Okay, here's chapter 10!
Natasha and Clint were awoken by the beeping of the seat belt button above their head. They both sleepily buckled up and braced for landing. Once the plane had landed, the two grabbed their bags that they had packed the previous day, and headed off. Coulson warned both of them to keep in contact, and keep him updated on the mission. They nodded in agreement and got in the taxi waiting for them. They told the driver to head to 1201 Wesselényi utca 87, the hotel they're staying at. Coulson booked them the cheapest hotel he could find that was in range of Armand's party, at $31 a night. They arrived and Clint helped Natasha to the door with her bags. The two walked in laughing and pretending to be all over each other, just as their cover said. They always start out right away in character. They made their way up to the desk to check in.
"We have a reservation." Clint said to the desk clerk.
"Name please?"
"Hall. Andrew Hall." Clint replied, using his cover name.
The desk clerk filed through the names in his computer, while Natasha made her way over to a painting on the wall. The clerk then handed Clint the room key.
"Katherine, honey, come along!" He said to get Natasha's attention. She obeyed and went back over to him. They proceeded to the elevator, hand in hand and giggling.
They get up to the top floor where their room is, and they set their things down on the bed. The one bed.
Before they say anything, they both involuntarily search the room for bugs. When neither of them find anything, they nod at each other that they are free to talk. Clint looks at the digital clock on the bedside table: 4:30 a.m. They still had all day until the party. While Clint set up their communication equipment on the desk in the corner, Natasha sat on the bed and pulled out a book.
Two and half hours later, at 7, the two headed down to the lobby to find breakfast, but found that the hotel didn't serve it. So, Clint suggested that they went out on the town for the day. Natasha agreed. The two got a taxi and rode into the center of Budapest. They sauntered down the streets hand in hand, giggling every so often to keep their cover in tact. They then came across a small café on the corner of two streets. Clint walked in and looked around. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he nodded at Natasha to come inside. They were once again hand in hand as they chose their table. A few moments later, a young, brunette waitress came up to their table and took their orders. They each ordered an order of waffles, Natasha ordering an orange juice with hers and Cling ordering a glass of milk. For the next ten minutes, they chatted about things that married couples chat about. The weather. The news. Puppies. Kittens. Children. They stopped when the same waitress brought their food.
"Thank you." Clint said. The waitress nodded and walked away.
The two ate in silence until the waitress came back up with their bill. Clint set the money on the table, and the two got up and left. They continued to walk the streets and stop at little stores for the rest of the day. At 4, they headed back to their hotel to get ready for the party. Natasha hopped in the shower first, and Clint after her. While he showered, she had to her hair. So, as awkward as it was, she blew dry her hair while he was right behind her, in the shower. After her hair was dry, she exited the bathroom to grab her curling iron. Clint had gone down to the lobby to kill some time while she got ready. She curled her hair and put it up, but let a few strands hang loose. She then applied eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, etc. When Clint came back, it was 6 o'clock already. He quickly put his suit on and had Natasha tie his tie for him. After that, she slipped on a long, strap less black dress and black high heels. Clint was stunned, but she ignored him. She knew he would like it. That was her plan.
After they were both ready, he took her by the arm and headed down to the lobby. The got in another taxi and headed for Armand's party.
Once at the party, Clint and Natasha assumed their covers as Andrew and Katherine Hall, from New York. They smoothly made their way past the bouncer and over to the bar. They each took a seat on the bar stools, and the bartender walked over to them. Clint ordered a beer and Natasha ordered a strawberry margarita. They made their way over to the tables and found a seat. They sat down, drinks in hand, skimming over the menu the hotel provided. They ordered their food and ate. After they had finished, they saw Armand come in the huge room. Natasha went into the bathroom, as planned, and Clint walked over to Armand.
"Andrew Hall, sir. This is a lovely party you have here. See, I'm here with my wife, and-"
"What do you want, Mr. Hall?" Armand interrupted. Clint thought of his options. There were three guards in the room, plus plenty more spread around the hotel.
"I, uh, I actually have a question for you." He said, stalling.
"And what might that be?"
"Could we possibly go somewhere private to talk, it's kind of a personal question."
Armand hesitated. He looked around for anything suspicious or out of place. Not seeing anything, he nodded. "Follow me."
Armand headed for a door off to their right, Clint following behind. Clint then turned around and saw Natasha standing by the bathrooms, looking right at him. He nodded. Their plan was in action.
Natasha moved far behind Clint, making sure not to lose them. Armand opened the door and headed down a hallway, going into the third door on his left. Clint followed, making sure to leave the door open slightly so Natasha can find which room they're in. The room was large, with two couches, a chair, an unmanned bar in the corner. Armand sat down on one of the couches, Clint taking a seat across from him.
"So, what is your question, Mr. Hall?" Armand started.
"It's a little embarrassing... My wife and I are a little low on money, and I need a job that's, uh, secret. If you know what I mean."
Armand contemplated this. Before he could answer, Natasha came tumbling into the room.
Clint stood up. "Kat, what are you doing here?"
Acting drunk, she stumbled over to Clint. He motioned her to sit down on the sofa. "I am so sorry Mr. Armand. This is my wife, Katherine. She must have had too much to drink. I'll get her out of here right now."
Clint grabbed Natasha by the arm and pulled her up, both of them yanking their guns out and pointing them on Armand. "Mr. Ferenci Armand, you are under arrest for the illegal shipment of weapons and ammunition. Get your hands on your head, now." Armand followed Clint's orders. Natasha moved behind Armand and cuffed him. Now all they had to do was get out. And luckily, Coulson had it all set up for them. They exited the room, Coulson holding onto Armand, and Natasha checking to make sure they were clear. They walked down the hallway and found a stair case that lead to the roof. They hurried up the five flights of steps and went through a door that opened up to the roof of the building. Natasha hit the button on her phone, giving the signal to Coulson. A few moments later, a helicopter came barreling to their location and landed right in front of them. Clint smirked. Their plan actually worked. Clint pushed Armand into the helicopter, two guards taking him. Clint then helped Natasha on board, and the two of them sat down across from Armand.
The ride was silent. The helicopter landed and they took Armand away. Clint and Natasha, however, had to go back to the hotel, get their stuff, and check out. This was to keep their covers in tact, just incase. The two of them rode back in a taxi together, and walked into the hotel. It was already two in the morning. The two decided to just stay the night there, and fly back home the next morning. They got into the elevator and went to their floor.
In the hotel room, they both had already showered and got in their pajamas. Clint was standing out on their small balcony, overlooking the section of Budapest they were in. Natasha joined him.
"Hey." Natasha said softly.
"Hey." Clint repeated. "You okay?"
Natasha sighed. "Yes. I am." She paused. "It was an easy mission, get in get out go home. Right?"
Clint was confused. "Uh, yes, that's all it was."
"But it made me realize something, Clint." She looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact.
"And what would that be?"
The balcony got eerily quiet. All Natasha could hear was her heart thumping in her chest. She thought carefully about what she was about to say... but no matter how carefully she phrased it, it would still end up changing their relationship forever.
"I don't know if this partnership is going to work." She said it so quietly Clint wasn't even sure if she actually said it.
Clint's heartbeat started to increase as well. "What do you mean it's not going to work?"
His firmness startled her. She could feel her eyes filling with water. "Before we left for vacation, Fury came to talk to me." She paused, and her words sped up. "He talked about how it never works out when partners start to develop feelings for each other and how it just starts to ruin missions and-"
Clint put both his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, Nat, everything's going to be okay." He moved his hands from her shoulders and set them on the railing.
"You don't know that.." She almost said to herself, but Clint heard her.
"You're right, I don't know what's going to happen." He paused and realized what she had said before. "Are you saying that you're developing feelings for me"
She looked away and didn't respond.
"Natasha, it's not unusual to have feelings for your partner. They are who you depend on, who have your back. They're always there for you. So that's not a problem."
"But it might become one." She shot back.
Clint contemplated this. He knew exactly what she was talking about. When he kissed Agent Hill, they could no longer function properly as partners. He didn't want the same thing to happen to them. He had to prove to her that they were nothing more than partners.
"Clint, I'm just going to go to bed." She turned around and started for the door when she felt Clint's hand grasping her upper arm. She was then pulled back by that very hand and was staring right into deep blue-green eyes.
Her face was only inches away from his now. He moved his hand from her arm, and set it on the small of her back.
And then, that few inches of space left between their lips was depleted to none.
GAH. It took me so long to write this chapter. ANYWAYS. Crazy cliffhanger, right?! Review and tell me what you thought! I'll try to update soon!
xoxo