Chapter Thirty Four
Natasha was very young when she made her first kill. She became an assassin, killing people for survival. She didn't pay attention to who she killed. But she became a menace, and got on S.H.I.E.L.D.s watchlist. And when she was nineteen, she was caught.
...
There was a young agent who was skilled with a bow. His name was Clint Barton, and he had the eyes of a hawk. He was in his early twenties when he was sent to take out the Black Widow, an assassin.
Truthfully, he was worried, even though he didn't let that show. He was wondering if he should go out on any missions. He was really wondering if he should see S.H.I.E.L.D.'s psychiatrist. He was starting to think he was seeing something.
The first day happened when he received his mission.
...
"This is your turning point," a voice said. He brought out his gun and pointed it straight at a young girl. She was standing in the middle of his quarters. She might just be fifteen, but with S.H.I.E.L.D., she could be an assassin.
"Who are you?" Clint demanded.
She sighed. "Why does everyone go straight to the 'who are you business'? It is so annoying."
"Who are you?" He repeated. "Tell me, or I'll shoot."
"Okay," she said, spreading her arms, "Come on, shoot me! I'm not gonna tell you who I am, so…" she shrugged.
After a few seconds, she gave him an exasperated look.
"You've got to be kidding me," she said, putting her arms down. "If you're going to bluff, follow through with it."
Man, this girl's got some fire, Clint thought.
There was a knock on the door. Saved by the knock, Clint hoped.
He opened it, and Nick Fury walked into the room. He didn't even glance at the girl. "Barton, I'm going to send you out immediately. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," Clint said, his eyes darting back and forth between the girl and Director Fury.
"What are you looking at?" Fury demanded, looking at where the girl was. He looked back as if he saw nothing.
"Get your head back on the task," Fury said. "I'm sending you out tonight. You have an hour to pack."
Behind his back, the girl was making funny faces, sticking her tongue out, and crossing her eyes.
"Yes, sir," Clint said, straight faced.
The minute the door closed behind Fury, Clint asked, "Can he see you?"
"No," she said, almost immediately.
"Why?" he asked.
"Good," she said. "You're finally asking the right questions. None of this who are you crap."
"Why?" he repeated.
"Because," she said. "I choose who sees me."
She flickered out of view.
"See you later, Clint," the air whispered.
...
"This is the day," came a voice.
Natasha spun around, gun out. She pointed it at the young girl, of about fifteen. She preferred to spare children, but she's killed younger.
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
"Oh, I like you," she said. "You're asking the right questions."
"Who are you?" Natasha asked.
The girl winced. "Oh, and there we are again, with the boring questions."
"I…what?"
"Okay, so here the gist," the girl said. "You've been killing people for years now. Today you will get a second chance. When it is offered, I suggest you take it. You'll get a good life, saving the right people. You'll be taken care of, you'll have friends, and you'll value it. Take the second chance."
Then she disappeared.
"What the hell?" Tasha muttered to herself.
...
The plane was mostly empty. Clint sighed, and glanced out the window.
"Feeling a bit down?" a voice asked.
The girl was back. She had sat down right next to Clint.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, sighing.
"Changing the future," she said.
Clint sat up, paying more attention. "What do you mean?"
"I know the future," she said quietly. "You need to make a choice. You'll understand it all in the moment. And you might get in trouble for your choice, but it will save your life and many others in the future."
He looked forward. He was nothing particularly special. He was an agent that was good with a bow and that was about it. Well, and he had good eyesight.
"But I'm-" he turned to talk to the girl. The seat was empty.
Dammit, he thought.
...
Clint had found his adversary. He was not expecting to be someone so young. And pretty.
Lethally beautiful. The perfect combination of words to describe Black Widow. And as he aimed the arrow at her to destroy her, he saw the fifteen – year old girl, standing in the corner of her eye.
She was just standing, her face entirely, and completely blank.
And then Clint understood. Instead of killing the Black Widow, he would take her in. And she could become an agent.
"I'm going to give you an option," the man with the bow said. "I can take you into S.H.I.E.L.D. and you can become an agent, or I can kill you. Choose."
Out of the corner of her eye, Tasha saw the young girl. Ahhh, she thought. So this is what she meant.
"I like the first option," she said.
...
As Natasha and Clint were walking away, they both peeked behind them and spotted the young girl. And she winked. At both of them.
They just didn't realize that the other person saw her, as well.