Life Change

My Idea how Natasha found her way to S.C.H.I.E.L.D. (Not based on the comics, but tried to follow informations from the MCU, but maybe still some changes. Don't know if I got all hints right. By the way I am not native speaker. But if you like to give advice for grammar and other stuff. You ´re welcome.)

Life Change

KGB agent and spy Natasha Romanoff entered her supervisor's office for a new briefing. She let her gaze wander over the sparse furnishings. Her trained eyes hardly noticed any change. A crack in the shelf told her there was a hidden compartment or door behind. But she didn't let her gaze linger, as if she hadn't noticed. When asked, she sat down in front of the desk and accepted a file that was held out to her. It didn't take many words, it was a well-known procedure.

She opened the file as usual and studied its contents with a neutral face. Unusual was that there was hardly any information about the person whose photo was in the file. She picked up a photo of a woman just a few years older than herself and memorized her image. Putting it back in the file, she looked at her supervisor. "What should happen to her?" "Kill her!" Natasha's face didn't show what she felt. For the first time she wanted to question her assignment, but she didn't know why, so she just asked, "When do I leave?" "As soon you`re finished packing." Natasha picked up the file, stood up and nodded. Without further words she left the room.

At almost the same time, but at a different time of the day, Clint Burton entered a S.C.H.I.E.L.D. offices in the United States. Phil Coulson sat at his desk. He smiled and shook his hand to greet him. They hadn't seen each other for a long time. Then they sat down together. The file he was given was significantly thicker, but the woman's picture was the same.

"We have information that this woman is about to be murdered by a splinter group of the KGB." Clint scanned the contents of the file. He couldn't discover anything really relevant. He stopped and looked at Coulson. "Phil, why is SCHIELD involved in this? Don't get me wrong, I would save everyone's life, but a social worker in Budapest?..." He didn't have to continue, because the person opposite nodded understandably. "Dreykov..." the name was not unknown to either of them, "has or will have his best agent set on her..." Burton discovered a second photo in the file, which showed Natasha. "...That alone should make us suspicious." Burton nodded in agreement. "We suspect she can provide information on the conspicuous persistent disappearance of young girls in the former Soviet Union over the past several decades." Burton had more questions, but he also knew time was probably of the essence. He would study the file closely on his flight. It contained more information about the assassin than about the "target". But he would probably need that more anyway. "I'm leaving immediately!" Phil Coulson nodded. "Good luck." He wished as a goodbye.

A day later, Natasha Romanoff was walking the streets of Budapest. She sensed that she was being watched, but no matter what trick she used, she couldn't spot her pursuer. At some point she didn't want to try any longer and focused fully on her target. She had been following Angela, the woman in the file, for several hours. It wasn't difficult to find her. This had been one more reason for her to delay her assignment. She tried to suppress the voice inside her that was making her hesitate. Something about her seemed familiar. But she couldn't remember them and normally she remembered everyone. That was her training. While watching the woman walk into a building in the beautiful city centre of Budapest, she sat down in a sidewalk cafe on the other side the building she was watching. While she waited, she re-examined the little information she had about Angela. It was starting to get dark when she saw Angela coming out. She had already paid in advance and so Natasha follow her up again. They took the subway to the poorer districts on the outskirts of Budapest. Natasha realized with regret that it was the perfect setting for an unnoticed murder. She hesitated again, but put it down to the feeling of being watched. She felt for her pistol but the streets were very busy for the area so she reached for her knife but kept it hidden under her jacket. She had to make it look like a robbery murder. She kept getting closer to the woman.

Clint Burton has had his eye on Natasha Romanoff all day. He knew from her behavior that she sensed him, but she didn't discover him. When it was almost dark and he followed her and her target through the slums, he knew that he had to act soon to save the woman. He had expected a spy who would work cold-heartedly and quickly. After all, she was Dreykov's best hit man as far as he knew. But her charisma surprised him. She was thoughtful in what she was doing, not just in a professional way, but kind of compassionate. That wasn't an agent who carried out every order without being asked. The woman he saw before him did not fit to the stories he knew about her. But then he saw her pick up her pace and grab one of her weapons. He drew after his bow and continued to follow her from the rooftops.

Natasha scanned the area. She decided to cut off her target and plunge into an unobserved alley. It will be easy to overpower her, she thought. Just a few crossroads later, she guessed the perfect move. She quickly turned into an alley to her left and ran around the block to meet her. She was not disappointed as Angela came out to meet her again as she reached the road ahead. Just in time to be at the level of an inconspicuous driveway between two houses. Natasha no longer hesitated, but reacted quickly, when the woman was at shoulder level, she turned, covered her mouth and pulled her into the empty and unlit backyard.

Clinton had feared it. Natasha had found the perfect spot. He had also run around the rooftops in pursuit of her. Had he known she would choose melee combat, he would have stayed close to Angela. Now they had disappeared into a backyard and the roof of the affected house was significantly higher than it was on. He couldn't just jump over. He shot an anchor arrow and spun to the other side. He begged not to be late, and while he was flying he pulled out an arrow and put it in his bow.

Angela's surprised scream was stifled by Natasha's glove. But Natasha had underestimated Angela and so she was able to turn out of her grip for a moment. Self-defense at the lowest level, but enough to fight back briefly. She fell against an open door and into a stairwell. Angela saw her chance and ran up the dusty stairs. She screamed for help but no one in the house reacted to her calls. She saw a broken apartment door and stormed in. Her pursuer was in no hurry. She knew Angela didn't had a chance. Angela ran into the kitchen. She had to find a knife or another weapon. When she turned around, Natasha was standing behind her. "It's nothing personal," she said while dodging an approaching pan. Natasha drew her gun after all. "Shut up!" Angela had tears in her eyes: "Please, I don't have anything!" Just as Natasha wanted to pull the trigger, her instinct took over and she dodged an arrow, which now only spun her pistol out of her hand and then in the wall smashed. She turned and grabbed Angela and disappeared into a room with no windows in it. She had to act quickly now.

Clint was stunned. He had never missed a target he wanted to hit. Wanted? He abseiled in one swing and crashed through the apartment window. He could no longer use his bow. He knew he had missed his chance. Natasha Romanoff wasn't known for being interrupted again.

Angela backed away as far as she could. Natasha drew her knife. With her last strength Angela tried to defend herself and started a fist bump. Natasha caught it with ease and twisted her arm so that Angela sank to the ground in pain. Just as she was about to stab her, she saw a tattoo on Angela's wrist. Natasha's eyes widened and she looked straight at Angela. "Where did you get that?"

That hesitation was enough for Clint. He threw her to the ground and a fight began. Both were good at fighting. In turn, each had the upper hand. Clint doesn't know how he did it, but in a moment he had a gun pointed at her and Natasha was so down on the ground that she couldn't react fast enough. But within seconds he changed his mind and instead of firing a fatal shot, he electrocuted her, causing her to fall to the ground unconscious.

After that, he acted quickly and tied her up before she woke up again. Then he looked at Angela, who had witnessed the fight in shock. He gave her a hand. "I'm taking you to a hospital." She shook her head and looked at the motionless killer. "No! I want answers." Clint Burton hesitated and followed her gaze. The two women in the room impressed him in different ways. "Then I should probably tie her up even better."

Natasha woke up in the deserted apartment tied to a cold heater. Hardly any room to move. Her attacker knew what he was doing. There were only a few positions from which she could not free herself.

She scanned the dimly lit room. She was surprised to find that Angela was still in the room. She spoke accent-free english with those who could overpower her. That surprised her. She didn't know many people from the former Soviet Union who spoke english, and then that well. Only the new generation started to learn it. She didn't draw attention to herself, but the stranger quickly noticed that she was awake. He approached her and they both stared at each other. He had impressed Natasha and her subconscious found him likable. "Why am I not dead?" He eyed her. "Because she's not." He nodded towards Angela, who was keeping a good distance. "Thanks to you." She tried to put on a front, but Clint saw through her. "Natasha Romanoff, assassin with a 100 percent success rate..." "I'd say statistics are never right, but in this case..." she interrupted him. "So, you heard from me. But me instead..." The corners of his mouth twisted into a small appreciative smile. "Clint Burton." Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Not Robin Hood." "I am better!" Now Natasha had to smile. Yes, she liked him. Angela followed the conservation, but she got rather angry. This gave her strength to approach the two. "Why did you want to kill me." "Past tense?" The answer made Angela flinch and Natasha suddenly regretted it. She considered and answered softly, "I should, I'm not talking about wanting to." She hesitated before continuing. "I don't know." "What kind of person are you who kills someone for no reason?" Then she realized the truth. "You're one of them. A Black Widow." Now Natasha was surprised. They worked underground. Normally no one in the public knew they existed. She looked at Clint and saw that he was surprised about Angela's knowledge, too. Natasha saw Angela's gaze change from angry to pitying. She couldn't take it and turned away.

Clint tried to change the subject for a moment. "Where did you learn english so well?" "I spent part of my childhood in the USA." Clint perked up. "Really? Where?" "Ohio." Burton was surprised. Not about the state, but that the answer came from Natasha. Both looked at her. Natasha's thoughts were no longer in Budapest. She remembers the only good time in her childhood which she even remembers.

They were in Ohio for a total of three years as a sleeper cell family. It was one of her first days of school and the beginning of her time in Ohio. Her "mother" had drilled her into not attracting attention. She knew she had already been trained in the red room before they were put together as a "family". She put up with it as a couple of older boys pushed her around and made fun of her barely audible Russian accent. As she fell to the ground, she clenched her fists and was about to block the punching hand when another was faster. She saw a tattoo in front of her eyes that was on a hand that would have kept the boy's fist from landing on her face or would have caused her to lose control of her actions and probably seriously hurt the boys. She didn't hear what the helping hand said to the boys, but they disappeared and the next thing Natasha remember, the strange student was helping her up with a warm smile. She asked if she was ok and Natasha nodded. Then the school bell rang and she never saw her again. But she never forgot the tattoo and always wondered what it meant.

"What does the tattoo mean?" Natasha mumbled, still lost in thought. Angela hesitated. Why should she tell the woman she wanted to kill anything about herself. Then stick it to her head "shouldn't not wanted". If she were older, she could have saved although her. Just as she now protected and hid the little girls that Dreykov wanted to get. She wasn't always successful, but she certainly didn't make it easy for Dreykov. Natasha's presence showed her just how much.

"We have to fake your death." Natasha thought surprisingly. "He will send others after me!" "After you? Does that mean you don't want to carry out your assignment?" Burton laughed. "As if she could still do that." Then he heard it crack and Natasha had freed herself from the bonds and stood in front of him and raised her eyebrows triumphantly. Angela automatically took a step back and Burton stood protectively in front of her. Natasha rolled her eyes and raised her arms exaggeratedly. "I still owe you! We need to hurry with your death!" "Shield could help." Burton thought. "Good!" "I can't leave here!" Angela interjected. "Girls like Natasha need me!" Natasha hesitated: "But when you are dead you can´t help them anyway!" "Yeah, and when I am playing dead its no different.", Angela stand her point.

"Then I'll kill Dreykov and bring the Red Room down!", Natasha decided. Burton looked at her. "You can't do this alone." "No!", Natasha admitted, "But maybe with SCHIELD's help." Burton looked at her with a smile "Are you planning a double agent career?" "The USA has always been a home for me." "I'll talk to my superiors and then we'll see."

Natasha turned to Angela. "Until then you had to be protected." "And the girls!" Angela added her condition. Natasha looked at her admiringly. Putting your own life before so many others. Maybe she could do that as a SCHIELD agent in the future, too.

Burton kept an eye on Natasha as he contacted Coulson. But she made no move to suggest that her change of heart was fake.

Angela hesitated, then said, "It's Captain America's shield." Natasha looked at her questioningly. "The Tattoo." She added. "Who...?" she began, but Angela already guessed her question. "He was kind of a superhero in World War II. He saved my grandfather from the concentration camp. I wouldn't have been born without him." "Why haven't I heard of him before?" "He's missing.", then Angela thinks for a moment, "I think you'd like him." "Well, maybe he'll turn up again and I will see."

"He'd be over 90 then. But you can see him at the museum in Washington." Clint came over to them. "My supervising agent says he thinks about it. Helping Angela would definitely be a good start."

"Deal!"

It can end here, but I can also tell how it went on until the overflow to SCHIELD and the bomb in Budapest. What do you think?