After Serbia, things are not quite the same anymore. Natalia finds herself thinking of him more often, thinking of that american who saved her life twice now. It's distracting and she should really stop doing it, but she can't help herself. She knows he let his target get away to save her. That is breaking the rules. Again. He didn't seem to care though, he even took her to his hotel and patched her up. His hands had been gentle, way softer than she thought and careful not to hurt her any further. Not like the medics she knows at all. His jokes had been really crappy, but she hadn't minded. It confused the hell out of her, but instead of terminating the distraction she finds herself wanting to meet him again. This confuses her even more.

Clint's life is really crappy right now. After he messed up in Serbia he knows for sure the US cover intelligence wants him, and that he managed to piss of some warlord in Africa doesn't help at all. The guy told him to either take the hit on a rival or die instantly. Choice had been easy.

So now, after only about half a day planning, he is on a party his target gives. Why do the bad guys always host parties? And really, a warlord in a suit? But Clint doesn't really care. All he knows is that the warlord is clever enough to always be inside and out of reach of every sniper riffle, what means Clint has to get close. And the party is perfect for that. He just tries to figure out how he could get past the three bodyguards that are always with the target, two openly standing behind him while the third one tries to look like a party guest (he fails miserably), when Clint suddenly feels somebody behind him. He turns around and looks at two security guys who look like bodybuilders. Clint knows he is fast, and he knows that he could probably knock them out, but not without alarming the other thirty security guards in the room. The poison he got for his target (it worked after about 30 minutes, enough time to get away) won't help him here. He is beat and he knows it. Guard one (the left one) says:

„Would you please come with us?"

It's not really a question and Clint knows better than to treat it as one. He follows them into a little room, desperately trying to find a way out. The two thugs calmly inform him that his cover name, Craig Bennet, is not one the guest list and that nobody in there knows him. Then they ask him what he has to say to that. Well, he of course doesn't have anything to say, so they ask him who ordered the hit. He tells them, because really, he doesn't care or the guy who hired him.

The guys don't seem to believe him and chain him to the wall. He fights them, but they call in three other guys and he soon hangs from the wall. Then they start to torture him. He stays with his story, because well, it's the truth and he really doesn't know what they want to hear. Also he has the sneaking suspicion that those guys don't care. They are going to kill him anyway, this here is just to prove a point. He loses the sense of time. From time to time new guys come in. Once, after what feels like about six hours but also could be days or only a an hour he thinks he sees a familiar flash of red in the door, but that's probably just imagination. It doesn't matter, but it brings his thoughts to her. It's nice to think of her just before he blacks out.

Natalia has been sent to Africa for a while. The warlord here is a friend of Uncle Ivan and Uncle Ivan told her to do anything the warlord asks her to do. So she does. She mostly stays in the background, the guys here don't really respect her, but that's okay because she has time for herself this way. It's a completely new concept for her, spending hours without being told what to do, just she herself. She sets up a safe house a few miles away from the warlords headquarter, more a habit than anything else. She doesn't think she'll use it.

Then she hears that somebody send an assassin after her momentarily boss. She shakes her head. Who is stupid enough to agree to take such a target? Really, everybody knows the warlord is protected by the Red Room. She gets curious about this guy and sneaks down in the room where they have him. When she sees him her heart nearly stops. Even beaten up and in the crappy light of the room it's unmistakable him. Clint.

She doesn't know what's happening, but somehow she is running, away from this, away from the place where the only guy who ever really cared for her gets beaten up and tortured. Somehow, she ends up on the roof. She tries to get her head clear. Natalia really shouldn't care, she knows that. The problem is she does. She feels … connected to Clint, and also she owes him a debt. But Uncle Ivan told her to do anything the warlord orders her... and feelings and friendship and everything is for children. She is no child. But that doesn't change the fact that Natasha thinks of Clint as a friend, it doesn't change the fact that she wants to grab a few guns and kill those thugs for hurting Clint.

This sudden wave of emotion confuses the hell out of her. She is the Black Widow, she shouldn't feel. She wants to punch something because she doesn't know what to do. She is loyal to the Red Room, but Clint is a friend. Her only friend.

There is no way to get out of this situation without betraying either Clint or Uncle Ivan.

When Clint wakes up, he doesn't feel any more punches. He keeps his eyes closed, just in case, but the only thing he feels are careful hands that unchain him. Are they going to execute him now? No, … he smells something familiar. Natasha. His eyes fly open. Green eyes stare worried into his blue grey ones. Red hair brushes lightly over his shoulder. She is here. Natasha.

„Nat?" He croaked out.

„Psst!" She makes, putting a finger to her lips and obviously scanning him for injuries. Well, he has a few. Then she hands him a gun and motions him to follow her. She leads him through a labyrinth of corridors, always making sure nobody sees them. Clint's feet get heavier by the minute. He is sure he cracked at least two ribs and his left ankle is badly sprained, not to think of the long, bleeding gash on his torso, but now is not the moment to take a break. He knows it's only a matter of time till they find out he escaped, so he hurries up. Natasha, who still hasn't spoken a word, suddenly opens a door and steps out into the sunlight. It burns in Clint's eyes, but only for a moment, then he gets used to it. She leads him through empty streets now, and he realizes how tired he is. Then, somehow, they are in a little house. He doesn't remember how they got here. Natasha says something, but Clint doesn't hear it and blacks out again.

The next time he wakes up, he lies in a small, yet somehow comfortable bed. It's warm, but not too warm and he seems to be alone. When he opens his eyes, he realizes he is in the little house Natasha brought him into. Natasha. He looks around, but she's not there. He tries to sit up and realizes his torso and his ankle are bandaged along with most of his other injuries.. She must have done it while he was out. On the table in the middle of the room lies a small note.

Dear Clint

I hope you feel better when you read this. I had to go back before somebody misses me. This house is safe, you can stay as long as you want. Medical supplies are under the bed. You should research your targets better =)

Till next time,

Natasha

She goes back as if nothing happened. They keep her busy, now they know he go away, but after two days it's back to normal and she has the time to think. She owed him a debt, she reasons to herself. Also, Uncle Ivan only told her to do what the warlord orders her to do. He never said she shouldn't free Clint.

AN: I hope you liked it. I wanted to show the loyalty conflict Natasha gets into. Please tell me what you think, really, I need reviews!