Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, nor do I have anything to do with Marvel.
These will be short chapters of around 1000 words. This makes is easier for me to update.
I will write this to the best of my ability and apologise if it is not always of the same standard. I write this for fun!
The title for this story was given to me by my friend Krista, who also encouraged me to write and share this. Thank you, Widow-Sister!
Clint had asked Natasha to describe to him in vivid detail what had occurred when she had found his foster father, and she did so once they were in the privacy of her apartment. She watched cautiously as his jaw tightened when she told him how the man had punched her multiple times before she had managed to subdue him. It was with an emotionless voice that she detailed how she had stood on his throat and told him which of his foul actions he was paying for with his life before she shot him in the head. At the end of her tale, Natasha watched Clint as he processed everything.
Eventually, Clint breathed deeply and put his hand on her knee. "Thank you. You probably shouldn't have done it, but thank you." It was on odd thing to thank someone for, Natasha considered as Clint walked towards the door. Before he could open it, a knock came from the other side. "Who is it," he asked, caution clear in his voice.
"Director Nicholas Fury." The voice was calm but authoritative and Clint shot Natasha a look of concern before opening the door. Nick Fury stepped into the apartment, his good eye settling immediately on Natasha. "Ms Romanoff," he began, "I'd like a word."
Clint hovered by the door, "I was just leaving."
Fury spoke without taking his gaze off Natasha, "I'd prefer you to stay, Agent Barton. Sit down." Clint sat as their boss continued, "I am going to ask you a question, Agent Romanoff and I need to you tell me the truth. What were you doing in Iowa this morning?"
She met Fury's gaze when she spoke, perfectly in control, "I was looking for someone."
"I see. And what happened?"
Natasha didn't hesitate, but she smirked with a slight tilt of her head as she responded, "I found him."
"Yes," Director Fury sighed, "You did." He stood and paced as he spoke, "You found Agent Barton's foster father, and you shot him." He paused but she did not deny it so he continued, "Now, he was dirt-bag, there's no argument from me there. But he wasn't explicitly on our radar. You acted outside your sanction and I have to reprimand you for that."
Natasha nodded in understanding, "Consider me reprimanded." Clint stifled a laugh and even Fury smiled.
"You are an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. now, Natasha. What you do reflects on us, and I can't give you free reign to go around shooting at people who may have offended you in some way. Not unless that's part of the mission you've been given. Are we clear on that?"
"Perfectly."
"Good," Nick sighed and sat down. He liked Natasha and having her on board, particularly partnered with Barton was a benefit to them all. Despite the headache that this incident was giving him in terms of covering it up, he saw her actions for what they were – loyalty. She had formed a bond with Clint Barton the moment he had spared her life, and there was going to be little anyone could do to destroy that. It was important to keep that bond as an asset, not an obstacle. He sat and observed her for a moment before he spoke again, "Speaking as a friend, not a boss - I'm impressed that you found him. How did you know who he was?"
Natasha shrugged; she felt she had pretty much been on autopilot from the moment she had stepped out of Clint's apartment until the moment she was back at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base. "I hacked into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database last night and I pulled Clint's personnel file. I found when and where he was born, then I persuaded a man from child services to give me the records relating to any Barton near Waverly in Iowa. They were old records and couldn't be found digitally." She paused, noticing how Director Fury leaned back in his chair as he listened to her and could tell he was impressed with her commitment.
She continued, "It was easy enough after that. Clint had told me that he and his brother ran away from the last foster home, meaning he would have disappeared from the system. The guy hadn't moved out of the house – country houses are usually passed down through generations; he wouldn't leave it unless he had to. So I paid him a visit. I talked, he punched me, and I shot him."
"Agent Barton, you're being awfully quiet. Anything you'd care to say?"
"No. With all due respect, sir, that bastard deserved to die. I'm not saying what Nat did was completely right, I'm just saying he had it coming. And that if I'd seen him again… It probably would have been a lot worse for S.H.I.E.L.D.," Clint answered, honestly. There was little point in hiding these feelings from Fury.
"I see. Well, Agent Romanoff," Nick stood and headed to the door, "While your loyalty to Agent Barton is outstanding, as your boss, I can't let this slide unnoticed. You will stay here on the base and you will serve under Agent Hill while you are banned from active duty for two weeks."
Clint objected, "But sir-"
"Two. Weeks. Understood?" Fury looked from one to the other, awaiting a response.
"Yes, sir," they murmured together, and Director Fury left, closing the door behind him with a snap.
Natasha did not dislike Maria Hill; the woman was easy enough to get along with and had warmed to Natasha immediately after her assessment. The fact that the Russian had exceeded all her expectations had not been lost on Maria, and she was pleased to work with her.
She had caught up with Natasha in the hall on the first day of the ban, "Fury yell at you yesterday?"
Natasha shrugged as she kept walking, Hill keeping pace with her, "Not exactly. He asked me not to do it again, though."
The brunette watched the redhead and asked, "Did you agree?"
"Mostly," came the response, a smirk flickering across her face.
"I'm going to pretend you just said 'yes' so that I don't have to report that right now. But you know you can't do it again, right?" Natasha rolled her eyes and Maria took that as a yes. "Because you're on my team now, Romanoff. And my team doesn't lose."
Hill was aware that being pulled from action might make their new recruit antsy, so she had come to an agreement with Director Fury which of Natasha's skills she was allowed to put into play. The way she had hacked into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files and accessed information only available to those with the highest level of clearance was a talent that would prove useful. Hill had instructed Natasha to hack into communication channels for specific terrorist groups and immediately pass all relevant information on to the S.T.R.I.K.E. Teams. Within three days of the fourteen-day ban, Natasha had accessed all communication channels and assigned a different agent to each channel to filter the chatter. It was clear to Maria that Natasha was much more useful to them as a field agent, where it would be much harder for her to get bored.
On the fifth day, Natasha tried to get into the training field to work out some of her frustrations, but when her ID card would not scan her in, it became clear that Director Fury had banned her from that too. Later that day, she heard Clint arguing with Fury over it. There was nothing he could do but she appreciated his support and smiled at him when he stormed out of Fury's office. She was waiting to ask the Director a favour that she wasn't entirely sure she was entitled to and she was sure that Clint yelling at him wouldn't help her case, but she had to try anyway.
"He won't listen," Clint fumed as he spotted her. She patted his arm consolingly.
"Don't worry about it, I'll keep myself busy," Natasha assured him before slipping inside their boss' office.