Chapter 5

The three men heard laughing before the door opened, Mick and Leonard recognized the voice of Sara. Sara walked in, after her followed Natasha, who grinned mischievously.

Barton leaned surprised back against his chair and then started to smile. "Interesting", was the only thing he said.

Natasha walked to him and sat on the chair beside him.

Clint took his bow from the chair on the other side of him and laid it on the table behind him. "You want to sit beside me, Captain?" he asked politely.

"Thank you, Agent Barton." If she was honest, this show of trust pleasantly surprised her; after all, Agent Barton allowed it with this gesture, that his weapon was no longer in his direct reach.

"Please call me Clint. Natasha?"

"They are honest; I recommend helping them. We should give them the parts they need and if they want technical support."

"I agree with your assessment and will support your recommendation." Clint looked at Sara. "SHIELD will help you."

More than a little baffled Sara looked to Leonard and Mick who looked equally stumped. "But why? Not that I am not glad about your decision but I mean, so much I didn't tell you about us neither."

Natasha smiled a little sadly but before she could answer, Clint laid a hand on her arm and a tension Sara had not really registered before in Natasha relaxed.

"You told her enough, Captain Lance, but what is more important, you showed her enough. It is Nat's special skill set to get information out of seemingly harmless remarks and she is very talented in interpreting your body language."

"Well, you told me, you had a reputation because of your skill set", said Sara philosophical and smiled at Natasha to show her that she hold no grudges.

"You are better at guarding yourself than most others I have encountered", replied Natasha relieved about Sara's reaction.

"Wow, you should be honoured, a compliment from the Black Widow", said Clint.

"Natasha told me her codename. Do you have one too?" asked Sara curious.

"I'm called Hawkeye."

"And why?" asked Snart, intrigued about the things he had just learned.

"Because I see everything and I never miss." The reply came so confident and without any boasting, that the legends took a double take.

"Really?" asked Sara a little sceptical. "I mean, not that I want to call you a liar, but I know Green Arrow and he is better with a bow than everyone else I have ever met."

Clint shrugged, not offended. "I have never met anyone who is better than me."

Snart and Rory exchanged looks. Now, that was a man, who was self-assured in his skills and it was telling that he was not offended and did see it as unnecessary to repeat his statement when someone questioned his skills.

"Clint is really this world's foremost sharp shooter. And I have never seen him miss", confirmed Natasha the claim of her partner.

"Well, I would love to see you shoot one day", said Sara.

"I'm sure that can be arranged", replied Clint.

"Ok, you will help us. That is great, we like you, and this Earth gave us one of the nicest receptions we ever get. But how will be proceed from here?" asked Snart. "As I see it, we cannot simply go in the city and bought the parts we need, they are a little too special for that."

This time it was Natasha and Clint who exchanged looks. After a silent debate between them, which consisted of looks, shrugs and the raising of eyebrows it was Clint, who answered the question.

"You are of course right, you can't go in the city but you can't stay here either. Your crash caused a stir among some parties you do not want to meet. SHIELD wants you gone before you can create real trouble but other fractions will want your technology for themselves. The real question is here, how far are you willing to trust us?"

"We can bring you to our ship, where you will protected against curious eyes. There we will have the parts you need or we can acquire them, and we can give you technical support too. The downside for you is that you will be surrounded by SHIELD agents", explained Natasha further.

"No offense, we would be ready to trust you but what is with your superiors?" asked Sara.

"Our ship is on the way and Fury and Coulson are on board, but neither of them would come to the Waverider for security reasons", thought Clint aloud and Natasha nodded approving. "How it is, if we brought a few of you to the helicarrier so that you can meet our boss personally and get your own impression?"

"Or if you prefer it, we can use your shuttle", added Natasha accommodating.

"Or that but I can't promise you that our superiors wouldn't want to search your shuttle to prevent unpleasant surprises."

Sara, Leonard and Mick looked unsure at each other; this was something the entire crew had to discuss and to decide.

"It will be a few hours until our ship is here, enough time that you and your crew can discuss this in peace. Nat and I would get back to our ship and report to our superiors. Is that alright for you?"

Sara really liked how upfront Clint and Natasha were on everything, they really tried to make them comfortable and at ease with everything. And if it would be only the two of them she would have no concerns but Snart was right, they had bosses and they did not know if these were trustworthy.

"Yes I think it would be best if you report back and I will speak with my crew. After that we all will know more."

Natasha and Clint stood up and Clint took his bow.

"Rory, could you bring our guests to their ship?"

"Yes." Rory grinned at Natasha. "You are very pretty. Can I call you Nat?"

Natasha stared unimpressed at him. "No, and if you try it I will disembowel you and choke you with your entrails."

"She is serious, is she?" asked Mick pensive.

Clint grinned, familiar with these threats and the reactions of others. "Deadly, Black Widow doesn't make empty threats and she can do it without breaking a sweat."

"You are a very scary woman", said Mick admiringly.

"Thank you", replied Natasha and her mouth twitched.

Sara only sighed, at this point they were usually fighting for their life because not everyone was willing to put up with Mick testing their limits.

It really took a special brand of crazy to take Rory and his ways so unruffled and then to shut him down so effortlessly and thoroughly.