CHAPTER #40

Barton was at Stark Industries working as an employee. He was on his scheduled lunch break when Hong Duk approached him.

"We need to talk. Come with me," Hong stated.

Clint replied, "can't it wait, I'm having my lunch."

"Now. Unless you want me to call the police about your little adventure last night."

Clint sighed. Why did they always interrupt him when he was trying to eat? "Alright, don't get your panties in a twist." He followed Duk into his office.

"Sit down. I have you on video stealing Stark Industry tech. Explain yourself."

"I don't have to tell you shit," Clint said with the required amount of hostility.

Hong smiled, "I have a proposition for you. I don't tell the police or Mr. Stark and you work for my friend."

"I don't go through middle men. If your friend wants to work with me, then said friend can meet me for a drink at the Hog Pit once my shift is done."

Duk didn't like that this employee was calling all the shots, but Beck would straighten him out. "Alright. If you don't show, I call Stark and the police."

Barton grunted, got up and left. He was in, the plan was working. Unfortunately he had to finish the shift at Stark Industries and that meant the time dragged by. Once done his shift, he clocked out and rode BIRD to the Hog Pit bar. He ordered a burger and fries, not expecting it to be very edible. Then he ordered a rum and coke. When his food arrived, so did Beck. He pretended not to see him, but Beck recognized Barton immediately.

"What's an Avenger doing stealing from his teammate?" Quentin asked.

"I have to pay the bills some how. Saving the world from aliens doesn't happen every day and it doesn't pay worth a damn," Clint replied around a french fry.

"My sources say that you work for S.H.E.I.L.D. and that's a steady pay check."

"If you have all the answers then why ask the question?" Clint shot back.

"What are you up to Barton? Word has it you killed Nick Fury."

"What I'm up to is why you're here in the first place. And yes, Fury got in my way and he paid the ultimate price." Romanoff would be proud of his lying capabilities.

"Who is your buyer? Is it HYDRA?" Quentin demanded in a dangerous voice.

Clint kept his fork in his hand, ready to strike if necessary. "Let me guess you're working for them too?"

Beck swore and relaxed, ordering a shot of whiskey. "So they're trying to cut me out. Bad move…. We could form a partnership of sorts. Make HYDRA pay even more."

He didn't want to come across as being to eager to work with Beck. "I work alone, less complicated that way," Clint replied taking a bite of his burger.

"If you join me, we can make HYDRA pay double what they're paying us now."

Barton pretended to think about it and weigh his options, as he slowly chewed the burger. The meat was low grade and made him wonder if it was even beef. When Beck began to fidget with his shot glass, Clint finally replied. "Alright, what's you're proposal?"

They discussed the details and came to an agreement. During their talk Beck let slip that Stark Industries wasn't the only tech he was stealing. He also said he had a spy working for S.H.E.I.L.D., that was separate from HYDRA's agents. Both men paid their tabs and walked outside. They made arrangements to meet again tomorrow night. Beck would have a list of things they were required to get for HYDRA, starting with Stark Industries. This would allow Barton to know who was loyal to Stark, who worked for Beck and how HYDRA was involved. Beck was crazy and in no way did Barton trust him, but for now they'd seemingly work together. He knew that the first chance Beck got, the thief would try to double cross or kill him.

While Barton was diving head first in to the world of industrial espionage, Romanoff put her plan in motion. Agent Hill's health began to show the side effects of Romanoff's potion. That kept HYDRA off her back, as all the pieces of the proverbial chessboard fell into place. She also was able to check in with Fury, to make sure his new location was ready to accommodate agent Hill, when necessary. The only problem she was having, was that not all the players in the game, were known to her. Once she became the Director, then she'd have access to the rest of the Council. Too many things could go wrong and there would only be two days, before Barton got thrown into the mix too.

"Money is the root of all evil," Nick said as Romanoff walked around the new compound.

Natasha snorted, "that's not true. Power is the root of all evil, but money helps you get it."

"You're a shrewd woman," Nick said.

"It's a required skill in my line of work. Speaking of which, are you ready to have Maria Hill as an involuntary guest?"

"Unfortunately yes. Hopefully she'll see the big picture once she recovers from the poison," Nick stated.

"Probably not at first, she'll just be all righteous and angry. But you've handled her before, so this will be no different, Natasha said confidently.

"Explain to me again why you are bringing Barton into the mix?"

"That's easy, I need someone I can trust, as I step right in the hornets nest. With all his stubborn pigheadedness, he always has my back. Not to mention he is still listed as a S.H.E.I.L.D. agent."

Nick rotated his shoulders, the weight of the world seemed to be on them. "Just be careful when you go after Stark and Banner. You know that Barton is close friends with those two."

"Right, that might cause a problem. But I can handle Barton."

Fury couldn't understand how after everything that had happened, why Romanoff still had blind trust in Barton. They always had been professional with each other, but he was beginning to suspect that their connection was a little more personal. He'd be watching them more closely, but he trusted that Romanoff would do her job.

CHAPTER #41

It wasn't until Barton reported to Stark in the morning about his dealings with Beck, that he found out that Banner was in another universe.

"What do you mean the diamond did it all on it's own?" Clint asked incredulously.

Tony looked uncomfortable and wouldn't meet Clint's eyes. "Well we were testing the diamond and my suit. The portal opened under Banner and he disappeared."

"He WHAT?" Clint almost yelled.

"Look it's under control, Jarvis is still linked via a new device the diamond helped create. We can track him, but we can't get him out yet. He's not yet transformed into the Hulk, so everything is okay."

Clint stomped up to Tony and glared at him. "Get him back, or I will take away that Diamond and destroy it!"

"Um it's indestructible." Tony saw Clint about to explode with anger and he added, "but don't worry I'll get him back."

Clint rubbed his hands over his face a few times in frustration. "You two are like a bunch of bad children. Leave you alone and all hell breaks loose."

Trying to get back into Barton's good graces, Tony said, "does this mean you don't want the arrow head we created with the diamond?"

Clint sighed, "I'm almost scared to ask what it does."

Tony grinned, "well one head opens a portal to a dimension that is void, has nothing in it. You can put something in it and it disappears. Like a black hole, once something goes in, it never comes out. The other one is a universal portal. The universes are pre-programmed. So if you want to visit Thor's home, you select that option, fire the arrow and a portal opens."

"How do I get back then if the arrow is on this side?" Clint couldn't help himself, he was interested.

"That's the best part, on the other side, the arrow appears. You can pick it out of the air and put it back in your quiver. When you want to leave, you fire it again and select what option you want."

"That is handy. Any side effects?"

Jarvis answered, "none that we have found, although the only universe that they went to was Thor's."

"I don't have room in my quiver for more arrows."

"We thought of that, so these ones are strapped to your wrist and you can throw them like a blade or dart," Tony explained.

Clint examined the new arrow heads. "Okay, these are really nice. But get Banner back or I'm throwing you into that void!"

Tony grinned and offered him a drink. "So what's going on at Stark Industries?"

"Your night security guy Hong Duk is your leak. He has a few of your night guys working with Beck. They're taking your stuff for HYDRA. Beck goes to whomever pays the most. Here's a list of the stuff Beck wants me to take from you. Any idea what they would use it for?"

"Way too many things to list. I'll modify the things he wants so they won't work, but will also give off a signal that Jarvis can trace. Then I'll pay a visit to whomever the end party is. When do you meet up with Beck again to give him these items?"

"I told him I'd have it later tonight; 3 am after my shift is done." Clint then narrowed his eyes, "what are you going to do about Beck himself?"

Tony shrugged, "not sure yet. He could be useful."

Barton rolled his eyes, took the new arrows that Stark gave him and left. He would finish the shift at Stark Industries to get what Beck wanted and then quit. Soon Romanoff would be needing him at S.H.E.I.L.D. and he'd have no time for Stark or Beck. Romanoff's plan was already in play, as BIRD reported that Agent Hill was severely ill. Tomorrow she'd be dead and he'd transport her body to Fury to be revived. Then phase 2 would begin. But what Barton didn't know, was that there was a lot of details that Romanoff didn't mention about phase 2. In order for the whole plan to work in the end, Barton had to remain in the dark about a lot of things. It was his actions that would determine the end game.