Epilogue

One week later

The darkness that surrounded her in the deserted gym was a comfort as she walked up to the punching bag. The silence was definite and welcome along with the slight coolness in the air. Natasha didn't bother to wrap her knuckles up to keep them from being damaged. She didn't bother to care about the fact that she was barefoot or the stitches keeping together the wounds on her back that hadn't closed themselves yet. With no hesitation she threw herself into attacking the bag that was hanging there. The sounds that it made as her fist connected did wonders for her nerves.

She was infuriated with herself. It was just a stupid nightmare and shouldn't have turned her into a mess the way it had. She never did have to deal with nightmares before so it was a wonder to her of why now was any different. However, in the back of her mind she knew the answer to that. She had changed sides. She had betrayed the family she had known all her life and joined the other side. Now, even if she wouldn't allow herself in the waking world, her unconscious mind was seeing the error of what she had done with her life so far. There was blood on her hands, so much blood that she felt like she could drown in it. In her head she kept seeing those images of her victims, bloody, broken, surrounding her, and wanting to know why she had taken their lives. She hit the bag harder and faster not caring if she split open her knuckles.

There was also so many questions that tormented her mind. She wondered where Ivan was and what he would do. Wondered what his plans were now that she had made a fool of him by leaving his side, joining his enemies, and had escaped from him again. She wondered if Ivan would send Barnes after her or if he was punishing him not bringing Barton to him. Barton, Petrovich wanted him dead. This was a problem to her because, sure the man was an annoyance, but he had saved her life. The man had been sent to kill her yet he disobeyed orders and spared her instead. She had never had anyone disobey orders for her before. No one had ever cared about her enough to spare any harm that was ordered upon her. So why did he, a complete stranger who was well aware of the things she has done, save her life? It made no sense. Then there was the question that she would probably live the rest of her life not knowing. Why her? What did the Red Room see in her as a child that they picked her for the hell that they put her through. Why was she picked to become one of their science experiments, one of their monsters? Thoughts like that made her mind wander back to her first question. She felt a slight pain in her hands but ignored it as she continued her assault on the bag in front of her.

She could hear his voice, Ivan taunting her smiling that smile made up of dark thoughts and viciousness. She could see Zholdin staring down at her with insanity in his eyes as she struggled to get free. She could feel Volkov's hands against her skin and a gleam in his eyes that she would not soon forget. Natasha then thought of all the girls she had killed in that place. Many of them were just like her, young girls taken from their families and forced into a world they didn't want. She even found herself reflecting on Sonia. She remembered the fear in the other girl's eyes as both of their names were called and she was handed a gun with the orders to kill the only friend she had ever had. She remembered that fear staying in her eyes, growing, right up until young Natalia had pulled the trigger. The look on Sonia's face upon seeing her friend pull the trigger was one of acceptance and Natasha remembered a look of relief in the other girl's eyes right before the bullet had ended her life. She remembered that in death it looked like she had the smallest of smiles on her face. Natasha wondered now if the girl had found peace in death, she hoped so. Sonia was too soft for the kind of world they were brought up in. She wondered if she would find peace in her own death or if her demons will haunt her right up until the end.

Natasha felt the instant that he entered the room. Though she didn't stop her movements, in the back of her mind she followed every move that he made. She followed him as he travelled silently across the rafters, as he lowered himself and moved over to the wall that was directly behind her, and then as he slid into the dark corner that was closest to her. She didn't give any indication that she knew he was there but apparently it was unneeded.

"You're going to rip your stitches out." He said with a leveled voice, no hint of pity, sadness, or judgment could be heard.

"What do you want Barton?" She asked without stopping.

"I figured that if you were going to risk hurting yourself that maybe you'd at least like to do it properly," she stopped then and turned to the direction he was standing. "And besides," he stepped out of the shadows, "You're the only challenging partner I have here." He walked past her to the sparring mats.

"I could rip out my stitches," she said back to him.

"Yeah," he got into a fighting stance "but you don't care." Without another word she rushed at him. They met in a flurry of movement. He lashed out at her and she easily blocked him before returning the favor. He blocked her as well but not as easily. It was clear to him that he would be getting well acquainted with these mats as long as he called her his partner. "So," he said as he jumped back from a kick "what's going on?"

"What do you mean Barton?"

"It's three in the morning and you're in here, what's wrong?" He threw a punch towards her face that had her bending backwards to avoid contact. She quickly righted herself and managed to land a hit to his chest.

"I'm fine," she said. He grabbed managed to land a hit and saw her eyes harden. Whether it was because of the questions or his success he didn't know.

"I'm having deja vu," he said as he ducked under another one of her kicks. "Are we really having the "I'm fine" conversation again?" She dodged another one of his blows and neither of them realized that they were wandering off the mats again. "That doesn't fool me, I'm the king at avoiding."

"Then you're a hypocrite." She replied and reached up to the bar of the obstacle course she suddenly found herself standing below. He followed her move and they were soon moving through the course as they threw and blocked each other's hits.

"I heard you scream out in your sleep earlier," he said and she glared darkly at him as she balanced on a horizontal beam. "I just thought you might want to talk about it"

"Do you ever want to talk about it?" She said and he sent her a hard look right back.

"Touché," he said as he too maneuvered around the beam. They didn't notice the door to the gym swinging open as they reached the end of the beam and started going up on a ramp that led them up higher. "But you know we are going to be partners, I just figured that we could ya know, maybe at least have a decent conversation before we start putting our lives in each other's hands." It happened then that she managed to tackle him and they rolled dangerously close to the edge of the course. The fall wouldn't kill them but it sure had the potential to sprain or break something, plus he was wondering how she didn't pop open her stitches with all this movement, he didn't want to risk taking a tumble that would surely do the job. He broke out of the hold and managed to pin her for all of ten seconds before she was back in control and pinning him to the ground. He struggled but knew that she had won just as she knew it as well but she didn't move. She looked at him, deep into his eyes as if searching for something.

"Why did you do it?" She asked then and he knew exactly what she was talking about without having to ask.

"I saw something that wouldn't let me take the shot," he answered honestly.

"What was it?" It sounded more of a demand than a question.

"You're eyes," he said "you stood there ready and waiting for me to end your life and I saw you. The darkness in your eyes and a pain that was screaming out for help." He felt her grab the t-shirt he wore up in her fists and his calm blue-grey eyes met her furious green ones.

"I don't need anyone's help Barton." She seethed "I made it this far on my own without it."

"But you don't have to anymore." He said and he felt her muscles tense up even more but she released his shirt and got up to her feet. Clint followed and watched her carefully. After a second her eyes locked back with his as if in challenge.

"People have a habit of dying around me Barton."

"I'm not afraid," he rose up to the challenge and stared right back.

"Petrovich, Barnes, and many other very bad and very powerful people are out there wanting me and anyone associated with me dead."

"I can take anything you throw at me Romanoff."

"I'm not so sure." She said but he refused to break the eye contact.

"Are you going to leave," he asked after a brief lapse in the conversation. She didn't answer so he repeated his question. "You're supposed to be my partner once they get you into the system and ready for missions. Are you going to leave Romanoff?" Her features hardened then and her eyes went clear of any emotion. It was as if he blinked and her walls were up. After a few more seconds she still didn't answer him so he turned away and was about to head back down until her voice stopped him.

"You spared my life," he turned and met her emotionless eyes again "I owe you a debt." He shook his head at that.

"You owe me nothing Romanoff."

"Yes I do."

"Fine, then it was paid when you saved me from being taken by Barnes."

"No, the debt hasn't been repaid yet."

"Yes it has. A life for a life."

"That's not for you to decide." She said then moved past him to make her way back to the ground. He followed after her, not knowing what to say after that, and they both stopped when they saw Furry standing before them.

"That was quite a show." He said as he stared at them with his one good eye. Didn't this man ever sleep, Clint thought as he stared at his boss.

"Shouldn't you be in medical?" He looked at Natasha but moved on without waiting for a response. "Either one of you want to tell me what you're doing here at almost four in the morning?"

"Couldn't sleep," Clint spoke up "and figured if we were going to be partners that we'd get in some sparring practice." Fury raised his brow at that statement but seemed to just let it go

"Well since I've got you here," he said as he pulled something from his pocket. It was an ID badge that Clint recognized immediately, an official SHEILD ID. "You'll need this to get access to almost any room in any SHEILD base, which includes your room which is number 238. You'll be picking up your new uniforms later this morning." He said and she nodded. "Welcome to SHEILD Agent Natasha Romanoff." He said holding his hand out to her. She glanced down at it before reaching up and taking his hand in her own.

"Thank you sir."

The End.

Sorry this took a while but I've been really busy with school work, I tried to make it longer as a way to sort of make it up to you. I purposely left it a bit open in case I do want to make a sequel. I'm not sure yet because I have other stories that I'm eager to start working on. Also, thanks to everyone who showed support for this story! You people are awesome and I lover your reviews/favorites/follows thanks so much! Oh, and if you have any requests, like one-shots, or something then feel free to share because it might be a bit before I actually start working on my other stories. I'm still trying to figure out which I want to work on first and I'm still planning some stuff out so feel free to shout out anything you wanna see…technically read. You all are awesome, thanks a bunch, and I hope you like whatever is to come next.