"Redemption, pt. 2"
Summary: Natasha gave out markers to people she had hurt in the past. Clint has one. Hmm.
A/N: So, this story was supposed to be a one-shot then I thought of an idea to add. I wanted Natasha to have this conversation with someone & not just in her head (I wrote it in her head for another upcoming story) and I couldn't think of a better person for her to talk with than Kate Bishop.
As always I don't own the characters or Marvel (bummer) but if any Marvel people, like DeConnick, Fraction, Spencer, etc want my story/dialogue/whatever to use in a comic, it's all yours for free! Just as long as it's used for a Clint & Natasha romance/partnership/friendship/etc, & not adapted for different characters.
Rated T to be safe (there's probably cursing in here somewhere)
PS, I hope to post the next chapter for Avengers: Fanfiction next Friday.
Last time:
His cell phone rang, then hers. They were needed aboard the Hellicarrier. Pick up in 30.
"I gotta go get my stuff Clint…"
"Yeah. Okay," he murmered, flipping the marker then catching it again. A sly grin spread across his face. "You get a pass for now, Natasha. But I'm keeping this little guy on me at all times from now on, and I'm going to call up my debt sooner or later…"
She exhaled a deep breath, then walked back to him. "I know. And I'll try to figure things out so I can actually answer you with the truth."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
A small smile formed on her lips. "Really." She gently pressed her lips to his.
He stood stunned as she walked out the door. "See you in 30."
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Shit happened. Black Widow and Hawkeye went on secret missions they weren't allowed to remember. They Avenged, and helped save the world a few times.
Finally, there was a break in the constant end-of-all-existence danger.
Clint collapsed on his couch, ready for a DVR marathon of all the shows he'd missed.
Natasha curled up with a book on her favorite chair, the one next to a huge window with an excellent view of New York. It was view that included a slight visual of Clint's apartment building.
After what seemed like hours of trying to read the same page Natasha left the tower. She wandered through the streets of New York, amongst the construction crews and families out for dinner. The city was in a constant state of rebuilding these days, but the spirit was still there.
She picked up her pace when she realized her feet had been taking her in a particular direction. Several blocks later Clint's building came into view.
xxxxx
Kate answered the door. "Barton's out. But you're welcome to come in, he should be back soon."
Natasha wasn't so sure. Clint trusted Kate but the girl had a tendency to be a bit overprotective of her mentor. Kate had got wind that there was something going on between Clint and Natasha and she was not likely to let the issue lay as long as it went unresolved.
But Natasha… needed to see her partner. They could leave again, just the two of them, after he got back. She flattened her expression and walked in. At least she could try to be proactive and focus Kate's thoughts in a different direction. As Kate appeared to be wearing some kind of purple track suit, she took that route.
"Laundry day today, Kate?"
"Ha-ha, very funny Romanoff." Natasha almost rolled her eyes. The teen had picked up some of Clint's nicknames for her, and this was just the beginning.
"But I thought you were Clint's version of Pepper Potts?"
Kate snorted. "Yeah, if by that you mean I try to keep him out of trouble, then yes. House chores? No."
That was obvious enough from the lack of cleanliness of the apartment. Bachelor pad indeed.
Natasha went to scratch Lucky's head. "Surely he has someone keep track of this guy?"
Kate shifted her weight from one foot to another. Her eyebrows were scrunched up in thought and she was looking down. Just great, thought Natasha. She's got something on her mind.
The Black Widow signed. "Out with it,Bishop."
"What's with the coin?"
Natasha tilted her head to the side in a question. "Sorry?"
"You know, the black coin with your mark on it. Clint was playing with it the other day. What's with that thing?
Natasha's face dropped. God, she didn't want to talk about that now.
But admitting to her past was part of her penance.
"Well, you know that Clint and I have some bad history. He wasn't the only one, Kate. I hurt many people, killed people. A while ago I gave out the markers as a way to make up for my old sins. When I get a marker, I go and do what they need done."
"And Clint has one of these?"
"He has one of the last ones."
"But, why? Why does he still have it? Haven't you saved his ass more than a few times over the years?"
Natasha smiled. "Yes. Maybe not as much as you," Kate rolled her eyes at that one, "but that's not what the debt was for."
Suddenly feeling talkative, Natasha bit her lip, not sure how to go forward. She tried.
"I've spent a good portion of my life making up for the wrongs I've done, but none more than him. We've saved each other more times that we can count, and we've lost track. But my debt to him remains unpaid. It can never be repaid."
Kate looked confused. Natasha continued. "How do you repay a broken heart? How do you make right betrayal? I used him. I manipulated him. I made him fall in love with me."
Kate had heard all this before, and Natasha was tempted to stop there, but there was further truth that needed to be told. Even if it was just to one other person. "But when I started feeling something myself," she looked down, a little relieved she'd gone and said it, "I used the excuse of the KGB to run. I ran from him, but really I was running from myself. From losing control. From falling in love."
As Natasha turned back to Kate, her eyes steeled. "His debt can never be fully repaid. It's a debt I owe to us both, for denying what was there, and what could have been." She turned and walked to the window, looking out at the city. "Such a debt cannot be repaid."
"Can't it?" Natasha didn't move at Kate's question, and the young archer started regretting asking it. Kate looked down, a bit unsure of herself. She and Natasha had been getting to know each other a little better lately, thanks to Clint, but the Black Widow was still a dangerous person she didn't want to offend. Kate took a breath and went for it.
"But what if you're denying what's here now?"
Natasha remained still.
"…wouldn't that be worse? To deny what still could be?"
The Black Widow set her jaw. "I can't give him what he wants, Kate."
Kate furrowed her brow, and walked towards Natasha. "I don't…"
"You don't have to understand. Clint deserves the American dream. The whole fairy tale. Wife, kids, dog," Lucky raised his head, "white picket fence. I can't give it to him."
They stood in silence for a moment. Kate found the courage to try to speak again.
"I think…" she thought before she started again, choosing her words carefully. "I think you've misread what Clint wants."
Natasha's eyebrow rose in surprise and inquiry. No one knew Barton better than her. Right?
"Or… maybe you're just not able to see it because of how involved you are."
"Spit it out, Kate."
The Young Avenger sighed. "Alright. Clint wants you. As you are. Whether or not…"
Keys being jumbled outside the door snapped the women out of their reverie and they were suddenly very interested in lavishing attention on Lucky, who sat at their feet.
Clint shuffled in, arms full of grocery bags and a pizza box. Lucky trotted over at the smell of fresh pizza. "Don't worry Kate, I got organic apples this time… oh. Hey, Natasha."
She stood from where she had been petting Lucky. "Clint."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Yeesh. Here, I'll help with the groceries. Natasha came to see you, after all."
"Uh, thanks." Lucky followed the pizza and Clint walked over to Natasha, who kept a blank look on her face. Clint noticed.
"Hey, you wanna get out of here?"
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Thank you to my betas What's-that-on-the-wall and biggsxr! Please review if you have a minute!
This one may end up being longer, but probably not for a while, it depends on what the ol' muse feels like. I plan on eventually putting a bunch of these one-shots together into a chapter story anyway, with additional connecting material, as most of them are related. Please check out the others.
PS, Kelly Sue DeConnick should TOTALLY write a Black Widow mini-series! I can't think of a better writer to take on the strong, yet troubled character, and she could also work with Fraction on weaving a Clintasha romance in through several different titles, including Hawkeye and Avengers Assemble. Wouldn't that just be awesome? Plus they could use ANY of my stuff for free. How about you tell them, if you agree?