Hey guys!

This story is a bit random and out of nowhere, but I needed to find some way to deal with my Endgame feels.

I haven't been on this site in literal YEARS which is a bit scary, where has the time gone? XD

Anyway, hope people enjoy this, its a two-shot and its short, but I felt the need to post something an hour ago so this is the product of that feeling XD

Enjoy!

Natasha was desperately trying to control her shaking knee. She really was. It was a nervous tick she thought the Red Room had long since knocked out of her. She tried to focus all her energy into stopping the shaking and purposefully not listen to the verbal berating Agent Barton was receiving in the next room. However, due to her enhanced hearing, she could clearly hear every insult they threw his way, but there were cameras everywhere. She didn't want to be as obvious as putting her fingers in her ears as she didn't want to (a) look like a nutcase and (b) actually alert this agency to her genetic modifications. She thought Agent Barton might have had an idea, but he hadn't brought it up.

She gave up trying to control her knee jig as she heard him begin to argue back.

"I wasn't going to just leave her there!" he roared.

"You were sent to eliminate the threat-"

"She isn't a threat-"

"She's killed dozens of people-"

"Not from her own free will she hasn't-"

"That wasn't not your call to make-"

"Well, if Coulson hadn't made that call for me then I wouldn't be here either, would I?"

"That's not the point, Barton-"

"I want to take her to Fury."

A laugh. "You're not being serious, Barton."

"I'm being very serious."

"The man doesn't even trust his own agents half the time, Barton-"

"I know he's in the building and I know he's pissed, so let me explain it to him myself-"

"Absolutely not-"

"Coulson will allow it even if you won't, Finch, and you know he will, once he hears what I have to say about her."

Silence descended on the room next door, finally stilling Natasha's leg. Moments later the door opened, and a hard-faced agent came in, followed by Agent Barton. Natasha flicked her eyes up in their direction but kept her head down until she was addressed.

"Natalia Romanova," the other man said, "Agent Barton is going to take you to a secure location to be briefed on what is going to happen to you. You are not to leave his side until expressly told to do so. If you try to escape, our agents shoot to kill. Do you understand me?"

Natasha looked up at him and nodded slowly. Agent Barton nodded to her, so she stood up, holding out her hands to be uncuffed from the table. Her eyes widened as he uncuffed her hands themselves as well. The other agent at the door made an irritated noise but didn't object.

"C'mon," Agent Barton muttered, motioning for her to follow.

Keeping her head down as she passed the other agent, she fell into step with Barton as they walked down the hall.

"Take no notice of him," Barton said quietly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the other agent. "The man's been an upstart since the day he was put on this earth."

Natasha nodded silently, her stomach churning with nerves as she fought to keep her face neutral.

"I'm taking you to see the director," Barton explained as they started climbing a flight of stairs. "Hopefully he'll be a bit more receptive than that ass," he added grimly. "Then, if all goes relatively well, we'll be taken to another base by my handler."

Natasha nodded again. "So, remind me again what relatively well looks like?"

Barton grimaced. "Basically, what you just heard from Finch, only scarier because it's being said by a guy with an eye patch. That always makes everything worse, you'll learn that with time. Plus side is that I'll still be alive after it. Like I said, relatively well."

"You're in a lot of trouble because of me, Agent Barton," Natasha observed, trying not to sound half as guilty as she felt.

He didn't deny it, sighing as he ran a hand through his hair, looking very tired all of a sudden. "Kid, I'm not gonna lie here. If this does go good, you're going to get a chance, a chance to prove yourself. Maybe a bit of trouble is gonna come my way to get you that chance, so because of that I'm going to ask you for a favour."

She flicked her eyebrows up. Favours always came with a price in her experience.

"Just-" he sighed again, "just make it worth it, okay?" He stared straight at her and she stared straight back, realising what he was asking of her. Make the trouble worth it. She nodded for a third time but said nothing. She didn't have to. He understood she was going to do her best not to blow it.

They stopped as they reached a door at the end of the next hall. "This is us," Barton told her. "Ready to enter the lion's den, partner?"

Partner. Coming from the agent, the word sounded…strange, unfamiliar, and safe.

Comforting.

She gave him a small smile. "Ready."

He grinned, giving her a small pat on the shoulder, and opened the door.