Spying is the Loneliest Profession Part 13

By Cadet Deming

I don't own the rights to the Avengers, Marvel and Disney do, so please don't sue. Takes place after the events of the movie. Natasha-Clint-Loki love-hate triangle. PG-13 for adult content, language and violence. Thank you so, so, so much for the people who read and review. It motivates me to update quickly.

Stark Tower, New York City

Clint Barton watched the hive of construction workers, other SHIELD agents, and various executives of Stark Industries. In his weakened state, he had been assigned to "Stark Duty," by keeping tabs on Tony for Fury. Clint started to suspect Fury must hate him.

Tony fired off: "Have I shown you my new screen app, Legolas? It calculates the insurance I have to pay on everything I blow up."

Clint muttered: "So, stop blowing shit up then."

"Where would be the fun in that? Pepper! Pepper honey, over here."

Tony's long suffering CEO and even deeper suffering girlfriend approached. She was a red head like Natasha, but her hair was a softer, more strawberry blonde shade. She had hooded blue eyes and a glowing complexion. She was a unique combination of competence and vivaciousness.

Pepper kissed Tony on the lips and hugged Clint warmly. She asked him: "How is your arm healing?"

Clint said: "The sling comes off soon. At least I'm getting worker's compensation."

Tony said: "Worker's comp, my insurance just shot up again. Damn."

Pepper said: "Because it's all about you honey. I need you to sign this for the caterers for Saturday."

Tony frowned but started rapidly scrawling his signature on a stack of papers. His signature was messy but grandiose, like a doctor's handwriting. Clint had heard the excuse that messy handwriting was a sign of genius. Tony was definitely a genius.

Pepper walked away and Tony stared after her with a grin on his face.

Clint said: "About that, are you sure it's such a good idea to gather us all together in one place? It seems like it's making us a target."

Tony said: "A target for what? We won. Everyone loves us. Except poor Bruce, locked away for a psych evaluation. I don't like psychiatrists. They tried to say I was bipolar and had Attention Deficit Disorder. I was just really moody. They wanted to put me on Lithium, but that meant I couldn't drink. It'll be fun. I haven't been this excited since I got a vasectomy when I turned 18."

"Something I've learned from being a sniper: You're always a potential target."

"Lighten up Clint. You're so paranoid. Unless there's something you and Fury aren't telling me again. There's something Fury isn't telling me again, isn't he? "

Clint looked out of the floor to ceiling penthouse windows, trying to change the subject. "I love the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from here."

"Yeah, well I'm not buying the Brooklyn Bridge from SHIELD. Tell me what is going on. Come on, we're both Avengers."

Clint sighed: "You didn't hear this from me, but Loki's back on Earth. Some B.S. about him looking for asylum from Thor and we can't let Thor know."

"How many people has he killed this time?"

"None that we know of yet. But he's hitting on Natasha."

"Are you serious? Well it kind of makes sense. Guys target unattainable women so we don't have to commit. I used to do that all of the time before I got serious with Pepper. It's for the same reason so many girls fall for the bad boys. They can't admit they fear commitment too, so they pick the guy that's a challenge. And a psychopath that tries to take over the world is kind of the ultimate bad boy. For girls who are into the whole 'Draco in leather pants' thing."

"Are you trying to make me feel better? Because it's not working."

Tony put his arm around Clint: "Has anything happened between them?"

"Of course not."

"I wouldn't worry about it then. Oh look, Steve's here. Hey Cap, did you know Loki's back!"

The entire room turned and stared at them.

Clint sighed: "Please never let me confide anything in you again."

Clint wandered away towards the windows. He stared down all 120 stories to the Manhattan streets below. He had always been attracted to yet afraid of heights.

Some more SHIELD agents walked past him. Ever since he had come back from Loki's brainwashing, Clint had felt slight unease around the rank and file. He was always wondering if he had killed any of their friends or family members. He looked in their eyes for accusation, or a confirmation of his own guilt.

Agents O'Grady and Broca walked past him. Broca said: "Dude, I can't believe that bitch Romanoff had us taken off of her detail."

O'Grady said: "Yeah, I know. She's probably just pissed we walked in on her trying to bang Loki."

Clint's blood turned to ice. Every muscle in his body stiffened. He did not just hear that. He could not have just heard that.

Clint snarled: "What did you say?"

O'Grady stammered: "Oh, Barton. I didn't see you standing there."

Clint said: "Yeah you're great at surveillance for someone who works for a spy agency."

O'Grady said: "We didn't mean anything. Romanoff was probably just following orders. Like we all do. Just following orders. Please don't kill us."

Clint scowled as the two men hurried away. He searched for a room to get away far from the maddening crowd of co-workers.

He located a guest bathroom. It was covered in ostentatious gold filigree, but had state of the art technology. Even the toilet had electronic installations.

He stared at himself in the mirror. Bags covered the hollows under his eyes, eyes that were filled with the pain of betrayal. The lines in his forehead looked deeper. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself down. He splashed water over his face.

Clint speed-dialed Natasha on his phone. She picked up on the third ring and greeted him.

He said: "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Excuse me?"

"I heard you had a run in with Loki. Funny you didn't tell me yourself."

Her voice was cold and unreadable. "I don't normally volunteer information to you about missions that don't concern you. What have you heard?"

He wished he could see her face, to try to read her. Even though she was a talented actress, his keen eyes gave him insight. He felt blinded.

Clint said: "You tell me. What do you think I heard?"

Natasha swore something in Russian about O'Grady and Broca and then said: "I was just acting as part of an assignment. I'm always acting. You know that about me. It's what I do."

"Are you acting right now? If you screw guys for money, that makes you a whore, even if SHIELD is the one footing the bill. Or am I too much of a 'good guy' for you now and you really want the forbidden fruit!"

Her voice was flat, which made her words sound all the more cutting. "You're getting too emotional about this. I was just doing my job. I won't listen to you insult me because you're being unprofessional and insecure. Please don't contact me again unless you've calmed down."

She hung up her phone. Clint threw his own phone on the ground, shattering it. He felt like Loki was winning. He wanted to do something to get rid of that feeling.

To Be Continued.

Author's Note: Well, this kills the suspense, but due to fanfic fan pressure: I promise Tony will survive.