Hello again! Thank you to everyone that reviewed, followed, and favorited. I appreciate the support. To my reviewers Alex C and discordchick, I pretty much agree with you on bruce\natasha pairing. It seemed sudden and I'm very unsure how I feel about it, or how much of it I will include in my scenes. Let me know what the rest think, please and thank you.

Six Months before Battle of New York

Natasha POV

Clint had been visiting his family for a couple weeks, leaving me at base without a partner. I desperately wanted to see Laura and the kids again but time was a terrible factor. Fury was sending me on mission after mission. Some were solo, the better ones were with Clint. I hated to admit how nice it felt to have a best friend, two at that. Growing up, I obviously never had such a luxury, the Red Room never wanted me to get too close to anyone. Anytime I seemed to get attached to another victim, they would force me to fight them, so I could grow accustomed to learning hard truth of being a spy.

I was alone in my dorm when my mind flashed back to my childhood, never a good sign. I tried to distract myself but my thoughts were overwhelming. I remember killing several of my fellows trainees who tried to make friends with me before realizing what could happen. After the third fight, the girls ostracized me because I meant their death, and survival was everything to the Red Room.

I panicked as faces of innocent ones drained my mind, "please, please Natasha think about anything else," it was a wasted plea to myself, I was in too deep, and my past connects to every aspect of my life, when I start a connection it's to pull out.

I was hyperventilating, my knees were to my chest as trembled in the dark room. This didn't happen often, maybe during a nightmare or an exceptional horrid mission. You couldn't convince me that I was weak, a couple of panic attacks every once in a while was okay, it was fine, I was going to be fine, I was going to be fine.

I was lying to myself. Sweat was soaking my short hair, the shaking and breathing worsened. The taste of blood in my mouth courtesy of the mission I had just completed, did not help the panic that had ensued.

I was fearful, I was terrified this attack was worse than most. My breathing was sharp, quick, and unsteady. Clint. My palms were damp and hesitant. Clint. My mind raced of every bloody scene I've endured in my short life. Clint!

My heart slowed just a single pace when I reminded myself that Clint was due back tonight. I could call him, tell him to come to my room because I needed him. He's never seen me this lost, he wasn't supposed to see me like this. I saved him, not vice-versa. Of course, he still came, because he wasn't just my partner, he was my best friend.

Barton knocked on door just as my condition went from worst to code red, I was sobbing to myself, loudly. I didn't answer, I dug my face into my knees, ashamed of my behavior. I knew he would hear my sob, I knew he would force himself through the door, I knew his next move before he knew them.

Clint called my name, the name only he and Laura call me. I responded with a muffled cry, and not a beat later I heard my dorm lock being picked, ironically, it was faster to pick these cheap locks than use his spare key. He shoved the door open in a matter of moments. Everything had blurred and my awareness depleted, but I felt him whisper "Tasha" as softly as possibly before sitting next to my spot on the floor.

"Did someone do something to you because I swear right now I will kill them, I don't care who they are…" Clint's fist tightened, he agitated himself as he spoke, the people that hurt me weren't worth going after, I found no delight in the thought of having any connection to that organization. I needed comforting Clint, so I grabbed his hand without raising my head, and whispered his name in between sobs. I felt his eyes take in my condition fully.

"You aren't broken, Nat," he grabbed a blanket off my bed and wrapped it around my shoulders, "you healed, slowly and nervously, but you patched up your own wounds, I saw it for myself."

He lifted my chin gently, "don't hide from me," he whispered. I still couldn't speak, but I was beginning to relax, my shoulder dug its way into his shoulder, I allowed myself to cry on him, I'm not completely sure I've ever let myself do such a humiliating thing.

Clint rocked me like a toddler having a nightmare until the tears finally stopped, and my breathing normalized. I sat up, and attempted to look stronger. His eyes shifted away and he twirled his hands relentlessly, I couldn't help but put my focus on his growing frown.

"Guilt?" I carelessly thought aloud.

"I'm sorry Natasha, I should have been here sooner," he still didn't look up, "if I hadn't talked to Coulson for so long or went back to my dorm before coming to check on you, maybe it would have been…" his voice trailed off and I knew he wasn't talking to me anymore.

"Stop Clint, and stop calling me Natasha it sounds unusual," he didn't need comfort, I knew him better than that, he needed to feel useful and necessary. I put my hand on my stomach to subtly gesture that I was hungry. I didn't know how long the attack lasted, but it seemed to be well past a decent dinner hour. "I need to shower," I let him pull me up, neither of us switched the lights on as I strode to the bathroom and closed the door behind me.

A short twenty minutes later, I was leaving the bathroom in a clean pair of black leggings and an oversized SHIELD t-shirt. Clint had apparently just gotten back to room with a plate of a hot pasta dish I recognized from the cafeteria.

"It's like two in the morning, how was the cafeteria even serving food?" I stood over the plate, staring at him.

He smiled mischievously, "If anyone asks the cafeteria was closed and locked, and this," gesturing towards my plate, "doesn't exist"

A smiled, walked over to him for a hug, "welcome back, Agent Barton"

"Thank you, Agent Romanoff."

I forced Clint to stay up with me for about two hours, I demanded every detail of the family. The kids were growing up so fast and I hated missing out on watching them grow up.

Clint finally retreated to his dorm to sleep around four in the morning, this may have rose a few eyebrows to some but it didn't bother me. They weren't aware of the nature of our relationship, I could never have Clint in that way, it could only be compared to dating you're therapist. We certainly would both openly admit to caring, even loving each other, but not the kind of love that he and Laura had. It was the platonic relationship I needed, in the same way I don't need what Clint and Laura have but I need what I have with Clint and with Laura.

After Clint left, under the promise that I call him if anything happened, I put myself to bed to cure the deprivation. I wished I was in a place I was safe, happy, and home. I wished many things that early morning but overall I wished to be home soon.

Two Months before Battle of New York

Clint's POV

Phase two preparations were under way, Coulson often tied me down to a desk to complete the less exhilarating parts of being an agent, the paperwork. Tasha was completing a string of missions in Russia. They were smaller missions that were ultimately going to accomplish a larger task of retrieving information on the black market. As a result, SHIELD hardly flew her back to base for visits, they saw no need to bring her back to the US if her next mission began in a week and half. We would occasionally be able to talk via phone but even that was uncommon. I battled this feeling of loneliness, I hadn't seen my family in four months, and I was going insane. That night, however, I was treated with a rare treat. Moments after setting the phone down after talking with Laura, an unfamiliar number flashed on my screen knew what that meant.

Clint-Hello?

Nat- I've always meant to tell you that you have a weird phone voice.

Clint- Hi, Black Widow

Nat- Even on commlinks it sounds different.

Clint- Nat, what's wrong with you?

Nat- I'm sorry, I'm getting lonely

Clint- Same, I'm being exploited with desk work.

Nat- I'm being exploited for… well everything. This job doesn't seem to have an end and I'm weary of what of results it will actually have. What about you? Any exciting missions you're getting shipped off to do?

Clint- I'm leaving in about two weeks to overlook this doorway to space, mothership of all eco-friendly renewable energy cube project.

Nat- Sounds interesting, is this like the latest Tony Stark project.

Clint- Actually Stark's name didn't come up, kind of weird considering he's the only big name in that business.

Nat- I know, sounds suspicious, but then again it's SHIELD.

Clint- Exactly. So any wise words before I embark Miss Natasha.

Nat- Don't call me Natasha, if I let you shorten my name without me shortening your life, you better take advantage of it. And don't do anything stupid, better yet, anything that will make me call you stupid.

Clint- Alright Agent Romanoff, I will take your almighty wisdom to heart.

Nat- Good plan, Agent Barton.

Clint- And Tasha?

Nat- Yes?

Clint-Please stay safe.

Nat- Okay. Stay alive, Barton.

Clint- Goodbye I,'ll talk to you soon.

Nat- Bye, Clint.

Clint stared at the SHIELD issued secure phone. He smiled to himself, hearing her voice was the most comforting way to ensure she was alive, and that was all he needed to be sure of.

Sorry for the late update, this weekend didn't go completely as planned. Please let me know what you think. Also, if any of you have scene or prompt you'd like to see just let me know, I'm more than eager to try as many as I can. Thank you again!