The Black Widow appeared to be slightly amused. It was hard to tell but Clint was pretty sure that a dark amusement in her blue eyes. He considered rethinking the whole working together thing. The Black Widow was well known even to him. She was a cold blooded killer. An assassin. The Black Widow slept with men then took their lives. Where ever she went, a trail of bodies was always left behind. Children, Women, Men – it didn't matter. The Black Widow was ruthless. Clint didn't trust Nadine, but now that he knew who she really was he trusted her even less. But something peaked her interest so Clint felt his life was safe. For now.
"I take it you've heard of me." The Black Widow was definitely entertained by his discomfort.
"In passing." Clint said with a shrug, trying to regain some composure and dignity. "What made you change your mind?"
"It's not often I meet someone who can keep up with me. You might not be so useless after all."
"Bullshit." Clint snapped out. He wouldn't let the Widow manipulate him into what she wanted.
"I'm not the only one who has a reputation...Hawkeye."
"So I know your alias, you know mine. But the question is, why does who I am matter to you?" Clint asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"Call it curiosity."
"Am I one of your marks?" Clint growled out. He much preferred the sweet timid nature of 'Nadine.'
"No. You're not." The Widow shifted slightly and Clint instantly went into defence mode. She smirked.
"I'm not..." Clint muttered, staring at her in the hopes she'd give something away. "But someone else is and you need my skills."
"The American is not such a fool after all." The Widow said in Russian.
"I can understand you." Clint said irritably.
"Oh? Shocking." The Widow extended her hand out. "Romanova Natalia Alianovna."
Clint knew he should leave, or kill her, or refuse. Anything but accept that outstretched hand. This is what the Black Widow did. Manipulation, seduction and death. But as Clint looked into her eyes he found a darkness in there. Not one of a blood lust but one of a long tortured life. Clint considered her emotionless state and her flawless techniques. She didn't chose this life rather it was forced upon her and she saw no way out. Perhaps that was why she masked her pain so quickly, why she seemed unbothered by the fact he considered killing her. She wanted death. An escape. Or she wants him to think that his mind supplied warningly.
It seemed his body had made a decision for him. Clint reached out and took the offered hand to accept the shake. "Clint Barton."
"Don't you mean Clinton Francis Barton?" Natalia corrected.
"Never call me that." Clint glowered at her. She might withhold facial expressions but he had no issue making his anger known.
Natalia shrugged, not at all affected by his outburst. Clint is pretty sure a bomb could go off outside and she wouldn't even flinch. How the hell was this the same woman he had found breathtaking only two weeks ago? Though he couldn't lie, she was still stunning. Just a whole lot more deadly than he'd realise. Clint should have listened to his gut instinct about her earlier.
"What's your brilliant plan then?" Natalia asked condescendingly.
Clint scowled but filled her in nonetheless. Natalia remained silent through his talking and then seemed to be considering whether it was idiotic or not. Clint figured her extended silence was a good thing, she at least didn't decide straight away that it was a terrible plan. Over all it was sound plan. Mostly. Well, Clint was still just going with it. Natalia was a very unseen change to it. But he'd roll with it. Fuck, he wondered when he went insane.
"It will suffice." Natalia finally offered.
"Oh good." Clint said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I will return to my position at Nikolay's side and discover what he's hiding in the tunnel."
"Tunnel?" Clint asked with slight confusion.
"I've been on the job the same time as you and you seem to know nothing. I thought Hawkeye would be far more competent than this." Natalia said coolly.
"I like to take a different approach to my work." Clint snipped back.
"Like doing nothing?"
"Like not fucking my targets." Clint knew it was too far but he'd already said it. There was no way to take it back.
"The mission is what matters. Any means to achieve it is expected." Natalia said with a dead tone. It sounded rehearsed. Clint thinks she's been told things along those lines for a very long time. Her lack of tone quickly dissolved any bitterness he felt towards her cutting remarks.
"Everyone has a choice." Clint replied softly.
"No." Natalia was apparently done with the whole conversation and him after that. "I am returning to Nikolay's. Don't contact me. I will find you. In case you didn't pick it up, Isaak is a weak link. But give up the police uniform. It does nothing for you. Try threatening him."
And with that she was gone. Natalia wasn't interested in waiting for a reply. Clint let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He just survived an encounter with the Black Widow. For now at least. He probably shouldn't push her so much next time. It took him a moment to realise he still had no idea what the fuck the tunnel was or where it was located. Though it would make sense, every time the police raided Nikolay nothing was ever found. Through common sense Clint deduced the tunnel ran under the hideout. He wasn't sure if it connected to anywhere else but if it did it could give him a way in without running into any of the Mafia and get the evidence he needed.
But first he needed to find Isaak.
Clint took Natalia's advice and ditched the uniform. After all the effort he went to as well. He felt a twinge of guilt about the unnecessary deaths of the police officers but he swallowed it down. Clint had tried to do the good guy thing once. After he got away from his old life he wanted a change and was inspired by Iron Man. He stupidly thought he could change his life, become a fucking hero. It was a joke. Clint even tried to make a costume but all it ever resulted him in was been hunted by the police and accused as a thief. Clint left the states for a while and easily found himself slipping into the role of a mercenary for hire. He didn't have anyone running his life. Clint found all his jobs through a black market website.
Yet there was still guilt itching away from within side him. It was constant and Clint did everything he could to ignore it.
Isaak turned out easier to find than Clint was really expecting. The shamed Captain was drowning his sorrows and fears at Ivan's bar. Clint took the same seat as last time and watched the rat like man put away vodka one after another. Luck was on his side as none of Isaak's men were with him. Though Clint is sure that's because Nikolay would have removed the responsibility of being a Captain already. The more drunk Isaak got, the better for him. Getting information out of drunk person was far easier. Alcohol loosened the tongue nicely.
Eventually Isaak finally came to a stand. It took the man a few tries to actually maintain the balance needed to walk. Clint waited a moment before pulling his coat on and following Isaac out into the frigid night air.
Clint followed behind for a few blocks. As the people on the street began to thin, Clint closed the distance between himself and Isaak. An alley up ahead caught Clint's attention and he quickened his pace. Clint used his brute strength to grab Isaak by the arms and drag the surprised man into the alley. "Scream and I'll server your vocal cords." Clint threatened quietly.
Isaak nodded once in understanding and allowed himself to be pulled into a secluded area in the alley. "Nikolay send you?" Isaak asked in broken English. Clint realised his threat was in his native tongue and cursed himself. He really didn't do undercover well.
"No. But I'll make what Nikolay will do to you look like child's play." Clint warned softly. The Black Widow was right. A gentle threat and Isaak was falling to pieces. The man was quivering like a bowl of jelly. Clint was disgusted.
"Please what do you want?" Isaak reached for his pockets and Clint slammed the shorter man into the wall. "No...No gun. Money I have money."
"I'm not interested in your money. I want information."
"No...Nikolay will know...The things he will do..." Isaak stammered out, his small beady eyes were watering.
"Nikolay is the least of your concerns." To emphasise his point, Clint pulled out a small dagger and held it at Isaak's throat. "Don't think I mean to kill you with this. Do you know how many times a man can be cut before he dies?" Clint dragged the knife across Isaac's throat, the skin parted and blood flowed freely. "Do you know how deep I can cut you before you die?"
"No...no...Please. I tell you what you want." Isaac conceded. Clint was relieved. He actually had no idea what the answers were, but he was sure he could ask the Black Widow. She'd only be too happy to tell him. Or demonstrate on him. Clint decided he'd live blissfully in ignorance to those questions.
"Where does the tunnel connect to?" Clint demanded, lowering the knife away from Isaak's throat and cleaning it.
There was a deep look of fear in Isaak's eyes. It seemed Isaak really didn't want to answer that question. Clint pointed the dagger back towards Isaak and raised his brow.
"It goes to Baba's Cafe!" Isaak squeaked. Clint frowned. He was sure he'd seen that name somewhere. Of course, the cafe Natalia was leaving yesterday. She could of made this a lot easier for him and just told him. Clint is certain that she's testing him though. If he doesn't meet her standards then he'll be just another man killed by the Widow. Clint found himself intruiged by the challenge. But he's sure Natalia knew that.
"What is Nikolay hiding in the tunnels?"
"You get nothing more from me!" Isaak reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun. Clint was moving to knock the weapon from Issak's hand but the man pointed it on himself and pulled the trigger. Clint grimaced as the bullet pierced the man's throat and he was sprayed with thick blood. This was not how he wanted his night to end. Clint wiped the blood away with his sleeve and tried to flick it off. At least he had more information than earlier but still, Natalia could have just told him.
"Don't look so bitter Barton." Natalia called out from the darkness. Clint swore and spun around. He didn't even notice her trailing him.
"Is this where you kill me?" Clint asked, crossing his arms and appearing casual.
"Not today." Natalia turned to leave the alley before looking back over her shoulder. "Nikolay is throwing a party tomorrow. The tunnel will be guarded lightly."
Clint watched her leave, well he watched a certain part of her behind leave. He's pretty sure Natalia was well aware of his appreciative staring. A strange feeling arose inside him. There was something about Natalia's approval that pleased him. He knew she was playing him but he was starting to not care.
There was light rain falling but Clint paid it no attention. He'd spent the last thirty minutes checking out the cafe. There was no one guarding it, no security cameras or alarms. It was pathetically easy to break into. Clint went around the back after scaling a chain chest with ease. He pulled out his lock pick kit and within minutes he was slipping inside. The door latched quietly behind him. Clint stood still for a moment, ensuring no one was hiding in the dark or an alarm wasn't going to start blaring at him. Everything was silent and still. Clint turned on his torch and flashed it around. He was in the kitchen but nothing stood out. It took him less than three minutes to locate the entrance to the tunnel. It was down in the basement and heavily locked. But it still proved no issue for Clint to break the locks.
The tunnel was dark and Clint didn't want to risk using his torch in case it gave away his position. Clint held his bow loosely in one hand and used the other one to navigate his way along the tunnel. He tried not to think too much on why the walls were wet. The answer would be undesirable no doubt.
Eventually he came to an intersection. Clint paused briefly before pulling out his torch. As much as he loathed to give away his presence he didn't want to waste the whole night wandering the tunnels lost. He could picture Natalia's dry response and unimpressed face over his failure. Clint scowled at himself. It wasn't wise to focus on her so much. Or at all.
The light showed the left turn was a dead end. Clint flicked the torch straight ahead and then to the right both appeared to continue on and Clint was left with a decision to make. He tried to map where Nikolay's hideout was and the location of the cafe and the direction of the tunnel. In hindsight he should have done that before. Clint is certain it's the right turn so he heads off in that direction. He keeps the torch on but points it at the ground to try and lessen the brightness. If he was right then it should be roughly a twenty minute walk from the cafe to the hideout.
Clint felt a moment of success as the tunnel began to get brighter. Old lights swung from the ceiling and he cut his torch and shoved it into his kit bag. He walked softly so he didn't alert and guards of his presence. Preferably he wanted to get in and out without being spotted. Nikolay might move the whole operation if he thought his hiding place blown. He was certain Natalia wouldn't take kindly to that.
The tunnels were completely empty and Clint grinned as he moved around freely. He knew better than to get cocky but this proving far easier than anticipated. Though he supposed he had Natalia's backwards help to thank for that.
Clint was reassured that he was in the right place as the sound of music reached his ears. It was thumping through the floors and it irritated Clint's ears. He sent a glare upwards as if it would make a difference. Clint was growing more frustrated, each room located in the tunnel was proving to be a disappointment. Though one room looked very much like a torture room. Clint was hoping he wouldn't find himself back in there at any point.
A smug grin fell onto place on Clint. Jackpot. A weapons room. A very serious weapons room. There was everything from shot guns to machine guns. Kevlar vests were hanging up along with other protective gear. It clicked that this was all police issued gear and evidence. Clint frowned deeply. How the fuck was Nikolay getting a hold of this?
Clint pulled out his camera and set about getting shots of everything in the room. Once he was satisfied he had enough photos he silently left the room and continued on. He stumbled across another room filled with drugs. Clint snapped photos of the bags of pills and power. A low whistle sounded from his throat when he spotted the stacks of cash.
The evidence he found was substantial but he needed to find out the source of the police gear. Clint grinned to himself. He had an idea but Natalia wasn't going to like it.