Clint really started to believe that Lady Bad-Luck loved him a little bit too much. A week after he'd send Natasha away with the promise that he would be fine, things changed for the worst. Someone apparently broke through the surveillance system of the HYDRA facility – the one where they were keeping the Maximoff twins. After that dreadful moment, Clint had been assigned to stay at the facility in order to enhance the security system by installing some kind of booby traps, in case anyone wanted to break in. He was also responsible for a young programmer, who would rewrite the security program of HYDRA's computers.

Not only would those recent developments make Clint's mission to break the twins out more difficult, it would probably get him exposed as well. He didn't have any moment of privacy anymore and because of that, he'd grown afraid that he would soon break cover. And on top of that, although he didn't like to admit it, being around Loki's scepter made him feel very uncomfortable as well. Most of all, he wanted to take the damned thing and get rid of it. But of course, that wasn't an option. All Clint could do was hope that Natasha would contact him soon, so he could get out of there. It was getting warm underneath his feet and he didn't like anything about it.

"Hey, hey, come over here," the programmer suddenly barked at him. Clint sighed. It was probably the third time this night the man called him over to tell him he had a 'lead' on the hacking of the system. Clint had explained to him many times that he was just a weapon expert, not a security guard, but the guy had wanted to share his findings anyways. His previous interruptions had been nothing to worry about, and Clint silently hoped that the lead he found this time would turn out to be a dead end once again.

"What is it?" Clint shouted, because he had to outvote the noises coming from the right corner of the room. Pietro Maximoff had been running up and down his cell ever since Clint first met him a month ago. Clint still wondered how he could keep it up like that.

"I found something on the security tapes," the programmer said. Clint gave him an angry look: "We pay you to enhance a security system, not to watch videotapes."

"I know, man, chill out. I needed a break, so I decided to do something else. The bosses won't be angry, because look what I found."

If he hadn't heard that himself, Clint would have never believed that HYDRA'd let morons like that guy work for them, but when he stared at the screen of the man's laptop, his heart skipped a beat or two. It was nearly impossible to spot, but apparently, this programmer-dude had eyes like a hawk – just like Clint's. In the corner of the picture on the screen was standing a black man, hidden in the shadows. He was almost unrecognizable, but Clint had the feeling he knew exactly who that was.

"So," Clint tried to stay calm, "that man is standing next to the fences at exit B. Maybe he's smoking a cigarette. Or perhaps it's a drugs dealer who's waiting for a client. I don't see how he is 'a lead'."

"This footage is from last night. I found him very suspicious, so I checked other videotapes –"

Clint interrupted him harshly: "How long have you even been looking at this tapes while I was busy?"

The man did not show any sign of guilt when he told Clint he had been doing it all day. Clint blamed himself for not noticing anything about it, but then again, he had been busy himself by slowing down the enhancement of the security system as much as possible without being noticed – he didn't have the time to supervise annoying newbies.

"I noticed this guy on another tape as well, but this time near another exit." The programmer switched screens on his computer and showed Clint yet another picture of the black man. Clint would have sworn heartedly if he could, but he kept his composure. He didn't understand how that man could have been so uncareful.

"It doesn't mean anything, it isn't forbidden to come near this building. We are situated in the middle of a small town, you idiot. It's normal that people come near the building. The bosses won't find this interesting at all. I should drop it if I were you," Clint advised the man. But the latter didn't let himself get brushed of that easily.

"I believe that this man is the one who hacked our system!" he stated firmly.

"I don't, it's just someone passing by. And – in case you forgot - I am still your superior. So I suggest you go back to work and drop this. For God's sake man, if they find out that you stopped programming and watched security tapes instead, Von Strucker will kill you."

Clint bend over, closed the screens on the man's computer and sat down on top of the programmers desk. "So, hurry up and do your job, and let me do mine. We don't have all year to fix this mess and I still have a lot of weapons to install. I would like to see my own bed again before new year," he snarled. His colleague gave him a sour face, but – to Clint's relief – continued his work. Clint stood up and walked over to his own desk, where he immediately grabbed his chair and put it on the other side of the table, so he could keep an eye on the other man. He turned his laptop around and loaded a blueprint of an automatic gun.

While his computer was busy, he glanced sideways. Pietro was still bouncing around like a lunatic, but for once, Wanda wasn't doing anything special. Instead, she was looking at Clint. He really wanted to say something to her, but he knew he couldn't. He averted his gaze, but he could still feel Wanda's eyes burn on him. After ten minutes, he couldn't resist the urge to look at her any longer. He turned his head again and met her eyes. He was surprised to see that she was smiling at him. As far as he remembered, Wanda never smiled at anyone before. She put her index finger against her lips and pointed at the desk of the other man with her other index finger. Clint didn't understand what she wanted, but he looked in the direction she was pointing at. The other guy had fallen asleep, or was doing a very good job at pretending to snore. Clint looked back at Wanda and smiled at her as well. He wondered if it was possible that she knew who Clint really was. Wanda pointed at the pile of papers on Clint's desk and then to herself. When Clint gave her a confused look, she pretended to write something in the air, and Clint understood. He picked a ballpoint pen and a sheet of paper, made sure the other guy was still sleeping and headed to Wanda's cell. Next to her, Pietro was still bouncing around, but – if Clint wasn't mistaken – his speed had decreased a little. Clint slid the piece of paper trough the bars of her cell, along with the pen. Wanda took them with a nod and started to write. It took long, very long, and Clint started to get a little nervous. If someone entered the room and found them like that, he would have a hard time explaining what he'd been doing. But Clint felt like it was a risk worth taking. He turned his back on Wanda so he could watch his colleague and the door.

Wanda coughed once when she was done writing. She shoved the paper back to Clint, and when he reached out to pick it up, his hand touched hers for a second. Clint folded the paper and put it in his back pocket. He looked up at Wanda and opened his mouth to thank her, but to his surprise, her face had turned pale. Before he could move, Wanda's hand shot through the prison bars and wrapped around Clint's bare wrist. Her eyes filled with fear and worry. Clint started to become worried himself and struggled to get free, but Wanda bore her fingernails in his skin and whispered: "Wait." Clint quickly turned his head around, but there wasn't anyone coming yet. He noticed that it had become remarkably quit – Pietro didn't move anymore. He was staring Clint straight in the eye and looked rather angry.

"Wanda, you should let me go," Clint whispered rapidly, "If anyone finds out that I talked to you, I'm in trouble." Wanda shook her head and blinked twice before she looked at Clint again: "You must leave. They'll find out soon. You must leave. Now, before it's too late. South Africa, you need to be there. Don't forget to be there." She let Clint go and waved her hand towards the door of the room: "Go!"

Clint never took advice of strangers before, but this time, he had the feeling he should listen. Without thinking about it, he poured his cup of water over his laptop and smashed its screen. It might not destroy every evidence about what he'd been up to, but he didn't have time to do anything else. When he reached the door, he suddenly got an idea and walked over to his still sleeping colleague. It had been too easy. Clint took his laptop and gave it to Wanda, along with his already damaged one.

"Do with them whatever you want, but destroy those before anyone comes in – I know you can do that. I hope it will not cause you too much trouble," he told her. He turned around, and in a moment of total madness, he took Loki's scepter from his standard and took it with him.

When he opened the door of the room, a thousand shivers went down his spine when Wanda shouted at his back: "It will."

Hey there,

This is another chapter and I hope you guys are still liking things so far. Keep me posted if there is anything wrong with the story (plotwise, grammarwise, ...). I haven't read the comics so I am basing things on the characters wikipedia-entries (such as Scarlet Witches powers). I also don't watch Agents of SHIELD, so I don't take the plot of the series into account while writing the story =S

I also noticed that people often add 'disclaimers' to their stories. I don't know if that's obligated, but just to be sure:

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters created by Marvel (is that ok?)

Anyway, enjoy reading and - I know I'm repeating myself - tell me if things get too bad =P

Warm hugs,

Ellyn