Whew! I've had a crazy couple of days. I went up to the mountains to go to a retreat and got to find out what it was like to hang upside-down from a seat belt. No one was hurt, Praise God! And even my poor little computer came out of it without a scratch.

I had intended to have this up sooner, but shit happens.

Enjoy :)

He didn't have to wait for long.

He ran through all the things he could say to her in his mind, most of which would just piss her off. He figured he would say his peace and if she wasn't going to accept, she could go to hell. At least he could say he tried.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he missed the exact moment she came to, and almost jumped when he found those blue eye staring calmly at him. She wasn't fuming or snarling angrily at him, but there was a cold hardness to her eyes that set him on edge.

Leaning back in his seat like he hadn't a care in the world, he gave her his most winning smile that had swept many women off their feet. "Morning darling"

No reaction. Her face was as unmoving as stone.

"I think you and I need to have a little chat about our relationship." She quirked an eyebrow at that but said nothing.

"So they say you should use 'I statements' so that the other person doesn't feel attacked." he began mater-of-factly, "Well I feel like you don't like me very much when you try to jab a needle, filled with God-knows-what, into my neck." He gave her a stern look, the same one Coulson usually reserved for him. "It's hurtful!" She wasn't amused.

"I thought we were friends!" still nothing, not even a roll of the eyes. Jeez, he must be losing his touch. So much for lightening the mood.

"Look, here's the deal." He said, suddenly very serious. He leaned forward, arms resting on his legs, and looked her directly in the eye. It might be clichéd, but here goes. "I like you. And from what I've seen over the last week or so there's a lot more to you than your file says. You're more than a cold-blooded killer. I know you must be tired of your life as it is, and I'm willing to help you out. We could fake your death pretty convince-"

She cut him off with her laughter. "Aww, you want to be my knight in shining armor? How sweet! Save me from my past and help me heal all my wounds so that I feel like a whole person again, won't you please!" she spat. "Do you think you can right all the wrongs I have been done? You think you can make me some great instrument of good? Or perhaps you think I'll go off and live a regular life. Get married settle down...have children?"

It was ridiculous. Her would be assassin, sitting across from her and offering to rescue her. She'd been down this road before it never ended well. Those who truly wanted to help were naive and didn't have the nerve or the resources to follow through, and those who did have those things had their own agenda.

There was a boy once. He had dark curly hair and Ice blue eyes. He smiled at her with such kindness. He had been the type that saw good in everyone. He had tried to romance her with beautiful images of a better life, of freedom. She had been young and his words tempting, but it ended like it always did, with her knife slipping easily between his ribs and he blood washing over her hands.

Who was he to offer this to her? Even if he was being genuine, she doubted his boss would share his ideals. She would not escape one master only to be enslaved to another.

"Do you think that by saving me you can make up for the evils you're responsible for? That it will change anything? This is a childish hope. What's been done cannot be undone." Her voice was raised. When did that happen? "You know nothing!" She snapped harshly, surprising herself with the force she put behind it.

Clint had a hard look in his eyes and she could tell he was clenching his jaw. He heaved a sigh as her words sink in. This wasn't going as he had hoped. Good. She wasn't about to roll over for him and let him take control of her life. He'd reveal his true intentions behind this fairytale he was trying to feed her.

"okay." He resigned.

What?

He stood up quickly, flipping open a pocket knife as he advanced on her. She tensed. Her body coiled and ready to fight back when he struck.

Noticing her posture, he backed up a couple steps and threw up his hands.

"Easy there sweetheart. Just gonna undo your hands."

She eyed him warily as he approached her slowly. He paused as he stepped with-in range of her legs which he had not bound. When she didn't immediately attack, he continued, gently slipping the knife between her skin and the rope. He removed the rope and handcuffs and then quickly put distance between them.

She sat up slowly, rubbing her wrists for lack of anything better to do with her hands. She stared at him in confusion. As soon as he was certain her wasn't going to jump him, he began moving around the apartment.

What the hell is his game?

She silently watched him as he worked. He found one of her go-bags, pulled a hoodie over his head and grabbed a winter coat. He searched around for a little while before coming up with some boots that came close to fitting him and pulled them on.

"man, you sure do know how to prepare for every situation."

Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what he was planning. He was making a show of getting ready to leave, released her so she would feel like he was on her side. Did he expect her to stop him? To reconsider and beg him to take her with him? What would he do when she didn't? Would he come back to try and kill her? or would he try to bring her in alive? He'd already managed to knock her out and tie her up. Twice.

"I hope you don't mind if I borrow this stuff, but I can hardly walk down the street naked." His voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she caught herself staring into space, no longer monitoring his movements. Since when did she do that?

He gave her an uncertain smile that she did not return. "Are there any nasty traps I should know about before I try to walk out that door?"

She shook her head. She had intended to leave as soon as she knocked him out, so she had disarmed the security measures around the door while he was in the shower.

He stopped to inspect it carefully anyways, opening the door slowly, and wincing as if it might explode at his touch. It didn't.

He turned back to look at her, searching her face for any indication she had changed her mind.

She hadn't.

"If we ever cross paths again, I'll make it up to you for taking your stuff." Then he was gone.

As soon as the door closed behind him, she was up and moving. She left out the skylight, making it there in time to see Barton make it to the street and start walking away from the building. She chose the opposite direction.

Don't forget to review! (feel free to call me out on any typos BTW, I always seem to miss something)

\/