Chapter: 7
Three hours before the mission, Natasha and Clint were bent over some papers scattered across the table in the safehouse. They needed a plan, no matter how hasty they had to put one together. Clint didn't say anything, but he could feel his nerves buzzing. They had a pretty good track record building, as far as completing missions, but the wheels were still squeaky as far as how well they worked together. They needed to find the missing piece that would get them working like a well-oiled machine, as Coulson called it.
"I hate breaking into these types of parties," Clint complained again.
"And I get information better when a strange man isn't following me around and putting the mark off," Clint shot her a look. "You know just as well as I do that men are willing to give a lot more when they believe that they will get something in return." Clint begrudgingly agreed. "And you see better from a distance," Natasha said with a slight smirk.
"And I see better from a distance," he agreed with a tired chuckle then leaned back against his chair. "There's that, plus the fact that I'll have to wear another monkey-suit, and the fact that I can't take my bow in."
"Hmm," Natasha hummed to herself. "Wait," she sat up straight in her chair and looked down at the papers. "Do you have the map of the surrounding buildings?"
"Yeah," Clint pulled the map up and laid it on top of the other papers. "There's the hotel, right at the edge of the city."
"Ok," She trailed her finger across the page and stopped on a building. "What about this?" She asked as she glanced up at him. It was as if he had read her mind, Clint grabbed the laptop and pulled up a digital image of the building in question then compared it to the location of the hotel. "You set up a vantage point from the rooftop," she voiced out loud as she looked over his shoulder.
"I can keep an eye on you and the outside of the building" he said, "and still be close enough to help out if things go bad." Natasha agreed.
"And you'd get to bring your bow, minus the monkey-suit." Clint looked up from the monitor.
"It'll be risky. You'll still be in there alone," he said, and she arched her brow at him.
"Are you doubting that I can take care of myself?"
"I know better than that," He replied with a snort.
"What then?" She asked, "Are you doubting your ability to be my backup?" She hit the nail right on the head, not that he needed to tell her that.
"Never, I'm the best." He replied cheekily.
"Ok then," she said and he nodded.
"Ok, then."
Never in his life did he think that he would get used to the sight of the Black Widow in her undercover mode. Clint hated getting dressed up for big extravagant parties but he was quickly concluding that he enjoyed it when his partner had to. He shook his head at those thoughts. There was no time for that, plus it was the very last thing that the two of them needed. Their friendship was growing quickly and that wasn't something that he wanted to screw up. For either of them to have a friend was a very rare thing.
Her dress this night was a deep blue. It hugged the curve of her waist then fell freely around her thighs, coming to a stop right above her knees. She had left her hair loose, but had curled it more so that it was full of spirals that came past her shoulders. She had decided on a pair of black heels that had straps that wrapped around her ankles and left her toes open. Clint noticed that she had painted them to match her dress. A touch of red lipstick and some grayish eye makeup and she was done.
It was fairly simple but she was still dazzling. She had no problem charming her way into the party even though her name was absent. Clint thought that the poor man at the door was going to swoon. The thought made him laugh and he decided that him staying on the rooftop across the street was the best decision that they have ever made. He had a great view of the people coming and going and he would be able to see if anything happened on the outside, allowing him to be able to warn Natasha in advance.
He could hear her speaking through the device in his ear as she made her way through the party. She had chosen to stick with the American accent that she now used on a regular basis. It really was amazing how deeply and effortlessly she could change herself.
"Hey Nat," he said through his comm. "There's a limo pulling up. I'm guessing that's our guy showing up fashionably late." She didn't answer back, not to him specifically. She talked to him through the conversation that she was having with another woman.
"I hear you," she said sweetly. Clint smirked at the slight voice change she had used to make sure that he got that the message was meant for him. He doubted that anyone else would've noticed it and, judging by the way the conversation kept flowing naturally, the person on the other side of the conversation had been oblivious.
"It's him alright." Clint said when he saw the man stepping out of the back.
"Yes, I love the weather in springtime it's," Natasha said and then there was the shift again "wonderful."
"Do you think you can continue that all night?" Clint asked with a chuckle.
"Not that winter's bad," Natasha said then shifted her voice again "I've trained myself to" shift back "really enjoy it."
"Not bad Romanoff," Clint said with a smile. On the other end his partner was ending the conversation with the lady. A moment later he could hear the man of the hour giving a speech. He was welcoming everyone to the party and saying all the normal host like things. Suddenly it got weird and put Clint on edge.
"Now, for the real reason we are all gathered here." There was a pause "tonight is about showing everyone that we are not afraid of anyone." The man's voice spoke through his partners comm. "It is about showing our government that we will not stand idly by while they ruin it." There was a round of applause then the man continued. "Now let us say a prayer for the lives that have to be lost this night so that we may build a better society for the future."
"It's going down tonight," Clint said unnecessarily "Nat you've got to find that weapon."
"I'm working on it," she mumbled then the man's voice, Jamison's voice, was coming louder through the comm. Unit.
"I don't believe that I've seen you at a meeting before." The man said and Clint felt ice go through his veins.
"I've been hanging back out of the spotlight," Natasha replied smoothly "tonight is the big night huh?"
"It has been a long time coming," Jamison commented "would you like a drink?"
"I would love one."
"Careful Nat," Clint warned "he sounded suspicious." Through a window he could see Natasha and Jamison come into his view and he felt slightly better at being able to see her.
"So, miss…"
"Call me Natalie," Natasha supplied.
"Natalie," the man said, "do you wish to tell me why you are really here?" Jamison placed his hand on the small of her back and ever slightly pulled her closer.
"Nat…" Clint said in warning. His hand gripped his bow a bit tighter then he heard Natasha sigh.
"I was looking for my boyfriend," she said and Clint picked up on the tone of someone who was embarrassed.
"Ah," Jamison replied, "who?"
"I shouldn't," Natasha replied "he would be embarrassed if you confronted him. He truly idolizes you." She lied easily "I just wanted to see what the fuss was about. Why he chooses to spend time here rather than with me." Clint almost laughed at the sound of sadness that was laced within her voice.
"It's silly really," she said and looked down at her feet sadly. He watched as Jamison gently raised her chin to look up at him.
"It is not silly at all dear," he said softly to her "I believe that I would rather be with a woman such as yourself rather than here." Natasha let her eyes linger on his for a moment and Clint swore that he actually saw her blush before she looked down again. "I do appreciate his loyalty though, tonight is a very special night." He smiled at her and offered his hand "Come, let me explain it to you, and maybe we can make that boyfriend a bit jealous while we're at it." Natasha accepted his hand and they disappeared into the party. Hearing that the man bought Natasha's story, Clint could finally breathe again.