Natasha returned before the sun rose and Clint was up as soon as he heard the key in the door. He hadn't really slept other than a light restless sleep. Years of training and nearly being killed had taught him to wake up instantly and be completely alert. He doubted it was anyone but Natasha but he still prepared to grab his bow.
Clint relaxed as he watched Natasha slip into the room. She was quiet and gently shut the door. If Clint was in a deeper sleep before then he'd probably have slept through her entrance. It was something he'd have to make sure he was far more aware of, he still didn't fully trust her.
"You're still up." Natasha said questioningly.
Clint shrugged. "I'm sure Stark filled you in with the details."
"That you used a hostage? So what? Use everything in your surroundings to your advantage." Natasha said casually and factually. After a moment of silence where Clint didn't reply she seemed to pick up on something. "Oh. It bothers you that you used a child?"
"That shouldn't be a question Natasha." Clint muttered. He didn't want to be annoyed at her but the fact she seemed unsure that it was wrong irked him. But he couldn't blame her, it was the people who raised her to be the emotionless assassin.
"You didn't hurt her. She'll get over it. The alternative was bystanders getting injured or you being killed. Or worse, captured."
"I wouldn't say being captured is worse than being killed." Clint really had to wonder about her priories. Though maybe she was aiming at distracting him which proved to be effective.
"Then you've never being tortured by a professional." Natasha responded bluntly.
Clint knew if he was sympathetic towards her then she'd probably punch him. Instead he pulled his legs off the couch and gestured she sit down. Natasha was still standing at the door. "Are you any closer to getting the files?"
Natasha sat down on the couch and threw her feet up onto the coffee table. "The man is easy to seduce but not foolish. I've only gotten basic information that is easy to obtain. I'd hoped that the death of Anton might make him reckless but instead he's just pissed off." Natasha shrugged as if human emotions just confused her.
"How strange." Clint replied drily. Sometimes he wondered if she was a robot. "What's your plan then?"
"Put him in a position where he can't refuse." Natasha sounded deadly. Clint had a feeling someone else's life was about to be at stake.
Clint thought for a second before clicking. "Virginia Potts?"
"You're not just as pretty face after all." Natasha said humourlessly. As if she wasn't talking about threatening the most important person in Tony Stark's life.
"You think I'm pretty?" Clint gasped and held a hand to his heart. Because playing around with her was easier than thinking about the horrible things she was capable of. And the horrible things he'd do to please her.
"When I'm drunk, sure." Natasha gave him a tiny smile and somehow that made it all worth it.
"Better than nothing. I'll take it." Clint grinned back at her and bumped shoulders. It was the only physical touch he could away with. Clint is pretty sure he's the only one who could get away with it.
"Try and get some sleep Barton. We have a long day ahead tomorrow. Or later today I guess." Natasha got up and headed to the bathroom before settling in bed. Clint settled back on the couch.
"Night Tasha." Clint mumbled. The exhaustion, both mental and physical had hit him hard. Having Natasha back in the motel room made him feel more at ease and she'd help take his mind off the day.
"Stop butchering my name Clint." Natasha warned lightly.
Clint only slept a few hours before Natasha kicked his foot that was hanging off the couch. It was quickly made up for by the coffee she then waved under his nose. Not so long ago Clint would have assumed it was poisoned. Now he only half heartedly thinks it.
"Bleach or rat poison?" Clint asks with a grin before sitting up and taking the coffee.
"I'm not telling, it would ruin the surprise." Natasha says with a smirk.
Clint is surprised when he takes a sip and finds it's exactly to his liking. He wonders how Natasha knew, then again she probably spent a lot of time watching him, learning everything about him. Not out of a caring nature but as she's said before, everything can be an advantage. And he supposed right now, coffee was to her advantage because he didn't moan about the initial rude awakening.
"So what's the plan Black Widow? I kidnap Potts and threaten Stark until he hands over the files?" Clint asks with a small amount of resignation. He wasn't looking forward to it. Another innocent hostage in two days was really going to destroy him. But he'd do it, for her.
"No. Stark has Pepper surrounded with security after the attack on Anton. He still trusts me as a PA so I can get close to her. Had to blow my cover eventually." Natasha says with an uncaring shrug. Clint thinks originally the plan would have been him going after Pepper but Nat didn't want to put him in that situation. "I'll need you to be back up if Stark tries anything."
"Tash don't change the plan if you don't think it's suitable. I'll do it if it's less risk and has a higher chance of succeeding." Clint was grateful she was giving him an out but at the same time he wasn't going to let her put herself in high risk situation.
"It doesn't matter who does it, either way someone is going to have to be back up and either way my cover is going to be blown. It's easier for me to grab her. You're better at long distance so I'd rather you watching my back than be in the middle of it." Natasha reasons. In fact it sounds like it was her plan all along but Clint can't help but feel she did have something else planned until she got back to the motel and saw how messed up he was about using a young girl as a hostage.
"If you think that's the best option and have no other ideas then let's do it."
"I have no other plan in place." Natasha said a moment of hesitation.
Clint wasn't going to acknowledge it but the words slip out before he can stop it. "Thank you Natasha."
Natasha nods once in acceptance and understanding. "Pepper will be at Stark Towers at noon for lunch with Stark. I'll grab her near a window on Stark's personal floor so you're able to have eyes and ears on the situation. Only act if you need to. Hopefully he won't pull any heroic shit and we'll be done with this by the end of the day."
"Then what?" Clint asked, he should have been focusing on the task at hand but for some reason the after was more important to him.
"I'll have to return to Russia to report back to the KGB and receive my next mission." Natasha replied factually. After a pause she then looked up at him thoughtfully. "Perhaps I'll need outside help."
"I don't know where you'd find someone to help you. You terrify everyone." Clint said with a smirk. "But I guess I'm probably free."
"I don't scare you any more?" Natasha asked and Clint could have sworn she pouted.
"Spiders are more scared of you than you are of them." Clint's smirked widened.
"Oh? Interesting." Natasha clicked her tongue thoughtfully and walked around the couch to head to the bathroom. Clint wasn't sure whether she was pissed or not. But as it turns out she wasn't heading to the bathroom. Before he could even react he found the couch tipping backwards. His coffee was thrown up and onto him, thankfully by now it had cooled down. Natasha stuck a bare foot over his throat as he laid on the up turned couch, his head on the ground. "You're in my web. Lucky for you I've already eaten."
Clint just stared up at her in a state of shock. He knew he really shouldn't be surprised but he was sure he looked ridiculous. Soaked in coffee, stuck under her tiny foot and blinking stupidly.
And then she laughed. It was at his expense but he couldn't care less. If her laugh was the only sound he could ever hear then he thinks he'd happy with that. Natasha took away her foot with a grin. It was a mocking smile but it wasn't cruel.
Clint swung his legs backwards and over his head, performing a backwards roll and jumping up onto his feet gracefully. Performing in a circus sometimes paid off. "As much as I love my morning coffee, I don't know how I feel about bathing in it. I'm going to go take a shower. Can't promise I won't use all the hot water." Clint winked at her and darted off to the shower to hear yelling 'Barton!'
Two showers later—one hot and one cold – and the two assassins were on the way to Stark Tower. Natasha sending him withering glares every now and then. He honestly hadn't meant to use all the hot water but he got so caught up thinking about her laughing, smiling and being almost a normal person around him it caused him to get distracted.
"Oh come on Nat, it was an accident. You're from Russia, surely you're used to the cold." Clint reasoned half heartedly.
"Keep it up Barton. I dare you." Natasha's patience for his antics seemed to be wearing thin. It's not like he'd made a few other remarks about the cold shower incident already. "Next time I'll make sure the coffee is scalding hot."
"Next time? You're planning on flipping a couch with me on it again?" Clint laughed.
"No. But I'm not beyond throwing a cup at you." Natasha replied snarkily.
"Point taken." Clint shut up. He'd be on alert from now on whenever she was holding a cup. Natasha smiled lightly and looked out the window.
They remained in an easy silence for the rest of the taxi ride. Natasha instructed the driver to stop a few blocks away from Stark Tower to let Clint out. He'd continue the rest of the journey on foot and find himself a nest on a rooftop.
"Watch over me Hawk." Natasha said softly. Clint wasn't sure whether it was code to watch her back or whether she meant it in a different sense. He didn't want to question it before they started a high risk job though.
"Always."