"Clint, if you're serious about this… us, then there's something you should know."
He raised his eyebrows. "You breaking up with me, Romanoff?"
She breathed a nervous laugh. "It's not that. There's… something I haven't told you. It doesn't matter now, but it could, down the road, and I want you to be able to get out now if that's what you decide you want."
"Nat, you're scaring me."
She took a deep breath. "When I was sixteen, I graduated from the Red Room. You know that. As part of the graduation ceremony, all of us were… I was sterilized."
His breath caught, his jaw clenching in anger.
"I'm not asking for your pity or anger. But I am giving you an out, if you want it. I wouldn't blame you."
He sought out her hand, lacing their fingers together over his thigh. He simply held her hand for a moment, his face buried in his other hand.
Once he sat up again, he gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm not taking that out."
She swatted a tear that had fallen down her face. "You're… you're not?"
He shook his head. "Nope."
"Oh." Her voice was small, smaller than he'd ever heard it.
"I'm so sorry, Nat. I can't even imagine how hard this must have been."
She offered him a small smile. "You've made it easier."
"You do know I would personally hunt them down if it were possible, don't you?"
"I do. But you shouldn't. Don't stoop to their level."
"Whatever you need, sweetheart."