Clint took a step back, holding her at arms' length. He looked her over, running a gentle finger over the cuts on her face.
"I can't believe you found me," Natasha breathed out. She was worn and tired, her legs were shaking. She let out a wary laugh. Clint grabbed her again and held her close. They stayed like that for a minute, eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of each other. Everything had been forgiven, all was forgotten.
Bell was wrapped in Mark's arms, both breathing deeply in relief. But the magical moment couldn't last long. Two gunshots were fired off to their left. Everyone snapped to attention.
"We have to get out," Clint whispered.
"Oh, and that's going to be easy with four people," Nat barked, eyeing off Mark and Bell, who had jumped up half a second too slow. Clint grimaced as he saw the friction growing every second between the three of them. He went to break it apart when a body was flung towards the house from around the corner. In a split second, Bell was on it, checking it over, decided it was not on our side and slit its throat. Nat stood back, impressed.
Mark and Clint were already heading down the road, away from the guns and body. Nat and Bell followed. As they hurried along the roads, heading towards the entrance of the city, ducking and weaving to avoid being seen, Natasha filled them in.
"There's a Vibranium mine, about two miles from here. Russian soldiers and governors and all sorts have come to get it. And you can imagine what they'd do if they got their hands on enough of it. Weapons large enough to take out whole countries. Of course, S.H.E.I.L.D. and the British Government have known about the mine for some time; they decided to leave it untouched. As well as it being used for extremely dangerous weapons and things, it provides a welcome habitat for many creatures. Some creatures that live in there are so evolved… They're incredible; the Vibranium provides a kind of energy source that they feed from, but anyway.
"When S.H.E.I.L.D. heard that some secret force was going to mine it, they sent out lawyers and officials to stop them. No amount of money or bargaining would stop them though. The next step was force. The British sent a small army here to hold them off, but they gave us a 'dose of our own medicine,' and sued their way into the mines. There was only one option left. Right before they commenced work in the mines, Fury sent a bunch of assassins (newly trained, Clint, and they're good too) to kill off the workers. They did a good job, but never the less; Fury had me stay here to watch over them. But they were found and killed, so I took over.
"It didn't go to well. S.H.E.I.L.D. had a mole working for Russia, and they said that the Russians were planning something terrible to do to me. Fury wouldn't say what, he just told me to leave. Because of all the deaths in there, they held off mining for a bit. Also, so they could focus on getting me. I had been hiding out in that small house because it was abandoned. Apparently someone died in there. Add two or three, now that I'm done there.
"Well, I was worried to say the least. I wrote to you, Clint," she nudged him and smiled. "Fury told me they were coming, about three or four hours ago. I err… got rid of them and hid on the roof. Scared for my life. Honestly, Clint, I've never been so scared. I didn't know what to do; I had no way to contact anyone -"
And that reminded him. He chucked her phone to her as they came to rest against the back of a tall, dark building. Mark and Bell collapsed next to them, they weren't used to this and the stress was getting to them. Nat went through her phone and replied to Fury.
Ten metres from entrance to city. Can't get pinpoint. Hawkeye + 2 with me. Safe and sound. We're almost out, Nick. The Russians are still scared of me. :) – Send
"Yes, we're almost out," Clint rubbed her knee affectionately. The four of them planned a little manoeuvre to sprint safely out of the city and all the way back to Nina and Milne's little warm house. They all got up and, as planned, Mark ran forward first around the corner of the building. He was out of sight, which was risky, but if he made a bird noise they knew it was safe. If he screamed or so, they knew it wasn't.
Chirpy Chirp. Tweeeeeet.
The three others hurried after him together, only to find him held in a headlock with a knife at his throat. The man holding him called out again:
Chirpy Chirp. Tweeeeeet.
Four more men pounced onto them, caught them by surprise if you will. The two strongest pinned Clint to the wall while the other two grabbed the girls in the same head lock as Mark. Clint was kicking and struggling, but they were too strong. He saw that man holding Nat whisper something into her ear before licking her neck. Clint was raging silently, bashing around hard. He got a decent hit at one man's head. In his rage, he smashed his own head into the wall.
Nat's gut clenched as she saw Clint's head flop onto his chest. But she only rolled her eyes. She knew too well that these people were not to be messed with.
Bell was crying quietly and Mark had gone limp in defeat in the men's arms. They were escorted into the tall dark building. Nat cooperated, walking with her head held high. Bell followed, trying her hardest to keep a solemn face. But when she was roughly shoved into thought the entrance of the building, when she looked up and her eyes fell upon two faces above her, she couldn't possibly keep a straight face.