Recap - after being cornered on a mission with their daughter's life at risk, Clint and Natasha found themselves going into the unknown


Chapter Twenty-Eight: Spies on a Sub Part Two

Location Classified - Present Day - 23:46 PM

Council: Are you sure about your statements? You really have the nerve to blame two SHIELD alumni, two Avengers, and first and foremost your parents?

"Yeah," Merida says, seeing no problem with that. "Those oh-so honorable SHIELD alumni, Avengers, and parents of mine put a goddamn sniper on my back! Admit it, you would do the same thing I'm doing."

A Council member sighs, deciding to change the topic.

Council: What does this have to do with the escape of Ivory Gates?

"Finally, a useful question." Merida grins. "I'm glad you finally asked. It was incredibly convenient for her escape and my parents' mission to happen at the same time, don't you think?"

Council: We don't follow.

"Of course you don't. That's why these debriefings exist. Now, sit tight and listen carefully because I would rather not repeat myself."

-o-

Somewhere in the Baltic Sea - Three Days Ago - Time Unknown

Two whole days pass for Clint and Natasha since Mongolia, at least, that's how much time passed according to the mental clocks in their heads. They could've been here for a whole month for all they know. They woke up in a moist and slimy room, both of them sitting on opposite ends with their backs facing one another and their wrists bound to pipes above their heads with twist-ties. They've already been stripped of anything that could be used as a potential weapon, even Natasha's hair pins and earrings were no longer on her.

"Do you have any idea as to where we are?" Natasha asks Clint even though they were both bagged at the same time.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Clint replies with a shrug. "Although my ears are popping whenever I open my mouth to say something, so we're either at a high altitude or a low one."

Natasha sighs. "So that narrows it down to being in the air or in the ground. Great."

Natasha slumps down as far as her restraints will allow her to as Clint shifts his position into something that's not as painful. They both sit in silence with the exception of Clint's whistling which stops with a sharp note when someone walks in. It's an almost middle-aged man with slicked back hair, a little bit of stubble growing on his face, and a sharp over-priced suit. With that appearance, they could only assume that he's the one in charge of this whole operation. He holds a gun in his hands and points it up, unsure of who out of the two to aim it at. He turns it to Natasha who doesn't even flinch.

"I'll kill your wife," the man tells Clint.

"Okay," Clint says (surprisingly) liberally, "she hogs the sheets at night anyways. I get cold easily, by the way. She's Russian, she grew up in a frozen tundra so she should be used to the cold but no." He stretches that word for way too long in a childish manner. "She has to steal my warmth for her ice cold soul."

The man blinks, not expecting that response at all. He aims the gun at Clint, waiting for a response from Natasha.

"Go ahead," Natasha says, smiling. "I've been meaning to get a divorce and you shooting him would result in way less paperwork and I don't have to hire a lawyer or split my life's savings. Not to mention that I'll also get all of his money. Besides, I'm already the Black Widow so why not be an actual widow?"

Clint laughs as the man gets frustrated and leaves. Once the agents are alone, the atmosphere of the room goes from light-hearted and comedic to silent and serious. As if he was really going to shoot them when they're already in his control. That little stunt did make a nice laugh for them, though.

"Do you think that our non-existent extraction team knows we're here?" Clint asks Natasha.

"We don't even know we're here," Natasha replies.

"We can bet that someone is looking for us. Do you think Merida and her friends are? I'd like to believe they are."

Natasha sighs. "Whatever fills your glass half-full."

Clint snickers a little. "I'll fill my glass half-full for the both of us."

-o-

SHIELD Headquarters - Three Days Ago - 14:10 PM

"This is smart, right?" Xavier asks for the fourth time about his combat strategy that's currently being displayed via a hologram. "Is it good or just awful?"

Angela isn't sure as she has her head resting on her arm since she's finding it so difficult to focus on whatever her brother is saying. James continues to neutrally nod his head even though Xavier stopped talking which is an indicator that he wasn't listening to this whole time. Merida shrugs, placing her hands on her lap. Daniel takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.

Xavier sighs, bringing a hand up to rub the bridge of his nose. "This is why Ivory escaped: we don't have a solid strategy when it comes to her."

"I need a break," Daniel says, getting up to dismiss himself. "I can't see straight."

"You wear glasses!"

Merida stands up. "I'll be back."

Merida heads for the door and slams James' bobblehead against the table on her way out. He screams in pain as Merida closes the door behind her. She walks down SHIELD's corridor and bends down to take a drink from the water fountain. A beam of light catches her eyes which causes her to pause. She looks out the window and tilts her head a little at what that may have been. Assuming it was only a trick of the light, Merida shrugs and heads back to her team. She walks back in, ignoring the glare James is giving her. Her face is a bit puzzled, almost confused as if her mind is focused on something located somewhere else.

"Merida?" Angela questions.

"Are we allowed to enlist rookie agents to help us?"

"I guess if we count it as their on-the-field training then their supervisors would allow it. Why?"

"Please tell me you have an idea on how to find Ivory," Xavier begs.

Merida nods. "The only way to defeat the enemy is by getting to know them. What do we have on Ivory Gates that could help us?"


Stay Tuned - Will Clint and Natasha ever find a way out that won't end up in Merida getting shot? Will the team ever track down Ivory wherever she may be? And do the two situations have anything in common?