for her. Blonde hair curled up into a golden net that matched the touches of metal on her waist, wrist, and neck. Deep shining blue eyes were soft and alight with warmth and innocence, head held high.

Charlotte.

"Holy..." Anna cursed.

Khalid's arm opened and Clint watched as it snaked around the slim waist of the SHIELD agent, pulling her a little too rough for it to be endearing. The blonde simply plucked the glass from the nearby waiter and sipped it lightly.

"Pretty. Isn't she?" Came a voice, Clint shook out of his daze to see a young woman beside him. She was short, brown hair pulled to the side and her glass beaded dress glittered under the lights. Her accent was distinctly English and very curt." You're not the first to watch her, and you won't be the last" she scoffed. Clint turned to face her fully "I don't believe we have met? Clark Foster" he offered her his hand. She took it, regarding him with a seeming cold indifference, when he noticed her carefully placed bangle.

Silver, laced with a binary code he was familiar with, the shape of a brilliant British emblem.

Bloody hell.

MI6

The woman didn't bother to acknowledge his realization, instead focusing back on the blonde they had been discussing. "It's a bloody shame they allow women like her in this place, the bedroom I understand" she waved her gloves hand" but in public, that's a disgrace."

White hot anger rolled through him, however, he took a sip of his drink and listened. He was definitely confused "I thought it was common practice actually, wouldn't be the first time a lady has escorted a gentleman to an event" he shrugged.

The woman (whose name was Louisa, from what Rem mentioned after a sting of curses in his ear) raised an eyebrow, letting out an amused sound. "She isn't an escort, at least those have some sort of dignity,"

Okay. Now he was determined to find out.

Louisa glanced up at the man before slashing an eye-rolling grin "Oh my dear sweet American, the woman is a submissive" she whispered. Now he got it. Didn't believe it for a moment. But he understood her attitude.

He glanced closer and the subtlety was there. Charlotte's ankle held a small golden bangle seemingly too tight to be able to slip on or off. Khalid was possessive, always having to have her in his sights, his eyes following her as if she was a doe and he a cat, this wasn't doting love, or a passing fling, it was physical ownership. It made his stomach churn. This mission was dangerous, even more so now.

"You should see her without the makeup, poor thing, looks like she got hit by a MAC truck" the woman snorted. Clint caught Remington's eyes as she moved alone with Daniel towards Khalid.

The businessman noticed the two moving towards him, sending Remington a charming smile. "Welcome friends" he exclaimed and one arm to shake hands while the other had his nails into the bare back of Charlotte's skin. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sir" came Remington's cool tone, she must have heard Louisa's commentary. The blonde lowered her eyes and bared her neck towards the man, it was subtle, but it made the Saurian man's eyes narrow predatorily, with an almost malicious glint. Daniel pretended not to notice and continued to speak "Your work is extraordinary, I am a large fan of you manufacturing construct" Daniel prattles, Khalid's gaze seemed to lock into Remington whose bashful eyes fluttered.

It always occurred to Clint that the usually stoic blonde could lay it on thick when she wanted to.

Khalid gave a smirk to Daniel, who was talking regarding the information on his current deal with the Dutch. Clint felt a hand slip into his elbow, "Come with me " Louisa pulled him towards the floor, and he thanked the lucky stars he had learned how to dance. The music caused them to sway, Clint leading them to the smooth jazz, his eyes careful not to leave the sight of his partners for too long.

"Your very good at what you do Agent" the little woman in his arms let off a trademark grin. Barton felt his body tense as he turned her about the floor. A million possibilities running through his mind in a second... the op could be an international shit show if it was compromised.

"Relax archer," the British dame pressed her head into his shoulder, silencing her words from any outside ears. "I not here on official business, only as a favor to sunshine over there" she flickered her eyes towards the blue-clad mistress that was now being ushered out of the room by a slightly staggering Khalid, with the two American agents in tow. Clint twirled the brunette, this somewhat placed his mind deeper into the state of alert. However, Louisa continues "We were being listened to before, do me a favor and keep the... commentary amongst yourselves? Hm?" She chided with a grin.

"The drinks been spiked Barton, keep an eye on target" Rumlow's voice echoed through coms. Clint was eager to have his eye on the blonde only for the British agent to gather has attention as she subtly slipped a syringe into his cuff. Her voice barely audible "She will need this for her plan, checkpoint safe house" and with that he watched as the undercover agent walked away, plucking a final glass as she left.

Externally: He was the picture of cool as he turned to exit the dance floor

Internally: he was screaming,

They were gone.

—

The laughter and music from the party drifted upward as he linked arms with the British dame by the door. She held a kind of smirk as she clung to his arm, leaning in the way that suggested she was his latest conquest and was being led to an awaiting feather bed in the upper rooms.

The receptionist gave them no trouble as Louisa's heels clicked across the marble floor and towards the elevator. The doorman allowing them a sly eye roll as Clint slipped his hand around her waist a little lower than he should have. In all honesty, he was worried, Rumlow informed him the two couples were in the room at the penthouse, top floor, and he had lost visual but then the audio was in full swing.

As the elevator doors shut the brunette moved away from him like the plague. "Ugh! Undercover is not my cup of tea" she snarked and much to his surprise hiked up her leg and reached down, he almost blushed.

Almost

After a second and a click two handguns came free from wherever she had somehow hidden them. Reaching once again she pulled a black cord from around her ankle and placed the circular band in her mouth. Her eyes caught his "mwhat" she scoffed, Clint held up his hands in defense "Just wondering what the band was for? Gonna choke someone out English?"

Wrong answer

Very wrong answer

The brown haired woman looked offended for a second, as if she was biting back a retort. Instead, she laughed, " Seriously?!" She chuckled Clint rolled his eyes " What's it gonna do redcoat, I'm not one for surprises" Louisa looked as if she was contemplating it for a moment "it's a highly classified explosive we haven't exposed to the rest of the agency quite yet, very discrete" she nodded with a strait face. The American spy reeled back in shock " No way..." he narrowed his eyes with a breath, he didn't finish his comment as Louisa burst out laughing pulling the black band from between her teeth with a grin " It's a hair tie you bloody moron" she teased. Slipping the band on her wrist she yanked her curls into a high pony tail out of her face.

Okay... he earned that one.

The elevator dinged, "mission time" he thought to himself.