Natasha sat with her arms folded in the uncomfortable office chair, impatiently checking the clock every 30 seconds and her face set in stone. She was dressed in her blue tight shield uniform with her red hair cascading past her shoulders and down her blades. She would not admit it to anyone, but she knew that Clint preferred the longer hair (even if it did become a hazard in the field, occasionally getting snatched by the wrong people, or set on fire, or trapped in a door…the list continues). Both sets of partners had been split for a number of weeks, always missing one another on shield base by seconds. Clint had been on a sniping job in England on behalf of MI5 hired out by shield as well as an observation job on a dodgy politician, and Natasha had just returned from Pakistan where the target had ended up accidentally blowing himself and his warehouse up before any shield intervention due to poor wiring and bad weather conditions. Pathetic really and a waste of the Widows time.

"Romanoff stop squirming, he will be here" Fury glared at her with his one eye set on his best agent. He knew their partnerships ran deeper than they would admit. Damn he knew it before they knew it. They were so in tune with one another it was like they were telepathically connected, or the same person, yet they were polar opposites. It creeped him the fuck out sometimes. He knew how short life could be in this job so he didn't care where their relationship went… partners, fuck buddies, married … as long as it didn't interfere with the real job at hand, saving the motherfucking world.

Natasha's eyes snapped to her bosses one and stilled her features "In all respect sir, I wasn't"

"Don't bullshit a bullshitter…" he was cut off with the chime of the clock and simultaneously the door swinging open, revealing Maria Hill and following behind her a slightly more bruised Clint. Both sat opposite each other, with Clint sliding into the chair next to Natasha. She risked a quick glance at her partner whilst mentally compartmentalising all of his prominent injuries. Bruised temple, dried blood from the left corner of his mouth, outgrown stubble and a hell of a bed-head. But he was smiling, at her. She ignored his cheeky grin and set her focus on their boss.

"Sorry I'm late gang, medical didn't want to let me go" he was still smiling at his partner yet speaking to Fury. His last mission had been longer than ideal, and he was glad to be home at the side of his 'Tasha. It had been roughly 4 weeks since they were tucking into pizza and fooling around, and to be honest he missed it. He missed her.

Natasha continued to feel his gaze on her but refused to turn her head. Her collapse in her mental state over a month ago still left her with shame, and she refused to re-visit any of those feelings towards her partner. That is all they were… partners at work. Colleagues. She had come to terms with that many years ago, and that was okay.

"Well maybe next time don't throw your ass out of a six story window Barton, now I know you've just returned from England and I know you and Romanoff are tired but there's an urgent pain in my ass that I want you two to deal with down in New Mexico, understood?" Fury glared at Barton and Natasha gave a sharp nod.

"But sir can't we at least get a couple of days? Sheila needs a rest" Clint moaned as he sloppily draped over the table, head laying on his arms. Fury's second in command and Natasha simultaneously rolled their eyes. Sheila of course was the main woman in Clints life, his bow.

"No iffs, butts or whines Barton. Now Hill has your briefing packs and you have just enough time to shower and say goodbye to your little superhero family. You leave at 1900 hours. Dismissed" Fury waved forward the briefing packs that Maria Hill clutched, before standing and heading towards the door.

"Not family" Natasha muttered quietly under her breath, before snatching the briefing pack and stalking out the room as fast as she entered. Clint furrowed his brow in confusion. What could have changed in four weeks?

As if sensing his confusion Maria pushed the briefing pack towards Clint "She's in mission mode, has been for a while. You both need rest and you'll get it after this mission"

Clint grabbed the pack "How did we get lumbered with this mission anyway? Don't top agents need TLC too?"

"You're not the first team to attempt to infiltrate, other teams have gone in and failed and there has been a significant loss of life because of this. You and Romanoff have the best record, you will get it done. Dismissed" Hill rose out of her seat gracefully and left the room. Clint sighed and leaned back in his chair before flipping over the beige folder.

############################ MISSION CODE 34521 ##############################

This file is confidential and is only authorised to the name participants. Any agents found in breach of this policy will face disciplinary actions which may lead into custodial sentences and loss of employment. This mission file is classified as a code RED: Highly trained level 7 agents only with a high risk of capture, exploitation, torture, and death.

CODENAME: Hawkeye

AGENCY: Shield

LEVEL: 7

MISSION AREA: New Mexico

MISSION IDENTITY: Charles Delores

TARGET: Soleman Trapp

SPECIFICATIONS OF MISSION:

Charles Delores is a 25-year-old male interested in the weapons manufacturing sector. He specialises in biological related weaponry and mostly makes his income from black market sales. He met his wife Charlotte in Paris, France, where her father offered her for a large cash sum to invest in his company. Charles is new to the sector yet has made easy millions through worldwide connections. It is the agent's job to infiltrate the target 'Soleman Trapp', who has links to bio weaponry, child trafficking and political assassination. Target must be destroyed alongside any research and close connections. Soleman Trapp is a single trillionaire investing heavily in the black market in multiple illegal deals. He is responsible for hundreds of deaths. Soleman Trapp is he founder of 'Loop Corp', an allis for his undercover black market business.

Agent's job is to observe from a distance, interact when needed, and discretely assassinate. No witnesses.

PARTNERS STATUS: Accompanying

PARTNERS CODENAME: Black Widow

PARTNERS MISSION IDENTITY: Charlotte Delores

RELATIONSHIP: Married

PARTNERS SPECIFICATIONS OF MISSION

Charlotte Delores is a 22-year-old female, unemployed, and married to Charles Delores. Charlotte was gifted to Charles for a substantial amount of money; therefore she considers herself to be property of Charles. She is obedient, has expensive tastes and is virtually clueless of her husbands' affiliations or work.

Agent's job to observe up close, seduce, make contact, build a relationship and assassinate. No witnesses.

LENGTH OF SERVICE: 2 weeks

######## ########################################################

"Great" Clint muttered rising to his feet "Risk of death and seduction, great for a Tuesday afternoon"